Modular cutting board

• US 6,460,841 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce A. Durr
• Original Assignee: Bruce A. Durr
• Inventors: Durr, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rachuba, M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHANLEY, DANIEL G
• Application Number:
  US09/982,807
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 269/289.R, 269/302.1, 269/13, 269/315, 269/303
• US Class Current: 269/289.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 47/005 Cutting boards

Abstract

A modular cutting/pastry board having a plurality of joinable board sections is disclosed. Each board section, typically of a food grade plastic material, has a keyed tongue disposed along a first edge and a keyhole groove disposed along a second edge such that when engaged, a single, rigid board is formed. Removable handles using the same keyed tongue and keyhole groove provide ease in moving the cutting/pastry board. The board segments can be used individually for smaller cutting/pastry tasks or joined for larger tasks. Disassembled, the board is compact for easy storage or dishwasher cleansing.

Claims

1. A modular cutting/pastry board comprising:

at least one substantially rectangular, substantially planar board segment having four edges and a predetermined thickness, each of said at least one board segment having

a first joining means disposed on at least a first one of said edges and

a second joining means disposed on at least an opposing one of said edges,

one of said board segments being adapted to engage another one of said board segments,

said first joining means of one of said board segments being configured to retentively engage said second joining means of another one of said board segments,

whereby when said first joining means of said one of said board segment engages said second joining means of said other board segment, a rigid adjacent connection is formed therebetween, and

a pair of handles adapted for removable attachment to said cutting/pastry board utilizing at least one of said first and said second joining means.

2. A modular cutting/pastry board, as defined in claim 1, wherein said board segments comprise a food grade plastic.

3. A modular cutting/pastry board, as defined in claim 2, wherein said food grade plastic is one from the group:

a UHMW plastic,

a HDPE plastic, and

an Acetal plastic.

4. A modular cutting/pastry board, as defined in claim 1, wherein

said first joining means comprises a keyed tongue extending along a first length edge of said board segment, and

said second joining means comprises keyhole groove extending along a second length edge of said board segment,

said keyed tongue of one of said board segments adapted for engaging said keyhole groove of an adjacent one of said board segments.

5. A modular cutting/pastry board, as defined in claim, 1 wherein said handles are disposed substantially normal to said cutting/pastry board, and

a first one of said handles further comprises a keyed tongue proximate the lower edge thereof adapted for engagement of said keyhole groove of one of said board segments, and

a second one of said handles further comprises a keyhole groove proximate the lower edge thereof adapted for receiving said keyed tongue of one of said board segments.

6. A modular cutting/pastry board, as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said handles comprises:

a keyed tongue along a first side proximate the lower edge thereof, and

a keyhole groove along a second side proximate the lower edge thereof,

said keyed tongue adapted for engaging said keyhole groove of one of said board segments, and said keyhole groove adapted for engaging said keyed tongue of one of said board segments.

7. A modular cutting/pastry board, as defined in claim 5, wherein at least one of said handles is substantially equal in length to at least one of said board segment and adapted to form, in conjunction with the cutting surface of said cutting/pastry board, a trough adapted to guide cut objects into a smaller receptacle.

8. A modular cutting/pastry board, as defined in claim 1, wherein said board segment further comprises a groove proximate at least one of said edges thereof adapted to contain juices released from cut objects.

9. A modular cutting/pastry board comprising:

at least one substantially rectangular, substantially planar board segment having four edges and a predetermined thickness,

said board segments comprising a food grade plastic, and having

a first joining means disposed on at least a first one of said edges, said first joining means comprising a keyed tongue extending along a first of said edges of said board segment, and

a second joining means disposed on at least an opposing one of said edges, said second joining means comprising

a keyhole groove extending along a second of said edges of said board segments,

said keyed tongue of one of said board segments adapted for engaging said keyhole groove of another of said board segments;

a pair of handles adapted for removable attachment to said cutting/pastry board utilizing at least one of said first and said second joining means, said handles being substantially normal to said cutting/pastry board, and

a first of said handles further comprising a keyed tongue proximate the lower edge thereof adapted for engagement of said keyhole groove on one of said board segments, and

a second of said handles further comprising a keyhole groove proximate the lower edge thereof adapted for receiving said keyed tongue of one of said board segments.