Dishwasher

This invention relates to a dishwasher which is easy to use by means of more than one cover and basket.

In the dishwashers, there is a cover attached to the body by a hinge from the lower part generally covering the washing tub. When the cover is opened, it rotates around the hinge and changes from vertical position into horizontal position. After the cover is opened, the user pulls the baskets out for loading and removing and, closes the cover accordingly. In this application, the user who wants to load even a single object e.g. in the lower basket, opens the cover to a horizontal position, pulls out the lower basket, loads the object, pushes the basket back and closes the cover respectively. These steps are not ergonomic for the user. In the state of art, various works have been carried out to make the covers of the dishwashers more ergonomic.

In the prior art, European Patent <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP807400A"><text>EP 807400</text></patcit> describes a dishwasher having more than one drawer type covers each covering different washing tubs. Different washing components such as pump and spray arm operate for the tubs of the dishwashers and tubs may be used independent from each other. Multiple use of the same component and formation of separate compartments result in the efficient use of only a smaller part of the washing tub.

In the state of art, United States Patent <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US6260565B"><text>US6260565</text></patcit> defines a dishwasher having two covers one in drawer type and the other with hinges covering two separate washing tubs. These two separate washing tubs can be used independently from each other.

In the prior art, European Patent Application <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="EP1189534A"><text>EP 1189534</text></patcit> discloses a dishwasher having a cover opening by sliding like a drawer. The lower basket of the dishwasher is pulled out with the cover opened by sliding. The other baskets of the dishwasher are only reached by a pulling after the cover is opened.

The object of this invention is to provide a dishwasher having covers which can be opened and closed to enable the user load and remove the objects easily in the baskets of the dishwasher. This object is achieved by a dishwasher as defined in the appended independent claim 1.

The dishwasher realized in order to attain above mentioned objects of the present invention has been illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein; <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is a schematic view of a dishwasher,</li><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 2</figref> is schematic view of a dishwasher wherein the upper basket is pulled outside.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> is a schematic view of a dishwasher wherein the lower basket is pulled outside.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 4</figref> is a schematic view of a dishwasher comprising a drip tray under both the upper and the lower baskets.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 5</figref> is a schematic view of a dishwasher comprising a drip tray under both the upper and the lower basket wherein the upper basket is pulled outside.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 6</figref> is a schematic view of a dishwasher having a lower cover so high to cover the base.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 7</figref> is a schematic view of a dishwasher having a lower cover so high to cover the base wherein the lower basket is pulled outside.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 8</figref> is a schematic view of a dishwasher having an upper basket with adjustable hight.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Figure 9</figref> is a schematic view of a dishwasher having an upper basket with adjustable hight and lower cover moving in a linear direction.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Figure 10</figref> is a schematic view of a dishwasher having an upper basket with adjustable hight and lower cover moving in a circular direction.</li></ul>

The components shown in the figures have been enumerated as below; <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>1. Dishwasher</li><li>2. Washing tub</li><li>3. Sump</li><li>5. Lower spray arm</li><li>6. Upper spray arm</li><li>7. Water distribution line</li><li>8. Body</li><li>12. Lower basket</li><li>13. Upper basket</li><li>15. Base</li><li>101.Lower cover</li><li>102.Upper cover</li><li>103.Dragger</li><li>104.Spraying member</li><li>105.Locking mechanism</li><li>106.Opening</li><li>108.Drip tray</li><li>201. Additional drip tray</li><li>301. Height Adjustment Mechanism</li><li>302. Connection mechanism</li></ul>

The dishwasher (1) which is the subject of this invention comprises a body (8), a washing tub (2) in the body (8), a sump (3) where the water is collected, under the washing tub (2), upper and lower spray arms (5 and 6) directing the water to the objects, a circulation pump directing the water from the sump (3) to the upper and lower spray arms (5 and 6), a water distribution line (7) connected to the circulation pump, a discharge pump used to discharge the water collected in the sump (3) at the end of the washing cycle out of the dishwasher (1), a heater used to heat the washing water and the objects therein, a water inlet valve receiving the washing water, a base (15) and at least two baskets (12 and 13) where the objects are loaded.

The dishwasher (1) comprises at least two covers (101 and 102) attached to the baskets (12 and 13) covering the washing tub (2). When the objects are loaded in the dishwasher (1), covers (101 and 102) and baskets (12 and 13) attached to them are pulled by sliding out of the body (8) and covers (101 and 102) are closed after the loading step is completed.

