US 5,244,272 AGranted

Space-saving undercabinet spice jar drawer

OwnerDonn K. Thompsoninventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A spacing-saving undercabinet spice jar drawer comprises a tray (10) with five transverse, semi-cylindrical channels (11) for holding spice jars (12) in rows. The sides of the tray have raised front flanges (15A and 15B) and rear flanges (17A and 17B), the spaces between the front and rear flanges being notches (16A and 16B). The flanges of the tray slide into two guide rails (23A and 23B) of a mounting bracket (20). The front ends of the rails have sloped portions (24A and 24B) which terminate in deep cradles (25A and 25B). The tray can be opened by pulling it straight out until the notches are over the cradles. The front (F) of the tray is then lowered until the front edges of the rear flanges engage the bottom of the cradles, and the rear edges of the rear flanges engage the underside of the mounting bracket, such that the tray is angled downwardly about 45 degrees. As positioned, the tray allows convenient viewing and access to the spice jars. Because the transverse channels hold the jars in lateral rows, each jar is supported by a portion of a channel while the tray is tilted. Therefore, the jars can be individually removed and replaced without disturbing other jars.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A drawer apparatus for mounting under a cabinet, comprising:

a pair of spaced-apart horizontal guide rails each having a front end with a depressed cradle formed therein, each said cradle having a closed bottom portion and a rearwardly inclined front edge.
a substantially horizontal flat connecting member connecting said guide rails, said flat connecting member having a portion positioned above said cradles,
a tray comprised of a plurality of parallel semi-cylindrical channels extending transversely between two spaced-apart vertical side walls,
a front flange projecting outwardly and orthogonally from each of said vertical side walls into said guide rails, said front flange extending from a front portion of said tray to a position behind a midpoint of said tray, and
a rear flange projecting outwardly and orthogonally from a rear portion of each of said vertical side walls into said guide rails, said rear flange being spaced from said front flange,
whereby said tray can be placed in a closed position by pushing said tray horizontally along said guide rails and under said cabinet, and whereby said tray can be placed in an open position by pulling said tray outwardly from under said cabinet so that said rear flange is guided down into said cradle by said rearwardly inclined front edge of said cradle, and when said front portion of said tray is lowered to an inclined position, a rear edge of said rear flange will pivot upwardly against said flat connecting member, so that said tray is supported in a downwardly inclined position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.