Combination barbecue tool

• US 6,675,483 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nostalgia Products Group LLC
• Original Assignee: The Helman Group Limited
• Inventors: Bond, Gregg, Helman, Andrew, Helman, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Watts, Douglas D.
• Application Number:
  US10/020,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 303/22, 303/24, 303/40, 301/42, 362/119, 362/120, 362/109, 362/253, 164/06, 711/0, 711/2, 711/3
• US Class Current: 30/142
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/02 Forks; Forks with ejectors; Combined forks and spoons; Salad servers
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/08 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/0786 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/288 Spatulas; Scrapers; Multi-purpose hand implements
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/18 comprising catches or pawls

Abstract

A simple, effective, lightweight, durable, combination tool having removably attachable interchangeable implements, which are interchangeable one with the other. The combination tool has locking means, which releasably locks the removably attachable interchangeable implements into a handle. The handle can have a light for illuminating an area or work surface, and the food being cooked and/or barbecued. The handle can have a timer capable of being set to at least one time duration, and audibly alerting a user at the end of a selected one of such time durations, as to how long the food has been cooked or barbecued.

Claims

1. A combination tool, comprising:

a handle;

at least one removably attachable implement adapted for use with said handle, said handle having an implement receiving portion and a spring loaded detent adapted to releasably lock said removably attachable implement into said implement receiving portion of said handle;

said removably attachable implement having a receiving slot adapted to matingly receive said detent stop, and releasably lock said detent stop abuttingly against an edge of said receiving slot;

said detent stop is arcuate shaped and said receiving slot edge is matingly arcuate shaped;

said removably attachable implement has an end portion having upper bearing surface edges, upper tracks, lower bearing surface, lower tracks, and tool portion; and

said handle has upper interior rails, lower interior rails, an handle end having mating opening adapted to matingly receive and guide said removably attachable implement end portion thereinto said handle, matingly therebetween and thereonto said upper interior rails and said lower interior rails of said handle.

2. The combination tool according to claim 1 wherein said removably attachable implement end portion is matingly releasably locked therebetween said upper interior rails of said handle and said lower interior rails of said handle.

3. The combination tool according to claim 1, wherein said removably attachable implement has a receiving slot adapted to matingly receive said detent stop, and releasably lock said detent stop abuttingly against an edge of said receiving slot.

4. The combination tool according to claim 1, wherein said detent stop is arcuate shaped and said receiving slot edge is matingly arcuate shaped.

5. The combination tool according to claim 1, wherein said spring loaded detent is adapted to lock said removably attachable implement therein said handle at end of travel of said removably attachable implement wherein said handle.

6. The combination tool according to claim 1, wherein said removably attachable implement has a flange adapted to limit travel of said removably attachable implement therein said handle.

7. The combination tool according to claim 1, wherein said spring loaded detent has a spring loaded release adapted to release said removably attachable implement from said handle.

8. The combination tool according to claim 1, wherein said spring loaded detent is spring loaded with a cantilevered spring.

9. The combination tool according to claim 1, wherein said removably attachable implement has a fork tool portion.

10. The combination tool according to claim 1, wherein said removably attachable implement has a spatula tool portion.

11. The combination tool according to claim 1, herein said handle has a lamp adapted to illuminate an area proximal to an end of sad handle.

12. The combination tool according to claim 11, wherein said lamp is adjacent said implement receiving portion of said handle.

13. The combination tool according to claim 1, wherein said handle has a timer having selectable time durations.

14. The combination tool according to claim 13, herein said timer emits a signal to an audio oscillator at end of a selected time duration, and said audio oscillator drives a loudspeaker, which emits audible sound at said and of said selected time duration.

15. The combination tool according to claim 1, wherein said combination tool has a plurality of removably attachable interchangeable implements.

28. The combination tool according to claim 3, wherein said timer emits a signal to an audio oscillator at end of a selected time d ration, and said audio oscillator drives a loudspeaker, which emits audible sound at said end of said selected time duration.

29. The combination tool according to claim 28, wherein said combination tool has a plurality of removably attachable interchangeable implements.

