GB2475875A

GB2475875A - Food receptacle accessory for a chopping board

Info

Publication number: GB2475875A
Application number: GB0921196A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephanie Claire Louise Jordan-Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-03
Filing date: 2009-12-03
Publication date: 2011-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-03
Also published as: WO2011067604A1; GB2475875B; GB0921196D0

Abstract

An accessory 1, for use with a chopping board 2, comprises a receptacle 3 made from a sheet-like material shaped to retain food prepared on the board. The receptacle includes means 10 for removably attaching a side 8b of the receptacle to a side 11 of the board to enable food to be transferred from the board into the receptacle. A hinge 9 is provided between the side of the receptacle and the attachment means. Preferably, the receptacle comprises two portions 5, 6 connected by a second hinge 7, whereby the two portions are pivotable relative to each other about the second hinge to enclose food there between. The receptacle may also be attached as a cover over the board or may be attached in a vertical orientation to form a guard or shield to protect from fumes or splashes while using the chopping board.

Description

AN ACCESSORY FOR A CHOPPING BOARD

(0001] The present invention relates to an accessory for a chopping board, on which it is intended to chop, cut, or otherwise prepare food items.

[0002] Conventional chopping boards are generally flat, rigid boards made of wood, plastic or glass materials. The board is intended to be placed on a work surface or table and food is chopped, cut, or otherwise prepared on the top surface of the board. Some chopping boards are provided with a removable cover for either protecting the top surface of the board when the board is not being used or for covering food placed on the board. Some covers also act as a food container, with the board forming the lid for the container. One example of such a cover is disclosed in US 20005/0205572.

(0003] Once the food on the board has been chopped, cut or otherwise prepared, it is necessary to transfer the prepared food to a cooking pan or other food container, and possibly to dispose of food peelings in a waste bin. This action can result in spillage of the food from the board before it reaches the container or waste bin, or unhygienic manual handling of the food. Another problem which occurs when chopping pungent food, such as onions, is that the fumes from the chopped food can irritate the eyes of the person chopping the food.

(0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an accessory for a chopping board, which solves the afore-mentioned problems associated with the chopping, or other preparation, of food on a chopping board, and the subsequent handling of the prepared food.

(0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an accessory for a chopping board on which food items are intended to be chopped or otherwise prepared, said accessory comprising a receptacle made from a sheet-like material shaped to retain food prepared on said board, means for removably attaching a side of said receptacle to a side of said chopping board to enable prepared food to be transferred from said board into said receptacle, and a hinge provided between said side of said receptacle and said attachment means.

(0006] In a preferred embodiment, said receptacle comprises first and second portions connected by a second hinge, said first and second portions being pivotable relative to each other about said second hinge to enclose said prepared food therebetween. Preferably, the first and second hinges have pivot lines extending substantially parallel to each other. The second portion of the receptacle may have smaller dimensions than the first portion of the receptacle and may be shaped to fit within the first portion when the two portions are pivoted towards each other about said second hinge.

(0007] In one embodiment, the receptacle has a substantially planar part and side walls extending generally perpendicularly from one surface of said planar part, the attachment means being provided along at least one of the side walls, the first hinge being provided between the at least one side wall and the attachment means, and the second hinge extending through the planar part generally parallel to said first hinge.

(0008] In another embodiment, each of the first and second portions of the receptacle has a part with a substantially arcuate or curved cross-section extending substantially perpendicular to the pivot line of said second hinge, the attachment means being provided along one or both edges of the receptacle remote from the second hinge, and the first hinge being provided between the or each edge and the attachment means.

[0009] The first and second hinges are preferably integrally formed with the sheet-like material of the receptacle. Also, the attachment means preferably comprises a substantially leak-proof rubber or plastics material. At least a part of the receptacle may be made from a transparent material. The transparent material may include a magnifier.

[0010] The attachment means may comprise first and second attachment members provided respectively on opposite sides of said receptacle for simultaneous attachment to respective opposite sides of said board.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combination of a chopping board and an accessory, according to any of the preceding paragraphs [0005] to [0010], for use with the chopping board, said board having means for co-operating with said attachment means to secure said accessory to at least one side of said board.

[0012] Preferably, the co-operating means comprises a groove formed in said at least one side of the board and the attachment means comprises a longitudinal member for sliding into the or each groove.

[0013] The accessory according to the present invention can thus perform a number of different functions during the preparation of food on the chopping board and the subsequent handling of the prepared food.

[0014] Firstly, when the accessory is attached to the board and is pivoted back away from the top surface of the board, prepared food can be slid from the board directly into the receptacle, which is shaped to retain the food. This can be achieved without spillage due to the leak-proof attachment means and the integral hinges. The accessory can then be detached from the board and the two portions thereof can be pivoted towards each other to enclose the retained food.

The food can be stored in the accessory, or easily transferred to another food container or into a waste bin. This enables the transfer of food from the board in a hygienic manner without spillage or manual handling of food.

(0015] Secondly, the accessory, when at least partially made from transparent material, can be attached to the side of the board positioned nearest to the person preparing the food on the board and angled relative to the board, by pivoting of its hinges into a generally upright position. In this way, the accessory can act as a shield to protect the person from irritating fumes or splashes from the food.

