Abstract:
A collapsible dish drainer is formed using a resilient material allowing the dish drainer to collapse to a smaller size for storage. The dish drainer may be formed with one Or more feet to raise the dish drainer above a countertop or other surface. A bottom or base of the dish drainer is configured to direct water toward a drain, with a pivotally mounted spout. An upper shelf is attached for lateral movement between an extended and retracted position.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 61/982,639, filed Apr. 22, 2014, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application relates to dish drainers and dish racks for holding wet dishes while drying. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A dish drainer or dish drying rack is commonly used to hold dishes after they have been washed and rinsed so that they may be allowed to dry. In a household setting, a dish rack is frequently placed next to a sink and may include a lower mat or plate for collecting and directing dripping water back into the sink. 
         [0004]    Conventional dish drainers suffer from several problems. One primary concern is that they are very large and bulky, making them very difficult to store when not in use. If left on a countertop, they take up a great deal of space. in addition, current dish drainers are configured to direct dripping water in a single direction. Commonly, dish drainers have a. generally rectangular footprint and divert dripping water in a direction parallel to one of the sides. This configuration for the dish drainer limits the possible placement of the dish drainer on a countertop with respect to the location of the sink. Many users may elect not to use a dish drainer at all in view of these defects. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with one preferred version of the present invention, a dish drainer is formed using a resilient material allowing the dish drainer to collapse to a smaller size for storage. The dish drainer may be formed with one or more feet to raise the dish drainer above a countertop or other surface. A bottom or base of the dish drainer is configured to direct water toward a drain. A rigid or semi-rigid upper rim is provided, with the resilient material extending between the base and the rim. 
         [0006]    One version of the invention further includes a configurable upper shelf that can slide inward or outward as desired to hold stemware or other objects. 
         [0007]    Some versions of the invention may also include a drain hole formed in the base of the dish drainer, with a pivotable spout allowing drainage water to be directed in a variety of directions. 
         [0008]    In some examples, the base includes several raised flanges that are spaced apart to receive the rim of a plate to facilitate spaced-apart, vertical orientation of plates positioned on the base. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a preferred collapsible dish drainer. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of a preferred collapsible dish drainer. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a preferred collapsible dish drainer. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective exploded view of a preferred collapsible dish drainer. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective exploded view of a preferred collapsible dish drainer. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a preferred collapsible dish drainer, illustrated with an upper shelf in a retracted position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a preferred collapsible dish drainer, illustrated with an upper shelf in an expanded position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of a preferred collapsible dish drainer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    A preferred dish drainer  10  is illustrated in the accompanying figures. In one preferred version, the dish drainer includes a lower base having an upper side  50  and a lower side  51 , an upper rim  12 , and side-walls  14  extending upwardly from the lower base to the upper rim. In the illustrated version, the base and the rim are formed from materials that are relatively more rigid than the material used for the sidewalk. Most preferably, the sidewalls are formed from a silicone material while the rim is formed from a plastic material. In other versions, the entire dish strainer may be formed from a resilient material. 
         [0019]    The sidewalls of the dish drainer preferably include an upper living hinge  40  and a lower living hinge  42 , as best seen in  FIG. 3 . The upper and lower living hinges are positioned relatively adjacent the rim and the base, respectively, to allow the dish drainer to be folded into three sections for relatively compact storage. In other versions of the dish strainer may include additional living hinges if desired. 
         [0020]    In one version of the invention, the dish drainer includes a shelf  70 , which in the illustrated version is configured to slide laterally outward from the rim and inward to a position substantially within an area bounded by the rim. In the top plan view of  FIG. 6 , the shelf  70  is shown in a retracted position in which it is moved laterally inward in the direction of arrow B, overlying the base of the dish drainer. In the top view of  FIG. 7 , the shelf  70  is shown in an extended position, moved laterally outward in the direction of arrow C so that it extends laterally beyond and outside the boundary formed by the rim  12  of the dish drainer. 
         [0021]    In one example, the rim includes four holes  91 - 94 , best seen in  FIG. 4 , which are configured to receive four retaining lugs  75 - 78 . In other versions, the retaining lugs may be integrally formed with the rim or may be otherwise secured to the upper rim. The shelf  70  is formed with four slots  71 - 74 , with each of the four slots being positioned to slidably receive a separate one of the four lugs. In the illustrated version, two of the four slots (particularly, the two centrally located slots) are formed to be open-ended such that the slots extend all the way to and through the outer perimeter of the shelf The other two slots are formed such that they are bounded around the entire perimeter by the shelf. 
         [0022]    The retaining lugs are each formed with an upper terminal end which is wider than a lower neck of the lug, with the corresponding slots formed in the shelf being sized such that the slots are smaller in width than the upper terminal end of the corresponding lug. Accordingly, the shelf may slide laterally back and forth along a path defined by the slots, while the shelf is retained against the upper rim  12  by the wider terminal end of the lugs. Each of the four slots is also formed to be parallel to one another, thereby defining a substantially linear path of travel of the shelf with respect to the dish drainer. 
         [0023]    The shelf  70  preferably further includes a peripheral downwardly depending flange, such as best seen in the bottom perspective view of  FIG. 5 , to help prevent the shelf from traveling outwardly beyond the rim  12  of the dish drainer or inwardly beyond the edge of the rim. In the illustrated version, the flange includes an inner flange portion  80  formed along an interior edge of the shelf and an outer flange  82  formed along an exterior edge of the shelf. In some versions, the downwardly depending flange may also extend along the sides and corners of the shelf, as shown. The flanges  80 ,  82  combine to define limits to the path of lateral travel of the shelf  70  in both directions. Thus, the inner flange  80  abuts the rim  12  at the extended location while the outer flange  82  abuts the rim  12  at the retracted location of the shelf. 
