Multi-Functional Apparatus For Aiding Cleaning Of Edged Surfaces And Storage

Abstract

Apparatus and method for facilitating cleaning a working surface of a countertop or tabletop is mountable on the edge portion thereof. In an embodiment, the apparatus has a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly includes an elongated tray and at least one bracket for mounting the second assembly thereon. The first assembly is mounted to the edge portion using clamps. The second assembly includes an elongated gutter and mounting portions attached thereto. The tray slopes downward from its rear edge to its front edge. The gutter is located below and parallel to the front edge of the tray. The first assembly may include a compressible strip attached to the rear edge of the tray, so that the strip is pressed against the underside of the edge portion when the apparatus is mounted. In another embodiment, a frame holding a disposable bag is used instead of the gutter.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to food service appliances, and more particularly to an appliance for facilitating cleaning countertop and table surfaces of liquids and solid debris.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Surfaces used in food service, such as countertops and table surfaces, are constantly subject to liquid spills and the accumulation of debris (e.g. bread crumbs, unwanted pieces of vegetables, etc.). It is frequently necessary to clear a surface by sweeping spilled liquid, crumbs, etc. to the edge of the surface and then into a suitable receptacle. In a home kitchen particularly, this often requires sweeping a countertop with one hand, while holding a garbage bag up to the counter's edge with the other hand. This can be awkward and result in debris spilling off the countertop onto the floor.

The collecting trash from areas in the kitchen is known in the prior art. More specifically, by way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,558 to Harrington discloses a trash receptacle unit having at least two interior compartments a movable lid and a recycling receptacle unit which has multiple shelves or storage draws or a single storage bin or a removable counter top recycling unit.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,983 to Laurenzi discloses a board and waste container arrangement for a work surface for placement next to the edge of a work surface. A board member having a bottom for placement on the work surface near the edge of the work surface has a top and a discharge side. The discharge side of the board member is placed over and along the edge of the work surface when the board is in the use position. A pivot structure connects the board member to the container for pivotally mounting the container to the board member next to the discharge so that the container hangs over the edge of the work surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,194 to Lombardo discloses a catch container for retaining debris or other materials wiped from the edge of a work surface. The catch container includes a receptacle structure, a mounting bracket adjustably attached to the receptacle structure, and a sloped surface descending toward the receptacle from the mounting bracket and is mounted under a work surface so that debris displaced from the work surface lands upon the sloped surface. The sloped surface then guides the debris into the receptacle without slashing or spillage.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,595 to Northington discloses a trough for attachment to the edge of a draftsman's table to receive debris such as that generated by erasures, etc. The trough is adjustable in length, supported by brackets and readily removable from the brackets so the debris may be emptied into a waste receptacle.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,582 to Heien discloses a vertically disposed article support for dishes, glasses, cups and other eating utensils which includes vertically spaced article support portions from which articles to be gravity drained of rinse water and to be air dried may be supported. The lower portion of the article support defines an upwardly opening catch basin or trough for receiving rinse water drained from articles supported from the support.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,310 to Gregory discloses an eraser crumb catcher having an elongated trough which is removably supported on a bracket secured along an edge of a drafting table. The trough has an inboard side which extends down from the edge of the table and an outboard side which curves up and out and then back to terminate above the edge forming a cowl or deflecter to deflect the eraser crumbs brushed from the table to the trough.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,840 to Tringali, et al. discloses a drafting board having a planar top surface with a peripheral depression. A thin, resilient, cover sheet is removably secured to the top surface by a pressure-sensitive adhesive and extends into the peripheral depression where it is retained by a peripheral retaining rim. The cover sheet slopes gradually downwardly into the depression without lifting or bulging along the outer limits of the panel's top surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,470 to Cannon, Jr. discloses a tray which is attached to and extends out from a foldable card table to provide a horizontal surface for drinks, snacks, etc. The tray includes a rigid tongue interposed between the table top and the frame which supports the tray.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,724 to Rauma discloses a combination eating counter and garbage receptacle unit in which at least a portion of the counter top is removable to provide access to the garbage receptacle area thereunder.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure addresses the above-described need by providing an apparatus mountable on the edge portion of a countertop or tabletop that facilitates cleaning of the working surface of the countertop or tabletop. According to an aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus has a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly includes an elongated tray and at least one bracket; each bracket has at least one opening formed therein so that the first assembly has at least two openings. The first assembly is mounted to the edge portion using clamps. The second assembly includes an elongated gutter and mounting portions attached to the gutter; each mounting portion attaches to a corresponding bracket to mount the second assembly to the first assembly. The elongated tray has an elongated rear edge and an elongated front edge. The elongated rear edge is in contact with an underside of the edge portion, and the elongated tray slopes downward from the elongated rear edge to the elongated front edge, while the first assembly is mounted to the edge portion. In an embodiment, the gutter is located below and parallel to the elongated front edge of the elongated tray while the second assembly is mounted to the first assembly. The first assembly may advantageously include an elongated compressible strip attached to the elongated rear edge of the elongated tray, so that the elongated compressible strip is pressed against the underside of the edge portion while the first assembly is mounted to the edge portion.

