GB2258806A - Box for chef's tools - Google Patents

Abstract

A box to contain a chef's handtools comprises a chamber 1, 2 to hold the tools and a tank 9 to hold cleaning liquid for the tools, the box being readily capable of being dismantled for cleaning purposes. A lockable lid 25 and drawers 7 may be provided, together with rack 18. Bracket 32 - 37 may support the box on a work-surface. Slots 14 may provide for insertion and support of knife blades. In use, tank 9 is filled with sterilising solution, and tools placed therein when not being used. After use, the tank 9 is emptied, and the box can then be used to store the tools. <IMAGE>

Description

BOX The invention relates to a box to contain hand tools, especially kitchen hand tools, and especially to a box to contain knives of the type used by professional or amateur chefs. For convenience the invention will be described in relation to that use, although as will be made clear, the invention is capable of other uses.

A professional chef has his own set of knives which he keeps in his private container, usually an ordinary metal toolbox. At the end of each day the chef cleans his knives and stows them away in a toolbox. While working the chef stores his knives in a jar containing sterilising liquid, e.g. water to which a sterilising agent e.g. a tablet or liquid has been added. The system is somewhat casual and will no longer be acceptable when more stringent food hygiene regulations come into effect.

It is one object of this invention to provide a purpose made box for use in the storage of tools such as kitchen hand tools and for the sterilisation thereof.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a box to contain hand tools, the box comprising a casing having a chamber to hold the tools and a tank to hold cleaning liquid for the tools, the components of the box being separable for cleaning.

Preferably, the box includes means for mounting the box to one side of a worktop with the tank in a position that the hand tools may readily be placed in and removed from the tank.

Most preferably the tank is provided with a lid having slots arranged to receive the tools with the handles of the tools projecting above the lid for ready access. Most preferably the box comprises a main body and a lid which can be engaged with the main body and be locked thereto.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment; and Figure 2 is a sectional view of the lock.

The box 1 comprises a casing 2 having a vertical rear wall 3 from which extend two short generally parallel side walls 4, so that the casing is oblong as seen in plan. The casing has a floor 5 above which is a ledge 6, so that one or more trays or drawers 7 can be received in the space 8 between the floor and ledge; two such drawers 7 to be received one above the other are shown. A tank 9 is dimensioned to be received snugly within the casing 2, resting on the ledge 6. The tank 9 comprises a main portion 9a and a separate smaller open end portion 9b, these being separated by a partition 10. The smaller portion 9b may receive large individual tools e.g. a meat tenderiser. At the top of the tank 9 on the inside of the walls 2 and 4 of the casing is a pair of spaced apart horizontal shoulders 11 which between them define a slot 12 to receive the edge portions of a tank lid 13.The lid 13 has rows of slots 14 dimensioned so that the blades of knives suspended in the slots will extend into the tank 9. Spacers 15 are provided to slide in the slots 14 and keep individual knives apart. The underside of the tank lid 13 may be shaped e.g.

recessed, to engage the top edge of the tank 9. A front wall 16 is provided and has a bottom tray 17 and a front inclined pocket 18. The front edges of the side walls 4 have engaging parts 19 and the edges of the front wall 16 and the drawers 7 have cooperating engaging parts 20, for easy assembly and dissembly of the box. The floor 5 has lugs 21 to engage the bottom of the front wall 16. The upper ends of the side walls have recesses 22 which define end shoulders 23 formed with aligned horizontal sockets 24.

A top cap 25 is provided and is dimensioned so that when fitted on the casing 2 the handles of knives can be accommodated. As shown in Figure 2, the interior surface of the shorter end walls 26 is shaped to complement the recess 22. The wall 26 contains a locking mechanism comprising a barrel 27 and surrounded by a cam 28 and two spring loaded pins 29. Rotation of a key in a key slot 30 causes movement of the pins 29 with respect to the sockets 24. Handles 31 which are hinged to the outside of the sidewalls 4 can be used to carry the box.

A mounting system is provided for mounting the box 1 at the side of a work table, not shown. The system comprises a pair of U brackets 32 to be mounted at the edge of the table, and be held there by clamp screws 33. A bracket 34 having two long L-shaped arms 35 is bolted to the bracket 32. The two arms have basal portions 36 on which the casing rests; catches (not shown) are present on the outer face of the rear wall 3 and the arms 35 have complementary catches 37 to engage these so that the casing can be suspended from the table.

For storage purposes the box is assembled by joining the parts together, the tank 9 being empty of liquid. Knives are left in the drawers 7 or suspended in the lid 13. The parts of the mounting system are located in a drawer or left mounted on a table. When the chef prepares for work he opens the box 1 (which may have been stored in his locker), removes the top cap 25 and mounts the casing 2 at the side of a work table. He then fills the tank 9 with water and a sterilising tablet or liquid, e.g.

hypochlorite or chlorhexidene for cold sterilisation. He then works as usual, depositing knives in the sterilising liquid in the tank 9 while they are not being used. At the end of each work session the water is discarded, the knives washed and dried, and the box cleaned. The knives are then stored in the box which is stowed away.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. The tank 9 may have a heater for sterilisation in the manner of an autoclave and may have partitions defining individual sockets to receive knife blades so that the lid 13 is not needed. The box may be adapted to contain the cutting knives of a butcher, a surgeon, housewife etc.

It is intended that this application shall give a patent monopoly for the hinge mechanism disclosed herein, whether included in a box as disclosed or otherwise.

Claims (11)

1. A box to contain hand tools, the box comprising a casing having a chamber to hold the tools and a tank to hold cleaning liquid for the tools, the components of the box being separable for cleaning.

2. A box according to Claim 1, including means for mounting the box to one side of a worktop with the tank in a position that the hand tools may readily be placed in and removed from the tank.

3. A box according to Claim 2, wherein the mounting means comprises brackets engagable with one side of the box and adapted to engage an edge of the worktable.

4. A box according to any preceding Claim, wherein the tank is provided with a lid having slots arranged to receive the tools with the handles of the tools projecting above the lid for ready access.

5. A box according to Claim 4, wherein the hand tools are knives and the slots are dimensioned so that the blades thereof may extend into the tank.

6. A box according to Claim 4 or 5, including a detachable cap dimensioned to fit on to the casing and cover tools received in the lid of the tank.

7. A box according to Claim 6, including means to lock the cap and the casing.

8. A box according to any preceding Claim, wherein the tank is made of metal, plastics or ceramic material.

9. A box according to any preceding Claim, wherein the casing is made of metal or moulded of a plastics.

10. A box according to any preceding Claim, in association with hand tools useful to a chef, butcher, surgeon or housewife.

11. A locking mechanism substantially as described and with reference to Figure 2.