Abstract:
A cutlery tray having a peripheral wall adjoined to a bottom surface, fixed compartments defined by at least a portion of the peripheral wall, an additional wall section and the bottom surface, divider position slots within the fixed compartment, and a removable divider configured to engage and be retained within the fixed compartment at a divider position slot, is disclosed. The removable divider separates utensils within the fixed compartment. A series of divider position slots within at the fixed compartment allow the removable divider to be retained at a plurality of positions. Further, an expandable compartment defined by a second peripheral wall and a second bottom surface which extends from beneath the first peripheral wall and first bottom surface may also be provided. The expandable compartment may include a permanent knife block and, optionally, a removable knife block which attaches to the permanent knife block.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present device relates to cutlery trays for storing kitchen utensils, such as, e.g., flatware. Particularly, the present device relates to a cutlery tray which maximizes space utilization for storing multiple kitchen utensils. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The standard kitchen cutlery typically consists of a variety of different sized and shaped eating and cooking utensils. A cutlery tray comprised of several individual compartments, some fixed and some expandable, is often used to give some semblance of order to the array of flatware, often stored in stacks. However, over time the need or desire to occasionally change flatware styles may arise without any thought to also changing the cutlery tray. Utensils of the same type, for example, spoons, can vary widely as to size and style between different manufacturers, which can create storage issues for even the most organized homeowner. It may not be until one begins to store new flatware that the once ideal cutlery tray is found to be too short, too shallow, too narrow, or otherwise inadequate. 
         [0003]    In fact, it may not be a complete change of flatware that uncovers this inadequacy. It may be the result of a cutlery expansion to include more pieces. Where a set of four settings was once sufficient, six or eight settings may be required at some point. Additionally, the current set may require expansion to include flatware settings beyond the standard knife, spoon and fork. For example, a set of forks may include salad forks and dinner forks, while the spoon collection might include soup spoons, teaspoons, ice-tea spoons, dessert spoons, tablespoons, and the like. Even knives can be arranged into an assortment of butter knives, steak knives, paring knives, etc. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention solve the problems of prior art devices by providing a cutlery tray which maximizes space utilization, permits adjustment of flatware compartments to accommodate different sizes and styles, expands for additional storage, and accommodates other kitchen utensils, when necessary. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    There is disclosed herein an improved cutlery tray which avoids the disadvantages of prior devices while affording additional structural and operating advantages. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment of the invention, a cutlery tray comprises a first peripheral wall adjoined to a bottom surface, at least one fixed compartment defined by at least a portion of the first peripheral wall, an additional wall section and the bottom surface, at least one divider position slot within at least one fixed compartment, and a removable divider configured to engage and be retained within a fixed compartment at a divider position slot, wherein the removable divider separates utensils within the fixed compartment. 
         [0007]    In an embodiment of the invention it is an aspect to provide a series of divider position slots within at least one fixed compartment to allow the removable divider to be retained at a plurality of positions. 
         [0008]    It is a further aspect of an embodiment to provide an expandable compartment defined by a second peripheral wall and a second bottom surface which extend from beneath the first peripheral wall and first bottom surface, respectively. The expandable compartment preferably comprises a permanent knife block and, optionally, a removable knife block which attaches to the permanent knife block. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a cutlery tray comprises a first peripheral wall adjoined to a bottom surface, at least one fixed compartment defined by at least a portion of the first peripheral wall, an additional wall section and the bottom surface, and a removable divider configured to adjustably engage and be retained within a fixed compartment wherein the divider is capable of separating at least two utensils within the fixed compartment. 
         [0010]    In still another embodiment, a cutlery tray comprises a first peripheral wall adjoined to a bottom surface, at least one fixed compartment defined by at least a portion of the first peripheral wall, an additional wall section and the bottom surface, and at least one divider positioned within a fixed compartment, wherein the divider separates utensils within the fixed compartment. 
