GB2439272A

GB2439272A - Chopping boards

Info

Publication number: GB2439272A
Application number: GB0612188A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Lyons
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-20
Filing date: 2006-06-20
Publication date: 2007-12-27
Also published as: WO2007148134A3; GB0612188D0; GB2453295A; WO2007148134A2; GB0900795D0

Abstract

A chopping board (1) has means adapted to be deployed from the chopping board and having bag attachment means (2) for removably attaching a bag (11) adapted to receive waste material from the board. Two arms slidable in channels or grooves provided in an under-frame 6 carry hooks to receive handles of the bag. The under-frame also has hooks 5 for the handles. The arms may have ratchet teeth 9 engageable with a detent to locate the arms in any suitable deployed position.

Description

Chopping Boards

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to chopping boards, such as those used in domes-tic or commercial kitchens. More particularly, the invention relates to chopping boards provided with a bag holder, enabling waste to be discharged effectively from the boards.

Background to the Invention

Users of chopping boards know that one of the more annoying, difficult and inconvenient aspects of their use is disposal of waste material. Normally, waste material is pushed to one side of the board while the user continues pre- paring foodstuffs on the board. This is clearly an inconvenience because it util-ises valuable food preparation space. Moreover, there is the potential for health issues, arising from cross-contamination of food products on the same board.

Alternative approaches to waste removal involve the user gathering the waste and placing it elsewhere, such as in a temporary or dedicated receptacle.

In extreme cases, users may even throw the waste material towards a waste receptacle in the hope it will reach its target.

Chopping boards are known, which employ various measures for gather-ing waste. Bread boards, for example, often have one or more grooves around the periphery to collect crumbs. Another known chopping board uses a tray or pan detachably held to the board so that the user can slide wanted, prepared, food onto it for subsequent transfer to a plate or cooking vessel. In yet another variation, a bowl-shaped receptacle is removably held within the surface of the board but close to an edge. A further prior art chopping board employs a de-tachable tray, enabling food particles to be chopped, collected and dispensed.

Despite these devices, there is still no satisfactory solution to the need for waste material to be easily and quickly removed from a chopping board dur- ing active use by a user and for that waste to be distanced from the food prepa-ration area cleanly and efficiently.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a chopping board having the features as defined in the appended claims.

Specification LYONSMA-P1400.GBA----2006-06-19

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the upper surface and one end of a chopping board provided with a bag holder in accordance with the present in-vention; Figure 2 is a view of the underside of the board, the letters A-B and C-D indicating the cross-sections shown in Figures 3 and 4; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on line A-B in Figure 2, but showing the board the correct way up; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on line C-D in Figure 2, also showing the board the correct way up; Figure 5 is a perspective view taken from the left-hand side, showing a bag in position; and Figure 6 is a perspective view as in Figure 1, but with a bag attached.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

As shown in Figure 1, the chopping board of the present invention com-prises an upper surface 1 on which food is to be prepared. The board has an under-frame, one end of which is shown at 4. As will be more fully explained later, two arms are mounted to the under-frame so as to be extendible from the board and to hold a bag. The arms each have a handle 3, by which to extend them, and a hook 3 to engage the front side of a bag handle aperture and keep it open.

Figure 2 shows the underside of the board. The under-frame consists mainly of a block 6. The block 6 is shaped so as to provide plate slots 6a on either side, permitting the edge of a serving plate to be slid under the upper sur- face of the board for either left-handed or right-handed people, to receive pre- pared food, and thus leave further space on the board itself. This also facili-tates separation of the food stuffs from the waste. The arms 7, which are not visible in Figure 2, run in grooves or channels provided within the block or be-tween the block and the underside of the chopping board's working surface 1.

Specification LYONSMA-P1 400.GBA---2006-06-19

The block is formed with hooks 5 of similar shape to the hooks 2 on the arms.

The arms 7 are visible in Figure 3, which is a cross-sectional view from side to side. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the board from front to back, and shows how the board is located on the under-frame by engagement of a lip or rim 8, formed on the underside of the board, with the upper edge of the under-frame. The working surface of the board can therefore be readily lifted off the under-frame for cleaning. However, other means may be provided for attaching the working surface to the under-frame.

