Abstract:
A multiple cooking utensil rest which includes a base with a recess therein for receiving a container. The container is provided with a grate allowing for drainage and support for the lower portion of utensils. Preferably the grate and the container are removable from the base for ease of cleaning. The upper portion of the utensils is supported by an elongated “C” shaped member, horizontally positioned and mounted to an upper end of vertical supports mounted to the base, providing upright positioning for multiple utensils during food preparation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a utensil rest. More particularly, the present invention is related to a utensil rest which may be simultaneously utilized for multiple utensils and which is easily cleanable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During the process of cooking, utensils, which may be utilized for mixing or otherwise preparing foods, need to be temporarily stored between mixing or other working operations performed on the food. Preferably, these are not merely laid on counter tops or on the stove. It is often undesirable to leave the cooking utensil in the cooking pot or other container for various reasons, including the utensil becoming overheated and the inability to place a cover or lid on the cooking pot or container. There is also a need for providing a means for the temporary storage of a plurality of cooking utensils which may be dripping with different foods from different cooking containers. If these are temporarily placed in a bowl or other single container, the different food fluids may become admixed resulting in the undesirable result of foreign foods being placed in the cooking container when the temporarily stored cooking utensil is again utilized for stirring or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One advantage of the present invention is that it may be simultaneously utilized with a plurality of different cooking utensils without admixing food fluids from different utensils. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a temporary storage or utensil rest which occupies a minimum amount of counter space even though a plurality of cooking utensils are temporarily stored thereon. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it may be readily cleaned in its entirety periodically. Further, the container which collects the fluids and the grate through which the fluids pass may be cleaned easily after each use by easily removing the grate and container and placing it in a dishwasher or using other convenient cleaning means. 
     Briefly and basically, in accordance with the present invention, a utensil rest is provided which includes a base with a recess formed in the base. A container is provided which is removably placed in the recess formed in the base. The container is provided with a grate which is removably seated on top of the container. A substantially vertical support comprised of at least a single post is mounted to the base. An elongated member is horizontally positioned and mounted to an upper portion of the vertical support. The elongated member is provided with retention elements at each end. In this manner, one or more cooking utensils, each having a handle portion and a food working portion, may be positioned such that the food working portion of the utensil rests on the grate and any food thereon may drain through the grate into the container. The handle portion of the utensils may rest against the horizontally positioned member with its retaining elements. 
     In a presently preferred embodiment, the horizontally positioned elongated member with its retaining elements at each end may be in the form of an elongated “C” shaped member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is, shown in the drawings, forms which are presently preferred. It being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
     FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the present invention with utensils shown in dotted outline form. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a device or utensil rest  10  for multiple utensils  12 ,  14  and  16  shown in dotted outline form. It is understood that utensil rest  10  may be utilized in connection with a single utensil or that any reasonable number of utensils may be positioned on utensil rest  10 , such as anywhere between one and five. Even more than five may be positioned thereon, especially if utensil rest  10  were more elongated and as discussed hereinafter, but in most applications, utensil rest  10  would preferably be designed to accommodate a maximum of about five utensils. 
     Utensil rest  10  includes a base  18  with a recess  20  formed therein as may be best seen in FIG.  2 . Container  22 , best seen in FIG. 2, is adapted to be removably placed in recess  20  formed in base  18 . Container  22  is provided with a grate  24  which is adapted to be removably seated on top of container  22 . Grate  24  may be in the form of a cover which releasibly snaps onto container  22 , being held by projections  25 . This may provide the advantage of the container and grate being removable from base  18  as a unit. However, any suitable arrangement of providing a removable container in a recess in a base with a grate positioned thereover is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     Grate  24  may have any suitable arrangement of supporting surface with holes therein allowing passage of food dripping from the utensils. As illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment, these are elongated holes between elongated grate elements. However, it is understood that any suitable shape of grating may be utilized, including a grid shape and the size of the openings may vary so long as they are sufficiently close together to prevent the utensils from passing through. 
     A substantially vertical support  26  is adapted to be mounted to base  18 . In a presently preferred embodiment, substantially vertical support  26  may be comprised of two posts  28  and  30 . However, it is understood that a single vertical support may be utilized or three or more posts or vertical supports may be utilized. It is understood throughout that any reference to a vertical support or post means substantially vertical, and it is expressly noted that substantially vertical support  26  may be provided with slight deviations from the vertical, and particularly slight deviations in a rearward direction or in a direction away from the grate. However, in a presently preferred embodiment, vertical supports  26  may be vertical or very close to vertical. 
     Further shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , is an elongated member  32  which is horizontally positioned and mounted to an upper portion of vertical support  26 . In a presently preferred embodiment, elongated member  32  is mounted to the upper ends of vertical support posts  28  and  30 . Elongated member  32  is provided with retaining elements  34  and  36  at its ends. Retaining elements  34  and  36  formed on the ends of elongated member  32  are utilized to prevent utensils, such as utensils  12 ,  14  and  16 , from sliding laterally along elongated member  32  and falling off. In a presently preferred embodiment, the horizontally positioned elongated member with the retaining elements would be in the form of an elongated “C.” However, it is understood that various forms and shapes of the elongated member may be utilized in practicing the present invention, including, but not limited to, a substantially rectilinear bracket shaped horizontally positioned member. 
     In accordance with the present invention, one or more cooking utensils, each having a food working portion, such as the spoon portion  38  of utensil  12  and the remainder portion of the utensil herein being referred to as a handle portion, such as handle portion  40  of utensil  12 . During the cooking operation, the food working portion of the utensil may be placed on grate  24  wherein any food on the food working portion of the utensil may drain through the grate  24  into container  22 . The handle portion of the utensil may rest against the elongated horizontally positioned member with its retaining elements, which in the presently preferred embodiment would be the elongated “C” shaped member  32  with end portions  34  and  36  of the elongated “C” shaped member. As may be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the elongated horizontally positioned member preferably has a slightly outwardly curved shape, that is in the form of an elongated “C” shape. 
     In practicing the present invention, the utensil rest of the present invention may be made of any suitable material. Preferably, utensil rest  10  of the present invention is made of a material which is sufficiently rigid and cleanable. The utensil rest of the present invention may be made of any suitable material. It may be constructed of plastic which has thermal properties which would enable it to be cleaned in a dishwasher and would not incur any melting or deformity as a result of hot utensils. Utensil rest  10  may be made of stainless steel, chrome plated metal, aluminum or other suitable metal. Utensil rest  10  may also be made of wood, or again, any other suitable material. Preferably, utensil rest  10 , or at least base  18 , is preferably comprised of a material which provides sufficient weight to make utensil rest  10  stable and not subject to tipping. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , grate  24  is preferably elongated in the direction of elongation of elongated member  32  thereby more readily enabling the simultaneous use of utensil rest  10  for a plurality of cooking utensils. Although not required, it is preferable that the elongated grate also be provided with an elongated container  22 , elongated in the same direction, that is the direction of elongation of elongated member  32  as shown by double headed arrow  42 . Although the base may have any suitable shape, including round or square, it is preferable, primarily for aesthetic purposes, that base  18  also be elongated in the direction of elongation of elongated member  32 , that is in the direction of double headed arrow  42 . 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.