Abstract:
A whisk wiper  30 , a device having a flexible central portion defining a plurality of intersecting slits  32  angularly disposed in an asterisk type pattern, for mounting onto a whisk  46  having angularly disposed loops  44 . It is pulled down over the loops  44 , each loop  44  guided through a slit  32 . To clean off mixture  50  stuck to the whisk  46  the whisk wiper  30  is simply pulled off, the opposed edges of each slit  32  functioning as squeegees, wiping the loops  44  clean, the removed mixture  50  collected on the top side of the whisk wiper  30  so it can be then returned to the mixing bowl  52 . Additionally the whisk wiper  30  is a splash guard, support to hang the whisk  46  on the edge of a mixing bowl  52 , keeps the whisk&#39;s loops  44  up off the surface when the whisk  46  is set down and the outer edge  40  can be used to wipe out the mixing bowl  52.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a utensil cleaning device which removes food stuck to a cook&#39;s whisk with a plurality of slits which act as squeegees to wipe the whisk&#39;s loops clean. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of a whisk in mixing ingredients often involves mixtures which stick to the loops of the whisk, which makes returning this portion of the mixture to the mixing bowl, and subsequently cleaning the whisk, difficult. After shaking the whisk over the bowl, a cook&#39;s only other option has been to try to wipe the wire loops between their fingers. In the end the whisk has been rinsed in the sink, a slow process resulting in the loss of ingredients down the drain. Since whisks have a cage like structure it is not possible to clean them effectively with cleaning implements which are applied from the outside of the whisk as the inner surfaces remain inaccessible. 
     Electric mixers and egg beaters have addressed this same problem with centrifugal cleaning. The mixer is run at high speed to shake off any stuck mixture. So called “self-cleaning beaters” are simply beaters that have no center posts so that the centrifugal cleaning can be more effective. This is essentially only a high speed version of shaking the whisk over the bowl. 
     While there have not been innovative solutions to cleaning the cooks whisks there have been a few innovations in the device itself. The 2005 Hughes U.S. patent application 20070084063 teaches a whisk that includes a protrusion from the handle which has the advantage of keeping the loops of the whisk up off the surface when the whisk is set down. This allows for a more sanitary kitchen as the loops of the whisk do not come into contact with counter tops. Similarly, the 2008 Lion U.S. patent application 20080043568 features a whisk having an additional clip to allow the whisk to be supported on the edge of the mixing bowl. The 2006 Settele U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,631 teaches a collar which can be placed on a conventional whisk which has the benefit, once it is drawn up away from the handle, of collapsing the loops of the whisk and thereby making the whisk more compact for storage. This collar has the added benefit of being applicable to a conventional whisk and does not require one to be manufactured specifically with the device. 
     While the problem of cleaning the complex structure of the whisk has not been addressed by the prior art, methods of cleaning other complex structures have been taught. Solutions to the problem of cleaning the many bristles of a comb has been taught in several patents including the 1946 Heyman U.S. Pat. No. 2,437,298 which teaches a simple fabric strip having a row of perforations coinciding with the bristles of a conventional flat comb. The fabric strip is pulled down to the base of the comb where it remains until it is time to clean the comb at which point it is pulled off taking the caught hair and debris with it. Similarly the 1977 Peilet U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,910 teaches a comb having a perforated plate which lifts up from the back of the comb, each perforation having a single bristle passing through it and including flexible wiping flaps to wipe the bristle clean as the plate is lifted. 
     An advantage of using flexible wiping flaps or blades, as in a squeegee, in cleaning an object is their ability to flexibly conform to the surface being cleaned. The 1933 Pelz U.S. Pat. No. 1,934,556 teaches a C shaped squeegee able to clean a trapezoidal box successfully on all sides, the squeegee blade edges flexibly conforming to the surfaces. The 1971 Fink U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,018 teaches a squeegee consisting of a slit in a rubbery sheet which will remove most debris from golf club head, the opposed edges of the slits acting as squeegees. 
     Scrapers, wipers and squeegees which are in opposed pairs have not been previously used in cleaning a whisk type structure but have been employed as an effective cleaning structure in many devices. The 1960 Hercer U.S. Pat. No. 2,941,224 is one of many spatula cleaners employing opposed wipers or scrapers. The 1990 Tremblay U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,859 teaches a wiper system consisting of opposed squeegees to clean a motor vehicle dipstick. 
