Abstract:
Provided herein is a device useful for stowage and retrieval of various wares and utensils. A device according to the invention is especially well-suited for use within a cabinet, such as within a kitchen environment. The invention provides a slidable platform upon the top surface of which a plurality of retaining means may be readily disposed, to create spaces within which a utensil may be rigidly located. The slidable platform may be pulled out to gain access to the wares stored on the platform. A device according to the invention makes efficient use of cabinet space with respect to prior art stowage means, and provides for the wares to be disposed in such fashion that their retrieval is convenient and prompt.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/794,387 filed Apr. 24, 2006, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to storage means for utensils. More particularly, it relates to systems and devices used in the storage of tools, utensils, and wares used in a household or kitchen setting, including pots, pans, and other implements. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Various storage means for conveniently storing a variety of implements, utensils, and wares have been contrived over the years. The products of the labors of a few workers in the prior art are embodied in several U.S. Patent documents, now cited, which are fully incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,984 provides a modular preassembled article storage and transport conveyor apparatus which comprises: a) a substantially rigid unitized support housing having at least one access opening in a side thereof, b) a pair of endless conveyor chains forming arcuate curved portions at opposite ends in offset relationship and disposed in laterally spaced parallel planes, wherein each chain has multiple articulated links, plural spaced article storage and transport trays suspended at diagonally opposite corners in level relationship from the chains. The trays are adapted to pass in succession adjacent to the at least one access opening of the housing, fixed guide track means for the chains on the housing and defining continuous substantially uninterrupted guidance paths for the endless chains along their entire movement paths. The fixed guide track means include arcuate support and guide portions for the arcuate curved portions of the chains. There is a power drive means for the chains on the housing including a pair of sprocket gears respectively in operative engagement with the exteriors of the pair of chains away from the arcuate support and guide portions and at a fixed point on the arcuate curved portion of each chain that face each other. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,326 describes a rack positionable in a substantially-vertical orientation and in a substantially-horizontal orientation for storing and securely holding within the rack at an optimum storage angle when the rack is positioned in either the substantially vertical orientation or the substantially horizontal orientation a plurality of cooking container lids. The rack includes: a) support frame means for positioning the rack alternatively in the substantially vertical orientation or in the substantially horizontal orientation; and b) a plurality of adjustable lid-holding module means removably fitted into the support frame means for receiving the plurality of lids. Each of the module means is adjustable to support each of the lids substantially within the support frame means at the optimum storage angle in spaced, non-interfering parallel relationship with adjacent lids when the rack is in the substantially vertical and in the substantially horizontal orientation. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,352 provides a portable rack for holding pots, pans, cookie sheets and lids for the pots and pans which comprises: a) two pair of main frame leg members with each pair of leg members sloping inwardly toward each other, and wherein the leg members have flat outside and inside attaching surfaces; b) caster wheel members secured to the bottom of each leg member, c) peg board members secured to an outside attaching surface of each pair of inwardly sloping leg members; d) a top closure member positioned at the top of the pairs of inwardly sloping leg members; e) peripherally extending support members for supporting the top closure member; f) a plurality of inner shelf members extending between the pairs of inwardly sloping leg members; and g) a means for defining a retaining slot for cookie sheets and lids for the pots and pans located between the sloping leg members. The means for defining the retaining slot includes a portion of an inside surface of one of the peg board members, a portion of one of the shelf members and an additional retaining strip secured to an inside attaching surface of each of a pair of the leg members at a location spaced from the one of the shelf members. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,374 teaches a sliding tray assembly for mounting in a kitchen cabinet or the like. The edges of the tray panel are received in guide channels, and a drawbar is attached to the cabinet door to automatically slide the tray in and out. The forward end of the panel is radiused off at one corner to clear the inside of the door, and the bracket for mounting the rearward end of the drawbar to the panel is configured to allow the panel to be inverted for left- or right-hand installations. The bracket also provides a backstop for retaining articles on the tray panel. