The present invention relates to a dish rack.

In particular, the present invention relates to a dish rack of the fixed type, which may be inserted into a kitchen shelf.

Various accessories are known in the furnishing sector which may be used to equip a kitchen. These include widespread use of a dish rack inserted directly into the shelves, a useful solution in solving the problem of the limited space available in a kitchen.

Dish racks are currently known which comprise a grate, on which the washed dishes are placed to drip, beneath which a tray may be positioned which collects the drops of water falling from the dishes.

The presence of the tray avoids water dripping directly onto the sink, which would produce scattered splashes of water and unsightly limescale marks.

The tray, typically in steel, is calendered so as to present a front edge and a lower edge raised with respect to the tray plane, so as to contain the water inside it and avoid accidental falling.

At the side ends, the tray is provided with respective containment and protection panels which isolate the inner walls of the shelf from accidental contacts with the water which accumulates in the tray.

Sealing profiles are present between the side panels and the steel tray so as to increase this isolation.

However, it has been noted that if the water has a high surfactant content, in the case of accidental presence of soap in the water accumulated on the tray, the seals present are not sufficient to guarantee that the dish rack is watertight and therefore to protect the shelf or the sink against the degrading effect of the water. In fact, the presence of soap assists water infiltration between the tray and the panels and from here directly onto the shelf or the sink.

Similar problems occur following imprecise assembly of the shelf or the tray which cause a slight inclination of the latter, causing water deposits mainly on one side.

Excessive accumulation of water on one side may lead, over time, to water infiltration, limescale marks, mould or other damages to the shelf or the sink.

In this situation, the object of the present invention is manufacturing a dish rack which solves said problems.

A particular object of the present invention is manufacturing a dish rack which may be inserted inside a shelf and which allows the dishes to drain avoiding drips on the sink or accidental and prolonged contacts between the water and the inside of the shelf.

Another object of the present invention is manufacturing a dish rack which is not affected by imprecise assembly and which therefore guarantees its perfect use and functioning even in the presence of similar inaccuracies. The objects indicated are substantially attained by a dish rack according to what is described in the appended claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a dish rack shown in the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of a dish rack according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an axonometric view of the dish rack of Figure 1 with several parts removed for a better view of the others;

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of plane A-A of the dish rack shown in Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 shows an isolated first element of the dish rack according to the present invention;

Figure 5 shows an isolated second element of the dish rack according to the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view from the bottom of the dish rack according to the present invention.

With reference to the figures mentioned, the number 1 denotes in its entirety a dish rack according to the present invention.

Said dish rack 1 comprises a grated surface 2, or simply a grate 2, on which the dishes just washed are rested and a support base 3 positioned beneath the grate 2.

Between the grate 2 and the support base 3 there is a liquid collection tray 4.

The latter is realised as a single piece, preferably in waterproof material, and presents a bottom wall 5, on which the dripping water accumulates, and four perimeter edges developing upwards from the bottom wall 5, comprising a front edge 6a, a back edge 6b and two side edges 6c.

As visible in Figure 2, the tray 4 also has, on an upper surface 5a of the bottom wall 5, a plurality of separator elements 7, which extend upwards from the upper surface 5a and which partition the bottom wall 5 into a plurality of liquid collection spaces 8.

Preferably, both the grate 2 and the support base 3 are manufactured in metal material, preferably steel.

Advantageously, the support base 3 is a calendered piece which has a substantially C-shaped cross section (figure 4): in fact, it comprises a flat surface 9, having an extension at least equal to the bottom wall 5 of the tray 4, which presents a front profile 9a and a back profile 9b on two opposite sides, developing upwards from said surface 9.

The terminal parts of the front edge 6a and back edge 6b and the terminal parts of the front profile 9a and back profile 9b of the support base 3 are duly folded to couple reciprocally in a fit-in engagement: in particular, as visible in figure 3, the back edge 6b of the tray 4 is inserted into a U- shaped loop 10 formed by the back profile 9b of the support base 3 and the terminal part of the front profile 9a of the base 3 interferes with a lip 1 1 formed by the front edge 6a of the tray 4.

As shown in Figure 6, the support base 3 substantially follows the transversal outline of the tray 4.

A pair of side panels 12, one of which is shown in Figure 5, maintains joined the grate 2, the base 3 and the tray 4, by means of special assembly means 16.

The latter are preferably of the removable type, such as, for example, snap-fit engagements comprising a plurality of cavities and tabs engageable in them. Therefore, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the side panels 12 present a plurality of cavities 13, while the tray 4 presents a plurality of tabs 14 insertable into said cavities 13.

The side panels 12 completely cover the side edges 6c of the tray 4, as well as also containing the transverse profile of the base 3. The grate 2 also engages with the side panels 12, as shown in Figure 1 .

Advantageously, other connection means 17 with a kitchen shelf (Figure 1 ) are also included, which may be of the spring, fit-in or other type.

A dish rack of the type described may be easily installed inside the shelves of a kitchen, not necessarily above the sink, as it has a collection tray which avoids undesired water drips.

The presence of the tray in a single piece of waterproof material and provided with raised edges on all four sides allows containment of the water without the use of seals and without the risk of liquid leakage, even in the presence of errors in the assembly step.

The internal partitions of the tray guarantee a better containment of liquid and, in the case of disassembly of the dish rack for eventual cleaning or maintenance, act as anti-splashing elements of any residual water contained in it.