WO2001067939A2

WO2001067939A2 - Cutting board

Info

Publication number: WO2001067939A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/040289
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rudolph Martorella
Original assignee: Rudolph Martorella
Priority date: 2000-03-14
Filing date: 2001-03-14
Publication date: 2001-09-20
Also published as: WO2001067939A3; AU2001253853A1

Abstract

A cutting board (10) having a cutting guide that can be removably attached to the cutting board. The cutting board may have two different surfaces. A first surface (12) of the cutting board is subtantially planar and angled to collect juices on the cutting board as an item is cut on the cutting board. Disposed on a lower angled region of the cutting board is a series of spouts (17A,17B) designed to allow these juices to be poured off of the cutting board. On an opposite face of the substantially planar surface of the cutting board is an undulating surface that contains a series of peaks and valleys or recesses. A user can use this undulating surface to cut material that crumbles when cut such as bread or a bread like material. This undulating surface can also be used as a serving tray wherein to serve snack foods such as crackers and cheese.

Description

CUTTING BOARD

This invention is a continuation in part application of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/525,606 Filed on March 14, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an improved cutting board apparatus. More particularly the invention relates to an apparatus that can be used to cut all types of food in a desired thickness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to an improved cutting board apparatus. The cutting board includes a housing that comprises a plurality of walls or rims surrounding a first substantially planar cutting surface and a second substantially undulating cutting surface. Each wall has an inside face and an outside face and is attached to and surrounds the cutting surfaces. The cutting board can be placed on a substantially planar horizontal surface with either the first substantially planar cutting surface facing up or the undulating surface facing up.

The first substantially planar surface is angled so that when the cutting board is placed on a substantially horizontal surface, with the substantially planar surface facing up, the substantially planar surface angles down from one side of the cutting board to the other. Because the substantially planar surface is angled down, any juices or other liquid that results from cutting any material on the substantially planar cutting surface will flow down to a lower region on this substantially planar cutting surface.

In addition disposed at a base region of this angled surface, is at least one spout, formed by the walls extending above this substantially planar cutting surface.

The second surface which is an undulating surface is designed to have a series of sinusoidal shaped peaks and valleys or recesses formed by either a pre-molded material such as plastic or metal, or a series of dowel inserts. The dowels can be inserted into this side of the cutting board so that a first end of the dowel fits inside a substantially cylindrical guide while the second end of the dowel fits inside a substantially cylindrical guide that can be snapped into the housing. Once the dowels have all been snapped in, these dowels form an undulating cutting surface which is designed to allow materials that make crumbs when cut to be cut on this style surface.

For example, bread or similar type materials can be cut on this surface. This style surface is useful because it allows a user to cut into recesses in the undulations allowing the user to cut entirely through a loaf of bread. In that way, because these slices are cut entirely through, the slices of the bread will simply fall away from the loaf with the crumbs falling into the valleys of the undulating cutting surface.

In addition, cheese, crackers, or other similar style snack foods may be placed within a series of these recesses. Thus, this second surface may also be used as a serving tray as well.

On an outside surface of the walls there is at least one connector or groove which allows a cutting guide to be attached. This groove is designed as a substantially U-shaped having a series of flanges raised off of a side wall of the cutting board. The cutting guide also contains a series of flanges wherein the cutting guide can be slid into the groove and supported within this groove. The cutting guide is designed as having a substantially rectangular housing having a series of walls forming slots inside the housing. A first set of walls consist of walls having angles wherein the angled walls angle in on the housing. The second set of walls are fully extending walls. The first set of walls and the second set of walls alternate inside the housing so that the angles allow a user to slide his or her knife laterally inside of the housing and eventually hit his or her knife against one of the fully extending walls. Thus, with this design, the user can have easy access to the groove that the user desires to use.

Attached to a bottom region of the housing is an attachment element. This attachment element comprises two angled, substantially triangular support braces, a flange connected laterally on the substantially triangular support braces, a series of elevating ridges connected to the flange. These elevating ridges keep the attachment element away from the walls on the cutting board as the attachment element is being slid into the V-shaped groove on the walls.

