Dishwasher

Abstract

A dishwasher comprises a washing tub ( 10 ) and a basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ) for arrangement within the washing tub ( 10 ), the basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ) comprising a plurality of holders ( 22 ) for accommodating articles to be cleaned, whereby said basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ) is designed such that it can be arranged within the washing tub ( 10 ) in at least two different orientations by rotating the basket ( 20, 30, 40; 60 ) about an axis which extends through the center ( 39 ) of the basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ) and vertical to the floor of the basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ), wherein the arrangement of said plurality of holders ( 22; 32, 34 ) is different in different orientations of the basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ).

1 . Dishwasher comprising a washing tub and a basket for arrangement within the washing tub, the basket comprising a plurality of holders for accommodating articles to be cleaned, wherein the basket is configured to be arranged within the washing tub in at least two different orientations by rotating the basket about an axis which extends through the center of the basket and vertical to the floor of the basket, and wherein the arrangement of said plurality of holders is different in different orientations of the basket. 
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the basket comprises at least two regions for accommodation of articles to be cleaned, wherein the geometry of the basket in a first region is different from the geometry of the basket in at least one second region. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , wherein said regions differ from each other in at least one of:
 the shape of holders provided in said regions;   the mutual distance of holders provided in said regions;   the density of holders provided in said regions; and   the shape of the basket floor in said regions.   
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher of  claim 3 , wherein the basket in a first and a second region comprises a first and a second plurality of plate holders each comprising a pair of holding bars, wherein the distance between the plate holders in said first plurality of plate holders is different from the distance between the plate holders in said second plurality of plate holders and/or the distance between the holding bars in said first plurality of plate holders is different from the distance between the holding bars in said second plurality of plate holders. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , wherein at least one region located in a rear part of the basket has a different geometry than at least one region located in a front part of the basket. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 , wherein at least one region located in a left part of the basket has a different geometry than at least one region located in a right part of the basket. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , comprising support means for supporting said basket within the washing tub irrespective of the orientation of the basket. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher of  claim 7 , wherein said support means comprises a plurality of supports which can be attached at different locations with respect to the basket. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher of  claim 8 , wherein said washing tub comprises a plurality of sockets for accommodating said supports at different locations with respect to the basket. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher of  claim 8 , wherein said supports are adapted for releasable attachment to said basket. 
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher of  claim 7 , wherein said support means comprises a plurality of supports within said washing tub, and said basket comprises a basket support structure which is adapted to rest on said supports irrespective of the orientation of the basket. 
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher of  claim 11 , wherein said supports are located to be generally symmetric about the center of the basket. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential shape of the basket is generally symmetric about the center of the basket. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the basket is of generally rectangular shape. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher of  claim 14 , wherein the basket is of generally square shape. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the basket is made of a wire-mesh. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , further comprising a detachable shelf adapted for fixation at different sidewalls of the basket. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , further comprising a cutlery basket adapted for fixation at different locations within the basket.