Collapsible dish drainer

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 61/982,639, filed Apr. 22, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] This application relates to dish drainers and dish racks for holding wet dishes while drying.

[0003] A dish drainer or dish drying rack is commonly used to hold dishes after they have been washed and rinsed so that they may be allowed to dry. In a household setting, a dish rack is frequently placed next to a sink and may include a lower mat or plate for collecting and directing dripping water back into the sink.

[0004] Conventional dish drainers suffer from several problems. One primary concern is that they are very large and bulky, making them very difficult to store when not in use. If left on a countertop, they take up a great deal of space. In addition, current dish drainers are configured to direct dripping water in a single direction. Commonly, dish drainers have a generally rectangular footprint and divert dripping water in a direction parallel to one of the sides. This configuration for the dish drainer limits the possible placement of the dish drainer on a countertop with respect to the location of the sink. Many users may elect not to use a dish drainer at all in view of these defects.

[0005] In accordance with one preferred version of the present invention, a dish drainer is formed using a resilient material allowing the dish drainer to collapse to a smaller size for storage. The dish drainer may be formed with one or more feet to raise the dish drainer above a countertop or other surface. A bottom or base of the dish drainer is configured to direct water toward a drain. A rigid or semi-rigid upper rim is provided, with the resilient material extending between the base and the rim.

[0006] One version of the invention further includes a configurable upper shelf that can slide inward or outward as desired to hold stemware or other objects.

[0007] Some versions of the invention may also include a drain hole formed in the base of the dish drainer, with a pivotable spout allowing drainage water to be directed in a variety of directions.

[0008] In some examples, the base includes several raised flanges that are spaced apart to receive the rim of a plate to facilitate spaced-apart, vertical orientation of plates positioned on the base.

[0018] A preferred dish drainer 10 is illustrated in the accompanying figures. In one preferred version, the dish drainer includes a lower base having an upper side 50 and a lower side 51, an upper rim 12, and side-walls 14 extending upwardly from the lower base to the upper rim. In the illustrated version, the base and the rim are formed from materials that are relatively more rigid than the material used for the sidewalk. Most preferably, the sidewalls are formed from a silicone material while the rim is formed from a plastic material. In other versions, the entire dish strainer may be formed from a resilient material.

[0019] The sidewalls of the dish drainer preferably include an upper living hinge 40 and a lower living hinge 42, as best seen in FIG. 3. The upper and lower living hinges are positioned relatively adjacent the rim and the base, respectively, to allow the dish drainer to be folded into three sections for relatively compact storage. In other versions of the dish strainer may include additional living hinges if desired.

[0020] In one version of the invention, the dish drainer includes a shelf 70, which in the illustrated version is configured to slide laterally outward from the rim and inward to a position substantially within an area bounded by the rim. In the top plan view of FIG. 6, the shelf 70 is shown in a retracted position in which it is moved laterally inward in the direction of arrow B, overlying the base of the dish drainer. In the top view of FIG. 7, the shelf 70 is shown in an extended position, moved laterally outward in the direction of arrow C so that it extends laterally beyond and outside the boundary formed by the rim 12 of the dish drainer.

[0021] In one example, the rim includes four holes 91-94, best seen in FIG. 4, which are configured to receive four retaining lugs 75-78. In other versions, the retaining lugs may be integrally formed with the rim or may be otherwise secured to the upper rim. The shelf 70 is formed with four slots 71-74, with each of the four slots being positioned to slidably receive a separate one of the four lugs. In the illustrated version, two of the four slots (particularly, the two centrally located slots) are formed to be open-ended such that the slots extend all the way to and through the outer perimeter of the shelf. The other two slots are formed such that they are bounded around the entire perimeter by the shelf.

[0022] The retaining lugs are each formed with an upper terminal end which is wider than a lower neck of the lug, with the corresponding slots formed in the shelf being sized such that the slots are smaller in width than the upper terminal end of the corresponding lug. Accordingly, the shelf may slide laterally back and forth along a path defined by the slots, while the shelf is retained against the upper rim 12 by the wider terminal end of the lugs. Each of the four slots is also formed to be parallel to one another, thereby defining a substantially linear path of travel of the shelf with respect to the dish drainer.

[0023] The shelf 70 preferably further includes a peripheral downwardly depending flange, such as best seen in the bottom perspective view of FIG. 5, to help prevent the shelf from traveling outwardly beyond the rim 12 of the dish drainer or inwardly beyond the edge of the rim. In the illustrated version, the flange includes an inner flange portion 80 formed along an interior edge of the shelf and an outer flange 82 formed along an exterior edge of the shelf. In some versions, the downwardly depending flange may also extend along the sides and corners of the shelf, as shown. The flanges 80, 82 combine to define limits to the path of lateral travel of the shelf 70 in both directions. Thus, the inner flange 80 abuts the rim 12 at the extended location while the outer flange 82 abuts the rim 12 at the retracted location of the shelf.

