Hanging rack for storage container lids

Abstract

A rack for storing pot or pan lids from a standard overhead pot and pan rack and method of use. The lid rack is suspended under the overhead pot and pan rack for easy access. The tines of the lid rack can be adapted to interfere with the handles of the lids to keep them securely in the lid rack.

1 . A rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack, comprising:
 a pot and pan lid rack adapted to receive a pot or pan lid that is suspended beneath an overhead pot and pan rack from one or more connecting members attached to or incorporated into the lid rack, where the connecting members are attached to the overhead pot and pan rack at one end and incorporated into or attached to the pot and pan lid rack at the opposite end.   
   
   
       2 . The rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 1 , where the connecting member is adapted to be attached hook to the pot or pan rack on one end and removably attached to a pan lid to the other end. 
   
   
       3 . The rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 1 , where the one or more connecting members are flexible strands. 
   
   
       4 . The rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 1 , where is the lid rack further comprises one or more tines and the tines are adapted to interfere with a lid handle, whereby the lid is held in a fixed position within the lid rack. 
   
   
       5 . The rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 4 , where the lid handle is a ring and the lid rack tines are adapted to support the ring at one or more points on the ring. 
   
   
       6 . The rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 5 , where a lid rack tine further extends through the ring when the lid is placed in the lid rack. 
   
   
       7 . The rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 4 , where the lid handle is a knob and a lid rack tine include a concavity sized to receive the knob, whereby the lid must be lifted from the concavity to remove the lid from the lid rack. 
   
   
       8 . The rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 1 , where the one or more connecting members include rigid brackets supporting the pot and pan lid rack affixed to the overhead rack for pots and pans on one end and extending under the width of the lid rack, further affixed to supporting rods on the opposite end that are also affixed to the overhead pot and pan rack. 
   
   
       9 . The rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 8  where the pot and pan lid rack includes one or more tines and the tines are adapted to interfere with a lid handle, whereby the lid is held in a fixed position within the lid rack. 
   
   
       10 . The rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 9  where the tines are adapted to interfere with a lid handle by adaptations selected from one or more of: supporting a handle comprising a ring by supporting the ring on one or more points on the ring; supporting a handle comprising a ring with a tine extending through the ring, and supporting lid handle comprising a knob by supporting the knob in a concavity. 
   
   
       11 . A method for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack, comprising the steps of:
 suspending a pot and pan lid rack adapted to receive a pot or pan lid that is suspended beneath an overhead pot and pan rack from one or more connecting members attached to or incorporated into the lid rack, where the connecting members are attached to the overhead pot and pan rack at one end and incorporated into or attached to the pot and pan lid rack at the opposite end, and   placing one or more pot or pan lids in the lid rack.   
   
   
       12 . The method for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 11 , where the connecting member is adapted to be affixed by a hook on the pot and pan rack on one end and to removably affix a pan lid to the other end. 
   
   
       13 . The method for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 11 , where the one or more connecting members are flexible strands. 
   
   
       14 . The method for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 11 , where is the lid rack further comprises one or more tines and the tines are adapted to interfere with a lid handle, whereby the lid is held in a fixed position within the lid rack. 
   
   
       15 . The method for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 14 , where the lid handle is a ring and the lid rack tines are adapted to support the ring at one or more points on the ring. 
   
   
       16 . The method for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 15 , where a lid rack tine further extends through the ring when the lid is placed in the lid rack. 
   
   
       17 . The method for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 14 , where the lid handle is a knob and a lid rack tine include a concavity sized to receive the knob, whereby the lid must be lifted from the concavity to remove the lid from the lid rack. 
   
   
       18 . The method for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 11 , where the one or more connecting members include rigid brackets supporting the pot and pan lid rack affixed to the overhead rack for pots and pans on one end and extending under the width of the lid rack, further affixed to supporting rods on the opposite end that are also affixed to the overhead pot and pan rack. 
   
   
       19 . The rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 18  where the pot and pan lid rack includes one or more tines and the tines are adapted to interfere with a lid handle, whereby the lid is held in a fixed position within the lid rack. 
   
   
       20 . The rack for storing pot and pan lids from an overhead pot and pan rack of  claim 19  where the tines are adapted to interfere with a lid handle by adaptations selected from one or more of: supporting a handle comprising a ring by supporting the ring on one or more points on the ring; supporting a handle comprising a ring with a tine extending through the ring, and supporting lid handle comprising a knob by supporting the knob in a concavity.