U.S. patent application number 10/452327 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-02 for dish rack draining tray providing stability and effective draining.
Invention is credited to Cheung, Gerald K..
Application Number | 20040238464 10/452327 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33451967 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040238464 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cheung, Gerald K. |
December 2, 2004 |
Dish rack draining tray providing stability and effective
draining
Abstract
A dish rack draining tray that includes a sloped trough having
an exit end at the front side of the draining tray. The slope in
the trough allows fluid to flow and discharge off the exit end of
the trough on the front side of the draining tray. The draining
tray includes one or more sloped surfaces that allow the fluid
collected on the sloped surfaces to run off into the sloped trough.
These sloped surfaces also support a dish rack on a horizontal
plane.
Inventors: |
Cheung, Gerald K.; (Santa
Clara, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Xin Wen
3449 Rambow Drive
Palo Alto
CA
94306
US
|
Family ID: |
33451967 |
Appl. No.: |
10/452327 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/41.3 ;
211/133.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 19/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/041.3 ;
211/133.6 |
International
Class: |
A47F 003/14 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A draining tray having a front side, comprising a) a sloped
trough to allow a fluid to flow along the trough and to be
discharged off the front side of the draining tray at an exit end
of the trough; and b) one or more sloped surfaces wherein the
slopes allow the fluid on the sloped surfaces to run off into the
trough.
2. The draining tray of claim 1, wherein the exit end of the trough
clears the height of the rim of a sink so that the fluid can be
discharged from the exit end of the trough into the sink.
3. The draining tray of claim 1, further comprising a lip at the
exit end of the trough to allow fluid to be discharged off the
front side of the draining tray.
4. The draining tray of claim 3 wherein the lip at exit end of the
trough clears the height of the rim of a sink so that the fluid can
be discharged from the exit end of the trough into the sink.
5. The draining tray of claim 1, further comprising one or more
supporting walls along the peripheral edges of the draining
tray.
6. The draining tray of claim 5, wherein the lower edges of the one
or more supporting walls define a base plane to allow the draining
tray to stand on a flat horizontal surface.
7. The draining tray of claim 1, further comprising one or more
vertical ribs in connection with the under side of the draining
tray, wherein the low edges of the vertical ribs define a base
plane to allow the draining tray to stand on a flat horizontal
surface.
8. The draining tray of claim 1, further comprising one or more
foot members in connection with the underside of the draining
tray.
9. The draining tray of claim 1, wherein the trough is distributed
along the central axis of the draining tray and the two sloped
surfaces are located on each side of the trough.
10. The draining tray of claim 1, wherein the draining tray
comprises polymeric materials.
11. The draining tray of claim 1 wherein the process of making the
draining tray includes injection molding, vacuum molding, or
pressure molding.
12. The draining tray of claim 1, wherein the draining tray
comprises four sides and four corners, including the front side
adapted to be placed by a kitchen sink.
13. A draining tray having a front side, comprising a) a sloped
trough distributed along a central axis of the draining tray; the
trough being so sloped to allow a fluid to flow along the trough
toward an exit end of the trough at the front side of the draining
tray; b) a lip at the exit end of the trough to allow fluid to be
discharged off the front side of the draining tray at the exit end
of the trough; and c) two sloped surfaces parallel to the central
axis and on the two sides of the sloped trough, wherein the two
sloped surfaces are so sloped to allow the fluid on the sloped
surfaces to run off into the sloped trough.
14. The draining tray of claim 13 wherein the lip at the exit end
of the trough clears the height of the rim of a sink so that the
fluid can discharge from the exit end of the trough into the
sink.
15. The draining tray of claim 13, further comprising one or more
supporting walls along the peripheral edges of the draining tray,
wherein the lower edges of the one or more supporting walls define
a base plane to allow the draining tray to stand on a flat
surface.
16. The draining tray of claim 13, further comprising one or more
vertical ribs in connection with the underside of the draining
tray, wherein the low edges of the vertical ribs define a base
plane to allow the draining tray to stand on a horizontal flat
surface.
17. The draining tray of claim 13, wherein the process of making
the draining tray includes injection molding, vacuum molding, or
pressure molding.
18. A dish rack and draining system, comprising a) a dish rack that
supports one or more of dishes, utensils, and cookware, supported
by one or more foot members; and b) a draining tray, comprising i)
a front side; ii) a sloped trough to allow a fluid to flow along
the trough and to be discharged off the front side at the exit end
of the trough; and iii) one or more surfaces so sloped to allow the
fluid on the sloped surfaces to run off into the trough, wherein
the sloped surfaces are adapted to receive the foot members of the
dish rack.
19. The dish rack and draining system of claim 18, wherein the foot
members of the dish rack received by the sloped surfaces are
distributed on a horizontal plane.