[0024] The shelf is preferably formed with a plurality of openings 72a-72f, as best seen in FIG. 4, with the openings formed in the shelf being positioned to allow cutlery or other elongated items to be positioned within the openings for drying. In one version, six separate openings are provided, with two openings being positioned between the two central slots 72, 73, and two additional openings positioned on each of the two outer sides of the two central slots. Thus, the six openings are formed as three pairs of openings with a structural cross member separating each of the pairs.

[0025] The upper side of the base 51 is preferably formed with a plurality of features to allow dishes be positioned on end for drying. In the illustrated version, the base includes a plurality of upwardly extending ribs 52a, 52b (see FIG. 1) evenly spaced apart from one another and configured to allow an edge of the plates to be received within the space between adjacent ribs. Most preferably, the ribs are formed as two rows of ribs positioned adjacent to and parallel to one another.

[0026] A flatware retaining box 60 is also preferably formed on the upper side of the base 51. In the illustrated version, the flatware retaining box is configured as an upwardly extending flange formed as an “F” shape in the floor of the dish drainer. The flatware retaining box is positioned in one corner of the base of the dish drainer, beneath four of the openings in the shelf, and is positioned such that the flanges close to but spaced apart from the upwardly extending outer edges of the dish drainer. This separation allows water to flow out of the flatware box rather than being trapped within it.

[0027] The base of the dish drainer further includes a drain hole 36 (see FIG. 5), which in the illustrated version is positioned in a corner of the base adjacent the flatware box. Preferably, the drain hole includes a drain grate 34 having a plurality of openings and being configured to block large solid items from passing through the drain hole.

[0028] In the illustrated version, the drain grate 34 is formed as a short upright cylinder (best seen in FIG. 5) and the drain hole 36 is configured as a circular opening in the base of the dish drainer. The drain hole further includes a short downwardly extending annular flange about the perimeter of the drain hole, sized and shaped to receive the cylindrical drain grate. The drain grate further includes a laterally extending annular shelf 37 formed about a lower perimeter of the drain grate. In other versions, the drain hole and drain grate may be formed as a single unitary component. Likewise, in other versions the drain grate may be inserted into an upper side of the base rather than being inserted upwardly from the lower side of the base as illustrated.

[0029] A drain spout 32 is pivotally attached to the drain hole, and in accordance with the illustrated preferred embodiment the drain spout attaches to the lateral shelf 37 of the drain grate 34. The drain spout is formed with an elongated concave shape, allowing water to be directed within the shallow channel formed by the concave shape. In the preferred version as illustrated, the drain spout is open-topped. At one end of the drain spout (that is, the end attached to the drain grate), a short vertical sidewall 39 is formed. Preferably, the sidewall extends around a region at least somewhat greater than a semi-circle when viewed from the top, forming an approximate “C” shape. The vertical sidewall is sized and configured to receive the laterally extending annular shelf formed in the drain grate. An upper inward-directed abutment, preferably formed as a plurality of stems 35, trap the drain grate within the vertical sidewall for pivotal movement of the spout with respect to the drain grate.

[0030] In one version, the spout is removable from the dish drainer to allow it to be cleaned and thoroughly dried between uses. In such an example, as described above, the spout can be snap-fit onto the grate. Likewise, in one version the drain grate is removably attached to the base of the dish drainer.

[0031] The base of the dish drainer is formed with one or more feet configured to allow the dish drainer to rest on a horizontal surface. In addition, the feet are preferably configured to create vertical space between the bottom edge of the feet and the lower surface of the base 50, thereby allowing room for the spout to be positioned. In the same vertical space above a counter top and below the base of the dish drainer. In the illustrated version, several feet 21-24 are provided.

[0032] In the version as illustrated, in which the spout is positioned at one corner of the substantially rectangular or oblong dish drainer base, one foot 21 is positioned along one side of the dish drainer and another foot 22 is positioned along a perpendicular side of the dish strainer. An opening 30 is thereby created at a bottom corner of the dish drainer, allowing pivotal movement of the spout as indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2 within the opening defined between feet 21 and 23.

[0033] Most preferably, the opening 30 is sized and spaced to allow pivotal movement of the spout along an arc of greater than 90° (see FIG. 8) to allow rotation of the spout and a wide range of optional positions of the dish drainer with respect to an adjacent sink. Thus, the opening 30 is defined by the space between edges of feet 21 and 23 closest to the spout 32. A tangent line to a first foot 21 is defined by line D in FIG. 8, while a tangent line to a second foot 23 is defined by line E. The lines intersect to define an angle of about 90 degrees. The drain hole is positioned to allow the spout to be attached in the vicinity of the intersection of lines D and F, and most preferably at a location that enables pivotal movement of the spout within the 90 degrees defined by lines D and E. Accordingly, pivotal movement of the spout allows it to move between a first position adjacent the first foot 21 and a second position adjacent the second foot 23, in which the first position is approximately 90 degrees rotated from the second position. As illustrated, the spout 32 occupies a third position, mid-way between the first and second positions.

[0034] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.