U.S. patent application number 11/543389 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-26 for expandable dish rack assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Creative Bath Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to George Schmidt.
Application Number | 20070090063 11/543389 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38001744 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070090063 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmidt; George |
April 26, 2007 |
Expandable dish rack assembly
Abstract
An expandable dish rack assembly includes upstream and
downstream racks that are in sliding nesting relationship to one
another. The downstream rack has upstream and downstream legs
projecting down from the bottom wall of the downstream rack for
supporting the downstream rack on a horizontal surface. The
downstream legs are shorter than the upstream legs of the
downstream rack so that the bottom wall of the upstream rack slopes
downwardly from the upstream end to the downstream end. Upstream
legs project down from the bottom wall of the upstream rack. Thus,
the upstream rack can be supported on the upstream legs thereof and
on the bottom wall of the downstream rack.
Inventors: |
Schmidt; George;
(Douglaston, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CASELLA & HESPOS
274 MADISON AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10016
US
|
Assignee: |
Creative Bath Products,
Inc.
Central Islip
NY
|
Family ID: |
38001744 |
Appl. No.: |
11/543389 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60729961 |
Oct 25, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/41.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 19/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/041.3 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/08 20060101
A47G019/08 |
Claims
1. An expandable dish rack assembly comprising: a downstream rack
having upstream and downstream ends, a bottom wall extending
between the ends of the downstream rack and having opposite top and
bottom surfaces, a downstream support on the bottom surface of the
bottom wall of the downstream rack in proximity to the downstream
end thereof, upstream legs extending from the bottom surface of the
downstream rack in proximity to the upstream end thereof, sidewalls
extending up from opposites of the bottom wall of the downstream
rack; and an upstream rack having opposite upstream and downstream
ends, a bottom wall formed on the upstream rack and extending
between the upstream and downstream ends thereof, the bottom wall
of the upstream rack having opposite top and bottom surfaces,
upstream legs extending from the bottom surface of the bottom wall
of the upstream rack in proximity to the upstream end thereof,
first and second sidewalls extending up from opposite sides of the
bottom wall of the upstream rack, portions of the bottom wall of
the upstream rack in proximity to the downstream end thereof being
supported in sliding nested relationship with the top surface of
the bottom wall of the downstream rack and portions of the
sidewalls of the upstream rack being in nested sliding relationship
with portions of the sidewalls of the downstream rack, whereby the
downstream rack can be supported on the upstream legs and
downstream support thereof and whereby the upstream rack can be
supported by the upstream legs thereof and by the bottom wall of
the downstream rack.
2. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the
downstream support of the downstream rack are legs that have
projecting distances from the bottom wall of the downstream rack,
the projecting distance of the downstream legs being less than the
projecting distance of the upstream legs of the downstream
rack.
3. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 2, wherein the
upstream legs of the upstream rack have projecting distances from
the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the upstream rack, the
projecting distances of the legs of the upstream rack exceeding the
projecting distances of the upstream legs of the downstream rack,
whereby the expandable dish rack assembly can be supported on a
substantially horizontal surface with the bottom walls of the
upstream and downstream racks being sloped continuously downwardly
from the upstream end of the upstream rack to the downstream end of
the downstream rack.
4. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the side
walls of the downstream rack have outwardly curved top lips with
convex upper surfaces, and wherein the sidewalls of the upstream
rack have outwardly curved top lips with downwardly facing concave
surfaces, the concave surfaces of the lips of the upstream rack
being slidably nested over the convex surfaces of the lips on the
downstream rack.
5. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper
surface of the bottom wall of the upstream rack is formed with a
plurality of dish supports projecting upwardly therefrom, the
bottom wall of the downstream rack being substantially free of dish
supports for permitting sliding movement of the upstream rack along
the bottom wall of the downstream rack.
6. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the bottom
wall of the downstream rack has a central channel extending from
the upstream end to the downstream end thereof at a position
substantially centrally between the sidewalls of the downstream
rack, and wherein the bottom wall of the upstream rack has a
central channel extending substantially from the upstream end to
the downstream end of the upstream rack, the central channel of the
upstream rack being nested slidably with the central channel of the
downstream rack.
7. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 6, wherein the
central channel of the downstream rack terminates at a chute at the
downstream end of the downstream rack.
8. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 6, wherein the top
surface of the bottom wall of the downstream rack includes a
plurality of transverse channels extending substantially from the
sidewalls of the downstream rack to the central channel in the
bottom wall of the downstream rack.
9. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 6, wherein the bottom
wall of the downstream rack is sloped downwardly from the sidewalls
of the downstream rack to the central channel.
10. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the
downstream rack is molded unitarily from a synthetic resin.
11. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the
upstream rack further includes an end wall extending up from the
bottom wall of the upstream rack and connecting the sidewalls of
the upstream rack.
12. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 11, wherein the
bottom wall, the sidewalls and the end wall of the upstream rack
are molded unitarily with one another.
13. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 1, further
comprising at least one silverware partition extending upwardly
from the top surface of the bottom wall of the upstream rack and
between the sidewalls of the upstream rack at a location closer to
the upstream end of the upstream rack then to the downstream end
thereof.
14. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the
upstream and downstream racks are telescoped relative to one
another from a collapsed position to an expanded position, the
downstream end of the upstream rack being substantially adjacent
the downstream end of the downstream rack when the upstream and
downstream racks are in their collapsed condition, the downstream
end of the upstream rack being in proximity to the upstream end of
the downstream rack when the expandable dish rack assembly is in
its expanded condition.
15. The expandable dish rack assembly of claim 1, wherein the
bottom walls of the upstream and downstream racks are free of
openings therethrough.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent
Appl. No. 60/729,961, filed Oct. 25, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The subject invention relates to a dish rack for placement
on a countertop so that dishes, glassware and silverware can
drain.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Dish racks are in employed in many kitchens to permit
dishes, glasses and silverware to drain after washing and prior to
a more permanent storage. A typical dish rack includes a bottom
wall with a top surface, a bottom surface and plurality of openings
extending through the bottom wall between the top and bottom
surfaces. Legs typically extend down from the bottom surface of the
bottom wall so that the dish rack can be supported in spaced
relationship to the countertop or a drain board sold with the dish
rack. A plurality of supports extend up from the top surface of the
bottom wall and are configured to permit dishes, glasses and
silverware to be supported in a generally vertical orientation.
Thus, water can drain from the dishes, glasses and silverware
through the apertures in the bottom wall and onto the countertop or
drain board. The typical dish rack also includes an array of side
walls that extend up from the bottom wall. The side walls retain
the dishes and other items neatly within the dish rack and may be
configured to support glasses, cups and the like. The drain board
adds to the cost of a dish rack and complicates packaging and
shipment prior to sale and further complicates storage between
uses. The prior art dish rack can be used without a drain board.
However, water then will accumulate directly on the countertop and
can damage or discolor the countertop. The countertop must be wiped
dry each time the dish rack is used without a drain board.
[0006] Some dish racks are formed from wires that are coated with a
synthetic resin. Other dish racks are molded from a plastic
material. Dish racks are made in many different colors to
coordinate with other colors use in the kitchen. However, dish
racks are generally unattractive and detract from and otherwise
aesthetically appealing kitchen. As a result, many homeowners store
dish racks in a cabinet or closet between uses, and considerable
space must be allocated in a cabinet or closet near the sink to
accommodate the aesthetically unattractive dish rack between
uses.
[0007] A dish rack must be sufficiently large to accommodate all
dishes, glassware, silverware and cooking items that will be used
during a meal. However, the number of dishes, glasses, silverware
pieces and cooking utensils varies considerably from one meal to
another. For example, the number of people who are being served at
each meal is not always constant. Additionally, some meals require
separate dishes for each of several courses. More particularly,
some meals merely require each family member to have a dinner
plate. Other meals, however, may require each family member to have
dinner plate, a salad plate and a dessert bowl. The dish rack must
be sufficiently large to accommodate the maximum number of dishes
that are expected to be used, and hence the dish rack will be
larger than necessary for many meals. Accordingly, a homeowner
often will have an excessively large unsightly dish rack supported
in an obtrusive position on a countertop and will require a large
amount of storage space in a cabinet or closet to accommodate the
excessively larger dish rack between uses.
