# US 2014/0190911 A1 · Device for securing chopsticks to dishwasher rack

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- Number: US 2014/0190911 A1
- Document ID: US20140190911A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/846,464
- Filed: 2013-03-18
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-18
- Assignees: Matthew Dino Minuti; Katherine Ann Hamilton
- Inventors: Katherine Ann Hamilton; Matthew Dino Minuti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190911A1

## CPC

- A47L 15/505: {Inserts, e.g. for holding baby bottles, stemware or cups}
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)

## Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a device to be affixed to an automatic dishwasher rack in order to provide a means by which one can secure a number of chopsticks or similarly shaped items such that the items can be cleaned without risk of damaging either the dishwasher or aforementioned items.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for holding one or more utensils securely within a dishwasher or any other cleaning or sterilization apparatus, said device comprising of both:
a plurality of orifices shaped to hold said utensils; and
a clip, clamp, or other fastening means for affixing said device to the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of holes, such that in typical use the utensils are held in place by friction; and
the fastening means takes the form of an integral clip or set of clips, such that in typical use the claimed device clips onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of holes with radial or lateral protrusions, such that in typical use the elasticity of the material aids in grasping the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of an integral clip or set of clips, such that in typical use the claimed device clips onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of integral clips shaped to firmly grasp the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of an integral clip or set of clips, such that in typical use the claimed device clips onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of matched indentations in a single part, which when folded or hinged onto itself, clamp onto the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of an integral clip or set of clips, such that in typical use the claimed device clips onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of matched indentations in multiple separate parts, which when attached to each other, clamp onto the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of an integral clip or set of clips, such that in typical use the claimed device clips onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of holes, such that in typical use the utensils are held in place by friction; and
the fastening means takes the form of a clamping mechanism, such that in typical use the claimed device clamps onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of holes with radial or lateral protrusions, such that in typical use the elasticity of the material aids in grasping the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of a clamping mechanism, such that in typical use the claimed device clamps onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of integral clips shaped to firmly grasp the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of a clamping mechanism, such that in typical use the claimed device clamps onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of matched indentations in a single part, which when folded or hinged onto itself, clamp onto the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of a clamping mechanism, such that in typical use the claimed device clamps onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of matched indentations in multiple separate parts, which when attached to each other, clamp onto the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of a clamping mechanism, such that in typical use the claimed device clamps onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of holes, such that in typical use the utensils are held in place by friction; and
the fastening means takes the form of a multi-part mechanism, such that in typical use the claimed device attaches onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of holes with radial or lateral protrusions, such that in typical use the elasticity of the material aids in grasping the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of a multi-part mechanism, such that in typical use the claimed device attaches onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of integral clips shaped to firmly grasp the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of a multi-part mechanism, such that in typical use the claimed device attaches onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of matched indentations in a single part, which when folded or hinged onto itself, clamp onto the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of a multi-part mechanism, such that in typical use the claimed device attaches onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of matched indentations in multiple separate parts, which when attached to each other, clamp onto the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of a multi-part mechanism, such that in typical use the claimed device attaches onto a part of the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of holes, such that in typical use the utensils are held in place by friction; and
the fastening means takes the form of the claimed device resting within the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus, such that the claimed device holds the utensils more securely than had the claimed device not been in use.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of holes with radial or lateral protrusions, such that in typical use the elasticity of the material aids in grasping the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of the claimed device resting within the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus, such that the claimed device holds the utensils more securely than had the claimed device not been in use.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of integral clips shaped to firmly grasp the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of the claimed device resting within the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus, such that the claimed device holds the utensils more securely than had the claimed device not been in use.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of matched indentations in a single part, which when folded or hinged onto itself, clamp onto the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of the claimed device resting within the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus, such that the claimed device holds the utensils more securely than had the claimed device not been in use.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

A device according to claim 1, wherein:
the orifices take the form of matched indentations in multiple separate parts, which when attached to each other, clamp onto the utensils; and
the fastening means takes the form of the claimed device resting within the interior of the cleaning or sterilization apparatus, such that the claimed device holds the utensils more securely than had the claimed device not been in use.