Retainer block for use with dish rack
A dish rack has a collector tray, with the collector tray having a compartment. A retaining block is seated in the compartment and has at least one elongated slot. The sharp edge (e.g., blade) of a sharp object (e.g., knife) can be inserted through the slot and be shielded from the user by the retainer block.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to dish racks and their accessories, and in particular, to a retainer block that can be used with the dish rack to protect the user from sharp edges of a sharp object, such as the blade of knives.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Dish racks are commonly used in dishwashers for organizing and positioning plates, bowls, cups and utensils for washing. Dish racks are also commonly used on kitchen countertops for positioning plates, bowls, cups and utensils to let them dry after they have been washed.
Most of the plates, bowls, cups and utensils can be handled by a user without presenting any danger or harm because they do not have sharp or blunt surfaces. However, a potentially dangerous utensil is the knife, whose sharp blades can cut or hurt a user if the user accidentally grabs the knife by the blade. In conventional dish racks, a plastic collector tray is provided for receiving utensils. The collector tray is typically divided into different compartments for receiving different types of utensils (spoons, forks, knives, etc.). These compartments have open tops, so that the user merely inserts the utensil into the compartment. Knives are more troublesome. If the user inserts the knife into an open compartment with the blade facing down, the user can later remove the knife in a safe manner by gripping the handle of the knife. However, inserting the knife in this orientation may blunt the sharp tip or blade of the knife since the tip or blade will contact the walls of the compartment. On the other hand, if the user inserts the knife into an open compartment with the blade facing up, then the knife would pose a severe safety risk to anyone who accidentally attempts to grip the knife without seeing the exposed blade.
Therefore, there still remains a need to provide a safe disposition for knives and sharp objects in a dish rack.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREIt is an object of the present invention to provide a safe disposition for knives and sharp objects in a dish rack.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a retainer block that can safely receive and retain a knife or other sharp object in a dish rack.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose retainer block that can also be used to receive other types of objects.
In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a dish rack having a collector tray, the collector tray having a compartment. A retaining block is seated in the compartment.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the retaining block includes a raised shell having two side walls, an end wall extending between the side walls, and an angled top wall connected to the end wall and extending between the side walls, with the angled top wall having a base. A planar section extends from the base of the angled top wall, and a flange extends from the end wall. An interior space is defined by the side walls, the end wall and the angled top wall, and at least one elongated slot provided in the angled top wall. The sharp edge (e.g., blade) of a sharp object (e.g., knife) can be inserted through the slot and be shielded from the user by the raised shell.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining block includes a raised shell that has four side walls and a top wall extending between the side walls, a planar section extending from one of the side walls of raised shell, an interior space defined by the side walls and the top wall, and at least one elongated slot provided in the top wall.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining block is a retainer having a planar section that has opposing end edges, with each end edge seated over either a tray edge or a dividing wall. The retainer has at least one elongated slot provided in the planar section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The retainer block 10 is illustrated in greater detail in
The retainer block 10 can be used in the following manner. Referring first to
The user can also insert shorter knives through the slots 72 so that the blades of the knives will be shielded by the planar section 50.
Referring next to
Thus, the retainer block 10 according to the present invention is multi-functional in that it allows the user to use it for retaining sharp objects, and can be turned upside down to be used for retaining small items. The raised shell 52 of the retainer block 10 provides an effective shield against the sharp edges or blades of the knife or other object retained in the retainer block.
Referring now to
One difference between the retainer block 10b and the other retainer blocks 10, 10a is that the retainer block 10b cannot be inverted for use in holding smaller objects. On the other hand, both the retainer blocks 10 and 10a can be inverted to define bowl-like containers for receiving small washable items.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. Apparatus for use with a dish rack, comprising:
- a raised shell, the raised shell having two side walls, an end wall extending between the side walls, and an angled top wall connected to the end wall and extending between the side walls, the angled top wall having a base;
- a planar section extending from the base of the angled top wall;
- a flange extending from the end wall;
- an interior space defined by the side walls, the end wall and the angled top wall; and
- at least one elongated slot provided in the angled top wall.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including at least one slot provided in the end wall.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including at least one slot provided on the planar section.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a vertical wall extending vertically downwardly from the flange.
5. An assembly, comprising:
- (a) a dish rack having a collector tray, the collector tray having a compartment; and
- (b) a retaining block seated in the compartment, the retaining block including: a raised shell, the raised shell having two side walls, an end wall extending between the side walls, and an angled top wall connected to the end wall and extending between the side walls, the angled top wall having a base; a planar section extending from the base of the angled top wall; a flange extending from the end wall; an interior space defined by the side walls, the end wall and the angled top wall; and at least one elongated slot provided in the angled top wall.
6. The assembly of claim 5, further including at least one slot provided in the end wall.
7. The assembly of claim 5, further including at least one slot provided on the planar section.
8. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the collector tray has an edge and a dividing wall that divides the collector tray into a plurality of compartments.
9. The assembly of claim 8, further including a vertical wall extending vertically downwardly from the flange and positioned adjacent either the edge of the collector tray or the dividing wall.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the flange is seated on top of either the edge of the collector tray or the dividing wall.
11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the planar section is seated on top of either the edge of the collector tray or the dividing wall.
12. Apparatus for use with a dish rack, comprising:
- a raised shell, the raised shell having four side walls and a top wall extending between the side walls;
- a planar section extending from one of the side walls of raised shell;
- an interior space defined by the side walls and the top wall; and
- at least one elongated slot provided in the top wall.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, further including at least one slot provided on the planar section.
14. An assembly, comprising:
- (a) a dish rack having a collector tray, the collector tray having a tray edge and a dividing wall that divides the collector tray into a plurality of compartments; and
- (b) a retainer seated above one of the compartments, the retainer having a planar section that has opposing end edges, with each end edge seated over either a tray edge or a dividing wall, the retainer having at least one elongated slot provided in the planar section.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 2, 2004
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2005
Inventors: Frank Yang (Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA), Adam Wade (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), Tzu-Hao Wei (Hacienda Heights, CA)
Application Number: 10/770,898