Bottle rack

[0001] This is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/113,868, filed on Jul. 10, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,784, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated as if fully set forth herein.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention pertains generally to the field of infant feeding and care. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved apparatus for storing and drying infant nursing bottles, nipples and rings that is more hygienic, efficient and attractive than articles that are presently available for similar purposes, and that is more convenient to store for consumers.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Technology

[0005] The importance of proper hygiene when handling and cleaning infant feeding equipment such as baby bottles and nursing nipples cannot be overstated. Ideally, bottles and nipples should be thoroughly scrubbed, then sterilized by immersion in boiling water between uses. At the very least, baby bottles and components thereof, which typically include rings, nipples, hoods and disks, must be washed with an effective detergent and dried in a location that is separated from dirty water or potential contaminants prior to storage for future use.

[0006] Drying racks for holding baby bottles, rings and nipples after washing are commercially available. For example, such products are sold by Safety 1^st, Inc. as a “Bottle and Nipple Drying Rack,” and by Mommy's Helper, Inc. as a “Drain 'N Dry.” Both of these products are characterized by a plastic tray that has a number of socket recesses defined in a top face thereof. Plastic pegs are provided that are insertable into the socket recesses. Some of the plastic pegs are relatively long, for supporting a bottle, while others are shorter, for supporting nipples, rings and caps. Neither these products nor any other drying rack of which the inventors are aware have any way of storing the disks of a baby bottle in a sanitary location after washing.

[0007] Although products of the type described above are quite useful, the lack of disk storage forces conscientious caregivers to separate baby bottle components after washing and rinsing, which can be frustrating and can result in mix-ups between disks that have been washed and unwashed disks. In addition, the sockets that are defined in the top faces of such products can collect water and become points of nucleation for bacteria and mold growth. Furthermore, assembly and disassembly of these products can be laborious, with the need to insert multiple pegs in matching sockets and having to figure out which peg to place in each socket. These products are not convenient to store for a consumer, unless they are completely disassembled. In households that have toddlers, such racks can quickly unbeknownst to the caregiver become a plaything, and pegs can be pulled from the sockets, creating more work and frustration for the caregiver, possibly presenting a risk of injury.

[0008] A need exists for a bottle rack that requires minimal or no assembly by the user, that provides a secure and sanitary drying location for all baby bottle components, that minimizes the potential for mold and bacteria growth during use and is easy to store.

[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a bottle rack that requires minimal or no assembly by the user, that provides a secure and sanitary drying location for all baby bottle components, that minimizes the potential for mold and bacteria growth during use and that is easy to store.

[0010] In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, an apparatus for drying and storing an article, such as a baby bottle includes a tray having a bottom face that is adapted to be supported by an underlying surface such as a counter-top, and an upper face; and a plurality of pegs extending outwardly away from the upper face, each of the pegs being sized and arranged so as to be able to support an article, such as a baby bottle, and wherein the pegs are pivotally mounted to the tray in such a manner as to be movable between a first storage position, wherein said entire peg is positioned relatively close to said upper face for storage and packaging of said apparatus, and a second, operative position, wherein the peg is positioned at a large angle with respect to the upper surface, so as to enable the peg to support an article such as a baby bottle, wherein the apparatus can conveniently be folded for packaging and storage purposes.

[0011] These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0016] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to FIG. 1, an apparatus 10 for drying and storing an article, such as a baby bottle, after washing and rinsing includes a tray 12 having a bottom face 14 (viewable in FIG. 3) that is adapted to be supported by an underlying surface such as a countertop. Tray 12 further has an upper face 16, as may be seen in FIGS. 1-4. Tray 12 is further configured to have a number of cutout/grip areas 58 defined in sides thereof, as may best be seen in FIG. 1. The purpose of the cutout area 58 is to permit a consumer to more easily lift the apparatus 10 during use, as well as to prevent vapor lock from occurring between the apparatus 10 and a smooth underlying surface such as a countertop. In the preferred embodiment, a cutout area 58 is positioned on each side of the apparatus 10, as well as on the rear end thereof.

[0017] As is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, apparatus 10 further includes a plurality of pegs 18 that extend outwardly from the upper face 16 of tray 12. Each of the pegs 18 is sized and arranged so as to be able to support an article, such as a baby bottle, after washing and rinsing.

[0018] According to one important aspect of the invention, each of the pegs 18 are permanently mounted to the tray 12 in such a manner as to be moveable between a first storage position, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein the entire peg 18 is positioned relatively close to the upper face 16 for storage and packaging, and a second, operative position, illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the pegs 18 are positioned at a large angle with respect to the upper surface 16. This mounting arrangement is made possible by a permanent mounting structure 20, which is best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, and which will be discussed in greater detail below. The permanent mounting structure 20, as will become apparent from the description given below, is constructed in such a way that no standing water may collect at a point where a peg 18 is mounted, thereby minimizing potential for mold and bacterial growth. Permanent mounting structure 20 is further constructed so as to constrain the pegs 18 for movement about only a single axis of rotation.

