Dishwasher utensil basket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10548457-B2
Application number	US-201715810318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2017
Priority date	Jun 25, 2014
Publication date	Feb 4, 2020
Grant date	Feb 4, 2020

Abstract

A dishwasher utensil basket includes a mechanism for unloading multiple utensils at once without the user having to directly handle the utensils. The mechanism can include a grid that is loaded with utensils for treatment. The basket can include multiple zones for loading utensils, each provided with an individually-operable unloading mechanism. A user can unload the basket by holding a handle of the basket in one hand and squeezing an actuator of the mechanism toward the handle using the thumb of the same hand.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A utensil basket for a dishwasher comprising:
at least one compartment having sidewalls and defining a pocket and a rail extending along at least a portion of the pocket;
at least one grid comprising a track and mounted to the at least compartment and overlying the pocket and having a plurality of spaced tines defining open-ended slots sized to receive individual utensils in an upright position with a handle of the utensil located within the at least one compartment; and
a mover coupled to the grid and supported by the rail and comprising at least one pin slidable within the track on the grid;
an actuator coupled to the mover and moving the grid between a loading position and an unloading position, wherein the pin moves within the track during movement between the loading and unloading positions and;
wherein movement of the actuator from the loading position to the unloading position is configured to release any utensils within the tines of the grid for removal by a user.

2. The utensil basket of claim 1 wherein the at least one compartment includes an open top and the grid forms a partial closure for the pocket.

3. The utensil basket of claim 1 and further comprising:
a bottom wall wherein the sidewalls extend upward from the bottom wall; and
wherein at least one of the sidewalls includes at least one opening leading into the pocket, and any utensils within the basket can be removed from the basket through the at least one opening when the grid is in the unloading position.

4. The utensil basket of claim 3 and further comprising a closure element for selectively closing the at least one opening.

5. The utensil basket of claim 4 wherein the closure is pivotally mounted to the basket.

6. The utensil basket of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a biasing member biasing the actuator toward the loading position.

7. The utensil basket of claim 6 further comprising a handle facilitating removal of the basket from the dishwasher.

8. The utensil basket of claim 7 wherein the actuator is biased away from the handle in the loading position.

9. The utensil basket of claim 6 wherein the actuator is under a compressive force in the loading position to provide a positive loading force on the mover.

10. The utensil basket of claim 1 wherein the basket comprises multiple pockets for loading utensils and each pocket is provided with an individually-operable mover.

11. The utensil basket of claim 10 wherein the at least one grid comprises three grids overlying each pocket.

12. The utensil basket of claim 11 wherein each of the three grids moves simultaneously when actuated by the actuator.

13. The utensil basket of claim 1 wherein the mover is a shaft.

14. The utensil basket of claim 11 wherein the actuator moves the mover when actuated.

15. The utensil basket of claim 12 wherein the actuator moves two movers simultaneously when actuated.

16. The utensil basket of claim 1 , wherein the pin is positioned perpendicular to the mover.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Hirsh Michael I
• Naik Sujit S
• Prabhu Hrushikesh C
• Takale Mohan

Classifications

• A47L15/502 Primary

  Cutlery baskets · CPC title