U.S. patent application number 11/723730 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-26 for spice rack.
Invention is credited to Denise C. Bertrand, Richard L. Bertrand.
Application Number | 20070170132 11/723730 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38284501 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070170132 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bertrand; Richard L. ; et
al. |
July 26, 2007 |
Spice rack
Abstract
A spice storage including an array of sliding drawers positioned
on a base. The assembly will be placed on an existing kitchen
cabinet shelf. It should be noted however, that the assembly may be
made to replace the existing shelf if desired. The assembly is
designed to store spice containers in a relative small space, which
containers may be easily identified and retrieved. Each drawer
includes a planar, horizontal bottom surface having a knob secured
to the front end. Plural dowels are positioned along each side of
the planar surface to define an enclosed area for the spice
containers.
Inventors: |
Bertrand; Richard L.;
(Rochester, MA) ; Bertrand; Denise C.; (Rochester,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LITMAN LAW OFFICES, LTD.
P.O. BOX 15035
CRYSTAL CITY STATION
ARLINGTON
VA
22215
US
|
Family ID: |
38284501 |
Appl. No.: |
11/723730 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11059541 |
Feb 17, 2005 |
|
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11723730 |
Mar 21, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/70.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 77/16 20130101;
A47J 47/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/070.6 |
International
Class: |
A47F 7/00 20060101
A47F007/00 |
Claims
1. A spice storage assembly, comprising: a base, said base having
an upper surface, a front end, a rear end, a length and a width; an
array of slide engagement members attached to said base and spaced
a small distance from said front end of said base; an array of
drawers disposed on said base member, wherein each drawer of the
array has an undersurface disposed in sliding engagement with said
base, a first side, a second side parallel with said first side, a
planar upper surface extending from said first side to said second
side, a front end and a rear end; a groove formed in the
undersurface of each drawer, wherein a slide engagement member is
disposed in a respective groove for sliding engagement therein; a
first plurality of dowels extending upwardly from said planar upper
surface and aligned along said first side of each drawer; and a
second plurality of dowels extending upwardly from said planar
upper surface and aligned along said second side of each
drawer.
2. The spice storage assembly according to claim 1 wherein each
groove has a first end and a second end and wherein said first end
terminates a small distance from said front end of said drawer and
said second end terminates a small distance from said rear end of
said drawer.
3. The spice storage assembly according to claim 1 wherein each
groove has a first end and a second end and wherein said first end
terminates a small distance from said front end of said drawer and
said second end terminates a small distance from said rear end of
said drawer and wherein said first end is of circular
configuration.
4. The spice storage assembly according to claim 1 wherein said
slide engagement member is a tapered washer.
5. The spice storage assembly according to claim 1 including a knob
attached to the front end of each drawer.
6. A spice storage assembly, comprising: a base, said base having
an upper surface, a front end, a rear end, a length and a width; an
array of slide engagement members attached to said base and spaced
a small distance from said front end of said base, said slide
engagement members evenly spaced across the width of said base; an
array of drawers disposed on said base member, wherein each drawer
of the array has an undersurface disposed in sliding engagement
with said base, a first side, a second side parallel with said
first side, a planar upper surface extending from said first side
to said second side, a front end and a rear end; a groove formed in
the undersurface of each drawer, wherein a slide engagement member
is disposed in a respective groove for sliding engagement therein;
a first plurality of dowels extending upwardly from said planar
upper surface and aligned along said first side of each drawer; and
a second plurality of dowels extending upwardly from said planar
upper surface and aligned along said second side of each
drawer.
7. The spice storage assembly according to claim 6 wherein each
groove has a first end and a second end and wherein said first end
terminates a small distance from said front end of said drawer and
said second end terminates a small distance from said rear end of
said drawer.
8. The spice storage assembly according to claim 6 wherein each
groove has a first end and a second end and wherein said first end
terminates a small distance from said front end of said drawer and
said second end terminates a small distance from said rear end of
said drawer and wherein said first end is of circular
configuration.
9. The spice storage assembly according to claim 6 wherein said
slide engagement member is a tapered washer.
10. The spice storage assembly according to claim 6 including a
knob attached to the front end of each drawer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 11/059,541 filed Feb. 17, 2005 and claims the benefit of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/568,735, filed May
7, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to kitchen
accessories. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a
spice rack.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] "I can't find the sage!!" That, and similar laments are
uttered daily as food preparers search through cluttered cabinets
seeking the necessary spices that will make the meal a success.
Aside from delaying and sometimes ruining the food preparation
process, the search efforts can cause immeasurable frustration.
What a boon it would be if all the spices were located in one
convenient place in an ordered, easily retrievable array.
[0006] There are many devices that address the organization of the
spice pantry. Exemplary ones of these devices are cited in the IDS.
Some of the cited devices are merely drawn to ornamental designs.
Others require structural modification of a kitchen cabinet for
installation. Still others do not display the spice containers in a
manner to be readily identified when desired.
