Device for drying objects

Abstract

A device for supporting objects for drying. This device contains a basin, for receiving fluid that drips off of these drying objects. Attached to the basin is a first rack, wherein this first rack has a front end and a back end. The back end of the said at least one rack is rotatably supported within the basin. In addition, there is also a second rack. This second rack is rotatably attached to the basin and when in use extends in a substantially upright or vertical position. Both the first rack and the second rack comprise a series of parallel extending support members that are spaced apart from each other to receive a plate between these parallel extending members. These parallel extending members are also designed to support a series of pots on either the first rack or the second rack wherein these parallel extending members allow water to drip down through the members and into the basin. This device can also include a support rack that can be inserted into a basin and be used to secure the support element in place to allow the support element to set the first rack at a particular height.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for supporting objects for drying. More particularly, this invention relates to an adjustable device that is designed to allow plates, pots, kitchen utensils and silverware to dry.

Other dishracks are known in the art. In particular, U.S. Pat. Nos. 378,692; 815,480; 990,454; 1,564,594; 1,712,342; 1,714,629; 1,822,087; 2,443,404; 2,479,118; 2,516,088; 2,708,037; 2,841,288; 2,936,898; 2,958,424; 3,025,967; 3,027,041; 3,464,566; 4,169,638; 4,726,475; 4,756,582; 4,969,560; 5,119,943; 5,332,105; 5,480,035; 5,485,927; 5,503,279; 5,651,525; 6,170,676; 6,179,134; 6,357,605 incorporated herein by reference; U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,704 incorporated herein by reference; U.S. Pat. No. 6,516,956 incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for supporting objects for drying. This device contains a basin, for receiving water that drips off of these drying objects. Attached to the basin is a first rack. This first rack has a front end and a back end wherein the back end is rotatably supported within the basin. In addition, there is also a second rack that is rotatably attached to the basin. Both the first rack and the second rack contain a series of parallel extending support members or slats that are spaced apart from each other to receive a plate there between. The slats or members are spaced far enough apart so that they allow water to drip down through the bars or slats and into the basin.

In addition, rotatably coupled to the first rack is a support bar or a set of legs. These legs are for rotatably adjusting the height of the front end of this rack. Furthermore, disposed within the basin is a series of support strips or tabs wherein the support tabs are designed to support the legs or support bar in a particular position to keep these legs from rotating when the support bar is supporting the rack. The support strips extend parallel to each other inside the basin and have at least two breaks or gaps in them allowing a support bar to be inserted therein.

This device is also designed to prevent any water or other materials from flowing onto a counter top outside of the basin. For example, when in use, the catch basin or basin contains a series of substantially vertical walls to trap this water within the basin. In this way, the water will not flow outside of the basin and onto a counter top. However, there are at least two drainage holes disposed within the substantially vertical walls to allow a user to easily pour out the water disposed within the basin into a sink.

The device also contains an adjustable tray attached to the basin for supporting a series of utensils. The adjustable tray also comprises a set of adjustable legs rotatably attached to the basin, and a top plate attached to the adjustable legs, wherein this top plate has holes for supporting the silverware and utensils in an upright manner. The top plate is adjustable from a folded up position to a folded down position so that the tray can be stored easily. The tray can be selectively removed from the basin by removing a bottom tray first, and then removing the adjacent trays as well.

One of the benefits of this invention is that it can be folded down into a storage position wherein the rack can then be stored away. To facilitate this feature, there is also a lock disposed within the basin wherein this lock is designed to receive a complimentary lock in the form of a flange to lock the second rack in place in the basin. These flanges can be formed in the form of a substantially semi-cylindrical shape wherein these flanges can extend along in a substantially elongated manner. These flanges can be formed such that their rounded sides can snap, one over the other so that a first flange attached to the second rack, can snap over a second flange attached to the basin, locking the first flange in place underneath the second flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose one embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 represents a top perspective view of a blown up section of the invention;

FIG. 3 represents a top perspective blown up view of the invention in a second position relative to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 represents a side perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 5A is a front side view of a support rack;

FIG. 5B is a top plan view of the support rack in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a side view of the support rack in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5D is a perspective view of the support rack shown in FIG>5A;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a basin; and

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a support rack inserted into the basin shown in FIG. 6B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the invention which is essentially a device 10 for drying plates, pots and silverware. This device includes a first rack 12, which includes a plurality of substantially parallel spaced support elements or members 13 for example, in the form of flat bars or slats. There is also a complimentary opposite rack 14 coupled to basin 20. Rack 14 includes a plurality of parallel spaced slats or support members 15. Substantially parallel support elements 13 and 15 can essentially be of any desired shape; such as rods or support members in a star shaped profile, as well.

