The present invention relates to tray assembly slidably mounted within a cabinet and provided with an expandable assembly and a plurality of tines to support items therein.
Today's modern kitchens are provided with an abundance of storage space, but none are used more than the kitchen cabinet. These cabinets are used to store dinnerware such as bowls, plates, and the like, in a stacked format. Additionally, they are used to store cookware such as pots, pans, lids, and the like as well. Unfortunately, this stacked arrangement often means that several items must be removed until the user can get at the one he or she needs. This not only a time-consuming process, but also exposes other pieces of dinnerware or cookware to possible damage from chipping or even breaking. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which desired dinnerware and cookware items can be easily removed from a kitchen cabinet, without impacting other items, and without exposing them to possible chipping or damage. The development of the expandable cabinet tray fulfills this need.
The expandable cabinet tray is a storage apparatus for kitchen cabinets that holds various dinnerware and cookware items. The invention is intended to increase usability of the kitchen cabinets as well as prevent damage to the stored items. The invention is comprised of an overall stainless steel frame which fits into the upper wall section of a kitchen cabinet. It is provided with an adjustment mechanism to securely install the invention in place. The frame provides an inner moving mechanism which extends in and out of the cabinet area. In turn, this extension portion includes adjustable dividers for storing each individual piece of dinnerware, such as bowls, plates, cups, or the like. It can also be used to store cookware such as pots, pans, lids, and similar products. As such, at no time does any piece of dinnerware or cookware touch another item. This makes it very easy to remove one item, without having to move other items for access. Additionally, it prevents damage to the item by eliminating the possibility of chipping or breaking. It is envisioned that the present invention could be easily installed in almost any type of kitchen cabinet with a minimal amount of tools, and could be removed at a later date, without leaving any telltale marks behind.
The expandable cabinet tray is designed with utility and convenience in mind, and is easy to install and use. The tray consists of a primary base plate and an expanding base plate, which are attached to the inside of the cabinets with adhesive pads, such as mastic. This way, no damage to the cabinet would exist. However, if desired, permanent installation could be achieved by using threaded fastening mechanisms.
Base assemblies are preferably stainless steel, and adhesive pads would be placed on the underside of the horizontal portion of each of the primary base plate and expanding base plate. The slide roller bearing on the inside of the primary base plate would allow the expanding base plate to slide out easily.
The tray has a primary frame floor in the form of a stainless steel plate, and support tines are attached to the primary frame floor to hold items vertically. The support tines are stainless steel wires. Disposed along the outside of the support tine assembly of the primary frame, a short distance above the primary frame floor, is a primary frame brace, preferably comprised of stainless steel wire for the purpose of supporting the dishware in the apparatus. The floor of the expansion frame is a series of stainless steel plates, welded to the expanding frame side member of the expanding frame and spaced so as to bypass the support tines attached to the primary frame floor.
In operation, the pull out tray assembly comprising of the primary frame and the extending frame with integral floors and, and support tines may be extended from the cabinet either partially or fully on the slide roller bearings and for the removal or insertion of glassware, dishware, and/or cookware. The items in the tray would be supported on or against the tines on the primary frame floor.
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein is depicted in
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
The present invention describes a wall cabinet expanding tray (herein described as the apparatus) 10, which provides a means for storing dishware, glassware, and/or cookware in wall cabinets of various standard and custom widths in a manner such that said items can be inserted or removed individually from the tray 10 so as to prevent, or at least minimize, any chipping or breakage of those items that could be caused as a result of the inadvertent handling of them. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10 will be to affix the primary base plate 21 and the expanding base plate 31 to the cabinet shelf with adhesive pads 23 and 33, such as mastic, so as to avoid the use of, and eliminate the concurrent damage caused by, other fastening means. However, a more permanent installation could be achieved with the use of threaded fasteners by anyone with minimal skills and access to the necessary tools and hardware and would not be considered outside the scope of this invention.
Referring now to
The front frame member 54 and the rear frame member 56 of the expanding frame 50 fit into the corresponding tubular stainless steel members of the primary frame 40 to provide for expansion or contraction of the apparatus 10 to adjust for installation in wall cabinets of different widths.
The primary frame floor 49 is a stainless steel plate welded to the primary frame rear member 46, the primary frame front member 44, and the primary frame side member 42 of the primary frame 40. Support tines 71 of formed stainless steel wire will be attached to the primary frame floor 49 for the support of items placed in the tray. Disposed along the outside of the support tine 71 assembly of the primary frame 40, a short distance above the primary frame floor 49, is a primary frame brace 72, preferably comprised of stainless steel wire for the purpose of supporting the dishware in the apparatus 10. The floor of the expansion frame 50 is a series of stainless steel plates 58, welded to the expanding frame side member 52 of the expanding frame 50 and spaced so as to bypass the support tines 71 attached to the primary frame floor 49. The free ends of these floor pieces will rest on the solid floor 49 of the primary frame 40 at whatever point the frames are positioned relative to each other and these floor pieces will also be fitted with additional support tines 71 to support dishware or cookware. Disposed along three (3) sides of the support tine 71 assembly of the expanding frame assembly 50, a short distance above the expanding frame floor 59, is an expanding frame brace 73, preferably comprised of a formed stainless steel wire for the purpose of supporting the dishware in the apparatus 10. The frame members of the primary frame 40 and the expanding frame 50 are shown as square stainless steel tubing, however, the utilization of tubing having other cross sections could easily be made without limiting the scope of the apparatus 10.
In operation, the pull out tray assembly comprising of the primary frame 40 and the extending frame 50 with integral floors 48 and 58, and support tines 71 may be extended from the cabinet as shown in
The apparatus 10 will start in the fully collapsed arrangement as shown in
Referring to
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus 10, it would be installed as indicated in
The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus 10 may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the apparatus 10 having the desired width expansion to properly fit in the desired wall cabinet; assuring that the cabinet shelf comprises a smooth, clean surface; positioning the apparatus 10 in said cabinet observing that the orientation thereof permits the frame assemblies 40 and 50 to be slid out of the cabinet for proper access to the stored items to affect the proper operation of the apparatus 10 with no interference with either the back or the door(s) of the cabinet; adjusting the expansion of the frames 40 and 50 relative to each other to achieve the correct width adjustment allowing for any variation of the cabinet style positions to permit the frames 40 and 40 to slide out of the cabinet with no interferences; marking the locations of the base pieces 21 and 31 on the cabinet shelf; removing the apparatus 10 from the cabinet and pealing off the protective paper covering 24 of the adhesive pads 23 and 33; reinserting the apparatus 10 back into the cabinet to the locations as previously marked on the shelf, being sure to not touch the said adhesive pads 23 and 33 against the shelf until the exact location is achieved; pressing the apparatus 10 firmly against the shelf to assure that is properly affixed to said shelf; and utilizing the apparatus 10 as desired to allow for the insertion, removal, and storage of glassware, dishware, and/or cookware without those items touching each other to prevent incidental contact and resultant damage.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/781,890, filed Mar. 14, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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61781890 | Mar 2013 | US |