IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,039,731
Granted Patent B2
US 11,039,731 · App. 16/704,751 · Granted Jun 22, 2021

Nesting, dish drying rack

Inventor: Hongyuan Han (New Vernon, NJ)
A47L19/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,039,731
App. No.
16/704,751
Granted
Jun 22, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drying rack which can be nested during shipment and/or storage includes an upper portion having a first and second drying areas. The drying areas define a gap between their lower extents. The drying rack also includes a baseboard portion to catch liquid draining through the first drying area and a baseboard extension configured to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the baseboard extension extends beneath the second drying area so as to catch liquid draining through the second drying area and, in the second position, the baseboard extension overlaps the baseboard portion exposing the gap between the first drying area and the second drying area so as to enable nesting of the drying rack with other like-designed drying racks.

Claims (36)

1. A drying rack comprising:

an upper portion having a first drying area and a second drying area, wherein the first drying area and the second drying area define a gap between a lower extent of the first drying area and a lower extent of the second drying area;

a baseboard portion configured to catch liquid draining through the first drying area; and

a baseboard extension configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein:

in the first position, the baseboard extension extends beneath the second drying area so as to catch liquid draining through the second drying area, and

in the second position, the baseboard extension at least partially overlaps the baseboard portion and does not extend beneath the gap between the lower extent of the first drying area and the lower extent of the second drying area so as to enable nesting of the drying rack with other like-designed drying racks.

2. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein the baseboard portion comprises a plurality of feet.

3. The drying rack of claim 2 , wherein the feet include a non-slip surface.

4. The drying rack of claim 2 , wherein, when the drying rack is at rest upon a surface, the feet of the baseboard portion are configured to hold the baseboard portion parallel to the surface so as to retain liquid within the baseboard portion, and

wherein the upper portion comprises a plurality of feet which are configured to hold the upper portion parallel to the surface when the drying rack is at rest upon the surface.

5. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein the baseboard extension defines a handle to enable extension of the baseboard extension.

6. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises a plurality of upper, alignment features,

wherein the baseboard portion comprises a complementary plurality of lower, alignment features, and

wherein each upper, alignment feature is configured to match with a lower, alignment feature so as to ensure proper alignment of the upper portion in relation to the baseboard portion.

7. The drying rack of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of upper, alignment features comprise a plurality of protrusions and the plurality of lower, alignment features comprise a plurality of receptors.

8. The drying rack of claim 6 , wherein the baseboard portion comprises at least one track surface, and wherein the baseboard extension comprises at least one slider, the at least one slider configured to glide over the at least one track surface when the baseboard extension moves between the first position and the second position.

9. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises a molded plastic frame.

10. The drying rack of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises a wire frame.

11. A drying rack comprising:

an upper portion having a first drying area and a second drying area, wherein the first drying area and the second drying area define a gap between a lower extent of the first drying area and a lower extent of the second drying area;

a baseboard portion configured to catch liquid draining through the first drying area; and

a baseboard extension configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein:

in the first position, the baseboard extension extends beneath the second drying area so as to catch liquid draining through the second drying area, and

in the second position, the baseboard extension at least partially overlaps the baseboard portion and does not extend beneath the gap between the lower extent of the first drying area and the lower extent of the second drying area so as to enable nesting of the drying rack with other like-designed drying racks,

wherein the baseboard portion comprises a plurality of feet,

wherein the baseboard portion further comprises a spout, and

wherein, when the drying rack is at rest upon a surface, the feet are configured to hold the baseboard portion at an angle to the surface so as to allow the liquid to flow out through the spout.

12. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein the feet include a non-slip surface.

13. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein the baseboard extension defines a handle to enable extension of the baseboard extension.

14. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein the upper portion comprises a plurality of upper, alignment features,

wherein the baseboard portion comprises a complementary plurality of lower, alignment features, and

wherein each upper, alignment feature is configured to match with a lower, alignment feature so as to ensure proper alignment of the upper portion in relation to the baseboard portion.

15. The drying rack of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of upper, alignment features comprise a plurality of protrusions and the plurality of lower, alignment features comprise a plurality of receptors.

16. The drying rack of claim 14 , wherein the baseboard portion comprises at least one track surface, and wherein the baseboard extension comprises at least one slider, the at least one slider configured to glide over the at least one track surface when the baseboard extension moves between the first position and the second position.

17. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein the upper portion comprises a molded plastic frame.

18. The drying rack of claim 11 , wherein the upper portion comprises a wire frame.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62776131 · Dec 6, 2018
Related Publication 20200178759A1 · Jun 11, 2020
Cited By (3)
US 12,467,688 US 12,611,085 US 12,722,417