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,262 discloses a holder for storing and dispensing various sizes of bakeware. The holder includes a rear wall joined at opposite edges by forwardly projecting side walls. The side walls extend parallel to one another and each have perpendicular securing tabs at their bottom edge. The securing tabs are to be mounted to a flat surface, such as a kitchen shelf or cabinet, so that the bakeware may be supported in a vertical arrangement by the holder side walls with one edge of the bakeware resting on the flat surface. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,700 sets forth a support rack for holding gourmet pots and pans which comprises: a) a circular support base; b) a plurality of lower, inwardly curved supporting legs extending from the circular support to a plurality of outwardly curved upper supporting arms in which the arms extend to an upper circular frame member; c) a plurality of hook means extending from the upper circular frame member for supporting a plurality of gourmet pots and pans; d) a median section between the lower legs and the upper arms having at least one support ring; e) at least one hook means extending from the median section for supporting gourmet pots and pans. The supporting legs and arms provide a means whereby a see-through display effect is created whereby all of the gourmet pots and pans are effectively shown. The median section is of smaller diameter than the supporting base to provide enhanced stability for the overall unit. The upper circular frame member is of larger diameter than the median section to allow the gourmet pots and pans to be effectively displayed, wherein the components are comprised of metal or other long-life material. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,736 provides a cabinet storage device comprising: a) a base slidingly attached to a cabinet so that the base is movable outwardly from a storage position to an extended position; b) a front having an upper end and lower end, wherein the lower end is secured to the base and extends upwardly therefrom to the upper end; c) a back having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end is secured to the base and extends upwardly therefrom to the upper end; d) one or more generally vertical panels connected to the front and the back, so the generally vertical panels move along with the base from the storage position to the extended position and wherein each panel includes means for attaching items to the panel so easy access to the attaching means is provided when the base is in an extended position. There is also at least one support means to provide additional support for the base when the base is extended outwardly from the cabinet, wherein the support means comprises a retractable arm having two ends, wherein one end is pivotally connected to the cabinet storage device so the arm extends downwardly from the base to the second end when the arm is in the extended position, wherein the arm pivots upwardly to a storage position when the base is in the storage position. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,746 discloses a pot lid storage trough comprising: a) a bottom member having an elongated configuration with a surface having two lengthwise parallel grooves therein, with the first end of each groove being open and the second end of each groove being closed, the bottom member also having a stop member formed beside the open end of each groove and a sloped face portion adjacent to each of the grooves; b) a case member having an elongated configuration with two lengthwise parallel storing cavities, the case member having a bottom wall and opposite side walls; c) a first pair of parallel rails extending downwardly from the bottom wall of the case member and extending lengthwise along the case member, each rail having a key thereon; and d) a second pair of parallel rails extending outwardly from one of the opposite side walls of the case member, and extending lengthwise along the case member, each rail having a key thereon. In use, one pair of the first and second pairs of rails slidably engages the grooves in the bottom member to thereby slidably attach the case member to the bottom member such that the case member may be supported by the bottom wall having the first pair of rails, or by the side wall having the second pair of parallel rails. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,387 describes a utensil supporting apparatus with sound attenuating means, comprising: a) a base member having a surface, the base member mountable on a structure; b) a plurality of fasteners mounted on the base member, the fasteners for holding utensils in a pendant mode; and c) a sound attenuating means depending from the base member surface, the sound attenuating means positioned between each of the utensils. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,414 teaches a wall-mounted shelving system comprising: a) a plurality of elongated standards secured to a wall, wherein each the elongated standard has a vertical axis, wherein the standards contain a plurality of slots; b) a plurality of shelf brackets removably connected with the standards via the slots; c) one or more shelves with a plurality of ends, wherein the shelves are supported by the shelf brackets; and d) a plurality of side panels, wherein each the side panel has a means for removable attachment of the side panel to the ends of the shelves, so as to easily and removably enclose the shelves at the ends. 
