GB2288969A

GB2288969A - Cup rack set

Info

Publication number: GB2288969A
Application number: GB9408496A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sheng-Tai Chen
Original assignee: CHEN SHENG TAI
Current assignee: CHEN SHENG TAI
Priority date: 1994-04-28
Filing date: 1994-04-28
Publication date: 1995-11-08
Also published as: GB9408496D0

Abstract

A cup rack set includes a housing (1) having a plurality of tapered vertical chambers (10) for keeping cups therein and two series of vertically spaced air vents (11) on a vertical front wall thereof. A horizontal bottom chamber (13) is provided at the bottom in communication with tapered vertical chambers. A shutter (20) is fastened to a series of vertically linked holes (110) on the vertical front wall of the housing and is movable to close and open the air vents. A water tray (3) is arranged to slide in and out of the horizontal bottom chamber to collect water from the cups loaded in the tapered vertical chambers. <IMAGE>

Description

CUP RACK SET The present invention relates to a cup rack set for holding cups permitting them to be air dried.

Figure 1 shows a cup rack according to the prior art which comprises a plurality of upright posts raised from a tray and having a respective rounded flat head at the top for holding a respective cup. Because this cup rack holds cups in the open air, the cups may be covered with dust easily. Therefore, this structure of cup rack is not in conformity with the requirements of hygiene.

The present invention has been accomplished to provide a cup rack set which eliminates the aforesaid drawback. According to one aspect of the present invention, the cup rack comprises a housing having a plurality of vertical chambers for holding an individual cup respectively, and a water tray made to slide in and out of a horizontal bottom chamber at the bottom of the housing to collect water from the cups.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a shutter is fastened to the housing and moved vertically to close and open air vents on the vertical front wall of the housing.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a cup rack according to the prior art; Fig. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of a cup rack according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional assembly view of the cup rack shown in Figure 2; Fig. 4 shows the headed sliding screw member moved from one round hole to another; Fig. 5 shows the headed sliding screw member pulled outwards and then moved vertically from one round hole to another; Fig. 6 shows a cup having an outside annular flange according to the present invention; Fig. 7 shows a cup having a gradually reduced top end according to the present invention; and Fig. 8 shows a cup having a handle according to the present invention.

Referring to the various drawings attached herewith, a detailed description of the structural features of " CUP RACK SET " of the present invention is as follows: Referring to Figures 2 and 3. a cup rack in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally comprised of a housing 1, a carrying handle 14 pivoted to the housing 1, and a water tray 3 made to slide in and out of the housing 1 at the bottom. The housing 1 comprises six equally spaced vertical open chambers 10 at the top, two series of vertically spaced air vents 11 bilaterally disposed on a vertical front wall thereof, a series of vertically linked round holes 110 on the vertical front wall thereof in the middle between the two series of vertically spaced air vents 11, and two opposite rails 12 in a horizontal bottom chamber 13 thereof, wherein each vertical open chamber 10 is made gradually smaller toward the horizontal bottom chamber 13, having a respective inside annular flange 100 at the bottom above the horizontal bottom chamber 13. The water tray 3 comprises two sliding grooves 30 respectively disposed along two opposite long sides thereof, and a handhold 31 on a front short side thereof. When the water tray 3 is put into the horizontal bottom chamber 13, the rails 12 are respectively engaged into the sliding grooves 30, and therefore the water tray 3 is permitted to be moved in and out of the housing 1. There is a shutter 20 fastened to the housing 1 on the inside behind the air vents 11 by a headed sliding screw member 2, a spring 21, and a nut 22. The headed sliding screw member 2 comprises a rectangular block 25 at the back of the head thereof fitted into a rectangular center hole 200 on the shutter 20, two circular projections 25 raised from two opposite sides of the head thereof and engaged into either of the vertically linked round holes 110, and a screw rod 26 perpendicularly extended from the rectangular block 24 and screwed up with the nut 22. The spring 21 is mounted around the screw rod 26 of the headed sliding screw member 2 and stopped between the shutter 20 and the nut 22. When assembled, an end cap 23 is covered over the nut 23 and the spring 21.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, when the headed sliding screw member 2 is pulled outward to release the circular projections 25 from the series of vertically linked round holes 110, it can then be moved vertically to shift the shutter 20 causing the shutter 20 to close or open the air vents 11.

Referring to Figures 6, 7, and 8, therein illustrated show different cup 4 for use with the cup rack of the present invention.

Because the vertical open chambers 10 are respectively made gradually smaller toward the bottom, the cup 4 to be kept in either vertical open chamber 10 is made having an annular outside flange 40 (as shown in Figure 6) or a gradually reduced top end 41 (as shown in Figure 7) or a handle 42 (as shown in Figure 8) so that it can be retained in either vertical open chamber 10 upsidedown.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A cup rack set comprising a housing having a plurality of tapered vertical chambers for receiving cups therein, a plurality of vertically spaced air vents on a vertical front wall thereof, a horizontally disposed bottom chamber at the bottom of the housing in communication with the tapered vertical chambers, a shutter fastened to a series of holes on the vertical front wall of the housing and linked in a vertical orientation, the shutter being movable to close and open the air vents, and a water tray 3 arranged to slide in and out of the horizontal bottom chamber to collect water from the cups being loaded in the tapered vertical chambers.

2. A cup rack set comprising a housing having six equally spaced vertical open chambers at the top respectively made gradually smaller toward the bottom, two series of vertically spaced air vents bilaterally disposed on a vertical front wall thereof, a series of vertically linked round holes on said vertical front wall in the middle between said two series of vertically spaced air vents, and two rails in a horizontal bottom chamber thereof, a front opening at one end of said horizontal bottom chamber, said vertical open chambers having a respective inside annular flange at the bottom disposed above and in communication with said horizontal bottom chamber; a carrying handle pivoted to said housing; a water tray inserted through said front opening into said horizontal bottom chamber and disposed below said vertical open chambers, said water tray comprising two sliding grooves on two opposite long sides thereof respectively matched with said rails, and a handhold on the front short side thereof; a shutter fastened to said vertical front wall inside said housing by a fastening device and moved to close and open said air vents; and a plurality of cups respectively disposed upside-down in either vertical open chamber.

3. The cup rack set of claim 2, wherein said fastening device comprises a headed sliding screw member, a nut, a spring1 and an end cap, said headed sliding screw member comprising a rectangular block at the back of the head thereof fitted into a rectangular center hole on said shutter, two circular projections raised from two opposite sides of the head thereof and engaged into either of said series of vertically linked round holes, and a screw rod perpendicularly extended from said rectangular block and screwed up with said nut, said spring being mounted around said screw rod and stopped between said shutter and said nut.

4. A cup rack set substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in Figurs 2 through 8 of the accompanying drawings.