Kitchen Utensil Organizer and Utensil Support Rack

Abstract

A kitchen utensil organizer is provided by a block member. The block member includes an elongate base, a rib, an array of intermittently spaced-apart male members and a complementary array of interlocking female members. The rib extends from the base and has an array of spaced apart slots each sized to receive individual utensils. The array of intermittently spaced-apart male members extends laterally from one side of the base. The complementary array of interlocking female members extends laterally from another side of the base, opposite the one side.

Description

RELATED PATENT DATA[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 124,776, which was filed Apr. 21, 2008, and which is incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]This invention pertains to apparatus for storing utensils. More particularly, the present invention relates to organizers for kitchen utensils, such as knife organizers.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]There exist numerous problems when storing kitchen utensils in drawers and along storage surfaces. It is well known to store knives in drawers, as this can save counter space and provide for more security. Likewise, it is common for people to have a variety of different knife styles, shapes, and sizes that make it undesirable or impractical to store them all on a countertop. For example, wooden knife blocks enable storage of knives on a countertop, but the blocks take up counter space. It is also known that there is a wide range of different drawer sizes.[0004]There also...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent text describes three different types of utensil organizers that can be adapted to fit in different sizes of drawers. These organizers can be used alone or in groups, and they can be mounted together to create a desired length for the assembly. The first type of organizer is made up of a block member with a base, rib, male members, and female members. The second type has an elongate base with mating surfaces and a projection with utensil receiving apertures. The third type has a foundation base with mating surfaces and a projection with utensil receiving apertures. These organizers can be used to keep utensils organized and easily accessible in the kitchen."

Problems solved by technology

There exist numerous problems when storing kitchen utensils in drawers and along storage surfaces.

Likewise, it is common for people to have a variety of different knife styles, shapes, and sizes that make it undesirable or impractical to store them all on a countertop.

For example, wooden knife blocks enable storage of knives on a countertop, but the blocks take up counter space.

However, these devices have a number of limitations.

Typically, bins, trays, and baskets are limited to incremental sizes and a predefined capacity, which can limit the number of knives being retained.

Additionally, these types of devices become inconvenient to use as more knives are stacked on top of each other, necessitating the process of removing the knives on top to access the knives on the bottom of the bin.

Since these types of storage methods do not typically provide any positive orientation of the blades, there exists the possibility of the knives damaging each other, or leaving a cutting edge exposed to someone selecting a knife.

Frequently, these devices make poor use of space, are configured to a particular knife style, and are expensive.

Images