Storage Rack Assembly

Abstract

A storage rack assembly includes two racks mounted on the base for movement relative to the base between a stored position and an intermediate position and an open position. Each rack has storage spaces that are hidden when the rack is in the stored position and that are accessible when the rack is in the open position. The racks are adjacent to and parallel to each other when in the stored position. Either rack can be pulled out from the stored position to the intermediate position and then pivoted to the open position, to enable access to its storage spaces, while the other remains in the stored position. In one embodiment, the racks are optimized to store spice containers in a kitchen cabinet; in another, to store single serving coffee containers.

1 . A storage rack assembly comprising;
 a base;   a first rack supported on the base for movement relative to the base between a stored position and an intermediate position and an open position, the first rack having storage spaces that are hidden when the first rack is in the stored position and that are accessible when the first rack is in the open position;   a second rack supported on the base for movement relative to the base between a stored position and an intermediate position and an open position, the second rack having storage spaces that are hidden when the second rack is in the stored position and that are accessible when the second rack is in the open position;   the first rack and the second rack being adjacent to each other and parallel to each other when both the first rack and the second rack are in the stored position;   the first rack sliding on the base between the stored position and the intermediate position, and pivoting relative to the base between the intermediate position and the open position, and the first rack extending transverse to the second rack when the first rack is in the open position and the second rack is in the stored position;   the second rack sliding on the base between the stored position and the intermediate position, and pivoting relative to the base between the intermediate position and the open position, and the second rack extending transverse to the first rack when the second rack is in the open position and the first rack is in the stored position.   
     
     
         2 . A storage assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 a front end portion of the base is uncovered when both the first and second racks are in the stored position; 
 the first rack extends over the front end portion of the base when the first rack is in the intermediate position and when the first rack is in the open position; and 
 the second rack extends over the front end portion of the base when the second rack is in the intermediate position and when the second rack is in the open position. 
 
     
     
         3 . A storage assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the first rack extends over only a portion of the front end portion of the base when the first rack is in the intermediate position and extends over all of the front end portion of the base when the first rack is in the open position. 
     
     
         4 . A storage assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the base includes first and second slots;
 each rack including a pin engaging in one of the slots to control positioning of the rack on the base, including by limiting forward movement of the rack from the stored position to the intermediate position, and each rack pivoting about its pin during movement from the intermediate position to the stored position. 
 
     
     
         5 . A storage rack assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each rack includes top and bottom walls, and front and back walls, and upper and lower trays, the racks being open on their sides to enable access to the trays;
 the dimensions of the storage rack assembly are selected to enable the storage rack assembly to fit into a standard depth kitchen upper cabinet when the first and second racks are in the stored condition; and 
 the dimensions of the trays are selected to enable storage of common kitchen spice containers. 
 
     
     
         6 . A storage rack assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each one of the first and second racks includes a plurality of trays defining the storage spaces in the racks, each tray including a bottom wall, an inner side wall, and an outer side wall;
 the outer side wall of each tray having a plurality of cutouts at least partially defining the storage spaces, each one of the cutouts being configured to receive and support a side wall of a single serving coffee pod lying on its side in the tray. 
 
     
     
         7 . A storage rack assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein each one of the cutouts is partially defined by an arcuate surface on the outer side wall of the tray, the arcuate surface having approximately the same curvature as the side wall of the coffee pod. 
     
     
         8 . A storage rack assembly comprising;
 a base;   a first rack supported on the base for movement relative to the base between a stored position and an intermediate position and an open position, the first rack having storage spaces that are hidden when the first rack is in the stored position and that are accessible when the first rack is in the open position;   a second rack supported on the base for movement relative to the base between a stored position and an intermediate position and an open position, the second rack having storage spaces that are hidden when the second rack is in the stored position and that are accessible   the first rack and the second rack being adjacent to each other and parallel to each other when both the first rack and the second rack are in the stored position;   wherein the first rack can be pulled out from the stored position to the intermediate position and then pivoted to the open position, the second rack remaining in the stored position.   
     
