Abstract:
The preferred form of the present invention is a rolling pin having a hollow center portion that is sized and configured to receive and store one or more cooking implements such as a plurality of cookie cutters. The cookie cutters are configured to fit within the interior of the rolling pin. The rolling pin includes two handles, and one or both of the handles is removable to allow the cookie cutters or other implements to be either stored or removed for use.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of prior U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/827,003, filed Sep. 26, 2006, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to rolling pins and cookie cutters. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Storage space is often difficult to find in the modern kitchen. The number of specialized tools and appliances compounds the problem. It is difficult to organize kitchen tools such that they will be readily available when needed. Cookie cutters, for example, come in a variety of shapes. However, they are small and often hard to find at the bottom of a drawer or at the back of a cabinet. It is inconvenient to locate each cookie cutter in a set each time the cookie cutters are used. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The preferred form of the present invention is a rolling pin having a hollow center portion that is sized and configured to receive and store a plurality of cookie cutters. Likewise, the cookie cutters are configured to fit within the interior of the rolling pin. The rolling pin includes two handles, and one or both of the handles is removable to allow the cookie cutters to be either stored or removed for use. 
         [0005]    In alternate embodiments, other cooking implements such as measuring spoons or measuring cups may be stored within the rolling pin. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a rolling pin and cookie cutters, with the cookie cutters shown outside the rolling pin; 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the rolling pin of  FIG. 1A , with one handle removed and the cookie cutters stored inside the rolling pin; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the rolling pin of  FIG. 1A , shown with the cookie cutters stowed and the handles attached; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the handle of the rolling pin illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0011]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1C , a rolling pin  10  includes a roller  12 , two handles  14 , and two handle mounts  16 . The roller  12  defines cavity  18  extending therethrough. In the preferred embodiment, the cavity  18  extends completely through the roller  12 . However, other embodiments may include a cavity  18  extending through only one end of the roller  12 . 
         [0012]    A plurality of cookie cutters  20  are sized to fit within the cavity  18 . The roller  12  is preferably formed of a transparent material such that the cookie cutters  20  are visible when positioned within the cavity  12 , although the roller may be made from wood, metal, stone, ceramic, or other materials. Likewise, the roller may have external layers of silicone or other materials. 
         [0013]    The cookie cutters  20  may include a border  22  that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the cavity  18 , such that the cookie cutters  20  may be placed within the cavity  18  in an orderly column, as shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C . The border  22  may also reduce movement of the cookie cutters  20  within the cavity  18  in order to reduce rattling when the roller  12  is used to roll out dough. In the example shown, the border comprises a circular flange having a diameter approximately equal to that of the internal diameter of the cavity  18 . When stored, a central axis of the cavity is aligned with the centers of the circular flanges. In alternate forms, the border may be shaped differently including, for example, a square, pentagonal, or other shape. A similar mating internal cross-section for the cavity  18  is preferred, to hold the cutters in position. 
         [0014]    After the rolling pin  10  and cookie cutters  20  have been used and cleaned, one or both of the handle mounts  16  may be removed to insert the cookie cutters  20  into the cavity  18 , as shown in  FIG. 1B . The handle mount, or mounts,  16  may then be replaced to secure the cookie cutters  20  within the cavity  18 . 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the example handle mounts  16  include a plug portion  24  sized to fit within the ends of the cavity  18 . One or more seals, such as o-rings may surround the plug portion  24  to maintain the plug portion  24  within the cavity  18  due to friction. The o-rings are typically formed of a resilient material such as rubber. A cap portion  28  of the handle mount  16  secures to the plug portion  24  and covers the opening of the cavity  18 . A lip may be formed on the cap portion  28  to abut the end of the roller when the handle mount  16  is inserted within the cavity. 
         [0016]    The handle  14  rotatably mounts to the cap portion  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, a pin  30  rotatably connects the handle  14  to the cap portion  28 . The pin  30  rotatably mounts to at least one of the cap portion  28  and the handle  14  and fixedly or rotatably attaches to the other of the cap portion  28  and handle  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pin  30  engages an aperture  32  formed in the cap portion  28  by means of a press fit such that the pin  30  is not readily removable from the aperture  32  and is not substantially rotatable. 
         [0017]    In the illustrated embodiment, the pin  30  mounts within an inner sleeve  34  inserted within the handle  14 . The pin  30  includes a head  36  such that the inner sleeve  34  is captured between the head  36  and the cap portion  28 . The inner sleeve  34  may be retained within the handle  14  by a number of means, including glue, fasteners, a press fit, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, first and second outer sleeve halves  38  secure the inner sleeve  34  within the handle  14 . The outer sleeve halves  38  include flanges  40  which cooperate to form an aperture that encircles the pin  30  but is too small for the sleeve  34  to pass through. 
         [0018]    The outer sleeve halves  38  may also include one or more radially extending pins  42  insertable within one or more apertures  44  formed along the length of the inner sleeve  34  in order to retain the sleeve  34 . Alternatively, the inner sleeve  34  may include pins extending into apertures formed in the outer sleeve halves  38 . 
         [0019]    The outer sleeve halves  38  include one or more circumferential grooves  46  sized to receive one or more corresponding ridges formed in a cavity  50  in the handle  14 . In an alternative embodiment, the ridges are formed on the outer sleeve halves  38  and the grooves  46  are formed within the handle  14 . The grooves  46  and ridges may extend completely around the circumference of the combined outer sleeve halves or may be located on only a portion of the circumference. 
         [0020]    The grooves  46  include a planar surface facing the roller  12 . The planar surface engages a mating planar surface on the ridge in order to retain the outer sleeve halves  38  within the handle  14 . The ridges include a sloped leading surface to enable the grooves  46  to slide into engagement with the ridges. 
         [0021]    The handles may be secured to the roller using a variety of alternate constructions, including caps that screw onto the roller or that lock into place using different mechanical means. Likewise, the internal cavity of the roller may hold other baking items other than cookie cutters including, for example, measuring spoons or cups. 
         [0022]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment.