Device for drying objects

[0002] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No: 09/568,915 filed on May 11, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,605; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/757,216 Filed on Jan. 9, 2001 wherein priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120 and wherein these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] 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.

[0004] The invention relates to a device for supporting objects for drying. This device contains a catch basin, for receiving water that drips off of these drying objects. Attached to the catch basin is a multi-piece rack. This horizontal rack has a front end and a back end wherein the back end is rotatably supported within the catch basin. In addition, there is also a complementary rack that is rotatably attached to the catch basin. Both the rack and the complementary rack contain a series of parallel extending slats that are spaced apart from each other to receive a plate there between. The slats are spaced far enough apart so that they allow water to drip down through the bars and into the catch basin.

[0005] In addition, coupled to each piece of the multi-piece rack are U-shaped legs. These legs are for rotatably adjusting the height of the front end of this rack. Furthermore, disposed within the catch basin is a series of support strips or tabs wherein the support tabs are designed to support the legs in a particular position to keep these legs from rotating when the support bar is supporting the rack.

[0006] This device is also designed to prevent any water or other materials from flowing onto a counter top outside of the catch basin. For example, when in use, the catch basin contains a series of substantially vertical walls to trap this water within the catch basin. In this way, the water will not flow outside of the catch 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 catch basin into a sink.

[0007] The device also contains an adjustable tray attached to the catch basin for supporting a series of utensils. The adjustable tray also comprises a set of adjustable legs rotatably attached to the catch 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.

[0008] 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 catch block disposed within the catch basin wherein this catch block is designed to receive a top end of the complementary rack to lock the complementary rack in place on the catch block.

[0009] 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.

[0010] In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

[0011] FIG. 1A presents a perspective view of the invention in its upright position supporting plates, a pot, and silverware for drying;

[0012] FIG. 1B represents a perspective view of the invention wherein the multi-part rack is set at the same position.

[0013] FIG. 2 represents an exploded view of the rack shown in FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 3 shows a view of the rack shown in FIG. 1 wherein in this view, the multi-part rack is positioned in an offset manner;

[0015] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the utensil rack according to the invention; and

[0016] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the previous model of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 1A refers to a perspective view of the invention wherein there is shown a device 10 for drying plates, pots and silverware. There is a first part 12aof a multi-part rack 12 wherein this rack is rotatably attached to a catch basin 20. This can be better seen in FIG. 2 wherein clamping blocks 29 are used to rotatably secure multi-part rack 12 to basin 20. A second part 12B is also shown wherein this second part 12B can be folded up or down separate from first part 12A. There is also a complementary rack 14 rotatably attached to catch basin 20. Both rack 12 and complementary rack 14 contain a series of parallel extending slats 11 and 13 respectively. These parallel extending slats 11 and 13 are spaced apart to receive a series of plates or at least one pot not shown. These parallel extending bars 11 and 13 are spaced apart to allow water to drip off of pots and into catch basin 20. Water can then be drained from catch basin 20 via a drainage hole 23 positioned on a side wall of catch basin 20.

[0018] Rotatably coupled to first part 12A are substantially U-shaped support legs 16A, that support first part 12A above catch basin 20. These legs can be held in place and kept from rotating when positioned against one or more of a series of support strips 22, 24, 26, and 28 positioned within catch basin 20.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1B rack 12 can be adjusted so that first part 12A moves separate from second part 12B wherein these parts can be matched together at a substantially similar angle. With this view, substantially U-shaped support legs 16B are shown coupled to second part 12B. U-shaped support legs 16B function similar to support legs 16A wherein these support legs are also held in place by support strips 22, 24, 26, and 28.

[0020] The elevation of the second end of racks 12A and 12B can be set by setting support legs 16A and 16B within one of three different support strips or tabs 22, 24, 26 and 28 designed to receive legs 16A and 16B. These support tabs extend parallel across the catch basin 20 so that the legs 16A and 16B can rest against each support strip to position the second end of multi-part rack 12 at varying heights. The legs 16A and 16B are pushed against each support tab by a gravitational force exerted by rack 12A or 12B. In addition, if there are any plates, or pots placed on racks 12A or 12B, these items also exert an additional gravitational force on legs 16A and 16B to further set legs 16A and 16B against one of support strips or tabs 22, 24, 26 or 28.

[0021] By elevating the second end of racks 12A and 12B this narrows the distance between rack 12 and rack 14 so that different sized plates or pots can fit snugly between parallel extending strips 11 and 13 on both rack 12 and rack 14. In addition, disposed adjacent to rack 12 and rack 14, is a tray 30 designed to support kitchen utensils and silverware (not shown) in an upright position.

[0022] Both the tray 30, racks 12A and 12B, rack 14 and legs 16A and 16B can be folded down so that the device 10 can be collapsed into a substantially flat position. Once folded down, racks 12 and 14 can be held in place using a catch block 50 which snaps over a top end of rack 14 when it is folded down. When device 10 is in its substantially flat position, catch basin 20 can be folded up to be free standing upright on legs 21 of catch basin 20. In this way, once device 10 has been fully collapsed, and turned on its end, device 10 only takes up a minimal amount of counter space.

[0023] As shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/568,915 catch basin 20 can be folded up in a substantially vertical manner wherein the entire device can be positioned in an upright manner so that it can stand freely on a flat surface. The components of device 10 are positioned within catch basin 20 so that when racks 12, 14, and tray 30 are collapsed for storage it forms a balanced device that can be supported upright by legs 21 on catch basin 20.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows the utensil rack 30 in an exploded view. Utensil rack 30 contains a top tray 31, a bottom tray 32 and an intermediate removable drainage tray 33. Drainage tray 33 fits snugly inside of bottom tray 32 and is removable therefrom. Drainage tray 33 also has a tab 34 which allows a user to easily remove drainage tray 33 from bottom tray 32. In addition drainage tray 33 is formed in a mesh type pattern wherein this tray has a plurality of holes allowing water or other materials to flow out. In addition drainage tray 33 has dividers 37 and 38 which divide drainage tray 33 into different compartments to correspond with holes in top tray 31 for receiving utensils. Utensil rack 30 also contains a plurality of legs 35 and 36 which attach top tray 31 to bottom tray 32.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the previous embodiment of the invention shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/757,216 incorporated herein by reference. This device 110 contains a catch basin 120 and also a first rack 112 and a second rack 114. With this design these racks are not multi-part racks as in the present invention and the racks 112 and 114 contain a plurality of rods 111 and 113 respectively rather than a plurality of slats. Thus rods 111 and 113 and slats 11 and 13 or any other appropriately shaped elements are elongated support elements for supporting plates, dishes pots or pans above a basin or any other type surface.

[0026] Accordingly, while several embodiments of the present invention have 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.