Apparatuses and Methods for Dishwasher Rack Emptying
In one embodiment, a dishwasher rack includes: an interior structure divided into separate compartments, each of such compartments sized and configured to hold an individual beverage container; a top side through which the compartments may be loaded; and a bottom side having a floor that includes a first movable grid and a second movable grid. Each of the first movable grid and the second movable grid can be slid into a closed configuration to support beverage containers and can be slid into an open configuration in which the beverage containers are able to pass through.
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/057,603, filed on Oct. 18, 2013, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/715,744, filed on Oct. 18, 2012. Each such application is incorporated by reference herein as though set forth herein in full.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention pertains, among other things, to apparatuses, systems, methods and techniques for facilitating the emptying of a dishwasher rack, and is particularly applicable to commercial dishwasher racks.
BACKGROUNDIt is common in the restaurant, food service, and beverage industry to use automatic dishwashers that accept a standard dishwasher rack for cups and glasses. Generally speaking, a conventional dishwasher rack is in the shape of a rectangular (typically square) box with a bottom panel and four sidewalls, but an open top. Within this box is a rectangular grid of walls or slats, defining a matrix of compartments into which glasses or cups may be inserted, typically having paddle-shaped walls that extend higher in the center thereof than at the ends so as to protect glasses placed in the compartments and yet permit water to flow through a substantial portion of the dividers. The grid typically is molded so as to be integral with the sidewalls and includes a multiplicity of shapes and number of compartments and sizes to fit a wide variety of sizes of glasses. For example two common rack configurations contain four or five rows and columns of compartments (i.e., 4×4 or 5×5). The compartments of the adjacent rows and columns typically are nested with one another, so that adjacent compartments share a wall.
Different racks with different sized compartments commonly are used to most closely match the diameter of the glasses or cups being washed. However, a conventional dishwasher rack typically is 19.72″×19.72″ and is divided into 16 compartments (4×4), with each compartment able to hold a glass with a diameter of 4.25 inches or less, or is divided into 25 compartments (5×5), with each compartment able to hold a glass with a diameter of 3.35 inches or less, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,741,392, 3,283,915, 3,442,397, 3,584,744, 3,009,579, 3,245,548, 3,482,707 and 4,621,739, as well as in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0117461. The forgoing sizes given for the compartments in a dishwasher rack are just examples of commonly used configurations, it being understood that many compartments having many other configurations, in terms of number of compartments and sizes of compartments, are available and useful for washing cups and glasses.
A conventional dishwasher rack can consist of a single component (which can be referred to as a base component) having the foregoing configuration. Alternatively, one or more “rack extenders”, e.g., as discussed and/or shown in U.S. Pat. D399,614, D400,321 and in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2003/0178378 and 2002/0117461 can be attached to the base component to increase the height or to change the number, the size or the configuration of the interior compartments of the rack, and thereby accommodate taller glasses or cups or such different sizes or configurations. These one or more extenders are stacked one on top of the base component and then on top of each other, with all the components typically fitting together and being held in place by a number of interlocking pins and receiving sockets, e.g., as described and/or shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,283,915, 3,584,744, D399,614 and D400,321, as well as in U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2002/0117461 and 2003/0178378. A rack extender typically is similar to the base unit in cross-section, having the same (or roughly the same) length and width and a matching internal grid, but has both an open bottom and an open top. Such dishwasher racks provide for easy transport of cups and glasses and work well in many cases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONHowever, the present inventor has discovered that problems arise in connection with these conventional structures, particularly when high volumes of cups and/or glasses are required for service in a busy restaurant, bar, event or other venue. In this case, service staff spends a significant amount of time unloading dishwasher racks of cups and glasses. To empty a conventional dishwasher rack of its contents, each cup or glass typically must be lifted out of its compartment by hand. The time spent emptying cups and glasses from a dishwasher rack becomes significant when many cups or glasses are needed and multiple racks must be emptied.
In addition to the time spent emptying commercial dishwasher racks by hand, one glass at a time, this method of emptying the rack sometimes is not sanitary because each clean glass mush be touched by hand in order to remove the glass from the dish rack, and when working in a commercial kitchen a worker's hands can become easily soiled or otherwise exposed to non-sanitary surfaces.
In one respect, the present invention addresses these problems by providing a dishwasher rack that has a configurable or releasable surface (which can be either or both of its top surface and/or its bottom surface), that can be configured to hold glasses, cups or other beverage containers within, and that when the rack is in a position in which the configurable surface is facing and immediately adjacent to (e.g., within a short distance from) a second surface (such as a countertop, tabletop or a tray), the configurable surface can be easily changed to release the cups, glasses and/or other beverage containers so that they fall (usually a very short distance, e.g., less than 1-2 inches) to the second surface. After that, the rack can be lifted up, leaving the beverage containers on the second surface.