According to another aspect of the disclosure the second assembly has a frame for holding a disposable bag, instead of a gutter.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred features of the present disclosure so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the disclosure that follows. Additional features of the disclosure will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the disclosure clamped to an edge portion of a countertop, showing an adjustable clamp, an assembly including a sloping tray, and a gutter assembly including a gutter mounting bracket and a gutter;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the gutter assembly removed, at a location between clamps;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the gutter assembly removed, looking down from the underside of the countertop;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the gutter assembly removed, looking outwards from the edge of the countertop;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the gutter assembly removed, looking toward the edge of the countertop; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a wire frame and disposable bag instead of the gutter, in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An apparatus according to the disclosure will be described with reference to cleaning a kitchen countertop or table. The apparatus includes a sloped tray angled downward from the countertop edge, which diverts liquid and debris into a gutter running parallel to the countertop edge. Adjustable clamps are used to secure the apparatus to an edge portion of the countertop or table.

An embodiment of the disclosure is shown in cross-section in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the apparatus has two adjustable clamps 20 (one shown), an assembly 1 including the sloped tray 12, and another assembly 2 including gutter 14 connecting to assembly 1. Assembly 1 also includes a compressible strip 11 (hidden from view in FIG. 1, visible in FIG. 2), preferably of rubber, attached to sloped tray 12. When the apparatus is clamped to the countertop 10, strip 11 is pressed against the underside of the countertop and prevents liquid from running off the rear edge 121 of the tray. The tray slopes downward from rear edge 121 (at the underside of the countertop) to front edge 122. Assembly 1 further includes a bracket 13 having a tapered opening (a hole or slot) 16 for receiving a mounting portion 15 of gutter assembly 2. In this embodiment, the mounting portion is an L-shaped clip, the end of which fits into opening 16.

Assembly 1 attaches to the countertop with a clamp 20 at either end. Each clamp has an upper jaw 24 fixed with respect to bar 26 and a lower jaw 25 that can slide with respect to bar 26. The adjustable opening of the clamp permits the apparatus to be used with countertops having a variety of thicknesses. Trigger 22 locks and releases jaw 25 with respect to the bar 26. Each jaw has a non-slip pad 21, preferably of rubber, that presses against a countertop surface and prevents the clamp from moving out of position.

As shown in FIG. 1, gutter 14 is mounted below the clamp jaws, below and parallel to the front edge 122 of sloped tray 12. The length of the gutter and of the sloped tray, measured along the countertop edge, is typically about 18 inches. In this embodiment, at least two separate brackets 13 connect with corresponding clips 15 attached to the rear of gutter 14. The gutter has the shape of a trough with a rounded bottom, and is shaped so as to not obstruct the hardware and also the movement of a drawer underneath the countertop; the distance from the top surface of the countertop to the bottom of the gutter is typically between about 3½ inches and 10 inches.

Debris and liquid, when swept off the countertop, falls into the gutter or lands on the sloped tray and then into the gutter. The gutter is easily detached from the brackets by lifting it vertically to clear clips 15 out of holes 16.

Both assemblies 1 and 2 in this embodiment (other than rubber strip 11 and non-slip pad 21) are made of dishwasher-safe plastic. Alternatively, a rust-free metal such as aluminum and/or wood may be used in fabricating either or both assemblies.

FIG. 2 shows in cross section the apparatus of FIG. 1 with gutter assembly 2 removed, at a location along the countertop between the clamps. As shown in FIG. 2, compressable strip 11 is attached to the rear edge 121 of sloped tray 12 and is pressed against the underside of countertop 10.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of assembly 1, attached to the countertop using the clamps 20. Non-slip pads 21 are attached to the rear portions of movable clamp jaws 25. Rubber strip 11 is attached to sloped tray 12 at the rear edge thereof.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of assembly 1 and clamps 20, looking outward from countertop 10. The rear edge of rubber strip 11 is shown, with the underside of tray 12 sloping downwards therefrom. In this view there are two brackets 13, each having at least one hole or slot 16 for mounting the gutter assembly. In general, the gutter assembly mounts using at least two clips installed in corresponding bracket openings.

