GB2042147A

GB2042147A - Table-ware draining rack

Info

Publication number: GB2042147A
Application number: GB8003431A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Leifheit International Guenter Leifheit GmbH; Leifheit International GmbH
Current assignee: Leifheit International GmbH
Priority date: 1979-02-05
Filing date: 1980-02-01
Publication date: 1980-09-17
Also published as: FR2447706B1; GB2042147B; NL8000584A; IT1130006B; IT8019689A0; CH646321A5; DE2904173C2; FR2447706A1; DE2904173A1

Abstract

A draining rack comprises gratings 16, 17 and 18 hinged at 3 and 22 to one another and foldable as indicated by arrows 23 into a trough 19 for stowage purposes. Supports 10 can retain cups and the like, and the stems of glasses can be held in slots 11. A zone 24 is provided with compartments 25 and 26, and there is a row of projections 20 in the trough 19 for lodging plates and dishes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Table-ware draining rack The invention relates to a table-ware draining rack of the kind comprising at least two receptacles or gratings for table-ware which can be brought by means of a movable connection from a storage position into a position for use, which in addition are provided with fittings to receive glasses, cups, cutlery and other small articles.

Such table-ware draining racks are on the market in many forms. They serve to receive the table-ware in ordered form for draining after washing. Since on the one hand the quantity of table-ware per washingup operation is constantly increasing due to the style of living and the increasing standard of living, on the other hand the space available in the kitchen cannot be increased indefinitely, it is necessary to accommodate the equipment in space-saving manner after use.

The devices on the market at present fulfil these requirements only partially. While they all can be folded in a relatively space-saving manner into a storage position, on the other hand in the position for use they have too small a capacity. Moreover as a rule devices for the secure reception of delicate stemmed glasses and mostly also for cups are lacking. There is in fact a device on the market the receptacle of which consists of foldable, synthetic plastics-coated wire gratings, one grating being provided in the end region with hooks to receive cups. This however, has the disadvantage that the cups must be hung up by their handles and thus the residual washing water cannot drain away. However with modern washing agents, which as a result make subsequent drying with a teacloth no longer necessary, this is of maximum importance.

It is therefore the problem of the invention to produce a table-ware draining rack of the kind referred to, the capacity of which is sufficient for the table-ware with all individual articles such as dishes, cups, glasses, cutlery and small articles, all the parts being held securely and expediently, and which moreover can be stored in a space-saving manner.

According to the invention a draining rack of the kind referred to is characterised in that in the position for use the receptacles or gratings with their retaining fittings for the table-ware form two regions of approximately V-shaped cross-section, and in that the fittings are formed in such a way that they are themselves provided with a downwardly directed opening andlor the cups, glasses etc. can be inserted only with their openings downwards. This formation practically doubles the capacity in comparison with the X-shaped appliance to be found most frequently on the market. The material consumption for production is only inappreciably increased. Accommodation is likewise possible in a space-saving manner.

Moreover a secure and expedient accommodation even for cups and glasses is rendered possible.

Two receptacles or gratings are preferably connected with one another in the manner of a drawer, and the fittings are formed in such a way that they are themselves provided with a downwardly directed opening and/orthe cups, glasses etc. can be suspended in them only with their openings downwards. This variant is distinguished in addition by especially easy transference from the storage position into the use position. It is suitable for especially attractive formation as regards design. Storage is especially easy due to the formation in box form.

Further developments of the invention may be seen from the Sub-Claims. Thus the upright supports or pegs guarantee especially secure retention for cups. The difficult problem of secure placing of delicate stemmed glasses is securely solved by the arrangement of unilaterally open slots in the marginal zones of the receptacles. Naturally differences can be provided as regards the slot width and the distances of the slots from one another to such effect that on the one hand bulbous, thick-stemmed large wine glasses and on the other delicate, longstemmed glasses can be stored without mutual contact - and thus without danger of breakage - with the openings downwards. Rapid draining of the washing water is guaranteed thereby, so that the advantage of present-day washing agents, due to which cloth drying is no longer absolutely necessary, is fully exploited.

Due to the connection of the two receptacles of approximately V-shaped cross-section by means of a central receiving part expediently made in dish form, further space is provided especially for small articles. It is possible to provide this central receiving part with individual compartments for cutlery and small articles and with supports or pegs for the reception of small spirits glasses or coffee cups.

A further increase of the available space is provided by a pivotable arrangement of the receptacles in a trough with additional cover. Moreover again a basic form of box-shape is achieved which can be integrated very well into kitchen furniture.

