WO2001089343A1

WO2001089343A1 - Utensil caddy for outdoor cooking

Info

Publication number: WO2001089343A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000618
Authority: WO
Inventors: Manuel Riederich; James Barry Quantrell
Original assignee: U.P. Tooling Assets Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-25
Filing date: 2001-05-24
Publication date: 2001-11-29
Also published as: AUPQ774800A0

Abstract

A caddy (10) including a body, first support means (16) operably connected to the body and adapted to receive and confine a plurality of articles, second support means (32, 34) operably connected to and arranged with respect to the body such that one or more articles may be suspended from the second support means (32, 34), and third support means (36, 38) operably connected to the body and adapted to support a roll of material (39). The first, second, and third support means are arranged with respect to one-another so that a variety of articles can be held by the caddy (10) at one time

Description

UTENSIL CADDY FOR OUTDOOR COOKING

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a caddy for holding a variety of kitchen and barbecue utensils. The caddy is particularly useful as an accessory for outdoor cooking and other outdoor activities such as fishing and gardening.

Background of the Invention

When cooking a meal, and in particular when cooking a meal outdoors on a barbecue or at a picnic, it is necessary to have a variety of cooking utensils and accessories at hand. These cooking utensils and accessories include, for example, tongs, knives, and forks, as well as various oils and condiments.

Cooking utensils for barbeques, for example, are often hooked onto the edge of the barbecue or laid on the side of the barbecue or a nearby bench or table. Similarly for the condiments and oils used in cooking and other accessories such as paper towels. The result is that the utensils and accessories are scattered in the area surrounding the barbecue on any available surface.

When preparing for a barbecue or picnic, each of the utensils and accessories used in cooking outdoors must be separately gathered and taken to the barbecue or picnic. Often, items are forgotten and left behind. When packing up a barbecue each article must be collected and, again, it is very easy to leave articles behind.

A range of activities or hobbies require an assortment of accessories and it would be useful to be able to store those accessories when not in use, while keeping them easily accessible and portable when needed. These activities include, for example, gardening, fishing, and sewing. When gardening, it is typically necessary to have on hand a variety of accessories such as garden gloves, spade, garden pitchfork, chemicals, and seeds, for example. When fishing, it would be convenient to have a means to store and carry the usual accessories such as spare lines, hooks, sinkers and bait.

It is an object of the invention to at least in part alleviate one or more of the above problems by providing a caddy adapted to hold a variety of articles.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, the invention provides a caddy including:

a body;

first support means operably connected to the body and adapted to receive and confine a plurality of articles;

second support means operably connected to and arranged with respect to the body such that one or more articles may be suspended from the second support means; and

third support means operably connected to the body and adapted to support a roll of material;

wherein the first, second, and third support means are arranged with respect to one-another so that a variety of articles can be held by the caddy at one time.

Advantageously, the body of the caddy includes a base and a pair of substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from either side of the base, the side walls having respective upper ends.

The base of the caddy preferably forms the first support means and serves as a receptacle for articles such as bottles and jars. The base preferably also includes front and rear walls, rails or other means that define the interior of the receptacle and assist in confining the articles within the receptacle. The front and rear walls or rails may be of any height, and may be of differing height. Preferably, handle means extend between the upper ends of the side walls to assist in carrying the caddy by hand.

The second support means is preferably a short arm extending outwardly from one or both of the side walls. The arms are preferably located at or near the upper end of the side walls and designed so that articles such as cooking utensils may be hung on the arms and suspended therefrom.

Cooking utensils for barbecues are typically longer than the corresponding utensils used for indoor cooking so, advantageously, the height of the side walls above the base is such that cooking utensils can be freely suspended from the arms.

Preferably, the third support means is a short arm extending inwardly from at least one of the side walls. Two arms are preferably provided and they extend from the side walls opposite each other and define respective supports for opposite ends of a roll of material such as paper towels or aluminium foil.

The base may also include outwardly extending container portions positioned directly beneath the outwardly extending arms such that utensils suspended from the arms are suspended within or directly above the container means so that the container means collects drips or run-off from the utensils after use.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a caddy including:

a body;

first support means operably connected to the body and adapted to receive and confine a plurality of articles; and

second support means operably connected to the body and adapted to support a roll of material; wherein the first and second support means are arranged with respect to one-another so that a variety of articles can be held by the caddy at one time.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a caddy including:

a body;

first support means operably connected to and arranged with respect to the body such that one or more articles may be suspended from the second support means; and

second support means operably connected to the body and adapted to support a roll of material;

wherein the first and second support means are arranged with respect to one-another so that a variety of articles can be held by the caddy at one time.