According to one particular aspect, the present invention provides for a mechanism to hold and/or lock beverage containers securely into a dishwasher rack, thereby enabling the dishwasher rack to be inverted (turned upside down) while keeping the beverage containers securely held within the dishwasher rack. With the dishwasher rack inverted (upside down) the dishwasher rack is placed on any desired (e.g., flat) surface (e.g., a tray, countertop or tabletop), and then the securing mechanism is released, causing the beverage containers within the dishwasher rack to drop out of the rack onto the desired surface. The release of beverage containers from the dishwasher rack, as described above, allows the empty dishwasher rack to be lifted away from the flat surface, leaving the beverage containers behind on the selected surface (e.g., without leaving behind any portion of the dishwashing apparatus).
According to another aspect, the invention provides for a similarly releasable mechanism to be installed in (or as) the floor (or bottom surface) of the dishwasher rack. Such a structure allows beverage containers to be loaded into the rack through the top openings of the rack compartments (in the same manner as a conventional dishwasher rack is loaded) but, unlike conventional racks, this rack can be emptied all at once by releasing the cups, glasses and/or other beverage containers through the floor (or bottom) of the dishwasher rack, without inverting the rack (and, again, without manually removing each one from its separate compartment).
According to a still further aspect, a dishwasher rack includes: an interior structure divided into separate compartments, each of such compartments sized and configured to hold an individual beverage container; a top side through which the compartments may be loaded; and a bottom side having a floor that includes a first movable grid and a second movable grid. Each of the first movable grid and the second movable grid can be slid into a closed configuration to support beverage containers and can be slid into an open configuration in which the beverage containers are able to pass through.
Still further, the foregoing mechanisms (for locking or securing the contents of the dishwasher rack into the rack and for releasing the contents of the dishwasher rack through the top and/or bottom surface of the rack), or aspects of them, may be incorporated together in the same rack. A dishwasher rack having a combination of these structures (i.e., securing and releasing capabilities in both the top and the bottom surfaces of the rack) is desirable when cups, glasses and/or other beverage containers are being transported or for any other reason when it is advantageous to secure or lock them into the rack and, at the same time, to have an ability to empty the rack relatively easily and, in some cases, without inverting it.
The described systems, methods and apparatuses that use a releasable mechanism to lock cups, glasses and/or other beverage containers into a dishwasher rack so that the rack can be inverted and then the contents released onto a different surface and/or use a releasable mechanism that allows the contents of the dishwasher rack to be removed all at once through the floor or bottom of the rack permit a much quicker method of emptying a dishwasher rack than is currently available. Additionally, the described systems facilitate the emptying of a commercial dishwasher rack of glasses without the need to touch each glass by hand, thereby reducing the risk of unsanitary hands coming into contact with a drinking glass during the process of removing the cups, glasses and/or other beverage containers from the dishwasher rack.
Thus, one embodiment of the invention is directed to a dishwasher rack that includes: an interior structure divided into separate compartments, each sized and configured to hold an individual beverage container; a top side through which the compartments may be loaded; a bottom side having a support surface; and a release mechanism. The top and/or bottom side has a configurable surface that provides a closed configuration in which it is capable of supporting beverage containers and an open configuration in which beverage containers are able to pass through. When the dishwasher rack is placed on top of a desired exterior surface with the configurable surface immediately adjacent to the exterior surface, the release mechanism can be operated to change the configurable surface from the closed configuration to the open configuration, causing any enclosed beverage containers to drop down onto the exterior surface and remain there when the dishwasher rack is lifted up and away.
The foregoing summary is intended merely to provide a brief description of certain aspects of the invention. A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by referring to the claims and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures.
In the following disclosure, the invention is described with reference to the attached drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings merely depict certain representative and/or exemplary embodiments and features of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The following is a brief description of each of the attached drawings.
FIG. 11F1 is a partial side cutaway conceptual view of a dishwasher rack in the open configuration having a passive latching mechanism that has been released; and FIG. 11F2 is a partial front cutaway conceptual view of a dishwasher rack in the open configuration having a passive latching mechanism that has been released.
FIG. 11G1 is a partial side cutaway conceptual view of a dishwasher rack in the closed configuration having a passive latching mechanism that is engaged; and FIG. 11G2 is a partial front cutaway conceptual view of a dishwasher rack in the closed configuration having a passive latching mechanism that is engaged.
As discussed in greater detail below, an apparatus according to the present invention can encompass: (i) an entire dishwasher rack, (ii) a “rack extender”, and/or (iii) one or more components that can be used with either. A rack extender 12 according to the present invention is illustrated in
The initial embodiment of the present invention concerns a modified rack extender 12 and the use thereof in a dishwasher rack 16. In this embodiment, rack extender 12 is simply placed on top of the rest of dishwasher rack 16, in the same manner as a conventional rack extender.
