Patent Abstract:
A utensil storage stand, which comprises a base, a column extending away from the base, a distal end on the column, and utensil engaging means rotatably mounted on the column. The utensil engaging means is rotatably mounted on the distal end of the column by a ball bearing arrangement comprising plastic races cooperating with plastic or ceramic bearings interposed between the races. The utensil engagement means comprises a first set of radially extending spokes with enlarged perforations through the spokes and a second set of radially extending spokes providing utensil support hooks extending from the spokes. The utensil engagement means is rotatably mounted with respect to column having an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base. The open body of the utensil engagement means creates a canister for the purpose of containing small kitchen items with the disc top acting as the floor or bottom of the canister.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/383,207, entitled “Utensil Storage Stand”, filed on 20 Mar. 2009 now abandoned. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/108,107, entitled “Utensil Storage Stand”, filed on 8 Feb. 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. D595,996. 
     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/805,111, entitled “Utensil Storage Stand”, filed on 22 May 2007, now abandoned. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to utensil storage. More specifically, the present invention relates to a utensil storage stand. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Preparation of food in the kitchen sometimes is a quite complex affair requiring many pots, pans and kitchen utensils. Pots and pans are usually stored out of sight in the kitchen area and a majority of utensils may be stored in a drawer that is convenient to the food preparation area. Utensils may also be stored on a countertop that is near and convenient to the food preparation area. In preparing food or following a recipe the sequential use of many cooking utensils, and even the repeated use of the same utensil may be required, in which case it would be desirable to have a nearby and convenient place to store multiple utensils. 
     Typically some form of open topped canister may be used to store numerous utensils on a countertop with no organization to the assembly of utensils that are accumulated in the canister. The open topped canister has the drawback of trapping and collecting dust and debris through its open top while also having the further disadvantage that the utensils may become tangled with one another and not easily withdrawn from the canister. In addition if utensils are placed in the canister just after being washed they may drip some moisture into the bottom of the canister where it can accumulate and create unhealthy conditions. Limited space on a countertop also limits the use of canisters because the utensils in the back of the canister are not easily accessible with the utensils in the front of the canister blocking an easy reach to the rear of the canister. The canister or area that is usually available for the storage of utensils may be typically below the kitchen cabinets thereby limiting the space above the canister that is available to reach the utensils in the rear of the canister. Utensil stands are known from which one may hang a utensil but either do not provide for rotation of the utensils or the compact storage of the utensils that are stored on the unit. 
     Many utensils used in the kitchen have perforations in their handles that are there for the purpose of hanging the utensils when not in use. Putting these utensils in drawers or upside down in canisters does not utilize the perforations as originally intended by the manufacturer. Hanging the utensils on known non-rotatable and non-compact stands takes up too much counter space and is not convenient to the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention has to do with a utensil storage stand, which comprises a base, a column extending away from the base, a distal end on the column, and utensil engagement means rotatably mounted on the column. The utensil engagement means is mounted on the column a spaced distance from the base, usually the distal end of the column, by a ball bearing arrangement comprising plastic or ceramic races, co-operating with plastic or ceramic bearings interposed between the races. The utensil engagement means comprises a first set of radially extending spokes with enlarged perforations through the spokes and a second set of radially extending spokes with utensil support hooks extending from the spokes. The utensil engagement means is rotatably mounted with respect to the column having an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base. 
     The first set of radial support spokes preferably have enlarged perforations and hooks so that utensils may be stored and efficiently positioned on the storage stand. The utensil engagement means comprises a co-operating element for connecting to the column a cylinder having a bearing housing area, a bearing in said bearing housing area comprised of plastic inner and outer races with plastic or ceramic bearing interposed between the races. Radially extending spokes from the disk have enlarged perforations formed therein. Radially extending spokes from the cylinder have outwardly extending hooks with upwardly facing ends located thereon. 
     The perforations will be spaced along the spokes extending from the disc and sized so as to allow utensil handles to pass therethrough for storage on the utensil storage stand. The upwardly facing hooks are preferably formed as pegs on the periphery of the radially extending spokes from the cylinder with the hooks having upwardly turned ends on the pegs. 
     Preferably there will also be hooks or pegs with upturned ends located between the column and the radially extending spokes from the cylinder and the hooks or will form an acute angle of acute angle of 53 degrees plus or minus 5 degrees with the central longitudinal axis of the spokes. The utility engagement means located at a spaced distance from the support base may also be comprised of a polygonally sided disc with the spokes radially extending from the outer periphery of the polygonally sided disc. The perforations for holding the utensil handles are then formed in the polygonally sided disc. 
     The open body of the cylinder creates a canister when combined with the disc. The disc spokes engage the cylinder slots which locks the cylinder and disc in a stationary position relative to each other as they are rotated around the central post via the connector creating a canister for the purpose of containing small kitchen items with the disc top acting as the floor or bottom of the canister. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide convenient storage facility for kitchen utensils. 
     It is an object of the present invention to organize kitchen utensils on a convenient countertop location. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a kitchen utensil stand that allows kitchen utensils to be easily stored and removed. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a kitchen utensil organizer that is compact and easily accessible. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a lazy-susan type of kitchen utensil organizer. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a kitchen utensil stand with rotating storage hooks for hanging kitchen utensils thereon. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a utensil storage stand that will compactly store at least fifteen utensils at one time. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a storage stand having open perforations and hooks for easy compact and convenient access and storage. It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy assembled and/or disassembled utensil storage stand, where the stand is comprised four individual pieces: a base, a column, and a disc and cylinder which forms a utensil engagement top. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, compact utensil storage stand that may be disassembled into three pieces for shipping and cleaning purposes. 
     TABLE OF NUMERICAL REFERENCES 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 100. 
                 Utility Storage Stand 
               