[0008] The subject invention has been developed in view of these
problems and inconveniences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention relates to a dish rack assembly that can be
expanded or telescoped from a small size to a larger size in
accordance with the drainage needs for a particular meal. The dish
rack assembly can be collapsed to its smallest size for storage
between uses.
[0010] The dish rack preferably is formed from an upstream rack and
a downstream rack that can be telescoped relative to one another
for selectively defining the size of the dish rack assembly. The
terms upstream and downstream are used herein to define the
direction of flow of water in the preferred embodiment. Thus, the
upstream rack is configured to be gravitationally above the
downstream rack and the respective racks may be sloped to
accommodate the flow of drainage water from the upstream rack to
the downstream rack and to the drain board or sink. The upstream
and downstream racks preferably are molded from a thermoplastic
material. In a preferred embodiment, a least a major portion of
each rack is molded unitarily from a thermoplastic material.
However, one of the upstream and downstream racks may have a
separately formed compartment for storing silverware or the
like.
[0011] The downstream rack includes a bottom wall with opposite top
and bottom surfaces. The bottom wall of the downstream rack
includes an upstream end and a downstream end and preferably is
free of openings between the ends. Legs projects down from the
bottom surface of the bottom wall of the downstream rack. The legs
at the upstream end of the bottom wall of the downstream rack
project further than the legs at the downstream end thereof. As a
result, the bottom wall of the downstream rack can be sloped on a
horizontal surface so that the downstream end is lower than the
upstream end. The top surface of the bottom wall of the downstream
rack preferably is formed with an array of channels to ensure a
gravitational flow of water towards the downstream end of the
downstream rack. For example, the top surface of the bottom wall of
the downstream rack may include a central channel flowing
completely from the upstream end to the downstream end of the
downstream rack. A plurality of transverse channels may communicate
with the central channel.
[0012] Opposite side walls extend up from the bottom wall of the
downstream rack and a downstream end wall extends from the
downstream end of the bottom wall and between the side walls of the
downstream rack. The downstream end wall of the downstream rack is
configured to accommodate an outflow of drainage water from the
channels in the top surface of the bottom wall of the downstream
rack. Upper ends of the side walls of the downstream rack
preferably are curved outwardly. Significantly, there is no
upstream end wall opposite to the downstream and wall of the
downstream rack in the preferred embodiment.
[0013] The upstream rack includes a bottom wall with an upstream
end, a downstream end and opposite top and bottom surfaces
extending between the ends. Additionally, the bottom wall
preferably has no openings formed therethrough. Upstream legs
extend down from the bottom surface of the bottom wall near the
upstream end of the upstream rack. However, the bottom wall of the
upstream rack has no legs near the downstream end thereof in the
preferred embodiment. A plurality of dish supports preferably
project up from the top surface of the top wall of the upstream
rack. The dish supports are configured to support dishes in a
generally vertical orientation to accommodate a gravitational flow
of water from the dishes and onto the bottom surface of the bottom
wall of the upstream rack. Opposed side walls project up from
opposite sides of the bottom wall and an upstream end wall projects
up from the upstream end of the bottom wall of the upstream rack
and joins to the side wall of the upstream rack. In the preferred
embodiment, the upstream rack has no downstream end wall opposed to
the upstream end wall. Upper ends of the side walls of the upstream
rack curve outwardly and away from one another. The upstream rack
may further include a partition or compartment to define a space
for storing silverware and other eating utensils. The partition or
compartment may be molded unitarily with the remainder of the
upstream rack or may be assembled to the upstream rack. One or more
channels may be formed in the top surface of the bottom wall of the
upstream rack to accommodate a flow of drainage water from the
upstream end of the bottom wall towards the downstream end
thereof.