Furthermore, the dishwasher (1) comprises a drip tray (108) under the lower basket (12) which is connected with the cover (101) attached to the basket (12) and moves together, preventing the dripping of the water from the objects on the outer environment when the baskets (12 and 13) are pulled out of the body. The drip tray has the required dimensions for preventing the dripping, for example it has almost the same size with the lower basket (12) and the parts of the baskets (12 and 13) that are pulled out. When the cover (101) is open, the water dripping from the objects in the baskets (12 and 13) slides over the drip tray (108) to the sump (3). When the cover (101) is closed, the washing water slides through an opening (106) between the drip tray (108) and the washing tub (2) to the sump (3). Sump (3) is intentionally mounted under a very close place to the opening (106) to transfer the washing water swiftly and prevent its collection.

Additionally the dishwasher (1) comprises one or more spraying member (104) under the drip tray (108) cleaning the dirt collected under the drip tray (108) and inside walls of the sump (3). Drip tray (108) forms a set between the spray arms (5 and 6) and sump (3) during the washing cycle, hence the dirt inside walls of the sump (3) and under the drip tray (108) is not cleaned as desired. The accumulation of the dirt is therefore prevented by means of the spraying member (104) connected to the water distribution line (7).

The dishwasher comprises a dragger (103) under the cover (102) connected to the upper basket (13), opening the upper cover (102) at the same amount with the lower cover (101) when it is opened. Since no structure is used to prevent the dripping of water from the objects when the upper basket (13) is pulled out, the lower cover (101) is attached to the dragger (103) when the upper door (102) is opened and both covers (101 and 102) are opened together at the same amount. Drip tray (108) can function for both baskets (12 and 13) in this way.

The dishwasher (1) further comprises a locking mechanism (105) providing the independent movement of the lower cover (101) from the lower basket (12) when opened together with the upper cover (102) when the upper cover (102) is opened and the joint movement of the lower cover (101) with the lower basket (12) when the lower cover (101) is opened. When the objects are to be loaded to only the upper basket (13), as both the upper cover (102) and the lower cover (101) are opened together by the dragger (103) and as it would not be easy for the user to pull entirely or partially full lower basket (12) out of the body (8), by means of the locking mechanism (105), the lower basket (12) is pulled only when the lower cover (101) is opened. When the user pulls the cover handle on the upper cover (102) to pull out the upper basket (13), locking mechanism (105) locks the upper cover (102) with the lower cover (101) and separates the lower cover (101) from the lower basket (12). When the user prefers to use the lower basket (12), the handle on the lower cover (101) is pulled and the lower basket (12) is pulled out with the lower cover (101) as the locking mechanism is not activated.

When the dishwasher (1) is used, the user loads the objects into the baskets (12 and 13) by opening one of the lower and upper covers (101 and 102).

In another embodiment of the invention, dishwasher (1) comprises a height adjustment mechanism (301) providing the adjustment of the height of upper basket (13) for example in two positions like low and high and a connection mechanism (301) changing the position of the connection point of the upper basket (13) with the upper cover (102) when the position of the upper basket (13) is changed. As the upper basket (13) can be used in more than one position, when the upper basket (13) is in a high position, the upper cover (10) is at sufficient height (h₁) to prevent being hit by the object (h₂) at maximum height which can be placed in the lower basket (12) when the basket (12) and the lower cover (101) are pulled out of the body (8). In this embodiment the height (h₁) of the upper cover (102) may be shorter than that of the lower cover (101).

In another embodiment of the invention, the dishwasher (1) has the lower cover (101) in a form that when the upper basket (13) is pulled out the lower cover (101) will not affect the movement of the upper basket (13) when the upper basket (13) is adjusted to low position by means of the height adjustment mechanism (301). The lower cover (101) moves in linear or circular direction by the way of preferably a spring-based movement mechanism placed in the upper part. When the lower cover (101) moves in a circular direction, it moves forward and backward. When the lower cover (101) moves in a linear direction, it moves towards inside and outside.

In another embodiment of the invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises an additional drip tray (201) under the upper basket (13) connected to the cover (102) attached to the upper basket (13) preventing the water of the objects in the upper basket (13) from dripping on the floor when the upper basket (13) is pulled out of the body (8). In this embodiment, as there is an additional drip tray (201) holding the water dripping from the objects in the upper basket (13), the lower cover (102) does not need to be opened with the upper cover (101). Accordingly, there is no dragger (103) and locking mechanism (105) in this embodiment.

In another embodiment of the invention, the lower cover (101) is formed in a suitable size to prevent the base (15) from being seen. Therefore when desired, a more decorative appearance may be obtained by placing the dishwasher (1) in the kitchen leaving under a high base.

Although the dishwasher (1) comprises only one washing tub (2) and has the same design and placement of the components as in the conventional machines, the covers (101 and 102) and the baskets (12 and 13) attached to them provide an easy use for the loading and discharge of the objects by sliding and opening with one movement.