Finally an especially versatile utility is achieved in that the receptacles are provided with vertically extending bars. The supports or pegs for the reception of cups are formed on these bars. Thus it is possible without special detriment to accommodate in one case only dishes and in another dishes and cups or only cups. The vertical arrangement of a cutlery trough in this region, suspended or fixedly formed, has the advantage that the washing water can flow away quickly and without hindrance even from cutlery.

The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter by reference to some examples of embodiment thereof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows an overall view of a table-ware draining rack having two receptacles of approximately V-shaped cross-section, connected by hinges, Figures la, ib, 1c show enlarged details of Figure 1, Figure 2 shows a table-ware draining rack with receptacles which can be pivoted into a trough, Figure 3 shows a table-ware draining rack with receptacles of drawer type, Figure 4 shows a table-ware draining rack having two receptacles connected by means of a central receiving part, Figure 5 shows the rack according to Figure 4 in the storage position and Figure 6 shows a table-ware draining rack according to Figure 4, arranged in a trough with an additional cover.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a table-ware draining rack having two receptacles 1 and 2 of approximately V-shaped cross-section. The two receptables 1 and 2 are connected with one another through a hinge 3. The receptacles 1 and 2 each consist of an outer reception grating 4,4' and an inner reception grating 5, 5'. These gratings are again each connected with one another through a hinge 6, the outer gratings 4, 4' being adjoined by feet 7.

The hinges 3 and 6 are each provided with a stop 8 to limit opening. On some of the vertically extending bars 9 of the gratings 4,4', 5,5, there are provided approximately upright supports 10 to receive cups and the like vessels. The supports 10 here have approximately the width of the bars so that they have an additional supporting effect when accommodating dishes. Moreover open slots 11 for the reception of stemmed glasses 12 are povided in the marginal zone of the outer gratings 4,4'. 13 indicates a cutlery tray.

By appropriate formation of the hinges 3 and 6 by appropriate selection of the bar intervals it is also possible to make the outer gratings 4, 4' and the inner gratings 5, 5' alike in each case. The particular selection of the spacing of the bars 9 from one another renders possible a very low construction height in the storage position the table-ware draining rack. Thus an optimum is obtained between capacity, tool costs and thus manufacturing costs and space economy.

In the table-ware draining rack according to Figure 2 the gratings 16, 17 and 18 forming the receptacles 14 and 15 are arranged for pivoting into a trough 19.

The receptacle 15 is here formed by the grating 18 and a reception strip 20 which is fixedly arranged on the bottom 21 of the trough 19, while the receptacle 14 is formed by the gratings 16 and 17. The gratings 16 to 18 and the trough 19 are again connected by means of hinges (not specified further) with stops to limit opening. Feet 7 are again provided in the hinge region 22 of the gratings 16 and 17. The trough 19 is closed on one side with a compartmented zone 24.

The compartment 25 and the compartments 26 have different sizes and serve in the one case for the reception of cutlery and in the other for small articles. The arrows 23, as in the example of embodiment according to Figure 1, indicate the course of movement for transference from the position for use as illustrated into the storage position.

In Figure 3 a table-ware draining rack is illustrated the receptacles 27 and 28 of which are connected with one another in the manner of sliding drawers.

The receptacle 27 here consists of the trough 29 of box-type on the bottom 30 of which there are arranged upright strips 31, supports 32 and pegs 33.

The second receptacle 28 consists essentially of a facing piece 34 acting as handle, on which retaining bars 35 are formed. These retaining bars 35 are guided in slots 36 of the defining wall 37 and engage between the strips 31, supports 32 and pegs 33 in the receptacle 27. For reasons of stability the retaining bars 35 are connected with one another by a retaining strip 38. According to how far the facing handle 34 with the retaining bars 35 is drawn out, more or less large receptacles for different tableware dimensions are formed. Moreover a compart- - = ment 25 and compartments 26 for cutlery and small articles are again arranged on the one side of the receptacle 27. These compartments 25 and 26 can be provided with washing water drainage openings not shown in the drawings.For optical reasons a covering 39 is additionally articulated to the receptacle 27 by means of hinges 40.

Figure 4 shows a table-ware draining rack in which the receptacle 41 and 42 are connected with one another through a central receiving part 43. The central receiving part 43 is articulated by means of film-type hinges 44to the receptacles 41 and 42 of different sizes.

It should also be mentioned at this point that naturally the hinges 3,6 and 40 can be formed as film-type hinges, if appropriate material is selected.

Likewise in the table-ware draining rack according to Figure 4 all usual hinges known perse can be seen.

