Cutlery Basket for a Dishwasher

Abstract

A cutlery basket for a dishwasher includes at least one crockery basket into which at least one cutlery basket can be inserted and the cutlery basket has at least one cutlery basket base or at least one cutlery basket sidewall which is provided with a plurality of passages for washing liquid to pass through. The cutlery basket allows in a simple and efficient manner to substantially eliminate the danger of injury presented by items of cutlery that project upwards, especially items that are arranged with their tips pointing upwards, e.g. forks, steak knives, etc. For this purpose, at least one of the cutlery basket sidewalls that is substantially perpendicular to the cutlery basket base rises above the height of the items of cutlery that are optionally arranged in at least one cutlery basket in a substantially vertically upward-pointing manner.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . A cutlery basket for a dishwasher, the dishwasher having at least one crockery basket into which at least one cutlery basket can be inserted, the cutlery basket comprising:
 a lower structure and plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the lower structure, the lower structure supporting thereon cutlery items and the side walls promoting upward orientations of cutlery items resting thereagainst; and   means forming a plurality of passages in at least one of the lower structure of the cutlery basket and one side wall of the cutlery basket for washing liquid to pass therethrough and at least one of the cutlery basket side walls rises to a height at least above the height of the cutlery items that are supported in the cutlery basket.   
   
   
       15 . The cutlery basket according to  claim 14 , wherein the cutlery basket is operable to support cutlery items so that they point upwards in the cutlery basket and all the cutlery basket side walls at least rise above the height of any cutlery items arranged so that they point upwards in the cutlery basket. 
   
   
       16 . The cutlery basket according to  claim 15 , wherein the cutlery basket is operable to be disposed in dishwashers with at least two crockery baskets arranged one above the other with one of the cutlery baskets arranged in the lowermost crockery basket in the position of use, the height of the cutlery basket side walls which at least exceed the height of the cutlery items optionally arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards is limited by at least one of the next crockery basket arranged above the lowermost crockery basket and a spray device in the position of use. 
   
   
       17 . The cutlery basket according to  claim 15 , wherein the cutlery basket is operable to be disposed in dishwashers with only one crockery basket, the height of the cutlery basket side walls which at least exceed the height of the cutlery items optionally arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards is limited by an opening height of a treatment chamber of the dishwasher. 
   
   
       18 . The cutlery basket according to  claim 14 , wherein the cutlery basket side walls which rise above the cutlery items arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards are arranged so that they diverge upwards in the position of use at least partly in a funnel shape. 
   
   
       19 . The cutlery basket according to  claim 14 , wherein the cutlery basket side walls which rise above the cutlery items arranged in the cutlery basket so that they point upwards can be at least partially removable. 
   
   
       20 . The cutlery basket according to  claim 19 , wherein the removable wall portion consists of individual wall portions. 
   
   
       21 . The cutlery basket according to  claim 20 , wherein the individual wall portions of the removable wall portion are hinged about vertical axes in the position of use so that the removable wall portion is foldable. 
   
   
       22 . The cutlery basket according to  claim 20 , wherein the removable wall portion is fabricated in one piece. 
   
   
       23 . The cutlery basket according to  claim 14 , wherein the cutlery basket has a cover. 
   
   
       24 . The cutlery basket according to  claim 23 , wherein the cover is hinged to at least one of the cutlery basket side walls and at least one of the individual wall portions. 
   
   
       25 . The cutlery basket according to  claim 23 , wherein the cutlery basket is fabricated in a selected one of a one piece configuration with the cover and a configuration with the removable wall portion fabricated in one piece with the cover. 
   
   
       26 . The cutlery basket according to according to  claim 20 , wherein water guiding surfaces are arranged at least at one of the cutlery basket side walls which diverge upwards in a funnel shape in the position of use or at least at one of the individual wall portions which diverge upwards in a funnel shape in the position of use.