Bottle rack
An apparatus for drying and storing an article, such as a baby bottle, after washing and rinsing includes a tray having a bottom face that is adapted to be supported by an underlying surface such as a counter-top, and an upper face. A plurality of pegs extend out from the upper face, and each peg is sized and arranged so as to be able to support an article, such as a baby bottle, after washing and rinsing. Each peg is mounted to the tray in such a manner as to be movable between a first storage position, wherein the entire peg is positioned relatively close to the upper face for storage and packaging, and a second, operative position. This permits the apparatus to be conveniently folded for packaging and storage purposes. Another aspect of the apparatus involves disk holding structure, connected to the upper face of the tray, for holding baby bottle disks in a location that is isolated from areas of the tray in which liquid may collect. This permits baby bottle disks to be dried and stored in a safe manner at a location that is convenient to a location at which baby bottles are being dried.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to the field of infant feeding and care. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved apparatus for storing and drying infant nursing bottles, nipples and rings that is more hygienic, efficient and attractive than articles that are presently available for similar purposes, and that is more convenient to store for consumers.
2. Description of the Related Technology
The importance of proper hygiene when handling and cleaning infant feeding equipment such as baby bottles and nursing nipples cannot be overstated. Ideally, bottles and nipples should be thoroughly scrubbed, then sterilized by immersion in boiling water between uses. At the very least, baby bottles and components thereof, which typically include rings, nipples, hoods and disks, must be washed with an effective detergent and dried in a location that is separated from dirty water or potential contaminants prior to storage for future use.
Drying racks for holding baby bottles, rings and nipples after washing are commercially available. For example, such products are sold by Safety 1st, Inc. as a “Bottle and Nipple Drying Rack,” and by Mommy's Helper, Inc. as a “Drain 'N Dry.” Both of these products are characterized by a plastic tray that has a number of socket recesses defined in a top face thereof. Plastic pegs are provided that are insertable into the socket recesses. Some of the plastic pegs are relatively long, for supporting a bottle, while others are shorter, for supporting nipples, rings and caps. Neither these products nor any other drying rack of which the inventors are aware have any way of storing the disks of a baby bottle in a sanitary location after washing.
Although products of the type described above are quite useful, the lack of disk storage forces conscientious caregivers to separate baby bottle components after washing and rinsing, which can be frustrating and can result in mix-ups between disks that have been washed and unwashed disks. In addition, the sockets that are defined in the top faces of such products can collect water and become points of nucleation for bacteria and mold growth. Furthermore, assembly and disassembly of these products can be laborious, with the need to insert multiple pegs in matching sockets and having to figure out which peg to place in each socket. These products are not convenient to store for a consumer, unless they are completely disassembled. In households that have toddlers, such racks can quickly unbeknownst to the caregiver become a plaything, and pegs can be pulled from the sockets, creating more work and frustration for the caregiver, possibly presenting a risk of injury.
A need exists for a bottle rack that requires minimal or no assembly by the user, that provides a secure and sanitary drying location for all baby bottle components, that minimizes the potential for mold and bacteria growth during use and is easy to store.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a bottle rack that requires minimal or no assembly by the user, that provides a secure and sanitary drying location for all baby bottle components, that minimizes the potential for mold and bacteria growth during use and that is easy to store.
In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, an apparatus for drying and storing an article, such as a baby bottle includes a tray having a bottom face that is adapted to be supported by an underlying surface such as a counter-top, and an upper face; and a plurality of pegs extending outwardly from the upper face, each of the pegs being sized and arranged so as to be able to support an article, such as a baby bottle, and wherein each of the pegs are permanently mounted to the tray in such a manner as to be movable between a first storage position, wherein the entire peg is positioned relatively close to the upper face for storage and packaging of the apparatus, and a second, operative position, wherein the peg is positioned at a large angle with respect to the upper surface, so as to enable the peg to support an article such as a baby bottle, wherein the apparatus can conveniently be folded for packaging and storage purposes.