20. The dish rack and draining system of claim 18, wherein the
fluid carried on the dishes, utensils, and cookware in the dish
rack drips onto the sloped surfaces and the sloped trough of the
draining tray when the foot members of the dish rack are placed on
the sloped surfaces.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This application relates to a dish rack draining tray for a
dish rack that is used for drying dishes on a kitchen counter
top.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Dish racks and draining trays are commonly used in kitchens
for drying dishes, utensils, and cookware after they are washed. A
dish rack typically includes a wire or plastic frame and several
foot members. A draining tray (or pan) is placed under the dish
rack to collect water dripping off of the wet dishes, utensils, or
cookware in the dish rack. The dish rack and the draining tray are
often placed on a kitchen counter top next to a kitchen sink such
that the water collected in the draining tray can discharge into
the sink.
[0003] Most draining trays or draining mats on the market collect
the water from the dish rack on a basically horizontal surface,
which does not allow the collected water to effectively flow into
the kitchen sink. Instead, the dish water remains in the draining
tray for a period of time, which promotes the growth of mold and
mildew in the tray.
[0004] Design Pat. D288,375, D288,374, and D273,904 attempt to
address the problem of dish-water accumulation under a dish rack by
providing a significantly angled surface to divert water away from
the dish rack and into the kitchen sink. However, this same angled
surface must also support the dish rack. As a result, the dish rack
tends to be unstable on this angled surface, especially when the
dish rack is loaded with large or heavy dishes.
[0005] Design U.S. Pat. D446,370 and utility U.S. Pat. No.
4,531,641 offer improved solutions over the aforementioned design
patents by providing an angled draining surface to divert dish
water into the kitchen sink and supporting the dish rack on a
horizontal plane in order to improve stability. Design U.S. Pat.
D446,370, however, includes many internal corners and edges, which
can collect debris and make it hard to clean. This design also only
provides two vertical ribs to support a dish rack, which cannot
support folding dish rack designs. Utility U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,641
describes a dish rack and a drain board that are custom designed to
fit only with each other. Their design involves multiple parts,
including various folding legs, hinges, and/or straps, which makes
them difficult to clean. Furthermore, the complex construction of
the dish rack and drain board increases manufacturing costs.
[0006] Therefore, there is a long-felt need for a dish rack
draining tray that can effectively drain water to a kitchen sink
and can stably support a dish rack. The same draining tray should
also be easy to clean and easy to manufacture.
SUMMARY
[0007] Implementations of the system may include one or more of the
following. The invention system generally includes a draining tray
with a front side, comprising
[0008] a) a sloped trough to allow a fluid to flow along the trough
and to discharge off the front side of the draining tray at an exit
end of the trough; and
[0009] b) one or more sloped surfaces wherein the slopes allow the
fluid on the sloped surfaces to run off into the trough.
[0010] In one aspect, the present invention relates to a draining
tray having a front side, comprising
[0011] a) a sloped trough distributed along a central axis of the
draining tray; the trough being so sloped to allow a fluid to flow
along the trough toward an exit end of the trough at the front side
of the draining tray;
[0012] b) a lip at the exit end of the trough to allow fluid to be
discharged off the front side of the draining tray at the exit end
of the trough; and
[0013] c) two sloped surfaces parallel to the central axis and on
the two sides of the sloped trough, wherein the two sloped surfaces
are so sloped to allow the fluid on the sloped surfaces to run off
into the sloped trough.
[0014] These two sloped surfaces are adapted to receive the foot
members of a dish rack.
[0015] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a dish
rack and draining system, comprising
[0016] a) a dish rack that supports one or more of dishes,
utensils, and cookware, comprising one or more foot members,
and
[0017] b) a draining tray, comprising
[0018] i) a front side;
[0019] ii) a sloped trough to allow a fluid to flow along the
trough and to be discharged off the front side at the exit end of
the trough; and
[0020] iii) one or more surfaces so sloped to allow the fluid on
the sloped surfaces to run off into the trough, wherein the sloped
surfaces are adapted to receive the foot members of the rack.
[0021] An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a
draining tray that effectively diverts dish water collected from
the dish rack into a kitchen sink. The invention dish rack draining
tray is free of the problem of water accumulation observed in the
prior art draining trays.
[0022] Another advantage of the present invention is that it
provides a horizontal plane in the dish rack draining tray to
support the dish rack so that the dish rack is stable even when it
is loaded with heavy dishes. The draining tray in the present
invention is compatible with known dish rack designs, including
basket dish racks, folding dish racks, as well as dish racks of
various sizes.
[0023] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is
very easy to clean. The corners, edges or crevices in the invention
design are easily accessed and cleaned by the user.
[0024] Still another advantage of the present invention is that the
design is very simple. The invention dish rack draining tray is
based on a one-piece design, which eliminates the need for any
assembly in manufacturing and promotes reliable performance for the
user. The simple design also makes it inexpensive to manufacture
the invention dish rack draining tray.
