Dual Expandable Tray

Abstract

This invention is directed to an expandable utensil tray that may be expandable both in length and width, and consisting of one main element and one or more drawer trays nestable therein. The expandable storage tray is particularly suitable as a drawer organizer which maximizes space utilization.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A utensil tray assembly comprising:
 a quadrilateral main tray having a floor, said floor having a linear gap running from one edge of said floor toward an opposite edge of said floor, said gap being delimited by upstanding walls disposed opposite one another, said upstanding walls being interconnected with one another by a ridge, said upstanding walls and said ridge defining a channel; and   a first quadrilateral drawer tray having a second floor with a boundary edge, said boundary edge having an upstanding edge wall on at least two sides of said boundary edge, said first quadrilateral drawer tray having an upstanding interior wall disposed perpendicular to said upstanding edge wall, said upstanding interior wall having a thickness sized for being slideably disposed in said channel and allowing said second floor to be slid under said floor for setting a size of the tray assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The utensil tray assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said main tray has a main tray upstanding edge wall, said main tray upstanding wall has an opening that is an entrance to said channel. 
     
     
         3 . The utensil tray assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second quadrilateral drawer tray having a third floor, with a second boundary edge, said second boundary edge having a second upstanding edge wall on three sides of said second boundary edge, said third floor being sized so that said second upstanding wall slides over a main tray upstanding edge wall around said floor. 
     
     
         4 . The utensil tray assembly according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a third quadrilateral drawer tray having a fourth floor with a third boundary edge, said third boundary edge having a third upstanding edge wall on two sides of said third boundary edge;   said second upstanding edge wall having an L-shaped retainer attached on a top edge of said second upstanding edge wall and extending parallel to said second upstanding edge wall for defining a gap between a leg of said retainer and said second upstanding edge wall, said gap being sized for slideably receiving and holding said third upstanding edge wall therein.   
     
     
         5 . The utensil tray assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said leg is parallel to said second upstanding edge wall. 
     
     
         6 . The utensil tray assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said upstanding edge wall has a further L-shaped retainer attached on a top edge of said upstanding edge wall and which extends parallel to said upstanding edge wall to define a second gap between a leg of said further retainer and said upstanding edge wall, said second gap being sized to slideably receive and hold said third upstanding edge wall therein. 
     
     
         7 . The utensil tray assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said floor is stepped on one side of said gap for defining a recess for receiving said third floor under said floor in a pushed-in position of said second quadrilateral drawer tray. 
     
     
         8 . The utensil tray assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said second floor is stepped on a side of said interior wall that corresponds to said one side of said gap. 
     
     
         9 . The utensil tray assembly according to  claim 8  wherein said second floor is disposed between said first floor and said third floor in said recess when said second floor and said third floor are positioned in said recess. 
     
     
         10 . A utility tray assembly comprising:
 a quadrilateral main tray having a floor defining two outer sides of the utility tray assembly, said two outer sides having an upstanding wall disposed there along, said floor having a channel disposed centrally in said floor, said channel being parallel with one outer side of said two outer sides; and   a quadrilateral drawer tray having a second floor defining a portion of said one outer side and a further outer side of the utility tray assembly, said portion of said one outer side and said further outer side having a further upstanding wall disposed there along, said second floor having an upstanding engaging wall disposed centrally on said second floor and extending parallel to said portion of said one outer side, said engaging wall being slideably guided in said channel.   
     
     
         11 . The utility tray assembly according to  claim 10  wherein said channel is defined by a first central upstanding wall and a second central upstanding wall opposite said first central upstanding wall and a ridge connecting said first and second central upstanding walls, said floor having a gap formed therein between said first and second central upstanding walls. 
     
     
         12 . The utility tray assembly according to  claim 11 , further comprising a second quadrilateral drawer tray having a third floor with a third upstanding wall disposed around three edges of said third floor, said upstanding wall being disposed along three sides of said floor, said third floor being sized for allowing said third upstanding wall to slide around said floor and said upstanding wall. 
     
     
         13 . The utility tray assembly according to  claim 12  wherein, said floor is stepped on one side of said channel to define a recess on an underside of said floor, said recess receives said third floor in a pushed-in position of said second quadrilateral drawer tray.