According to a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus for drying and storing an article, such as a baby bottle, includes a tray having a bottom face that is adapted to be supported by an underlying surface such as a counter-top, and an upper face; bottle support means for supporting a baby bottle; and disk holding structure, connected to the upper face of the tray, for holding baby bottle disks in a location that is isolated from areas of the tray in which liquid may collect, whereby baby bottle disks are dried and stored in a safe manner at a location that is convenient to a location at which baby bottles are being dried.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to
As is best shown in
As may be seen in
Looking now to
Mounting structure 20, by ganging adjacent pegs 18 and adjacent nipple ring support members 32 together by use of a common axle, thereby imparts lateral stability to the pegs 18 and the nipple ring support members 32, further deterring any motion other than about the single axis of rotation 40. Accordingly, the pegs 18 are constrained to move in a predetermined plane of rotation 49.
As may best be seen in
If it is desired to move the nipple ring support member 32 from the second, operative position shown in
According to another important aspect of the invention, apparatus 10 further includes a disk holding system 50 for holding baby bottle disks in a location that is isolated from areas of the tray 12 in which liquid may collect. This allows baby bottle disk disks to be dried and stored in a safe manner at a location that is convenient to a location at which baby bottles are being dried. In the preferred embodiment, disc disk holding system 50 includes an upstanding boss member 52 that projects upwardly from the upper face 16 of tray 12 and has a plurality of disc disk receiving slots 54 defined therein. Boss member 52 and slots 54 are raised with respect to an underlying reservoir 56 that is located in the forward portion of tray 12. As an added benefit, the reservoir space also acts as a finger space area for a user to get his/her fingers beneath the disc disk members for lifting them out after drying.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Claims
1. An apparatus for storing an article, comprising:
- a tray having a bottom face that is adapted to be supported by an underlying surface such as a counter-top, and an upper face; and
- a plurality of pegs extending outwardly from said upper face, each of said pegs being sized and arranged so as to be able to support an article, and wherein
- each of said pegs are permanently mounted to said tray in such a manner as to be movable between a first storage position, wherein said entire peg is positioned adjacent to said upper face for storage and packaging of said apparatus, and a second, operative position, wherein said peg is positioned so as to extend outwardly from said upper surface, so as to enable said peg to support an article, wherein said apparatus can conveniently be folded for packaging and storage purposes.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pegs are mounted to said tray in such a manner that no standing water may collect at a point where a peg is mounted, thereby minimizing potential for mold and bacterial growth.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pegs are mounted to said tray in such a manner as to be movable only about a single axis of rotation.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for imparting lateral stability to said pegs, further deterring any motion other than about said single axis of rotation.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said means for imparting lateral stability to said pegs comprises at least one axle joining adjacent pegs together for common, ganged movement about a common axis of rotation.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising location means for locking said axle in a rotational position that corresponds to said second operative position.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said location means comprises means, connected to said axle, for frictional engaging said upper surface of said tray.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a collection reservoir defined in said tray for collecting any liquid that might run out of articles during drying.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising An apparatus for storing an article, comprising:
- a tray having a bottom face that is adapted to be supported by an underlying surface, and an upper face; and
- a plurality of pegs extending outwardly from said upper face, each of said pegs being sized and arranged so as to be able to support an article,
- disk holding means, connected to said upper face of said tray, for holding baby bottle disks in a location that is isolated from areas of said tray in which liquid may collect; and wherein
- each of said pegs are permanently mounted to said tray in such a manner as to be movable between a first storage position, wherein said entire peg is positioned adjacent to said upper face for storage and packaging of said apparatus, and a second, operative position, wherein said peg is positioned so as to extend outwardly from said upper surface, so as to enable said peg to support an article, wherein said apparatus can conveniently be folded for packaging and storage purposes.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said disk holding means comprises an upstanding boss member that is raised from said upper face of said tray, and a plurality of disk-receiving slots defined in said boss member.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ring support members that are constructed and arranged to support a ring portion of a baby bottle.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said ring support members include a stop member for supporting a ring member above and out of contact from said upper face of said tray.