The receptacles, both the large receptacle 41 and the small one 42, are again formed approximately in V-form or U-form in cross-section.

Slots 45 and 46 are provided to receive plates and dishes. Again supports 10 to receive cups and glasses are provided on the bars 47 therebetween, on the small outer grating zone 48. The supports 10 in the storage position extend into the V-shaped zone 49 of the receptacle 41, as shown in Figure 5.

Likewise supports 10 can be arranged in the inner grating zone 50 of the receptacle 41.

Figure 6 shows a further development of the table-ware draining rack according to Figures 4 and 5. The small receptacle 42 is arranged in a trough 51.

In the storage position as illustrated the large receptacle 41 lies above it, connected by means of the central receiving part 43 and the two film-type hinges 44. Due to the different sizes of the two reeeptacles 41 and 42 an empty space is produced in the region 52, and is used for compartments 25 and 26 having downward openings 53. On the inner side 54 of a covering 55 which is drawn down over the central receiving part there are arranged supports 32, pegs 33 and strips 31. The supports 10 in the examples of embodiment according to Figures 4, 5 and 6 expediently have the width of the bars 47 and service both to accommodate cups and other hollow vessels and as additional support for dishes.

Naturally the details as described in the examples of embodiment according to Figures 1 to 6 can be combined in the different appliances.

Claims

1. A table-ware draining rack having at least two receptacles or gratings for table-ware which can be brought by means of a movable connection from the storage position into a position for use and are additionally provided with fittings for the reception of glasses, cups, cutlery and other small articles, characterised in that in the position for use the receptacles (1, 2, 14, 15, 41, 42) or gratings with their retaining fittings (9,45,46) for the table-ware form two zones of approximately V-shaped cross-section, and in that the fittings (10, 11,25,26,32) are formed so that they are themselves provided with a downwardly directed opening and/or the cups, glasses, etc. are insertable only with their openings downwards.

2. Atable-ware draining rack having at least two receptacles or gratings for dishes which can be brought by means of a movable connection from a storage position into a position for use and which are additionally provided with fittings for the reception of glasses, cups, cutlery and other small articles, characterised in that two receptacles (27, 28) or gratings are connected with one another in the manner of drawers and in that the fittings (32, 33) are formed so that they themselves are provided with a downwardly directed opening (53) and/or the cups, glasses, etc. can be suspended therein only with their openings downwards.

3. Atable-ware draining rackaccording Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the fittings consist of upright supports (10) and/or slots (11) open on one side in the marginal zone of the receptacles or gratings.

4. A table-ware draining rack according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the receptacles (1,2,14,15) are connected with one another through a hinge (3).

5. Atable-ware draining rack according to Claim 4, characterised in that the receptacles (41,42) are connected with one another by means of two hinges (44) through a central receiving part (43).

6. A table-ware draining rack according to claim 5, characterised in that the central receiving part (43) is provided with fittings for the reception of cutlery and small articles.

7. A table-ware draining rack according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the receptacles (1,2) are made in two parts, connected with one another each by means of a further hinge (6).

8. A table-ware draining rack according to any one of Claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the hinges are equipped with a stop (8) to limit opening.

9. A table-ware draining rack according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the hinges are formed as film-type hinges (44).

10. A table-ware draining rack according to Claim 1,3 to 9, characterised in that the receptacles (14, 15,41,42) are pivotably arranged in a trough (19, 51).

11. A table-ware draining rack according to Claim 10, characterised in that the trough (51) is additionally connected with a cover (55).

12. A table-ware draining rack according to Claim 11, characterised in that supports (31,32,33) are provided in the cover (55) and/or compartments (25, 26) are provided in the trough, for cutlery and small articles.

13. A table-ware draining rack according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the receptacles are provided with feet (7).

14. A table-ware draining rack according to Claim 4, characterised in that at least one part of a receptacle is provided with a vertically extending cutlery tray (13).

15. A table-ware draining rack according to Claim 14, characterised in that the cutlery tray (13) can be suspended therein.

16. A table-ware draining rack according to any one of Claims 14 or 15, characterised in that the supports (10) are formed on vertically extending bars (9) of the receptacles (1,2).

17. A table-ware draining rack according to Claim 2, characterised in that a first receptacle (27) is formed in box manner with strips and supports (31, 32,33) while a second receptacle (28) consists of a facing strip (34) acting as handle with retaining bars (35) formed thereon, and in that the retaining bars (35) which extend between the strips and supports of the first receptacle (27) are guided in slots (36) of the defining wall (37).

18. A table-ware draining rack, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 or any one of Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.