As shown in
Referring to
When sliding tab 13 is in the open position shown in
Referring to
The present invention can involve racks having any number, any size and/or any shape of compartments. In the embodiment described above, the inventive features are provided in the rack extender 12 portion of the dishwasher rack 16.
Preferably, any dish rack or rack extender in accordance with the invention is made primarily of molded plastic. For example, a polypropylene copolymer is a suitable material for the rack and extender. However, the rods 10 and carrier 60, as well as related components, can be made of other materials, such as plastic, metal and/or natural or synthetic rubber. Although rods 10 are referenced above, it should be noted that any kind of elongated members, having a rectangular, square or any cross-sectional shape, may be used instead of rods. Also, such elongated members 10, together with the carriers 60, may be formed in any other way, such as by molding or otherwise forming all of such components together as a unitary piece.
In accordance with the present method for using rack 16: sliding tab 13 is moved to the open position and latched or locked into place while the rack is empty of beverage containers, rack 16 is loaded with beverage containers while sliding tab 13 is in the open position; with the rack full of beverage containers sliding tab 13 is then moved to the closed position and locked or latched into place and placed into the automatic dishwasher; the dishwasher is started; upon completion, rack 16 is removed from the dishwasher and flipped over onto a desired surface; sliding tab 13 is unlocked and moved to the open position, causing the beverage containers to drop slightly down onto that surface; rack 16 is lifted up, leaving the beverage containers behind; and finally rack 16 is flipped over again and the foregoing process is repeated.
In the commercial food and beverage service industry it is common to place clean cups, glasses and/or other beverage containers containers on rubber drying mats. In accordance with the above mentioned process for use of a dishwasher rack 16, which includes a mechanism for quickly emptying the rack, it is recommended that, to prevent breakage of beverage containers, rack 16 be placed on to a rubber drying matt before operating tab 13 to empty the rack 16 of the beverage containers.
The following is a detailed description and method for use of an alternate embodiment of the invention described above in connection with
Referring to
In accordance with the present method for using rack 46 (i.e., the base component with extender 12 attached): sliding tabs 43 are moved to the closed position and latched or locked into place while the rack is empty of glasses; sliding tabs 13 are moved to the open position moving the set of elongated members 10 into alignment with the dividers 17 of the extender 12, thereby opening the tops of the compartments of extender 12 and allowing beverage containers to be loaded into the rack 46; rack 46 is then loaded with beverage containers; and sliding tabs 13 are moved to the closed position, locking and securing the glasses into the rack such that the beverage containers will not fall out of the rack even when the rack is turned upside down or inverted (e.g., thereby allowing for storage and/or safe transport of a rack 46 full of beverage containers). Once filled with beverage containers, rack 46 is placed into the automatic dishwasher; the dishwasher is started; upon completion, rack 46 is removed from the dishwasher placed onto a desired surface; sliding tabs 43 are unlocked and moved to the open position, causing the beverage containers to drop slightly down our of the bottom of rack 46 onto that surface; rack 46 is lifted up, leaving the beverage containers behind; and the foregoing process is repeated.
In accordance with the present method for using rack 116: beverage containers are loaded into rack 116 with panel 120 fully inserted through receiving slot 125 and with rack 116 in the upright position (i.e., inverted from the view shown in
However, it should be noted that in alternate embodiments a similar (or identical) removable panel and similar (or identical) corresponding receiving structure instead (or in addition) are provided at the top surface of a rack according to the present invention. Also, in certain embodiments of the present invention, the top and bottom of the rack are identical to each other, so the designations “top” and “bottom” are just arbitrarily assigned. Still further, in alternate embodiments the structure for accommodating a removable panel 120 is provided in a rack extender, in addition to or instead of or in the base component of the rack.
A still further embodiment is now discussed in reference to
Referring to
Preferably, any dish rack or rack extender in accordance with the invention is made primarily of molded plastic. For example, a polypropylene copolymer is a suitable material for the rack and extender. However, the sliding grid 307 and handle 302A, as well as related components, can be made of other materials, such as plastic, metal and/or natural or synthetic rubber. Although sliding grid 307 is referenced above, it should be noted that any kind of grid, having a rectangular, square or any cross-sectional shape, may be used instead. Also, such grid 307, together with the handle 302A, may be formed in any other way, such as by molding or otherwise forming all of such components together as a unitary piece.
Referring to
It is common in the industry to place clean beverage containers such as beverage containers on rubber mats for drying before use. In accordance with the above-mentioned process for use of a dishwasher rack 316, which includes a mechanism for quickly emptying the rack, it is preferred that, to prevent breakage of beverage containers, the rack 316 be placed onto a rubber drying mat before emptying the rack of glasses or other beverage containers.