13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said nipple support members are mounted to said tray in such a manner as to be movable between a first storage position, wherein said entire nipple support member is positioned adjacent to said upper face for storage and packaging of said apparatus, and a second, operative position, wherein said nipple support member is positioned at a large angle with respect to said upper face.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said nipple support members are mounted to said tray in such a manner as to be movable only about a single axis of rotation.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising means for imparting lateral stability to said nipple support members, further deterring any motion other than about said single axis of rotation.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said means for imparting lateral stability to said nipple support members comprises at least one axle joining adjacent nipple support members together for common, ganged movement about a common axis of rotation.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising location means for locking said axle in a rotational position that corresponds to said second operative position.
18. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cutout area on a side of said apparatus for facilitating lifting of said apparatus by a user.
19. An apparatus for drying and storing an article, comprising:
- a tray having a bottom face that is adapted to be supported by an underlying surface such as a counter-top, and an upper face;
- bottle support means for supporting a baby bottle; and
- disk holding means, connected to said upper face of said tray, for holding baby bottle disks in a location that is isolated from areas of said tray in which liquid may collect, whereby baby bottle disks are and stored in a safe manner at a location that is convenient to a location at which baby bottles are being dried.
20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said disk holding means comprises an upstanding boss member that is raised from said upper face of said tray, and a plurality of disk-receiving slots defined in said boss member.
21. An apparatus for supporting baby bottles for drying, comprising:
- a tray having a bottom portion that is adapted to be supported by an underlying surface and an upper portion;
- a plurality of pegs extending outwardly from said upper portion, each of said pegs being sized and arranged so as to be able to support a baby bottle;
- mounting means for mounting said pegs to said tray so that said pegs are movable while mounted to said tray between a first storage position, wherein said entire peg is positioned adjacent to said upper portion for storage and packaging of said apparatus, and a second, operative position, wherein said peg is positioned so as to extend outwardly from said upper portion, so as to enable said peg to support an article, wherein said apparatus can conveniently be folded for packaging and storage purposes;
- frictional means connected to said pegs for frictionally engaging said upper portion of said tray when said pegs are moved between said first storage position and said second operative position; and
- location means for locking said pegs in said second, operative position, said location means comprising a cam member having a first surface that is constructed and arranged to come into contact with a cam stop surface that is defined in said upper portion of said tray; and wherein said frictional means comprises a second surface on said cam member, said second surface being constructed and arranged to bear against an upper portion of said tray that is on said upper portion when said peg is moved between said first storage position and said second operative position.
499881 | June 1893 | Goldstein |
1697879 | January 1929 | Olson |
1942345 | January 1934 | Ristow |
2039927 | May 1936 | Poglein |
2128192 | August 1938 | Risser |
2197178 | April 1940 | Gates |
2258676 | October 1941 | De Lano |
2273761 | February 1942 | Newton et al. |
2295736 | September 1942 | Jernson |
2328129 | August 1943 | Earle |
2351309 | June 1944 | White |
2411365 | November 1946 | Card |
2419040 | April 1947 | Stepanian |
2441417 | May 1948 | Hopkins |
2455848 | December 1948 | Young |