[0025] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the
accompanying drawings and in the description below. Other features,
objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from
the description and drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the
invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the
principles of the invention:
[0027] FIG. 1 is the perspective view of the dish rack draining
tray supporting a basket-design dish rack in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 2 is the top view of the dish rack draining tray and
the dish rack of FIG. 1.
[0029] FIG. 3 is the side view of the dish rack draining tray and
the dish rack of FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 4 is the front view of the dish rack draining tray and
the dish rack of FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 5 is the perspective view of the dish rack draining
tray supporting a folding-design dish rack.
[0032] FIG. 6 is the perspective view of the dish rack draining
tray supporting a basket-design dish rack in accordance with
another embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 7 is the top view of the dish rack draining tray and
the dish rack of FIG. 6.
[0034] FIG. 8 is the side view of the dish rack draining tray and
the dish rack of FIG. 6.
[0035] FIG. 9 is the front view of the dish rack draining tray and
the dish rack of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in
conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood
that they are not intended to limit the invention to these
embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover
alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included
within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description
of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth
in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present
invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in
the art that the present invention may be practiced without these
specific details. In other instances, well known methods,
procedures, components, and designs have not been described in
detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present
invention.
[0037] FIG. 1 is the perspective view of the dish rack draining
tray 100 and a dish rack 110 in accordance to one embodiment of the
present invention. FIGS. 2-4 are the top view, the side view and
the front view of the dish rack draining tray 100 and a dish rack
110 in FIG. 1. The dish rack 110 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a
wire-framed basket including foot members 111-114 underneath the
basket. Other dish rack designs are also compatible with the
present invention. The draining tray in the present invention is
compatible with other known dish rack designs, such as basket dish
racks, folding dish racks, as well as dish racks of various sizes
or of different materials. For example, the dish rack 110 can also
be a folding dish rack as exemplified in the U.S. Pat. No.
4,221,299. The dish rack draining tray 100 includes a front side
115, supporting side walls 160, 161, 162 around the rim or
peripheral edges of the dish draining tray 100, and four rounded
corners 170-173. The dish rack draining tray 100 can be placed on a
kitchen-counter top with a kitchen sink. The front side 115 of the
dish rack draining tray 100 is adapted to face the rim of the
kitchen sink.
[0038] The lower edges of the supporting walls 160-162 can define a
base plane to allow the dish rack draining tray 100 to stand on a
flat horizontal surface such as a kitchen countertop. The dish rack
draining tray 100 can also include optional foot members spaced
apart on the underside of the draining tray 100 to provide proper
elevation. The height of the foot members can optionally be
adjusted for height or tilt directions.
[0039] In accordance with the present invention, the draining tray
100 includes a sloped trough 120 that is sloped down toward the
front side 15 of the dish rack draining tray 100. In one preferred
design of the present invention, the trough 120 is substantially
aligned along the central axis of the dish rack draining tray 100.
The trough 120 can include multiple angular faces and a flat bottom
surface, as shown in FIG. 1. The bottom of the trough 120 can also
have other forms, such as a V-shape or U-shape. A lip 150 can be
formed at the exit end of the trough 120 on the front side 115 of
the dish rack draining tray 100. In one embodiment of the present
invention, the lip 150 protrudes outward relative to the supporting
side walls 161, 162 on the front side 115 so that it can reach into
the kitchen sink. The height of the lip 150 is elevated so that it
clears the height of the rim of the kitchen sink that is sometimes
above the surface of the kitchen counter.
[0040] In accordance with the present invention, the draining tray
100 further includes one or more sloped surfaces 130, 140 that are
inclined down toward the trough 120. As shown in FIG. 1, the sloped
surfaces 130, 140 are located on the two sides of the trough 120
and are substantially symmetric along the central axis of the dish
rack draining tray 100. The dish rack 110 is placed on the dish
rack draining tray with the foot members 111-114 standing on the
sloped surfaces 130, 140.
[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
sloped surfaces 130, 140 are parallel to the central axis of the
dish rack draining tray 100. Most common dish racks have four foot
members that are distributed at the corners of a rectangle. The
sloped surfaces 130, 140 in this configuration allow the foot
members 111-114 of the most common dish racks 110 to be positioned
on a horizontal plane. As a result, the dish rack 110 can remain
stable in a level plane even when it is loaded with heavy
dishes.
[0042] The operation of the dish rack draining tray 100 and the
dish rack 110 are now described. The dish rack 110 is placed over
the sloped surfaces 120, 130 of dish rack draining tray 100 as
described above. The dish rack 110 and the dish rack draining tray
100 are placed next to a kitchen sink with the lip 150 over the
kitchen sink. Wet dishes, utensils, and cookware are loaded on the
dish rack 110 after they are washed over the kitchen sink. Water
from the wet dishes, utensils, and cookware drips onto the sloped
surfaces 130, 140 and the sloped trough 120 of the draining tray.
