The present invention relates to a tray for disinfection and sterilisation of dishcloths, wherein the tray consists of a lower surface which is hinged to a lid with drainage holes, wherein the lower surface and the lid have complementary attachment clamps.

The invention relates to a purpose-made plastics tray, wherein a folded dishcloth is arranged. The tray is closed, and the tray is developed in order for it to be usable for disinfecting/sterilising a dishcloth to the effect that bacteria are killed. The tray is innovative and provides people with a handy and easy way to handle and ensure that they are able to disinfect/sterilise their dishcloth and reduce the number of bacteria in their kitchen. Background

The known ways of disinfecting/sterilising dishcloths today are either by arranging a dishcloth in a microwave oven and allowing the oven to run for a couple of minutes, or washing them in an ordinary washing machine. The other way is by soaking the dishcloth in a washing-up bowl containing chlorine solution.

From WO2010085142, SE528894, DE102008062284, and US2003202902 hinged, open constructions for accommodating a dishcloth in a dishwasher are known. A common feature of the technique disclosed in those documents is precisely the open construction via perforations or grids to the effect that the dishcloth is partially available for the washing and drying process in a dish washer. The known techniques are constructed for use in a dish washer, and they are consequently not suitable for disinfecting and sterilising dishcloths by soaking. This problem is solved in that the lower surface is flat and has internal walls with guide ribs to the effect that the tray may contain water, and the tray comprises support legs on the outside of the lid.

Detailed description with reference to the figures

In the drawing, Figure 1 shows the tray in opened state, and figure 2 shows the tray when it is closed. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the tray with measurements applied thereon. There are two ways in which the tray can be used to disinfect/sterilise a dishcloth.

The one way is a here-and-now solution that can be performed in three to five minutes by the tray being positioned, with dishcloth, at the bottom of a kitchen sink, and boiling water being poured in to the rim of the tray. The heat from the water has the effect that the core temperature of the dishcloth rises above 70 degrees after a short while, whereby bacteria are killed. If desired, it is possible to pour in boiling water once again after one or two minutes, if it is desired that the temperature should exceed 70 degrees. Tests have been made that document this.

The other way is to arrange the dishcloth in the tray, close it and arrange it in a dish washer and letting the dishwasher run its usual programme. The tray is made especially to sit edgewise in a dishwasher, and when the programme has run its course, the core temperature of the dishcloth has risen above 70 degrees whereby bacteria have been killed. The tray is made of plastics (PP) intended for dish washers and may thus be exposed to temperatures above 100 degrees. As mentioned, the tray is made of plastics and is cast in a mould in such a manner that it can be opened and closed as desired, and it is also made to such purpose as to allow it, following pouring in of boiling water when it sits in the kitchen sink, to be turned upside down after three to four minutes to enable the water to run off the tray, and such that the dishcloth can, following a short while, be removed from the tray without one "burning one's fingers".

Figure 1 illustrates an open tray 1 wherein the tray consists of a lower surface 2 which is hinged to a lid 3 with drainage holes 11 , 12, 13, 14, wherein the lower surface 2 and the lid 3 have complementary attachment clamps 10, and wherein the lower surface 2 is flat and has internal walls 30 with guide ribs 20. The tray 1 has support legs 15 on the outside of the lid 3.

The internal wall 30 has a height of 7 - 11 mm, and the volume formed by the tray's lower surface with internal walls 30 is 320 ml.

The weight is 170 grams. The material is polypropylene.

Figure 2 illustrates a closed tray 1 , wherein the tray has drainage holes in the shape of elongate drainage holes 1 1 , a circular drainage hole/fill hole 12, side drainage hole 13, corner drainage hole 14. The tray has four support legs 15. The elongate drainage hole 1 1 has a width of 10 mm, and the circular drainage hole 12 has a diameter of 40 mm.