Patent Publication Number: US-11039731-B2

Title: Nesting, dish drying rack

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various embodiments relate generally to drying racks and, more specifically, relate to dish drying racks capable of nesting within each other. 
     This section is intended to provide a background or context. The description may include concepts that may be pursued, but have not necessarily been previously conceived or pursued. Unless indicated otherwise, what is described in this section is not deemed prior art to the description and claims and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section. 
     Consumer goods such as plastic drying racks may be molded as a single, unitary piece. This simplifies the process of fabrication. Drying racks may also be made from metal wire alone or in combination with plastic, bamboo or other materials. A conventional configuration for a drying rack usually includes an enclosed space or receptacle which may be used for holding utensils. 
     However, a single piece consumer product such as a unitary drying rack suffers from several drawbacks. First, the product itself requires a larger amount of space for storage and display in a retail setting. Thus, a retailer is able to stock and display fewer products per unit volume. Second, an elongated frame results in a more cumbersome product for transportation and storage by a consumer. Third, a fixed, elongated frame necessitates larger product packaging. Fourth, such a frame means fewer finished products may be shipped per unit volume from a manufacturer to a distributor and to the retailer. Finally, an elongated frame increases the risk of breakage during shipment, on display in a retail setting, and during transportation by a consumer. Collectively, these drawbacks mean higher costs for the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer, a more expensive product for the consumer, and a less resilient product. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The below summary is merely representative and non-limiting. 
     The above problems are overcome, and other advantages may be realized, by the use of the embodiments. 
     In a first aspect, an embodiment provides a drying rack that can be nested during shipment and/or storage. The drying rack includes an upper portion defining a drying area and a movable divider configured to move from a first configuration, where the divider lays flat against the bottom of the drying area, to a second configuration, where the divider subdivides the drying area to define a utensil drying area. The drying rack also includes a removable baseboard that can attach in a first position beneath the upper portion so as to catch liquid draining through the upper portion, and can be placed in a second position within the upper portion and above the divider while the divider is flat against the bottom of the drying area. The upper portion includes one or more wall in the drying area and one or more walls define one or more subsections of the utensil drying area. The removable baseboard defines, for each of the walls, an associated notch configured to surround the associated wall when the removable baseboard is placed in the second position. 
     In another aspect, an embodiment provides a further drying rack that can be nested during shipment and/or storage. The drying rack includes an upper portion having a first drying area and a second drying area. The first drying area and the second drying area define a gap between lower extents of the first drying area and the second drying area. The drying rack also includes a baseboard portion configured to catch liquid draining through the first drying area; and a baseboard extension configured to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the baseboard extension extends beneath the second drying area so as to catch liquid draining through the second drying area and, in the second position, the baseboard extension at least partially overlaps the baseboard portion exposing the gap between the first drying area and the second drying area so as to enable nesting of the drying rack with other like-designed drying racks. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Aspects of the described embodiments are more evident in the following description, when read in conjunction with the attached Figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a first view of a nesting, dish drying rack in accordance with a first embodiment, the nesting, dish drying rack being in a first configuration where a movable divider is raised. 
         FIG. 2  is a second view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 1  in a second configuration where the movable divider is lowered. 
         FIG. 3  is a rotated view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 1  in the first configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a further view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 1  in the second configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 1  showing additional features of a removable baseboard. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 1  in the first configuration. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is an upper view of a nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 1  in the first configuration. 
         FIG. 9  is a view of a nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 1  in the first configuration and with the removable baseboard separated. 
         FIG. 10  is a view of two nesting, dish drying racks of  FIG. 1  in the second configuration, wherein the two nesting, dish drying racks are nested. 
         FIG. 11  is another view of two nesting, dish drying racks of  FIG. 1  in the second configuration and nested as in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a view of a nesting, dish drying rack in accordance with a second embodiment, the nesting, dish drying rack being in a first configuration where a movable divider is raised. 
         FIG. 13  is a view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 12  in a second configuration where the movable divider is lowered. 
         FIG. 14  is a view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 12  where a removable baseboard has been removed from the bottom of the nesting, dish drying rack. 
         FIG. 15  is a view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 12  where the removable baseboard has been partially placed into the upper portion of the nesting, dish drying rack. 
         FIG. 16  is a view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 12  where the removable baseboard has been fully placed into the upper portion of the nesting, dish drying rack. 
         FIG. 17  is a view of a nesting, dish drying rack in accordance with a third embodiment, where the nesting, dish drying rack has been packaged for shipping/storage. 
         FIG. 18  is a view of four of the nesting, dish drying racks of  FIG. 17 , where the nesting, dish drying racks have been packaged for shipping/storage in a single box. 
         FIG. 19  is a view of eight of the nesting, dish drying racks of  FIG. 17 , where the nesting, dish drying racks have been packaged for shipping/storage in a single box. 
         FIG. 20  is a view of thirteen of the nesting, dish drying racks of  FIG. 17 , where the nesting, dish drying racks have been packaged for shipping/storage in a single box. 
         FIG. 21  is a first view of a nesting, dish drying rack in accordance with a further embodiment, the nesting, dish drying rack being in a first configuration where an extension of the baseboard is extended beneath the utensil holding area. 
         FIG. 22  is another view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 21 , the nesting, dish drying rack being in a second configuration where an extension of the baseboard is retracted. 
         FIG. 23  is a separated view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 21  in the first configuration. 
         FIG. 24  is a separated view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 21  in the second configuration. 
         FIG. 25  is another separated view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 21  in the first configuration. 
         FIG. 26  is a view of the bottom of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 27  is a further separated view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 21  in the first configuration. 
         FIG. 28  is a view of the baseboard of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 21  in the first configuration. 
