Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a movable and size-adjustable support apparatus that is developed for increasing the efficiency of use of inner area of dishwashers, and allows placement of kitchen utensils of different sizes and shapes at different angles from each other. Said apparatus can be used inside a dishwasher as well as outside.

Prior Art

Dishwashers being used today generally comprise at least two dish racks, an upper rack and a lower rack. The upper rack is adapted to receive small kitchen utensils such as bowls, glasses, etc. and the lower shelf is adapted to receive large kitchen utensils such as plates and pots. The fact that the support apparatuses on the racks are fixed inhibits to use interior space of machine efficiently while placing kitchen utensils. Because of said fixed support apparatuses, kitchen utensils of different sizes cannot be placed efficiently and rapidly due to the way of use. For example, said fixed supports do not allow the placement of large kitchen utensils. In addition, utensils placed in the machine can only be placed at a certain angle due to the fixed support apparatuses, and this prevents the utensils from being properly cleaned.

In the art, there are some developments in machine racks for efficiently placing kitchen utensils into dishwashers.

An example of the prior art is the patent document no. US2003226580 . The said document relates to a dishwasher with three racks which include an upper rack, a middle rack and a lower rack. In said dishwasher, upper and middle racks have bottom portions sloping in opposite directions to each other. Thus, large kitchen utensils can be placed in each rack. The lower rack does not comprise tines to allow placing utensils with flat structure. There is a spray arm associated with each rack to efficiently clean the dishes in the machine. Although it is possible to place large kitchen utensils with the racks having bottom portions sloping against one another, the supports located on said racks have a fixed structure. This does not allow the placement of utensils at different angles.

Another example of the prior art is the patent document no. US2012292270A. This document describes a dishwasher rack with adjustable support apparatuses that are developed for placing objects of different sizes into dishwasher. Said support apparatuses can be optionally removed by placing them on main framework or they can be positioned horizontally on the rack base attached to the main framework. It thus allows the placement of large-sized utensils. However, the user is required to adjust the locations of said support apparatuses each time while placing kitchen utensil of different sizes or to change the framework to which these apparatuses are attached .

In order to overcome the drawbacks of the art described above, a movable and size-adjustable support apparatus for dishwasher that allows the placement of kitchen utensils at different angles based on their size and shape, and that can be attached to the machine racks.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention relates to a movable and size-adjustable support apparatus for dishwasher on which kitchen utensils are placed and that can be attached to the machine racks. The use of said apparatus inside or outside the dishwashers is also within the scope of the invention. More specifically, the apparatus of invention is used in inner area of the dishwasher or in the cabinet.

The invention developed is positioned in the inner area of the dishwashers and allows efficient placement of kitchen utensils thereon and placement of utensils collectively into the cabinet after washing by removing it from the inner area. The placement of the invention into the cabinet after washing allows using it outside the dishwasher.

The support apparatus of the invention comprises in general at least one lower frame (1), at least one intermediate element (2), at least one connector (3), at least one angular movement unit (4) and at least one upper support frame (5).

More specifically, the invention is a support apparatus for dishwashers on which utensils are placed, wherein it comprises

- at least one lower frame (1) with a body having at least one protrusion thereon,

- at least one angular movement unit (4) attached to the protrusion on said lower frame (1) and moving by bending,

- at least one intermediate element (2) with a hole extending along its body for the passage of said angular movement unit (4) and attachment thereof to the protrusion of the lower frame (1),

- at least one connector (3) mounted onto said at least one intermediate element (2), comprising a hole extending along its body for the passage of said angular movement unit (4), and protrusions for the stagewise movement of angular movement unit (4) in said hole,

- upper support frame (5) mounted into the angular movement unit (4), supporting utensils. A dish rack and a dishwasher comprising the support apparatus of the invention are also within the scope of the invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, upper support frames (5) of different lengths are used. Preferably, two upper support frames (5) of different sizes are used. The user uses whatever size he or she wants to use.

An embodiment of the invention comprises two lower frames (1). Preferably, two lower frames (1) are positioned opposite to each other.

An embodiment of the invention is attached to the dishwasher rack.

In one embodiment of the invention, intermediate element (2) comprises at least one recess on its bottom side portion. Preferably, it comprises two recesses. The intermediate element (2) provides fixing.

In one embodiment of the invention, connector (3) comprises a hole extending along its body, and protrusions in said hole, wherein the stagewise movement of angular movement unit (4) and thus the upper support frame (5) mounted into said angular movement unit (4) is provided by means of said protrusions. Preferably, the connector (3) has three stages such that the upper support frame (5) creates three different angles with respect to the lower frame (1). Preferably, the upper support frame (5) may be bent at angles of 60°, 90° and 120° with respect to the lower frame (1). In one embodiment of the invention, the angular movement unit (4) is moved by the user pushing forward or backward with the weight of utensil that is being placed.