               
                   
                 101. 
                 Support Base 
               
               
                   
                 102. 
                 Central Post 
               
               
                   
                 103. 
                 Connector 
               
               
                   
                 104. 
                 Cylinder 
               
               
                   
                 105. 
                 Utensil Means 
               
               
                   
                 106. 
                 Disc 
               
               
                   
                 107. 
                 Slots 
               
               
                   
                 108. 
                 Perforations 
               
               
                   
                 109. 
                 Hooks 
               
               
                   
                 110. 
                 Upward Extending Section 
               
               
                   
                 111. 
                 Hooks 
               
               
                   
                 112. 
                 Cylinder Utensil Retaining Means 
               
               
                   
                 113. 
                 Disc Utensil Retaining Means 
               
               
                   
                 114. 
                 Cylinder Spokes 
               
               
                   
                 115. 
                 Disc Spokes 
               
               
                   
                 116. 
                 Co-operating Element of Releasable Attachment 
               
               
                   
                 117. 
                 Co-operating Element of Releasable Attachment 
               
               
                   
                 118. 
                 Co-operating Element of Releasable Attachment 
               
               
                   
                 119. 
                 Co-operating Element of Releasable Attachment 
               
               
                   
                 120. 
                 Ribs 
               
               
                   
                 121. 
                 Struts 
               
               
                   
                 122. 
                 Base 
               
               
                   
                 123. 
                 Bearing 
               
               
                   
                 124. 
                 Bearing Race 
               
               
                   
                 125. 
                 Bearing Race 
               
               
                   
                 126. 
                 Diameter Portion 
               
               
                   
                 127. 
                 Bearings 
               
               
                   
                 128. 
                 Upper Rib 
               
               
                   
                 129. 
                 Base Portion 
               
               
                   
                 130. 
                 Other Portion 
               
               
                   
                 131. 
                 Base 
               
               
                   
                 132. 
                 Top 
               
               
                   
                 133. 
                 Lower Rib 
               
               
                   
                 134 
                 Canister 
               
               
                   
