Retainer block for use with dish rack

Abstract

A dish rack has a collector tray, with the collector tray having a compartment. A retaining block is seated in the compartment and has at least one elongated slot. The sharp edge (e.g., blade) of a sharp object (e.g., knife) can be inserted through the slot and be shielded from the user by the retainer block.

Description

1. RELATED CASES [0001] This is a continuation-in-part of co-pending Ser. No. 10 / 770,898, filed Feb. 2, 2004, and co-pending Serial No. 29 / 203,828, filed Apr. 19, 2004, whose disclosures are incorporated as though set forth fully herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to dish racks and their accessories, and in particular, to a retainer block that can be used with the dish rack to protect the user from sharp edges of a sharp object, such as the blade of knives. [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0005] Dish racks are commonly used in dishwashers for organizing and positioning plates, bowls, cups and utensils for washing. Dish racks are also commonly used on kitchen countertops for positioning plates, bowls, cups and utensils to let them dry after they have been washed. [0006] Most of the plates, bowls, cups and utensils can be handled by a user without presenting any danger or harm because they do not have sharp o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a dish rack with a collector tray and a retainer block that can safely receive and retain sharp objects, such as knives. The retainer block has a raised shell with side and end walls and an angled top wall with a base and a flange. The angled top wall has at least one elongated slot that can shield the sharp edge of a sharp object. The retainer block can also be used to receive other types of objects. The technical effect of the invention is to provide a safe and convenient way to handle sharp objects in a dish rack.

Problems solved by technology

However, a potentially dangerous utensil is the knife, whose sharp blades can cut or hurt a user if the user accidentally grabs the knife by the blade.

Knives are more troublesome.

However, inserting the knife in this orientation may blunt the sharp tip or blade of the knife since the tip or blade will contact the walls of the compartment.

On the other hand, if the user inserts the knife into an open compartment with the blade facing up, then the knife would pose a severe safety risk to anyone who accidentally attempts to grip the knife without seeing the exposed blade.

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