FIG. 5 is another elevation view of assembly 1 and clamps 20, looking inward toward the edge of countertop 10. This view shows the top side of tray 12 sloping downwards from the underside of the countertop.

In another embodiment, gutter 14 may be replaced by a frame 41 attached to clips 15; the frame has a bag 42 which can be of various or multiple sizes suspended therefrom and serves to hold the bag open. Frame 41 may be an adjustable metal wire frame. This arrangement is shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, bag 42 is a disposable plastic bag and is easily removed from frame 41.

In a further embodiment, gutter 14 may instead be used as additional storage space. In this embodiment, it is advantageous for gutter 14 to be shaped as a flat-bottomed trough with sloping sides, to permit easy access to any items stored therein.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.

Claims

1. An apparatus for facilitating cleaning of a countertop or a tabletop having an edge portion, the apparatus comprising:

a first assembly including an elongated tray and at least one bracket, each bracket having at least one opening formed therein so that the first assembly has at least two openings;

clamps for mounting the first assembly to the edge portion;

a second assembly including an elongated gutter and mounting portions attached to the gutter, each mounting portion configured to attach to a corresponding bracket to mount the second assembly to the first assembly,

wherein the elongated tray has an elongated rear edge and an elongated front edge, and

the elongated rear edge can or cannot be removed and/or adjusted and is in contact with an underside of the edge portion and the elongated tray slopes downward from the elongated rear edge to the elongated front edge while the first assembly is mounted to the edge portion.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elongated gutter is located below and parallel to the elongated front edge of the elongated tray while the second assembly is mounted to the first assembly.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first assembly further includes an elongated compressible strip attached to the elongated rear edge of the elongated tray, so that the elongated compressible strip is pressed against the underside of the edge portion while the first assembly is mounted to the edge portion.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the clamps is an adjustable clamp having a fixed upper jaw and a movable lower jaw.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each jaw has a non-slip pad disposed thereon for contacting a surface of the edge portion.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the elongated tray and the elongated gutter is formed from a dishwasher-safe plastic.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the elongated tray and the elongated gutter is formed from metal which includes aluminum or from wood.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gutter is shaped so that, while the first assembly is mounted to a countertop having a drawer disposed beneath the countertop and the second assembly is mounted to the first assembly, movement and hardware of the drawer beneath the gutter is not obstructed.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, including two clamps at either end of the first assembly, and wherein the first assembly and the second assembly each have a length along the edge portion of between 12″ and 36″.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gutter has a rounded bottom.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gutter has a flat bottom.

12. An apparatus for facilitating cleaning of a countertop or a tabletop having an edge portion, the apparatus comprising:

a first assembly including an elongated tray and at least one bracket, each bracket having at least one opening formed therein so that the first assembly has at least two openings;

clamps for mounting the first assembly to the edge portion;

a second assembly including a frame for holding a bag and mounting portions attached to the frame, each mounting portion configured to attach to a corresponding bracket to mount the second assembly to the first assembly,

wherein the elongated tray has an elongated rear edge and an elongated front edge, and the elongated rear edge can or cannot be removed and/or adjusted and is in contact with an underside of the edge portion and the elongated tray slopes downward from the elongated rear edge to the elongated front edge while the first assembly is mounted to the edge portion.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first assembly further includes an elongated compressible strip attached to the elongated rear edge of the elongated tray, so that the elongated compressible strip is pressed against the underside of the edge portion while the first assembly is mounted to the edge portion.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the frame is an adjustable metal wire frame for holding different size trash bags.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of the clamps is an adjustable clamp having a fixed upper jaw and a movable lower jaw.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each jaw has a non-slip pad disposed thereon for contacting a surface of the edge portion.

17. A method for facilitating cleaning of a countertop or a tabletop having an edge portion comprises:

providing a first assembly including an elongated tray and at least one bracket, each bracket having at least one opening formed therein so that the first assembly has at least two openings;

providing clamps for mounting the first assembly to the edge portion;

providing a second assembly including an elongated gutter and mounting portions attached to the gutter or a frame for holding a bag and mounting portions attached to the frame, each mounting portion configured to attach to a corresponding bracket to mount the second assembly to the first assembly,

wherein the elongated tray has an elongated rear edge and an elongated front edge, and

the elongated rear edge can or cannot be removed and/or adjusted and is in contact with an underside of the edge portion and the elongated tray slopes downward from the elongated rear edge to the elongated front edge while the first assembly is mounted to the edge portion.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprises during clean-up moving food on the counter top or table top to the gutter or into the bag.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprises using the gutter to store at least one item.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the at least item is a spice.