         [0014]    Of the storage means of the prior art, none are without strong limitations and drawbacks. This is especially true in the case of when it is desired to store pots and pans. Typically, in the average domestic kitchen, pots and pans are placed in a drawer or cabinet. Since pans frequently have handles attached to them, the handles of several pans stored in the same space interfere with the efficiency of the storage of all of the pans, severely restricting the number of pans which may be stored in a given drawer or cabinet. U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,751 provided a storage shelf upon which various wares which may be commonly stowed during times of their non-use, including kitchen utensils such as pots, pans, and other wares having handles intended to be grasped by their user, comprising a sliding storage assembly which stores such wares with their handles in a stowed position, until the storage shelf of the invention is moved laterally, such as pulling towards the user, at which time the handles of the wares are automatically caused to be tilted upwards towards the user for ready grasping and added convenience. However, the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,751 contained many moving parts, which adds to the cost of manufacturing the devices described therein. What is needed is a more simplistic (and lower cost) method of accomplishing the desired result of efficient use of space in storage of kitchen utensils and other wares. Of all the devices in the prior art, none comprises a slidable platform which enables the compact storage of bulky utensils that comprise a handle means as a portion of their construction, while simultaneously providing easy access in retrieval of such utensils when desired. The present invention provides such a storage means, and is of simplistic construction and high utility and user-friendliness, as this specification now demonstrates. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention provides a device useful for the convenient storage and retrieval of various wares and utensils. A device of the invention comprises a substantially-planar slidable support portion having a top surface, a front edge portion and a rear edge portion, with the top surface further including a plurality of holes disposed therethrough. There is also a frame means or portion, and a means for slidably connecting the slidable support portion to the frame means, sufficient to enable lateral movement of the support portion with respect to the frame means. There is also a plurality of securing devices attached to the top surface of the slidable portion. The securing devices each comprise a retaining means portion and an anchoring means portion, wherein the anchoring means portions are adapted to be received by the holes disposed on the support portion. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of a planar slidable support portion according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 1B  shows a perspective view of a planar slidable support portion according to an alternate embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a planar slidable support portion having an attached means for slidably connecting said slidable support to a frame, according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a frame means having an attached means for slidably connecting said slidable support to said frame, according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a planar slidable support portion in one of its possible positions when attached to a frame means according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5   a  shows a configuration of a securing device according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5   b  shows a configuration of a securing device according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5   c  shows a configuration of a securing device according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a planar slidable support portion in one of its possible positions when attached to a frame means according to one embodiment of the invention, and further including a plurality of securing devices attached to the slidable support portion; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  shows the use of a planar slidable support portion according to one embodiment of the invention, for securing a kitchen implement; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  shows a device according to one embodiment of the invention mounted in a cabinet beneath a kitchen countertop. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIG. 1A  there is shown a perspective view of a slidable support portion  3  according to one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the slidable support portion  3  is comprised of a piece of stock which exists substantially in the form of a rectangular solid, and has a plurality of holes  5  disposed through its top surface portion T. The holes  5  may terminate at some point within the body of the stock of the support portion  3 ; however, it is preferred that the holes  5  extend all the way through the bottom of the support portion  3 . The slidable support portion  3  has a front portion near the label F and a rear portion disposed towards the label R. Although the holes  5  are shown in this  FIG. 1A  as uniformly covering the top surface portion T of the support portion  3  in a rectangular array, it is within the scope of the present invention to employ any other geometric patterns of holes on the top surface of the support portion, and the geometric arrangement of the holes  5  can be any arrangement known by those skilled in the art. Additionally, any number of holes  5  may be present. For example, as few as two such holes may be used and as many as up to about 1000 or more holes may be used. In addition, although it is preferable, the top surface of the support portion need not be absolutely planar, but can include any degree of curvature on its topography, as viewed from a side perspective, and portions of its surface may not need to have any holes  5  on them whatsoever. