U.S. patent application number 12/558534 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-11 for dish rack with removable grate.
Invention is credited to Azanaw Mulaw.
Application Number | 20100059460 12/558534 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41798304 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100059460 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mulaw; Azanaw |
March 11, 2010 |
Dish rack with removable grate
Abstract
A countertop dish rack has a compact unitary body holding a
flat-panel grate, utensil holders, a funnel and a drainage tray.
The unitary body is configured with a portion of approximately
planar solid material, such as plastic. A recessed central portion
holds the flat-panel grate and drainage funnel both located below
the top surface of the unitary body. Hand hold recesses are located
on the left side and right side of the unitary body. The funnel
discharges water to a removable drainage tray. The utensil holders
are removable and are supported within the flat-panel grate.
Inventors: |
Mulaw; Azanaw; (Fort
Washington, MD) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LOUIS VENTRE, JR
2483 OAKTON HILLS DRIVE
OAKTON
VA
22124-1530
US
|
Family ID: |
41798304 |
Appl. No.: |
12/558534 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12467266 |
May 16, 2009 |
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12558534 |
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61095944 |
Sep 10, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/41.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 19/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/41.3 |
International
Class: |
A47G 19/08 20060101
A47G019/08 |
Claims
1. A countertop dish rack comprising: a unitary body comprising a
top surface, a front face, a rear face, a right side, a left side,
and a drainage funnel: wherein the top surface, the front face, the
rear face, the right side and the left side each comprise a portion
of approximately planar solid material; wherein the unitary body is
configured such that the top surface defines an approximate
horizontal plane with a recessed central portion; wherein the
unitary body is further configured such that the drainage funnel
receives water draining into the recessed central portion of the
unitary body; wherein the unitary body is further configured such
that the left side and the right side each define a hand hold
between the front face and the rear face and situated below the top
surface; and, wherein the unitary body is further configured such
that the front face defines an opening for a removable drainage
tray, said opening situated between the right side and the left
side; a removable drainage tray configured to receive water from
the drainage funnel; a flat-panel grate configured to rest on the
drainage funnel below the top surface of the unitary body; and, a
plurality of removable utensil holders configured to be supported
within the flat-panel grate.
2. The countertop dish rack of claim 1 wherein the removable
drainage tray is configured with a handle that protrudes from front
face creating a line of sight to a water level within the removable
drainage tray when the removable drainage tray is fully inserted
into the unitary body.
3. A countertop dish rack comprising: a unitary body comprising a
top surface, a front face, a rear face, a right side and a left
side: wherein the top surface, the front face, the rear face, the
right side and the left side each comprise a portion of
approximately planar solid material; wherein the unitary body is
configured such that the top surface defines an approximate
horizontal plane with a recessed central portion; wherein the
unitary body is further configured such that the left side and the
right side each define a hand hold between the front face and the
rear face and situated below the top surface; and, wherein the
unitary body is further configured such that the front face defines
an opening for a removable drainage tray, said opening situated
between the right side and the left side; a removable drainage
funnel: configured to fit within the central portion of the unitary
body at a position recessed below the top surface of the unitary
body; and, configured to receive water draining into the recessed
central portion of the unitary body; a removable drainage tray
configured to receive water from the removable drainage funnel; a
flat-panel grate configured to rest on the removable drainage
funnel below the top surface of the unitary body; and, a plurality
of removable utensil holders configured to be supported within the
flat-panel grate.
4. The countertop dish rack of claim 3 wherein the removable
drainage tray is configured with a handle that protrudes from front
face creating a line of sight to a water level within the removable
drainage tray when the removable drainage tray is fully inserted
into the unitary body.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/467,266, filed 16 MAY 2009, which in turn
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/095,944,
filed 10 SEP. 2008. Both of these applications are hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] In the field of support racks, a device to support a
culinary plate during drying subsequent to washing.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Wire rack dish racks for use on a countertop are widely
known and these serve to present a wire frame structure that does
not retain drip water. For example, a recent example is United
States Patent Application 20090211994, which describes a wire rack
and extendable drip tray.
[0004] Some inventions employ novel water channeling components.
For example U.S. Pat. No. 7,325,695 discloses a dish rack with
water drainage channel and spout under the wire mesh to direct drip
water into a sink.
[0005] Other known dish racks employ a water collection drawer. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,134 teaches an expandable dish rack
that contains a drawer-like water collection tray within and in the
bottom of the dish rack.