First rack 12 is supported on a first end by rotatably attaching to basin 20 and on an opposite end by a support bar 16. Support bar 16 has legs and is essentially U-shaped and is rotatably coupled via a hinge to first rack 12. Second rack 14 includes a flange or a locking member 17 coupled to a side section of the rack. This flange 17 is used to lock second rack 14 on top of first rack 12 in catch basin 20 (see FIG. 2). Catch basin 20 has many rounded sides, however, it also has a curved back, including a back face 21 and legs 22 that extend out therefrom. Exposed in basin 20 are a plurality of parallel spaced locking and spacing ribs 24. These locking and spacing ribs have breaks in them 23 and 25 which allow support bar 16 to be inserted thereto to support first rack 12 at different angles. This design therefor makes first rack 12 adjustable in height and angle relative to its connection to basin 20. With both racks (12 and 14), at the first end, a first corner of these racks couple to basin 20 while opposite corners are coupled to a hinge (not shown) adjacent to utensil rack 30, this hinge is then coupled to basin 20.

Utensil rack 30 is coupled to basin 20. Utensil rack 30 is collapsible and is used as a separate rack for supporting a set of utensils for drying. Utensil rack 30 is completely removable from basin 20 to allow for easy cleaning of basin 20. Utensil rack 30 has a plurality of substantially square shaped receptacle openings 32a, 32b, and 32c in a top plate 34. Top plate 34 is coupled to a base section 36 via a plurality of rotatable legs 38. Base section 36 is then coupled to catch basin 20 either by snap-in connection or screws. In this case, there is a bottom tray 39 that is selectively removable from basin 20 by pulling it out from basin 20.

FIG. 2 discloses a close-up view of the device shown in FIG. 1. In this view, flange 17 is shown latching underneath flange connection or lock 26. In this case, flange 17 and flange 26 form a locking system 27 which locks second rack 14 on top of first rack 12. With this design, device 10 can be folded up on its back face or side to stand up on legs 22 while keeping rack 14 locked on top of rack 12, keeping the device compact and easily storable.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 1. In this view, it shows the locking system in an unlocked position wherein flange 17 snaps out and away from flange 24. Catch basin 20 and/or rack 14 are made of a flexible material so that flange 17 can unlatch from flange 26, making this device selectively lockable in place, and selectively unlockable to allow first rack 12 to move into a position for use. These flanges 17 and 26 are formed as rounded semi-cylindrical elements that are designed to allow one flange to slide over an adjacent flange and then snap in, in a locking manner. For example, when locking rack 14 in place, rack 14 can be pressed down such that flange 17 snap adjusts laterally due to the flexibility of rack 14 to snap down over opposing flange 26, wherein in this case, rack 14 can be made of plastic or any other elastic type material to allow second rack 14 to lock in place when being snapped down.

FIG. 4 shows a side perspective view of device 10 in an unlocked position. In this view, flange 17 is shown extending out from the side region of rack 14 wherein flange 17 is essentially rounded on its connection edge and extends only a fraction of a portion of the length of second rack 14. With this design, because rack 14 is selectively lockable and unlockable from basin 20, the device can be easily stored or easily positioned in a position of use. In addition, because flange 24, as shown in FIG. 3, is molded with basin 20, it forms an easily manufactured lock accordingly with flange 17 to selectively lock or unlock device 10.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D show different views of a support rack 100 which includes a first bar 106 and a second bar 108 wherein first bar 106 and second bar 108 joined by a plurality of cross bars 110. These plurality of cross bars 110 include a first set of indents 102 and a second set of indents 104. First bar 106 and second bar 108 have ends that are turned down to support cross bars 110 above basin 20a (See FIGS. 6A and 6B). Thus, while cross bars 110 are supported above basin 20, indents 102 and 104 extend down into a basin 20a shown in FIG. 6B to create an extended channel for inserting support arm or support element 16. Thus this support rack which can be selectively insertable and secured to or rest in basin 20a, is used in place of locking and spacing ribs 24. Because this rack 100 is selectively insertable into and removable from basin 20a, it allows for a more simple design of basin 20a.