The advantageous and preferred features of the first aspect of the invention are also advantageous and preferred features of the second and third aspects of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a caddy according to an embodiment of the invention holding several cooking utensils and accessories;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the caddy of Figure 1 without the cooking utensils;

Figure 3 is a front view of a caddy according to another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the caddy of Figure 3.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a caddy 10 having a pair of substantially vertical side walls 12, 14, a flat base 16 extending between the lower ends of the side walls 12, 14, and handle means 18 extending between the upper ends of the side walls 12, 14. The handle 18 is integrally formed with the upper ends of the side walls 12, 14. In this embodiment, the side walls 12, 14 and handle 18 are of substantially the same width and are in the form of a shallow channel with curved sides.

Base 16 is provided with front and rear walls 20, 22, which together with side walls 12, 14 and side wall extensions 24, 26, define a receptacle for receiving and confining articles such as bottles and jars 19; as best illustrated in Figure 2. The base 16 is preferably integrally formed with the surrounding walls.

Extending outwardly from each side of the base 16 are container means 28, 30. These container means are formed with a base and side walls and serve to catch drips or runoff from overhanging utensils as will be described below.

A pair of outwardly extending arms 32, 34 are located near the upper end of the side walls 12, 14. These arms are sized so that they may be received within the handle portion of a cooking utensil 33 to enable the cooking utensil 33 to be suspended from the arms 32, 34.

The arms 32, 34 are located at or near the upper end of the side walls 12, 14 so that the utensils 33 can be freely suspended above, or within container means 28, 30 so that the container means catches and drips or runoff from the utensils.

Below the outwardly extending arms 32, 34 and extending inwardly of the side walls 12, 14 are a pair of support arms 36, 38. These arms 36, 38 are located directly opposite each other and serve to support a roll of material 39 such as paper towels or aluminium foil. One or both of the arms 36, 38 may be sprung to assist in loading the roll of material 39 onto the arms 36, 38.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, a different form of the caddy is illustrated. Features similar to those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 are prefixed with a "1".

The caddy 110 shown in Figures 3 and 4 includes base 116, side walls 112,

114, and handle 118. In this embodiment, the side walls 112, 114 are shaped such that the front side of the caddy is inclined rearwardly.

Base 116 is surrounded by side walls 112, 114, front wall 120, and rear wall 122. In this embodiment, front wall 120 is formed separately to the body of the caddy and is attached to the side walls 112, 114, using any suitable means. Front wall 120 is preferably formed of clear perspex or similar material to enable the articles 119 to be viewed without removing them from the caddy 110. Rear wall 122 extends upwardly to cross bar 40 and completely closes the rear of the base 116. Articles 119, such as bottles and jars, are received and confined within the base 16 and walls 112, 114, 120, and 122.

At the upper end of side walls 112, 114, arms 132, 134, extend outwardly and define means upon which cooking utensils 133 may be suspended.

On the rear side of the caddy and immediately behind cross bar 40, arms 136, 138 extend inwardly of side walls 112, 114, and define means on which a roll of material 139 may be supported.

It will be appreciated that the caddy of the invention can have various embodiments where it may be utilised for a number of activities, in addition to its use as a caddy for indoor or outdoor cooking and barbeques. In one embodiment of the invention, the caddy may be used as a fishing caddy, where the outwardly extending arms of the caddy are designed to carry rolls of fishing line, for example, and the base of the caddy is manufactured as an enclosed receptacle for holding fishing hooks and sinkers. One side of the fishing caddy may further include a front and/or back wall enclosing one or both sides of the caddy, the wall preferably being hingedly or pivotally attached to an upper part of the caddy. The front and/or back wall may be formed of a clear perspex or similar material allowing the contents of the caddy to be viewed.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the caddy may be utilised as a wine carrier/cooler. In this embodiment, the base of the caddy serves to hold one or more bottles of wine or other beverage, and the bottom of the caddy can be formed as a compartment for ice or similar so as to act as a wine or beverage cooler. The base may also be sized and shaped so as to receive a cask of wine, for example.