[0006] Yet none of the prior art describes a compact, solid form
dish rack with a flat-panel grate, easily removable utensil cups,
easily cleaned in a dishwasher, and with hand holds to enable easy
carriage of a filled dish rack to a new location.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] A countertop dish rack has a compact unitary body holding a
flat-panel grate, utensil holders, a drainage funnel and a drainage
tray. The unitary body is not a wire formed container, but rather
has a top surface, a front face, a rear face, a right side and a
left side each configured with a portion of approximately planar
solid material, such as plastic. The unitary body is configured
such that the top surface defines an approximate horizontal plane
with a recessed central portion that holds the flat-panel grate and
funnel. Hand hold recesses are located on the left side and right
side of the unitary body to enable secure carrying of a loaded dish
rack. A drawer opening on the front face of the unitary body
enables insertion and removal of the drainage tray. The drainage
funnel may be molded as part of the unitary body or may be an
insertable, separate component within the recessed central portion
of the unitary body. In both cases, the drainage funnel receives
water draining from the flat-panel grate, located immediately above
the funnel within the recessed central portion of the unitary body
and below the top surface of the unitary body. The utensil holders
are removable and are supported within the flat-panel grate.
Technical Problem
[0008] Wire frame countertop dish racks are large, complicated,
unsightly, costly, difficult to clean, and difficult to move when
filled with dishes.
Solution to Problem
[0009] A small, compact, closed body, inexpensive and easily
movable dish rack with a removable flat-plate grate solves the
problems with existing dish racks. The components of the present
invention, especially, the unique flat-plate grate, can be easily
removed and cleaned in a dishwasher.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0010] This invention has advantages in that it takes up a minimum
of countertop space; it collects the drip water in an inconspicuous
drawer; it is relatively inexpensive when made with a sturdy
dishwasher-safe plastic; it can be easily disassembled and the
components cleaned in a dishwasher; and it is easily carried when
full to a new location. The unique flat-plate grate that holds and
drains dishes in an upright position can be easily removed and
placed in a dish slot in a dishwasher. This makes it convenient to
regularly clean it of any mold or contamination resulting from the
presence of drip water from extended use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] The drawings show preferred embodiments of a countertop dish
rack comprising the invention and the reference numbers in the
drawings are used consistently throughout. New reference numbers in
FIG. 2 are given the 200 series numbers. Similarly, new reference
numbers in each succeeding drawing are given a corresponding series
number beginning with the figure number.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a left-side elevation of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a rear-side elevation of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a top view of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the unitary body of an
embodiment of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the unitary body of
an embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a top view of the removable drainage funnel in an
embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0021] In the following description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and which
illustrate several embodiments of the present invention. The
drawings and the preferred embodiments of the invention are
presented with the understanding that the present invention is
susceptible of embodiments in many different forms and, therefore,
other embodiments may be utilized and structural, and operational
changes may be made, without departing from the scope of the
present invention.
[0022] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in
perspective in FIG. 1 and in elevation views in FIGS. 3 and 4. It
is a countertop dish rack (100) comprising a unitary body (110), a
removable drainage tray (120), a flat-panel grate (130), and two or
more removable utensil holders (140). An alternative preferred
embodiment includes a removable drainage funnel (850), as shown in
FIG. 8.
[0023] The preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 first comprises a
unitary body (110). The unitary body (110) has a top surface (104),
a front face (101), a rear face (401), a right side (102) and a
left side (302), and a drainage funnel (650).
[0024] The top surface (104), the front face (101), the rear face
(401), the right side (102) and the left side (302) each comprise a
portion of approximately planar solid material, preferably a
sturdy, molded plastic.
[0025] The unitary body (110) is configured such that the top
surface (104) defines an approximate horizontal plane. The top
surface (104) of unitary body (110) defines a recessed central
portion (204), as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2.
[0026] The unitary body (110) is further configured such that the
left side (302) and the right side (102) each define a hand hold
(103) between the front face (101) and the rear face (401) and
situated below the top surface (104). The left side (302) and the
right side (102) are preferably mirror images of each other.
[0027] The unitary body (110) is further configured such that the
front face (101) defines an opening (203) for the removable
drainage tray (120). The opening (203) is situated between the
right side (102) and the left side (302), preferably centered and
at the bottom of the unitary body (110).
[0028] The unitary body (110) also comprises a drainage funnel
(650), shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The drainage funnel (650) is
preferably molded as a single piece with the unitary body (110).
Alternatively, the invention may include a removable drainage
funnel (850) as a separate component. Whether a removable drainage
funnel (850) is a separate component as shown in FIG. 8, or the
drainage funnel (650) is a molded integral part of the unitary body
(110) as shown in FIG. 6, it is positioned within the recessed
central portion (204) of the unitary body (110) at a position
recessed below the top surface (104) of the unitary body (110) in a
configuration that enables it to receive water draining into the
recessed central portion (204) of the unitary body (110) through
the flat-panel grate (130). The drainage funnel (650), as shown in
FIG. 6, or the removable drainage funnel (850), as shown in FIG. 8,
is configured to discharge water through a hole (651 and 851,
respectively) positioned near the front face (101) so that water
can flow into the removable drainage tray (120).
[0029] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the unitary body
(110). This view shows the bottom of the drainage funnel (650),
which is the same configuration when the countertop dish rack (100)
includes a removable drainage funnel (850). A stop (720) is
positioned to limit the depth of insertion of the removable
drainage tray (120). The stop (720) is preferable contoured to
match the shape of the removable drainage tray (120).
[0030] The preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 next comprises a
removable drainage tray (120) configured to receive water from the
drainage funnel (650). In an alternative embodiment, the removable
drainage tray (120) is similarly configured to receive water from
the removable drainage funnel (850). The removable drainage tray
(120) includes a handle (122) that protrudes from front face (101)
in a configuration that creates a line of sight (122) to a water
level within the removable drainage tray (120) when the removable
drainage tray (120) is fully inserted into the unitary body (110).
This line of sight (122) permits a convenient and easy
determination of when the removable drainage tray (120) needs to be
emptied.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the removable drainage tray (120) is
preferably a molded plastic drawer with a built in handle that
promotes ease of insertion into the unitary body (110) and ease of
retraction when it is desired to empty the water in the removable
drainage tray (120).
[0032] The removable drainage tray (120) is configured to fit under
the hole (651 or 851) in the drainage funnel (650) or the removable
drainage funnel (850), respectively. Preferably, the removable
drainage tray (120) rests on a countertop. Upon carriage of the
countertop dish rack (100) to a new location, the removable
drainage tray (120) would be carried separately to the new
location. This ensures that any water in the removable drainage
tray (120) will not be inadvertently spilled. Alternatively, the
removable drainage tray (120) may also be configured with lip
extensions or supports on its left and right sides to engage side
shelves within the opening (203) in the unitary body (110), which
would enable retention of the removable drainage tray (120) in the
unitary body (110) upon carriage of the countertop dish rack (100)
to a new location.
[0033] The preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 next comprises a
flat-panel grate (130) configured to rest on the drainage funnel
(650) or the removable drainage funnel (850) below the top surface
of the unitary body (110). As shown in FIG. 5, a preferred
flat-panel grate (130) has a series of holes (510) on both sides of
slots (520) contoured at each end to hold dishes, preferably
aligned from the front face (101) to the rear face (401). The
flat-panel grate (130) is configured with two ports (231) in the
flat-panel grate (130). The ports (231) are configured to support
the utensil holders (140). The flat-panel grate (130) is preferable
less than about an inch and a quarter in thickness, that is from
top to bottom, so that it can easily fit between the dish support
prongs in many dishwashers. Larger thicknesses for the flat-panel
grate (130) would also fit between dishwasher prongs for pots or
pans, which are typically about 2.5 inches apart with a fold down
capability to accommodate even larger pots or pans.
[0034] The preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 next comprises a
two or more removable utensil holders (140) configured to be
supported within the flat-panel grate (130). There are preferably
two removable utensil holders (140). The removable utensil holders
(140) are preferably configured with a recessed bottom segment
(241) to fit into the ports (231) in the flat-panel grate
(130).
[0035] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the countertop dish rack (100)
showing reinforcing ribs (910) spaced about the perimeter of the
unitary body (110). These reinforcing ribs (910) add strength and
stability to the countertop dish rack (100) when the unitary body
(110) is made of plastic.
[0036] The above-described embodiments including the drawings are
examples of the invention and merely provide illustrations of the
invention. Other embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in
the art. Thus, the scope of the invention is determined by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the
examples given.
* * * * *