[0014] The downstream end of the upstream rack is configured to
nest with and telescope into the upstream end of the downstream
rack. More particularly, the bottom surface of the bottom wall of
the upstream rack is dimensioned to rest on the top surface of the
bottom wall of the downstream rack. Additionally, outer surfaces of
the side walls of the upstream rack are dimensioned to slidably
engage inner surfaces of the side walls of the downstream rack. The
curved upper ends of the side wall of the upstream rack are
dimensioned to nest over the curved upper ends of the side walls of
the downstream rack. With this construction, the dish rack assembly
can be telescoped together so that the downstream end of the
upstream rack is near the downstream end wall of the downstream
rack. This smaller telescoped configuration is convenient for
storage of the dish rack assembly and for drainage of a relatively
small number of dishes. Alternatively, the dish rack assembly can
be expanded so that the downstream end of the upstream rack is
supported near the upstream end of the downstream rack. This
expanded orientation of the dish rack assembly is suitable for the
drainage of a relatively large number of dishes. In all possible
orientations of the dish rack assembly, drainage water will flow in
an upstream to downstream direction along the top surface of the
bottom wall of the upstream rack. The drainage water then will
continue onto the upper surface of the downstream rack and will
merge into drainage water that may be accumulated from dishes on
the downstream rack. This combined flow of drainage water will
continue to the downstream end of the downstream rack and can be
deposited into the sink. The absence of openings in the bottom
walls can eliminate the need for a separate drain board.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dish rack assembly in
accordance with the invention and shows the dish rack assembly in
an expanded condition.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a downstream end elevational view of the dish rack
assembly shown in FIG. 1
[0018] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the dish rack
assembly.
[0019] FIG. 5 is an upstream end elevational view of the dish rack
assembly.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the dish rack assembly in
the condition shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.
[0021] FIG. 7 is perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing
the dish rack assembly in the collapse condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] A dish rack assembly in accordance with the invention is
identified generally by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 1-7. The dish rack
assembly 10 includes a downstream rack 12 and a upstream rack 14.
The downstream rack 12 is molded unitarily from a thermoplastic
material and includes an upstream end 16 and a downstream end 18. A
bottom wall 20 extends between the upstream and downstream ends 16
and 18 of the downstream rack 12. The bottom wall includes a top
surface 22 and an opposite bottom surface 24 and has no openings
extending between the top and bottom surfaces 22 and 24. Upstream
legs 26 project down from the bottom surface 24 of the bottom wall
20 near the upstream end 16 of the downstream rack 12 and
downstream legs 28 project down from the bottom surface 24 of the
bottom wall 22 near the downstream end 18 of the downstream rack
12. The upstream legs 26 project a further distance than the
downstream legs 28. As a result, the bottom wall of the downstream
rack 12 will define a downward slope from the upstream end 16 to
the downstream end 18 when the downstream rack 12 is supported on a
horizontal surface.
[0023] The top surface 22 of the bottom wall 20 is formed with an
upwardly concave central channel 30 that extends continuously from
the upstream end 16 to the downstream end 18. The downstream end of
the central channel 30 defines a chute 32 from which drainage water
will flow gravitationally. The top surface 22 of the bottom wall 20
of the downstream rack 12 further includes transverse channels 34
that flow downwardly and into the central channel 32.
[0024] The downstream rack 12 further includes first and second
opposed side walls 36 and 38 that extend up from the bottom wall
20. The upper end of the first side wall 36 includes an outwardly
curved lip 37. Similarly, the upper end of the second side wall 38
includes an outwardly curved lip 39. First and second downstream
end walls 40 and 42 project up from the bottom wall 20 and inwardly
from the respective first and second side walls 36 and 38 at the
downstream end 18 of the downstream rack 12. The downstream end
walls 40 and 42 slope downwardly towards the outlet end chute 32 of
the central channel 30 to accommodate an outflow of drainage
water.
[0025] The upstream rack 14 has an upstream end 44 and a downstream
end 46. A bottom wall 50 extends from the upstream end 44 to the
downstream 46 and has opposite top and bottom surfaces 52 and 54.