The present method for the operation of rack 416 (containing two sliding grids) is identical to the method for operating rack 316 with one main difference; after the dishwasher cycle has been completed and rack 416 is removed and placed onto a desired surface; both lower handles 403A and 403B are firmly grasped, lifting the plunger 333, engaging the flat iron latch 337 and disengaging the catch 341; both handles 403A and 403B are then pulled in opposing directions and away from the rack 416 causing the independently sliding grids 401 & 402 to move into alignment with one another and to align perfectly with the above matrix of the dividers 409 of the rack extender 417 so that no members of grids 403A or 402B are covering any lower openings to compartments 408, thereby allowing the beverage containers contained within the compartments 408 of rack 416 to drop slightly through the bottom of the rack 416 onto the adjacent surface.
Alternate ConfigurationsIn the embodiments described above, three approaches have been described for selectively controlling whether a top or bottom surface of a dishwasher rack is sufficiently open to allow the beverage containers to pass through—a slidable set of parallel bars, a removable panel, and a slidable grid or set of grids. As indicated above, in certain embodiments another important consideration is that this controllability is capable of being exercised when the subject surface is adjacent and very close to a second surface (e.g., no more than 1-2 inches away), so that the beverage containers can drop down onto the second surface. The section below describes a number of other structures for selectively opening and closing the top or bottom surface of a dishwasher rack in accordance with these features.
1.
2.
When using rack 616, rotatable grid 603 is first rotated into the open position so that the compartment 608 openings are not obstructed; beverage containers are loaded into the compartments 608 of rack 616; when rack 616 is full, grid 603 is rotated into the closed position; rack 616 is then placed into an automatic dishwasher and the wash cycle is imitated; when washing is complete, rack 616 is removed from the dishwasher, inverted or turned upside down, and then placed onto a desired (e.g., flat) surface; in the upside down position, the beverage containers within rack 616 are resting on and held into rack 616 by the rotatable grid 603; with rack 616 resting on the flat surface the knob that is flush on the bottom of rack 616 and is attached to the center shaft 604 that attaches to the rotatable grid 603 is then turned, in turn moving the rotatable grid 603 into the open position and bringing the grid 603 into perfect alignment with grid 607; this movement of the rotatable grid 603 into the open position allows the beverage containers that were resting on the rotatable grid 603 to drop out of rack 616 and fall slightly coming to rest on the flat surface; then rack 616 is lifted vertically away from the flat surface leaving behind the beverage containers
3.
4.
5.
6. A grid is formed by two intersecting sets of parallel members. Each parallel set slides independently of the other set of parallel members. In the closed position the crossing members intersect in the center of each compartment of the dishwasher rack, fully obstructing the compartment and locking or securing the contents of the compartment into the dishwasher rack. In the open position the crossing members intersect in alignment with the grid that makes up the compartments of the dishwasher rack. The alignment of the crossing members matches exactly with the alignment of the compartments, allowing a beverage container placed into the compartment of the dishwasher.
7.
8. The embodiment shown in
In the closed configuration shown in
Preferably, each member 1101 is attached to plural tabs 1105A, and each such tab 1105A is attached to a carrier frame, which in the present embodiment includes parallel attachment members 1106. Similarly, each member 1102 preferably is attached to plural tabs 1105B, and each tab 1105B is attached to a carrier frame, which in the present embodiment includes parallel attachment members 1107. According to this embodiment, and considering the constraints of manufacturing, it is preferred that parallel support members 1101, tabs 1105A, and associated carrier members 1106 are formed integrally together as one unitary part (e.g., molded as a single piece). Similarly, support members 1102, tabs 1105B, and associated carrier members 1107 preferably are made integral as one unitary part (e.g., molded as a single piece). As shown, the attachment members 1106 and 1107 are orthogonal to their corresponding support members 1101 at 1102, respectively. Because carrier frame 1107 is disposed on top of carrier frame 1106 in the present embodiment, tabs 1105B preferably are longer than tabs 1105A, with the result that support members 1101 and 1102 are disposed at approximately the same depth within rack compartments 1110.
In the current embodiment, the two carrier frames 1106 and 1107 fit between the base 1115 of the rack 1116 and the extender 1117 above. More specifically, in the current embodiment carrier frame 1106 slidably rests upon the compartment grid 1109 of the base component 1115 of the rack 1116, and the carrier frame 1107 slidably rests upon carrier frame 1106. Rack extender 1117 then attaches to base component 1115, sandwiching carrier frames 1106 and 1107 between base component 1115 and extender 1117.