2472028 | May 1949 | Son |
2516088 | July 1950 | Einhorn |
2539613 | January 1951 | Earle |
2551140 | May 1951 | Ladewig |
2595242 | May 1952 | Goodin |
2708350 | May 1955 | Earle |
2724329 | November 1955 | Lucas |
2879900 | March 1959 | Fox |
2884708 | May 1959 | Levitt |
2892733 | June 1959 | Gardner et al. |
2936898 | May 1960 | Miguez |
3026628 | March 1962 | Berger, Sr. et al. |
3072452 | January 1963 | Sleeper |
3150996 | September 1964 | Johnson |
3193160 | July 1965 | Veit et al. |
3339595 | September 1967 | Pechmann |
3367044 | February 1968 | Fitch |
3464566 | September 1969 | Gilson |
3587865 | June 1971 | Phillips |
3730354 | May 1973 | Bronstein |
3886683 | June 1975 | Hudgin et al. |
3984940 | October 12, 1976 | Reich et al. |
3989575 | November 2, 1976 | Davies et al. |
4193588 | March 18, 1980 | Doneaux |
4202948 | May 13, 1980 | Peascoe |
4221299 | September 9, 1980 | Taylor |
4238035 | December 9, 1980 | Kassanchuk |
4457877 | July 3, 1984 | Love et al. |
4485929 | December 4, 1984 | Betts, Sr. |
4498594 | February 12, 1985 | Elder |
4512489 | April 23, 1985 | Green et al. |
4578881 | April 1, 1986 | Karlsson |
4708153 | November 24, 1987 | Hambleton et al. |
4732291 | March 22, 1988 | McConnell |
4748993 | June 7, 1988 | Llewellyn |
4830200 | May 16, 1989 | Zambano et al. |
4836392 | June 6, 1989 | Constantino |
4928841 | May 29, 1990 | Arthurs |
5211191 | May 18, 1993 | Brown |
5242255 | September 7, 1993 | Gleffe et al. |
D342191 | December 14, 1993 | Cronk |
5284170 | February 8, 1994 | Larsen |
5287636 | February 22, 1994 | Lafleur et al. |
5336330 | August 9, 1994 | Shumway et al. |
5406717 | April 18, 1995 | Dofka |
5469635 | November 28, 1995 | Lamontagne et al. |
5492237 | February 20, 1996 | Chang |
5494086 | February 27, 1996 | McBrady et al. |
5507060 | April 16, 1996 | Quimpo |
5555640 | September 17, 1996 | Ou |
5855219 | January 5, 1999 | Spencer |
5857473 | January 12, 1999 | Vanover et al. |
5875563 | March 2, 1999 | Snow |
5884778 | March 23, 1999 | Freiheit |
5903944 | May 18, 1999 | Burrell |
5913527 | June 22, 1999 | Hailston |
5967000 | October 19, 1999 | Davis |
5996600 | December 7, 1999 | Ostry |
6038784 | March 21, 2000 | Dunn et al. |
6073783 | June 13, 2000 | Allman |
6125548 | October 3, 2000 | Dunn et al. |
6306219 | October 23, 2001 | Ofosu-Asante et al. |
6363951 | April 2, 2002 | Wood |
6743299 | June 1, 2004 | Barton et al. |
6814091 | November 9, 2004 | McConnell et al. |
6907893 | June 21, 2005 | Eisenberg et al. |
7165562 | January 23, 2007 | Myong |
7478642 | January 20, 2009 | Koch et al. |
7549429 | June 23, 2009 | Nunomura et al. |
7591273 | September 22, 2009 | Holley, Jr. |
7695572 | April 13, 2010 | Ahn et al. |
20030047198 | March 13, 2003 | Fargnoli |
20030188769 | October 9, 2003 | Eisenberg et al. |
20030205258 | November 6, 2003 | McConnell et al. |
20040040586 | March 4, 2004 | Kumar |
20040060577 | April 1, 2004 | Dunn |
20040123885 | July 1, 2004 | Myong |
20050178412 | August 18, 2005 | Koch et al. |
20060065295 | March 30, 2006 | Dunn et al. |
20060191562 | August 31, 2006 | Nunomura et al. |
20060208172 | September 21, 2006 | Akkerman et al. |
20060260651 | November 23, 2006 | Holley, Jr. |
20070102025 | May 10, 2007 | Ahn et al. |
20070212667 | September 13, 2007 | Jung et al. |
20070289212 | December 20, 2007 | Shein |
20090242000 | October 1, 2009 | Jimenez |
20090320889 | December 31, 2009 | Holley, Jr. |
20100043249 | February 25, 2010 | Mulaw |
685919 | November 1995 | CH |
403.288 | October 1909 | FR |
403288 | October 1909 | FR |
12089 | 1915 | GB |
160098 | May 1920 | GB |
174267 | November 1920 | GB |
160098 | March 1921 | GB |
2260483 | April 1993 | GB |
- Product Literature of Safety 1st entitled “Bottle & Nipple Drying Rack,” 1996.
- Product Literature of Mommy's Helper, Inc. entitled “Drain 'N Dry Bottle Drying Rack,” 1996.
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 11, 2001
Date of Patent: Sep 11, 2012
Inventors: Steven B. Dunn (Beverly Hills, CA), Tor H. Petterson (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA), Grace C. Petterson, legal representative (San Pedro, CA)
Primary Examiner: Stephen M. Gravini
Attorney: Robert Z. Evora, Esq.
Application Number: 09/902,904
International Classification: F26B 25/18 (20060101);