GB2361413A

GB2361413A - A mobile stackable draining and work surface system

Info

Publication number: GB2361413A
Application number: GB0009572A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Edward Mason; Ian Stuart Robertson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-19
Filing date: 2000-04-19
Publication date: 2001-10-24
Also published as: GB0009572D0

Abstract

A drainage and work surface system for domestic and commercial use wherein the central components are a tray (10) draining into a tube or leg (11) at a specific point (12) and standing on a structure that is enabled to stack by the use of joints (13) onto a similar structure. The drained liquid is stopped at a chosen point (14) and diverted to a suitable container (15) or point or sink. The assembled stacks form a tiered system through which liquid can fall and be stopped at any tier of the system by the user. A work surface or table top can be separately mounted giving additional uses. Castors (16) can be added to a stack or to the whole assembly to give mobility and choice of location. The assembly can be dismantled into its component parts, which can be interchanged.

Description

2361413 A Mobile Stacking and Draining Worksurface System This invention

relates to a mobile stacking draining system that is self contained for its uses within its own assembly and which offers, with the addition of accessories, a multi-purpose apparatus that has applications in industry, the laboratory, catering, medicine and domestic kitchens.

The purpose of this invention is to provide additional or separate standing and draining space for utensils and to provide additional storage and work surface generally. It is the object of this invention to overcome the absence of draining boards in most modern kitchens and the cluffer prevalent in older kitchens. It reduces the need for immediate, time consuming hand drying and gives extra drainage and work surface at multiple heights. Its mobility gives flexibility in the choice of location for the domestic and industrial user. Its design allows for each height or stack to be removed and used or stood separately to serve the same purpose. The assembly can be dismantled into its component parts, which are interchangeable, and this facilitates flat packing and cleaning. The whole assembly or sub-assembly can be mounted on castors or rubber feet.

The central components of this invention are a tray constructed in such a way as to ensure that any liquid drains to a specific point and a supporting structure that allows the liquid collected at that specific point on the tray to be drained in a controlled fashion.

The preferred manufacture of this invention would be constructed in hardened plastic or similar materials to provide a light, strong and easily cleaned structure. It would stand on four legs supporting a tray with a smooth or sculpted surface and lipped at the edges. This surface would be sloped or dished from its extremities to a single drain point.

At the drain point the preferred design of the invention would allow liquid to drain into either a supporting leg or a tube at that point. The design allows for each assembly of tray and legs to be mounted or stacked by the use of suitable joints onto another stack. Drainage from the leg or tube into which liquid is collected would be stopped and diverted at a chosen point on any tier of the assembly. The diverted liquid would then flow into a container or outlet or into the sink.

Castors can be added to any stack or to the whole assembly to allow mobility and choice of location for the user.

It should be noted that the lips or sides of the tray surface should be of sufficient depth to provide the structure with strength and rigidity and to prevent items from failing off.

11L The invention can be manufactured in various sizes and heights to allow for a multitude of possible applications in both domestic and commercial situations. In addition to providing controlled drainage the invention allows for many other possible applications. For example, by mounting flat surfaces of various shapes and sizes on the assembly, it could offer a variety of table and work surface functions.

Figure One shows a schematic view of the drain tray and preferred leg assembly system with arrows showing the direction of flow for liquids.

Figure Two shows a side view of a drain leg and upper drain leg joint.

Figure Three shows a view of a castor assembly Figure Four shows a broken schematic view of the preferred system components without the tray lips.

Figure Five shows an alternative implementation using a drain tube.

3

Claims

Claims

1 A mobile stacking draining and work surface system comprising a tray standing on a supporting structure of legs, the tray being dished or sloped to allow drainage to a preferred specific point where liquid falls through a tube or leg to a drain off point where the liquid is diverted into a suitable container or to a further location or a sink. 2 A mobile stacking draining and work surface system as described in claim 1 where the tray and leg structure is enabled by suitable joints on the top and bottom of each tray and on the top and bottom of each leg to stack or interchange with another same or similar structure. 3 A mobile stacking draining and work surface system as described in claims I and 2 where one of the legs or a tube and locating joints are holed through the middle to provide continuity of drainage. 4 A mobile stacking draining and work surface system as described in claim 3 where the draining leg or tube is stopped at a chosen point to allow liquid to be diverted out of the system. 5 A mobile stacking draining and work surface system as all previously described where a work surface or table top is separately added to a tray or tier or the assembled system to allow additional uses. 6 A mobile stacking draining and work surface system as all previously described where mobility is given to a tier of the assembly or the whole assembled system by the addition of castors located under a tray or legs 7 A mobile stacking draining and work surface system as described especially in claim 6 where the castor is separately manufactured but provided with appropriate joints so that it can easily be attached to a tray or legs 8 A mobile stacking draining and work surface system as all previously described where all its separate component parts, or their assemblies, are interchangeable with like items, to re-assemble and give additional uses in conjunction with accessories