Abstract:
A spatula includes a handle connected to an asymmetrical flat head portion at an offset location on the flat head portion. The asymmetrical flat head portion includes a beveled perimeter edge with one side of the beveled edge including a plurality of serrations to provide a cutting capability for the flat head portion. The serrated edge of the flat head portion is further angled with respect to the handle to improve the operation of the spatula and safety of the user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a spatula, more particularly a spatula used for outdoor cooking. 
     BACKGROUND INVENTION 
     Spatulas are used for cooking in many environments including grilling, whether outdoor grilling over a fire or indoor cooking on a griddle surface. Notwithstanding the pervasive use of the spatula as a necessary cooking tool, prior art spatulas are not well adapted to provide comfort and ease of use in many cooking situations. For example, conventional spatulas include a flat head portion used for manipulating foodstuffs that is attached to a handle portion that is generally centered on the head portion. Such an arrangement is not optimal for many uses of the spatula, such as for using the spatula to cut foodstuffs as well as move them. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a spatula includes a handle connected to an asymmetrical flat head portion at an offset location on the flat head portion. The asymmetrical flat head portion includes a beveled perimeter edge with one side of the beveled edge including a plurality of serrations to provide a cutting capability for the flat head portion. The serrated edge of the flat head portion is further angled with respect to the handle to improve the operation of the spatula and safety of the user. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary spatula according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary exploded view of a spatula according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary insert according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an exemplary spatula according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary spatula  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Spatula  100  includes handle portion  110  and head portion  120 . Handle portion  110  includes, for example, gripping portion  111  disposed towards an upper end of handle portion  110  and a neck portion  112  disposed at a lower end of handle portion  110 . As shown in FIG. 5, head portion  120  is disposed lower relative to gripping portion  111  due to, for example, the angled form of neck portion  112 . 
     Gripping portion  111  may be formed, for example, as a separate piece. For example, gripping portion  111  may include an inner core of relatively hard material, such as polypropylene, with a softer, malleable outer covering, such as an overmolded polypropylene elastomer to provide comfortable gripping of the spatula  100  by a user. As is known in the art, the inner core of gripping portion  111  may be formed by injection molding using a two position mold with a second set of molds being used to form the outer covering over the inner core. Other suitable manufacturing methods may be used. Alternatively, gripping portion  111  may have unitary construction of any suitable heat-tolerant material. 
     Neck portion  112  connects gripping portion  111  to head portion  120 . As illustrated in FIG. 1 and 2, neck portion  112  may be formed integral with head portion  120 , although in alternative embodiments of the present invention, neck portion  112  and gripping portion  111  also could have unitary (e.g., integral) construction. Neck portion  112  may be formed of, for example, stainless steel, plated steel, aluminum or heat treated plastic. As illustrated in FIG. 2, neck portion  112  may connect to gripping portion  111  via a press fit into a lower end of gripping portion  111 . For example, the lower end of gripping portion  111  may include a slit  113  into which an end portion  114  of neck portion  112  may be forced with barbs  115  on end portion  114  engaging the walls of opening  113 , thereby maintaining the connection of neck portion  112  and gripping portion  111 . Other suitable means for connecting neck portion  112  and gripping portion  111  may be used, such as screws, welds or integral construction. As illustrated in FIG. 5, neck portion  112  may have an angled construction, such as end portion  114  being disposed at an angle with respect to the remainder of neck portion  112 . 
     Head portion  120  of spatula  100  is disposed at an end of neck portion  112 . Head portion may be formed, for example, integral with neck portion  112  and may be formed of stainless steel, plated steel, aluminum or heat treated plastic. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, neck portion  112  is, for example, angled between gripping portion  111  and head portion  120  so that head portion  120  is disposed lower relative to gripping portion  112 . Head portion  120  includes, for example, an asymmetrical shape including first edge  121 , second edge  122 , third edge  123 , fourth edge  124  and fifth edge  125 . First, second and third edges  121 ,  122 ,  123  include, for example, a beveled edge portion  126  extending downward from a top surface of head portion  120 . As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, neck portion  112  does not join head portion  120  at a central position, but rather neck portion  112  is offset with respect to the head portion  120 . For example, neck portion  112  joins head portion  120  at a point closer to first edge  121  than to third edge  123 , illustrated by fourth edge  124  being wider than fifth edge  125 . 
     In addition, third edge  123  includes a plurality of serrations  130  to provide, for example, a cutting surface. As a result of the offset placement of the connection of neck portion  112  to head portion  120  and the serrated third edge  123 , better leverage is provided for the use of spatula  100  as a cutting tool. For example, the serrated edge  123  is positioned further away from the gripping portion  111  than if the neck portion  112  joined head portion  120  at the center of the rear edge or was equally disposed between first edge  121  and third edge  123 . In an alternative embodiment, spatula  100  can be formed with neck portion  112  connecting to head portion  120  closer to third edge  123  with serrations  130  being on first edge  121 . Such a configuration could accommodate, for example, left hand users of spatula  100 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the spatula can be further improved by additional angling of the third edge  123 . For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the rear portion of third edge  123  (e.g., approaching neck portion  112 ) is angled away from handle  110 . In contrast, for example, first edge  121  runs substantially parallel to handle  110  although first edge  121  also could angle away from handle  110 . The additional angling of third edge  123  in combination with the serrations  130  provide improved operation of the spatula  100  over prior art spatulas. For example, in addition to the additional leverage available to the user from the offset handle arrangement, the asymmetrical shape including angled and serrated edge  123  of the head portion  120  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides additional clearance to keep the hand of a user away from the heat of a cooking surface when using the serrated edge  123 . 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, head portion  120  includes a plurality of openings  131  disposed therethrough to allow, for example, grease and other liquids to pass through the head portion  120 . In addition, the openings  131  provide a pattern that can be embossed on malleable foodstuffs, such as ground meat, and also provide for browning of food in the resultant pattern. In addition to openings  131 , any desired pattern of openings may be used as well as varied opening shapes, such as slits. 
     An end portion of handle  110  may include, for example, an insert  140 . FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate possible inserts  140 , such as bottle opener insert  141  and hanging insert  142 . Similar to end portion  114  of neck portion  112 , insert  140  connects to handle  110  via, for example, a press fit into an end of handle  110 . For example, the end of handle  110  may include a slit  145  into which an end portion  144  of insert  140  (or inserts  141 ,  142 ) may be forced with barbs  115  on end portion  144  engaging the walls of opening  145 , thereby maintaining the connection of insert  140  and handle  110 .