Dish rack draining tray providing stability and effective draining

Abstract

A dish rack draining tray that includes a sloped trough having an exit end at the front side of the draining tray. The slope in the trough allows fluid to flow and discharge off the exit end of the trough on the front side of the draining tray. The draining tray includes one or more sloped surfaces that allow the fluid collected on the sloped surfaces to run off into the sloped trough. These sloped surfaces also support a dish rack on a horizontal plane.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A draining tray having a front side, comprising 
 a) a sloped trough to allow a fluid to flow along the trough and to be discharged off the front side of the draining tray at an exit end of the trough; and    b) one or more sloped surfaces wherein the slopes allow the fluid on the sloped surfaces to run off into the trough.    
     
     
         2 . The draining tray of  claim 1 , wherein the exit end of the trough clears the height of the rim of a sink so that the fluid can be discharged from the exit end of the trough into the sink.  
     
     
         3 . The draining tray of  claim 1 , further comprising a lip at the exit end of the trough to allow fluid to be discharged off the front side of the draining tray.  
     
     
         4 . The draining tray of  claim 3  wherein the lip at exit end of the trough clears the height of the rim of a sink so that the fluid can be discharged from the exit end of the trough into the sink.  
     
     
         5 . The draining tray of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more supporting walls along the peripheral edges of the draining tray.  
     
     
         6 . The draining tray of  claim 5 , wherein the lower edges of the one or more supporting walls define a base plane to allow the draining tray to stand on a flat horizontal surface.  
     
     
         7 . The draining tray of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more vertical ribs in connection with the under side of the draining tray, wherein the low edges of the vertical ribs define a base plane to allow the draining tray to stand on a flat horizontal surface.  
     
     
         8 . The draining tray of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more foot members in connection with the underside of the draining tray.  
     
     
         9 . The draining tray of  claim 1 , wherein the trough is distributed along the central axis of the draining tray and the two sloped surfaces are located on each side of the trough.  
     
     
         10 . The draining tray of  claim 1 , wherein the draining tray comprises polymeric materials.  
     
     
         11 . The draining tray of  claim 1  wherein the process of making the draining tray includes injection molding, vacuum molding, or pressure molding.  
     
     
         12 . The draining tray of  claim 1 , wherein the draining tray comprises four sides and four corners, including the front side adapted to be placed by a kitchen sink.  
     
     
         13 . A draining tray having a front side, comprising 
 a) a sloped trough distributed along a central axis of the draining tray; the trough being so sloped to allow a fluid to flow along the trough toward an exit end of the trough at the front side of the draining tray;    b) a lip at the exit end of the trough to allow fluid to be discharged off the front side of the draining tray at the exit end of the trough; and    c) two sloped surfaces parallel to the central axis and on the two sides of the sloped trough, wherein the two sloped surfaces are so sloped to allow the fluid on the sloped surfaces to run off into the sloped trough.    
     
     
         14 . The draining tray of  claim 13  wherein the lip at the exit end of the trough clears the height of the rim of a sink so that the fluid can discharge from the exit end of the trough into the sink.  
     
     
         15 . The draining tray of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more supporting walls along the peripheral edges of the draining tray, wherein the lower edges of the one or more supporting walls define a base plane to allow the draining tray to stand on a flat surface.  
     
     
         16 . The draining tray of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more vertical ribs in connection with the underside of the draining tray, wherein the low edges of the vertical ribs define a base plane to allow the draining tray to stand on a horizontal flat surface.  
     
     
         17 . The draining tray of  claim 13 , wherein the process of making the draining tray includes injection molding, vacuum molding, or pressure molding.  
     
     
         18 . A dish rack and draining system, comprising 
 a) a dish rack that supports one or more of dishes, utensils, and cookware, supported by one or more foot members; and    b) a draining tray, comprising 
 i) a front side;  
 ii) a sloped trough to allow a fluid to flow along the trough and to be discharged off the front side at the exit end of the trough; and  
 iii) one or more surfaces so sloped to allow the fluid on the sloped surfaces to run off into the trough, wherein the sloped surfaces are adapted to receive the foot members of the dish rack.  
   
     
     
         19 . The dish rack and draining system of  claim 18 , wherein the foot members of the dish rack received by the sloped surfaces are distributed on a horizontal plane.  
     
     
         20 . The dish rack and draining system of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid carried on the dishes, utensils, and cookware in the dish rack drips onto the sloped surfaces and the sloped trough of the draining tray when the foot members of the dish rack are placed on the sloped surfaces.