Silverware holder

Abstract

A utility holder for storing one place setting of silverware with individual compartments that are each shaped in mating engagement with the stored item of silverware so that the individual pieces of silverware do not touch one another. The handle of each piece of silverware is locked into position by a notch in the top end side of the utility holder, said notch being of a size and shape to anchor the handle of the piece of silverware. The unit may consist of three or more compartments with each compartment designed to hold one of the pieces of a unit place setting of a set of silverware.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a utility holder for storing one unit place setting of silverware with each piece of silverware of the unit place setting being separately positioned so that adjoining pieces of silverware do not touch each other.

The advantage of this invention is that the individual pieces of silverware, comprising a unit place setting, are individually mounted in the device with the handle of each piece of silverware protruding past the end side of the device and fitting into a notch in the upper edge of the device to firmly anchor each piece of silverware. The interior resting surface of each compartment is shaped in a mating configuration to the resting surface of the piece of silverware which lies in that section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device employed to store a unit place setting consisting of three pieces of silverware;

FIG. 2 is a planned view of the device with a stored unit place setting;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the device taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates the device 10 employed to store the three pieces of a unitary place setting comprising a fork 21, a knife 22, and a spoon 23, with each piece of silverware individually nested. The device is formed with a bottom section 11, two side sections 13, a cover section 14 that extends over a short portion of the top of the device and that encloses the functional end of each piece of silverware, and interior partitions 16 that divide the interior into three compartments. The interior section 24 of the device is solid and is shaped so as to form a mating top surface for the resting surface of the pieces of silverware that rests against it in each section. The length of each side 13 is such that a portion of the handle section of each piece of silverware extends past the end side 12 when the piece of silverware is nested.

A notch 17 is cut in the top edge of edge section 12 to hold the handle of the fork 21 which rests in the notch. Similarly a notch 18 is cut in the top edge of end section 12 to nest the protruding section of handle 22 which rests in the notch. Notch 19 is cut in the end section 12 so as to grip the protruding section of handle 23 which rests in notch 19 when spoon 23 is nested.

The interior material, filling the device, may be fabricated of the same material as is used to form the outer sides, top, and bottom of the device, or alternately the interior material may be fabricated of a foam plastic composition and suitably shaped.

Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein, such modifications being within the spirit and scope of the invention claimed, it is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended as illustrative and not as limiting in scope.

Claims

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A utility holder for storing a place setting set of silverware pieces, said holder formed as a box internally fitted with partitions that divide the interior of the box into a plurality of individual compartments, with each compartment shaped to retain one piece of silverware of a place setting on a resting surface in said compartment, with

each resting surface of a compartment shaped to match in mating engagement the undersurface of a piece of silverware,

each said compartment being of a length that is less than the length of the piece of silverware which the compartment is designed to retain, with an end wall of each compartment formed with an open notch of a size to engage a section of the handle of a piece of silverware stored in the compartment, such that the end section of the handle of the stored piece of silverware projects past the exterior of the compartment end wall.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1, in which a top cover section of the holder encloses a section of each compartment, said enclosed section being bounded by the end wall of the compartment which is opposed to the notched end wall so that the non-handle section of a stored piece of silverware resting in the compartment may lie in the enclosed section of the compartment.