Dish rack

Abstract

A dish rack is mounted to a non-countertop surface adjacent a sink so that the dish rack is located a working distance above the sink by enough separation that the sink is usable as it normally would be. In one embodiment, the dish rack is movable between a first position where the dish rack is positioned over the sink, and a second position where the rack is stowed in a position away from the sink. In an alternate embodiment, the dish rack is fixedly mounted in the working position. A removable drip tray channels water directly to a desired location in the sink. The dish rack does not occupy or occlude any counter space at any time.

1 . A dish rack configured for mounting to a non-countertop surface adjacent a sink, comprising: 
 a dish rack defined by a wire shelf;    a drip tray supported below the wire shelf;    a dish rack mount attached to said wire shelf, said mount including a bracket attachable to said non-countertop surface, and said bracket configured for allowing said dish rack to be moved between a first position in which the dish rack is spaced apart from and above said sink so that said sink is accessible and a second position in which the dish rack is located away from said sink.    
   
   
       2 . The dish rack according to  claim 1  wherein the dish rack includes a support frame having an end plate and said dish rack mount is further defined by a hinge in said end plate so that when said end plate is mounted to a vertical surface said dish rack is pivotal about said hinge between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       3 . The dish rack according to  claim 2  in which the drip tray is attached to the support frame and in which the drip tray includes upwardly extending shallow peripheral walls.  
   
   
       4 . The dish rack according to  claim 3  wherein the drip tray is defined by a plate having a drain opening therein so that when the dish rack is in the first position the drain opening is positioned above the sink.  
   
   
       5 . The dish rack according to  claim 4  wherein the peripheral walls are configured to contain water within the tray when the dish rack is in the first position and wherein the plate is sloped to facilitate channeling of water into the drain opening when the dish rack is in the first position.  
   
   
       6 . The dish rack according to  claim 5  wherein the drip tray is removably attached to the support frame.  
   
   
       7 . The dish rack according to  claim 1  wherein said dish rack mount bracket is defined by longitudinally extendable slide members that allow the dish rack to be extended and retracted along said slide members between the first and second positions.  
   
   
       8 . The dish rack according to  claim 7  wherein the longitudinally extendable slide members are configured for mounting to an horizontal surface.  
   
   
       9 . A dish rack for use with a sink, comprising: 
 a wire shelf;    a drip tray supported below the wire shelf in a position to receive water dripping through the wire shelf, said drip tray including a base member and shallow peripheral walls;    mounting means for mounting said wire shelf to a non-countertop surface so that said dish rack is at all times above and spaced apart from said sink.    
   
   
       10 . The dish rack according to  claim 9  wherein said mounting means is configured for allowing said wire shelf to be movable between an in-use position in which the wire shelf, and a storage position in which the dish rack is positioned away from the sink.  
   
   
       11 . The dish rack according to  claim 10  wherein said non-countertop surface is a vertical surface adjacent said sink and said mounting means comprises a hinged bracket for mounting to said vertical surface to permit pivotal movement about said hinged bracket between the in-use and storage positions.  
   
   
       12 . The dish rack according to  claim 10  wherein said non-countertop surface is an horizontal surface and said mounting means comprises longitudinally extendable and retractable rails attached to said dish rack so that the dish rack may be slid along said rails between the in-use and storage position.  
   
   
       13 . The dish rack according to  claim 9  wherein said drip tray defines drain means for channeling water into a desired location in the sink when said dish rack is in the in-use position.  
   
   
       14 . The dish rack according to  claim 13  wherein said drain means further comprises a removable drip tray attached to the dish rack in a position to collect water when the drip tray is in the in-use position.  
   
   
       15 . The dish rack according to  claim 14  wherein said drip tray includes a drain opening in a desired position relative to the sink.  
   
   
       16 . A dish rack, comprising: 
 an open mesh tray having opposite ends and a mounting bracket on one end, wherein said mounting bracket is configured for attachment to a vertical surface so that said dish rack is spaced apart from an underlying sink by enough distance that the sink is normally accessible;    a drip tray supported entirely below said open mesh tray.    
   
   
       17 . The dish rack according to  claim 16  wherein said mounting bracket is configured to allow the open mesh tray and the drip tray be moved between an in-use position in which said dish rack is operatively positioned above a sink, and a storage position in which said dish rack is stowed away from said sink.  
   
   
       18 . The dish rack according to  claim 17  wherein said drip tray includes a drain opening so that water in said drip tray is channeled into said sink when the dish rack is in the in-use position.  
   
   
       19 . The dish rack according to  claim 18  wherein said drip tray is removably attached to said dish rack.  
   
   
       20 . The dish rack according to  claim 19  wherein said drip tray is further defined by a planar plate that slopes toward said drain opening.