Food preparation cutting board and associated method

• US 8,720,879 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James L. Schrimper
• Original Assignee: James L. Schrimper
• Inventors: Schrimper, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoon, Seahee
• Application Number:
  US13/162,057
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 269/289.R, 269/290, 269/293, 269/16, 269/302.1
• US Class Current: 269/289.R
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 47/00 Kitchen containers, stands or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass; Cutting-boards, e.g. for bread bowls for food processors A47J43/0727
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 47/005 Cutting boards
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/00 Devices holding, supporting, or positioning work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine work-tables or other parts, e.g. faceplates, normally not incorporating means for securing work B23Q1/00; automatic position control B23Q15/00 ; food cutting boards A47J47/00; workpiece support for dies B21D37/02; rotary tool heads for turning-machines B23B3/24, B23B3/26; non-driven tool holders B23B29/00; general features of turrets B23B29/24 ; drawbars in spindles B23B31/261; for electrical discharge machining B23H11/003; for welding B23K37/04; means for securing grinding wheels B24B45/00; mountings for abrasive wheels B24D5/16; tools or bench devices for fastening, connecting, disengaging or holding B25B ; chucks for percussive tools B25D17/084; work benches for manual work B25H1/00; devices for securing circular saw blades B27B5/32; for assembling or manufacturing aircrafts B64F5/10; for holding semiconductors or wafers H01L21/67; devices for holding circuit boards H05K13/0061
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/02 having a stationary cutting member B26D1/547 takes precedence

Abstract

A food preparation cutting board for cutting and storing food stuff in isolated compartments adjacent to the cutting board preferably includes a cutting board including a plurality of openings formed along a perimeter thereof, and a plurality of food containers removably interfitted within the openings respectively such that the food containers are juxtaposed adjacent to the perimeter of the cutting board. The food containers are fixedly engaged with the cutting board when the food containers are disposed within the openings respectively. Such food containers are capable of may be interchangeably oriented at an upright position and an inverted position relative to the cutting board. In this manner, the food containers are adapted to receive food stuff directly from the cutting board. Furthermore, a user is able to expand the surface area of the cutting board and/or conveniently slide food stuff into the food containers directly from the cutting board.

Claims

1. A food preparation cutting board for cutting and storing food stuff, said food preparation cutting board comprising:

a portable cutting board including a plurality of openings formed along a perimeter thereof; and

a plurality of food containers removably interfitted within said openings respectively such that said food containers are juxtaposed adjacent to said perimeter of said cutting board;

wherein said food containers are adapted to receive food stuff directly from said cutting board;

wherein said food containers are fixedly engaged with said cutting board when said food containers are disposed within said openings respectively;

wherein said food containers are interchangeably oriented at an upright position and an inverted position relative to said cutting board;

wherein said cutting board comprises

a plurality of guide rails located at an entry of said openings respectively, and

a plurality of detents located at an ending of said openings respectively;

wherein said guide rails are substantially linear and protrude outwardly from said cutting board.

2. The food preparation cutting board of claim 1, wherein said food containers are slidably displaced along a bi-directional linear travel path when removably interfitted within said openings, said bi-directional linear travel path being registered parallel to a top surface of said cutting board.

3. The food preparation cutting board of claim 2, wherein said food containers linearly travel towards and away from said perimeter of said cutting board when respectively ingressing and egressing through said openings along said bi-directional linear travel path.

4. The food preparation cutting board of claim 1, wherein said detents are resiliently biased along corresponding arcuate travels paths respectively located within said openings.

5. The food preparation cutting board of claim 1, wherein said guide rails are axially aligned at an end-to-end pattern with said detents respectively.

6. The food preparation cutting board of claim 1, wherein said food containers comprise:

a central cavity adapted to receive food stuff therein;

a plurality of channels formed exterior of said central cavity; and

a plurality of pockets in fluid communication with said channels and located exterior of said central cavity respectively;

wherein said channels linearly receive said guide rails and said detents as said food containers are interfitted into said openings along a bi-directional linear travel path.

7. The food preparation cutting board of claim 6, wherein said pockets extend inwardly and away from said detents such that a leading end of said detents removably sits within said pockets when said food containers are fully interfitted within said openings respectively.

8. A food preparation cutting board for cutting and storing food stuff, said food preparation cutting board comprising:

a cutting board including a plurality of openings formed along a perimeter thereof; and

a plurality of food containers removably interfitted within said openings respectively such that said food containers are juxtaposed adjacent to said perimeter of said cutting board;

wherein said food containers are adapted to receive food stuff directly from said cutting board;

wherein said food containers are fixedly engaged with said cutting board when said food containers are disposed within said openings respectively;

wherein said food containers are capable of being interchangeably oriented at an upright position and an inverted position relative to said cutting board;

wherein said cutting board comprises

a plurality of guide rails located at an entry of said openings respectively, and

a plurality of detents located at an ending of said openings respectively;

wherein said guide rails are substantially linear and protrude outwardly from said cutting board.

9. The food preparation cutting board of claim 8, wherein said food containers are slidably displaced along a bi-directional linear travel path when removably interfitted within said openings, said bi-directional linear travel path being registered parallel to a top surface of said cutting board.

10. The food preparation cutting board of claim 9, wherein said food containers linearly travel towards and away from said perimeter of said cutting board when respectively ingressing and egressing through said openings along said bi-directional linear travel path.

11. The food preparation cutting board of claim 8, wherein said detents are resiliently biased along corresponding arcuate travels paths respectively located within said openings.

12. The food preparation cutting board of claim 8, wherein said guide rails are axially aligned at an end-to-end pattern with said detents respectively.

13. The food preparation cutting board of claim 8, wherein said food containers comprise:

a central cavity adapted to receive food stuff therein;

a plurality of channels formed exterior of said central cavity; and

a plurality of pockets in fluid communication with said channels and located exterior of said central cavity respectively;

wherein said channels linearly receive said guide rails and said detents as said food containers are interfitted into said openings along a bi-directional linear travel path.

14. The food preparation cutting board of claim 13, wherein said pockets extend inwardly and away from said detents such that a leading end of said detents removably sits within said pockets when said food containers are fully interfitted within said openings respectively.