Supports: racks – Special article – Article includes elongated portion
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-12
2001-11-20
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Special article
Article includes elongated portion
C248S037300, C211S150000, C211S169100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318567
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to storage devices and, more specifically, to cutlery and eating utensil storage devices. Storage devices typical in this field are generally adapted for drawer, wall, inside cabinet, overhead or countertop installation and usage. While each of these areas may be somewhat suitable for such installations they are all less than optimum locations for cutlery and eating utensil storage. Drawers must be opened and closed each time to access utensils. Leaving a drawer open for any length of time creates an obstacle and a traffic hazard in moving about the kitchen work area. Likewise, cabinet doors must be opened and closed or left open to create another obstacle. Wall space for utensils is usually not in a convenient place and may be awkward to use requiring significant reaching over deep countertops. Overhead installations have similar drawbacks requiring repeated and excessive reaching motion, which can be annoying and tiring. The present invention overcomes these obstacles by providing an eating utensil and cutlery storage rack that installs under a cabinet, a good location for constant usage. It can be mounted to the left, to the right or directly over the sink. There are several other advantages. Stowing the rack in the undercabinet recess keeps it out of the way as well as out of sight but still in a place that requires a minimum of movement or effort to access. The rack is secured in stowed position by a snap in lock that is pulled to release and is suspended from swing down hinges installed under the cabinet. This swing down feature offers an additional advantage, i.e.; even when it is deployed it does not generally present an obstacle to the work area and can be kept open for continual use with little adverse effects. If it should occasionally present an obstacle it can be easily stowed by simply pushing it up which automatically locks it in place under the cabinet. This action requires very little effort or actual physical motion. The present invention therefore provides not only a novel and elegant solution to one problem of kitchen storage but represents a significant improvement in the overall working and living environment of one of the most important rooms in the home.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other storage devices designed for the kitchen work area. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 1,701,062 issued to C. W. Burnham on Feb. 5, 1929.
Another patent was issued to Erik P. Thomas on Dec. 25, 1990 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,610. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,040 was issued to John Tolentino on Apr. 16, 1985 and still yet another was issued on Oct. 28, 1975 to Norman Graham, Jr., as U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,213.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,701,062
Inventor: Chester W. Burnham
Issued: Feb. 5, 1929
A rack is provided which may be used for knives, etc., of a four-person set or an eight-person set etc. The rack has notches which are so shaped they will receive and snugly hold and support either knives, for example, in the usual edgewise or substantially vertical position, or forks, spoons, etc., in the usual flatwise or horizontal position. The notches are adapted for so receiving a knife or a fork or the like by cutting away one wall of the notch so as to provide a seat or shelf midway of its depth on which the shank of the fork or the like may rest flatwise and by providing a seat at the lower end of the notch on which a knife, for example, may be supported edgewise. The rack is adaptable for use from a four-person set to an eight-person set by simply utilizing as many of the multipurpose or universal holders as required.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,610
Inventor: Erik P. Thomas
Issued: Dec. 25, 1990
A case for instruments, such as knives and other culinary instruments, comprises a base portion including first and second hingeably connected base portion sections, a cover portion including first and second cover portion sections which are hingeably connected to the first and second base portion sections, respectively, and a positioning member which is operatively for receiving and releasably securing instruments in the base portion. The case is alternately positionable in a closed position wherein the cover portion sections are received on the base portion sections, an open position wherein the cover portion sections are hinged outwardly from the base portion sections, or a workstation position wherein the second base portion section and the second cover portion section are hinged outwardly to positions wherein they are operative for supporting the first base portion section in an angular disposition on a supporting surface so that instruments can be readily removed from the first base portion section as needed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,040
Inventor: John Tolentino
Issued: Apr. 16, 1985
A compact case for displaying and storing cutlery or related articles. The case includes a container with a forward display portion and a rear storage portion, separated by a divider. A series of storage blocks for carrying cutlery are positioned within the rear storage portion, and cutlery support frames are mounted on the divider. Each cutlery support frame includes a vertical backplate with a horizontal tab extending therefrom. A support clip is pivotally attached by one end to each backplate. The storage blocks are elongated blocks having a plurality of thin slots oriented transverse to the longer side of each block, and further having a plurality of passageways parallel to the slots. The blocks also have a plurality of tabs extending from the block between the slots and parallel to the slots, with the tabs tapering away from the slots to form a guide for cutlery handles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,213
Inventor: Norman Graham, Jr.
Issued: Oct. 28, 1975
A utility holder for storing one place setting of silverware with individual compartments that are each shaped in mating engagement with the stored item of silverware so that the individual pieces of silverware do not touch one another. The handle of each piece of silverware is locked into position by a notch in the top end side of the utility holder, said notch being of a size and shape to anchor the handle of the piece of silverware. The unit may consist of three or more compartments with each compartment designed to hold one of the pieces of a unit place setting of a set of silverware.
While these storage devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a means of accessing and storing eating utensils and cutlery that is conveniently located in the kitchen.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a means of accessing and storing eating utensils and cutlery that would not present an obstacle to normal kitchen activity whether stowed or deployed.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means of accessing and storing eating utensils and cutlery that is easily accessed.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means of accessing and storing eating utensils and cutlery that is easily deployed.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means of accessing and storing eating utensils and cutlery that is easily stowed.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a means of accessing and storing eating utensils and cutlery that is out of sight when stowed.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a cutlery storage/knife rack that installs under a cabinet, a convenient location for constant usage. It can be mounted directly over the sink or to either side. There are also several other advantages. Undercabinet stowage keeps it out of the way as well as out of sight but
Kroll Michael I.
Novosad Jennifer E.
Stodola Daniel P.
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