Abstract:
An organizer is adapted for use adjacent a kitchen sink, and includes an elongated rack portion having a first end and an opposing second end, the rack portion further including a front frame and a rear frame. The front frame defines a curved open space at about the center of the front frame to accomodate the faucet of a kitchen sink. The organizer further includes a first end support on which the first end of the rack portion is supported, and a second end support on which the second end of the rack portion is supported.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to kitchen organizers, and in particular, to an organizer that is adapted to be positioned over a kitchen sink adjacent the water faucet.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Many kitchens are becoming increasingly cluttered with dishes, utensils and other cooking and food items. In particular, larger families living in smaller homes (having smaller kitchens) have an increased need to better organize the kitchen area to minimize hazardous situations and to increase efficient use of the kitchen area.  
         [0005]     The area around a kitchen sink is often the major hub of activity in a busy kitchen. Dirty dishes and utensils are often stacked inside the kitchen sink, or on the countertop adjacent the kitchen sink. In addition, cleaning accessories (such as soap, detergent, scrubs, cleaning pads, etc.) and dish racks are often placed next to the kitchen sink, and they typically occupy a lot of precious space adjacent a kitchen sink.  
         [0006]     Thus, there remains a need to better organize the area around a kitchen sink.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an organizer that is adapted to be positioned adjacent a kitchen sink, and which provides better organization and arrangement of the items that are usually found around a kitchen sink.  
         [0008]     In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides an organizer that is used adjacent a kitchen sink. The organizer includes an elongated rack portion having a first end and an opposing second end, the rack portion further including a front frame and a rear frame.  
         [0009]     In one embodiment of the present invention, the front frame defines a curved open space at about the center of the front frame to accomodate the faucet of a kitchen sink.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the organizer further includes a first end support on which the first end of the rack portion is supported, and a second end support on which the second end of the rack portion is supported. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an organizer according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the organizer of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of one end of the organizer of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of one end of the organizer of  FIG. 1  showing the attachment of the rack portion to an end support.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating the organizer of  FIG. 1  in use adjacent a kitchen sink. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate an organizer  10  that is adapted to be positioned along the far edge (away from the user) of the kitchen sink.  FIG. 5  illustrates how the organizer  10  can be positioned with respect to a kitchen sink KS. The organizer  10  provides a variety of different ways for a user to organize the area around a kitchen sink.  
         [0018]     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the organizer  10  has an elongated rack portion  12 , a first end support  14 , and a second end support  16 . The rack portion  12  can be formed from a metal wire frame, and includes a base frame  18  that has a front edge  26  and a rear edge  22 . The base frame  18  has a plurality of spaced-apart bars  28 . A rear frame  20  extends along (i.e., parallel to) the entire rear edge  22  of the rack portion  12 , and a front frame  24  extends along (i.e., parallel to) the entire front edge  26  of the rack portion  12 , with the rear frame  20  and the front frame  24  supported vertically by bars  25 . The front frame  24  and the rear frame  20  essentially form short walls for the front edge  26  and the rear edge  22 , respectively. A generally semi-circular inwardly-extending open space  30  is formed at the center of the front edge  26  and the front frame  24 . Each end of the rear frame  20  curves downwardly to form a rear leg  32  and  34 , and each end of the front frame  24  curves downwardly to form a front leg  36  and  38 .  
         [0019]     The end supports  14  and  16  can be identical to each other, and function as (i) a support for a set of legs  34 ,  38  and  32 ,  36 , respectively, and (ii) a container. The end supports  14 ,  16  can be made from plastic, or a metal. Referring also to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each end support  14 ,  16  has a generally four-sided configuration with four walls  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  that enclose an interior space  48 . A ridge  50  is formed along an end wall  42  to define a channel  52  between the ridge  50  and the adjacent exterior wall  40 . Another ridge  54  is formed along the other end wall  46  to define another channel  56  between the ridge  54  and the adjacent exterior wall  40 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the legs  32  and  36  are adapted to be retained inside the channels  52  and  56 , respectively, of the end support  16 . The legs  34  and  38  are similarly adapted to be retained inside similar channels  52  and  56  in the end support  14 .  
         [0020]     An optional holder  60  is adapted to be seated on the top edges of the walls  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  of the end support  16 . The holder  60  can be a plastic tray having side walls  62 ,  64 ,  66  extending upwardly from a base  68 , and with a shallow recess  70  and an elongated vertical tubular section  72  extending vertically downward from the base  68 . The shallow recess  70  can be oval-shaped and adapted to retain jewelry, rings, wedding bands, watches and similar items. The elongated section  72  can be adapted to hold knives and other elongated utensils and items. The base  68  of the holder  60  is adapted to be seated on the top edges of the walls  40 ,  44 , with the recess  70  and the elongated section  72  extending into the enclosed space  48 .  
         [0021]     Similarly, another optional holder  80  is adapted to be seated on the top edges of the walls of the end support  14 . The holder  80  can be a plastic tray having side walls  82 ,  84 ,  86  extending upwardly from a base  88 . An elongated holding section  90  extends vertically downward from the base  88 . The holding section  90  has walls that define an enclosed space for receiving knives, forks, spoons and other elongated utensils and items. Dividing walls  92  can be provided in the enclosed space of the holding section  90  to allow the user to separate the various elongated items that are held inside the holding section  90 . The base  88  of the holder  80  is adapted to be seated on the top edges of the walls of the end support  14 , with the holding section  90  extending into the enclosed space inside the end support  14 .  
         [0022]     The organizer  10  can be assembled by inserting the legs  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  of the rack portion  12  into the appropriate channel  52  or  54  of the corresponding end support  14  or  16 . The holders  60  and  80  are optional, and can be seated on the end supports  14 ,  16  if desired. The holder  60  can be positioned on either end support  14  or  16 , and the holder  80  can be positioned on either end support  14  or  16 , depending on how the kitchen is arranged. In addition, other holders (not shown) having different recesses, holding sections and features can be provided by the manufacturer together with the rack portion  12  (or as after-market items) so that the owner of the organizer  10  can choose from a variety of different holders to suit his or her needs. Again, the holders  60  and  80  are non-limiting examples only, as any holder having any configuration or features can be used with any of the end supports  14 ,  16 .  
         [0023]     Once the organizer  10  has been assembled, the organizer  10  can be positioned adjacent the kitchen sink for use.  FIG. 5  illustrates one possible way of arranging the organizer  10  next to a kitchen sink KS, where the faucet F is positioned in the open space  30 . The arrangement shown in  FIG. 5  promotes efficient use of the precious space around a kitchen sink KS, since the rack portion  12  can be used as a dish rack to hold smaller cups and plates, while the holders  60 ,  80  can be used to organize and hold utensils (e.g., spoons, knives, forks, etc.), cleaning accessories (e.g., soap, detergent, scrubs, and cleaning pads), and even personal items (e.g., jewelry, watches).  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , other optional organizing accessories can also be provided for use with the organizer  10 . For example, a soap dish  90  and a dish holder  92  can be positioned anywhere along the base frame  18  of the rack portion  12 . The dish holder  92  can be used to hold a plurality of smaller dishes  94 . The rear frame  20  and the front frame  24  function to confine the soap dish  90  and the dish holder  92  inside the base frame  18 . Again, these accessories  90 ,  92  are non-limiting examples, and any number of these accessories can be provided by the manufacturer together with the rack portion  12  (or as after-market items) so that the owner of the organizer  10  can choose from a variety of different accessories to suit his or her needs.  
         [0025]     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.