Abstract:
A storage rack for storing pots, pans, skillets and lids comprising an adjustable storage rack constructed with a stand and a base member mounted to the stand. A plurality of wire members are mounted on clamp members whcih are mounted on rails secured to the base member. The clamp member can be slidably positioned on the rails prior to the securing of them in a fixed position on the rails and extending upward from the base member. The plurality of wire members including “U” shaped wire members and offset “U” shaped wire members with a plurality of rods secured to the offset portion. The wire members have sleeve assemblies forming the upright supports, the sleeve assemblies providing height adjustmnet of the wire member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/156,657 filed Mar. 6, 2002. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a storage rack and more specifically is directed toward an adjustable storage rack with horizontally and vertically moveable upright wire members for holding cooking pots, pans, skillets and their respective lids.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART  
         [0003]    Most cooks have accumulated a collection of covered cookware that range over many sizes of pots and pans and containers with lids. Even those householders who do not consider themselves as real cooks have an assortment of covered containers in which to cook food both on top of a stove and in an oven. Thus almost all kitchens contain significant numbers of pots, pans and other cooking containers and lids for same. The cooking containers and their respective lids must be stored when they are not in use and this problem, may be compounded by the lack of storage space in many kitchens.  
           [0004]    Where and how these cooking containers are stored may vary substantially from kitchen to kitchen. In some instances, pots and cooking containers are stacked in a nested fashion with the largest diameter pot on the bottom and successively smaller pots on top. While this might be a relatively efficient way to store pots, pans and other cooking vessels such as casseroles, the lids and covers usually cannot be stored effectively in a nested stack. Most kitchens which use this nesting stack storage method for pots also have a disorganized pile of lids and covers. The cook then must rummage through the pile to locate the correct lid for the container he or she wants to use and move stacks of containers. In a home kitchen this exercise is very frustrating and can be quite chaotic when people and children gather in the kitchen during cooking of the meal.  
           [0005]    Some cooks simply cover their pots and pans with the lids and store them side-by-side, on cabinet shelves. Although this method allows the cook to locate the correct lid quickly, it requires significantly more storage space than stacking or nesting the containers. Many home kitchens simply do not have the storage space to store the numbers of cooking containers required by large families or serious cooks.  
           [0006]    A storage rack is useful for holding pots, pans, skillets and lids for same. In the prior art, shaped wire stands have been used to elevate an appliance or cooking container or to provide open storage for related use utensils, splatter screens and similar items.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,516,088 issued Jul. 18, 1950 is directed toward a folding dish drying rack formed from round wire stock which has a protective coating of rubber or synthetic resin. A plurality of elements are pivotally supported between an adjacent pair of longitudinal rods. Each element is mounted with a crank portion positioned outwardly and a lug portion positioned inwardly for attachment to and manipulation by a push bar. The push bar is slidably mounted in slots formed in a pair of mounting plates secured to the ends of a base.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,284 issued Aug. 26, 1997 is directed toward a storage rack for holding and storing cooking container lids and like shaped objects. The rack has a base with a pair of feet allowing it to be placed in a vertical or horizontal position. A plurality of adjustable crosspieces forming rests or steps are positioned at desired locations along the edges of the bracket members to hold the container lids at a storage angle.  
           [0009]    Other commonly used types of stands are a wire rack with legs and supports such as that shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,190,065, 2, 891,676, 3,013,670, 3,164,108, 4,592,471, 4,756,582 and 4,943,029.  
           [0010]    The prior art, therefore, has failed to provide a storage rack or holder for cooking containers and their lids and covers that may be easily assembled by the purchaser or by a consumer, that may be positioned in convenient orientations both horizontally and vertically and which can be easily adjusted as needed to hold and store a number of containers and lids of varying and different dimensions. Consequently, there is a need for such a rack in the home kitchen to allow storage areas to be organized effectively and efficiently to reduce clutter and provide the time savings which result when storage spaces are organized.  
