Cutting board and strainer storage apparatus for use with a sink

Abstract

An equipment storage apparatus permits kitchen equipment to be enclosed in a stored position proximate the sink or an exposed position above the sink's bowl. The equipment storage apparatus includes a compartment coupled to an opening in the countertop proximate a side of the bowl, a support block slidably mounted to an interior of the compartment, and a frame pivotably mounted to the support block and designed to secure a kitchen equipment member therein. The frame is stored within the compartment to enclose the kitchen equipment member in the storage position. The support block is slidably adjusted within the compartment to permit the frame to pass through the opening in the countertop and pivotably adjust to position the kitchen equipment member above the bowl of the sink in the exposed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An equipment storage apparatus configured for use with a sink, the sink comprising a countertop coupled to at least one bowl, the storage apparatus configured to permit kitchen equipment to be enclosed in a stored position proximate the sink or an exposed position above the bowl of the sink, the equipment storage apparatus comprising:
 a compartment comprising a top opening, side walls and a bottom wall opposite the top opening, the compartment coupled to an opening in the countertop proximate a side of the bowl;   a support block slidably mounted to an interior of the compartment; and   a frame pivotably mounted to the support block and configured to secure a kitchen equipment member therein, wherein the frame is configured to be stored within the compartment to enclose the kitchen equipment member in the storage position, wherein the support block is configured to slidably adjust along a longitudinal axis of the compartment to permit the frame to pass through the opening in the countertop and pivotably adjust to position the kitchen equipment member above the bowl of the sink in the exposed position.   
     
     
         2 . The equipment storage apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a roller member coupled to the support block, wherein the roller member is configured to engage with a channel disposed along the interior of the compartment, thereby permitting the support block to slidably adjust within the compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The equipment storage apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the support block comprises a lip configured to contact the countertop to prevent the frame from detaching from the compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The equipment storage apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a handle coupled to the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The equipment storage apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a spring assembly disposed within the compartment and comprising a first spring and a second spring, wherein the support block compresses the first and second springs in the storage position, wherein the first and second springs decompress when the kitchen equipment member is in the exposed position. 
     
     
         6 . The equipment storage apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a lid pivotably mounted to the countertop opening. 
     
     
         7 . An equipment storage apparatus configured for use with a sink, the sink comprising a countertop coupled to at least one bowl, the storage apparatus configured to permit kitchen equipment to be enclosed in a stored position proximate the sink or an exposed position above the bowl of the sink, the equipment storage apparatus comprising:
 a pair of compartments coupled to a pair of openings in the countertop proximate the bowl, each compartment comprising a top opening, side walls and a bottom wall opposite the top opening, each compartment comprising a support block slidably mounted to an interior of the compartment; and   a pair of frames operably connected to the pair of compartments, each frame pivotably mounted to one of the support blocks and configured to secure a kitchen equipment member therein, wherein each frame is configured to be stored within one of the compartments to enclose the kitchen equipment member in the storage position, wherein each support block is configured to slidably adjust within one of the compartments to permit the frame to extend above the countertop and pivotably adjust to position the kitchen equipment member above the bowl of the sink in the exposed position.   
     
     
         8 . The equipment storage apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a roller member coupled to each support block, wherein the roller member is configured to engage with a channel disposed along the interior of the compartment, thereby permitting the support block to slidably adjust within the compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The equipment storage apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each support block comprises a lip configured to contact the countertop to prevent the frame from detaching from the compartment. 
     
     
         10 . The equipment storage apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a spring assembly disposed within each compartment and comprising a first spring and a second spring, wherein the support block compresses the first and second springs in the storage position, wherein the first and second springs decompress when the kitchen equipment member is in the exposed position.