Measured utility kitchen tool

• US 6,644,179 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2003
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rutherford Kiehm
• Original Assignee: Rutherford Kiehm
• Inventors: Kiehm, Rutherford
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US10/394,899
• Time in Patent Office: 234 Days
• Field of Search: 994/95, 995/09--11, 994/84, 995/68--81, 425/282-286, 425/516, 294/118, 294/16, 294/93, 294/902, 836/66, 833/55, 833/563, 839/32, 241/168-169, 241/282.1, 241/282.2, 241/92, 241/93, 241/272, 301/201-120
• US Class Current: 99/510
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 11/00 Other machines for forming the dough into its final shape before cooking or baking
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 1/207 Compression moulding of paste, optionally in form of ball or rope or other preforms, or of powder or granules
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/2061 Compression moulding of paste, e.g. in the form of a ball or rope or other preforms, or of powder or granules
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 30/00 Shaping or working of foodstuffs characterised by the process or apparatus A23P10/00, A23P20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/288 Spatulas; Scrapers; Multi-purpose hand implements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/932 Edible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/501 With plural tools on a single tool support

Abstract

The utility kitchen tool is a multiple task tool used in the kitchen utilizing the force of a spring-loaded scissor action handle applied to a push plate mounted within an attaching interchangeable scoop or container allowing for the scoop to create formed measured amounts of dispensable foods, to prepare food for cooking, to slice food, chop foods or to create molded measured amounts of soft foods for baking or serving in a plurality of ornamental shapes. The scoop also provides either a straight forcing motion of the push plate or a spinning motion of the push plate depending on the present use of the scoop and also provides a attaching container to hold foods being chopped or minced.

Claims

1. A multiple function utility tool for food preparation and kitchen use for single hand operation comprising:

a straight stationary lever arm having a first end with a base handle and a second end with

a stationary guide ring having a central opening and a stationary mounting plate having an outer threaded perimeter;

a bent movable lever arm having a first end with a padded handle and a second end having a pivotal attaching hole to which is pivotally attached;

a first end of a plunger arm, the plunger arm having a selectable rotating means, said plunger arm further including a second end having an internally threaded engagement slot to which is attached a push plate, the second end of the plunger arm further slidably engaging the central opening of the second end of the stationay lever arm;

a spring urging the first end of the stationary lever arm from the first end of the movable lever arm, a rivet connecting the stationary lever arm to the movable lever arm; and

at least one shaped ring attachment having an internal thread adapted to engage the outer threaded perimeter of the stationary mounting plate, the push plate positioned to move within the shaped ring attachment to evacuate any content from the shaped ring attachment when the stationary lever arm and the movable lever arm are forced together.

2. The utility tool, as disclosed in claim 1, further providing the selectable rotating means enabling the plunger arm to selectively exert either a straight force into the push plate, or to exert a twisting force to the push plate, depending on the use of the utility tool at the time.

4. The utility tool as disclosed in claim 1, wherein the shaped ring attachment further comprises:

a closed canister having an outer ring and a full bottom plate;

a cross cut shaped ring attachment, having an outer ring and a cross cut blade array;

a nut cracking and core slicing shaped ring attachment having an outer ring and a multiple ring blade array;

a plurality of measured cylindrically shaped ring attachments having outer rings provided in common measured amounts of a quarter cup, half cup or a full cup, and even metric measurements; and

and ornamental cookie shaped ring attachment.

3. The utility tool, as disclosed in FIG. 1, wherein the push plate comprises:

a flat push plate; and

a chopping push plate, having a plurality of blades extending from the chopping push plate, with the shaped ring attachment provided as a closed canister adapting the utility tool to chop or mince nuts, vegetables or fruit.