WO1995014418A1 - Workboard - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a workboard (1) adapted to constitute a base for working of foodstuffs by means of cutting implements, such as knives and the like. The workboard (1) has a working surface (3, 5) on which the foodstuff is positioned to be worked. At least one portion (5) of the working surface (3, 5) of the workboard (1) has a convex curvature.

Description

The present invention relates to a workboard accord¬ ing to the preamble of claim 1 in the accompanying claims.

Prior art workboards of the type stated above co - prise, for instance, chopping-boards and workbenches of different kinds and are used both at home and in enter¬ prises, especially in meat handling and restaurants. Such workboards have essentially fully planar working sur¬ faces, except for grooves which may be formed for col- lecting or draining off liquids.

When working on the prior art workboards, dividing or slicing a piece of meat, a loaf of bread, a cake or some other foodstuff, the inconvenience often arises that the implement obtains a large abutment surface against the foodstuff and that the friction between the implement and the foodstuff becomes high. As a result, the work is strenuous and the divided piece of foodstuff may become deformed in some undesirable manner, especially if it constitutes a slice. This inconvenience is especially grave for people who, because of their trade, are exposed to this work situation several times during a working pe¬ riod. The risk of injuries increases since, for overcom¬ ing the high resistance, extra force is put into the mo¬ tion. If friction suddenly decreases dramatically, which often happens, there is a great risk of slipping and hurting oneself with the sharp implement.

An object of the invention is to provide a workboard which significantly reduces the problem of friction between the implement and the foodstuff to be worked. The object is achieved by a workboard as mentioned by way of introduction, which is given the features re¬ cited in the characterising clause of claim 1.

The effect of the convex working surface of the in¬ ventive workboard is that gravitation is utilised in a very advantageous manner. Gravitation acts to engage the foodstuff with the working surface, which means that the gravitation strives to bend the foodstuff. Such bending imparts tractive forces to the foodstuff. When the imple- ment is driven down through the foodstuff, the part or slice which is to be partitioned off will therefore be caused to disengage the implement and essentially be in contact with but the edge of the implement. This results in a dramatically lower friction as compared to the same operation carried out on a prior art workboard.

The curve of the working surface also yields an in¬ clined surface from which liquid easily drains off.

A preferred embodiment of a workboard according to the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the only figure is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of an in¬ ventive workboard.

The embodiment illustrated in the figure, which is an example of the design of a workboard according to the invention, comprises an essentially wedge-shaped work¬ board 1 which is formed with a rear portion 2 having a planar upper face 3 and a front portion 4 having a curved upper face 5. A line I-I indicates the boundary line between the portions 2 and 4. The planar upper face 3 and the curved upper face 5 together form the working surface 6 of the workboard 1. In this embodiment, the planar upper face 3 is parallel with the lower side 7 of the workboard 1. The workboard 1 is preferably portable so as to make it easily movable to a suitable place. Moreover, it is preferably formed as a homogeneous piece, advanta¬ geously of wood or plastics. This imparts a certain weight to the workboard 1, which makes it lie still, while a foodstuff is being worked. The workboard 1 can, of course, also be fixedly arranged as a workbench. The curved portion 5 constitutes a bigger or smaller part of the working surface 6, preferably at least one quarter. In the embodiment shown, the curved portion 5 constitutes about 3/4 of the working surface 6. As is shown, the curvature is convex and has a given radius of curvature R. Experiments have shown that for a good func¬ tion, the radius of curvature R should be in the range of 0.40 - 10.0 m, preferably in the range of 0.70 - 3.0 m, and most advantageously in the range of 0.90 - 1.5 . Optimum results are achieved if the radius of curvature R = 1.02 m.

Too small a radius of curvature R implies that only a few foodstuffs can shape themselves to the working sur¬ face 6. Many foodstuffs cannot bend to such an extent, which means that they will be rocking on the working sur¬ face 6 and become difficult to handle.

If the radius of curvature R is very great, the effect will also not be the intended one, since the work¬ ing surface then resembles a conventional, planar working surface having the drawbacks as described above.

The advantages of the convex working surface 6 are obvious especially when slicing meat, compact bread and soft cakes with fillings, such as jam Swiss rolls and the like. The slices will "fall" in a smooth and easy manner, thanks to the fact that the forces strive to separate the slice from the rest of the piece of foodstuff. The im¬ plement thus does not "catch" in the same manner as when using a conventional workboard.

The rear portion 2, which has a planar upper face 3, is not requisite but advantageous, since it is possible to place the major part of relatively rigid foodstuffs on this rear portion 2 and let the part which is being worked be positioned on the curved upper face 5 of the front portion 4. As the foodstuff is being worked, a new part thereof will be pushed forward on the curved upper face 5.

The above embodiment of the workboard according to the invention should merely be seen as an example, and many modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the workboard may consist of a board of uniform thickness, provided with legs or an end piece supporting the rear portion. Different portions of the curved part of the working surface may have different radii of curvature.

Claims

1. A workboard (1) adapted to constitute a base for working of foodstuffs by means of cutting implements, such as knives and the like, said workboard (1) having a working surface (3, 5) , on the which the foodstuff is po¬ sitioned to be worked, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that at least one portion (5) of the working surface (3, 5) of the workboard (1) has a convex curvature.

2. The workboard (1) as claimed in claim 1, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that the convex curvature has a radius of curvature in the range of 0.40 - 10.0 m.

3. The workboard (1) as claimed in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i s e d in that the radius of curvature is in the range of 0.90 - 1.5 m.

4. The workboard (1) as claimed in claim 1, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that the radius of curvature is 1.02 m.

5. The wor-kboard (1) as claimed in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i s e d in that said portion (5) constitutes at least 1/4 of the working surface (3, 5) .

6. The workboard (1) as claimed in claim 1, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that the workboard (1) is portable and essentially wedge-shaped.