As shown in the drawings, tabs 1105A&B (sometimes collectively referred to herein as tabs 1105 or individually referred to herein as a tab 1105) extend downwardly on either side of the corresponding carrier 1106 or 1107 and firmly hold such corresponding carrier in place. In addition, carriers 1106 and 1107 partly are held in place by a tongue-and-groove design, with grooves 1108 formed into the top of the upper carrier 1107 above the tabs 1105, and with similar grooves 1108 formed into the top and the bottom of carrier 1106. When assembled: (1) the lower parts of the grid dividers 1109 in the rack extender 1117 that are immediately above the carrier 1107's attachment members (i.e., those orthogonal to support members 1101) fit into the grooves 1108 in the top of carrier 1107; (2) a ridge on the bottom of carrier 1107 fits into the grooves 1108 on the top of carrier 1106; and (3) the top portions of the grid dividers 1109 in the rack base component 1115 that are immediately below the carrier 1106's attachment members (i.e., those orthogonal to support members 1102) fit into the grooves 1108 in the bottom of carrier 1106. By virtue of this construction, carriers 1106 and 1107 are securely held in place but capable of sliding back and forth along the lines defined by their corresponding parallel attachment members 1106 and 1107.
At the same time, the support structure formed by parallel members 1101 and 1102 preferably is in exact (or at least close) alignment with and preferably has the exact (or at least approximately the same) lateral spacing as the grid 1109 that defines the compartments 1110 of the dish rack 1116 (i.e., base component 1115 and extender 1117). In the present embodiment, sets 1101 and 1102 slide independently of each other and, in use, preferably are slid in opposite directions of each other (i.e., toward each other to provide the closed configuration shown in
In the closed configuration, shown in
Each of the handles 1120A&B (individually referred to as a handle 1120) that is attached to one of the carriers 1106 and 1107, respectively, preferably has a raised ridge 1127 or similar raised element on or along its top surface or edge, so that when the handle 1120 is pushed in toward the rack base component 1115 (to provide the closed configuration), the handle 1120 is secured into the closed position as it comes into contact with rack base component 1115, and typically provides an audible “click” upon doing so. This is because ridge 1127 essentially acts as a friction and/or compression lock which keeps the handle 1120 in place while in the closed position. Ridge 1127 also acts as a pressure lock, so that when the rack 1116 is in the closed configuration and carried by the handles 1120A&B the weight of the full rack 1116 puts enough downward force on the handle handles 1120A&B to make it even much more difficult to move the handles 1120A&B outwardly (toward the open configuration). That is, with the full weight of the fully loaded rack 1116, ridge 1127 even more firmly engages with the outer walls 1122 and 1123 of the rack 1116 because of the downward force of the rack 1116 against the handles 1120A&B when the rack 1116 is lifted by them. Although ridge 1127 currently is preferred, any of a variety of other locking components instead (or in addition) may be used, such as: using any other kind of preferably deformable tab or other extending element on the handle 1120; providing such a preferably deformable tab or other extending element on the rack 1116 and a slot or other opening on the handle 1120 into which it can fit; using any other kind of compression, friction or pressure engagement mechanism; and/or using a latching mechanism (e.g., manually operated). However, locking mechanisms that do not require a separate engagement step (i.e., that lock automatically) are preferred, so that the floor preferably will lock into the closed configuration each time it is placed into that configuration.
Subsequently, when the dishwasher rack 1116 is set down on a flat surface and both handles 1120A&B are pulled away from rack base component 1115 into the open position, as show in
In the preferred embodiments, the grid dividers 1109 of the rack base component 1115 that run parallel to members 1101 and 1102 are formed or fitted with preferably at least approximately triangular-shaped flanges 1125 (as shown more clearly in
One additional component of the rack 1100, according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, is a passive latching mechanism having a release component disposed on the underside of the rack base component 1115 which allows for the operation of the handles 1120A&B only when the rack base component 1115 is resting on a flat surface (or when such release component is otherwise, e.g., manually, actuated). Such a passive latching mechanism according to the preferred embodiments of the invention effectively locks and prevents each handle 1120 from being operated while the rack base component 1115 is stacked on top of another rack 1116 or while the rack base component 1115 is being carried. Although described below in connection with a particular embodiment, it should be understood that such a passive latching mechanism can be used in any other dishwasher racks.
One embodiment of such a passive latching mechanism is shown in FIGS. 11F1-G2. Specifically, FIGS. 11F1&2 show dishwasher rack 1116 in the open configuration (i.e., having the handle 1120B pulled out and away from the outer wall of the base component 1115), with the passive latching mechanism released. In the present embodiment, plunger rod 1128 has a portion located outside of base component 1115 and a portion located within base component 1115, and passes through an opening 1131 in the outer wall of base component 1115. However, in alternate embodiments plunger rod 1128 instead is disposed entirely within or entirely outside of base component 1115, in which case opening 1131 typically can be omitted.
