Kitchen utensil with interchangeable heads

• US 20060175228A1
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cookovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cookovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Tessa, Howel, David, Anthony, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/054,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20060175228A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/751
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/28 Other culinary hand implements, e.g. spatulas, pincers, forks or like food holders, ladles, skimming ladles, cooking spoons; Spoon-holders attached to cooking pots
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 45/071 Saucepan, frying-pan handles

Abstract

A kitchen utensil system including a universal handle and modular heads adapted for quick and easy interchangeable attachment to the handle. The interchangeable heads may include a fork, spoon, spatula, straining ladle, mixer, or any other suitable head. A storage basket is provided for compact and convenient storage of the handle and interchangeable heads, and maintains all of the components in a single compact configuration when placed in a dishwashing machine. The storage basket further functions to keep the heads organized and accessible during use, and includes a cover that doubles to contain drippings.

Claims

1. A modular kitchen utensil system comprising:

a universal handle having a grip end and an attachment end;

said attachment end defining a shank, said shank including radially projecting snap fit members biased radially outward;

means for manually radially retracting said snap fit members; and

a plurality of attachable heads, each of said attachable heads having an end portion defining a sleeve sized for mating snap fit engagement with said shank.

2. A modular kitchen utensil system according to claim 1, further including a basket having an open top, a first chamber for receiving said universal handle, and at least one additional chamber for receiving said plurality of attachable heads.

3. A modular kitchen utensil system according to claim 2, wherein said basket includes a cover, said cover adapted for attachment to said basket in a first configuration wherein said cover is in covering relation with said basket top and a second configuration wherein said cover is in covering relation with the basket bottom whereby said cover functions to catch drippings.

4. A modular kitchen utensil system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of attachable heads includes a fork, a spoon, a spatula, and a mixer.

5. A modular kitchen utensil system comprising:

a handle having a grip end and an attachment end defining a shank, said shank having a generally cylindrical side wall defining a pair of opposing apertures;

said handle defining an internal chamber;

a pair of elongate members disposed within said chamber and spring biased radially outward, said elongate members each having a first end disposed in proximity to said grip and a second end terminating in a snap fit surface, said snap fit surface received within one of said shank apertures and projecting from said shank side wall;

said grip end including a flexible outer wall, whereby manual radial inward deformation of said flexible outer wall causes said elongate members to retract said snap fit members; and

a plurality of attachable heads, each of said attachable heads having an end portion defining a sleeve sized for mating snap fit engagement with said shank, said sleeve defining a pair of opposing apertures for receiving at least a portion of said one of said snap fit members in an attached configuration.

6. A modular kitchen utensil system according to claim 5, further including a basket having an open top, a first chamber for receiving said universal handle, and at least one additional chamber for receiving said plurality of attachable heads.

7. A modular kitchen utensil system according to claim 6, wherein said basket includes a cover, said cover adapted for attachment to said basket in a first configuration wherein said cover is in covering relation with said basket top and a second configuration wherein said cover is in covering relation with the basket bottom whereby said cover functions to catch drippings.

8. A modular kitchen utensil system according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of attachable heads includes a fork, a spoon, a spatula, and a mixer.