Slidable knife block

Abstract

A slidable utensil block. The slidable utensil block includes a chassis that is operably coupled to a mounting surface. A tray, which is moveable with respect to the chassis, may be transitioned between an open position and a closed position. The tray includes a block assembly, operably coupled thereto, which is configured to receive the one or more utensils. When the tray is in the open position, the one or more utensils are externally accessible; however, accessibility to the one or more utensils is limited when the tray is in the closed position.

1 . A slidable utensil block comprising:
 a chassis operably coupled to a mounting surface;   a tray configured to move relative to the chassis between an open position and a closed position; and   a block assembly operably coupled to the tray and configured to receive the one or more utensils,   wherein the one or more utensils received within the block assembly are accessible external to the tray when the tray is in the open position and access to the one or more utensils received within the block assembly is limited when the tray is in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The slidable knife block of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one detent mechanism operably associated with at least one of the open and closed positions,   wherein the at least one detent mechanism is configured to prevent inadvertent movement of the tray.   
     
     
         3 . The slidable utensil block of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis includes at least one sidewall and is configured to be mounted such that the chassis depends from the mounting surface. 
     
     
         4 . The slidable utensil block of  claim 1 , wherein accessibility to the one or more utensils received within the block assembly is unobstructed on at least one side of the tray when the tray is in the open position. 
     
     
         5 . The slidable utensil block of  claim 1 , wherein the block assembly includes a plurality of slots, each slot of the plurality being configured to receive at least one of the one or more utensils. 
     
     
         6 . The slidable utensil block of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of slots extends in a direction that is generally transverse to a sliding direction of the tray with respect to the chassis. 
     
     
         7 . The slidable utensil block of  claim 6 , wherein the block assembly further comprises a plurality of modules, wherein spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of modules form the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         8 . The slidable utensil block of  claim 7 , wherein the spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of modules is adjustable. 
     
     
         9 . The slidable utensil block of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 at least one retainer configured to resist vertical movement of a utensil from the block assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The slidable utensil block of  claim 9 , wherein the retainer is a strap extending across the block assembly in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a direction of the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         11 . A method of using a slidable utensil block comprising a chassis operably coupled to a mounting surface, a tray configured to support one or more utensils and to move relative to the chassis, and a block assembly operably coupled to the tray and configured to receive one or more utensils, the method comprising:
 moving the tray, relative to the chassis, in a first direction from a closed position to an open position;   performing at least one of withdrawing a utensil from the block assembly and inserting a utensil into the block assembly, wherein withdrawing and inserting the utensil is unobstructed on at least one side of the tray; and   moving the tray from the open position to the closed position to limit access to the one or more utensils.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein moving the tray includes overcoming and passing a detent mechanism, the detent mechanism configured to prevent inadvertent movement of the tray. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the chassis includes at least one sidewall and is configured to be mounted such that the chassis depends from the mounting surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the block assembly includes a plurality of slots, each slot of the plurality being configured to receive at least one of the one or more utensils. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of slots extends in a direction that is generally transverse to a sliding direction of the tray with respect to the chassis. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the block assembly further comprises a plurality of modules, wherein spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of modules form the plurality of slots. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of modules is adjustable. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 at least one retainer configured to resist vertical movement of a utensil from the block assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the retainer is a strap extending across the block assembly in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a direction of the plurality of slots.