Holding assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10165927-B2
Application number	US-201415323066-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2014
Priority date	Sep 1, 2014
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A holding assembly for holding one or more stemmed objects in a dishwasher is provided. The holding assembly may include an elongated gripping unit frame and two or more gripping units arranged at the elongated gripping unit frame. The two or more gripping units may be arranged to grip a respective stemmed portion of the one or more stemmed objects. At least one of the two or more gripping units may be displaceably arranged along a longitudinal direction of the elongated gripping unit frame. The embodiments herein may also relate to a rack of a dishwasher and a dishwasher comprising a rack.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rack of a dishwasher comprising a holding assembly for holding one or more stemmed objects, said holding assembly comprising:
an elongated gripping unit frame configured to be attached to the rack of the dishwasher; and
two or more gripping units comprising at least a first gripping unit and a second gripping unit, wherein the first gripping unit and the second gripping unit are adjustably arranged along a longitudinal direction (ld) of the elongated gripping unit frame,
wherein the first gripping unit is configured to grip a first stemmed portion of a first stemmed object and hold a first length of the first stemmed portion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (ld) and perpendicular to a main extension plane (p) of the holding assembly,
wherein the second gripping unit is arranged to grip a second stemmed portion of a second stemmed object and hold a second length of the second stemmed portion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (ld) and perpendicular to the main extension plane (p) of the holding assembly, and
wherein at least one of said two or more gripping units is displaceably arranged along the longitudinal direction (ld) of said elongated gripping unit frame, such that first gripping unit is configured to hold the first stemmed object at two or more different distances from the second gripping unit and second stemmed object relative to the longitudinal direction (ld).

2. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 1 , wherein each gripping unit further comprises:
a gripping mode; and
a releasing mode, wherein each gripping unit is configured to release the respective first stemmed portion or the second stemmed portion in the releasing mode, and wherein each gripping unit is configured to grip the respective first stemmed portion or the second stemmed portion in the gripping mode.

3. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 2 , where each gripping unit comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a flexible strip arranged between the first arm and the second arm.

4. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 3 , where said flexible strip is arranged to at least partially enclose said respective first stemmed portion or the second stemmed portion of one of the respective first stemmed object or the second stemmed object when said gripping unit is in said gripping mode.

5. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 3 , where said first arm and said second arm are rotably arranged at said holding assembly and where a tip of said first arm and a tip of said second arm are arranged to be closer to each other when said gripping unit is in said gripping mode than in said releasing mode.

6. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 1 , where said elongated gripping unit frame comprises one or more snap fittings, and where said holding assembly is arranged to be snapped onto said rack of the dishwasher via said one or more snap fittings.

7. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 6 , where said one or more snap fittings are displaceably arranged along said longitudinal direction (ld) of said elongated gripping unit frame, and said snap fittings are configured to move in said longitudinal direction relative to said elongated gripping unit frame.

8. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 6 , where said snap fittings are arranged to allow said holding assembly to be folded between at least a gripping position and a storing position in relation to said rack of said dishwasher.

9. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 1 , where said holding assembly comprises a gripping unit side comprising said two or more gripping units and a rear side opposite to said gripping unit side, where said rear side comprises a wall being arranged with an angle (a) in the range of 100-120 degrees, to a main extension plane (p) of said holding assembly.

10. A dishwasher comprising the rack according to claim 1 .

11. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more snap fittings comprise two or more snap fittings, wherein the two or more snap fittings are movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the elongated gripping unit such that a distance in the longitudinal direction between each pair of snap fittings is adjustable to engage dishwasher racks having different distances between wires.

12. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 11 , wherein the two or more snap fittings are positioned on an opposite side of the elongated gripping unit frame than the two or more gripping units, and wherein the two or more snap fittings are positioned on the main extension plane (p) of the holding assembly.

13. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 1 , wherein each of the two or more gripping units further comprise a plurality of tabs configured to be received by a corresponding groove defined by the elongated gripping unit frame.

14. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of tabs of each of the two or more gripping units are alternatingly arranged at a top and a bottom surface of each gripping unit.

15. The rack of a dishwasher according to claim 1 , wherein:
the elongated gripping unit frame is pivotally attached on a first end to the rack of the dishwasher via a plurality of snap fittings disposed at the first end such that the elongated gripping unit frame is adjustable along the rack of the dishwasher in the longitudinal direction; and
the two or more gripping units engage an end surface at a second end of the elongated gripping unit frame opposite the first end, wherein the main extension plane (p) of the holding assembly spans the first end and the second end, and wherein the end surface is perpendicular to the main extension plane (p).

Assignees

• Electrolux Appliances AB

Inventors

• Mesa Daniel
• Hederstierna Rickard

Classifications

• A47L15/505 Primary

  Inserts, e.g. for holding baby bottles, stemware or cups · CPC title

• A47L15/503

  with foldable parts · CPC title

• F16B2/22

  of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material {(F16B2/205 takes precedence)} · CPC title