Storage shelf

Claim 1

A shelf for storing, in a generally horizontal attitude thereof, an item thereon, said shelf comprising: A base structure including (a) a plurality of upstanding rib sections that together define a generally flat discontinuous upper item-supporting surface, at least some of said rib sections each being formed with an associated downwardly open slot therethrough, each of said at least some rib sections thereby defining a continuous upper boundary about said slot associated therewith, and (b) a plurality of downwardly enclosed upwardly open channels each extending between adjacent ones of said plurality of rib sections and having a floor at a level below all of said upper boundaries, defined by each of said at least some of said rib sections, said floors of all of said channels being interconnected thereby to define a channel network; a peripheral upstanding flange extending around the periphery of said base structure and having an upper edge at least a portion of which is at a vertical level lower than all of said upper boundaries defined by said at least some of said rib sections; and a continuous groove-forming member adjacent said flange and joined to said channel network at a vertical level below said portion of said edge of said flange; said groove-forming member and said channel network defining a continuous liquid supporting and confining cavity, whereby liquid spilled into a channel in said channel network will overflow through said portion in said upper edge before such liquid can overflow through a slot in any one of said rib sections.

Claim 11

A method for storing items comprising the steps of: providing a base structure including (a) plurality of upstanding rib sections that together define a discontinuous generally flat upper item-supporting surface, at least some of said rib sections each being formed with an associated downwardly open slot therethrough, each of said at least some rib sections thereby defining a continuous upper boundary about said slot associated therewith, and (b) a plurality of downwardly enclosed upwardly open channels each extending between adjacent ones of said plurality of rib sections and having a floor at a level below all of said upper boundaries defined by each of said at least some of said rib sections, said floors of all of said channels being interconnected thereby to define a channel network; providing a peripheral upstanding flange extending around the periphery of said base structure and having an upper edge at least a portion of which is at a vertical level lower than all of said upper boundaries defined by said at least some of said rib sections; providing a continuous groove-forming member adjacent said flange and joined to said channel network at a vertical level below said portion of edge of said flange; said groove-forming member and said channel network defining a continuous liquid supporting and confining cavity; placing an item on said item-supporting surface above at least one said rib section having a slot therethrough; circulating air through said slot and about said item; and overflowing any liquid spilled into a channel in said channel network through said portion in said upper edge of said flange before such liquid can overflow through a slot in any one of said rib sections.

Claim 12

A method for storing items comprising the steps of: providing a base structure including (a) plurality of upstanding rib sections that together define a discontinuous generally flat upper item-supporting surface, at least some of said rib sections each being formed with an associated downwardly open slot therethrough, each of said at least some rib sections thereby defining a continuous upper boundary about said slot associated therewith, and (b) a plurality of downwardly enclosed upwardly open channels each extending between adjacent ones of said plurality of rib sections and having a floor at a level below all of said upper boundaries defined by each of said at least some of said rib sections, said floors of all of said channels being interconnected thereby to define a channel network; providing a peripheral upstanding flange extending around the periphery of said base structure and having an upper edge at least a portion of which is at a vertical level lower than all of said upper boundaries defined by said at least some of said rib sections; providing a continuous groove-forming member adjacent said flange and joined to said channel network at a vertical level below said portion of edge of said flange; said groove-forming member and said channel network defining a continuous liquid supporting and confining cavity; placing an item on said item-supporting surface above at least one said rib section having a slot therethrough; circulating air through said slot and about said item; and overflowing any liquid spilled into a channel in said channel network through said portion in said upper edge of said flange before such liquid can overflow through a slot in any one of said rib sections.