Dish drying mat

Abstract

A foldable dish drying mat includes a first mat section having a recessed area and the recessed area including discrete discontinuous ridges all directed in a first direction. The foldable dish drying mat also includes a second mat section having a recessed area and the recessed area including discrete discontinuous ridges all directed in a second direction, the first mat section configured to be coupled to the second mat section along an edge and forming a first hinge. Further, the foldable dish drying mat includes a third mat section having a recessed area and the recessed area including discrete discontinuous ridges all directed in a third direction, the third mat section configured to be coupled to the second mat section along an edge and forming a second hinge. The third direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction and the ridges of the second mat section are configured to engage with the ridges of the third mat section when the dish drying mat is in a folded state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable dish drying mat, comprising:
 a first mat section having a recessed area and the recessed area including discrete discontinuous ridges all directed in a first direction;   a second mat section having a recessed area and the recessed area including discrete discontinuous ridges all directed in a second direction, the first mat section configured to be coupled to the second mat section along an edge and forming a first hinge; and   a third mat section having a recessed area and the recessed area including discrete discontinuous ridges all directed in a third direction, the third mat section configured to be coupled to the second mat section along an edge and forming a second hinge,   wherein the third direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction and the ridges of the second mat section are configured to engage with the ridges of the third mat section when the dish drying mat is in a folded state.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable dish drying mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first direction is substantially the same as the third direction. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable dish drying mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first section, second section, and third section are substantially formed of silicone. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable dish drying mat of  claim 1 , wherein the discrete discontinuous ridges are formed in more than one length. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable dish drying mat of  claim 1 , wherein a rim is formed adjacent the periphery of each of the mat sections. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable dish drying mat of  claim 5 , wherein the rim is at least as tall as the discrete discontinuous ridges. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable dish drying mat of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least one raised portion on one of the second mat section and the third mat section, the at least one raised portion is taller than the rim.   
     
     
         8 . The foldable dish drying mat of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one raised portion is configured to engage with and nest with at least one corner of the rim of the other of the second mat section and the third mat section. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable dish drying mat of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one raised portion is configured to engage with and nest with depression formed in the rim. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable dish drying mat of  claim 1 , wherein the second mat section is configured to fold over the third mat section and the first mat section is configured to fold over the second mat section in such a manner that the recessed area of the first mat section is exposed and the recessed area of the second mat section and the third mat section are concealed when in the folded state. 
     
     
         11 . The foldable dish drying mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first hinge comprises a webbing coupled adjacent the top of an edge of the first mat section and the top of an edge of the second mat section. 
     
     
         12 . The foldable dish drying mat of  claim 1 , wherein the second hinge comprises a webbing coupled adjacent the bottom of an edge of the second mat section and the bottom of an edge of the third mat section. 
     
     
         13 . A silicone dish drying mat, comprising:
 a first mat section having a rim formed around the periphery of the first mat section, the rim forming a recessed area and the recessed area including discrete discontinuous ridges disposed within the recessed area, a plurality of the discrete discontinuous ridges directed in a first direction;   a second mat section having a rim formed around the periphery of the second mat section, the rim forming a recessed area and the recessed area including discrete discontinuous ridges disposed within the recessed area, a plurality of the discrete discontinuous ridges directed in a second direction, the first mat section configured to be coupled to the second mat section along an edge and forming a first hinge; and   a third mat section having a rim formed around the periphery of the third mat section, the rim forming a recessed area and the recessed area including discrete discontinuous ridges disposed within the recessed area, a plurality of the discrete discontinuous ridges directed in a third direction, the third mat section configured to be coupled to the second mat section along an edge and forming a second hinge,   wherein the third direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction and the ridges of the second mat section are configured to engage with the ridges of the third mat section when the dish drying mat is in a folded state.   
     
     
         14 . The silicone dish drying mat of  claim 13 , wherein the first direction is substantially the same as the third direction. 
     
     
         15 . The silicone dish drying mat of  claim 14 , wherein the rim is at least as tall as the discrete discontinuous ridges. 
     
     
         16 . The silicone dish drying mat of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one raised portion on one of the second mat section and the third mat section, the at least one raised portion is taller than the rim.   
     
     
         17 . The silicone dish drying mat of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one raised portion is configured to engage with and nest with at least one corner of the rim of the other of the second mat section and the third mat section. 
     
     
         18 . The silicone dish drying mat of  claim 13 , wherein the second mat section is configured to fold over the third mat section and the first mat section is configured to fold over the second mat section in such a manner that the recessed area of the first mat section is exposed and the recessed area of the second mat section and the third mat section are concealed when in the folded state. 
     
     
         19 . The silicone dish drying mat of  claim 13 , wherein the first hinge comprises a webbing coupled adjacent the top of an edge of the first mat section and the top of an edge of the second mat section. 
     
     
         20 . The silicone dish drying mat of  claim 13 , wherein the second hinge comprises a webbing coupled adjacent the bottom of an edge of the second mat section and the bottom of an edge of the third mat section.