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the holes  5  need not necessarily be circular, as viewed from above, but may also be rectangular, or may have essentially any other contour, provided that the anchoring means  217  ( FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c , etc.) are contoured to be complementary to such holes  5  such that they are selectively engageable with the holes  5 , as hereinafter described. Again, such holes  5  may extend partially or completely through the support portion  3 . Contours for the holes  5  and anchoring means  217  include, without limitation, circular, oval, rectangular, trigonal, pentagonal, hexagonal, star-shaped, etc. 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 2  there is shown a perspective view of a planar slidable support portion having an attached means for slidably connecting it to a frame, according to one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, this provision includes the track means  7   a  and  7   b , which are attached to the left and right sides of the slidable support portion  3  from which the slidable support is comprised. The track means in one embodiment may include lip(s) made of metal, plastics, etc., having a lower surface, which lip(s) extend(s) substantially along the length of the side(s) of the slidable support portion  3 . Such a feature is known among those skilled in the art of providing sliding drawers, as many drawers are made to be slidably disposed within a frame in which they reside by means of lip(s) extending substantially along the lengths of their edges, wherein the lip(s) include a lower surface that rides on complementary rollers which are attached to the inside of the drawer mount or frame and are adapted to receive such lip(s) and provide them with lateral motion ability. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a frame means having an attached means for receiving and slidably connecting the slidable support portion  3  shown in  FIG. 2  to this frame, according to one embodiment of the invention. This frame means in this embodiment collectively comprises a left frame member  11 , a rear frame member  13 , and a right frame member  15 . These frame members are connectively attached to one another using conventional means such as nails, screws, adhesives, welds, etc., to provide the arrangement shown, which is sufficient to provide an adequate location to mount the track-receiving means  17   a  and  17   b . Although not visible from this perspective, track-receiving means  17   b  is a substantial mirror image of that of  17   a  with regards to its features. The track-receiving means include rollers  19 , which are positioned on both track-receiving means  17   a  and  17   b . The frame means is preferably dimensioned so that the distance between the rollers  19  on the track-receiving means  17   a  and  17   b  coincides substantially with the distance between the lower surfaces of the track means  7   a  and  7   b  ( FIG. 2 ) that reside upon the rollers  19 , to enable the track means  7   a  and  7   b  to ride on the rollers  19  disposed on the track-receiving means  17   a  and  17   b , which enables the slidable support portion to move laterally with respect to the frame means, in a direction shown by the arrow in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0030]    The frame means may optionally include a floor portion  9 , which can serve as a base to which frame members  11 ,  13 , and  15  are connectively attached, by conventional means, to provide robust stability to the frame means as a whole. The track-receiving means  17   a  and  17   b  may be attached to the frame members  11  and  15 , respectively, using conventional fastening means known to those skilled in the art. The individual frame members  11 ,  13 ,  15  may be connected to one another as shown using these same or other fastening means. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows a planar slidable support portion in one of its possible positions when attached to a frame means according to one embodiment of the invention. The arrow depicts the possible direction of lateral movement of the slidable support portion  3  with respect to the frame means to which it is attached, via its track means  7   a  and  7   b  ( FIG. 2 ) being in slidable contact with the track-receiving means  17   a  and  17   b  ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0032]    In  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b , and  5   c  there are shown various configurations of securing devices according to different embodiments of the invention. These securing devices each comprise a retaining means  190  and an anchoring means  217 . The anchoring means  217  are preferably comprised of a soft material, such as a plastic, cork, rubber, wood, etc., but may also be comprised of rigid materials, such as a metal, metallic alloy, or composites. The anchoring means are preferably contoured so that they fit within the holes  5  disposed on the top surface of the slidable support portion  3 . This enables the securing devices each as a whole to be readily affixed to the top surface T of the slidable support portion  3 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , by placing or lodging the anchoring means  217  into the holes  5 . Thus, it is preferred that the distance between the two anchoring means  217  corresponds substantially to the distance between a pair of holes  5  disposed on the top surface of the slidable support portion  3 . The retaining means  190  are preferably comprised of a rigid material, such as a hard polymer, metal, or metal alloy. In one preferred embodiment the retaining means  190  are comprised of heavy wire, having any cross-sectional diameter in the range of between about 1 millimeter or less to about 25 millimeters or more, with a diameter of about 6-12 mm being especially preferred. In one embodiment the wire is rigid and non-bendable. In another embodiment, the wire is flexible, which permits the user to bend the retaining means  190  into any shape as the user deems fit. Thus, the shape of the retaining means  190  may be any shape, form, or contour desired by the user, and may comprise any bend or configuration desired. 
