Retainer block for use with dish rack

Abstract

A dish rack has a collector tray, with the collector tray having a compartment. A retaining block is seated in the compartment and has at least one elongated slot. The sharp edge (e.g., blade) of a sharp object (e.g., knife) can be inserted through the slot and be shielded from the user by the retainer block.

1 . Apparatus for use with a dish rack, comprising: 
 a raised shell, the raised shell having two side walls, an end wall extending between the side walls, and an angled top wall connected to the end wall and extending between the side walls, the angled top wall having a base;    a planar section extending from the base of the angled top wall;    a flange extending from the end wall;    an interior space defined by the side walls, the end wall and the angled top wall; and    at least one elongated slot provided in the angled top wall.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including at least one slot provided in the end wall.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including at least one slot provided on the planar section.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a vertical wall extending vertically downwardly from the flange.  
   
   
       5 . An assembly, comprising: 
 (a) a dish rack having a collector tray, the collector tray having a compartment; and    (b) a retaining block seated in the compartment, the retaining block including: 
 a raised shell, the raised shell having two side walls, an end wall extending between the side walls, and an angled top wall connected to the end wall and extending between the side walls, the angled top wall having a base;  
 a planar section extending from the base of the angled top wall;  
 a flange extending from the end wall;  
 an interior space defined by the side walls, the end wall and the angled top wall; and  
 at least one elongated slot provided in the angled top wall.  
   
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , further including at least one slot provided in the end wall.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 5 , further including at least one slot provided on the planar section.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the collector tray has an edge and a dividing wall that divides the collector tray into a plurality of compartments.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further including a vertical wall extending vertically downwardly from the flange and positioned adjacent either the edge of the collector tray or the dividing wall.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the flange is seated on top of either the edge of the collector tray or the dividing wall.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the planar section is seated on top of either the edge of the collector tray or the dividing wall.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus for use with a dish rack, comprising: 
 a raised shell, the raised shell having four side walls and a top wall extending between the side walls;    a planar section extending from one of the side walls of raised shell;    an interior space defined by the side walls and the top wall; and    at least one elongated slot provided in the top wall.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further including at least one slot provided on the planar section.  
   
   
       14 . An assembly, comprising: 
 (a) a dish rack having a collector tray, the collector tray having a tray edge and a dividing wall that divides the collector tray into a plurality of compartments; and    (b) a retainer seated above one of the compartments, the retainer having a planar section that has opposing end edges, with each end edge seated over either a tray edge or a dividing wall, the retainer having at least one elongated slot provided in the planar section.