By default (e.g., as a result of gravity and/or spring-biasing), the lower end of the plunger rod 1128 extends below the bottom edge of the outer wall of base component 1115. However, when rack 1116 is placed onto a flat surface 1135 (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 11F1&2) the plunger rod 1128 initially contacts the flat surface and then is pressed up upwardly toward the handle 1120B, as a result of the weight of the rack 1116. Preferably, the plunger rod 1128 slides upwardly on a vertical track or other path when pressure is applied, e.g., when the end of the plunger rod 1128 contacts a flat surface as the rack 1116 is placed down upon it. Upon sliding upwardly in this manner, the upper end of plunger rod 1128 contacts the distal end of a latch arm 1129, rotating latch arm 1129 on its anchor point 1130 so that the latch arm 1129 no longer contacts sliding carrier 1107, but instead is moved above and out of the catch 1132 located on sliding carrier 1107, thus making it possible to freely slide carrier 1107 (and, correspondingly, handle 1120B), e.g., into the position depicted in FIGS. 11F1&2.
FIGS. 11G1&2 show the rack 1116 in the closed configuration and the passive latching mechanism in the locked position, e.g., when the rack 1116 is not resting on a flat surface so that the plunger rod 1128 extends below the bottom edge of the outer wall of base component 1115. In this case, the top end of plunger rod 1128 is below the point where it would make contact with latch arm 1129, allowing latch arm 1129 to pivot downwardly on its anchor point 1130 (e.g., as a result of gravity and/or spring-biasing), such that it is distal and extends down into catch 1132 on the sliding carrier 1107. In this locked position, with the latch arm 1129 disposed within the catch 1132, it generally is not possible to accidentally operate the handle 1120B, e.g., while the rack 1116 is being carried, is stacked on top of another dishwasher rack, or is otherwise not resting on a flat surface. In the preferred embodiments, plunger rod 1128 and catch 1132 and latch arm 1129 are built into rack 1116 to prevent the unintentional or accidental opening and emptying of the rack 1116. When the rack 1116 is lifted off of surface 1135 and handle 1120B is slid from the open configuration to the closed configuration, latch arm 1129 naturally drops into catch 1132, automatically engaging the passive latching mechanism and typically providing a “clicking” sound to signify this fact. Although a passive latching mechanism currently is described and illustrated only in relation to one of the carriers (i.e., carrier 1117), such a mechanism preferably is provided for both carriers.
In certain embodiments, the provided passive latching mechanism may be released by hand even when the rack 1116 is not placed on a flat surface. For this purpose, thumb grip 1133 is provided in the present embodiment. Operating the plunger rod 1128 by hand may be useful in case the rack 1116 is placed on an uneven surface such as a drying mat with holes in it, if the plunger rod 1128 does not adequately contact the surface as to properly unlatch, or in other circumstances in which the plunger rod 1128 is not forced upwardly by the weight of the rack alone and the user still wishes to release the contents of the compartments 1110.
In the foregoing embodiment, the plunger rod 1128 is a completely rigid structure. One alternate embodiment provides a pivoting section at the bottom of plunger rod 1128. In this alternate embodiment, ordinarily the bottom portion of plunger rod 1128 aligns with the top portion so that plunger rod 1128, as a whole, has the same appearance as it does in FIGS. 11F1-G2. However, in this embodiment the bottom section of plunger rod 1128 can be manually rotated (or pivoted) upwardly (e.g., so that it is perpendicular or at least angled relative to the top section). As a result of this structure, from a starting position where the rack 1116 is placed on a flat surface, the rack 1116 can be lifted slightly (typically when empty) and the bottom portion of plunger rod 1128 rotated upwardly (out of the way) so that plunger rod 1128's effective length is short and, as a result, it is no longer able to transmit force from surface 1135. Then, even if rack 1116 once again is placed on the surface 1135, plunger rod 1128 will drop down to its default position (with its bottom section still angled relative to its top section, and with its bottom end contacting the surface 1135), so if the handle 1120B is pushed into the closed configuration, latch arm 1129 will drop into catch 1132, thereby engaging the passive latching mechanism while the rack 1116 is still on the flat surface 1135 (thus allowing the user to more easily verify that it is in fact properly locked prior to lifting it off the surface 1135). Later, when the rack 1116 is lifted off of surface 1135, the bottom section of plunger rod 1128 naturally (as a result of gravity) pivots downwardly back into alignment with its top section so that it is once again able to transmit force from the surface 1135, i.e., so that when the rack 1116 once again is placed on the surface 1135, the passive latching mechanism will disengage, allowing the carrier 1117 to be slid into the open configuration.
In the foregoing embodiment, support members 1101 and 1102 move independently of each other. In certain variations on this embodiment, the two sets 1101 and 1102 of support members are coupled to each other so that both can be moved with a single handle 1120A or 1120B, but preferably in opposite directions. According to the variation shown in
According to still further variations on the present embodiment, a motor and gears are used to slide the carriers 1106 and 1107 for opening and closing of the support cross members 1101 and 1102, using a switch, or toggle, or button to activate the motors causing the operation of the carriers 1106 and 1107 and thereby moving the supporting members 1101 and 1102, effectively opening or closing the rack compartments 1109. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more levers and gears, with teeth on the sliding carriers 1106 and 1107, can be employed (rather than handles 1120A&B) to move the support members 1101 and 1102 between the open and closed positions.
