Auxiliary rack and automatic dishwasher using the same

Abstract

An auxiliary rack for an automatic dishwasher increases an adaptability of racks to accommodate a variety of items to be washed and further increases the adaptability through the use of a single auxiliary rack. An automatic dishwasher can be selectively provided with at least one auxiliary rack, which includes a pivot support; and an auxiliary rack insert, rotatably coupled to the pivot support, having a plurality of rack insert sides, each side providing a specific accommodation of items according to a rotation of the auxiliary rack insert. The auxiliary rack insert is selectively rotatable with respect to the pivot support through an insertion of at least one pivot pin, centrally disposed with respect to the auxiliary rack insert, into at least one pivot hole formed in either the pivot support or the auxiliary rack insert to be disposed in opposition to the pivot pin, thereby enabling a selective rotation of the auxiliary rack insert with respect to the pivot support, to direct upward any one of the rack insert sides. At least one nodule protrudes to a predetermined height from either the pivot support or the auxiliary rack insert, with at least one recess being opposingly formed to receive and seat the nodule in a rotation-checked state, which directs upward one of the plurality of rack insert sides.

1 . An auxiliary rack for accommodating items to be washed by an automatic dishwasher, the auxiliary rack comprising: 
 a pivot support; and    an auxiliary rack insert, rotatably coupled to said pivot support, having a plurality of rack insert sides, each side providing a specific accommodation of items according to a rotation of said auxiliary rack insert.    
   
   
       2 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary rack insert has two rack insert sides.  
   
   
       3 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation of said auxiliary rack insert is 180°.  
   
   
       4 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 detachable fixing means for selectively installing the auxiliary rack in an automatic dishwasher.    
   
   
       5 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said detachable fixing means is connected to said pivot support.  
   
   
       6 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said detachable fixing means comprises at least one hanger connected to a rear surface of said pivot support.  
   
   
       7 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pivot support comprises a rear connecting bar for supporting said pivot support.  
   
   
       8 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 detachable fixing means, connected to said rear surface of the rear connecting bar, for selectively installing the auxiliary rack in an automatic dishwasher.    
   
   
       9 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pivot support is formed of an elastic material to impart said pivot support with an elasticity with respect to said auxiliary rack insert.  
   
   
       10 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the elasticity of said pivot support enables a selective rotation of said auxiliary rack insert with respect to said pivot support.  
   
   
       11 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the elasticity of said pivot support enables replacement and exchange of said auxiliary rack insert with respect to said pivot support.  
   
   
       12 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary rack insert has at least one outer frame surface and wherein said pivot support has at least one inner pivoting surface, disposed in opposition to the at least one outer frame surface, for receiving said auxiliary rack insert.  
   
   
       13 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein one of the at least one inner pivoting surface and the at least one outer frame surface has a pivot hole for receiving a pivot pin protruding a predetermined length from the other of the at least one inner pivoting surface and the at least one outer frame surface.  
   
   
       14 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the pivot pin is centrally disposed with respect to said auxiliary rack insert to support the rotation of said auxiliary rack insert.  
   
   
       15 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined length of the pivot pin supports a selective rotation of said auxiliary rack insert with respect to said pivot support.  
   
   
       16 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means for rotating said auxiliary rack insert with respect to said pivot support, said rotation means being established by an insertion of at least one pivot pin, centrally disposed with respect to said auxiliary rack insert, into at least one pivot hole formed in one said pivot support and said auxiliary rack insert and disposed in opposition to the at least one pivot pin.    
   
   
       17 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said rotation means enables a selective rotation of said auxiliary rack insert with respect to said pivot support, to direct upward one of the plurality of rack insert sides.  
   
   
       18 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a rotation checking means, provided to each of said pivot support and said auxiliary rack insert, for selectively checking the rotation of said auxiliary rack insert, to direct upward one of the plurality of rack insert sides in a rotation-checked state.  
   
   
       19 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said rotation checking means comprises: 
 at least one nodule protruding to a predetermined height from one of said pivot support and said auxiliary rack insert; and    at least one recess, formed in the other of said pivot support and said auxiliary rack insert, for receiving and seating said at least one nodule in a rotation-checked state.    
   
   
       20 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein each of said at least one nodule comprises at least one inclined surface to impart the nodules with a predetermined angle of inclination.  
   
   
       21 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said at least one inclined surface is disposed along at least one engaging edge of each nodule according to the rotation of said auxiliary rack insert.  
   
   
       22 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the predetermined angle of inclination facilitates the rotation of said auxiliary rack insert and provides a checking force sufficient to sufficient to hold the rotation-checked state.  
   
