Cutting board apparatus and method

• US 8,122,800 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ramon Correa
• Original Assignee: Ramon Correa
• Inventors: Correa, Ramon
• Primary Examiner(s): Alie, Ghassem
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Bharat C
• Application Number:
  US11/832,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20090033012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: 831/30, 831/67, 269/289.R, 269/302.1, 99537-538, 220/522, 220/507
• US Class Current: 83/130
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 47/005 Cutting boards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2137 And alternatively movable to or from operating position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/222 With receptacle or support for cut product

Abstract

Provided is a cutting board apparatus comprising a catch pan and a cutting platform. The catch pan includes a substantially planar upper surface enclosed by a retaining member. The catch pan further includes a base member on an underside of the catch pan stabilizing the catch pan against cutting forces. The cutting platform includes a substantially planar cutting surface elevated from the catch pan by a support member extending away from the face of the planar cutting surface, wherein the cutting platform is positioned on the catch pan to form a discard channel between the catch pan retaining member and the cutting surface'"'"'s outer boundary, and further, wherein the cutting platform and the catch pan are rotatably attached to each other about an axis. Also provided is a corresponding method of cutting an item utilizing a cutting board apparatus.

Claims

1. A cutting board apparatus comprising:

a catch pan, having a substantially planar upper surface composed of stainless steel, the substantially planar upper surface partially enclosed by a retaining member, wherein the retaining member is a wall extending upward from the substantially planar surface of the catch pan so as to form a partial enclosure created by the retaining member, the partial enclosure having a similar outline and profile as the planar upper surface, the catch pan further including a base member securely attached to an underside of the catch pan, the base member stabilizing the catch pan against cutting forces and being configured to sit on a supporting surface next to a sink and provide clearance for both the underside of the catch pan and the underside of a lip extending from an opening of the retaining wall member, so that the lip is positioned to extend into a sink, when the catch pan is positioned next to the sink, without any portion of the lip or the underside of the catch pan touching the sink;

a handgrip attached to an outer surface of the catch pan and located to extend co-planar to the upper surface of the catch pan; and

a cutting platform, having a substantially planar cutting surface composed of stainless steel, the substantially planar cutting surface elevated from the catch pan by a support member extending away from the face of the planar cutting surface, wherein the support member operates with a positioning feature that helps to locate and position the cutting surface with respect to the catch pan, wherein the support member is a wall extending downward from the substantially planar cutting surface so as to elevate and locate the substantially planar cutting surface above the entirety of the catch pan including the retaining member wall of the catch pan, wherein the positioning feature of the cutting platform is a flange surrounding a substantial portion of the support member wall and also extending substantially perpendicularly from the support member wall of the cutting platform, which positioning flange feature works in conjunction with the support member wall of the catch pan to locate and position the substantially planar cutting surface with respect to the catch pan;

wherein the cutting platform is positioned on the catch pan in a first position to form a discard channel between the catch pan retaining member and the cutting surface'"'"'s outer boundary, wherein the positioning flange feature resides flat against the bottom of the discard channel, positioning the support member wall of the cutting surface away from the retaining member of the catch pan; and

further, wherein the cutting platform and the catch pan are rotatably attached to each other about an axis, so that the cutting platform may obtain a location in a second position, where the positioning flange feature is not located at the bottom of any discard channel formed between the retaining wall member of the catch pan and the support wall member of the cutting platform;

wherein the cutting platform is configured to secure a plurality of cutting tools on an underside of the planar cutting surface.

2. The cutting board apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cutting tools are securable by a magnet.

3. The cutting board apparatus of claim 1 wherein a handgrip is attached to an outer surface of the catch pan.

4. The cutting board apparatus of claim 1 wherein apart from the stainless steel cutting surface of the cutting platform and the stainless steel upper surface of the catch pan, the other component features of the cutting board apparatus are constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of, plastic, glass, wood, composite, and combinations thereof that can support cutting forces.

5. A cutting board apparatus comprising:

a cutting platform and a catch pan rotatably attached to each other, the catch pan having a substantially planar upper surface partially enclosed by a retaining member, wherein the retaining member is a wall extending upward from the substantially planar surface of the catch pan so as to form a partial enclosure created by the retaining member, the partial enclosure having a similar outline and profile as the planar upper surface, the cutting platform having a substantially planar cutting surface elevated from the planar upper surface of the catch pan by a support member extending away from the face of the planar cutting surface of the cutting platform; and

a handgrip, attached substantially co-planar to the catch pan;

wherein the cutting surface and the catch pan are composed of stainless steel;

wherein a positioning feature operable with the support member of the cutting platform helps to position the cutting platform on the catch pan to form a discard channel between the catch pan retaining member and the cutting surface'"'"'s outer boundary, wherein a positioning feature of the cutting platform operable with the support member of the cutting platform helps to position the cutting platform on the catch pan to form a discard channel between the catch pan retaining member and the cutting surface'"'"'s outer boundary, which positioning feature works in conjunction with the support member of the cutting platform to locate and position the substantially planar cutting surface with respect to the catch pan; and

wherein the catch pan further includes a base member securely attached to an underside of the catch pan, the base member stabilizing the catch pan against cutting forces and being configured to sit on a supporting surface next to a sink and provide clearance for both the underside of the catch pan and the underside of a lip extending from an opening of the retaining wall member, so that the lip is positioned to extend into a sink, when the catch pan is positioned next to the sink, without any portion of the lip or the underside of the catch pan touching the sink; and

the cutting platform is configured to secure a plurality of cutting tools on an underside of the planar cutting surface.

6. The cutting board apparatus of claim 5 wherein the, wherein a discard channel directs cutting by-products onto said lip extending from the opening.

7. The cutting board apparatus of claim 6 wherein the cutting tools are secured by a magnet.

8. The cutting board apparatus of claim 5 wherein the apparatus is constructed substantially of metal in one unitary structure.