Over-sink organizer

Abstract

An organizer is adapted for use adjacent a kitchen sink, and includes an elongated rack portion having a first end and an opposing second end, the rack portion further including a front frame and a rear frame. The front frame defines a curved open space at about the center of the front frame to accomodate the faucet of a kitchen sink. The organizer further includes a first end support on which the first end of the rack portion is supported, and a second end support on which the second end of the rack portion is supported.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to kitchen organizers, and in particular, to an organizer that is adapted to be positioned over a kitchen sink adjacent the water faucet.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many kitchens are becoming increasingly cluttered with dishes, utensils and other cooking and food items. In particular, larger families living in smaller homes (having smaller kitchens) have an increased need to better organize the kitchen area to minimize hazardous situations and to increase efficient use of the kitchen area.

The area around a kitchen sink is often the major hub of activity in a busy kitchen. Dirty dishes and utensils are often stacked inside the kitchen sink, or on the countertop adjacent the kitchen sink. In addition, cleaning accessories (such as soap, detergent, scrubs, cleaning pads, etc.) and dish racks are often placed next to the kitchen sink, and they typically occupy a lot of precious space adjacent a kitchen sink.

Thus, there remains a need to better organize the area around a kitchen sink.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is an object of the present invention to provide an organizer that is adapted to be positioned adjacent a kitchen sink, and which provides better organization and arrangement of the items that are usually found around a kitchen sink.

In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides an organizer that is used adjacent a kitchen sink. The organizer includes an elongated rack portion having a first end and an opposing second end, the rack portion further including a front frame and a rear frame.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the front frame defines a curved open space at about the center of the front frame to accomodate the faucet of a kitchen sink.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the organizer further includes a first end support on which the first end of the rack portion is supported, and a second end support on which the second end of the rack portion is supported.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an organizer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the organizer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of one end of the organizer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of one end of the organizer of FIG. 1 showing the attachment of the rack portion to an end support.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the organizer of FIG. 1 in use adjacent a kitchen sink.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an organizer 10 that is adapted to be positioned along the far edge (away from the user) of the kitchen sink. FIG. 5 illustrates how the organizer 10 can be positioned with respect to a kitchen sink KS. The organizer 10 provides a variety of different ways for a user to organize the area around a kitchen sink.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the organizer 10 has an elongated rack portion 12, a first end support 14, and a second end support 16. The rack portion 12 can be formed from a metal wire frame, and includes a base frame 18 that has a front edge 26 and a rear edge 22. The base frame 18 has a plurality of spaced-apart bars 28. A rear frame 20 extends along (i.e., parallel to) the entire rear edge 22 of the rack portion 12, and a front frame 24 extends along (i.e., parallel to) the entire front edge 26 of the rack portion 12, with the rear frame 20 and the front frame 24 supported vertically by bars 25. The front frame 24 and the rear frame 20 essentially form short walls for the front edge 26 and the rear edge 22, respectively. A generally semi-circular inwardly-extending open space 30 is formed at the center of the front edge 26 and the front frame 24. Each end of the rear frame 20 curves downwardly to form a rear leg 32 and 34, and each end of the front frame 24 curves downwardly to form a front leg 36 and 38.

The end supports 14 and 16 can be identical to each other, and function as (i) a support for a set of legs 34, 38 and 32, 36, respectively, and (ii) a container. The end supports 14, 16 can be made from plastic, or a metal. Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, each end support 14, 16 has a generally four-sided configuration with four walls 40, 42, 44 and 46 that enclose an interior space 48. A ridge 50 is formed along an end wall 42 to define a channel 52 between the ridge 50 and the adjacent exterior wall 40. Another ridge 54 is formed along the other end wall 46 to define another channel 56 between the ridge 54 and the adjacent exterior wall 40. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the legs 32 and 36 are adapted to be retained inside the channels 52 and 56, respectively, of the end support 16. The legs 34 and 38 are similarly adapted to be retained inside similar channels 52 and 56 in the end support 14.

An optional holder 60 is adapted to be seated on the top edges of the walls 40, 42, 44, 46 of the end support 16. The holder 60 can be a plastic tray having side walls 62, 64, 66 extending upwardly from a base 68, and with a shallow recess 70 and an elongated vertical tubular section 72 extending vertically downward from the base 68. The shallow recess 70 can be oval-shaped and adapted to retain jewelry, rings, wedding bands, watches and similar items. The elongated section 72 can be adapted to hold knives and other elongated utensils and items. The base 68 of the holder 60 is adapted to be seated on the top edges of the walls 40, 44, with the recess 70 and the elongated section 72 extending into the enclosed space 48.

