U.S. patent application number 10/869142 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-22 for kitchen organizer.
Invention is credited to Sheldon, David L., Sheldon, Janice P..
Application Number | 20050279725 10/869142 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35479515 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050279725 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sheldon, Janice P. ; et
al. |
December 22, 2005 |
Kitchen organizer
Abstract
A kitchen organizational device for storage and organization of
various kitchen items, including cutting boards, cooling racks,
pizza pans and bake ware, is provided. The kitchen items are stored
in a vertical position on a counter top or other convenient
location. The organizational device may be laterally and/or
longitudinally adjusted.
Inventors: |
Sheldon, Janice P.;
(Littleton, CO) ; Sheldon, David L.; (Littleton,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Janice P. Sheldon
David L. Sheldon
8164 W. Polk Place
Littleton,
CO
80123
US
|
Family ID: |
35479515 |
Appl. No.: |
10/869142 |
Filed: |
June 16, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/175 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 47/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/175 |
International
Class: |
A47F 007/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A kitchen organizational device which comprises: a base module
having a top surface with a plurality of longitudinally extending
ridges and a plurality of spaced channels formed therein; at least
two vertical support members; and said vertical support members
including a short support member and a tall support member.
2. The organizational device of claim 1, wherein said base module
length is selected from the group consisting of 6 inches, 8 inches,
10 inches, 12 inches, 16 inches and 20 inches.
3. The organizational device of claim 1, wherein said base module
further comprises a bottom surface, said bottom surface comprising
an item to prevent slippage selected from the group consisting of
rubber, sand paper, plastic, and polymer adhesive.
4. The organizational device of claim 1, wherein said vertical
support members include means for securing said base module to a
supporting surface.
5. The organizational device of claim 4, wherein said supporting
surface is a refrigerator or a wall.
6. The organizational device of claim 5, wherein said means for
securing said base module is selected from the group consisting of
nails, screws, bolts, brackets, and magnets.
7. The organizational device of claim 1 further comprising means
for enclosing a lateral opening of the device.
8. The organizational device of claim 7, wherein said means for
enclosing is selected from ribbon, elastic bands, removable walls,
and locking hinges.
9. The organizational device of claim 1 further comprising means
for fixably mating two or more organizational devices.
10. The organizational device of claim 9, wherein said means for
fixably mating is selected from the group consisting of hinges,
hook and eyes, locking pins, and track and rail systems.
11. An adjustable kitchen organizational device which comprises: a
base module having a top surface with a plurality of longitudinally
extending ridges and a plurality of spaced channels formed therein;
at least two vertical support members; said vertical support
members including a short support member and a tall support member;
and at least two moveable sections, wherein said moveable sections
provide for lateral and/or longitudinal adjustment of the
organizational device.
12. The organizational device of claim 11, wherein said base module
further comprises a bottom surface, said bottom surface comprising
an item to prevent slippage selected from the group consisting of
rubber, sand paper, plastic, and polymer adhesive.
13. The organizational device of claim 11, wherein said vertical
support members include means for securing said base module to a
supporting surface.
14. The organizational device of claim 13, wherein said supporting
surface is a refrigerator or a wall.
15. The organizational device of claim 14, wherein said means for
securing said base module is selected from the group consisting of
nails, screws, bolts, brackets, and magnets.
16. The organizational device of claim 11 further comprising means
for connecting said moveable sections to each other.
17. The organizational device of claim 16, wherein said means for
connecting said moveable sections is selected from the group
consisting of track and rail connectors, locking track and rail
connectors, and locking pin connectors.
18. The organizational device of claim 11 further comprising means
for enclosing a lateral opening of the device.
19. The organizational device of claim 18, wherein said means for
enclosing is selected from ribbon, elastic bands, removable walls,
and locking hinges.
20. The organizational device of claim 11 further comprising means
for fixably mating two or more organizational devices.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to kitchen organizational
devices and more particularly to devices for storing cutting
boards, cooling racks, pizza pans, baking sheets and other large
and/or irregularly shaped kitchen items.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Storage units for kitchen items are known in the art in
which various kitchen items are stored in a vertical arrangement
rather than in a horizontal orientation. Vertical storage is
advantageous as it allows for efficient space utilization and easy
removal of a particular item of interest, rather than removal of
all items, as with horizontal storage units.