No openings are formed through the bottom wall 50 of the upstream
rack 14. Upstream legs 56 project down from the bottom surface 54
of the bottom wall 50 of the upstream rack 14 near the upstream end
44 of the upstream rack 14. The projecting distance of the upstream
legs 56 on the upstream rack 14 exceed the projecting distance of
the upstream legs 26 on the downstream rack 12. There are no
downstream legs on the upstream rack 14. The upper surface 52 of
the bottom wall 50 of the upstream rack 14 is formed with a
plurality of dish supports 58. The dish supports 58 are configured
to support dishes, bowls or the like in a generally vertical
orientation that will permit droplets of water to flow from the
dishes and onto the top surface 52 of the bottom wall 50 of the
upstream rack 14. An upwardly concave central channel 60 is formed
in the bottom wall 50 of the upstream rack 14. The central channel
60 has a convex lower surface that is dimensioned to nest in the
channel 30 of the downstream rack 12.
[0026] First and second side walls 66 and 68 project up from
opposite sides of the bottom wall 50 of the upstream rack 14. An
outwardly curved lip 67 is formed along the top edge of the first
side wall 66. Similarly, an outwardly curved lip 69 is formed along
the top edge of the second side wall 68 of the upstream rack
14.
[0027] An upstream end wall projects up from the upstream end 44 of
the upstream rack 14 and joints the first and second side walls 66
and 68.
[0028] The upstream rack 14 further includes silverware partitions
72 that extend between the first and second side walls 66 and 68
near the upstream end wall 70. The silverware partitions 72 may be
molded unitarily with the remainder of the upstream rack 14 or may
be mounted to the remainder of the upstream rack 14.
[0029] The downstream end 46 of the upstream rack is dimensioned
and configured to be supported on the top surface 22 of the bottom
wall 20 of the downstream rack 12 as shown in FIGS. 1-6. More
particularly, the central channel 60 in the bottom wall 50 of the
upstream rack 14 will nest with the central channel 30 in the
bottom wall 20 of the downstream rack 12. The side walls 66 and 68
will nest inwardly of the side walls 36 and 38 respectively of the
downstream rack 12. In this nested configuration, the outwardly
curved lips 67 and 68 on the side walls 66 and 68 of the upstream
rack 14 will nest over the outwardly curved lips 37 and 38
respectively of the side walls 36 and 38 of the downstream rack 12.
This assembly 10 will be supported by the upstream and downstream
legs 26 and 28 of the downstream rack 12 and by the upstream legs
56 of the upstream rack 14. The downstream end 46 of the upstream
rack 14 will be supported on the upstream end 16 of the downstream
rack 12.
[0030] The dish rack assembly 10 can be maintained in an expanded
condition as shown most clearly in FIG. 1 to accommodate a
relatively large number of dishes, glasses and silverware. In this
expanded condition, the dishes, bowls and the like will be
supported generally vertically by the supports 58 on the upstream
rack 14. Glasses, cups and the like can be supported on the top
surface 22 of the bottom wall 20 of the downstream rack 12.
Silverware can be supported generally vertically between the
partition 72 and the upstream end wall 70.
[0031] The dish rack assembly 10 can be collapsed into the FIG. 7
orientation by telescoping the upstream rack 14 further onto the
downstream rack 12. In this smaller telescoped condition, the
assembly still will be supported by the upstream and downstream
legs 26 and 28 of the downstream rack 12 and by the upstream legs
56 of the upstream rack 14. The downstream portions of the upstream
rack 14 will continue to be supported by downstream rack 12. In
both configurations, water that drains from dishes, glasses and
silverware will flow downwardly from the upstream end to the
downstream end along the telescoped bottom walls 50 and 20. The
water from the upstream rack 14 will flow along the central channel
60, into the central channel 30 of the downstream rack 12 and from
the chute 32. The bottom walls 20 and 50 have no openings. Thus,
water will not accumulate on the countertop, and a drain board is
unnecessary. The collapsed or inwardly telescoped dish rack
assembly 10 defines a relatively small space and can be stored
conveniently in a closet or cabinet. The absence of a drain board
further reduces storage space. The dish rack assembly 10 then can
be expanded to appropriate dimensions for use.
* * * * *