The incline in the sloped surfaces 130, 140 allow water to run off
into the trough 120. The water collected in the trough 120 flows
along the trough 120 to the exit end, and is then discharged off at
the lip 150 into the kitchen sink (over the rim of the sink).
[0043] An advantage of the present invention is that the dish rack
draining tray 100 provides well-defined sloped surfaces in any
surface areas that may receive water dripping from the wet dishes,
utensils and cookware on the dish rack 110. The water collected by
the dish rack draining tray 100 is effectively diverted along
well-defined downward paths into a kitchen sink. Water does not
accumulate in the dish rack draining tray 100. Therefore the
invention dish rack draining tray does not have the problems of
water accumulating on its top surfaces or mold and mildew growing
as a result of accumulated water, which is commonly seen in the
prior art dish rack draining trays.
[0044] Another advantage of the present invention is that the dish
rack draining tray 100 is very easy to clean. The surfaces of the
dish rack draining tray 100 are smooth. The corners, edges or
crevices in the invention design are easily accessible and cleaned
by a user. In addition, the vertical ribs 174-178 connected to the
underside of the draining tray provide extra strength in supporting
the weight of the dishes, utensils, and cookware loaded on the dish
rack 10. The vertical ribs 174-178 prevent the sloped surfaces 130,
140 and the sloped trough 120 from sagging under the weight of the
dishes. They ensure that the dish rack draining tray 100 will
maintain its shape over an extended period of usage.
[0045] The dish rack draining tray 100 can be made of polymeric
materials such as polypropylene, ABS, and high-strength types of
plastic materials. The dish rack draining tray 100 can be
fabricated using injection molding, vacuum molding, or pressure
molding technologies. An advantage of the present invention is that
the dish rack draining tray 100 is based on a very simple one-piece
design. The design eliminates the need for any assembly steps in
manufacturing, and provides reliable performance for the user. The
simple design also makes it inexpensive to manufacture the dish
rack draining tray 100.
[0046] FIG. 5 is the perspective view of the dish rack draining
tray as disclosed in the embodiment above in relation to FIG. 1,
supporting a folding-design dish rack.
[0047] FIG. 6 is the perspective view of a dish rack draining tray
600 and a dish rack 610 in accordance to another embodiment of the
present invention. FIGS. 7-9 are respectively the top view, the
side view and the front view of the dish rack draining tray 600 and
a dish rack 610 in FIG. 6. The top surfaces of the dish rack
draining tray 600 are similar to those described in relation to
FIG. 1. The dish rack draining tray 600 includes a sloped trough
620 having its exit end of the trough 620 on the front side 615 of
the dish rack draining tray 600. A lip 650 can be formed at the
exit end of the trough 620. The lip 650 can be protruded and
elevated at such a height that the lip reaches over the rim of the
kitchen sink and into the kitchen sink. The dish rack draining tray
can also optionally include edges 651-653 around its rim.
[0048] The dish rack draining tray 600 also includes sloped
surfaces 630, 640 that are inclined toward the trough 620.
Preferably, the sloped surfaces 630, 640 are parallel to the
central axis of the dish rack draining tray 600 such that the foot
members 611-614 of the dish rack 610 can be positioned on a
horizontal plane when they are placed on the sloped surfaces 630,
640. The dish rack 610 can therefore remain stable even when it is
loaded with heavy dishes.
[0049] Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the dish
water dripping from the wet dishes, utensils, and cookware is
collected by the sloped surfaces 630, 640 and the sloped trough
620. The collected water flows downward from the sloped surfaces
630, 640 into the sloped trough 620, flows along the sloped trough
620 to the lip 650, and finally discharges into the kitchen
sink.
[0050] The dish rack draining tray 600 is supported by a plurality
of vertical ribs 661-665 in connection with the underside of the
dish rack draining tray 600. The low edges 671-675 of the vertical
ribs 661-665 can define a flat base plane that allows the dish rack
draining tray 600 to stand on a flat surface such as a counter top
in a kitchen.
[0051] The invention dish rack draining tray 600 shown in FIG. 6
possesses the same advantages as those of the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 1 such as the elimination of water
accumulation, the simplicity of a one-piece design, and easy
cleaning. In addition, the vertical ribs 661-665 provide extra
strength in supporting the weight of the dishes, utensils, and
cookware loaded on the dish rack 610. The vertical ribs 661-665
prevent the sloped surfaces 630, 640 and the slope trough 620 from
sagging under the weight of the dishes, They ensure that the dish
rack draining tray 600 will maintain its shape over an extended
period of usage.
[0052] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the
foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the
invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described
herein, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications,
and substitutions without departing from the scope of the
invention. The following claims are intended to encompass all such
modifications.
* * * * *