Abstract:
An under cabinet brewing cartridge holder includes a cartridge rack which both pivots at the rear and slide forward to clear a downward reaching lip along a front edge of the cabinet. The cartridge rack includes opposing lateral pins near the rack rear, which pins slide in horizontal slots in holder side walls. A sloped rear surface limits the downward pivot of the rack, and magnets retain the rack in the stored position. In another embodiment, a second under cabinet brewing cartridge holder includes unequal length arms attach a second rack to a slider engaging the horizontal slots. The second rack pivots down and away from the holder and slides forward and rearward.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/261,681 filed Dec. 1, 2015, which application is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to brewing cartridge racks and in particular to a brewing cartridge rack for attaching under a cabinet having a downward reaching lip. 
         [0003]    A large variety of brewing cartridges are available offering a wide selection of brewed drinks. Users often desire to locate a brewing cartridge holder close to a coffee maker for easy access to the cartridges. Because counter tops can easily become cluttered with various kitchen items, and the brewing cartridges themselves are not large, a brewing cartridge rack can be positioned under the base of a cabinet. 
         [0004]    Known under cabinet brewing cartridge holders include a cartridge holder which slides forward. Unfortunately, many cabinets include a downward reaching lip which prevents the cartridge holder from sliding forward to access the cartridges as shown in  FIG. 1 . One solution has been to pivot the holder at the rear as shown in  FIG. 2 , however, the cabinet lip still limits access to the cartridges. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing an under cabinet brewing cartridge holder including a cartridge rack which both pivots at the rear and slide forward to clear a downward reaching lip along a front edge of the cabinet. The cartridge rack includes opposing lateral pins near the rack rear, which pins slide in horizontal slots in holder side walls. A sloped rear surface limits the downward pivot of the rack, and magnets retain the rack in the stored position. In another embodiment, a second under cabinet brewing cartridge holder includes unequal length arms attach a second rack to a slider engaging the horizontal slots. The second rack pivots down and away from the holder and slides forward and rearward. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a prior art sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a prior art pivoting, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder according to the present invention taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder with a cartridge rack pivoted down and extended according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of the pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder with the cartridge rack pivoted down and extended according to the present invention taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional side view of the pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder with the cartridge rack stored, according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional side view of the pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder with the cartridge rack pivoted down, according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional side view of the pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder with the cartridge rack pivoted down and moved forward, according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  shows a side view of a rear portion of a cartridge rack according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10A  shows a side view of a rear portion of a two piece cartridge rack, according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10B  shows a side view of a rear portion of a three piece cartridge rack having a replaceable stop, according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10C  shows a side view of a rear portion of a three piece cartridge rack having an adjustable stop, according to the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10D  shows a top view of a rear portion of a three piece cartridge rack having attachable left and right stops, according to the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10E  shows a cross-sectional view of a rear portion of a three piece cartridge rack having attachable left and right stops taken along line  4 E= 4 E of  FIG. 4D , according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11A  shows a side view of a carriage drawer having rollers according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11B  shows a top view of the carriage drawer having rollers according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  shows a cross-sectional view of the carriage drawer having rollers and in a base, according to the present invention taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11B . 
           [0025]      FIG. 13A  shows a side view of the carriage drawer having rollers stored in a base according to the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 13B  shows a side view of the carriage drawer having rollers stored in the base with the cartridge drawer pivoted down and moved forward, according to the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  shows a cross-sectional side view of a second pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder with the cartridge rack stored, according to the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  shows a cross-sectional side view of the second pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder with the cartridge rack pivoted down, according to the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  shows a cross-sectional side view of the second pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder with the cartridge rack pivoted down and moved forward, according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0030]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0032]    Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature&#39;s appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement. 
         [0033]    A prior art sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder  10  having a forward sliding rack  13   a  carried by a base  12  is shown in  FIG. 1  and a prior art pivoting, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder  10  having a pivoting rack  13   b  is shown in  FIG. 2 . Many cabinets  11  have a downward reaching lip  15 , and both prior art holders fail to provide access to all of the cartridges  17  held in the racks  13   a  and  13   b.    
         [0034]    A perspective view of a pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder  10  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3  and a cross-sectional view of the pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder  10  taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The brewing cartridge holder  10  includes a base  12  fixed to the bottom of the cabinet  11  and a cartridge holder comprising a pivoting and sliding cartridge rack  14 . 
         [0035]    A perspective view of the brewing cartridge holder  10  with the cartridge rack  14  pivoted down and extended is shown in  FIG. 5  and a cross-sectional view of the brewing cartridge holder  10  with the cartridge rack  14  pivoted down and extended, taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 , is shown in  FIG. 6 . Both pivoting and sliding the cartridge rack  14  provides good access to brewing cartridges  17  stored in the brewing cartridge holder  10 . The cartridge rack  14  includes holes  19  sized to retain brewing cartridges sold under the name K-CUP. 
         [0036]    A cross-sectional side view of the brewing cartridge holder  10  with the cartridge rack  14  stored, is shown in  FIG. 7 , a cross-sectional side view of the brewing cartridge holder  10  with the cartridge rack  14  pivoted down, is shown in  FIG. 8 , and a cross-sectional side view of the brewing cartridge holder  10  with the cartridge rack  14  pivoted down and moved forward, is shown in  FIG. 9 . The cartridge rack  14  includes laterally opposed pins  16  engaging slots  18  in vertical side walls of the base  12 . A first magnet  20   a  is attached inside a forward end of the base  12 , and a second magnet  22   b  is attached to the bottom of the forward end of the cartridge rack  14 . When the cartridge rack  14  is slid fully to the rear and lifted, the magnets  22   a  and  22   b  retain the cartridge rack  14  in a closed position. 