[0003] Previously known storage racks are for placement in
cupboards, which are often not large enough to accommodate large
kitchen items, such as bake ware and cutting boards. Additionally,
even if a cabinet is capable of accommodating such items, a user
must bend over, stand on a chair or reach over their head to access
the items. If a person has a disability, such action may be
impossible for them. The alternative is to prop such items
alongside a cabinet or the refrigerator where they may fall down,
breaking items as they do.
[0004] A vertical organizer for kitchen items, which may be placed
on a counter or alongside a refrigerator, is greatly needed to
enable efficient storage of large bake ware items and removal
without bending over to get the items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the above, it is a broad object of this invention
to provide a storage and organization device for use in conjunction
with kitchen items. The device allows for efficient storage of
kitchen items, such as cutting boards, baking sheets, wire baking
racks, and the like, on kitchen countertops. The present invention
overcomes problems with previous devices by providing a device for
use on a counter top allowing for easy access of items stored
within it.
[0006] Items to be stored within the device of the present
invention include cutting boards, baking sheets, wire baking racks,
pizza pans and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention described in this specification will be better
understood when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a side plan view of the device according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a front plan view of the device according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a front perspective view of the device
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrates enclosure means for application to
lateral openings according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate lateral and/or longitudinal
adjustments of the device according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates modular devices according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a side plan view of the device according
to an embodiment of the present invention. A kitchen organizational
device 10 is shown. It has several components including a base
module 12 and a plurality of vertical support members 14 used to
support bake ware items in a vertical manner. The base module may
further provide a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges 16
integral or attached to the base module, to form a plurality of
longitudinally extending channels 18. The channels 18 are spaced
from a first longitudinal end 20 of the base module 12 to a second
longitudinal end 22 (FIG. 3). The end profile and cross-section of
the base module 12 illustrate that the ridges 16 form a top surface
24 of the base module 12. Top surface 24 may further be formed of a
material or have an additional component added to it which prevents
lateral slippage of bake ware items that are narrower than channel
18.
[0015] The support members 14 are illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. A short
support member 26 and a tall support member 28 are provided in the
present invention. The short support member 26 may be any height
less than the tall support member 28. The short and tall support
members 26, 28 are disposed parallel to one another and
perpendicular to the base module 12. The presence of a short
support member allows for easy viewing of the items stored within
the device. The short and tall support members 26, 28 may comprise
contiguous surfaces (i.e. a solid wall-like member) or may comprise
a non-contiguous surface, such as slats, a plurality of holes, or
some other pattern of perforations.
[0016] The channels 18 on the top surface 24 of the base module 12
assist in holding bake ware items vertically in the kitchen
organizer. They prevent the items from sliding, for instance when
an adjacent item is removed from the rack. Additionally, they act
as a placeholder and hold the position for the item that has been
removed therefore making it easier to replace items that have been
removed from the device.
[0017] Means for containing kitchen items in the kitchen organizer
10 may be applied to lateral openings 21 and 23, FIGS. 4A-4C. For
example, ribbon or elastic band 41 anchored to pegs 42, removable
walls 43 with slots 44 (shown in exploded view) to receive pegs 42,
a locking hinge 45 or the like may be used to keep items from
sliding in the longitudinal direction.
[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base module
12 of kitchen organizational device 10 may be manufactured in a
variety of lengths and widths to accommodate a wide variety of
kitchen items. For instance, baking racks and cutting boards come
in a variety of different lengths and widths and the base module 12
of the present invention may be lengthened and/or widened via
different manufacturing protocols in order to accommodate such
lengths and widths. In a particular embodiment, the base module
length is selected from the group consisting of 6 inches, 8 inches,
10 inches, 12 inches, 16 inches and 20 inches. If the base module
12 is lengthened, the vertical supports 14 may also be lengthened
to traverse the length of the base. The bottom surface of the base
member may further include an item to prevent slipping, such as
rubber, sand paper, plastic or a polymer adhesive.
[0019] The kitchen organizational device 10 may further comprise
two or more moveable sections 400, shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, thus
providing an adjustable kitchen organizational device. The kitchen
organizational device may be adjustable in the longitudinal
direction (FIG. 5A), in the lateral direction (FIG. 5B), or both.
