Abstract:
A hanging utensil storage rack is presented. The utensil rack comprises a base unit coupled to utensil holders which can be hooks or magnets. The rack is suspended and rotates about a swivel. Utensils hang from the hooks or are attached to magnets and are easily accessible due to the rotation capability. The rack is self-balancing such that when utensils are removed, it does not tilt appreciably and is still able to rotate. In one design of the hanging utensil rack, the base unit and the utensil hooks are made from a single piece of sheet metal. The base and utensil holders are suspended from ropes, chains, wires or rods.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIMS TO PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/851,668, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, tilted “SPINNING, HANGING UTENSIL RACK”; herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to the field of a hanging utensil racks and more specifically to a hanging kitchen utensil rack and a method of manufacturer of a hanging utensil rack. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There are several methods to store and organize household utensils in the art. Examples of some types of household utensils (in this case kitchen utensils) are shown in  FIG. 1 . Modern kitchens include specialized hand implements such as spoons, tongs, mashers and the like for a variety of uses. It is necessary to store these implements when not in use and have easy access to them when needed for a task at hand. A typical kitchen has limited wall, self, and counter space which makes implement storage more difficult. 
         [0004]    Many methods exist to organize kitchen implements (or other types of household implements). These range from containers  FIG. 2   c , to wall mounted racks  FIG. 2   b , to pedestal mounted racks designed to sit on a counter  FIG. 2   d . Hanging racks  FIG. 2   a  also exist but have limitations along with the other types of racks. 
         [0005]    Kitchen implement containers  FIG. 2   c  in the art typically have the issue that they work fairly well for implements that are of similar size and but when mixed size implements are stored, smaller implements are obscured by larger ones and implements tend to become a tangled mess. This type of rack also take up valuable counter space. 
         [0006]    Wall mounted racks  FIG. 2   b  are generally fixedly attached to a wall making it difficult to reach some implements. Wall racks protrude into working space. Generally, to keep them out of the way, they are mounted at an inconvenient height for retrieving implements. 
         [0007]    Pedestal racks design for countertops  FIG. 2   d  reduce working counter space, typically can only be used for one size of implement and when implements are removed they easily become out of balance and may fall over. 
         [0008]    Existing hanging implement racks such as shown in  FIG. 2   a , are typically designed for pots and pans and therefore are more bulky than necessary for hand implements. Existing hanging implements do not rotate making it more difficult to get an implement that is on the back side of the rack. If you are mixing and matching heavy items with lighter ones (pots and pans and hand implements, for example), these hanging racks can become off-kilter enough when a heavy implement is removed and can other implements to fall off. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A primary object of the invention is that it provides storage for irregular shape and sized kitchen (or household) implements that is out of the way but provides convenient access. 
         [0010]    Another object of the invention is to reduce clutter and usage of drawer space. 
         [0011]    Another object of the invention is to save counter or wall space. 
         [0012]    Yet another object of the invention is self-balancing of stored implements. 
         [0013]    Still yet another object of the invention is design and manufacturer of a hanging storage rack that is optimized for inexpensive construction, strength and utility. 
         [0014]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, embodiments of the present invention is disclosed. 
         [0015]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a rotating hanging storage rack for utensils comprising: a base unit coupled to at least one utensil holder suspended from a swivel using one or more suspension elements. 
         [0016]    Further disclosed are additional elements including a mounting element, a pedestal and a base and a hanging accessory used to store implements without a hole in the handle. 
