Utensil holder for a dishwasher

Abstract

A utensil holder for holding a utensil to limit the rotation of the utensil.

1 . A utensil holder for holding a utensil having a working face and a first portion of a greater dimension than a second portion in a wire-frame dish rack of a dishwasher, the utensil holder comprising:
 a coupler configured for mounting to the wire-frame dish rack;   a first support element having a first recess; and   a second support element having a second recess that is smaller than the first recess;   wherein the first support cradles the first portion of the utensil within the first recess and the second support cradles the second portion of the utensil within the second recess.   
   
   
       2 . A utensil holder according to  claim 1  wherein the support elements are spaced from each other. 
   
   
       3 . A utensil holder according to  claim 2  wherein the support elements are aligned with each other. 
   
   
       4 . A utensil holder according to  claim 1  wherein the support elements each have a first recess and a second recess. 
   
   
       5 . A utensil holder according to  claim 4  wherein the second recess opens into the first recess. 
   
   
       6 . A utensil holder according to  claim 1  wherein the recesses are configured to prevent the utensil from freely rotating when received within the recesses. 
   
   
       7 . A utensil holder according to  claim 1  and further comprising a rib projecting from at least one of the first and second support elements and into corresponding first and second recess. 
   
   
       8 . A utensil holder according to  claim 1  wherein the support elements extend from the coupler. 
   
   
       9 . A utensil holder according to  claim 1  and further comprising at least one hook projecting from the coupled for attaching the coupler to the dish rack. 
   
   
       10 . A utensil holder according to  claim 1  wherein the coupler further comprises a stop for preventing the utensil holder from rotating relative to the dish rack. 
   
   
       11 . A utensil holder according to  claim 1 , where at least one of the first and second support elements comprises both a first and second recess. 
   
   
       12 . A utensil holder according to  claim 11  wherein the second recess diverges away from the first recess. 
   
   
       13 . A utensil holder according to  claim 12  wherein the first recess has a smaller cross-sectional area than the second recess. 
   
   
       14 . A utensil holder according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the first and second supports comprises both a first and second recess. 
   
   
       15 . A utensil holder according to  claim 1  wherein the support elements are substantially rigid. 
   
   
       16 . A utensil holder for holding a utensil having a first portion of a greater dimension than a second portion on a wire-frame dish rack of a dishwasher, the utensil holder comprising:
 a body;   a coupler mounted to the body and configured for mounting to the wire-frame dish rack;   a first recess formed in the body; and   a second recess formed in the body and smaller than the first recess;   wherein the first recess can receive the first portion of the utensil and the second recess can receive the second portion of the utensil.   
   
   
       17 . A utensil holder according to  claim 16  wherein the recesses are spaced from each other. 
   
   
       18 . A utensil holder according to  claim 16  wherein the body has two first recesses and two second recesses arranged in pairs of first and second recesses. 
   
   
       19 . A utensil holder according to  claim 18  wherein the second recess opens into the first recess. 
   
   
       20 . A utensil holder according to  claim 19  wherein the first recess diverges away from the second recess. 
   
   
       21 . A utensil holder according to  claim 16  wherein the recesses are configured to prevent the utensil from freely rotating when received within the recesses. 
   
   
       22 . A utensil holder according to  claim 16  and further comprising a rib projecting into at least one of the first and second recesses. 
   
   
       23 . A utensil holder according to  claim 16  wherein the coupler further comprises a hook for attaching the coupler to the dish rack. 
   
   
       24 . A utensil holder according to  claim 23  wherein the coupler further comprises a stop for preventing the utensil holder from rotating relative to the dish rack. 
   
   
       25 . A utensil holder according to  claim 16  wherein the first recess is longitudinally aligned with the second recess. 
   
   
       26 . A utensil holder according to  claim 16  wherein the body is substantially rigid to minimize compressive forces on the utensil.