Apparatus for securely holding kitchenware

This invention, in general, relates to an apparatus for securely holding kitchenware for cleaning and storing kitchenware. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for securely holding multiple kitchenware articles in a predetermined position during cleaning of the kitchenware articles in a dishwasher.

Typically, kitchenware articles such as wine glasses, drinking glasses, glass bowls, etc. are stored in racks. Racks support glasses, bowls, and other articles that may be conveniently retrieved when required. Racks may also be used for artistically arranging wine glasses or drinking glasses. However, racks are generally designed to accommodate only specific sized glasses. When glasses of different shapes or sizes are placed in a rack, some glasses may not be securely held in place, thereby leading the glasses to slide from their positions and break.

Furthermore, after glasses are used, the glasses are cleaned manually or in a dishwasher. After the glasses are cleaned, it is desirable to remove water particles on the surface of the glass to provide a clean and water-mark free glass surface.

Hence, there is a need for an apparatus to securely hold multiple glasses of different sizes in a predetermined position for cleaning and storing the glasses in a dishwasher. Furthermore, there is also a need for an apparatus to store glasses so that water particles on the surfaces of the glasses are removed.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The apparatus disclosed herein addresses the above stated need for securely holding multiple stemmed objects in a predetermined position for the purpose of cleaning the stemmed objects in a dishwasher. As used herein, the apparatus for holding the multiple stemmed objects is referred to as a “rack”. The stemmed objects comprising wine glasses, champagne flutes, goblets, cocktail glasses, etc., will herein be referred to as “glasses”. The rack comprises a frame of a predefined shape. For example, the frame may be of a rectangular shape, a square shape, a polygonal shape, etc. The frame securely holds the glasses and the kitchenware articles during cleaning in a dishwasher. The frame comprises a securing means and a supporting means. The securing means comprise multiple upper rods attached in a cantilever position to the upper end of the frame. The upper rods are arranged along the width of the frame at predetermined intervals to create slots for securely holding the glasses of different sizes.

The glasses may be supported at the stem and base of the glasses or the stem and lateral surfaces of the glasses. The supporting means comprise multiple lower rods attached at predetermined intervals to the lower end of the frame. The supporting means provide support to the glasses and kitchenware articles through lips or bases of the glasses and the kitchenware articles. The lower rods are angularly bent upwards at terminal portions of the lower rods. The spaces between the lower rods allow for drainage of water during the cleaning of the glasses. The rack also stores the glasses and kitchenware articles for removing the water particles on the glasses and kitchenware articles. In an embodiment of the apparatus disclosed herein, the terminal portions of the upper rods may be angularly bent upwards. The angularly bent terminal portions of the upper rods prevent the glasses from sliding out of the slots between the upper rods.