Pantry snack rack and a bag clip therefor

Abstract

A storage device for mounting to a structure and for securing and suspending bags and small items includes an elongate track for mounting to the structure and having a channel formed therein. One or more clips each having movable jaws, at least one handle for manipulating the jaws, and a runner to be received in the channel of the elongate track allow the clips to be repositioned along the elongate track.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 779,657, filed Mar. 6, 2006, and incorporates the disclosure of the same herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to the field of storage devices and more particularly to a pantry snack rack and a bag clip therefor.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In home kitchen pantries, it's not uncommon to have a bunch of open, half-eaten bags of snacks or other food items either cluttering the shelves or strewn on the floor. Consequently, it can be time-consuming to search for a particular item in such cluttered pantries. Generally, bags of food generally do not weigh very much, but yet in a number of households, such items consume valuable storage space in the kitchen pantry.[0004]Thus, it has been found that a need yet exists for another way to store pantry items that minimizes clutter while making suc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Advantageously, the pantry snack rack of the present invention makes use of otherwise unusable space in a pantry for storing snack bags or other small items, which typically would take up quite a lot of room in the pantry. The pantry snack rack provides a storage unit that can be securely attached to the pantry door or wall to provide storage for snack bags, including open snack bags that are closed or secured with a bag clip, without damaging the pantry door.

[0006]In one aspect, the present invention provides a pantry snack rack for use in a kitchen pantry for storing snack packages. The pantry snack rack includes a frame mounted to the pantry door or pantry wall and having a plurality of elongate tracks for receiving bag retention elements therein. The elongate tracks, which can be T-tracks, are adapted for capturing portions of the bag retention elements therein. The bag clip retention elements include spring clamps with movable jaws for releasably securing items therein and having runner portions adapted to be repositionably received in the tracks. Preferably, the runner portions are elongate to help maintain a horizontal orientation in the tracks.

[0007]In another aspect, the present invention provides a storage device for mounting to a structure and for securing and suspending bags and small items. The storage device includes an elongate track for mounting to the structure and having a channel formed therein for capturing a portion of one more bag clamps. Each clamp has movable jaws, at least one handle for manipulating the jaws, and a runner to be received in the channel of the elongate track to allow the clamp to be repositioned along the elongate track. Preferably, the runner is elongate to help maintain a horizontal orientation of the clamp in the elongate track and has rounded or tapered ends to assist in guiding the runner into the track. The track can be secured directly to a vertical surface or a horizontal surface.

Problems solved by technology

Consequently, it can be time-consuming to search for a particular item in such cluttered pantries.

Generally, bags of food generally do not weigh very much, but yet in a number of households, such items consume valuable storage space in the kitchen pantry.

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