         [0017]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a method of manufacturer of a hanging utensil rack comprising: cutting a single flat piece of sheet metal into an elongated strip with polygonal tabs extending from a first elongate side of the elongated strip; bending the polygonal tabs into a hook shape; rolling the elongated sheet metal into a circular loop with the hook portion of the polygonal tabs facing away from the center of the loop, and seam welding the short ends of the elongated strap together. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows examples of kitchen utensils that might be stored on a hanging utility rack. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2   a - 2   d  are examples in the art of kitchen utensil storage methods. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3   a - 3   c  are section views of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3   d  is a prospective view of a preferred embodiment of the base unit of a hanging utensil rack. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows detail of a swivel. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a utility rack suspended from chains and with bent rod utensil mounts. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the present invention with the addition of a pedestal mount. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  depicts an embodiment of the present invention in use. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  depicts an attachment to the hanging utensil rack for storing utensils without a hole in the handle 
           [0028]      FIGS. 9   a - 9   c  show stages of manufacturer of an embodiment of utility rack. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 3   a - d  depict a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in 3 plan views and a prospective view.  FIG. 3   a  depicts a base unit  302  coupled to at least one utensil holder  304  or  310 . The base unit  302  and utensil holders  304  or  310  are suspended from a swivel  306  which is coupled to the base unit  302  using at least one suspension element  308 . In a preferred embodiment the base unit  302  is circular, however in other embodiments, the base unit could be square, oval, triangular or other geometric shape. 
         [0031]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d , the base unit  302  and utensil holders  306  or  310  are fashioned from a single piece of material. In various embodiments the material used for the base unit  302  and utensil holders  304  or  310  is metal. Other examples of suitable materials are composite, plastic, and wood. The material used will be a function of the desire implements to be stored. For example if the desired implements are simply spoons, spatulas and other small hand kitchen utensils, then the materials with less strength such as wood or plastic are appropriate. If, on the other hand, the implements also include heavy pots and pans, then metal may be more desirable. In addition, the thickness of the metal used will be a function of the desired use. For example, for simple kitchen hand utensils, an appropriate material would be 304 stainless steel, with a gauge of 14 to 16. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 3   a - d , utensil holders  304  or  310  in an embodiment are shaped, if metal, or molded if plastic or composite, into a hook shape. Also note that the utensil holders shaped as a hook can be circular  310  or have squared corners  306 . The shape is a function of both aesthetics, manufacturing costs and the required strength, with the circular shape being stronger than the squared corners. The embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 3   a - d  shows utensil holders that taper from the base unit  302  to the end of the hook. This tapered shape adds strength to the connection point of the utensil holders  304  or  310  but allows utensils with small mounting holes to be mounted. In an embodiment designed for kitchen utensils, the width of utensil holder at the union with the base unit  302  can be about 1.3 cm (0.5 inches) and neck down on the hook end to about 0.3 cm (0.13 inches). The diameter of the a rounded utensil holder  310  or the width of squared utensil holder  304  can, for example, be about 3.5 cm (1.4 inches) if designed for small kitchen utensils. These dimensions are simply examples and depending on the utensil desired to be stored, the dimension of the utensil holders could be larger or smaller. 
         [0033]    At least one suspension element  308  is coupled on one end to the swivel  306  and on the other end to base unit  302 . Various materials can be used for the suspension elements, for example: rope, braided or stranded wire, cable, chain, monofilament and the like. Couplings of the suspension elements  308  to both the swivel  306  and the base unit  302  could be, for example, knots, a chain link, welds or if using a wire or cable, a loop through mounting holes (not shown in  FIGS. 3   a - d ) and fastened upon itself using a swage or crimped connector (not shown). In other embodiments, the suspension elements  308  can be of adjustable length. Length adjustment could, for example, be performed by a looping mechanism (if a cable or chain) or a screw mechanism if a rod. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows details of a swivel. In embodiments of this invention, the swivel is designed such that it can be hung from a single attachment point directly above the hanging utensil rack, such as a ceiling. It can be hung, for example from a hook (not shown) secured to the ceiling. The coupling to hang the swivel  306  can be, for example, a hook, a chain, a ring, a cantilever (if mounted from a wall) and the like. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 , the swivel comprises an upper mounting ring  402 , a central body  404  comprising bearing or bushings that allow the upper mounting ring  402  to rotate relative to a lower mounting ring  406 .  FIG. 4  also shows a suspension cable and swage  408  looped around the lower mounting ring  406 . 
