Dishwashing appliance with tine arrangement system

Abstract

A tine arrangement assembly for a dishwasher includes an outer frame defining a perimeter. A plurality of supporting cross-members extend across the outer frame within the perimeter. A first elongated tine apparatus includes a first elongated base member and a plurality of first elongated tines that extend from the first elongated base member a first height. A first shortened tine apparatus is spaced from the first elongated tine apparatus and includes a first shortened base member and a plurality of first shortened tines that extend from the first shortened base member a second height that is less than the first height.

1 . A tine arrangement assembly for a dishwasher comprising:
 an outer frame defining a perimeter;   a plurality of supporting cross-members extending across the outer frame within the perimeter;   a first elongated tine apparatus including a first elongated base member and a plurality of first elongated tines that extend from the first elongated base member a first height; and   a first shortened tine apparatus spaced from the first elongated tine apparatus and including a first shortened base member and a plurality of first shortened tines that statically extend from the first shortened base member at an angle generally away from the plurality of first elongated tines to a second height that is less than the first height.   
     
     
         2 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated base member extends parallel to the first shortened base member. 
     
     
         3 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of supporting cross-members extend perpendicularly to the first elongated base member and the first shortened base member. 
     
     
         4 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first shortened base member is statically connected to at least two of the plurality of supporting cross-members. 
     
     
         5 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first elongated base member is pivotally connected to at least two of the plurality of supporting cross-members. 
     
     
         6 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first elongated tine base member includes a first portion and a second portion individually pivotally connected to at least one pivot linkage for being individually articulated between an erected position and a stowed position. 
     
     
         7 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first height is more than double the second height. 
     
     
         8 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first elongated tines are aligned with each of the plurality of first shortened tines. 
     
     
         9 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated tine apparatus is located outwardly from the first shortened tine apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second elongated tine apparatus including a second elongated base member and a plurality of second elongated tines that extend from the second elongated base member the first height; and   a second shortened tine apparatus spaced from the second elongated tine apparatus and including a second shortened base member and a plurality of second shortened tines that extend from the second shortened base member the second height.   
     
     
         11 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first shortened tine apparatus and the second shortened tine apparatus are located between the first elongated tine apparatus and the second elongated tine apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . A dishwasher appliance comprising:
 a body defining an internal chamber and an opening to the internal chamber;   a door mounted to the body and selectively moveable relative to the opening to open and close the opening;   a lower track system;   a tine arrangement assembly operably connected to the lower track system and moveable in and out of the opening, the tine arrangement assembly comprising:
 an outer frame defining a perimeter; 
 a plurality of supporting cross-members extending across the outer frame within the perimeter; 
 a first elongated tine apparatus including a first elongated base member and a plurality of first elongated tines that extend from the first elongated base member a first height, the first elongated tine base member includes a first portion and a second portion extending in a parallel relationship and individually pivotally connected to at least one pivot linkage for being individually articulated between an erected position and a stowed position; and 
 a first shortened tine apparatus spaced from the first elongated tine apparatus and including a first shortened base member and a plurality of first shortened tines that extend from the first shortened base member a second height that is less than half the first height. 
   
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the tine arrangement assembly further comprises:
 a second elongated tine apparatus including a second elongated base member and a plurality of second elongated tines that extend from the second elongated base member the first height; and   a second shortened tine apparatus spaced from the second elongated tine apparatus and including a second shortened base member and a plurality of second shortened tines that extend from the second shortened base member the second height.   
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the first shortened tine apparatus and the second shortened tine apparatus are located between the first elongated tine apparatus and the second elongated tine apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of first elongated tines are aligned with the plurality of first shortened tines and the plurality of second elongated tines are aligned with the plurality of second shortened tines. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of first shortened tines and the plurality of second shortened tines are statically connected to at least two of the supporting cross-members. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the first elongated tine base member are pivotal to the erected position wherein the plurality of first elongated tines are angled towards the plurality of first shortened tines. 
     
     
         18 . A dishwasher rack with a tine arrangement assembly comprising:
 an outer frame defining a perimeter;   a plurality of supporting cross-members extending across the outer frame within the perimeter;   an elongated tine apparatus pivotally connected to at least two of the supporting cross-members, the elongated tine apparatus including an elongated base member and a plurality of elongated tines that extend from the elongated base member a first height; and   a shortened tine apparatus statically connected to at least two of the supporting cross-members, the shortened tine apparatus spaced from the elongated tine apparatus and including a shortened base member and a plurality of shortened tines that extend from the shortened base member a second height that is less than the first height by a ratio of at least 1:4.   
     
     
         19 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the ratio between the first height and the second height is at least 1:8. 
     
     
         20 . The tine arrangement assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first elongated tine base member includes a first portion and a second portion individually pivotally connected to a common pivot linkage for being individually articulated between an erected position and a stowed position.