Interconnectable utensil holders

Abstract

A modular utensil holder is operable to hold a utensil and includes a case, a utensil-retaining assembly, and a removable case connector. The case includes wall structure that presents an elongated utensil-receiving opening. The utensil-retaining assembly is confined by the wall structure within the utensil-receiving opening to engage the utensil when the utensil is received in the opening. The case connector is fixed relative to the wall structure, with the case connectors of adjacent utensil holders being removably connectable so as to releasably secure the adjacent utensil holders to one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular utensil holder set comprising a plurality of utensil holders, each being operable to hold a utensil and comprising:
 a case including wall structure that presents an elongated utensil-receiving opening;   a utensil-retaining assembly being confined by the wall structure within the utensil-receiving opening to engage the utensil when the utensil is received in the opening; and   a removable case connector being fixed relative to the wall structure, with the case connectors of adjacent utensil holders being removably connectable so as to releasably secure the adjacent utensil holders to one another.   
     
     
         2 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said connector of a first one of the adjacent utensil holders comprising a projection,   said connector of a second one of the adjacent utensil holders comprising a complemental groove configured to receive the projection of the first one of the adjacent utensil holders.   
     
     
         3 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 said projection being necked to present an enlarged distal end margin,   said groove presenting a constricted throat to restrict removal of the projection from the groove when the adjacent utensil holders are secured to one another.   
     
     
         4 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 3 ,
 said projection being slidably received within the groove when the adjacent utensil holders are secured to one another.   
     
     
         5 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 4 ,
 said wall structure being generally upright such that the utensil receiving opening extends in a generally vertical direction,   said projection and groove extending along the vertical direction, such that the adjacent utensil holders are shifted generally vertically relative to one another when connecting or disconnecting the connectors.   
     
     
         6 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 said projection being slidably received within the groove when the adjacent utensil holders are secured to one another,   said projection and said groove presenting respective faces that oppose one another when the projection is slidably received within the groove,   at least one of the faces presenting a concave cross-sectional shape, with the faces cooperatively defining an elongated relief space therebetween to permit smooth sliding engagement between the projection and the groove.   
     
     
         7 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 said projection and groove being integrally formed as part of the respective wall structure.   
     
     
         8 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said wall structure having a generally polygonal cross-sectional shape so as to present a plurality of wall sections,   each of said wall sections being associated with at least one of the connectors.   
     
     
         9 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 8 ,
 said connectors including projections and complemental grooves, with each of the grooves being configured to receive a corresponding one of the projections when the adjacent utensil holders are releasably secured to one another.   
     
     
         10 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 9 ,
 each said utensil holders presenting an odd number of wall sections,   said connectors of each utensil holder being provided in an alternating arrangement such that each pair of adjacent wall segments are associated with one of the projections and one of the grooves.   
     
     
         11 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 10 ,
 said wall structure of each utensil holder being equilateral,   said utensil holders being at least substantially similar in cross-sectional size and shape.   
     
     
         12 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 11 ,
 each of said utensil holders being releasably secured to at least two other utensil holders.   
     
     
         13 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said utensil holders being configured so that the utensil receiving openings are oriented in the same direction when the adjacent utensil holders are releasably secured to one another.   
     
     
         14 . The modular utensil holder set as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said utensil holders being configured so that the connectors of the adjacent utensil holders directly interengage one another, without any additional interconnection structure being therebetween, when the adjacent utensil holders are releasably secured to one another.   
     
     
         15 . A modular utensil holder operable to hold a utensil and be removably connected to one or more other modular utensil holders, said modular utensil holder comprising:
 a case including wall structure that presents an elongated utensil-receiving opening;   a utensil-retaining assembly being confined by the wall structure within the utensil-receiving opening to engage the utensil when the utensil is received in the opening; and   a plurality of case connectors fixed relative to the wall structure and configured to removably connect with the case connector of another modular utensil holder and thereby releasably secure the utensil holders to one another,   said connectors including a projection and a complemental groove, with the groove being configured to receive the projection of said another modular utensil holder when the utensil holders are releasably secured to one another.   
     
     
         16 . The modular utensil holder as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 said projection being necked to present an enlarged distal end margin,   said groove presenting a constricted throat.   
     
     
         17 . The modular utensil holder as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 said wall structure being generally upright such that the utensil receiving opening extends in a generally vertical direction,   said projection and groove extending along the vertical direction.   
     
     
         18 . The modular utensil holder as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 said projection and said groove of the modular utensil holder presenting respective projection and groove faces,   said groove face of the modular utensil holder configured to oppose the projection face of the another modular utensil holder when the utensil holders are releasably secured to one another,   at least one of said faces presenting a concave cross-sectional shape.   
     
     
         19 . The modular utensil holder as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 said projection and groove being integrally formed as part of the wall structure.   
     
     
         20 . The modular utensil holder as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 said wall structure having a generally polygonal cross-sectional shape so as to present a plurality of wall sections,   each of said wall sections being associated with at least one of the connectors.   
     
     
         21 . The modular utensil holder as claimed in  claim 20 ,
 said wall structure presenting an odd number of wall sections,   said connectors being provided in an alternating arrangement such that each pair of adjacent wall segments are associated with one of the projections and one of the grooves.   
     
     
         22 . The modular utensil holder as claimed in  claim 21 ,
 said wall structure being equilateral.