         [0011]    These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readily from the following description and the appended drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present cutlery tray with four fixed compartments and one expandable compartment in an open position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an embodiment similar to  FIG. 1  showing six dividers positioned within three of the fixed compartments; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  with the expandable compartment in a closed position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective views of two different embodiments of a removable flatware divider for use with embodiments of the present cutlery tray; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a removable knife divider for use with an embodiment of the present cutlery tray; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the current cutlery tray showing four fixed compartments, three having dividers and double stacks of flatware, and one expandable compartment in an open position with a fixed and removable knife block; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is identical to the drawing of  FIG. 8  without either the stored flatware in the fixed compartments and the knife blocks in the expandable compartment; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is identical to the drawing of  FIG. 9  showing a fixed knife block in the expandable compartment and the placement of a removable knife block. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-10 , there is illustrated a cutlery tray, generally designated by the numeral  10 . The cutlery tray  10  has a plurality of fixed compartments  12 , and may include an expandable compartment  14  which is attached to and expands from the underside of the fixed compartments  12 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0025]    The fixed compartments  12 , of which there are four (4) shown, can be of any desired dimension, shape and size to accommodate flatware. It is particular to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  that the compartments  12  be of sufficient length and width to accommodate two stacks of flatware stored side-by-side in opposing directions. Further, while shown as three parallel fixed compartments  12   a - c  and one perpendicular fixed compartment  12   d  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , alternate arrangements are certainly possible and should be considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , each of the fixed compartments  12  preferably includes two divider areas  20 . The divider areas  20  each have three pair of divider position slots  22  which allow attachment of a divider  16  (see  FIGS. 6A and 6B ). By attaching a divider  16  at one of the three divider position slots  22  for each of the two divider areas  20 , each of the fixed compartments  12  can be customized to accommodate specific flatware. For example, in one fixed compartment  12   a  a divider  16  may be attached at the two innermost divider position slots  22  to accommodate short flatware (e.g., teaspoons), while in another fixed compartment  12   b  a divider  16  may be attached at the two outermost divider position slots  22  to accommodate long flatware (e.g., ice-tea spoons). If desired, any additional fixed compartments  12  can be likewise customized for short, medium, or long flatware. Further, as flatware size is not the only consideration for customizing the fixed compartments  12 , additional dividers  16  (i.e., three or more total dividers  16  for each compartment  12 ) may be used to accommodate relatively irregular flatware (e.g., short soup spoons with large heads). 
         [0027]    The expandable compartment  14  is preferably slidably attached to the underside of the tray including the fixed compartments  16 . This slidable attachment can be achieved in any of the ways known to those skilled in the art. The expandable compartment  14  may be extended to any point within the range of from completely open, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , to completely closed, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0028]    As previously stated, the divider areas  20  are preferably comprised of three pair of divider position slots  22 . That is, each divider  16  is retained at two attachment points, with one on each of the two opposing inside surface walls of the fixed compartment. The two opposing divider position slots  22  (i.e., attachment points) are aligned to allow transverse placement of a divider  16  within each fixed compartment  12 . In the present embodiment, the divider position slots  22  are comprised of vertical slots  24  extending from the bottom wall of the compartment to the upper edge of the inside surface wall. The upper edge of the wall also features a first finger notch  25 , the purpose of which is explained in more detail below. 
         [0029]    The embodiment of  FIG. 1  is shown to have four fixed compartments  12 , only three of the fixed compartments  12   a - c  having divider areas  20 . The fourth fixed compartment  12   d  might typically be used for storing miscellaneous kitchen items, such as can and bottle openers, stirring spoons, spatulas, and the like. However, any and all fixed compartments  12  may be made with divider areas  20 . Further, as the dividers  16  of this embodiment are removable, any one of the three compartments  12   a - c  which include divider areas  20  may be used without dividers  16 , if desired. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 6A , one particular embodiment of the divider  16  can be more readily understood. The divider  16  is comprised of a base  30  and three upright portions  32   a - c . The outer upright portions  32   a, b  are designed to flex inward slightly and include a locking rib  34  along a centerline of the outer surface  35 . The locking rib  34  corresponds—in a male/female connection manner—to the vertical slot  26  of the divider position slots  22  in the divider areas  20 . The interaction of the locking rib  34  with the vertical slot  26  locks the divider  16  into the divider position slot  22 . The inner upright portion  32   c  operates as a sectioning wall to separate, for example, two stacks of flatware. This sectioning wall  32   c  may be centered to provide sub-compartments of equal width or off-center to accommodate, for example, stacks stored in opposite directions, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0031]    At the upper end of each outer upright portions  32   a  and  b  is positioned a second finger notch  37 . This second finger notch  37  aligns with the first finger notch  25  of the compartment wall to form a significant opening  40 , the purpose of which is described in more detail below. 
         [0032]    As a divider  16  is inserted into a divider position slot  22 , the locking rib  34  of each outer upright portion  32   a, b  engages the vertical slot  26 . The upright portions  32   a  and  b  flex inward until each “clicks” into locked position. To remove the divider  16 , the opening  40  formed on each side of the divider  16  allows a user to insert a finger and flex the upright portion  32   a, b  inward to thereby unlatch the locking rib  34  from the vertical slot  26  and lift the divider  16  from the compartment. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6B  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the divider  116 . In this embodiment there are only two upright portions  132   a  and  b  extending from the base  130 . The two upright portions  132   a  and  b  cause a small gap and large gap in the fixed compartment  12  when used. The small gap and large gap are useful to accommodate flatware, such as forks and spoons, where the head is significantly wider than the handle or the neck is significantly narrower than the handle. By alternately reversing the orientation of the divider  116  in the divider positions slots  22  of each fixed compartment  12 , better use of the space may be made to alternately orient the stored flatware. A tab  134  is shown on the open end of the base  130  for locking the divider  116  into a divider area  20 . This particular tab  134  is designed to frictionally fit within divider position slots  22  as shown in  FIG. 9 . While only the open end of the base  130  is shown to have a tab  134 , both ends could be provided with this locking feature to better secure divider  116 . 