(00163 Thirdly, the accessory can be used as a cover for food placed on the top surface of the chopping board, either by simply placing the accessory in an open position over the food, or by attaching the accessory in its open position to one or both opposite sides of the board.

(0017] The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-Fig. 1 shows schematically a perspective view of part of a chopping board and an accessory in a first open position, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows schematically a perspective view of the accessory in a folded or closed position; Fig. 3 shows schematically a perspective view of the accessory in a generally upright position for use as a shield; Fig. 4 shows schematically a perspective view of the accessory in a second open position when used as a cover for the board; Fig. 5 shows schematically a perspective view of part of a chopping board and an accessory in the first open position in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 shows schematically a perspective view of the accessory shown in Fig. 5 in a folded position; Fig. 7 shows schematically a perspective view of the accessory shown in Fig. 5 in a generally upright position for use as a shield; and Fig. 8 shows schematically a perspective view of the accessory shown in Fig 5 in The second open position for use as a cover for the board.

(00183 Referring firstly to Fig. 1, an accessory 1 for use with a chopping board 2 comprises a receptacle 3 made of sheet-like plastics material having a generally planar or flat part 4 separated into two portions 5 and 6 by a (second) hinge 7 extending from one side of the receptacle to the opposite side thereof. The hinge 7 is integrally formed in the sheet-like material of the planar part 4 so as to be substantially leak-proof. Each portion 5, 6 is provided with opposite side walls 8a, 8b extending generally perpendicular from one surface of the planar part 4.

Opposite side walls 8b are substantially parallel to each other and each have a generally uniform height along their length. The opposite side walls 8a gradually diminish in height from the same height as the side wall 8b, to which they are connected, down to the level of the surface of the planar part 4 adjacent the hinge 7.

(0019] Each of the side walls 8b is formed along its upper edge with an integral (first) hinge 9 to which is connected a longitudinal member 10 for attachment to a side 11 of the chopping board 2. The longitudinal member 10 is a blade of a rubber or plastics material, and the blade 10 slides within a groove 12 formed longitudinally in the side 11 of the chopping board 2, to attach the accessory to the board in a substantially leak-proof manner. The pivot or folding lines of the first and second hinges 7, 9 are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

(0020] Fig. 2 shows the accessory 1 detached from the chopping board and in a folded or closed position. The receptacle portion 5 has slightly smaller dimensions than the receptacle portion 6 so that, when the two portions 5, 6 are pivoted towards each other, through up to approx. 180° about the hinge 7, the portion 5 fits within the portion 6.

(0021] Fig. 3 shows how the accessory 1 can be attached to one side 11 of the board 2 by sliding the blade 10 in the groove 12 and by angling the accessory in a generally upright position relative to the board. This is achieved by appropriate angling of the two receptacle portions 5, 6 relative to each other by pivotal movement thereof about the hinges 7, 9. The sheet-like material from which the receptacle is made is preferably transparent so that, in this upright position, the accessory can act as a shield. The transparent material may also include a magnifier to help users with sight problems.

[0022] In Fig. 4, the accessory is arranged in an open position to enable it to be used as a cover for the upper surface of the chopping board 2. The blades 10 are angled relative to the side walls 8b by pivoting about the hinges 9 through up to approx. 180°, so that the respective blades can slide simultaneously into, and out of, the grooves 11 in the opposite sides 12 of the chopping board.

[0023] Another embodiment is shown in Figs 5 to 8, in which the same reference numerals are used for the same features with respect to the embodiment of Figs 1 to 4. The embodiment of Figs. 5 to 8 differs from the first embodiment by each receptacle portion 5, 6 having a part 13 with a substantially arcuate or curved cross-section extending generally perpendicular to the pivot lines of the hinges 7, 9, and the side walls 8a, 8b extend from the concave surfaces of the curved parts 13. As with the first embodiment, the height of each side wall 8a gradually reduces until it reaches the level of the curved surface of the part 13 adjacent the hinge 7. The accessory of Figs 5 to 8 may also fold to a closed position, as shown in Fig. 6, with the smaller receptacle portion 5 fitting within the receptacle portion 6. This accessory may also be positioned in a substantially up-right position, as a shield, relative to the board 2, as shown in Fig. 7; or it may be placed in an open position, as shown in Fig. 8 as a cover for the board (not shown in Fig. 8).

[0024] The accessory of the present invention thus has a number of functions for use with a chopping board.

[0025] Firstly, in the first open position of the accessory with the interior of the receptacle facing upwards, as shown in Figs 1 and 5, one of the blades 10 can be slid into one of the grooves 12 in the chopping board 2 and supported on the same table or other work surface on which the board is supported. Once food has been prepared on the upper surface of the board, the food can be easily transferred by sliding it from the side of the board into the open receptacle.

Transfer of the food from the board to the receptacle can be achieved without spillage due to the leak-proof attachment blade 10 and hinge 9. When the food is in the receptacle, the portion 5 can be pivoted towards the portion 6 about the hinge 7, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, until the portion 5 fits within the portion 6 to enclose the food in the receptacle. Before or after the receptacle is closed, it can be detached from the board by sliding the blade 10 out of the groove 12. The food within the receptacle can then be either transferred to a cooking pan or other container, or to a waste bin, hygienically without any manual handling.

