Dish rack with swinging arm

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to dish racks and their accessories, and in particular, to a dish rack having a multi-purpose swinging arm which can be manipulated to hold wine glasses and large utensils.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] 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.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a dish rack that has greater utility than conventional dish racks.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a dish rack that can effectively hold a variety of different objects.

[0007] In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides a dish rack having a wire frame base, a horizontal wire segment coupled to the wire frame base, and a swinging arm pivotably coupled to the horizontal wire segment, the swinging arm having a plurality of holders and a lock mechanism that removably engages the swinging arm with a portion of the wire frame base.

[0016] 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.

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a dish rack 10 according to the present invention. The dish rack 10 can have the typical components of a conventional dish rack, including, but not limited to, a wire frame base 12 for receiving plates and large bowls, and a divider section along the wire frame base 12 that has a plurality of divider walls 14 for receiving plates. Two sets of horizontal side wire segments 16 and 18 form one of two opposing sides of the four-sided dish rack 10, and two horizontal end wire segments 20 and 22 form the other two opposing sides of the four-sided dish rack 10. Four legs 50, 52, 54 and 56 are provided, with each leg extending vertically from an end of each of the pairs of horizontal side wire segments 16 and 18. A swinging arm 24 is pivotably coupled to the front end wire segment 22. Although FIG. 1 illustrates the swinging arm 24 being coupled to the wire segment 22, it is possible to couple the swinging arm 24 to any of the wire segments 16, 18, 20 and 22, assuming that the wire frame base 12 is configured to facilitate the raising and lowering of the swinging arm 24.

[0018] The swinging arm 24 and its operation are best illustrated in connection with FIGS. 2–7. The swinging arm 24 has a U-shaped configuration with a longitudinal wire portion 26 that connects two parallel side wire portions 28 and 30. A sleeve 32 and 34 is provided at the end of each wire portion 28 and 30, respectively, with the sleeves 32, 34 adapted to receive the end wire segment 22 to form a pivoting and sliding connection between the swinging arm 24 and the end wire segment 22. A plurality of curved U-shaped holders 36 extend from the longitudinal wire portion 26, with a space 38 defined between adjacent holders 36. A wine glass or other object can be slid into each separate space 38, so that the adjacent holders 36 can suspend or hold the wine glass or object. In addition, a first locking bulb 40 is connected adjacent the sleeve 32 via a first shaft 44, and a second locking bulb 42 is connected along the wire portion 28 via a second shaft 46. The second locking bulb 42 is spaced apart from the first locking bulb 40. Both locking bulbs 40, 42 extend away from the interior of the swinging arm 24. While two locking bulbs 40, 42 are illustrated herein, any number of locking bulbs (e.g., one, three or more) can be utilized as well.

[0019] FIGS. 1, 3 and 7 illustrate the swinging arm 24 in a locked lower position. In this position, each holder 36 defines a convex holding space (see FIG. 1), and the plurality of holders 36 define an elongated convex holding space that is adapted to hold large or long utensils (e.g., a knife, chopsticks, etc.). FIGS. 2 and 5 illustrate the swinging arm 24 in a raised position, where wine glasses can be held in the spaces 38 by the adjacent holders 36.

[0020] When the swinging arm 24 is in the locked lower position, the locking bulbs 40, 42 engage the leg 50 so as to prevent the swinging arm 24 from experiencing any pivoting motion. As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, the swinging arm 24 is pivoted downwardly and inwardly (see the direction of arrow A) about the pivot axis of the wire segment 22 so that the locking bulbs 40, 42 can be passed behind the leg 50, and extend outwardly on the outer side of the leg 50 away from the center of the dish rack 10. The leg 50 blocks the shafts 44 and 46, and the bulbous feature of the locking bulbs 40, 42 act as an engagement mechanism to maintain the locking bulbs 40, 42 on the outward side of the leg 50, and therefore maintain the swinging arm 24 in the locked position.

[0021] When the user desires to raise the swinging arm 24, the user pivots the swinging arm 24 in the rearward direction (see arrow A), and then slides the swinging arm 24 sideways away from the leg 50 and towards the leg 52. See FIGS. 4 and 6. This sliding motion can be accomplished because the wire segment 22 is slidably received inside the sleeves 32 and 34. This sliding motion also causes the locking bulbs 40, 42 to be slid towards the center of the dish rack 10, and inside the leg 50. When the swinging arm 24 is in this position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the locking bulbs 40, 42 are disengaged from the leg 50, so that the swinging arm 24 can be freely pivoted about the wire segment 22. In the next step, the user pivots the swinging arm 24 upwardly in the direction of the arrow B, and raises the swinging arm 24 until the swinging arm 24 reaches the raised position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. At this point, the user slides the swinging arm 24 towards the leg 50 until the locking bulbs 40, 42 are again to the outside of the leg 50, as shown in FIG. 8. In this secured raised position, the shaft 46 abuts the leg 50 to prevent the swinging arm 24 from pivoting back downwards in the direction of arrow A.

[0022] To place the swinging arm 24 back in the locked lower position, the user slides the swinging arm 24 away from the leg 50 and towards the leg 52, and then pivots the swinging arm 24 downwardly in the direction of the arrow A, about the pivot axis of the wire segment 22. The user then slides the swinging arm 24 towards the leg 50, and then pivots the swinging arm 24 inwardly so that the locking bulbs 40, 42 are passed behind the leg 50, and extend outwardly on the outer side of the leg 50 away from the center of the dish rack 10.

[0023] Thus, the swinging arm 24 provides a dual-retention mechanism that can be used to hold different types of objects. The swinging arm 24 can be deployed conveniently and quickly.

[0024] 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.