Dish draining apparatus
A draining apparatus including a base having first and second ends and a rack member having first and second ends, the first end of the rack member is rotatably attached to the first end of the base. In another embodiment, the draining apparatus includes at least one supporting member rotatably attached to the rack member and arranged to hold the rack member at an angle relative to the base. In yet another embodiment, the draining apparatus includes means for holding at least one article proximate the second end of the rack member.
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The present invention relates generally to a draining apparatus, more particularly, to a dish draining apparatus, and, more specifically, to a collapsible dish draining apparatus.
BACKGROUNDDish draining racks have been used for many years to facilitate draining and/or drying of dishes, silverware, cups, glasses, cookware, and the like. After an article is washed and/or rinsed, it may be placed on a rack where the article remains until it is dry or until the water used to rinse the article has sufficiently drained to enable towel drying. Draining racks also provide a place to keep washed articles out of the way of further washing, i.e., a place to allow washed and/or rinsed articles to drain residual fluid while other articles are handled during washing.
Draining racks often include two separate and distinct parts, a collection base and a rack. Typically racks include some form of lattice structure, often constructed of metal, plastic or plastic coated metals. The racks are arranged to hold a plurality of dishes, often in substantially the same way, separated by a small distance. Racks may include a bottom portion and sides, or merely fold from a flat to a tiered assembly. The racks, being a lattice structure, do not capture draining water, and therefore placing the rack upon a solid collection base is often necessary. In order to avoid pooling of drained liquids, the bases may include a tapered base support, whereby the entire base, and consequently the rack, is held at an angle relative to a mounting surface, e.g., a counter top. When using an angled base, the draining rack is often placed next to a sink wherein draining water may flow. Thus, the combination of base and rack provide a convenient means to hold dishes and articles while washing and/or rinsing water drains across the base and subsequently into a sink.
Draining racks have been designed with a variety of features, each providing some added benefit or function. For example, the aforementioned lattice structures are sufficient to support dishes, however they are not conducive to holding drinking glasses. Thus, breaks in the lattice or protrusions have been incorporated within the lattice structure to capture and hold drinking glasses. Similarly, silverware is difficult to hold in the common lattice structures. Depending upon the orientation of the silverware within the rack, the silverware may fall through the lattice, and potentially rest in pooling water within the base. Hence, silverware cups or containers have become a common component of draining racks.
As described above, the base and the rack are separate distinct components. They may be separated, misplaced or otherwise lost. Additionally, as some lattice structures may include bottom and side elements, the rack may consume significant amount of storage space when not in use.
As can be derived from the variety of devices directed at providing means to support articles while washing and/or rinsing water is drained, many means have been contemplated to accomplish the desired end, i.e., a collapsible support, having a rack rotatably attached to a base, and thus resulting in reduced storage space without separating the component pieces. Heretofore, tradeoffs between structure of rack and base and storage volume were required. Thus, there has been a longfelt need for a unitary collapsing draining rack having a rack rotatably attached to a base that minimizes storage volume.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention broadly includes a draining apparatus having a base with first and second ends, and a rack member with first and second ends, wherein the first end of the rack member is rotatably attached to the first end of the base. In a first embodiment, the draining apparatus further includes at least one supporting member rotatably attached to the rack member and operatively arranged to hold the rack member at an acute angle relative to the base. In a second embodiment, the at least one supporting member is operatively arranged to hold at least one article, e.g., silverware. In a third embodiment, the supporting member is also slidingly secured to the rack member. In another embodiment, the top surface of the base includes at least one protrusion, while the bottom surface of the base includes first and second thicknesses, where the first thickness in less than the second thickness. In a further embodiment, the first and second thicknesses are proximate the first and second ends of the base, respectively. In another embodiment, the top surface of the base includes at least two protrusions disposed parallel to each other. In yet another embodiment, the top surface of the base includes at least three edges and at least portions of the at least three edges include a respective raised lip. In yet a further embodiment, the dish draining apparatus may include a rack member having at least two rails, where each rail has first and second ends, and each first and second end of each rail is disposed proximate the first and second end of the rack member, respectively. And in still another embodiment, the rack member may include means for holding at least one article, e.g., a drinking glass or bowl, proximate the second end of the rack member.
A general object of the invention is to provide a draining apparatus for supporting articles, e.g., dishes, glasses, etc., while water drains from these articles, and in some instances supporting the articles until their subsequent drying.
Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary draining apparatus that may be easily collapsed and stored in a small storage volume.
Yet another object of the invention is to maximize the space available for draining articles while minimizing the storage space.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention in view of the drawings and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the preferred embodiment. In the description below, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, and their derivatives, should be interpreted from the perspective of one viewing the draining apparatus shown in
Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Adverting now to the figures,
Rack member 12 is operatively arranged to hold and retain a variety of articles for draining, e.g., plates, bowls, serving platters, and the like. Thus, in the embodiment shown in
The curvature of arcuate segments 22 may be the same for each rail 20 included within rack member 12, curvature may be varied so that each rail 20 has a unique arcuate segment 22, or curvature may be a combination thereof. By incorporating arcuate segments 22, rack member 12 is operatively arranged to more readily capture arcuately shaped articles, e.g., bowls, as the curvature of the article (not shown) is complimentary to the curvature of arcuate segments 22. In like fashion, stops 24 are provided to prevent articles from sliding or falling from rack member 12. Due to the angular position of rack member 12, articles disposed upon rack member 12 will likely have a tendency to move towards the lowest end of rack 12, i.e., stops 24. Thus, by including stops 24, the likelihood that articles may fall from rack member 12 is decreased.
The invention also comprises article holder 26 as shown in
Base 14 may also include features protruding from top surface 30 operatively arranged to aid in holding an article within draining apparatus 10. For example, top surface 30 may include first and second protrusions 32 and 34, respectively, arranged so that an edge of an article, e.g., the edge of a plate, may be captured and prevented from tipping or otherwise falling from rack member 12. Thus, it is particularly advantageous to include first and second protrusions 32 and 34, respectively, between each pair of rails 20. Additionally, top surface 30 may include features operatively arranged to ensure that liquid draining from articles disposed above top surface 30, i.e., upon rack member 12, is collected by base 14 and directed in a predictable manner. Hence, lip 36 is included about the left, right and back edges of base 14, thereby directing any fluid collected upon top surface 30 towards front edge 38 of base 14.
Also shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The operation of the instant invention is perhaps best understood in view of
Supports 40 are not limited to only the positions shown in
Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A draining apparatus comprising:
- a base having first and second ends; and,
- a rack member having first and second ends, wherein said first end of said rack member is rotatably attached to said first end of said base.
2. The draining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base further comprises top and bottom surfaces, said top surface includes at least one protrusion, said bottom surface has first and second thicknesses, and said first thickness is less than said second thickness.
3. The draining apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first and second thicknesses are proximate said first and second ends of said base, respectively.
4. The draining apparatus of claim 2 wherein said top surface further comprises at least two protrusions disposed parallel to each other.
5. The draining apparatus of claim 2 wherein said top surface further comprises at least three edges, and at least portions of said at least three edges comprise a respective raised lip.
6. The draining apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rack member further comprises at least two rails, each having first and second ends, wherein said respective first ends of said at least two rails are proximate said first end of said rack member and said respective second ends of said at least two rails are proximate said second end of said rack member.
7. The draining apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said first ends of said at least two rails further comprise a stop.
8. The draining apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for holding at least one article proximate said second end of said rack member.
9. The draining apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for holding at least one article is operatively arranged to hold an article selected from the group consisting of a drinking glass, bowl, plate, platter, utensil and silverware.
10. The draining apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a supporting member operatively arranged to hold said rack member at an acute angle relative to said base, wherein said supporting member is rotatably attached to said rack member.
11. The draining apparatus of claim 10 wherein said supporting member is also slidingly secured to said rack member.
12. A draining apparatus comprising:
- a base having first and second ends;
- a rack member having first and second ends, wherein said first end of said rack member is rotatably attached to said first end of said base; and,
- a supporting member operatively arranged to hold said rack member at an acute angle relative to said base, wherein said supporting member is rotatably attached to said rack member.
13. A draining apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a rack member; and,
- a supporting member operatively arranged to hold said rack member at an acute angle relative to said base, wherein said supporting member is rotatably attached to said rack member.
14. The draining apparatus of claim 13 wherein said base comprises first and second ends, said rack member comprises first and second ends, and said first end of said rack member is rotatably attached to said first end of said base.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 30, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 5, 2007
Applicant: Umbra Inc. (Buffalo, NY)
Inventor: Nicholas Gillisie (Toronto)
Application Number: 11/323,957
International Classification: A47G 19/08 (20060101);