         [0037]    A forward end of the  18 ′ of the slot  18  includes a raised mouth  20   a,  ceiling ramp  20   b,  and a forward stop  20   c.  The cartridge rack  14  is insertable into the base  12  by sliding the pins  16  into the mouths  20   a,  to the rear, and slightly down. When the cartridge rack  14  is drawn forward, the forward motion is stopped when the pins  16  contact the forward stops  20   c.  The rear of the cartridge rack  14  may be raised to allow the pins  16  to clear the forward stops  20   c  to remove the cartridge rack  14  from the base  12 . 
         [0038]    A side view of a rear portion of the cartridge rack  14  is shown in  FIG. 10 . When the magnets  22   a  and  22   b  are separated and the front of the cartridge rack  14  is lowered, a stop angle S is provided by a sloped portion  24  at the extreme rear of the cartridge rack  14  rises against a ceiling  26  of the base  12 , preventing further tilting of the cartridge rack  14  beyond the angle S. 
         [0039]    A side view of a rear portion of a two piece cartridge rack  14   a  is shown in  FIG. 10A . The cartridge rack  14   a  includes a metal tray front portion  14   f  attached to a plastic rear portion  14   r.    
         [0040]    A side view of a rear portion of a three piece cartridge rack having a replaceable stop  24  is shown in  FIG. 10B . The replaceable stop  24  is shown attached by a dovetail  40 , but may be attached by any appropriate engagement. The replaceable stop  24  is preferably easy to remove and replace, allowing easy adjustment of the stop angle S. 
         [0041]      FIG. 10C  shows a side view of a rear portion of a three piece cartridge rack having an adjustable stop  46 . A screw  44  allows an adjustable stop angle S. 
         [0042]      FIG. 10D  shows a top view of a rear portion of a three piece cartridge rack and a cross-sectional view of a rear portion of a three piece cartridge rack taken along line  4 E- 4 E of  FIG. 4D  is shown in  FIG. 10E . The three piece cartridge rack includes attachable and replaceable left and right stops  48 . The pins  16  may be part of the left and right stops  48  or part of the front portion  14   f.    
         [0043]    A side view of a cartridge holder comprising a carriage drawer  14 ′ having rollers  60  is shown in  FIG. 11A , a top view of the carriage drawer  14 ′ having rollers  60  is shown in  FIG. 11B , and a cross-sectional view of the carriage drawer  14 ′ having rollers  60 , in a base  12 ′, taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11B , is shown in  FIG. 12 . The carriage drawer  14 ′ includes the pins  16  for sliding in the slots  18 , but the rollers  60  replace the stop  24  providing a smooth manipulation of the carriage drawer  14 ′. The carriage drawer  14 ′ preferably includes channels  50  separated by walls  52  for orderly storing brewing cartridges, and the channels are more preferably sized to accept brewing cartridges sold under the name K-CUP. The base  12 ′ includes tracks  54  on a ceiling  56  to guide the rollers  60 . The tracks may be formed by a recess in the ceiling  56 , or by pairs of ridges extending form the ceiling  56 , or may be a single ridge or recess matched to a roller recess or roller ridge on the roller  60 . 
         [0044]    A side view of the carriage drawer  14 ′ stored in the base  12 ′ is shown in  FIG. 13A  and a side view of the carriage drawer  14 ′ stored in the base  12 ′ with the cartridge drawer  14 ′ pivoted down and moved forward, is shown in  FIG. 13B . The cartridge drawer  14 ′ is preferably held in the stored position by magnets  22   a  and  22   b,  but those skilled in the art will recognize that the cartridge drawer  14 ′ may be held by velcro, mechanical snaps, a tongue and groove, or other mechanical apparatus, and a brewing cartridge holder  10 ′ held in the stored position in any manner is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. The geometry of the roller  60  and pin  16  may be selected to vary the tilt of the cartridge drawer  14 ′ and any such selection is intended to come within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0045]    A cross-sectional side view of a second pivoting and sliding, under cabinet, brewing cartridge holder  10   a  with a cartridge rack  14   a  stored, is shown in  FIG. 14 , a cross-sectional side view of the brewing cartridge holder  10   a  with the cartridge rack  14   a  pivoted down, is shown in  FIG. 15 , and a cross-sectional side view of the brewing cartridge holder  10   a  with the cartridge rack pivoted down and moved forward, is shown in  FIG. 16 . The cartridge rack  14   a  is attached to a slider  10  by unequal length arms  32   a  and  32   b.  The slider  30  slides forwards and rearwards in slots  18   a.  The forward end  18   a ′of the slot  18   a  includes a longer ceiling ramp  20   b ′ allowing insertion of the slider  30  into the base  12   a.  Forward motion of the slider  30  is halted by forward stops  20   c′.    
         [0046]    When the cartridge rack  14   a  is stored, the magnets  22   a  and  22   b  retain the cartridge rack  14   a  in the stored position. When the front of the cartridge rack  14   a  is pulled down, the unequal length arms  32   a  and  32   b  cause the cartridge rack  14   a  to tilt down at the forward end. The slider  30  may then slide forward in the slots  18   a.    
         [0047]    Left and right vertical walls are mirror images of each other, and the cartridge rack  14   a  is laterally symmetric. The arms  32   a  and  32   b  are offset to avoid interference and are on both sides of the cartridge rack  14   a.  The holders  10 ,  10 ′, and  10   a  are preferably sized to hold brewing cartridges sold under the name K-CUP described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,765. The &#39;765 patent is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0048]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.