         [0035]    It should be noted that the term swivel is referred to in a generic sense in that it provides a method for the base and the suspension elements of the hanging utensil rack to rotate freely at least in a plane parallel to a horizontal mounting surface, but preferably also to move freely in 3 dimensions. When the utensil rack is mounted from a single suspension point, this allows the center of gravity of the utensil rack and utensils to center itself directly underneath the mounting point, thereby not creating any torque on the mounting point making it more secure and stronger. It also creates less friction on the swivel and allows rotation more freely. 
         [0036]    In other embodiments if the swivel is constrained to rotate in two dimensions, then the mounting method for the swivel needs to be able to handle the torque generated when the rack is only partially loaded with utensils. In addition, for the rack to remain in a more or less horizontal alignment, then the suspension elements may need to be rigid, for example, rods. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  is an embodiment of the present invention depicting a circular base unit  502  coupled to a swivel  508  using suspension elements  506  made of chain. Also depicted in  FIG. 5  are utensil holders  504  made of metal rod shaped in a hook configuration. In this embodiment the utensil holders  504  are welded to the interior surface of the loop making up the base unit  502 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  is another embodiment that comprises a combination base unit and utensil holders  602 , a swivel  608  coupled to the base unit/utensil holders  602  using suspension elements  604 . The swivel  608  is supported from below by a central support  610  on one end. The second end of the central support  610  is coupled to a pedestal  612 . The pedestal  612  is either of substantially the same diameter of the base unit and suspension elements  602  or is of smaller diameter and is weighted sufficiently to keep the rack from tipping over when loaded with implements. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  is of an embodiment of the hanging utility rack when in use storing a variety of implements. 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  shows an attachment  802  for the hanging utility rack that allows implements without mounting holes to be stored on the hanging utility rack  804 . The attachment comprises an open ended container  802  with an opening of sufficient size to allow several handled implements to be placed in. The depth of the container  802  can be from about 60% of the length of implement handles to be stored to about 90%; sufficient so the implements will not fall out, but yet so the handle ends will hit the base of the container  802 . The container  802  is further configured with a hole near the opening of the container of sufficient diameter so that the container  802  can be hung from an implement hook  806 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 9   a - c  show steps in the manufacturing of a metal base unit of an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 9   a  depicts a piece of sheet metal that has been cut as an elongate rectangle  902  with tabs  904  extending at intervals along an elongated edge of the elongated rectangle  902 . These tabs  904  will be formed into utensil holders  906 . Cutting can be performed preferably with a laser cutting device, but could also be performed using a water jet, plasma cutter or other suitable high precision cutter. Dimensions and spacing of the tabs  904  and dimensions of the elongate rectangle  902  and the gauge of metal used will vary depending on the intended implements to be stored. For hand implements used in a kitchen and perhaps one or a few small pans, 14 to 16 gauge sheet metal can be used. Various alloys of stainless steel or other rolled steel are acceptable materials, but in some cases brass, bronze or other metal could be used. Optionally mounting holes (not shown) may be drilled in the elongate rectangle portion  902  near the opposite elongate edge from the tabs  904 . 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 9   b  the next step in construction is depicted. The elongate tabs  904  are rounded or bent in the form of a hook  906 . Bending occurs using machinery known in the art for bending sheet metal. 
         [0043]    Finally in  FIG. 9   c , the base unit  908  of the hanging utensil rack is formed by bending the structure of  FIG. 9   b  into a oval (preferably circular) with the hooks facing outwards from the oval. Once again this bend can be accomplished by methods known in the art. Finally the two short ends of the elongate rectangle  902  are fixedly attached preferably with a flush weld, but this attachment could also be performed using rivets or spot welds. 
         [0044]    It should be noted that utensil holders other than hooks are also considered. For example utensil holder could be magnets that are fixed to the base unit. There could also be a mix of hooks and hook sizes for differing implements sizes and magnets. 
         [0045]    While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.