34. The combination tool according to claim 10, wherein said removably attachable implement has a fork tool portion.

16. A combination tool, comprising:

a handle;

at least one removably attachable implement adapted for use with said handle, said removably attachable implement having an end portion having upper bearing surface edges, upper tracks, lower bearing surface, lower tracks, detent receiving slot, flange having hole therethrough, and tool portion;

said handle having an implement receiving portion, having upper interior rails, lower interior rails, and handle end having mating opening adapted to matingly receive and guide said removably attachable implement end portion into said handle, matingly therebetween and thereonto said upper interior rails and said lower interior rails of said handle;

said handle having a spring loaded detent adapted to releasably lock said removably attachable implement thereinto said implement 7ceiving portion of said handle matingly therebetween said upper interior rails and said lower interior rails of said handle.

17. The combination tool according to claim 16, wherein said removably attachable implement has a receiving slot adapted to matingly receive said detent stop, and releasably lock said detent stop abuttingly against an edge of said receiving slot.

18. The combination tool according to claim 17, wherein said detent stop is arcuate shaped and said receiving slot edge is matingly arcuate shaped.

19. The combination tool according to claim 16, wherein said spring loaded detent is adapted to lock said removably attachable implement therein said handle at end of travel of said removably attachable implement in said handle.

20. The combination tool according to claim 16, wherein said removably attachable implement has a flange adapted to limit travel of said removably attachable implement therein said handle.

21. The combination tool according to claim 16, wherein said spring loaded detent has a spring loaded release adapted to release said removably attachable implement from said handle.

22. The combination tool according to claim 16, wherein said spring loaded detent is spring loaded with a cantilevered spring.

23. The combination tool according to claim 16, wherein said removably attachable implement has a fork tool portion.

24. The combination tool according to claim 16, wherein said removably attachable implement has a spatula tool portion.

25. The combination tool according to claim 16, wherein said handle has a lamp adapted to illuminate an area proximal to an end of said handle.

26. The combination tool according to claim 25, wherein said lamp is adjacent said implement receiving portion of said handle.

27. The combination tool according to claim 16, wherein said handle has a timer having selectable time durations.

30. A combination tool, comprising:

a handle;

at least one removably attachable implement adapted for use with said handle, said removably attachable implement having an end portion having upper bearing surface edges, upper tracks, lower bearing surface, rower tracks, detent receiving slot, flange having hole therethrough, and tool portion;

said handle having an implement receiving portion, having upper interior rails, lower interior rails, and handle end having mating opening adapted to matingly receive and guide said removably attachable implement end portion thereinto said handle, matingly therebetween and thereonto said upper interior rails and said lower interior rails of said handle;

said handle having a spring loaded detent adapted to releasably lock said removably attachable implement thereinto said implement receiving portion of said handle matingly therebetween said upper interior rails d said lower interior rails of said handle;

said removably attachable implement having a receiving slot adapted to matingly receive said detent stop, and releasably lock said detent stop abuttingly against an edge of said receiving slot;

said spring loaded detent adapted to lock said removably attachable implement therein said handle at end of travel of said removably attachable implement therein said handle;

said spring loaded detent having a spring loaded release adapted to release said removably attachable implement from said handle.

31. The combination tool according to claim 30, wherein said detent stop is arcuate shaped and said receiving slot edge is matingly arcuate shaped.

32. The combination tool according to claim 30, wherein said removably attachable implement has a flange adapted to limit said travel of said removably attachable implement therein said handle.

33. The combination tool according to claim 30, wherein said spring loaded detent is spring loaded with a cantilevered spring.

35. The combination tool according to claim 30, wherein said removably attachable implement has a spatula tool portion.

36. The combination tool according to claim 30, wherein said handle has a lamp adapted to illuminate an area proximal to area end of said handle, said lamp being adjacent said implement receiving portion of said handle.

37. The combination tool according to claim 30, wherein said handle has a timer having selectable time durations, wherein further said timer emits a signal to an audio oscillator at end of a selected time duration, and said audio oscillator drives a loudspeaker, which emits audible sound at said end of said selected time duration.

38. The combination tool according to claim 30, wherein said combination tool has a plurality of removably attachable interchangeable implements.