This more simple design of basin 20a is important because while basin 20a can be made from any known material such as plastic, wood or metal, if basin 20 is made from a metal, then the more simple the design, the easier it is to mold the final product. Therefore, for example in one embodiment basin 20a can be made from a metal such as stainless steel, while support rack 100 can also be made from stainless steel. Support rack can then be placed in this simple basin 20a such that it rests in basin 20a, wherein it can then be locked in place when racks 12 and 14 are locked in place.

Accordingly, while at least one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for supporting objects for drying comprising:

a) a basin;

b) at least one rack having a first end and a second end wherein said second end is attached to said basin;

c) at least one additional rack rotatably attached to said basin, said at least one additional rack and said at least one rack for supporting the objects above the basin wherein said at least one rack and said at least one additional rack each comprise a series of substantially parallel extending support members wherein said substantially parallel extending support members are spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive a plate there between;

d) a support element rotatably attached to said at least one rack, wherein said support element is for rotatably adjusting a height of said first end of at least one rack;

e) at least one flange coupled to said at least one additional rack forming a rack flange; and

f) at least one flange coupled to said basin forming a basin flange, wherein said at least one rack flange is adapted to selectively snap over said at least one basin flange to lock said at least one rack and said at least one additional rack in a locked position.

2. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a series of support strips disposed within said basin wherein said support strips are designed to support said support element in a position to keep said plurality of legs from rotating when said plurality of legs are supporting said at least one rack.

3. The device as in claim 1, wherein said basin contains a plurality of substantially vertical walls to enclose said basin.

4. The device as in claim 1, further comprising an adjustable tray attached to said basin for supporting a series of utensils.

5. The device as in claim 4, wherein said adjustable tray is adjustable so as to fold down into said basin.

6. The device as in claim 1, wherein said at least one rack, said at least one additional rack, and said support element are adjustable to collapse into said basin.

7. The device as in claim 4, wherein said adjustable tray comprises a top tray, a bottom tray and an intermediate removable tray and a plurality of legs wherein said bottom tray is coupled to said basin, said top tray is coupled to said bottom tray via said legs and said intermediate removable tray fits inside said bottom tray.

8. The device as in claim 7, wherein said intermediate removable tray includes a plurality of holes to allow said intermediate removable tray to drain water when removed from said bottom tray.

9. The device as in claim 8, wherein said intermediate removable tray further comprises a tab for allowing a user to remove said intermediate removable tray from said bottom tray.

10. The device as in claim 1, wherein said at least one additional rack is made from a flexible material which bends to allow said rack flange to adjust to slide over said basin flange to lock said at least one additional rack in place.

11. The device as in claim 10, wherein said at least one additional rack is made from plastic.

12. The device as in claim 1, wherein said rack flange and said basin flange are formed in semi-cylindrical shapes.

13. A device for supporting objects for drying comprising:

a) a basin;

b) at least one rack having a first end and a second end wherein said second end is attached to said basin;

c) at least one additional rack rotatably attached to said basin, said at least one additional rack and said at least one rack for supporting the objects above the basin wherein said at least one rack and said at least one additional rack each comprise a series of substantially parallel extending support members wherein said substantially parallel extending support members are spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive a plate there between;

d) a support element rotatably attached to said at least one rack, wherein said support element is for rotatably adjusting a height of said first end of at least one rack;

e) at least one support rack that can be placed within said basin, said at least one support rack having at least one indent for receiving said support element so that support element can be selectively secured to allow said support element to support said at least one rack at a particular height.

f) at least one flange coupled to said at least one additional rack forming a rack flange; and

g) at least one flange coupled to said basin forming a basin flange, wherein said at least one rack flange is adapted to selectively snap over said at least one basin flange to lock said at least one rack and said at least one additional rack in a locked position.