Integrated drying system for sink

Abstract

An integrated drying system for a kitchen sink comprises a drying rack configured to rest above a basin of the sink, and a bottom grid configured to rest on the bottom of the basin. The drying rack includes a plurality of first parallel supports having a first spacing and a plurality of second parallel supports having a second spacing that is greater than the first spacing. At least one elongated notch is formed in the bottom grid. The at least one elongated notch has a width that is greater than the first spacing, and has a depth such that the notch extends downwardly from a primary plane defined by the bottom grid. When the drying rack is placed over a kitchen sink with the bottom grid resting in the basin, the second parallel supports of the drying rack are arranged parallel to the elongated notches of the bottom grid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drying system for a sink including a basin and a drain, the drying system comprising:
 a drying rack configured to rest above the basin, the drying rack including a plurality of first parallel supports having a first spacing and a plurality of second parallel supports having a second spacing that is greater than the first spacing; and   a bottom grid configured to rest on a bottom of the basin, the bottom grid including a grid of support members with at least one elongated notch formed in the grid, the at least one elongated notch having a width that is greater than the first spacing and having a depth such that the at least one notch extends downwardly from a primary plane defined by the grid to a secondary plane defined by a bottom of the at least one notch.   
     
     
         2 . The drying system of  claim 1  wherein the second spacing is at least twice the first spacing. 
     
     
         3 . The drying system of  claim 1  wherein the second spacing is equal to the width of the at least one notch. 
     
     
         4 . The drying system of  claim 1  wherein the drying rack further includes a first side support extending along one side of the drying rack and a second side support extending along a second side of the drying rack, wherein the plurality of first parallel supports and the plurality of second parallel supports are non-removably connected to the first side support and the second side support. 
     
     
         5 . The drying system of  claim 4  wherein the first side support and the second side support are comprised of a resilient flexible material. 
     
     
         6 . The drying system of  claim 1  wherein the grid of support members of the bottom grid includes parallel columns of support members and parallel rows of support members, wherein a plurality of first columns of support bars on one side of the bottom grid have a first spacing and a plurality of second columns of support bars on an other side of the bottom grid have a second spacing, wherein the second spacing of the second columns of support bars is greater than the first spacing of the first columns of support bars. 
     
     
         7 . The drying system of  claim 6  wherein the second columns of support members are recessed downward in the at least one notch and arranged in the secondary plane. 
     
     
         8 . The drying system of  claim 7  wherein the parallel rows of support members include portions that form vertically extending sidewalls in the at least one notch. 
     
     
         9 . A method of drying kitchen accessories comprising:
 positioning a bottom grid on a bottom surface of a basin of a sink, the bottom grid including a grid of support members including a first plurality of support members in a primary plane and a second plurality of support members in a secondary plane, the bottom grid further including at least one elongated notch that extends downwardly from the primary plane to the secondary plane;   positioning a drying rack above the basin of the sink and over the bottom grid, the drying rack including a plurality of first parallel supports having a first spacing and a plurality of second parallel supports having a second spacing that is greater than the first spacing; and   inserting a kitchen accessory through the plurality of second parallel supports in the drying rack and into the at least one elongated notch in the bottom grid.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising placing additional kitchen accessories on the plurality of first parallel supports of the drying rack. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the drying rack is positioned on a ledge of the sink above the basin. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the kitchen accessory is planar cookware, and the method further comprises engaging the planar cookware with a vertical sidewall of the at least one notch. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein positioning the drying rack over the bottom grid includes aligning the plurality of second parallel supports of the drying rack with the at least one elongated notch of the bottom grid. 
     
     
         14 . A drying accessory kit for a kitchen sink, the drying accessory kit comprising:
 a drying rack configured to rest above the kitchen sink, the drying rack including a plurality of first parallel supports having a first spacing and a plurality of second parallel supports having a second spacing that is greater than the first spacing; and   a bottom grid configured to rest in a basin of the kitchen sink, the bottom grid including a grid of support members comprising a first plurality of support members in a primary plane, a second plurality of support members in a secondary plane, and at least one elongated notch defining a sidewall that extends downwardly from the primary plane to the secondary plane.   
     
     
         15 . The drying accessory kit of  claim 14  wherein the second spacing is at least twice the first spacing. 
     
     
         16 . The drying accessory kit of  claim 14  wherein the drying rack further includes a first side support extending along one side of the drying rack and a second side support extending along a second side of the drying rack, wherein the plurality of first parallel supports and the plurality of second parallel supports are non-removably connected to the first side support and the second side support. 
     
     
         17 . The drying accessory kit of  claim 16  wherein the first side support and the second side support are comprised of a resilient flexible material. 
     
     
         18 . The drying accessory kit of  claim 14  wherein the grid of support members of the bottom grid includes parallel columns of support members and parallel rows of support members, wherein a plurality of first columns of support bars on one side of the bottom grid have a first spacing and a plurality of second columns of support bars on an other side of the bottom grid have a second spacing, wherein the second spacing of the second columns of support bars is greater than the first spacing of the first columns of support bars. 
     
     
         19 . The drying accessory kit of  claim 18  wherein the second columns of support members are recessed downward in the at least one elongated notch and arranged in the secondary plane. 
     
     
         20 . The drying accessory kit of  claim 19  wherein the parallel rows of support members include portions that form vertically extending sidewalls in the at least one elongated notch.