[0019] As may be seen in FIG. 1, apparatus 10 further includes a number of nipple ring support members 32 that are constructed and arranged to support a nipple portion of a baby bottle after washing and rinsing. The nipple ring support members 32 are, in a manner that is substantially identical to that of the pegs 18, mounted by means of a permanent mounting structure 20 for movement between a first storage position, where the entire nipple ring support member 32 is positioned relatively close to the upper face 16 for storage and packaging purposes, and a second, operative position where the nipple ring support member 32 is positioned at a large angle with respect to the upper face 16. In other words, the mounting structure 20 for the pegs 18 is substantially identical to that of the nipple ring support members 32. The nipple ring support members 32 have stylized stops 48, which in the preferred embodiment are styled as hearts, mounted thereon for supporting rings or small bottles above the surface of tray 12.

[0020] Looking again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that in the illustrated embodiment of the invention four pegs 18 are constrained for common, ganged movement in an arc about a common axis of rotation that is created by a first axle 22. Similarly, a second four pegs 18 are mounted for common movement with a second axle 24. Four nipple ring support members 32 are mounted for common movement about a third axle 28, while a second four nipple ring support members 32 are mounted for common movement with a fourth axle 30. In the preferred embodiment, the axles 22, 24, 28, 30 are substantially parallel, and therefore define arcuate paths of movement for the various pegs 18 and nipple ring support members 32 that are located within substantially parallel planes. This permits the various pegs 18 and nipple ring support members 32 to move between the first and second positions, as represented by FIGS. 2 and 1, respectively, with a minimum of interference with each other.

[0021] Looking now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that each axle 22, 24, 28, 30 includes a journal 38 that extends through a mounting hole that is defined in a sidewall 36 of an upstanding dam 34 that is formed along the periphery of the upper face 16 of the tray 12. A significant vertical distance exists between the bottom of the mounting hole and the top face 16 of the tray 12, so that water cannot escape through the mounting holes onto an underlying surface during normal use of the apparatus 10. This mounting structure 20 is arranged in such a way so as to constrain the axle 22, 24, 28, 30 for movement about an axis of rotation 40, as is shown in FIG. 3.

[0022] Mounting structure 20, by ganging adjacent pegs 18 and adjacent nipple ring support members 32 together by use of a common axle, thereby imparts lateral stability to the pegs 18 and the nipple ring support members 32, further deterring any motion other than about the single axis of rotation 40. Accordingly, the pegs 18 are constrained to move in a predetermined plane of rotation 49.

[0023] As may best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, each axle 22, 24, 28, 30 includes at least one locating structure 26, the purpose of which is to lock the respective axle in a rotational position that corresponds to the second operative position shown in FIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiment, first and second axles 22, 24 include two such locating structures 26, while the third and fourth axles 28, 30 which support the shorter nipple ring support members 32, are equipped with but one locating structure 26. The construction of the locating structures 26, however, is uniform throughout the four axles 22, 24, 28, 30. As may be seen in FIG. 4, locating structure 26 includes a cam member 43 having a lower surface 44 that is constructed and arranged to bear against the upper face 16 of tray 12, and a forward surface 46 that is constructed and arranged to come into contact with a rear surface 44 of a cam stop 42 that projects upwardly and is unitary with the upper face 16 of tray 12. FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 both depict the locking structure 26 in the second, operative position. The path between the first and second positions is indicated in FIG. 4 by arrow 46 47. The nipple ring support member 32 is prevented from bending backwardly in the direction away from the first storage position by contact of the forward surface 46 of cam member 43 with the rear surface 44 51 of cam stop 42.

[0024] If it is desired to move the nipple ring support member 32 from the second, operative position shown in FIG. 1 to the first storage position shown in FIG. 2, a user will push the nipple ring support member 32 in the desired direction. Initially, this movement will be deterred by the frictional contact of the lower surface 44 and the leading edge 45 of the lower surface with the upper face 16 of tray 12. Once the leading edge 45 has cleared the upper face, however, the nipple ring support member 32 will easily fold down into the position that is shown in FIG. 2.

[0025] According to another important aspect of the invention, apparatus 10 further includes a disc disk holding system 50 for holding baby bottle discs disks in a location that is isolated from areas of the tray 12 in which liquid may collect. This allows baby bottle discs disks to be dried and stored in a safe manner at a location that is convenient to a location at which baby bottles are being dried. In the preferred embodiment, disc disk holding system 50 includes an upstanding boss member 52 that projects upwardly from the upper face 16 of tray 12 and has a plurality of disc disk receiving slots 54 defined therein. Boss member 52 and slots 54 are raised with respect to an underlying reservoir 56 that is located in the forward portion of tray 12. As an added benefit, the reservoir space also acts as a finger space area for a user to get his/her fingers beneath the disc disk members for lifting them out after drying.

[0026] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.