The present invention relates to spice rack systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to spice rack systems that are mountable underneath a cabinet and have multiple removable spice containers.
Many individuals utilize a wide variety of spices when cooking and preparing food. Spices are often sold in small individual containers. Individuals often end up storing multiple small spice containers scattered about in a kitchen drawer. It can be difficult to locate spices during cooking, which can cause complications when spices must be introduced at particular times in order to provide the best flavor. Further, the small spice containers take up space that may otherwise be used for storing other kitchen items such as cooking utensils. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system for storing multiple spice containers in a convenient and accessible location.
Spice racks for storing multiple spice containers are known. However, common spice racks suffer from multiple drawbacks. Spice racks are typically a unitary structure that rests on a countertop. These spice racks are often obstacles for individuals when cooking and must be navigated around to avoid potential spills. Other spice racks do not allow for the customization of the number of spice containers and the order in which each container is stored, let alone provide for the dispensing of spices when the containers are stored in the spice rack. Chefs and other individuals would benefit greatly from the ability to store spices in an easily accessible location in the preferred order to allow for faster and more efficient cooking. It is therefore desirable to provide a modular spice rack that is mountable to the underside of a kitchen cabinet, so that counter space is saved and individuals are provided with easily accessible spice containers.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of spice racks now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a modular wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when arrange spices for storage and accessing the stored spices during food preparation. The present system comprises a modular spice rack having a base and a plurality of containers securable to the base. The base includes a first end and a second end opposing the first end. One or more mounting apertures are disposed on the first and second end of the base, and one or more fasteners are insertable through the mounting apertures in order to secure an upper portion of the base to a downward facing horizontal surface such as the underside of a kitchen cabinet. A plurality of channels are disposed on a lower portion of the base. The modular spice rack further includes one or more containers, each having a sidewalls extending from a lower interior surface defining an interior volume, and an upper opening disposed on the container for accessing the interior volume and storing spices or other materials therein. The upper container includes a projection disposed thereon, and the projection is configured to slidably engage with the channel on the base. This allows the containers to be mounted to the underside of a kitchen cabinet in order to provide convenient access to spices without reducing counter space.
One object of the present invention is to provide a modular spice rack having none of the disadvantages of prior art spice racks.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular spice rack having a dispensing mechanism disposed on a lower portion of the container configured to dispense spices therefrom.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a modular spice rack that allows multiple containers to be removably secured to the underside of a cabinet in any order according to user preference.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular spice rack having containers with projections having trapezoidal cross-sections.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the modular spice rack. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for storing spices in containers removably secured to the underside of a cabinets. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to
The base 18 further comprises channels 19 disposed through a lower portion of thereof. The channels 19 may extend from a front portion of the base to a rear portion of the base, or alternatively may extend from a front portion of the base and terminate before reaching the rear portion. Each of the containers 12 have a projection 21 disposed on an upper end 14 thereof. The projection 21 is configured to slidably engage with the channel 19 on the base 18. The container 12 further comprises peripheral sidewalls 15 that define an interior volume 13. The interior volume 13 is configured to store spices therein and is accessible through an opening disposed on the front surface 24 of the container 12. A lid 16 is disposed over the opening and may be secured thereto via a friction fit or threaded connection. The lid 16 may remain on the container 12 continuously in order to keep spices therein fresh, and may be removed to add additional or new spices to the interior volume 13 of the container 12.
The lower edges 17 of each container 12 align with one another to form a continuous lower edge 17 along the lower portion of each container 12. Each container 12 is adjacent to another container 12 when secured within the base 18. This configuration utilizes all available space and allows multiple containers 12 to be secured to the base 18 while still keeping the modular spice rack 11 compact so that it may fit in small spaces underneath a cabinet. In the illustrated embodiment, the base 18 further comprises a rectangular perimeter 22. The rectangular perimeter 22 comprises rounded corners 23 in order to prevent an individual from accidentally injuring their hands when reaching for a container 12 secured to the base 18.
Referring now to
The base 18 may be mounted to the underside of a cabinet via fasteners 30 that are insertable through the apertures 20. The fasteners 30 may be screws, nails, magnetic fasteners, or any other fasteners capable of securing the base 18 to the underside of a cabinet. Further, the upper container opening may comprise a threaded lip 32 so that the lid 16 may be secured thereto via a threaded connection. Users may remove the lid 16 in order to fill the containers 12 with spices or other desired materials. A dispensing mechanism 42 is disposed on the lower end of the container 12. The dispensing mechanism 34 allows users to dispense desired quantities of spices from the container 12 when it is secured to the base 18.
Referring now to
The container 12 stores spices within the interior volume 13. In order to dispense spices from the dispensing mechanism 34, a user rotates the cylinder 35 until the cylinder opening 27 aligns with the dispenser opening 40. Spice or other stored material then flows from the interior volume 13 of the container 12 to the volume 39 of the cylinder. The user then continues to rotate the cylinder 35 in the same direction, until the cylinder opening 27 aligns with the dispensing channel 38 of the dispensing tube 36. The material in the volume 39 of the cylinder 35 then falls through the dispensing channel 38. Users may then collect the material in a secondary container such as a measuring cup or spoon. If the user wishes to dispense a small amount of spice, the user may rotate the cylinder 35 until the cylinder opening 27 is only partially aligned with the dispensing channel 38, allowing a smaller amount of spice to be dispensed. Alternatively, complete alignment between the cylinder opening 27 and the dispenser channel 38 allows a large amount of spice to be dispensed, which is useful for users who wish to utilize large quantities of a particular spice at once.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/131,277 filed on Mar. 11, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62131277 | Mar 2015 | US |