           [0011]    Accordingly, the novel storage rack has been developed to hold pots, pans, skillets and lids which resolves the problems of counter and cabinet space, cluttered storage, mislaid lids, matching lids to containers, allowing containers and lids to be consolidated and hidden from sight in a cabinet or enclosed area, as well as being easily cleaned.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    The present invention is directed toward an adjustable plastic coated wire storage rack comprising a stand, a base member mounted to the stand and a plurality of horizontally moveable wire members mounted on tubular rails secured to the base member and extending upward from the tubular rails. The plurality of wire members include “U” shaped wire members of varying heights and offset “U” shaped wire members of varying heights having a plurality of upright angled rods secured to the offset portion of the offset “U” shaped wire members. The wire members have parallel side post provided with a threaded portion and a sleeve assembly which is rotatable on the threaded portion. An upper cross bar and a lower cross bar are secured or mounted to the post assemblies and the posts have parallel legs oriented transverse to the axis of said side posts. The legs are mounted in a tubular support assembly which can be secured to a rail secured to the base member. A handle is mounted to one end of the base member.  
           [0013]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage rack for cooking containers and their covers and lids which can be custom assembled by the purchaser or consumer to accommodate a specific collection of cooking containers and lids without the need of tools, fasteners or adhesives.  
           [0014]    It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for a storage rack which can have individual members horizontally adjusted and vertically adjusted.  
           [0015]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable storage rack for cooking containers and lids that can be sized to hold all of the containers and/or lids for a selected set or brand of cookware.  
           [0016]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide a storage rack which can be easily assembled with a minimum of instructions and general lack of mechanical skill by the consumer.  
           [0017]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide the user with storage rack for storage of cooking utensils allowing for easy access of same for use as well as reducing the amount of counter space and cabinet space needed for such storage.  
           [0018]    It is a further object of the invention to provide an adjustable storage rack which may be easily and inexpensively fabricated from round wire stock or other suitable materials having strength and durability.  
           [0019]    In the accompanying drawings, there is shown illustrative embodiments of the invention from which these and other objectives, novel features and advantages will be readily apparent. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable storage rack for pots, pans and lids;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the storage rack of FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the storage rack of FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the storage rack of FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the storage rack shown in FIG. 1; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the storage rack shown in FIG. 1; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]    The cooking container and lid storage rack of the present invention is ideally suited for use in the home as it provides a compact storage rack for containers and their respective lids and covers that allows easy access to the same. The capability to vary the height of the wire support members and the distance between same allows the consumer to customize the rack as needed to hold a varied assortment of containers and lids. The preferred embodiment of the storage rack of the present invention is designed to be assembled by the user and is fully adjustable to hold a number of cooking containers and their respective lids of different heights and diameters at an optimum storage angle.  
         [0027]    The preferred embodiment and best mode of the adjustable storage rack invention is shown in FIGS.  1 - 6 . The adjustable pot, pan and lid storage rack assembly  10  is constructed with a stand  12  having a substantially rectangular planar base  13  with upturned flanges forming “C” shaped integral sides  16 . The sides define a plurality of holes  17  cut through the back portion of the C. The holes  17  are aligned with the holes cut in the base  14  so that the stand  12  and base  14  can be secured together as will be later described. A curved “T” shaped handle  18  with a rectangular base portion  20  is secured in a notched portion or step  15  cut in base  14 . The handle  18  has a stem portion  22  which is curved or angled away from the base portion  20  and has curved side walls  24  which terminate in a rectangular knob or head  26 .  
         [0028]    The base  14  is constructed with a rectangular support member  28  having side flanges or rails  29  which are turned downward to form a configuration which fits within the interior chamber  19  of side walls  30  of stand  12 . The side walls  30  are positioned on opposite sides of the base  14  allowing the base rails  29  to be positioned within the chamber  19  formed by the side walls  30 . The base  14  is secured to the stand sides  16  by appropriate fasteners such as screws, threaded members, bolts or rivets  117  which are inserted into holes  17  through aligned holes (not shown) in the side walls  30 . Two parallel support rails  32  which are substantially tubular in construction or have at least a semicircular upper surface are secured to the top surface  31  of the base rectangular support member  28  by welding or other suitable means such as securing the same to a guide lip on the top of the surface  31 . The support rails  32  are adapted to receive and hold clamping assemblies  34  which in turn secure and hold the legs of the wire support members. The support rails  32  as noted have a circular cross section although a rectangular cross section or angular cross sections could be used. As noted, a plurality of spring steel clamp assemblies  34  are mounted on the support rails  32 . Clamp assembly  34  is constructed with a small tube section  36  with an open slit bottom leading to an intermediate section  37  which in turn widens to form a larger open sided diameter tube  38  formed of opposing arcuate wall portions  39 . The tube section  36  has a diameter which will receive the legs of the wire support members and has bottom open wall ends which lead into integrally formed spaced planar walls  37  forming an intermediate section. The walls  37  in turn at their lower extremeties form spaced apart arcuate spaced portions  39  which are outwardly biased away from each other forming a partial tube or sectioned “C” portion of a larger diameter. The spaced arcuate section or tube  38  fits around an exterior surface portion of the support rail  32  allowing the clamp member  34  to be slid along the support rail  32 . The intermediate walls  37  define a plurality of aligned throughgoing holes  40  through which a threaded fastener  42  such a nut  44  and bolt  46  are inserted. When the nut  44  is tightened the intermediate walls  37  are forced together against the spring bias of the spring steel causing the arcuate or semicircular portions  39  to abut and engage against the exterior surface of the rail  32  holding the clamp assembly  34  securely against the rail  32  and securing the leg of the wire support member in the tube section  36 .  