Representative Control MechanismsAny of the mechanisms described herein for selectively securing beverage containers into a dishwasher rack may be used in any combination with any of the devices described herein for controlling such selectivity, such as any of the following:
1. A lever built into the outer wall of the dishwasher rack is pulled or pushed, engaging an array of gears or rods causing the mechanism to move into the open or closed position or causing a motor or servo or actuator to be engaged to move the mechanism from the open to the closed position and from the closed to the open position.
2. A sliding latch between the inner and outer wall of the dishwasher rack is slid to the open or to the closed position, engaging a carrying device, a gear array, or push rods to open or close the compartments in the dishwasher rack.
3. A knob is rotated engaging a gear array, or turning a shaft to open or close the compartments in the dishwasher rack.
4. A button or switch built into the outer wall of the dishwasher rack is pushed, engaging a motor, servo or actuator that engages a gear array, or turns a shaft to open or close the compartments in the dishwasher rack.
5. A panel is pulled out of or pushed into a receiving slot by hand to uncover or cover dishwasher rack compartments.
Additional Considerations.Some of the above embodiments employ mechanisms and configurable surfaces used to secure beverage containers into dishwasher rack by covering the top of the dishwasher rack compartments to allow the rack to be inverted without having the contents of the rack fall out of the compartments of the dishwasher rack, and then to release the beverage containers when the rack is completely inverted and in the desired position.
Other embodiments employ mechanisms and configurable surfaces in the floor of the dishwasher rack so that beverage containers loaded into the rack compartments rest on the configurable surface in its closed position in the usual way as when using a conventional dishwasher rack commonly found in the industry. When the configurable surface in the floor of the rack is then opened, the beverage containers in the rack are allowed to pass through the bottom of the rack, allowing the rack to be quickly emptied from a standard upright position.
In still further embodiments, any of such mechanisms and configurable surfaces used to cover the compartments of the dishwasher rack are provided in both the top and the bottom of the rack and/or selectively used in either the top or the bottom of the rack. In certain embodiments, the two mechanisms will work in unison to allow the contents of the rack to be locked and held into the compartments of the rack, while allowing for the release of the contents of the compartments of the rack through the floor of the rack while the rack is in the upright position.
In certain cases it is advantageous to provide a configurable (e.g., releasable) surface in a dishwasher rack extender only. Automatic dishwasher rack extenders are commonly used in the industry to increase the wall height of dishwasher racks by stacking multiple extenders together. A dishwasher rack extender having a configurable top surface according to the present invention allows the use and corresponding advantages of the present invention with dishwasher racks that are currently in use, e.g., by simply attaching such a rack extender to a conventional dishwasher rack.
All of the stated variations of the invention for securing beverage containers into a dishwasher rack preferably are used with a latch, lock or other securing device so the mechanism may be locked in the closed position. Such a securing device prevents the weight of the beverage containers and/or the movement of the full rack by being carried from causing the mechanism to open unintentionally (e.g., without being operated by user).
In the above disclosure, the invention is described with reference to the attached drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings merely depict certain representative and/or exemplary embodiments and features of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.
Any of the configurable surfaces and other mechanisms described herein may be used in the base component or in the rack extender portion of a rack. Any descriptions of a particular mechanism being incorporated into one such component should be understood as being merely exemplary. Also, although the present disclosure largely pertains to dishwasher racks having compartments for holding beverage containers, the configurable surfaces and other mechanisms of the present invention can be incorporated into embodiments of dishwasher racks that are configured for washing any other type of container, plate, utensil or other article, and such racks often will have separate compartments, slots or other structures for holding the individual articles and/or for holding multiple similar articles. The types of configurable surfaces that are preferable for each such embodiment often will depend upon the shapes and/or sizes of any such compartments, slots or other structures and/or upon the shapes and/or sizes of any items included within the rack. For example, where a slot is used to accommodate a plate, there often will be a preference toward using movable rods or other elongated members that are oriented perpendicular to such slots.
Many different embodiments of the present invention are described above, with each such embodiment described as including certain features pertaining to a commercial dishwasher rack. However, it is intended that the embodiments of the invention described herein not be confined only to use in conjunction with dishwasher racks, but any embodiment of the invention, including any mechanism or method for use, may be used in conjunction with any other box, bin, rack or other container for storage or transportation having walls and a floor, whether or not including separate compartments and irrespective of the size(s) and/or shape(s) of any such compartments. Any such container in accordance with the present invention preferably includes at least one configurable surface (e.g., having any of these structures described above) as its top and/or bottom surface.