Such structures may be constructed with male and female ends such
that the device may expand and contract when force is applied to
the longitudinal ends 20, 22 or, alternatively, to the short and
tall support members 26, 28. The moveable sections 400 may be
connectable, for example, by track and rail connection 420, locking
track and rail connection 440, locking pin connection 460, and the
like. A track and rail connection consists of a moveable section
400 containing an indentation 421 which may be slidably mated with
another moveable section 400 containing a matching protrusion 422.
In the locking track and rail system 440, the track or indentation
421 contains "teeth" and the rail or protrusion mechanism contains
release means 441. Release means 441 may be pushed inward I to
allow moveable sections 400 to be adjusted along direction D. The
locking pin system 460 provides pegs 461 and slots 462. A peg 461
may enter a slot 462 formed in moveable section 400. Moveable
section 400 is then adjusted such that the stem 463 of peg 461
enters the narrow portion 464 of slot 462, thus locking peg 461 in
place. Any of the aforementioned connection means or similar means
may be used to adjust the kitchen organizational device in the
lateral and/or longitudinal direction. Additionally, no connection
means may be used and moveable sections 400 may remain in place, in
the absence of excessive force on the device.
[0020] Adjustment in the lateral direction requires that the
longitudinally extending ridges 16 allow for overlapping of the
male and female moveable sections 400, or that no longitudinal
ridges 16 are present. In one embodiment, the longitudinally
extending ridges 16 may be removeably connectable to the base
module 12. The longitudinally extending ridges 16 may be removed
prior to lateral adjustment and then attached or re-attached to the
base module 12 when kitchen organizational device 10 has been
properly adjusted.
[0021] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the
kitchen organizational device 10 may further comprise structures
used for attaching two or more devices to each other, to create a
modular device, as shown in FIG. 6. Such structures, will allow the
devices to be attached or removed from each other. The devices 10
may be joined together, for example, by a hinge mechanism 62,
locking pin system 64, hook and eye mechanism 66, track and rail
system 68, and the like. Hinge 620 may be affixed to any one or
more of corners 61. The devices 10 may then be secured together by
closing hinge 620 over a corresponding corner on a second device
which does not contain a hinge. A locking pin system 64 may also be
applied to one or more of edges 63, wherein edges 63 contain holes
65 or pins 67. When two or more devices are matched end-to-end, the
holes of one device will align with the pins of another device such
that the devices may be fixably attached. The locking pin mechanism
may also be used to affix support members 14 face-to-face. A series
of pins and holes are formed on the outer surface 64 of support
structures 14, such that aligning the support members face-to-face
will align the pins and holes in a mutually agreeable
configuration. In another embodiment, a hook mechanism may be used
to connect two or more devices edgewise. At least one hook 69 is
attached to an outer side edge of surface 64, with a corresponding
"eye" 70 attached to the outer side edge of surface 64 on a second
device. Alternatively, the hook and eye mechanism may be applied to
the inner surfaces of support members 14. In yet another
embodiment, a track and rail system utilizes an indentation 71 and
protrusion 73 such that a protrusion of one device may be slidably
mated with an indention of another device. Each of the attachment
mechanisms/systems described above may be used alone or in
combination to fixably mate two or more kitchen organizational
devices in an end-to-end orientation. Some of the
mechanisms/systems provide for mating two or more kitchen
organizational systems in a face-to-face orientation. It is
contemplated, in either orientation, that tall support members of
the devices are attached to each other, the short support members
are attached to each other, or such that a tall support member is
attached to a short support member.
[0022] The kitchen organizational device 10 may also further
comprise structures used for securely attaching the device to a
solid surface, such as a kitchen wall, a cabinet wall or the side
of an appliance, thus allowing the device to store and organize
kitchen items above the floor or counter top, which is often
desirable to create additional storage space under the device and
to minimize bending when retrieving the stored items. Such
structures include holes, brackets and the like for screwing,
nailing or bolting the device to a kitchen or cabinet wall, and
magnets for attaching the device to a metal surface, such as the
side of a kitchen appliance.
[0023] All of the compositions and methods disclosed and claimed
herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in
light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods
of this invention have been described in terms of particular
embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that
variations may be applied to the compositions, and methods and in
the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described
herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the
invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain
parts may be substituted for the parts described herein while the
same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar
substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art
are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *