Drip Tray With Interlock Feature
The improved drip tray includes a perimeter wall with at least one slotted opening for snugly receiving an interlock tab. The tab may have a surface for written marking with a dry-erase or other marking instrument, or may accept an identification label to provide identification for the user or use of a particular drip tray in which it is received. The tab is also sized such that a plurality of drip trays may be stacked thereon for convenient and efficient retention and storage regardless of the dimensions of the stacked drip trays.
Not Applicable STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENTNot Applicable
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISCNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention
The present invention relates to polymer drip trays and, in particular, polymer trays with an interlock feature for staked retention thereof.
Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Common trays for capturing and retaining liquid drips are bulky and difficult to efficiently store in a drawer or cabinet. In a drawer the trays are prone to shifting and upset with movement of the drawer, often scrambling the drawer contents or jamming and thereby preventing the full opening of the drawer. Moreover, trays of different dimensions do not nest and are all the more prone to movement and scrambling of the drawer contents. In a cabinet, trays of different dimensions cannot nest efficiently and, as with drawer storage, become scrambled and occupy a greater amount of space than necessary. Moreover, even trays of like dimension are likewise prone to movement due to the effects of gravity and/or vibration, thereby scrambling the cabinet contents and occupying a greater amount of space than necessary. What is needed is a means for the efficient stacking and retention of a plurality of drip trays to prevent these issues. Such an invention is disclosed herein, along with additional inventive features.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTaught herein in a first embodiment is a drip tray device comprising a polymer drip tray having a perimeter wall defining a central well capable of retention of a volume of liquid therein, the drip tray perimeter wall including at least one slotted opening for receiving an interlock tab. Other aspects include the device wherein the interlock tab maintains a stacked orientation of a plurality of polymer drip trays. Another aspect is the device wherein the interlock tab includes a surface for application of an identification label. Another aspect is the device wherein the interlock tab includes a visible surface for marking. Yet another aspect is the device further comprising a raised pattern on the bottom surface of the central well for decreasing slippage of the device relative to a surface upon which the device rests.
Also taught herein is a system comprising a plurality of polymer drip trays, each tray having a perimeter wall defining a central well capable of retention of a volume of liquid therein, each drip tray including at least one corresponding slotted opening in the perimeter wall for receiving an interlock tab. Another aspect is the system wherein the interlock tab maintains a stacked orientation of the plurality of drip trays. Another aspect is the system wherein the interlock tab includes a surface for application of an identification label. Another aspect is the system wherein the interlock tab includes a visible surface for marking. Another aspect is the system further comprising a plurality of interlock tabs, wherein each drip tray includes a matching number of corresponding slotted openings in the perimeter wall for receiving the interlock tabs. Yet another aspect is the system further comprising a raised pattern on the bottom surface of the central well for decreasing slippage of the device relative to a surface upon which the device rests.
The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The above figures are provided for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosed invention. Use of the same reference number in multiple figures is intended to designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, if and when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “height,” “width,” “length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only to facilitate describing the particular embodiment. The extension of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONEach drip tray (104, 112, and 118) includes a corresponding slotted opening (110, 116, and 122, respectively) in the uppermost surface of the perimeter wall for accepting an interlock tab (102) (the interlocking feature). Because the slotted openings (110, 116, and 122) correspond to one another as shown, it is possible for a user to insert the single interlock tab (102) through the plurality of drip trays (104, 112, and 118) to maintain them in a stacked and interlocked position.
The interlock tab (102) of this embodiment is rectangular in shape and is manufactured from an acrylic polymer for rigidity. The interlock tab (102) and slotted opening (110) are dimensioned such that the interlock tab may be readily inserted in the slotted opening (110), and is held snugly therein until removal by a user. The exact dimensions of the interlock tab (102) are determined by the slotted opening (110) dimensions, which are limited by the perimeter wall (106) of the drip tray (104). As with the drip trays, although acrylic polymer is utilized in this embodiment, other materials are envisioned. For example, the interlock tab may be made from other polymers or metals depending on the application design requirements. One of ordinary skill in the art is readily capable of such material selection.
In this depicted embodiment the drip tray (104) is approximately a square of 120 mm. The top of the surrounding perimeter wall (106) is approximately 5 mm in height and width, with the slotted opening (110) approximately 60 mm in length by 3 mm in width. The interlock tab (102) dimensions correspond to the slotted opening, measuring approximately 60 mm by 30 mm, and slightly less than 3 mm in thickness to fit within the slotted opening. With the drip tray (104) on a flat surface, the interlock tab (102) inserted within the slotted opening (110) exposes a large portion of the interlock tab (102) above the perimeter wall (106) upper surface. Although the embodiment presents a square-shaped interlock tab other shapes are envisioned and are within the scope of the claims. For example, other embodiments may feature circular tabs, cloud shaped tabs, arrow shaped tabs, square tabs, or the like.
In other embodiments the drip trays may be of different dimensions.
A non-exclusive example of use of the drip tray with interlock feature is with the containment and identification of a user's lunch within a refrigeration device.
The bottom surface of the polymer drip tray (108) in the present embodiment features a raised pattern that aids the tray in gripping the surface upon which it is placed. For example, on a refrigerator glass shelf the raised pattern has the effect of decreasing the surface area that is in contact with the shelf, which has the effect of increasing the pressure per square inch felt by the tray. This increases the friction felt between the bottom surface of the drip tray and the shelf surface, preventing slippage. Moreover, depending on the pattern a suction can be established between the drip tray and a non-porous shelf, for example, a suction cup pattern. The use of lettering, for example, a product trademark, likewise decreases slippage of the drip tray upon a shelf. Moreover, a drip tray (108) constructed from silicone or similar polymer also has a natural resistance to slippage due to its affinity for glass.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is established by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. While various alterations and permutations of the invention are possible, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents.
Claims
1. A device, the device comprising:
- a polymer drip tray having a perimeter wall defining a central well capable of retention of a volume of liquid therein, the drip tray perimeter wall including at least one slotted opening for receiving an interlock tab.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the interlock tab maintains a stacked orientation of a plurality of polymer drip trays.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the interlock tab includes a surface for application of an identification label.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the interlock tab includes a visible surface for marking.
5. The device of claim 1, the device further comprising:
- a raised pattern on the bottom surface of the central well for decreasing slippage of the device relative to a surface upon which the device rests.
6. A system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of polymer drip trays, each tray having a perimeter wall defining a central well capable of retention of a volume of liquid therein, each drip tray including at least one corresponding slotted opening in the perimeter wall for receiving an interlock tab.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein the interlock tab maintains a stacked orientation of the plurality of drip trays.
8. The system of claim 5, wherein the interlock tab includes a surface for application of an identification label.
9. The system of claim 5, wherein the interlock tab includes a visible surface for marking.
10. The system of claim 5, the system further comprising:
- a plurality of interlock tabs, wherein each drip tray includes a matching number of corresponding slotted openings in the perimeter wall for receiving the interlock tabs.
11. The system of claim 5, the system further comprising:
- a raised pattern on the bottom surface of the central well for decreasing slippage of the device relative to a surface upon which the device rests.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 1, 2016
Publication Date: Sep 7, 2017
Inventor: Howard J. Locker (Dallas, TX)
Application Number: 15/057,735