The elements constituting an embodiment of the invention are positioned by being mounted onto one another.

In one embodiment of the invention, the lower frame (1) is steel.

In one embodiment of the invention, the intermediate element (2) is polypropylene.

In one embodiment of the invention, the connector (3) is filler silicone.

In one embodiment of the invention, the angular movement unit

(4) is polypropylene. Preferably, it is talc polypropylene.

In one embodiment of the invention, the side portions of the angular movement unit (4) are polypropylene and the middle portion is silicone. Preferably, the side portions are talc polypropylene. The movement of the upper support frame (5) is supported by the middle portion being filler silicone.

In one embodiment of the invention, the body of the angular movement unit (4) has a cylindrical form where the diameter of the middle portion is decreased.

In one embodiment of the invention, the upper support frame

(5) is steel.

More specifically, an embodiment of the invention consists of five parts. These parts are made of steel, polypropylene and filler silicon materials. The connector (3) is filler silicone in order to provide movement; the intermediate element (2) and the upper angular movement unit (4) is polypropylene; and the upper support frame (5) and the lower frame (1) is steel.

In one embodiment of the invention, the lower frame (1) is steel; the intermediate element (2) mounted onto it is polypropylene; the connector (3) on it is filler silicone; the angular movement unit (4) on the top is talc polypropylene and the upper support frame (5) is steel. They are positioned by being mounted onto one another.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1. In this embodiment, the lower frame (1), the intermediate element (2), the connector (3), the angular movement unit (4) and upper support frame (5) are shown. This embodiment comprises twelve angular movement units (4), twelve intermediate elements (2), twelve connectors (3) and twelve upper support frames (5), placed on one lower frame (1). Optionally, a support apparatus comprising members of different numbers and sizes can be developed.

A perspective view of an embodiment of the invention is given in Figure 2. In this embodiment, a kitchen utensil is placed between the upper support frames (5) and the upper support frame (5) and the angular movement unit (4) to which the upper support frame (5) is mounted moves by weight of the utensil within the hole of connector (3).

The exploded views from different angles of the embodiment of the invention are given in Figure 3 and 4. The five main parts are shown in the circles in Figure 4. The embodiment is constituted by attaching the five main parts. A top cross-sectional view and detailed deep plate section of the embodiment of the invention are given in Figure 5. This embodiment comprises twelve angular movement units (4), twelve intermediate elements (2), twelve connectors (3) and twelve upper support frames (5), placed on one lower frame (1),. The distance between the first and twelfth connector (wi) is preferably 405mm. The width of the connector (W2) of the embodiment is preferably 20mm. The distance between two connectors (W ₃ ) in the embodiment is preferably 15mm. In this embodiment, the diameter of the upper support frame (Ri) is 4mm, the diameter of the hole on the middle of the connector (R2) where the upper support frame (5) is placed is 5.80mm.

A view of another embodiment of the invention is given in Figure 6. Accordingly, the invention comprises upper support frames (5) of different sizes. It preferably comprises upper support frames (5) of two different sizes. The length of a first upper support frame (hi) is 150mm and the height of a second upper support frame (h2) is 120mm.

The members of an embodiment of the invention may be developed in desired sizes.

The support apparatus of the invention comprises members made of materials different from those of the apparatuses in the art and these members are attached by a different method. Thus, fixed parts are made movable and the objects can be placed at different angles.

The time lost in placement is minimized thanks to the invention that has been developed comprising a movable member.

The support apparatus developed provides efficient, easy and rapid placement of kitchen utensils based on their different ways of use in the interior area of the dishwasher. It also ensures that different object groups are cleaned in the dishwasher such that they do not interfere with each other. In addition, it may be placed inside a cabinet.

With the invention, more efficient use of dishwashers and improvement of present usages are provided.

Description of the Figures

Figure-1 A view of an embodiment of the invention

Figure-2 A view showing the use of an embodiment of the invention

Figure-3 An exploded view of an embodiment of the invention Figure-4 An exploded view from a different angle of an embodiment of the invention

Figure-5 A top cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention

Figure-6 A view of another embodiment of the invention

Description of the Reference Numbers in the Figures

1. Lower frame

2. Intermediate element

3. Connector . Angular movement unit

5. Upper support frame wi. Distance between the first and twelfth connector

W2. Width of the connector

W ₃ . Distance between two connectors

Ri. Diameter of the upper support frame

R2. Diameter of the hole on the middle of connector hi. Length of the first upper support frame h2. Length of the second upper support frame