         [0034]    In use, as shown in  FIG. 9 , divider  116  creates unequal sub-compartments within the fixed compartments  12 . By flipping the two dividers  116  relative to one another at each of the divider area  20  allows flatware having a wide end and narrow end (e.g., spoons and forks) to be oriented in double stacks in opposite directions (see, e.g.,  FIG. 8 ). 
         [0035]    As a further modification (not shown) to the current embodiments, it is possible that the various dividers can be permanently affixed within one or more of the fixed compartments  12 . This can be achieved by molding the tray with integral dividers (not shown) or providing means, such as screws, glue, non-releasable tabs, or the like, to secure the dividers at one of the divider positioning slots  22 . This latter method allows the consumer to still customize the cutlery tray for a given flatware size and design. Those skilled in the art would understand how to achieve such modifications based solely on the disclosure of this application. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 10 , a second embodiment of a cutlery tray  110  is shown. Except as discussed below, the cutlery tray  110  is substantially identical in form and function to the cutlery tray  10  described above. 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the expandable compartment  14  may include a removable knife block  50 . One embodiment of a removable knife block  50  is shown in  FIG. 7 . The knife block  50  is comprised of a plurality of upright portions  232  separated by a space. The number of knives which may be held by the knife block is dictated by the number of spaces. A long tapered tab or protuberance  234  is shown on an end of the knife block  50  for locking the component into the extendable compartment  14 . This particular tab  238  is designed to frictionally fit within a corresponding slot (not shown) in one of either a compartment wall or a permanent or fixed knife block  60  to provide a knife block which extends the width of the expanded compartment, as shown in  FIG. 8 . While only one end of the knife block  50  is shown to have a tab  234 , both ends could be provided with this locking feature (i.e., either the male or female component) to better secure the component. Possible modifications to the removable knife block  50 , such as, for example, changes in length, height, upright portion design, tab/attachment design and the like, are numerous and considered to fall within the general scope of the claims directed to a removable flatware divider. When not being used, the open space created by the absence of the removable knife block  50  may be utilized for storage of other kitchen utensils. 
         [0038]    In this embodiment, an expandable compartment  14  includes both a fixed knife block  60  and a removable knife block  50 . In this manner, the large expanded compartment  14  is suitable for holding larger cutting knives. The fixed knife block  60  may be permanently attached within the expandable compartment  14  by any known means, including epoxy, glue, molded connectors, metal fasteners, or the like. The removable knife block  50  may be attached in much the same manner as a divider  16  is attached with the fixed compartments  12  as discussed above. The removable knife block  50  may be removed for some uses, as shown in  FIG. 10  leaving an open space for storage of general utensils. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the fixed knife block  60  and removable knife block  50  (when attached) are positioned to align with the transverse wall  55  of the fixed compartments  12 . As the cutlery tray  110  is preferably made by any of a number of suitable molding processes, the underside of the fixed compartments  12  can be made to allow for storage of the knife block  60  (without knives, of course). The storage is accomplished by merely moving the expandable compartment  14  toward a closed position (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , one embodiment of the fixed and removable knife blocks  60  and  50 , respectively, can be more readily understood. Essentially, with the exception of the specific features noted below, the two blocks are substantially similar in design, though one may be made longer than the other, if desired. The removable block  50  is preferably made of a sufficiently rigid material to maintain its form over an extended period of use. It should also be sufficiently pliable to allow for removable attachment and prevent damaging any stored utensils. Block  60  may be similarly constructed. The blocks  50 ,  60  consists of a series of fingerlike members  54  separated by slots  56 , each of a sufficient width to accommodate a knife blade. On an outer surface of the outermost member  54   a  on each end of the block  50 ,  60  a tapered protuberance  234  is integrally positioned. The protuberance  234  corresponds to a similarly shaped indentation (not shown) on an interior surface of any compartment wall. The two elements fit together to hold the removable block  50  in place. In order to accommodate the removable knife block  50 , the outer surface (not shown) of the adjoining end of the fixed knife block  60  would also necessarily include an indention. 
         [0041]    The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.