Abstract:
A spice rack is adapted to hold a plurality of spice containers. The rack includes opposing back-to-back rows of compartments, with each compartment having resilient sidewalls for holding at least one spice container. The back-to-back pairs of compartments are integrally formed, with laterally adjacent pairs of compartments having mating edges which couple together. Any number of compartments can be added so that the rack has any desired linear length.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to provisional application Ser. No. 61/513,067 filed Jul. 29, 2011, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Spice racks having various designs have been known for many years. One popular design is a carousel-style spice rack having a rotatable carriage with multiple compartments for holding the spice jars or bottles. However, such carousel spice racks may not fit in some kitchen cabinets or drawers, particularly if only a narrow space is available. The diameter of a carousel rack also limits where such a rack can sit on kitchen counter tops having limited space. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a spice rack for holding a plurality of spice containers, yet having a narrow profile. 
         [0004]    Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a non-carousel spice rack for holding spice bottles and jars. 
         [0005]    Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spice rack having a plurality of linearly aligned spice container compartments. 
         [0006]    A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a straight line spice rack having a plurality of spice container compartments. 
         [0007]    Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spice rack assembly having multiple compartments joined together at adjacent edges. 
         [0008]    Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a linear spice rack assembly wherein multiple compartments can be coupled together to form any desired length. 
         [0009]    Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spice rack having multiple compartments which are joined by male and female connectors. 
         [0010]    Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spice rack assembly having compartments joined by tongue and groove connectors. 
         [0011]    A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a spice rack having multiple compartments which are press fit together. 
         [0012]    Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spice rack assembly having opposite back to back spice container compartments. 
         [0013]    Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spice rack assembly having two adjacent rows of compartments. 
         [0014]    A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a non-rotatable spice rack which can be set horizontally or vertically. 
         [0015]    Another objective of the present invention is provision of a spice rack which is economically manufactured and durable in use. 
         [0016]    These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    A spice rack of the present invention includes a plurality of spice container compartments which are aligned linearly. In the preferred embodiment, two back-to-back rows of compartments are formed with each back-to-back adjacent compartments being an integral pair. Laterally adjacent compartments are joined together at mating edges which have a male and female or tongue and groove press fit assembly. Each spice compartment has a cylindrical sidewall with opposite spaced apart edges defining a gap through which a spice container can be snap fit into the compartment. Each compartment can hold two vertically stacked small spice containers or a single tall spice container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the spice rack according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the spice rack sections. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the spice rack sections. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one spice rack section. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of a spice rack section. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the spice rack handle according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an end cap for the spice rack according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the spice rack with spice containers mounted in the rack. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    The spice rack of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  10  in the drawings. The rack  10  includes a plurality of sections  12 , as seen in 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2 and 3 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each section  12  includes a base  14 , a central wall  16 , and opposite compartments  18  on the opposite front and rear faces of the wall  16 . Each pair of back-to-back compartments is preferably molded as an integral unit. Alternatively, each pair of compartments can be adhered together back-to-back or adhered to a central panel or wall. Preferably, the base  14  is integrally formed on each compartment  18 . 
         [0028]    The wall  16  has opposite lateral edges, with one edge having a male connecter  20  and the other edge having a female receptor  22 . Laterally adjacent sections  12  are adapted to be quickly and easily joined together by a simple press fit via the tongue and groove assembly of the male connecter  20  in the female receptor  22  on adjacent sections  12 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , the male connecter  20  may have one or more slots  24  adapted to receive a detent in the female receptor  22  and thereby lock the mating edges of adjacent sections  12  together. It is understood that the detent and slots can have different shapes and can be reversed on the male and female components. Also, the male and female connectors  20 ,  22  may have different dimensions and shaped from that shown in the drawings. 
         [0029]    The rack  10  includes a handle  26  on one end and an end cap  28  on the opposite end. The handle  26  has a female slot  27  for receiving the male connecter  20  of the end section  12 . An alternative handle  26 A is shown in  FIG. 8 . The end cap  28  has a male connecter  20  of the end section  12 . The end cap  28  has a male connecter  30  to receive in the female slot  27  of the opposite end section  12 . It is understood that the handle  26  and end cap  28  could be reversed by having a male connecter on the handle and a female receptor on the end cap. Also, the end cap  28  may be formed with a wider dimension, as compared to that shown in the drawings, such that the rack  10  could be stood upwardly or vertically on end, as opposed to being set horizontally on the base  14 . 
         [0030]    Each compartment  18  includes a semi-cylindrical sidewall  32  which extends at least 180° and preferably slightly more than 180°. The inside diameter of each compartment  18  is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the spice containers. The opposite lateral edges of the sidewall  32  of each compartment define an opening or gap  34  through which a spice container passes for snap fit receipt in the compartment  18 . In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, each compartment  18  has a height corresponding to two commercially available mini spice containers  36 , such as those sold by McCormick or Tones. The compartments  18  will also hold taller spice jars or bottles  38 , similar to those sold by McCormick or Tones. The resiliency of the compartment arms allows quick and easy snap fit insertion and removal of these commercially available spice containers to and from the compartments  18 . 
         [0031]    The drawings show the spice rack  10  as having five sections  12 . However, more or less sections can be connected together, as needed for a particular kitchen cabinet, shelf, or counter top. Alternative embodiments are also contemplated, such as a one piece, molded rack, similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 , but without separate sections. Also, a rack similar to  FIG. 1  can be provided with compartments on only one side of the wall  16 , rather than on both sides of the wall. It is further understood that the racks  10  can be stacked one upon the other, with the base  14  of the upper rack resting upon the top edges of the compartments of the lower rack. 
         [0032]    The base  14  forms a floor for each compartment  18  to support the lowermost spice container in the compartment, particularly when the rack is moved to and from a kitchen cabinet or storage area. The base  14  may extend continuously across all the compartments  18 , or may be separately formed in each compartment. 
         [0033]    The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.