Similarly, another optional holder 80 is adapted to be seated on the top edges of the walls of the end support 14. The holder 80 can be a plastic tray having side walls 82, 84, 86 extending upwardly from a base 88. An elongated holding section 90 extends vertically downward from the base 88. The holding section 90 has walls that define an enclosed space for receiving knives, forks, spoons and other elongated utensils and items. Dividing walls 92 can be provided in the enclosed space of the holding section 90 to allow the user to separate the various elongated items that are held inside the holding section 90. The base 88 of the holder 80 is adapted to be seated on the top edges of the walls of the end support 14, with the holding section 90 extending into the enclosed space inside the end support 14.

The organizer 10 can be assembled by inserting the legs 32, 34, 36 and 38 of the rack portion 12 into the appropriate channel 52 or 54 of the corresponding end support 14 or 16. The holders 60 and 80 are optional, and can be seated on the end supports 14, 16 if desired. The holder 60 can be positioned on either end support 14 or 16, and the holder 80 can be positioned on either end support 14 or 16, depending on how the kitchen is arranged. In addition, other holders (not shown) having different recesses, holding sections and features can be provided by the manufacturer together with the rack portion 12 (or as after-market items) so that the owner of the organizer 10 can choose from a variety of different holders to suit his or her needs. Again, the holders 60 and 80 are non-limiting examples only, as any holder having any configuration or features can be used with any of the end supports 14, 16.

Once the organizer 10 has been assembled, the organizer 10 can be positioned adjacent the kitchen sink for use. FIG. 5 illustrates one possible way of arranging the organizer 10 next to a kitchen sink KS, where the faucet F is positioned in the open space 30. The arrangement shown in FIG. 5 promotes efficient use of the precious space around a kitchen sink KS, since the rack portion 12 can be used as a dish rack to hold smaller cups and plates, while the holders 60, 80 can be used to organize and hold utensils (e.g., spoons, knives, forks, etc.), cleaning accessories (e.g., soap, detergent, scrubs, and cleaning pads), and even personal items (e.g., jewelry, watches).

Referring to FIG. 1, other optional organizing accessories can also be provided for use with the organizer 10. For example, a soap dish 90 and a dish holder 92 can be positioned anywhere along the base frame 18 of the rack portion 12. The dish holder 92 can be used to hold a plurality of smaller dishes 94. The rear frame 20 and the front frame 24 function to confine the soap dish 90 and the dish holder 92 inside the base frame 18. Again, these accessories 90, 92 are non-limiting examples, and any number of these accessories can be provided by the manufacturer together with the rack portion 12 (or as after-market items) so that the owner of the organizer 10 can choose from a variety of different accessories to suit his or her needs.

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. An organizer that is used adjacent a kitchen sink, comprising:

an elongated rack portion having a first end and an opposing second end, the rack portion further including a front frame and a rear frame; and

wherein the front frame defines a curved open space at about the center of the front frame.

2. The organizer of claim 1, further including:

a first end support on which the first end of the rack portion is supported; and

a second end support on which the second end of the rack portion is supported.

3. The organizer of claim 1, wherein the rack portion is a wire frame that includes a base frame.

4. The organizer of claim 2, wherein the rack portion includes:

a first leg extending from the first end and coupled to the first end support; and

a second leg extending from the second end and coupled to the second end support.

5. The organizer of claim 2, further including:

a holder received by the first end support, the holder having at least one section for holding an item.

6. The organizer of claim 1, further including:

a dish accessory seated on the rack portion.

7. An organizer that is used adjacent a kitchen sink, comprising:

an elongated rack portion having a first end and an opposing second end, the rack portion further including a front frame and a rear frame;

a first end support on which the first end of the rack portion is supported; and

a second end support on which the second end of the rack portion is supported.

8. The organizer of claim 7, wherein the rack portion is a wire frame that includes a base frame.

9. The organizer of claim 7, wherein the rack portion includes:

a first leg extending from the first end and coupled to the first end support; and

a second leg extending from the second end and coupled to the second end support.

10. The organizer of claim 7, further including:

a holder received by the first end support, the holder having at least one section for holding an item.

11. The organizer of claim 7, further including:

a dish accessory seated on the rack portion.

12. A method of organizing the area adjacent a kitchen sink, comprising:

a. positioning an elongated rack portion adjacent a rear edge of a kitchen sink, the rack portion having a first end and an opposing second end, the rack portion further including a front frame and a rear frame, and with the front frame defining a curved open space at about the center of the front frame; and

b. positioning a faucet of the kitchen sink in the curved open space.

13. The method of claim 12, further including:

supporting the first end of the rack portion on a first end support; and

supporting the second end of the rack portion on a second end support.

14. The method of claim 13, further including:

receiving a holder in the first end support, the holder having at least one section for holding an item.

15. The method of claim 13, further including:

seating a dish accessory on the rack portion.