[0007] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either
singly or in combination, is seen to disclose an array of sliding
spice drawers for mounting on a kitchen cabinet shelf or the like
as will be subsequently described and claimed in the instant
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The instant invention is an assembly comprising an array of
sliding drawers positioned on a base. As contemplated, the assembly
will be placed on an existing kitchen cabinet shelf. It should be
noted however, that the assembly may be made to replace the
existing shelf if desired. The assembly is designed to store spice
containers in a relative small space, which containers may be
easily identified and retrieved. Each drawer includes a planar,
horizontal bottom surface having a knob secured to the front end.
Plural dowels are positioned along the sides of the planar surface
to define an enclosed space for the spice containers.
[0009] The drawers are self-supporting and include a groove on each
side. Each groove engages a key, which key is attached to the base.
The drawers may be disengaged from the keys by simply pulling the
drawer all the way out. The drawers are two inches wide thus, the
assembly is easily adapted to six, eight, ten, twelve or fourteen
inch cabinets. The base, drawers, dowels, knobs and keys can be
fabricated from any suitable materials or combinations thereof
(wood, metal, plastic). Although designated as a spice rack, it is
obvious that the assembly could be utilized as a solution for other
storage problems.
[0010] Accordingly, the assembly offers a solution for organizing
an array of containers or the like for easy identification and
retrieval. The dimensions are such that the assembly is easily
adaptable to conventional, standard-size cabinets. The invention
provides for improved elements and arrangements thereof for the
purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully
effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.
[0011] A clear understanding of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a spice
storage assembly according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of a spice storage
assembly according to the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of a sliding drawer of a spice storage
assembly according to the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a sliding drawer of a spice storage
assembly according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of a sliding
drawer of a spice storage assembly according to the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a partial end view of a second embodiment of a
sliding drawer of a spice storage assembly according to the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded, perspective, top view of a third
embodiment of a spice storage assembly according to the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective, bottom view of a third
embodiment of a spice storage assembly according to the present
invention.
[0020] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Attention is first directed to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the
spice storage assembly of the present invention is generally
indicated at 10. Assembly 10 comprises a base 12 preferably of
rectangular configuration. Base 12 has a length of at least ten and
one-fourth inches to accommodate the sliding drawers described
below. Base 12 will be made in various widths to fit conventional
cabinet widths as stated above. A stop member 14 is attached to the
rear upper surface of base 12 and is coextensive with the width of
base 12. A series of key members 16 extend from the rear end to the
front end of base 12, which key members are perpendicular to stop
member 14. As contemplated, base 12 will be positioned on the
bottom shelf of a cabinet. However, the base could replace the
bottom shelf of the cabinet if desired.
[0022] An array of drawers 20 is adapted to be slidably supported
on base 12. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, each drawer 20 comprises
a rectangularly configured body having an upper surface 22, front
end 24, rear end 26 and sides 28. Each drawer has a length of
approximately ten and one-fourth inches and a width of
approximately two inches. Each side 28 has a groove 28a formed
therein, which groove is dimensioned to receive a key member 16
therein. A plurality of dowels 30 is positioned along each side of
each drawer 20 and extends vertically from the upper surface 22.
Each dowel has a length of approximately two inches and an outside
diameter of approximately three-eighths of an inch. The dowels are
placed on surface 22 to enclose an area for supporting spice
containers or the like. The dowels will prevent the containers from
toppling. The open structure of the drawer permits a user to easily
identify a particular spice container when the drawer is extended
as in FIG. 1. A knob 32 is attached to the front end 24 to enhance
drawer manipulation. Although the spice containers are of like size
as illustrated, it should be noted that containers of different
sizes and configurations may be easily accommodated.
[0023] An alternative arrangement is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein
a series of dovetail grooves 40 are formed in the upper surface of
base member 12. Grooves 40 extend the length of the base member 12.
Respective slide engagement members 42 have distal ends 44 threaded
into the bottom surface of each drawer. The proximate end of each
member is a tapered washer, which washer is dimensioned to fit and
slide in a respective groove 40. Stop members 46 and 48 extend
across the front and rear of base 12 to prevent the drawer from
being disengaged from the base.
[0024] In a third embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in
FIGS. 7 and 8, the slide engagement members 42 have their distal
ends 44 threaded into the upper surface of base 12. A dovetail
groove 50 is formed in the bottom surface of each drawer 20. Each
groove 50 extends along the length of the drawer and has a first
end 50a terminating a small distance from the front end of the
drawer. A second end 50b of groove 50 terminates a small distance
from the rear end of drawer 20. The tapered washers of slide
members 42 are adapted to slide in each respective dovetail groove
50. First end 50a of each groove is configured as a circular
opening and is dimensioned to fit over the proximate end of
respective slide members 42, whereby each drawer may be easily
removed from the base if desired. This arrangement permits the
elimination of the stop members described above, thereby saving
manufacturing costs.
[0025] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
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