     While the cleaning of a whisk type structure does not appear in any prior art, the references sited above demonstrate the efficacy of cleaning a complex structure with opposed squeegees disposed to follow the contours of the item to be cleaned. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     The objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide the first effective device for cleaning a cook&#39;s whisk, which also retains the mixture it removes from the whisk to be returned to the mixing bowl, can be used to wipe out a mixing bowl, supports the whisk on the edge of a mixing bowl, prevents the whisk&#39;s loops from touching the surface when the whisk is set down, and which acts as a splash guard while the whisk is in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is herein called a whisk wiper and is a device having a number of flexible slits, intersecting at angles in the center of the device, making an asterisk or star-like pattern. The whisk wiper is pulled over a whisk&#39;s wire loops down to the handle, prior to the whisks use, each loop passing through a slit. When the cook wants to remove all the mixture  105  stuck on the whisk the wiper is pulled off, the sides of each slit acting as pairs of opposed squeegees wiping the whisk&#39;s loops clean. The whisk wiper, once removed, has the mixture which was wiped off collected onto its top side. The whisk wiper can then be wiped off on the lip of the mixing bowl. In this way nearly all of the mixture is returned to the mixing bowl with the whisk and whisk wiper both left relatively clean. 
     The use of the whisk wiper has several added benefits as well. Once in place on a whisk it acts as a splash guard to keep a cooks hand clean while mixing. The whisk can hang on the edge of a mixing bowl, supported by the whisk wiper. When the whisk is set down the wire loops are kept up off the surface as the whisk is supported by the edge of the whisk wiper instead. Additionally the whisk wiper&#39;s outer edge can be used to wipe out a mixing bowl. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of the whisk wiper  30  with the rigid frame  34  within shown with a dotted line. 
         FIG. 2  shows a bottom view of the whisk wiper  30  of  FIG. 1  with a break away showing the rigid frame  34  within. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the top and side of the whisk wiper  30  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the bottom and side of the whisk wiper  30  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the whisk wiper  30  of  FIG. 1  showing the rigid frame  34  within, and one of the slits  32  and groove  42 . 
         FIG. 6  is the view of  FIG. 5  with a single wire loop  44  being passed through the slit  32 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a top view of a first alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  56 . 
         FIG. 8  shows a top view of a second alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  60  which includes a hard scraper  62 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a top view of a third alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  64  having curved slits  66 , a concave portion  68 , and an acutely angled point  70 . 
         FIG. 10  shows a cook lining up the wire loops  44  with the grooves  42  in the whisk wiper  30  as they are about to be inserted. 
         FIG. 11  shows the step subsequent to  FIG. 10  with the whisk wiper  30  being pulled down over the wire loops  44  toward the handle  48 . 
         FIG. 12  shows the whisk wiper  30  in position on the whisk  46  and functioning as a splash guard as the whisk  46  is being used mixing and splashing mixture  50  around in a mixing bowl  52 , shown in cross section. 
         FIG. 13  shows the whisk  46 , covered with mixture  50 , hanging on the lip  54  of the mixing bowl  52 , shown in cross section, supported by the whisk wiper  30 . 
         FIG. 14  shows the whisk  46  laying down on the handle  48  and the whisk wiper  30 , the wire loops  44  covered with mixture  50 . 
         FIG. 15  shows the whisk wiper  30  being pulled up off the whisk  46 , the wire loops  44  being wiped clean in the process, and the mixture  50  pooling and gathering on the top surface of the whisk wiper  30 . 
         FIG. 16  shows, subsequent to  FIG. 15 , the cleaned whisk  46  in the right hand and the whisk wiper  30 , in the left hand, the mixture  50  collected onto its top surface. 
         FIG. 17  shows the mixture  50  being scraped off the top surface of the whisk wiper  30  on the lip  54  of the mixing bowl  52 . 
         FIG. 18  shows the outer beveled edge  40  being used to wipe out the mixing bowl  52 . 
         FIG. 19  shows a top view of the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72 . 
         FIG. 20  shows a bottom view of the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72 . 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view showing the top and side of the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72  of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view showing the bottom and side of the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72  of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view of fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72  of  FIG. 19  showing the thickened ring  74 , thickened wedge  76  and concave groove  80 . 
         FIG. 24  is the view of  FIG. 23  with a single wire loop  44  being passed through the slit  32 . 
         FIG. 25  shows a cross section of the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72  including a sponge  82 . 
         FIG. 26  shows a cross section of the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72  including brushes  86 . 
         FIG. 27  shows a perspective view of the fifth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  88  consisting of a rectangular sponge with deep slits  88  cut through it. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 30 
                 whisk wiper 
                 32 
                 slit 
               