         [0033]    In  FIG. 6  is shown a planar slidable support portion  3  in one of its possible positions when attached to a frame means according to one embodiment of the invention, further including a plurality of retaining means  190  ( FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c ) attached to the slidable support portion  3 . Also shown are the respective locations of the floor portion  9 , the left frame member  11 , rear frame member  13 , right frame member  15 , slidable support portion  3 , and a plurality of retaining means  190  held in place by the anchoring means  217  ( FIG. 5 ) which anchoring means  217  are disposed within the various holes  5  on the slidable support portion  3 . By judicious selection of the positions at which the retaining means  190  are disposed, it is possible to create and define spaces S between the retaining means  190 . These spaces S are suitable locations at which appropriately contoured wares and utensils may be held in a retained position between the different retaining means  190 , such as the pan  21  shown in  FIG. 7 . This arrangement enables the handle portion of the pan  23  to be disposed in an upward position, to make efficient storage use of the surface area of the slidable support portion  3  while simultaneously enabling ready grasping of the pan. 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  shows a device according to one embodiment of the invention in its final in-use arrangement, mounted in a cabinet  69  beneath a kitchen countertop  29 . In  FIG. 8  are shown the respective locations of the elements of the floor portion  9 , the left frame member  11 , rear frame member  13 , slidable support portion  3 , track means  7   b , track-receiving means  17   a , a plurality of retaining means  190  held in place by the anchoring means  217  disposed in various holes  5  (and hence not clearly visible) on the slidable support portion  3 , and rollers  19 . For convenience, there is a frontal lip or flange  25  attached to the front portion of the slidable support portion  3  by conventional means. In a preferred embodiment, there is a handle means  27  attached to this flange, which allows a user to pull the slidable support portion  3  out of the cabinet, to gain easy access to the wares and utensils disposed on the slidable support portion  3 , which are held rigidly in place by the plurality of retaining means  190 . The flange  25  may be a sheet of material such as plywood, polypropylene, a metallic alloy, etc. which is conventionally fastened to the front portion of the slidable support portion  3 . 
         [0035]    For easy stowage, the handle  27  is grasped and pushed, so that the slidable support portion  3  is pushed back into the cabinet, and the cabinet door  31  may be swung shut. In an alternate embodiment, no floor portion  9  is used as a member of the frame; rather, the bottom of the cabinet serves as the floor portion, and the track receiving means  17   a  and  17   b  are themselves attached directly to the right and left walls of an existing cabinet  69 . 
         [0036]    Consideration must be given to the fact that although this invention has been described and disclosed in relation to certain preferred embodiments, obvious equivalent modifications and alterations thereof will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in this art upon reading and understanding this specification and the claims appended hereto. This includes subject matter defined by any combination of any one of the various claims appended hereto with any one or more of the remaining claims, including the incorporation of the features and/or limitations of any dependent claim, singly or in combination with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the other dependent claims, with features and/or limitations of any one or more of the independent claims, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claims so modified. This also includes combination of the features and/or limitations of one or more of the independent claims with features and/or limitations of another independent claims to arrive at a modified independent claim, with the remaining dependent claims in their original text being read and applied to any independent claim so modified. Accordingly, the presently disclosed invention is intended to cover all such modifications and alterations, and is limited only by the scope of the claims which follow.