In another embodiment of the invention, the caddy can be used as a garden caddy. In this embodiment, a front and/or back wall of the caddy may be added to assist in retaining various gardening accessories in the caddy. The front and/or back wall may be lockable in a closed position so as to selectively prevent access to the interior of the caddy where garden chemicals may be stored, for example.

In any embodiments of the invention, the caddy may further include one or more slidable drawers or trays. Theses drawers or trays may be formed as part of the base of the caddy, or in embodiments where the caddy has a front or rear wall, the drawers or trays may be formed as part of the wall.

It will be appreciated that the caddy of the invention, through its provision and arrangement of various support means on the one body provides a convenient form of storing various cooking utensils and accessories, particularly those commonly used when cooking outdoors. The caddy is also useful in other activities such as fishing and gardening, and as a wine cooler/carrier. The caddy of the invention is compact and portable making it ideally suited to outdoor use at barbecues or at picnics.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A caddy including:

a body;

2. A caddy according to claim 1 , wherein the body of the caddy includes a base and a pair of substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from either side of the base, the side walls having respective upper ends.

3. A caddy according to claim 2, wherein the base of the caddy forms the first support means and serves as a receptacle for articles.

4. A caddy according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the base further includes front and rear walls, rails, or the like.

5. A caddy according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further including handle means extending between the upper ends of the side walls to assist in carrying the caddy by hand.

6. A caddy according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the second support means is a short arm extending outwardly from one or both of the side walls.

7. A caddy according to^" claim 6, wherein the short arm or arms are located at or near the upper end of the side walls.

8. A caddy according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the third support means is a short arm extending inwardly from at least one of the side walls.

9. A caddy according to claim 8, wherein two inwardly extending arms are provided, extending from respective side walls opposite each other.

10. A caddy according to any one of claims 2 to 9 wherein the base further includes outwardly extending container portions.

11. A caddy according to claim 10, when appended to claim 6 or 7, wherein the container portions are positioned directly beneath the outwardly extending arm or arms.

12. A caddy including:

a body;

13. A caddy according to claim 12, wherein the body of the caddy includes a base and a pair of substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from either side of the base, the side walls having respective upper ends.

14. A caddy according to claim 13, wherein the base of the caddy forms the first support means and serves as a receptacle for articles.

15. A caddy according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the base further includes front and rear walls, rails, or the like.

16. A caddy according to any one of claims 13 to 15, further including handle means extending between the upper ends of the side walls to assist in carrying the caddy by hand.

17. A caddy according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the second support means is a short arm extending inwardly from at least one of the side walls.

18. A caddy according to claim 17, wherein two inwardly extending arms are provided, extending from respective side walls opposite each other.

19. A caddy according to any one of claims 13 to 18, further including third support means operably connected to and arranged with respect to the body such that one or more articles may be suspended from the third support means.

20. A caddy according to any one of claim 19, wherein the third support means is a short arm extending outwardly from one or both of the side walls.

21. A caddy according to claim 20, wherein the short arm or arms are located at or near the upper end of the side walls.

22. A caddy according to any one of claims 13 to 21 wherein the base further includes outwardly extending container portions.

23. A caddy according to claim 22, when appended to claim 20 or 21 , wherein the container portions are positioned directly beneath the outwardly extending arm or arms.

24. A caddy including:

a body;

25. A caddy according to claim 24, wherein the body of the caddy includes a base and a pair of substantially vertical side walls extending upwardly from either side of the base, the side walls having respective upper ends.

27. A caddy according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the base further includes front and rear walls, rails, or the like, and is adapted to receive and confine a plurality of articles.

28. A caddy according to any one of claims 25 to 27, further including handle means extending between the upper ends of the side walls to assist in carrying the caddy by hand.

29. A caddy according to any one of claims 25 to 28, wherein the first support means is a short arm extending outwardly from one or both of the side walls.

30. A caddy according to claim 29, wherein the short arm or arms are located at or near the upper end of the side walls.

31. A caddy according to any one of claims 25 to 30, wherein the second support means is a short arm extending inwardly from at least one of the side walls.

32. A caddy according to claim 31, wherein two inwardly extending arms are provided, extending from respective side walls opposite each other.

33. A caddy according to any one of claims 25 to 32 wherein the base further includes outwardly extending container portions.

34. A caddy according to claim 33, when appended to claim 29 or 30, wherein the container portions are positioned directly beneath the outwardly extending arm or arms.

U.P. Tooling Assets Pty Ltd By its Registered Patent Attorneys Freehills Carter Smith Beadle 24 May 2001