Vertically adjustable utensil holder

Abstract

A vertically adjustable utensil holder ( 4 ) for placing on a basket spike ( 3 ) of a utensil basket ( 1 ) of a dishwasher comprises a shaft ( 5 ) which, during operation, projects into an inside of hollow-bodied utensils and on which the utensils are supported. It is further developed according to the invention in that the shaft ( 5 ) has several sections and its components ( 6; 7 ) are displaceable relative to each other (FIG. 1 ).

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A utensil holder for a dishwasher comprising:
 a shaft for projecting into an inner space of hollow-bodied utensils inserted thereover to thereby support such utensils, the shaft having a plurality of sections with at least two of such sections being displaceable relative to each other for adjustable variation of the length of the utensil holder, whereby the length of the utensil holder can be adjustably varied to accommodate hollow-bodied utensils having inner spaces of differing lengths.   
   
   
       17 . The utensil holder according to  claim 16 , wherein the length of the shaft is infinitely adjustable. 
   
   
       18 . The utensil holder according to  claim 16 , wherein the shaft has at least one outer shaft section and one inner shaft section that can be telescoped relative to each other between a withdrawal position and an insertion position. 
   
   
       19 . The utensil holder according to  claim 16 , wherein the shaft includes stop means for setting an adjusting position. 
   
   
       20 . The utensil holder according to  claim 18 , wherein a selected one of the outer and the inner shaft section has a guide pin and the other of the outer and the inner shaft section has a guide groove for engaging the guide pin on the other shaft during operation. 
   
   
       21 . The utensil holder according to  claim 18 , wherein a selected one of the outer and the inner shaft section has a coil and the other of the outer and the inner shaft section has a has a threaded groove that, during operation, is engaged by the coil on the other shaft. 
   
   
       22 . The utensil holder according to  claim 18  and further comprising a spring supported on the outer shaft section and the inner shaft section and operating to hold the outer shaft section and the inner shaft section together in a withdrawal position. 
   
   
       23 . The utensil holder according to  claim 18  and further comprising a head on the upper end of the inner section of the shaft, the head having a diameter greater than that of the outer shaft section and the head being able to be in essentially point contact with a surface in the inside of the utensils inserted on the shaft. 
   
   
       24 . The utensil holder according to  claim 23 , wherein the head has a selected one of a spherical and a hemispherical shape. 
   
   
       25 . The utensil holder according to  claim 18  and further comprising flexible retaining arms arranged on the upper end of the inner shaft section for point contact with a surface in the inside of the utensils inserted on the shaft. 
   
   
       26 . The utensil holder according to according to  claim 18 , wherein the utensil holder can be fastened to a utensil basket of a dishwasher by placing the utensil holder on a basket spike of the utensil basket. 
   
   
       27 . The utensil holder according to  claim 18 , wherein the utensil holder can be fastened to a bar or lattice wire of the utensil basket of a dishwasher by means of a plug connection. 
   
   
       28 . The utensil holder according to  claim 18 , wherein the utensil holder is suitable for fastening to a utensil basket of a dishwasher. 
   
   
       29 . A method for using a dishwasher, the method comprising:
 inserting a hollow-bodied utensil to be washed by the dishwaser over a utensil holder having a shaft for projecting into an inner space of hollow-bodied utensils inserted thereover to thereby support such utensils, the shaft having a plurality of sections with at least two of such sections being displaceable relative to each other for adjustable variation of the length of the utensil holder, whereby the length of the utensil holder can be adjustably varied to accommodate hollow-bodied utensils having inner spaces of differing lengths; and   operating the dishwasher to effect washing of the hollow-bodied utensil.   
   
   
       30 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a utensil holder having a shaft for projecting into an inner space of hollow-bodied utensils inserted thereover to thereby support such utensils, the shaft having a plurality of sections with at least two of such sections being displaceable relative to each other for adjustable variation of the length of the utensil holder, whereby the length of the utensil holder can be adjustably varied to accommodate hollow-bodied utensils having inner spaces of differing lengths; and   means for operating the dishwasher to effect washing of the hollow-bodied utensil.