                 135 
                 Disc Top 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of the utensil storage stand according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the utensil storage stand according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially expanded side view of the utensil storage stand according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the utensil storage stand according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view through  FIG. 4  of the utensil storage stand according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the disc according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom perspective view of the disc according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of the cylinder according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an end planar view of the cylinder according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the connector according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a side planar view of the connector according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following are detailed descriptions of the invention of exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIGS. 1 and 4  there is shown a utensil storage stand  100 . The utensil storage stand  100  is comprised of a support base  102 . The support base  102  joins a central post  101  that arises and extends away from the support base  102  until it comes to a connector  103 . The connector  103  is rotatable with respect to the central post  101  and base  102 . The connector  103  has means on the central post  101  for allowing rotation of the utensil means  105 . The utensil means  105  is comprised of a cylinder  104  and a disc  106 , each having utensil retaining means  112  and  113 . The utensil means  105  may be formed out of one piece making the cylinder  104  and a disc  106  integral. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the utensil retaining means  112  of the cylinder  104  has a plurality of cylinder spokes  114  immediately extending from the cylinder  104 . On the distal end of the cylinder spokes  114  are upwardly facing hooks  109  shown on the periphery of the distal end of the cylinder spokes  114  with upwardly extending sections  110 , thereon forming an upwardly facing hook on the utensil connector  103 . Inwardly of the distal end of the cylinder spokes  114 , on the spokes  114  are two upwardly facing hooks  111  which preferably form an acute included angle with the longitudinal axis of the spokes  114  of approximately 53 degrees plus/minus five degrees. Hooks  111 , differ from the other hooks only in the fact that  111  designates the hooks having the specific relationship of the acute angle. The acute angle of 53 degrees allows utensils to be hung so as to have easy access on the stand and provide more space for storage. When the hooks are arranged at such angles the utensils, when hung on the hooks, will usually have their widest part facing each other with their narrowest dimension extending in a radial direction from the central column of the stand. The preferable arrangement is that there will be five spokes  114  on the disc means  106  and each spoke  114  will have at least one, most preferably two, upwardly facing hooks  109  on said arrangement. The open body of the cylinder  104  creates a canister  134  when combined with the disc  106 . The disc spokes  115  engage the cylinder slots  107  which locks the cylinder  104  and disc  106  in a stationary position relative to each other as they are rotated around the central post  101  via the connector  103  creating a canister  134  for the purpose of containing small kitchen items with the disc top  135  acting as the floor or bottom of the canister  134 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the utensil retaining means  112  of the disc  106  has disc spokes  115  immediately extending from the disc  106  and having enlarged perforations  108  on the disc spokes  115  with each perforation  108  so that the handle of a utensil may extend through the perforation  108  and towards the support base  102 . The disc spokes  115  engage the cylinder slots  107  which locks the cylinder  104  and disc  106  in a stationary position relative to each other as they are rotated around the central post  101  via the connector  103  creating a canister  134  for the purpose of containing small kitchen items with the disc top  135  acting as the floor or bottom of the canister  134 . 
     What is shown in  FIG. 4  is a side view of the utensil storage stand  100  according to the present invention. The utensil storage stand  100  has a base  102  with a post  101  extending up from the base  102  to an upper utensil connector  103 . The utensil connector  103  has co-operating elements of releasable attachment shown at  116  and  117 . The post  101  extends into telescopic engagement with the upper utensil connector  103  through the cooperating elements  116  and  117 . Shown on the utensil means  105  are the perforations  108  with the spokes  107  extending out from the disc  106  and the cylinder spokes  114  immediately extending from the cylinder  104  and the upwardly facing hooks  109  shown on the periphery of the distal end of the cylinder spokes  114  with upwardly extending sections  110 , thereon forming an upwardly facing hook on the utensil connector  103 . 
     Shown at the lower part of  FIG. 4  are cooperating elements of releasable attachment shown  118  and  119 , in that  118  being at one end of the post  101  and  119  being a hole or perforation formed in the base  102  to accept the end  118  of the post  101 . In  118  of the post  101  will be telescopically engaged in hole  119  formed in the base  102 . Base  102  has struts  121  that are tapered ribs  120  that form a strengthening effect on the bottom of the base  102 . 
     What is shown in  FIG. 2  is the top perspective view of the base  102  with the perforation  119  shown therein having the post  101  shown with its end  118  in the perforation  119 , as can be seen therein. There will be a friction pressed fit between the end  118  of the column  101  and perforational hole  119  formed in the base  102 . Tapered ribs  120  on the sides of said perforation hole  119  engage the column end  118  so as to provide an increasing tight fit as the column end  118  is telescopically engaged in hole  119 . 
     What is shown in  FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view  5 - 5  through  FIG. 4  of the utensil storage means  100  according to the present invention. The utensil storage means  100  has the post  101  that extends from the base  102  with the perforation  119  shown formed in the base  102 . The perforation  119  has sidewalls  121  and a base  122  as such that the end  118  of post  101  can be telescopically pressed and engaged into the hole  119 . On the top of the post  101  is shown the end  117  of the post  101  as it engages with the cooperating element of attachment  116 . The disc spokes  115  engage the cylinder slots  107  which locks the cylinder  104  and disc  106  in a stationary position relative to each other as they are rotated around the central post  101  via the connector  103  creating a canister  134  for the purpose of containing small kitchen items with the disc top  135  acting as the floor or bottom of the canister  134 . In an alternative embodiment, a lid can be provided which is removably attached to the cylinder at the opposing side of the cylinder that is mounted to the disc. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the cooperating element of attachment  116  is a circular rube like portion extending down from the utensil connector  103  and is telescopically engaged within  117  or the post  101 . The end  117  again forms a friction fit with the element  116  such that the parts may be easily assembled or disassembled, and when pressed together will tend to stay in an assembled configuration. The cooperating element of attachment  116  has struts that are tapered ribs  120  that form a strengthening effect on the top of the central post  101 . The disc  106  houses the plastic bearing race shown at  123  and  124 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the bearing race  123  and  124  is tightly fitted within the disc housing wall shown at  125  and an inner-race  124  is press fit over the up standing tubular or diameter portion  126  shown on the utensil connector  103 . A bearing  127  is interposed between the inter-race  124  and the other race  125  as such that the bearing means  127  holds the inter-race  124  in position with regard to outer race  125 . The inter-race  124  is rotatable in relation to  125  because of the bearings  127 , but is not linearly displaceable along the axis of the central post  101 . Preferably, the bearing races  124  and  125  are made of a plastic material and the bearing  127  is made of a ceramic material. It is however possible that all or both of the races and the bearings could be made of a ceramic material and/or a plastic material. It is preferable that the bearing, however, be comprised of plastic and ceramic with the plastic forming the bearing races and the ceramic material forming the bearing material between the bearing races. 
     What also is shown in  FIG. 4  is the upper end  116  of the central post  101  that is a pressed fit into the utility engagement means. The upper rib  128  is shown having a base portion  129  that tapers lower to the other portion  130  of the ribs as such that the end  116  of the post  101  will have cooperation elements that press fit between the two parts. 
     Shown also in the lower portion of  FIG. 4  is the base portion of the lower rib  131  having a top thinner section  132  of the lower rib  133 . The lower rib  133  is tapered also so that the rib is thinner at the top  132  than at the base  131 . In this manner the end  118  of the post  101  may then be pressed fit into the base and held together in that fashion. 
     Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0