When the chopping board is to be used, it is placed on a suitable sur-face, such as a kitchen worktop 10, as shown in Figure 5. The arms 7 are slid out from within the under-frame of the chopping board 1 to a chosen extent, de-pendent largely on the size of bag 11. Preferably, there are means for locating the arms in any suitable extended position. As shown in Figure 5, the means may comprise ratchet teeth 9, engageable with a detent or the like in the chan-nels or grooves.

The board may be used with a variety of bags. While the board is con-veniently adapted to be used with previously used supermarket bags, it could instead be arranged for use with custom bags, made of any suitable material.

For example, the bags may be made of biodegradable paper for putting into a compost bin directly. Bags may also be provided which are suitable for hygienic containment of meat waste. They could be specially shaped to ensure that the replacement bags could be supplied exclusively, in which case the hooks 2, 5 could be of a complementary shape to ensure that the board only operates properly with a complementary bag.

As shown, the bag is a conventional supermarket-type bag, having a main part and a pair of handles 12. The handles 12 are hooked over the rear hooks 5 fixed to the under-frame 6, and then over the front hooks 2, as the arms 7 are extended out using the handles 3. Figure 6 shows the arrangement from another angle, so that the method of attachment can be appreciated.

When the board is used, food is prepared on the surface 1 and any waste can be swept straight away into the open mouth of the bag. This leaves the working surface 1 of the chopping board clear of unwanted material. The

Specification LYONSMA-P14OOGBA--2OO6-O6-19

waste is stored in the bag until the user has completed food preparation. The user may then unhook the bag from the hooks 2, 5 and take it to a point of dis-posal, which may be a waste bin or a compost area. The arms may be unlatched from their extended position and retracted as much as necessary to assist in bag removal. After cleaning, the arms may be fully retracted back into the under-frame and the board can be stored in a compact form.

The board could be made from wood or any other suitable, durable and hygienic material, such as glass or glass composite, granite, marble etc. The arms are preferably made of wood but could, alternatively, be made of plastics or metal.

In an alternative construction, the arms 7 may be joined at their free ends by a cross-bar, making a U-shaped assembly. The hooks 2 can then be formed on the ends of the crossbar, whilst the hooks 5 can remain as part of the under-frame. In another variation, the arm assembly can be hinged to the underside of the working surface 1 or to an under-frame. They would then be folded out from under the working surface in order for a bag to be deployed.

Specification LYONSMA-P1 400.GBA---2006-06-1 9

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A chopping board comprising means adapted to be deployed from the chopping board and having bag attachment means for removably attaching a bag adapted to receive waste material from the board.

2. A chopping board as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means adapted to be deployed from the chopping board comprise two arms slidable in channels or grooves provided as part of the chopping board.

3. A chopping board as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the bag attachment means comprise at least one hook on each of the said arms.

4. A chopping board as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the chopping board comprises a working surface and an under-frame, the under-frame provided with second bag attachment means.

5. A chopping board as claimed in Claim 4 when dependent from Claim 3, wherein the bag attachment means on the arms and the second bag attachment means on the under-frame are adapted to receive handles on the bag.

6. A chopping board as claimed in Claim 4 or in Claim 5, wherein said working surface is located relative to the under-frame by means of a lip or rim on the underside of the working surface adapted to engage around an upper edge of the under-frame.

7. A chopping board as claimed in Claim 6 when dependent from Claim 2, wherein the channels or grooves are formed in a region between the under-frame and the working surface.

8. A chopping board as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the arms are provided with detent means adapted to locate the arms in any one of a plurality of deployed positions.

9. A chopping board as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the detent means comprise ratchet teeth.

10. A chopping board as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means adapted to be deployed from the chopping board comprise arms hinged to the underside of the board and adapted to be folded out when in use.

Specification LYONSMA-P I 400.GBA--2006-06-1 9

11. A chopping board substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Specification LYONSMA-P1 400.GBA---2006-06-1 9