Lower rack for a dishwasher and associated apparatuses

Abstract

A lower rack for a dishwasher is provided, comprising a rack member movable into and out of the dishwasher along first and second tracks extending from the tub to an interior portion of the dishwasher door. The lower rack includes at least one rack roller mechanism on each laterally-opposed side portion of the rack member, for facilitating movement of the rack member with respect to the lower end of the tub and the interior portion of the open door. One of the rack roller mechanisms includes a leadingly-disposed stop portion, as the rack member is moved out of the lower end of the tub and along the interior portion of the open door for interacting with a stop feature of the corresponding one of the first and second tracks to limit egress of the rack member from the tub along the first and second tracks. Associated apparatuses are also provided.

1 . A lower rack for a dishwasher, the dishwasher being adapted to include a tub with a lower end and a door pivotable about the lower end of the tub to an open position, the lower end of the tub and an interior portion of the open door each having corresponding, laterally-opposed flanges, each corresponding tub flange and door flange cooperating to define respective laterally-opposed first and second tracks, and at least one of the laterally-opposed door flanges having a first stop feature associated therewith, the lower rack comprising:
 a rack member having laterally-opposed side portions and adapted to receive dishware therein, the rack member being further adapted to be movable into and out of a lower end of the tub and with respect to the interior portion of the open door; and   a rack roller mechanism operably engaged with each side portion of the rack member, and configured to facilitate movement of the rack member with respect to the lower end of the tub and the interior portion of the open door, each rack roller mechanism comprising a carriage member having a wheel element operably engaged therewith, the rack roller mechanisms being further adapted to operably engage the corresponding first and second tracks such that the corresponding wheel element rolls thereon, at least one of the rack roller mechanisms further comprising a first stop portion leadingly disposed with respect to the wheel element as the rack member is moved out of the lower end of the tub and along the interior portion of the open door, the first stop portion being adapted to interact with the first stop feature associated with the corresponding one of the first and second tracks so as to provide a first stop mechanism for limiting egress of the rack member from the tub along the first and second tracks.   
   
   
       2 . A lower rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the first stop portion is configured to extend from the carriage member, between the wheel element and the first stop feature, to prevent the wheel element from contacting the first stop feature. 
   
   
       3 . A lower rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the first stop portion is configured to interact with the first stop feature to prevent further substantially horizontal movement of the rack member out of the lower end of the tub. 
   
   
       4 . A lower rack according to  claim 1 , wherein the first stop portion is configured to interact with the first stop feature to minimize substantially vertical movement of the rack member with respect to the interior portion of the open door. 
   
   
       5 . A lower rack according to  claim 1 , wherein each side portion of the rack member includes at least one rack roller mechanism having a first stop portion leadingly disposed with respect to the wheel element and configured to interact with a corresponding first stop feature associated with each of the first and second tracks. 
   
   
       6 . A lower rack according to  claim 1 , wherein each rack roller mechanism further comprises a pair of spaced-apart wheel elements rotatably engaged with the carriage member. 
   
   
       7 . A lower rack according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rack roller mechanisms further comprises a second stop portion leadingly disposed with respect to the wheel element as the rack member is moved into the lower end of the tub, the second stop portion being adapted to interact with a second stop feature associated with the corresponding one of the first and second tracks so as to provide a second stop mechanism for limiting ingress of the rack member into the lower end of the tub along the first and second tracks. 
   
   
       8 . A washing appliance comprising:
 a tub having a lower end with laterally-opposed flanges;   a door pivotable about the lower end of the tub to an open position, an interior portion of the open door having laterally-opposed flanges corresponding to the tub flanges, each corresponding tub flange and door flange cooperating to define respective laterally-opposed first and second tracks;   a first stop feature associated with at least one of the laterally-opposed door flanges;   a rack member having laterally-opposed side portions and adapted to receive dishware therein, the rack member further being movable into and out of a lower end of the tub and with respect to the interior portion of the open door; and   a rack roller mechanism operably engaged with each side portion of the rack member, and configured to facilitate movement of the rack member with respect to the lower end of the tub and the interior portion of the open door, each rack roller mechanism comprising a carriage member having a wheel element operably engaged therewith, the rack roller mechanisms being further configured to operably engage the corresponding first and second tracks such that the corresponding wheel element rolls thereon, at least one of the rack roller mechanisms further comprising a first stop portion leadingly disposed with respect to the wheel element as the rack member is moved out of the lower end of the tub and along the interior portion of the open door, the first stop portion being configured to interact with the first stop feature associated with the corresponding one of the first and second tracks so as to provide a first stop mechanism for limiting egress of the rack member from the tub along the first and second tracks.   
   
   
       9 . A washing appliance according to  claim 8 , wherein the first stop portion is configured to extend from the carriage member, between the wheel element and the first stop feature, to prevent the wheel element from contacting the first stop feature. 
   
   
       10 . A washing appliance according to  claim 8 , wherein the first stop portion is configured to interact with the first stop feature to prevent further substantially horizontal movement of the rack member out of the lower end of the tub. 
   
   
       11 . A washing appliance according to  claim 8 , wherein the first stop portion is configured to interact with the first stop feature to minimize substantially vertical movement of the rack member with respect to the interior portion of the open door. 
   
   
       12 . A washing appliance according to  claim 8 , wherein each side portion of the rack member includes at least one rack roller mechanism having a first stop portion leadingly disposed with respect to the wheel element and configured to interact with a corresponding first stop feature associated with each of the first and second tracks. 
   
   
       13 . A washing appliance according to  claim 8 , wherein each rack roller mechanism further comprises a pair of spaced-apart wheel elements rotatably engaged with the carriage member. 
   
   
       14 . A washing appliance according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the rack roller mechanisms further comprises a second stop portion leadingly disposed with respect to the wheel element as the rack member is moved into the lower end of the tub. 
   
   
       15 . A washing appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein the second stop portion is configured to interact with a second stop feature associated with the corresponding one of the first and second tracks so as to provide a second stop mechanism for limiting ingress of the rack member into the lower end of the tub along the first and second tracks.