CA1171388A - Drying and storage rack for dishes - Google Patents

Abstract

DRYING AND STORAGE RACK FOR DISHES

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A dish rack composed of a plurality of spacer members are connected together and at their ends to a pair of upright rails which are freely suspended from the top of a shelfless cupboard by spring members. The rack can be pulled down to hold in a position adjacent a washup area for loading with dishes by a restraining means attachable between the rails and the cupboard. Release of the restraining means allows the rack to be pulled into the storage cupboard by the action of the springs.
A drainage tray and water lead off hose a provided the bottom of the rack.

Description

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DRYING AND STORAGE RACK FOR DISHES

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices used to store dishes while they are being drained of wash or rinse water subseq-ent to being washed in a sink or the like.
In particular the present invention provides a rack that can be stored in an enclosed cupboard substantially remote from a washup area bu wi~hin reach of the person washing by means of a spring mechanism that permits the rack to be pulled into proximity of the wash area and by means of a drain tray and drain water lead off provided thereto.

PRIOR ART
It is known to provide dish drainage racks for positioning on the counter adjacent a washing container or sink. It is also known that after drying the dishes must be put away into a closed space unless they are to be left in view. Most housekeepers consider the sight of a rack of dry or drying dishes on the counter of their kitchen to be a slovenly one and prefer to have no utensils or dishes to be visible when the kitchen area is not in use.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is there~ore the object of the present invention to provide a structure that can be used at the washup area of a kitchen to be both the storage area and drying area for dishes and which can be shu* from view after use without additional handling of the dishes from the washing step.

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3~3ff SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above object is achieved by suspending a dish rack from the top of a cupboard having enclosing doors thereto for concealing the rack when not in use. The rack has rigid side members which are attached to springs suspended from the top of the cupboard. Locking means are provided the side members to cause the rack to remain in a extended position downward when action is put on the springs to pull the rack downward from the top of the cupboard while the springs hold to -said cupboard top. A drainage tray is attached -to the side members and positioned beneath the rack to catch the drip from the drying dishes held on holders spaced between the side members. A flexible lead is attached to the low point in the tray to carry the drain water to a sink or the like container. The lead can be fixed to a bracket on the tray after the rack is released to spring back upwards into the enclos-ure of the cupboard.

IN THE DRAWING

With the foregoing object in view and such other objects as may become apparent as this disclosure proceeds, the present invention consists in the following arrangement and construction of parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accornpanying drawing in which a perspective representation of the invention is shown within the enclosure of a cupboard with the doors of the cupboard partly in fragmentary form to allow the delineation of the rack as positioned therein.

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the drawing numeral 10 indicates the usual t~pe of kitchen cupboard built against a wall of the kitchen and wherein the top is out of reach of the usual housewife. The cupboard has enclosing doors 11,12 which are shown partly open and in fragmentary form~ Side rails ~, 1~7~38~ -14,15 compose the frame of the dish rack which has a plurality of spacer members 13 flxed therebetween for receiving plates and dishes in an upri~ht position for drying and storage therein.
Spring members 20 are attached to the cupboard 10 and to the side rails 15,14. Under the springs 20 resilient action the rack is free to move in the direction indicated by arrow 19. A catch means (not shown) is provided the rails 14,15 to maintain the rack in an out-stretched downward mode whPnever the rack is desired to be held do-wn for stacking of dishes therein from the washup area adjacent.
It is contemplated that the rack herein will be situated over the sink area or to one side and can be used by the washup person by the mere outreach of his arm when the rack is pulled down. After loading with the plates the catch on the rail can be released to _ allow the springs 20 to draw the rack up into storage within the cupboard 10.
A water catchment tray 15 is attached to the bottom ends of the side rails 14,15 to catch any drip from the dishes drying in the racks 13. To allow the water in the tay 16 to be drawn off whenever sufficient has accumulated there a flexible hose lead 17 is connect-ed to a drain hole in the tray bottom. The hose can be led`~ off into the adjacent sink or ~ike container for emptying. A clamp 18 is provided the end of the tray to hold the lead 17 up out of the way of the apparatus when not in use.
Other uses for the drying and storage device can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

Claims (2)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A drying and storage rack for dishes and the like comprising in combination;
a rigid fixed upper surface such as a cupboard ceiling;
a plurality of dish receiving rack members spaced between a pair of upright frame members;
a spring member connected between said rigid fixed surface and each of said frame members;
and a water catchment tray disposed beneath said racks and fixed to bottom ends of said frame members.

2. A drying and storage rack as as claimed in claim 1 wherein a drainage lead is attached to a drain hole in the bottom of said tray to lead water therefrom.