Rack mechanism for toploading dishwasher

Claim 2

A top opening dishwasher comprising an upwardly opening washing tub having a lid pivoted along the rear edge thereof for selectively closing the tub; an upper rack and means pivotally mounting the upper rack on the lid adjacent the rear thereof for simultaneous movement therewith; means for maintaining the upper rack generally horizontal throughout the range of movement of the lid; a bottom rack and means mounting the bottom rack for vertical movement in the tub from a first position adjacent the bottom thereof in supported relation with the tub to a second position elevated above the first position; and means interconnecting the lid and the bottom rack for moving the bottom rack from the first position to the second position in response to lid opening movement including lost motion means interconnecting the lid and the bottom rack at locations imposing no substantial moment on the upper rack for allowing the lid to move away from its closed position before elevating the bottom rack, the lost motion means including an elongate collapsible element.

Claim 3

The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the upper rack extends from adjacent the rear of the lid to a location intermediate the washing tub.

Claim 4

The dishwasher of claim 2 further comprising a second upper rack positioned forwardly of the first mentioned upper rack and means pivotally mounting the second upper rack on the lid and wherein the maintaining means comprises a link interconnecting the first and second racks for maintaining the same generally horizontal.

Claim 5

The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the elongate collapsible element comprises a chain.

Claim 6

A top opening dishwasher comprising an upwardly opening washing tub having a lid pivotally mounted about an axis adjacent the rear edge thereof for selectively closing the tub; an upper rack and means pivotally mounting the upper rack on the lid including a bracket rigid with the lid and projecting away therefrom and means pivotally mounting the upper rack to the bracket for movement about an axis; a bottom rack and means mounting the bottom rack for vertical movement in the tub between the first position adjacent the bottom thereof in supported rElation with the tub and a second position elevated above the first position; and means interconnecting the lid and the bottom rack for moving the rack between the first and second positions in response to movement of the lid between fully open and fully closed positions including lost motion means interconnecting the lid and the bottom rack for allowing the lid to move relative to the tub adjacent the fully closed position thereof without bearing the load of the bottom rack, the lost motion means comprising a lever arm rigid with the lid and a lost motion connection secured to the bottom rack and secured to the lever arm at a distance less than the distance between the lid axis and the upper rack axis.

Claim 7

A top opening dishwasher comprising an upwardly opening washing tub having a lid pivotally mounted about an axis adjacent the rear edge thereof for selectively closing the tub; an upper rack and means pivotally mounting the upper rack on the lid including a bracket rigid with the lid and projecting away therefrom and means pivotally mounting the upper rack to the bracket for movement about an axis; a bottom rack and means mounting the bottom rack for vertical movement in the tub between the first position adjacent the bottom thereof in supported rElation with the tub and a second position elevated above the first position; and means interconnecting the lid and the bottom rack for moving the rack between the first and second positions in response to movement of the lid between fully open and fully closed positions including lost motion means interconnecting the lid and the bottom rack for allowing the lid to move relative to the tub adjacent the fully closed position thereof without bearing the load of the bottom rack, the lost motion means comprising a lever arm rigid with the lid and a lost motion connection secured to the bottom rack and secured to the lever arm at a distance less than the distance between the lid axis and the upper rack axis.

Claim 8

The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the lost motion connection comprises a chain.

Claim 9

The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the lever arm comprises the upper rack bracket.

Claim 10

A top opening dishwasher comprising an upwardly opening washing tub having a lid pivoted along the rear edge thereof for movement sequentially between an open, an intermediate and a closed position; an upper rack and means movably mounting the upper rack on the lid adjacent the rear thereof for simultaneous movement therewith; means for maintaining the upper rack generally horizontal throughout the range of movement of the lid; a bottom rack and means mounting the bottom rack for vertical movement in the tub from a first position adjacent the bottom thereof in supported relation with the tub to a second position elevated above the first position; and means for raising the bottom rack from the first position to the second position in response to lid opening movement between the intermediate and open lid positions and for lowering the bottom rack from the second position to the first position in response to lid closing movement between the open and intermediate lid positions, the raising and lowering means including means independent of the maintaining means interconnecting the lid and the bottom rack at locations imposing no substantial moment on the upper rack for suspending the bottom rack from the lid between and including the open and intermediate lid positions, the suspending means incorporating a lost motion device allowing the lid to move from the closed position to the intermediate position before raising the bottom rack away from the first position thereof and allowing the lid to move from the intermediate position to the closed position without the load of the bottom rack.

Claim 11

A top opening dishwasher comprising an upwardly opening washing tub having a lid pivoted along the rear edge thereof for movement sequentially between an open, an intermediate and a closed position; an upper rack and means movably mounting the upper rack on the lid adjacent the rear thereof for simultaneous movement therewith; means for maintaining the upper rack generally horizontal throughout the range of movement of the lid; a bottom rack and means mounting the bottom rack for vertical movement in the tub from a first position adjacent the bottom thereof in supported relation with the tub to a second position elevated above the first position; and means for raising the bottom rack from the first position to the second position in response to lid opening movement between the intermediate and open lid positions and for lowering the bottom rack from the second position to the first position in response to lid closing movement between the open and intermediate lid positions, the raising and lowering means including means independent of the maintaining means interconnecting the lid and the bottom rack at locations imposing no substantial moment on the upper rack for suspending the bottom rack from the lid between and including the open and intermediate lid positions, the suspending means incorporating a lost motion device allowing the lid to move from the closed position to the intermediate position before raising the bottom rack away from the first position thereof and allowing the lid to move from the intermediate position to the closed position without the load of the bottom rack.

Claim 12

The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the lost motion device comprises an elongate element having a length greater than the distance between the attachments thereof to the suspending means when the lid is in the closed position.

Claim 13

The dishwasher of claim 9 wherein the elongate element comprises a chain.