Dishwasher basket

Abstract

A dishwasher basket for use within an existing dishwasher for holding baby items including a main basket, at least one side basket housed within the main basket and being selectively extendable from a position within the main basket to a second position extending at least partially outside of the main basket, a lid member hingedly secured to the main basket, and a midplate member removably positionable within the main basket and located between the at least one side basket and the lid member. Each side basket includes a plurality of straw openings associated with a cover member and a plurality of cone shaped members associated with the side basket for holding a straw in an upright position within the side basket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher basket comprising:
 a main basket;   at least one side basket housed within said main basket, said side basket being selectively extendable between a first position wherein said at least one side basket is located substantially within said main basket and a second position wherein said at least one side basket resides at least partially outside of said main basket; and   a lid secured to said main basket for providing access thereto;   said main basket, said at least one side basket, and said lid including a plurality of openings to facilitate cleaning and to allow for the removal of water during various dishwashing cycles.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one side basket is selectively extendable through a side wall opening associated with said main basket. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 1  including a midplate removably positionable within said main basket, said midplate lying between said at least one side basket when said side basket is located within said main basket and said lid. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher basket defined in  claim 1  wherein said lid is hingedly attached to said main basket. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher basket defined in  claim 1  wherein said at least one side basket includes a cover, said cover including a plurality of openings to facilitate cleaning and to allow for the removal of water during various dishwashing cycles, said cover being movable between a first position wherein said cover provides access to the interior of said at least one side basket and a second position wherein said cover extends over the interior of said at least one side basket. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher basket defined in  claim 5  wherein said cover further includes a plurality of straw holes for receiving a straw when positioned therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher basket defined in  claim 6  wherein said at least one side basket further includes a plurality of cone shaped members, each cone shaped member being positioned in substantial alignment with one of said plurality of straw holes, each said cone shaped member being adapted to receive one end portion of a straw when positioned thereon. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 6  wherein said at least one side basket further includes a receiving channel, said receiving channel being positioned in substantial alignment with said plurality of straw holes and being adapted for receiving one end portion of a straw positioned therein. 
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 6  wherein said at least one side basket further includes a plurality of recessed cavities, each recessed cavity being positioned in substantial alignment with a corresponding straw hole, each recessed cavity being adapted to receive one end portion of a straw when positioned therein. 
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 5  wherein said cover includes a plurality of notches, and wherein said at least one side basket includes a plurality of first notches, said plurality of first side basket notches being positioned in substantial alignment with said plurality of cover notches for holding a straw in a substantial vertical arrangement when positioned respectively through one of said cover notches and through one of said corresponding first side basket notches. 
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 10  wherein said at least one side basket further includes a plurality of second notches positioned at an intermediate location between said plurality of cover notches and said plurality of first side basket notches, said plurality of intermediate second notches being positioned in substantial alignment with said plurality of cover notches and with said plurality of first side basket notches, said plurality of intermediate second notches facing in an opposite direction as compared to said plurality of cover notches and said plurality of first side basket notches. 
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 1  including a pair of side baskets housed within said main basket, each side basket being selectively extendable from a first position wherein each side basket is located substantially within said main basket and a second position wherein each side basket extends at least partially outside said main basket. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 3  wherein said main basket includes a ridge member associated with each opposite side of said main basket, said midplate resting on said ridge members when position within said main basket. 
     
     
         14 . A dishwasher basket comprising:
 a main basket;   at least one side basket housed within said main basket, said at least one side basket being selectively extendable from a first position wherein said at least one side basket is located substantially within said main basket and a second position wherein said at least one side basket extends at least partially beyond the perimeter of said main basket;   a midplate removably positionable within said main basket; and   a lid attachable to said main basket;   said main basket, said at least one side basket, said lid and said midplate including a plurality of drainage holes for facilitating cleaning and for allowing the removal of water during various dishwashing cycles.   
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 15  wherein said at least one side basket includes a cover, said cover including a plurality of straw holes for receiving a straw when positioned therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 15  wherein said at least one side basket further includes a plurality of cone shaped members, each cone shaped member being positioned in substantial alignment with one of said plurality of straw holes, each cone shaped member being adaptable for receiving one end portion of a straw when positioned thereon. 
     
     
         17 . A dishwasher basket comprising:
 a main basket;   a pair of side baskets, each side basket being housed within said main basket and each being selectively movable from a first position wherein said side basket is located substantially within said main basket and a second position wherein said side basket extends at least partially outside of said main basket;   each side basket further including a cover member which is movable between a first position wherein said cover member extends over the interior of said side basket and a second position providing access to the interior of said side basket, each cover member including a plurality of straw holes;   a lid hingedly secured to said main basket; and   a midplate removably positionable within said main basket between said pair of side baskets and said lid;   each side basket further including a plurality of cone shaped members, each cone shaped member being positioned in substantial alignment with one of said plurality of straw holes, each cone shaped being adapted to receive one end portion of a straw when positioned thereon;   said main basket, said pair of side baskets, said cover members, said lid and said midplate each including a plurality of drainage holes to facilitate cleaning of objects positioned therein and to allow for the removal of water during various dishwashing cycles.   
     
     
         18 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 17  wherein said main basket includes at least a pair of channel members associated with each opposite side thereof, and wherein each of said pair of side baskets includes at least one projection associated therewith for engagement with a corresponding channel member, each said projection member being slidably movable within a corresponding channel member for allowing said side baskets to be slidably adjustable between their first and second positions. 
     
     
         19 . The dishwasher basket according to  claim 18  wherein said main basket further includes at least one ridge member associated with each opposite side of said main basket, said ridge members being positioned above said channel members.