Dishwasher rack with removable handle

Abstract

A dishwasher rack handle to minimize the amount of bending required by a user in order to remove the lower rack in a dishwasher is disclosed. The handle is removably secured to the lower rack which is generally formed from a plurality of wire members arranged in an open network construction. The handle is snap fit or pressure fit to the lower rack. The handle is L-shaped and includes upper arms with a grip portion capable of being gripped by a user and lower legs. The legs terminate in a pair of tabs which are woven around the open network construction of the lower rack to secure the handle to the rack.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dishwasher rack assembly comprising: 
 a bottom wall formed by a plurality of wire members;    a sidewall formed by a plurality of wire members and having an upper perimeter edge; and    a handle removably secured to one or more of the wire members of the bottom wall or sidewall.    
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher rack assembly of  claim 1  wherein the handle is removably secured by fitting the handle under a first wire member of the bottom wall and over a second wire member of the bottom wall.  
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher rack assembly of  claim 1  wherein the handle extends above the perimeter edge.  
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher rack assembly of  claim 1  wherein the handle is L-shaped.  
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher rack assembly of  claim 1  wherein the handle includes a pair of legs extending along the bottom wall of the rack and an arm extending upwardly from the legs.  
     
     
         6 . An attachment for use on a rack in a dishwasher, comprising: 
 a handle having an upper and lower portion, the upper portion of the handle extending above the rack and being capable of being gripped by users and the lower portion of the handle adapted to be removably secured to the rack.    
     
     
         7 . The attachment of  claim 6  wherein the upper portion includes a pair of upwardly extending arms with an interconnecting grip portion.  
     
     
         8 . The attachment of  claim 7  wherein the lower portion includes a pair of legs extending rearwardly from the arms.  
     
     
         9 . The attachment of  claim 9  wherein each of the legs have an inwardly turned tab adapted to overlap a portion of the rack to removably secure the attachment to the rack.  
     
     
         10 . A handle for a lower rack of an automatic dishwasher, the lower rack having a bottom wall and sidewalls, the handle comprising: 
 an L-shaped member having at least one upwardly extending arm and at least one rearwardly extending leg;    a horizontal grip portion on the arm for gripping by a person; and    the L-shaped member being removably installed on the rack.    
     
     
         11 . The handle of  claim 10  wherein the L-shaped member is installed without the use of tools.  
     
     
         12 . The handle of  claim 10  wherein the L-shaped member includes a pair of spaced apart arms and a pair of spaced apart legs.  
     
     
         13 . The handle of  claim 12  wherein the grip portion extends between the pair of legs.  
     
     
         14 . The handle of  claim 12  wherein the legs extend under a portion of the bottom wall of the rack.  
     
     
         15 . The handle of  claim 12  wherein the arms extend in front of the sidewalls of the rack.  
     
     
         16 . The handle of  claim 12  wherein the legs are resilient and are threaded under and over portions of the bottom wall of the rack.