Alternatively, the food can be stored in the receptacle, for example, in a refrigerator.

[0026] For a second function, the accessory can be angled in a substantially up-right position relative to the board, as shown, in Figs 3 and 7. In this position and with part or all of the sheet-like material of the receptacle being transparent, the accessory can act as a shield for protecting a person chopping food on the board from fumes or splashes from the food. This is particularly useful when chopping pungent food, such as onions, which irritate the eyes, or soft food, such as fruit, which may splash the person. When the accessory is attached to the side of the board, it is positioned in its up-right position between the person and the board, so that the person can reach around the sides of the accessory to prepare the food on the board. The accessory may also include a magnifier to magnify the upper surface of the board, to help a person with sight problems.

[0027] Figs. 4 and 8 show the accessory in a second open position with the interior of the receptacle facing downwards, for use in a third function as a cover for the upper surface of the board. In this position, the attachment blades on one or both sides of the accessory can be slid into respective grooves in the side or sides of the chopping board so as to cover food placed on the board.

Alternatively, the accessory can simply be positioned on top of the board without attachment to the board.

[0028] It is also possible to use more than one accessory in conjunction with a single chopping board. For example, two accessories can be attached simultaneously to two different sides of the board for use as receptacles. This enables the simultaneous collection in the respective receptacles of waste and prepared food from the board, without cross contamination. In another example, one or more attached accessories can be used as a receptacle or receptacles for food/waste collection, whilst another attached accessory is being used as a shield.

[0029] The present invention thus provides a very versatile accessory for a chopping board, which can perform a number of useful functions, including the hygienic transfer and storage of food prepared on the board without spillage or manual handling of the prepared food. A further advantage of the present invention is that the chopping board remains visually unchanged when not being used in conjunction with the accessory. Additionally, in the embodiments described, there are no complex clips or fastenings required for attachment of the accessory to the board or to close the folded accessory to store food. This simplifies the design of the accessory, reduces manufacturing costs, and makes the accessory easier to clean.

[0030] Whilst particular embodiments have been described, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, alternative means for removably attaching the accessory to the board may be provided, including means, such as suitable clips, for attaching the accessory to a conventional chopping board. Additionally, the attachment means may be provided on only one side of the accessory, instead of two opposite sides as in the described embodiments. Also, the longitudinal hinge 7 may not be provided, in which case the accessory could be used as an open receptacle, a shield, or a cover, Instead of one receptacle portion fitting within the other receptacle portion to close the receptacle, the two portions may be of equal size and/or may be provided with fastening means, such as push4it clips, to secure the two portions together. Furthermore, the accessory and board may be any suitable shape and/or size, and the board may be colourcoded for use with different types of food.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An accessory for a chopping board on which food items are intended to be chopped or otherwise prepared, said accessory comprising a receptacle made from a sheet-like material shaped to retain food prepared on said board, means for removably attaching a side of said receptacle to a side of said chopping board to enable prepared food to be transferred from said board into said receptacle, and a hinge provided between said side of said receptacle and said attachment means.
2. An accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receptacle comprises first and second portions connected by a second hinge, said first and second portions being pivotable relative to each other about said second hinge to enclose said prepared food therebetween.
3. An accessory as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second hinges have pivot lines extending substantially parallel to each other.
4. An accessory as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the second portion of the receptacle has smaller dimensions than the first portion of the receptacle and is shaped to fit within the first portion when the two portions are pivoted towards each other about said second hinge.
5. An accessory as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the receptacle has a substantially planar part and side walls extending generally perpendicularly from one surface of said planar part, the attachment means being provided along at least one of the side walls, the first hinge being provided between the at least one side wall and the attachment means, and the second hinge extending through the planar part generally parallel to said first hinge.
6. An accessory as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein each of the first and second portions of the receptacle has a part with a substantially arcuate or curved cross-section extending substantially perpendicular to the pivot line of said second hinge, the attachment means being provided along one or both edges of the receptacle remote from the second hinge, and the first hinge being provided between the or each edge and the attachment means.
7. An accessory as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein said first and second hinges are integrally formed with the sheet-like material of the receptacle.
8. An accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means comprises a substantially leak-proof rubber or plastics material.
9. An accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least a part of the receptacle is made from a transparent material.
10. An accessory as claimed in claim 9, wherein the transparent material includes a magnifier.
11. An accessory as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means comprises first and second attachment members provided respectively on opposite sides of said receptacle for simultaneous attachment to respective opposite sides of said board.
12. A combination of a chopping board and an accessory, according to any preceding claim, for use with the chopping board, said board having means for co-operating with said attachment means to secure said accessory to at least one side of said board.
13. An accessory as claimed in claim 12, wherein the co-operating means comprises a groove formed in said at least one side of the board and the attachment means comprises a longitudinal member for sliding into the or each groove.
14. An accessory for a chopping board, said accessory being substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. A combination of a chopping board and an accessory for use with the chopping board substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.