               
                 34 
                 rigid frame 
                 36 
                 flexible material 
               
               
                 38 
                 slot 
                 40 
                 beveled edge 
               
               
                 42 
                 groove 
                 44 
                 wire loop 
               
               
                 46 
                 whisk 
                 48 
                 handle 
               
               
                 50 
                 mixture 
                 52 
                 mixing bowl 
               
               
                 54 
                 lip 
                 56 
                 first alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper 
               
               
                 58 
                 extra slit 
                 60 
                 second alternative embodiment of the whisk 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 wiper 
               
               
                 62 
                 hard scraper 
                 64 
                 third alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper 
               
               
                 66 
                 curved slits 
                 68 
                 concave portion 
               
               
                 70 
                 acutely 
                 72 
                 fourth alternative embodiment of the 
               
               
                   
                 angled point 
                   
                 whisk wiper 
               
               
                 74 
                 thickened ring 
                 76 
                 thickened wedge 
               
               
                 78 
                 concave edge 
                 80 
                 concave groove 
               
               
                 82 
                 sponge 
                 84 
                 deep slit 
               
               
                 86 
                 brushes 
                 88 
                 fifth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a top view of an embodiment of the present invention generally designated  30 , and herein referred to as a whisk wiper  30 . The whisk wiper  30  is a disk having a number of slits  32  intersecting through its center, and which are disposed in angularly spaced orientation to make an asterisk type pattern. The number of slits  32  is ideally chosen to correspond with the number of wire loops on the whisk with which the whisk wiper  30  will be used. A rigid frame  34  within the whisk wiper  30  is shown with a dotted line. 
     The dimensions of the whisk wiper  30  and the number of the slits  32  can vary and the dimensions given here are just an example. The size of the whisk wiper  30  shown in  FIG. 1  is 9 cm in diameter, with 5 slits  32  which are 6.5 cm in length. 
       FIG. 2  shows the underside of the whisk wiper  30  including a break away view revealing the rigid frame  34  within. This example of the whisk wiper  30  could be constructed of a rigid frame  34  made of aluminum, covered with silicone nonabsorbent flexible material  36 . The rigid frame  34  shown is 8 cm in diameter with slots  38 , which are oblong apertures 7 cm in length and 7 mm in width. As shown in the cross sectional view of  FIG. 5  the thickness of the rigid frame  34  is 2 mm and the thickness of the whisk wiper  30  is 7 mm. 
     The top side of the whisk wiper  30  shown in  FIG. 1  and again in perspective view in  FIG. 3  is flat without depressions or protrusions. The underside shown in  FIG. 2  and again in perspective view in  FIG. 4  has a beveled edge  40  and grooves  42  surrounding each slit  32 . The grooves  42  are 5 mm wide and have beveled walls leading into each slit  32 . In use, as shown in  FIG. 6  a wire loop  44  is guided by the grooves  42  into the slit  32 , the silicone flexing aside to allow the wire loop  44  to pass through the slit  32 . The operative edges of the whisk wiper  30 , which are the opposed edges of each slit  32  and the beveled edge  40 , have a flexibility which is easily controlled by a number of factors in the design. The flexibility is determined by the physical properties of the flexible material  36 , its thickness which in the present embodiment is 7 mm, the size and shape of the grooves  42  and the beveled edge  40 , the distance between the outer beveled edge  40  and the outer edge of the rigid frame  34 , in this embodiment 5 mm, and the distance of the opposed edges of the slits  32  from the inner edges of the slots  38  in the rigid frame  34 , in this embodiment 3.5 mm. 
       FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  show alternative embodiments which will be described later in this description. 
       FIG. 10  shows the whisk wiper  30  being held in the cook&#39;s right hand as it is lined up with a conventional whisk  46 , held in the cook&#39;s left hand. The whisk  46  shown has five wire loops  44  disposed in angularly spaced orientation about the axis of the handle  48 , each loop having two ends secured to the inner end of the handle  48 . 
     The use of the whisk wipe is illustrated beginning with  FIG. 10  which shows the cook lining up the curved ends of the wire loops  44 , with the grooves  42  of the whisk wipe  30 . It is not necessary to be precise in this alignment as the wide grooves  42  present an ample target for the wire loops  44  and both the material of the whisk wipe  30  and the wire loops  44  are flexible. It is also not necessary for the length of the slits  32  to exceed the width of the wire loops  44  as the wire loops  44 , being flexible, can compress in passing through. 
     Once the wire loops  44  are inserted through the slits  32  of the whisk wipe  30 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , the whisk wipe is pulled toward the inner end of the handle  48 . The friction force opposing this movement is determined by materials and the flexibility of the opposed edges of the slits  32 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the whisk wiper  30  in place as the whisk  46  is being used to mix a mixture  50 , in a mixing bowl  52 , which is shown in cross section. The whisk wiper  30  has the added benefit of being a splatter guard as shown in  FIG. 12 , as the mixture  50  splashes back and lands upon the whisk wipe  30 , instead of the cooks hand. 
       FIG. 13  shows the whisk  46  hanging by the whisk wiper  30  on the lip  54  of the mixing bowl  52 . Otherwise a whisk  46  without a whisk wiper  30  in place would slide into the mixing bowl  52 . With the whisk wipe  30  in place the whisk  46  is prevented from sliding down into the bowl. This would be desirable should the cook wish to take a break or use both hands to add additional ingredients to the mixture  50 . 
       FIG. 14  shows the whisk  46  lying upon a horizontal surface with the whisk wiper  30  in place and its wire loops  44  covered with mixture  50 . Without the whisk wiper  30  in place the whisk would normally rest on the wire loops  44 . With the whisk wiper  30  in place the whisk  46  is supported by the outer end of the handle  48  and the whisk wiper  30  with the wire loops  44  suspended above the horizontal surface. This prevents both the mess and unsanitary consequences of having the mixture  50  contact the horizontal surface. 
     Once the cook wishes to remove the mixture  50  which is stuck to the wire loops  44  they simply pull the whisk wiper  30  off.  FIG. 15  shows the cook pulling the whisk wiper  30  away from the inner end of the handle  48  and toward the outer ends of the wire loops  44 . As the whisk wiper  30  is pulled off the opposed edges of the slits  32  function as squeegees and wipe the wire loops  44  clean. The mixture  50  which is wiped off the wire loops  44  is collected on the top side  250  of the whisk wiper  30 . This step can be performed quickly without skill or precision. 
       FIG. 16  shows the result subsequent to the removal of the whisk wipe  30  as shown in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 16  shows the whisk  46 , now clean, and the whisk wipe  30  with the mixture  50  gathered onto its top side. 
       FIG. 17  shows the wiping of the whisk wiper  30  off on the lip  54  of the bowl  52 , thereby  255  returning the mixture  50 , which was wiped from the wire loops  44 , to the mixing bowl  52 , which is shown in cross section. Since the top surface of the whisk wiper  30  has no depressions or protrusions it is ideally suited to return the remnant mixture  50  in this manner. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18  the whisk wiper  30  can also be used, separately from the whisk  46 , to wipe out the mixing bowl  52 . The whisk wiper  30  is simply gripped on one side and the other side&#39;s beveled edge  40  is pressed against the inner surface of the bowl to make as much contact as both the flexibility of the silicone at the edge and the difference between the contour of the whisk wiper  30  and the mixing bowl  52  will allow. 
