Knife holder having support stand allowing use on counter or in drawer

Abstract

A cutlery holder for positionably retaining a plurality of cutlery items in either a horizontal orientation or in an inclined orientation. The cutlery holder includes a body portion having a plurality of slots formed therein for receiving blade portions of cutlery items and a support stand connected to the body portion. The support stand has a first position for supporting the body portion such that the slots extend in a horizontal orientation and a second position for supporting the body portion such that the slots extend in an inclined orientation.

1 . A cutlery holder for positionably retaining a plurality of cutlery items in either a horizontal orientation or in an inclined orientation comprising: 
 a body portion having an upper surface, a bottom surface opposing said upper surface, a front surface and back surface and opposing side surfaces, said body portion having a plurality of slots formed therein and extending inward from the upper surface toward the bottom surface for receiving blade portions of cutlery items; and    a support stand directly connected to said body portion, said support stand having a first position for supporting said body portion such that said slots extend in a horizontal orientation and a second position for supporting said body portion such that said slots extend in an inclined orientation.    
   
   
       2 . The cutlery holder of  claim 1  wherein said support stand is retractable when in the second position so that the body portion can be supported when in the second position.  
   
   
       3 . The cutlery holder of  claim 1  wherein said support stand is retractable against said back surface.  
   
   
       4 . The cutlery holder of  claim 3  wherein said support stand is pivotably connected to said back surface.  
   
   
       5 . The cutlery holder of  claim 1  wherein said support stand is pivotably connected to said opposing side surfaces of the body portion.  
   
   
       6 . The cutlery holder of  claim 3  herein said support stand comprises a support tongue having a first end hingedly connected to said back surface.  
   
   
       7 . The cutlery holder of  claim 2  wherein said support stand further comprises a detachable fastening mechanism for selectively maintaining said support stand in said retractable first position.  
   
   
       8 . The cutlery holder of  claim 7  wherein said detachable fastening mechanism comprises a first component secured to the back surface and a second component attached to a portion of the support stand.  
   
   
       9 . The cutlery holder of  claim 3  wherein said support stand comprises a planar support base pivotably connected to a portion of the back surface near said bottom surface and a brace having a first end pivotably connected to the planar support base and a second end that selectively engages with said back surface of the body portion when said support stand is in said second position.  
   
   
       10 . The cutlery holder of  claim 1  wherein each of said slots have an interior slot portion configured to substantially enclose a cutlery blade and a length that extends at least half the distance between the upper surface and the bottom surface of the body.  
   
   
       11 . The cutlery holder of  claim 1  wherein the upper surface extends downwardly from the back surface to the front surface.  
   
   
       12 . The cutlery holder of  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of handle engagement elements each associated with one of the slots.  
   
   
       13 . The cutlery holder of  claim 12  wherein each of the handle engagement elements comprises a projection formed in the upper surface and which tapers inward toward its respective slot.  
   
   
       14 . The cutlery holder of  claim 1  further comprising a blade obstructing element situated at an end of the slot remote from the upper surface.  
   
   
       15 . A cutlery holder for positionably retaining a plurality of cutlery items in either a horizontal orientation or in an inclined orientation comprising: 
 a body portion having an upper surface, a bottom surface opposing said upper surface, a front surface and back surface and opposing side surfaces, said body portion having a plurality of slots formed therein for receiving blade portions of cutlery items, wherein the slots extend through the upper surface of the body portion toward the bottom surface; and    a support stand having a first position for supporting said body portion such that said slots extend in a horizontal orientation and a second position for supporting said body portion such that said slots extend in an inclined orientation and wherein a portion of the bottom surface of the body portion is in contact with a surface on which the cutlery holder is situated when the body portion is in the inclined orientation.