         [0029]    A plurality of “U” shaped wire support members  50  are mounted in the clamps  34  in the rear section of the base  14  with the legs  58  of the wire support members being mounted in the respective tube aperture of tube section  36  of the clamp assembly  34 . Each of wire support members is constructed with two parallel side posts  52 , an upper cross member  54  connecting the upper ends of the side posts  52  and a lower cross support member  56  connecting the lower ends of the side posts  52  above the legs with the legs  58  extending transversely outward from the axis of each side post  52  so that the same can be inserted into the tube section  36  of the clamp assembly  34 .  
         [0030]    One or more taller height adjustable “U” shaped wire support members  60  is mounted in the middle section of the base  14 . The wire support member  60  is constructed with two threaded parallel post assemblies  62  having a threaded portion  63  and a sleeve member  64  with a freely rotatable threaded nut  65  mounted on the threaded portion  63 . An upper cross bar  66  is provided with traverse or downwardly extending feet  68  which are mounted in the distal end of tubular sleeve  64  to stabilize the same. The rotatable nut  65  is threaded over the threaded portion  63  of the side post assembly  62  allowing the sleeve member  64  to be raised or lowered along the threaded portion. The upper cross bar feet  68  can be friction fit in the distal ends of the tubular sleeve  64  or can be threaded at  69  so that an internally threaded sleeve can be screwed along the threaded portion  69  of the upper cross bar foot  68  to raise or lower the upper cross bar  66 . A lower support cross bar  70  connects the lower ends of the side post assemblies  62  below the threaded portion  63  where the legs  72  extend transversely outward from the axis of each side post assembly  62  to fit into the clamp assemblies.  
         [0031]    A plurality of staggered height offset wire support members  80 ,  120  and  130  are mounted on the proximal or front section of the base  14  in clamping assemblies  34  as previously noted. The wire support member  80  as well as wire support members  120  and  130  are constructed with two threaded parallel side post assemblies  82 , each of which has a threaded portion  83  and a tubular sleeve assembly  90 . A lower cross support member  84  connects the lower ends of the side post assemblies  82  below the threaded portion  83  adjacent to the area where the legs  86  extend transversely outward from the axis of each side post assembly  82 . The tubular sleeve assembly  90  comprises a tubular sleeve  92  and freely rotatable nut  94  mounted thereon. Each wire support member offset portion  96 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is constructed with two parallel arms  98  with downwardly extending feet  99  which are mounted in the top of the tubular sleeve  92 . The nut  94  of tubular sleeve  92  is threaded over the threaded portion  83  of the side post assembly  82  allowing the sleeve  92  to be raised or lowered along the threaded portion. The extending feet  99  of the offset position can also be friction fit in the distal ends of the tubular sleeve  92  or can be threaded as shown in FIG. 1, so that an internally threaded tubular sleeve  92  can be screwed along the threaded portion to raise or lower the respective offset portion  96 . Each offset portion has a “U” shaped configuration with a cross bar support  102 . The cross bar support  102  connects the parallel arms  98  and has two angled offset upright rods  108  mounted to the cross bar  102  a distance inside the parallel axes of the arms  98  and two angled offset upright rods  10  mounted to the support arms  98  outside of the upright rods  108  mounted on cross bar  102 . Each of the angled offset upright rods  108 , 110  is formed with a blunt or rounded end  112  to preclude scratching of the cooking container and lids. In addition, each wire member, excepting the threaded areas, is preferably coated with a rubber, a rubberized material or plastic coating such as PVC to prevent scratching of the cooking utensils and to protect the wires against rust.  
         [0032]    The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments which have been described above. Instead, the embodiments described here should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the scope of the present inventions defined by the following claims.