In another embodiment of the cutting board, there is only single substantially planar, angled surface that is designed to receive a cutting guide. In this embodiment, the undulating surface is no longer present wherein to connect the cutting guide, the U-shaped guides are positioned underneath the cutting surface.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is a substantially planar angled cutting surface that has a series of rims disposed around it. A cutting guide can then be attached to an underneath portion of the substantially planar angled surface so that the cutting guide extends up substantially perpendicular to the cutting surface.

This cutting board can be gas assist injection molded from a substantially rigid polymer so that the cutting board is kept hollow and is water tight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a substantially planar surface of a cutting board with the cutting guide disposed above this surface;

FIG. IB is a perspective view of the substantially planar surface of the cutting board with the cutting guide inserted therein;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the cutting guide;

FIG. 2B is a side view of the cutting guide;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the undulating surface;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the undulating surface being assembled;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the undulating surface as being further assembled;

FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the undulating surface being fully assembled;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a back side of the snap in connector; FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the front side of the snap-in connector;

FIG. 5C is a front side view of the snap in connector;

FIG. 6A is a front view of the slot for receiving the snap-in connector;

FIG. 6B is a front cut-away view of the cutting board showing the slot for receiving the snap-in connector;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an underside of the simplified planar cutting board;

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the top side of the simplified planar cutting board;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a back portion of the second embodiment of the cutting guide; and

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of a front portion of the second embodiment of the cutting guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1A and IB refer to a perspective views of the device comprising a cutting board 10, having a connector 20 for connecting to a cutting guide 30 having a connecting element 40.

Cutting board 10 has a substantially planar cutting surface 12 surrounded by a series of walls 14, 16, 18, and 19. Substantially planar cutting surface 12 is designed angled so that it slopes down against walls 14, 16, and 18 creating a series of inner rims 14' and 16' and a third rim on side 18 not shown.

Inner rims 14' and 16' join to form a first spout 17A. In addition inner rim 16' and the inner rim of side 18 join to form a second spout 17B. Spouts 17A and 17B are formed so that fluid such as juices can be poured off of cutting board 12.

For example, if a user decided to cut fruits, vegetables, or meats on cutting board 12, juices from these fruits, vegetables, and meats would flow down towards rim 16'. These juices could then be poured out of spouts 17A and 17B by tilting the cutting board on an end and pouring these juices out.

Side 19 contains a series of connectors 20. Connectors 20 comprise a first side flange 22, a second side flange 24, and a bottom flange 26 forming a substantially U-shaped connector. Flanges 22, 24, and 26 extend out from side 19 in an L-shaped manner, creating an inner channel which is designed to receive a mating flange in a tongue and groove manner.

There is also shown a cutting guide 30 (See also FIGS. 2A and 2B) that is designed to connect to cutting board 10 at side 19. Cutting guide 30 contains a housing 32, a first set of dividing walls 33 having an angled section 34, a second set of dividing walls 36, forming a series of slots 38. Connected to housing 32 on cutting guide 30 is a connecting element 40 that comprises a triangular shaped support brace 42 a flange 44 attached substantially perpendicular to the support brace, and a series of elevating rims 46 (See FIG. 2B) wherein these elevating rims are designed to elevate the flange off of side 19 as connecting element 40 is being slid into connector 20 as shown in FIG. IB.

A user can then use the substantially planar cutting surface or plate 12 to cut a series of slices in any type material such as bread, meat, cheese, vegetables, fruit or any other type material. Cutting guide 30 is used to help a user cut evenly spaced slices into this material. As these slices are being cut, any juices or scraps would then flow down plate 12 within rims 14 and 18 and towards rim 16. The user could then carefully pour these juices out of spouts 17A and 17B.

FIG. 3 shows an opposite side of cutting board 10 than as shown in FIGS. 1A and IB. Essentially when cutting board 10 as shown in FIGS. 1A and IB is flipped over, there can be a first embodiment of an undulating cutting surface 50 comprising a series of u-shaped rims 52 forming a cutting surface. U-shaped rims 52 have an angled point 54, a substantially vertical sheer face 56, and a second angled region 58. Second angled region 58 ends at a bottom side 12' of substantially planar cutting surface 12 forming a valley, recess or trough 60.

FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the undulating cutting surface 70 comprising a series of dowels 72, a pre molded cylindrical connector 74 a slot 90 (See FIG. 4B and FIGS. 6A and 6B) and a snap in connector 80. To assemble undulating cutting surface 70, dowels 72 are first placed on an angle, inside pre molded cylindrical connector 74. Next, snap in connector 80 is placed on dowel 72 and then dowel 72 is dropped down into the device snapping snap in connector 80 into slot 90 in the housing.

FIG. 4B shows a dowel 72 snapped inside pre-molded cylindrical connector 74, while FIG. 4C shows a series of dowels inserted into the housing. In addition, dowel 72 is also snapped into snap in connector 80 with snap in connector 80 being attached to slot 90.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C show snap in connector 80 in greater detail. FIG. 5A shows a back side view of snap in connector 80 having a back plate 82, a snap hole 84, a base region 85, a series of tracks 86 forming a recessed region 87 on base region 85. As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C there is shown a substantially cylindrical connecting recess 88 for receiving dowel 72. In addition, on a front face of base region 85 is an angled portion 89 designed to fit inside slot 90 when snap in connector 80 is snapped in.

FIGS. 6A shows slot 90 in greater detail while FIG. 6B shows a cut away view of cutting board 10 showing slots 90. Each Slot 90 has a series of flanges 92 that form a channel 94. Inside channel 94 is a living hinge 96 that snaps into snap hole 84 as snap in connector 80 is snapped into slot 90. In addition as snap in connector 80 is snapped into slot 90, flanges 92 wrap around angled portions 89 to lock snap in connector 80 into slot 90.

The undulating surfaces shown in FIGS. 3 and 4B are designed to have a series of sinusoidal shaped peaks and valleys or recesses formed by either a pre-molded material such as plastic or metal, or a series of dowel inserts. Once the dowels have all been snapped in, these dowels form an undulating cutting surface. Undulating surfaces are preferable when cutting materials that make crumbs, allowing these crumbs to fall into troughs or recesses in the undulating surfaces.

For example, bread or similar type materials can be cut on this surface. This style surface is useful because it allows a user to cut into recesses in the undulations allowing the user to cut entirely through a loaf of bread. In that way, because these slices are cut entirely through, the slices of the bread will simply fall away from the loaf.

In addition, cheese, crackers, or other similar style snack foods may be placed within a series of these recesses. Thus, these undulating surfaces 50 and 70 may also be used as a serving tray as well.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a bottom and a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention wherein there is shown a simplified cutting board 110 comprising a plate 112, a rim 114, a pouring spout 118 and a connector 120. As shown in FIG. 7B, plate 112 is a substantially planar cutting surface so that fruits, vegetables, meats or any other type of food can be cut on plate 112. Rim 114 extends around three sides of plate 112 and elevates a first side of plate 112 above a surface such as a counter top. Plate 112 angles down from a top portion of rim 114 to a bottom portion of the rim. Rim 114 also contains an indent 115 that extends into a portion of rim 114, wherein this indent 115 creates a hand grip for a user holding plate 112.

Because plate 112 is positioned on an angle, any juices or fluids expelled from cutting materials on plate 112 would flow down plate 112, around rim 114 and out pouring spout 118. Pouring spout 118 is designed so that it extends out from a raised rim 119 which extends out from plate 112. Raised rim 119 acts as a funnel funneling juices into pouring spout 118.

Connector 120 comprises two opposite spaced L-shaped flanges 122 designed to receive a connecting element 140 disposed on a cutting guide 130. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, cutting guide 130 is designed similar to cutting guide 30 wherein there is a housing 132 having a series of parallel spaced walls with a first set of walls 134 having an angled region 136 and a second set of walls 138. First set of walls 134 and second set of walls 138 are positioned within cutting guide 130 in an alternating manner.