         [0024]    The shelf is preferably formed with a plurality of openings  72   a - 72   f,  as best seen in  FIG. 4 , with the openings formed in the shelf being positioned to allow cutlery or other elongated items to be positioned within the openings for drying. In one version, six separate openings are provided, with two openings being positioned between the two central slots  72 ,  73 , and two additional openings positioned on each of the two outer sides of the two central slots. Thus, the six openings are formed as three pairs of openings with a structural cross member separating each of the pairs. 
         [0025]    The upper side of the base  51  is preferably formed with a plurality of features to allow dishes be positioned on end for drying. In the illustrated version, the base includes a plurality of upwardly extending ribs  52   a,    52   b  (see  FIG. 1 ) evenly spaced apart from one another and configured to allow an edge of the plates to be received within the space between adjacent ribs. Most preferably, the ribs are formed as two rows of ribs positioned adjacent to and parallel to one another. 
         [0026]    A flatware retaining box  60  is also preferably formed on the upper side of the base  51 . In the illustrated version, the flatware retaining box is configured as an upwardly extending flange formed as an “F” shape in the floor of the dish drainer. The flatware retaining box is positioned in one corner of the base of the dish drainer, beneath four of the openings in the shelf, and is positioned such that the flanges close to but spaced apart from the upwardly extending outer edges of the dish drainer. This separation allows water to flow out of the flatware box rather than being trapped within it. 
         [0027]    The base of the dish drainer further includes a drain hole  36  (see  FIG. 5 ), which in the illustrated version is positioned in a corner of the base adjacent the flatware box. Preferably, the drain hole includes a drain grate  34  having a plurality of openings and being configured to block large solid items from passing through the drain hole. 
         [0028]    In the illustrated version, the drain grate  34  is formed as a short upright cylinder (best seen in  FIG. 5 ) and the drain hole  36  is configured as a circular opening in the base of the dish drainer, The drain hole further includes a short downwardly extending annular flange about the perimeter of the drain hole, sized and shaped to receive the cylindrical drain grate. The drain grate further includes a laterally extending annular shelf  37  formed about a lower perimeter of the drain grate. in other versions, the drain hole and drain grate may be formed as a single unitary component. Likewise, in other versions the drain grate may be inserted into an upper side of the base rather than being inserted upwardly from the lower side of the base as illustrated. 
         [0029]    A drain spout  32  is pivotally attached to the drain hole, and in accordance with the illustrated preferred embodiment the drain spout attaches to the lateral shelf  37  of the drain grate  34 . The drain spout is formed with an elongated concave shape, allowing water to be directed within the shallow channel formed by the concave shape. In the preferred version as illustrated, the drain spout is open-topped. At one end of the drain spout (that is, the end attached to the drain grate), a short vertical sidewall  39  is formed. Preferably, the sidewall extends around a region at least somewhat greater than a semi-circle when viewed from the top, forming an approximate “C” shape. The vertical sidewall is sized and configured to receive the laterally extending annular shelf formed in the drain grate. An upper inward-directed abutment, preferably formed as a plurality of stems  35 , trap the drain grate within the vertical sidewall for pivotal movement of the spout with respect to the drain grate. 
         [0030]    In one version, the spout is removable from the dish drainer to allow it to be cleaned and thoroughly dried between uses. In such an example, as described above, the spout can be snap-fit onto the grate. Likewise, in one version the drain grate is removably attached to the base of the dish drainer. 
         [0031]    The base of the dish drainer is formed with one or more feet configured to allow the dish drainer to rest on a horizontal surface. In addition, the feet are preferably configured to create vertical space between the bottom edge of the feet and the lower surface of the base  50 , thereby allowing room for the spout to be positioned. In the same vertical space above a counter top and below the base of the dish drainer. In the illustrated version, several feet  21 - 24  are provided. 
         [0032]    In the version as illustrated, in which the spout is positioned at one corner of the substantially rectangular or oblong dish drainer base, one foot  21  is positioned along one side of the dish drainer and another foot  22  is positioned along a perpendicular side of the dish strainer. An opening  30  is thereby created at a bottom corner of the dish drainer, allowing pivotal movement of the spout as indicated by arrow A in  FIG. 2  within the opening defined between feet  21  and  23 . 
         [0033]    Most preferably, the opening  30  is sized and spaced to allow pivotal movement of the spout along an arc of greater than 90° (see  FIG. 8 ) to allow rotation of the spout and a wide range of optional positions of the dish drainer with respect to an adjacent sink. Thus, the opening  30  is defined by the space between edges of feet  21  and  23  closest to the spout  32 . A tangent line to a first foot  21  is defined by line D in  FIG. 8 , while a tangent line to a second foot  23  is defined by line E, The lines intersect to define an angle of about 90 degrees. The drain hole is positioned to allow the spout to be attached in the vicinity of the intersection of lines D and F, and most preferably at a location that enables pivotal movement of the spout within the 90 degrees defined by lines D and E. Accordingly, pivotal movement of the spout allows it to move between a first position adjacent the first foot  21  and a second position adjacent the second foot  23 , in which the first position is approximately 90 degrees rotated from the second position. As illustrated, the spout  32  occupies a third position, mid-way between the first and second positions. 
         [0034]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.