   
       23 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said rotation checking means is disposed on either side of a means for rotating said auxiliary rack insert with respect to said pivot support.  
   
   
       24 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary rack insert has more than two rack insert sides and wherein a rotation of less than 180° selectively directs upward one of the more than two rack insert sides.  
   
   
       25 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pivot support comprises: 
 at least one inner pivoting surface, disposed in opposition to at least one outer frame surface of said auxiliary rack insert, for elastically receiving said auxiliary rack insert;    a rear connecting bar, connected to said at least one inner pivoting surface, for supporting said pivot support; and    at least one hanger, connected to a rear surface of said rear connecting bar, for selectively installing the auxiliary rack in an automatic dishwasher.    
   
   
       26 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary rack insert comprises: 
 a lattice structure formed by a plurality of first rods intersecting a plurality of second rods.    
   
   
       27 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said lattice structure comprises: 
 a plurality of first and second pegs, each extending perpendicularly to a predetermined height from predetermined points of intersection between the first and second rods, to provide a specific accommodation of items according to the rotation of said auxiliary rack insert.    
   
   
       28 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said lattice structure comprises: 
 first and second side holders for receiving items to be washed, each side holder being arranged along one side of said auxiliary rack insert so that a selective rotation of said auxiliary rack insert causes one of said first and second side holders to become accessible.    
   
   
       29 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said first and second side holders are configured to have a predetermined gradient with respect to the auxiliary rack, the predetermined gradient allowing the received items to be washed to be held at rest in the accessible side holder when the auxiliary rack is installed in an automatic dishwasher.  
   
   
       30 . An auxiliary rack for accommodating items to be washed by an automatic dishwasher, the auxiliary rack comprising: 
 a frame having at least two sides between which a lattice structure connected to inner surfaces of said frame is formed; and    detachable fixing means, provided to at least one outer surface of said frame, for selectively installing the auxiliary rack in a cabinet housing of an automatic dishwasher.    
   
   
       31 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein said detachable fixing means comprises at least one hanger connected to a rear surface of said frame.  
   
   
       32 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the lattice structure of said frame is formed by a plurality of first rods intersecting a plurality of second rods.  
   
   
       33 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the lattice structure comprises a plurality of pegs, extending perpendicularly to a predetermined height from predetermined points of intersection between the first and second rods, to provide a specific accommodation of items.  
   
   
       34 . The auxiliary rack as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein said lattice structure comprises: 
 a side holder for receiving items to be washed, said side holder being arranged along one side of said frame and configured to have a predetermined gradient with respect to the auxiliary rack, the predetermined gradient allowing the received items to be washed to be held at rest in said side holder when the auxiliary rack is installed in an automatic dishwasher.    
   
   
       35 . An automatic dishwasher comprising: 
 at least one sliding rack installed in a cabinet housing of the automatic dishwasher; and    at least one auxiliary rack for providing a specific accommodation of items to be washed, comprising: 
 a frame having at least two sides between which a lattice structure connected to inner surfaces of said frame is formed; and  
 detachable fixing means, provided to at least one outer surface of said frame, for selectively installing the at least one auxiliary rack with respect to said at least one sliding rack.  
   
   
   
       36 . The automatic dishwasher as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein said at least one auxiliary rack further comprises: 
 a pivot support; and    an auxiliary rack insert, rotatably coupled to said pivot support, having a plurality of rack insert sides, each side providing a specific accommodation of items according to a rotation of said auxiliary rack insert.    
   
   
       37 . The automatic dishwasher as claimed in  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 means for rotating said auxiliary rack insert with respect to said pivot support, said rotation means being established by an insertion of at least one pivot pin, centrally disposed with respect to said auxiliary rack insert, into at least one pivot hole formed in one said pivot support and said auxiliary rack insert and disposed in opposition to the at least one pivot pin.    
   
   
       38 . The automatic dishwasher as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein said rotation means enables a selective rotation of said auxiliary rack insert with respect to said pivot support, to direct upward one of the plurality of rack insert sides.  
   
   
       39 . The automatic dishwasher as claimed in  claim 36 , further comprising a rotation checking means, provided to each of said pivot support and said auxiliary rack insert, for selectively checking the rotation of said auxiliary rack insert, to direct upward one of the plurality of rack insert sides in a rotation-checked state.  
   
   
       40 . The automatic dishwasher as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein said rotation checking means comprises: 
 at least one nodule protruding to a predetermined height from one of said pivot support and said auxiliary rack insert; and    at least one recess, formed in the other of said pivot support and said auxiliary rack insert, for receiving and seating said at least one nodule in a rotation-checked state.