Connecting element 140 comprises an arm 142 extending substantially perpendicular to housing. In addition there are series of flanges 146 that extend out and substantially perpendicular from arm 142. Arm 142 and flanges 146 slide into connector 120 so that arm 142 and flanges 146 lock inside connector 120.

With this embodiment of the invention, a substantially planar cutting board can be used with connecting element 140 fitting underneath board 110 and secured thereto. A user can use cutting guide 130 to create evenly spaced slices using first set of walls 134 and second set of walls 138 as a guide, For example, users may use this guide to cut even slices of a tomato or an onion when preparing a meal.

Accordingly, while several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A cutting board comprising:

a) a cutting surface; and

b) a series of rims coupled to said cutting surface so that when said rims are placed on a substantially horizontal surface said cutting surface is set on an angle offset from the horizontal surface.

2. The cutting board as in claim 1, wherein said rims extend both above and below said cutting surface.

3. The cutting board as in claim 2, wherein said rims join to form at least one spout which allows a user to pour a liquid or other particles off of said cutting surface.

4. The cutting board as in claim 1, further comprising a cutting guide which can be removably attached to the cutting board adjacent to the cutting surface.

5. The cutting board as in claim 4, wherein said cutting guide has a housing and a series of parallel spaced walls disposed in said housing wherein when said cutting guide is attached to said at least one rim, said walls allow a user to place a cutting object through said walls and cut another material on said cutting surface.

6. The cutting board as in claim 5, wherein said cutting guide has a series of parallel spaced walls in said cutting guide extend substantially perpendicular to said cutting surface.

7. The cutting board as in claim 5, wherein said parallel spaced walls are formed from a first set of set of parallel extending walls spaced apart from each other, having at least one angled region, and a second set of parallel extending walls disposed in said housing in an alternating manner with said first set of parallel extending walls.

8. The cutting board as in claim 4, wherein said cutting board further comprises a connector and said cutting guide further comprises a connecting element wherein said cutting guide removably connects to said connector via said connecting element.

9. The cutting board as in claim 8, wherein said connector is disposed on at least one of said series of rims.

10. The cutting board as in claim 9, wherein said connector is substantially U-shaped.

11. The cutting board as in claim 10, wherein said connector has a substantially L-shaped cross-section extending out from said at least one rim.

12. The cutting board as in claim 10, wherein said connecting element has a flange that inserts into said L- shaped cross-section between said connector and said at least one rim.

13. The cutting board as in claim 8, wherein said connector is disposed below said cutting surface.

14. The cutting board as in claim 13, wherein said connector has an L-shaped cross section.

15. The cutting board as in claim 14, wherein said connecting element comprises an arm having a base and a series of flanges extending out substantially perpendicular from said base, wherein said base and said flanges slide into said connector so that said base and said flanges lock into said connector.

16. The cutting board as in claim 1, further comprising an undulating surface disposed on an opposite face of said cutting surface.

17. The cutting board as in claim 16, wherein said undulating surface is formed from a pre molded plastic.

18. The cutting board as in claim 17, wherein said undulating surface comprises a series of rims having a U- shaped cross section.

19. The cutting board as in claim 16, wherein said undulating surface comprises a series of dowels coupled to said cutting board.

20. The cutting board as in claim 19, further comprising a series of cylindrical shaped connectors coupled to at least one of said series of rims wherein said series of dowels are coupled to said cutting board by inserting into said series of cylindrical connectors.

21. The cutting board as in claim 20, further comprising a series of slots coupled to at least one of said series of rims, wherein said series of cylindrical connectors comprise a set of cylindrical connectors pre molded with at least one of said series of rims, and a set of snap in connectors that snap into said series of slots.

22. The cutting board as in claim 20, wherein said series of slots further comprise a living hinge, and said snap in connector has a hole so that when snap in connector slides into said slot, said living hinge snaps into said hole locking said snap in connector to said slot.

23. A cutting board comprising:

a cutting surface; and

a cutting guide which can be coupled to said cutting surface.

24. The cutting board as in claim 23, further comprising at least one connector coupled to said cutting surface and said cutting guide further comprises a connecting element so that said cutting guide can be coupled to said cutting surface by inserting said connecting element into said connector.