         FIG. 29  is a view of the baseboard of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 21  in the second configuration. 
         FIG. 30  is a bottom view of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 21  in the second configuration. 
         FIG. 31  is a close-up view of the baseboard extension handle of the nesting, dish drying rack of  FIG. 21  in the second configuration. 
         FIG. 32  is a view of three nesting, dish drying racks of  FIG. 21 , where the nesting, dish drying racks have been nested. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/776,131, filed Dec. 6, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     Various embodiments provide a dishrack design that has a removable baseboard (or drainer board) that, when attached to the drying rack part of the product, allows the dishrack to nest easily with similarly designed dishracks in order to lower the overall size of multiple units during transportation and when placed on retail shelves by retailers, to maximize their selling shelf space efficiencies. 
     The drainer board may be configured to both attach to either the bottom of the dishrack, for example, during normal use, and to be securely stowed within the dishrack, for example, for storage or transportation. The drainer board may be snapped in to place or retained using various techniques. 
     The dishrack may also include a divider that be moved (for example, by being rotated around a pivot point) from a flat position, where the divider is positioned against the bottom of the drying surface, to a raised position, where the divider separates a utensil drying area from the dish drying area. This utensil drying area may be used to keep smaller items, such as flatware, upright for faster drying. 
       FIG. 1  is a first view of a nesting, dish drying rack  100  where a movable divider  140  is in a first, raised configuration  102  and  FIG. 2  is a second view of the nesting, dish drying rack  100  of  FIG. 1  where the movable divider  140  is in a in a second, lowered configuration  104 .  FIGS. 3-8  are further views of the nesting, dish drying rack  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 9  is another view of the nesting, dish drying rack  100  of  FIG. 1  showing the removable baseboard  120  separated from the upper drying portion  110 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , the drying rack  100  includes an upper drying portion  110  and a removable baseboard  130 . The upper drying portion  110  has a movable divider  140  which allows separation of a utensil holding area  130 . The removable baseboard  120  features baseboard feet  122  and a spout  124 . The baseboard feet  122  may include a non-slip surface to avoid unwanted movement of the drying rack  100 . 
     The movable divider  140  includes at least one retaining structure, such as a bulge or protrusion. Each retaining structure can cooperate with a mating structure on the upper portion, such as a recess or opening, and maintain the movable divider in the first configuration  102 . 
       FIGS. 10-11  are views of two nesting, dish drying racks  100  of  FIG. 1 , wherein the two nesting, dish drying racks  100  are nested. As shown, the movable dividers  140  of the two nesting, dish drying racks  100  are in the second, lowered configuration  104  so as to facilitate the nesting of the drying racks  100 . The upper most drying rack  100  may alternatively be in the first, raised configuration  102 . 
       FIGS. 12-16  show a nesting, dish drying rack  1200  where the rack  1200  is transitioned from one configuration for use to a second configuration for storage or transportation. The process begins by laying down the divider  1240 , removing the drainer board  1220  and placing the drainer board into the upper drying rack portion  1210 . 
       FIGS. 17-20  show various sets of the nesting, dish drying rack  1700  that have been placed in a package  1750  for shipping/storage. As the drying racks  1700  are able to be nested, there is a substantial reduction in size when shipping/storing multiple drying racks  1700  when compared to shipping/storing individual drying racks  1700  (as shown in  FIG. 17 ). When nested, each additional drying rack  1700  after the first adds only a small portion of its height (e.g., 36 mm) to the stack height. 
       FIG. 21  is a first view of a nesting, dish drying rack  2100  in accordance with a further embodiment, the nesting, dish drying rack  2100  being in a first configuration  2102  where an extension  2126  of the baseboard  2120  is extended beneath the utensil holding area  2130  so as to catch any water dripping from the utensil holding area  2130  while in use.  FIG. 22  is another view of the nesting, dish drying rack  2100 , the nesting, dish drying rack  2100  being in a second configuration  2104  where the extension  2126  of the baseboard  2120  is retracted.  FIGS. 23-31  are additional views of the nesting, dish drying rack  2100 . 
     As shown, the drying rack  2100  includes an upper portion  2110  and a baseboard  2120 . The upper portion  2110  features a utensil holding area  2130  secured by drying area divider  2140 . Beneath the drying area divider  2140  is a gap  2134  which allows drying racks  2100  to be nested. 
     The upper portion  2110  may also include feet  2114 , e.g., a plurality of upper, alignment features defining protrusions. These feet  2114  may securely attach to protrusions  2170 , e.g., a complementary plurality of lower, alignment features defining receptors, of the baseboard  2120 . This ensures alignment of the upper portion  2110  and the baseboard  2120  and may also prevent accidental separation of the drying rack  2100 . 
     The baseboard  2120  includes baseboard feet  2122  and a spout  2124 . The extension  2126  is able to retract within the baseboard  2120  to expose the gap  2134  and facilitate nesting. In this non-limiting embodiment, the baseboard  2120  includes tracks  2160  and the extension  2126  includes track mounts  2162  which are configured to smoothly glide along the tracks  2160  to ease in extending/retracting the extension  2126 . The extension  2126  may also include a handle  2129  to assist in retracting the extension  2126 , for example, a projection and/or recess. 
       FIG. 32  is a view of three nesting, dish drying racks  2100  where the nesting, dish drying racks  2100  have been nested. 
     The foregoing description has been directed to particular embodiments. However, other variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiments, with the attainment of some or all of their advantages. Modifications to the above-described systems and methods may be made without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, the invention should not be viewed as limited by the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, various features of the described embodiments may be used without the corresponding use of other features. Thus, this description should be read as merely illustrative of various principles, and not in limitation of the invention.