In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the disclosure explicitly set forth herein or in the attached drawings, on the one hand, and any materials incorporated by reference herein, on the other, the present disclosure shall take precedence. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the disclosures of any applications or patents incorporated by reference herein, the more recently filed disclosure shall take precedence.
In the above discussion, certain methods are explained by breaking them down into steps listed in a particular order. However, it should be noted that in each such case, except to the extent clearly indicated to the contrary or mandated by practical considerations (such as where the results from one step are necessary to perform another), the indicated order is not critical but, instead, that the described steps can be reordered and/or two or more of such steps can be performed concurrently.
Similarly, in the discussion above, functionality sometimes is ascribed to a particular module or component. However, functionality generally may be redistributed as desired among any different modules or components, in some cases completely obviating the need for a particular component or module and/or requiring the addition of new components or modules. The precise distribution of functionality preferably is made according to known engineering tradeoffs, with reference to the specific embodiment of the invention, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
In the discussions above, the words “include”, “includes”, “including”, and all other forms of the word should not be understood as limiting, but rather any specific items following such words should be understood as being merely exemplary.
Several different embodiments of the present invention are described above, with each such embodiment described as including certain features. However, it is intended that the features described in connection with the discussion of any single embodiment are not limited to that embodiment but may be included and/or arranged in various combinations in any of the other embodiments as well, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
Thus, although the present invention has been described in detail with regard to the exemplary embodiments thereof and accompanying drawings, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various adaptations and modifications of the present invention may be accomplished without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in the drawings and described above. Rather, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention are to be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A dishwasher rack, comprising:
- an interior structure divided into separate compartments, each of said compartments sized and configured to hold an individual beverage container;
- a top side through which the compartments may be loaded; and
- a bottom side having a floor comprised of a first movable grid and a second movable grid,
- wherein each of the first movable grid and the second movable grid can be slid into a closed configuration to support a plurality of beverage containers and can be slid into an open configuration in which said beverage containers are able to pass through.
2. A dishwasher rack according to claim 1, wherein the first movable grid and the second movable grid slide in directions opposite of each other when moving from the open configuration to the closed configuration and when moving from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
3. A dishwasher rack according to claim 1, wherein the first movable grid and the second movable grid are slid independently of each other using two separate handles on opposite sides of the dishwasher rack.
4. A dishwasher rack according to claim 3, wherein said handles are pulled outwardly to provide the open configuration and are pushed inwardly to provide the closed configuration.
5. A dishwasher rack according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said handles includes a locking component for maintaining said at least one handle in the closed position.
6. A dishwasher rack according to claim 5, wherein said locking mechanism comprises at least one of a compression-fit element or a latch.
7. A dishwasher rack according to claim 1, comprising a base component that includes the bottom side and an extender component that attaches to the base component and includes the top side.
8. A dishwasher rack according to claim 7, wherein a first carrier for the first movable grid and a second carrier for the second movable grid are disposed between the base component and the extender component.
9. A dishwasher rack according to claim 1, wherein each of the first movable grid and the second movable grid comprises a set of parallel members.
10. A dishwasher rack according to claim 9, wherein the parallel members of the first movable grid and the second movable grid are rods.
11. A dishwasher rack according to claim 9, wherein in the closed configuration at least one of the parallel members of the first movable grid and at least one of the parallel members of the second movable grid occupy different positions within each of a plurality of the compartments.
12. A dishwasher rack according to claim 9, wherein said compartments are defined by dividers, and wherein in the closed configuration one of the parallel members of the first movable grid is disposed approximately ⅓ of a distance between adjacent dividers and one of the parallel members of the second movable grid is disposed approximately ⅔ of a distance between adjacent dividers.
13. A dishwasher rack according to claim 9, wherein said compartments are defined by dividers, and wherein in the open configuration the parallel members abut said dividers.
14. A dishwasher rack according to claim 13, wherein at least some of the dividers have top edge components that widen from top to bottom.
15. A dishwasher rack according to claim 14, wherein in the open configuration the parallel members are disposed underneath the top edge components.
16. A dishwasher rack according to claim 1, wherein when said dishwasher rack is placed on a smooth flat surface, all movable parts of the first movable grid and the second movable grid are disposed above said surface so that the first movable grid and the second movable grid can be freely slid into the open configuration, allowing any beverage containers to drop down onto said smooth flat surface.
17. A dishwasher rack according to claim 1, further comprising a release component disposed on the bottom side that must be pushed upwardly in order for the first movable grid and the second movable grid to be slid from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
18. A dishwasher rack according to claim 17, wherein the release component automatically is pushed upwardly when the dishwasher rack is placed on a smooth flat surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 9, 2015
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2015
Inventor: Justin Ammon (Redondo Beach, CA)
Application Number: 14/593,173
International Classification: A47L 15/50 (20060101);