Dishwasher utility basket

Abstract

A dishwasher utility basket is provided for holding utensils to be washed in a horizontal orientation. The basket includes a lattice bottom, opposite side walls, and opposite end walls. Handles are formed in each of the side walls and end walls such that the basket can be picked up by the sides or the ends. Upstanding tines hold the utensils in spaced relation for thorough cleaning. Legs on the bottom of the basket prevent the basket from sliding within the dishwasher rack. The handles allow the basket to be easily placed into the rack and removed from the rack. The basket is also dimensioned so as to fit within a standard kitchen cabinet drawer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A utility basket for holding utensils to be washed in a dishwasher, comprising: 
 an elongated tray having a lattice bottom, opposite side walls, and opposite end walls;    a handle formed in each of the side walls and end walls for lifting the tray by the sides and by the ends.    
     
     
         2 . The utility basket of  claim 1  wherein each handle is defined by an opening in the associated side wall and end wall.  
     
     
         3 . The utility basket of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of upstanding dividers extending across the width of the tray to provide a separate slot for holding each utensil.  
     
     
         4 . The utility basket of  claim 3  wherein two rows of dividers are provided toward each end of the basket.  
     
     
         5 . The utility basket of  claim 3  wherein utensils can be placed horizontally within the basket.  
     
     
         6 . The utility basket of  claim 1  wherein the basket is adapted to fit in a lower rack of the dishwasher.  
     
     
         7 . The utility basket of  claim 6  wherein the basket includes legs to engage the lower rack and prevent sliding movement of the basket.  
     
     
         8 . The utility basket of  claim 1  wherein the basket is sized to fit within a cupboard drawer.  
     
     
         9 . The utility basket of  claim 1  wherein the tray holds the utensils in side-by-side and end-to-end orientations.  
     
     
         10 . A dishwasher basket for holding utensils to be washed, the utensils having a utility end and a handle, the basket comprising: 
 an elongated lattice bottom;    side walls;    end walls; and    a plurality of rows of tines extending upwardly from the bottom and between the side walls, with a first pair of rows being adjacent one end wall and a second pair of rows being adjacent another end wall.    
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher basket of  claim 10  wherein rows of tines hold the utensils in side-by-side and end-to-end orientations.  
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher basket of  claim 10  wherein the tines hold the utensils in a horizontal orientation.  
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher basket of  claim 10  wherein the side walls and end walls are dimensioned such that the basket is adapted to fit within a standard kitchen cabinet drawer.  
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher basket of  claim 10  wherein the basket is adapted to fit in a lower rack of the dishwasher.  
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher basket of  claim 10  wherein the basket is adapted to be received within a rack of the dishwasher, and further comprising legs extending downwardly from the bottom to engage the rack and prevent sliding of the basket.  
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher basket of  claim 10  further comprising a handle formed on each side wall and each end wall.  
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher basket of  claim 16  wherein the handles are defined by openings in the associated side and end walls.