     
         9 . A storage rack assembly as set forth in  claim 8  wherein:
 a front end portion of the base is uncovered when both the first and second racks are in the stored position; 
 the first rack extends over the front end portion of the base when the first rack is in the intermediate position and when the first rack is in the open position; and 
 the second rack extends over the front end portion of the base when the second rack is in the intermediate position and when the second rack is in the open position. 
 
     
     
         10 . A storage rack assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the first rack extends over only a portion of the front end portion of the base when the first rack is in the intermediate position and extends over all of the front end portion of the base when the first rack is in the open position. 
     
     
         11 . A storage rack assembly as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the base includes first and second slots, each rack including a pin engaging in one of the slots to control positioning of the rack on the base, including by limiting forward movement of the rack from the stored position to the intermediate position, and each rack pivoting about its pin during movement from the intermediate position to the stored position. 
     
     
         12 . A storage rack assembly as set forth in  claim 8  wherein each rack includes top and bottom walls, and front and back walls, and upper and lower trays, the racks being open on their sides to enable access to the trays;
 the dimensions of the storage rack assembly are selected to enable the storage rack assembly to fit into a standard depth kitchen upper cabinet when the first and second racks are in the stored condition; and 
 the dimensions of the trays are selected to enable storage of common kitchen spice containers. 
 
     
     
         13 . A storage rack assembly as set forth in  claim 8  wherein each one of the first and second racks includes a plurality of trays defining the storage spaces in the racks, each tray including a bottom wall, an inner side wall, and an outer side wall;
 the outer side wall of each tray having a plurality of cutouts at least partially defining the storage spaces, each one of the cutouts being configured to receive and support a side wall of a single serving coffee pod lying on its side in the tray. 
 
     
     
         14 . A storage rack assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein each one of the cutouts is partially defined by an arcuate surface on the outer side wall of the tray, the arcuate surface having approximately the same curvature as the side wall of the coffee pod. 
     
     
         15 . A storage rack assembly comprising;
 a base;   a rack supported on the base for movement relative to the base between a stored position and an intermediate position and an open position, the rack having storage spaces that are hidden when the rack is in the stored position and that are accessible when the rack is in the open position;   the rack being parallel to the base when the rack is in the stored position and perpendicular to the base when the rack is in the open position;   wherein the rack can be pulled out from the stored position to the intermediate position and then pivoted to the open position;   the dimensions of the storage rack assembly being selected to enable the storage rack assembly to fit into a standard depth kitchen upper cabinet when the rack is in the stored condition.   
     
     
         16 . A storage rack assembly as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the rack has a plurality of trays and the outer side wall of each tray has a plurality of cutouts at least partially defining the storage spaces, each one of the cutouts being configured to receive and support a curved side wall of a single serving coffee pod lying on its side in the tray. 
     
     
         17 . A storage rack assembly comprising;
 a base;   a first rack supported on the base for movement relative to the base between a stored position and an intermediate position and an open position, the first rack having storage spaces that are hidden when the first rack is in the stored position and that are accessible when the first rack is in the open position;   a second rack supported on the base for movement relative to the base between a stored position and an intermediate position and an open position, the second rack having storage spaces that are hidden when the second rack is in the stored position and that are accessible when the second rack is in the open position;   the first rack and the second rack being adjacent to each other and parallel to each other when both the first rack and the second rack are in the stored position;   wherein the first rack can be pulled out from the stored position to the intermediate position and then pivoted to the open position, the second rack remaining in the stored position;   wherein each one of the first and second racks includes a plurality of trays defining the storage spaces in the racks, each tray including a bottom wall, an inner side wall, and an outer side wall;   the outer side wall of each tray having a plurality of cutouts at least partially defining the storage spaces, each one of the cutouts being configured to receive and support a side wall of a single serving coffee pod lying on its side in the tray; and   the dimensions of the storage rack assembly being selected to enable the storage rack assembly to fit into a standard depth kitchen upper cabinet when the first and second racks are in the stored condition.   
     
     
         18 . A storage rack assembly as set forth in  claim 17  wherein each one of the cutouts is partially defined by an arcuate surface on the outer side wall of the tray, the arcuate surface having approximately the same curvature as the side wall of the coffee pod.