     Where strokes with the whisk wiper  30  do not overlap, remnants of mixture  50  are left behind in streaks, shown in  FIG. 18  in cross section on the left side of the bowl  52 . Where there is a significant difference between the contour of the outer beveled edge  40  of the whisk wiper  30  and the bowl  52  numerous wiping stokes are needed to ensure there are no remnants of the mixture  50 . 
     A top view of the first alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  56 , shown in  FIG. 7 , has an outer contour with a gradually decreasing curvature as the contour runs in the clockwise direction as shown. The cook can rotate this first alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  56  to find the portion of its contour best suited to the bowl being wiped out. Also included in the contour of the first alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  56  are a flat portion and a right angle to allow for the wiping of flat surfaces and inside corners. 
     The first alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  56  shows some of the variations that are possible in the device and also includes an extra slit  58  which is open to the outer edge. This extra slit  58  could be used to clean a knife, spatula or other utensil. The first alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  56  also has 8 slits  32  to suit it for use with a whisk having up to 8 loops. 
       FIG. 8  shows a top view of a second alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  60  which has three slits  32 , to be used with a whisk having 3 wire loops, and features an outer contour which is round on one side and square on the other. The flexible material only partial covers the rigid frame along the operative edges and slits in this embodiment. A hard scraper  62  makes up one of the corners to offer another option in cleaning. This illustrates the added benefit of the whisk wiper in providing a location to which useful tools can be added. 
       FIG. 9  shows a top view of a third alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  64  which has three curved slits  66 , and an outer contour including a concave portion  68 , and an acutely angled point  70 . The curved slits  66  would not prevent pulling this third alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  64  down toward the handle of a whisk as the wire loops of a whisk are flexible and a slight twisting motion would be all that would be required to smoothly guide it into place. In the case where the edges of the slits  66  are very flexible and exert little friction force onto the wire loops the curvature in the slits would better prevent inadvertent slipping during mixing. Optionally pulling the third alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  40  off of a whisk without rotating it would result in the wire loops of the whisk being twisted and would result in a greater force being exerted by the outer squeegee edge of each slit, which could be advantageous in wiping off stubborn remnants of mixture. The concave portion  68  could be used to wipe convex surfaces, and the tip  60  could be used in wiping out crevices. 
     While it is important that the whisk wiper device have both flexibility in its operative edges and a frame work that is inflexible enough to prevent the buckling and collapse of the device while it is being pulled onto or off of the whisk, it is not necessary that this framework be entirely rigid as the forces involved in the use of the whisk wiper device are not great. It is both possible and advantageous, from a manufacturing standpoint, to form the whisk wiper out of a single material as shown in  FIGS. 19-24 . 
       FIG. 19  is a top view,  FIG. 20  a bottom view,  FIG. 21  a perspective view showing the top and side,  FIG. 22  a perspective view showing the bottom and side, and  FIGS. 23-24  cross sectional views of the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72 . These views correspond to the views shown of the whisk wiper  30  in  FIGS. 1-6  to make comparison easier. The fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72  also has five slits  32 . 
     The fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72  is made of a single piece of material. The degree of flexibility at both the operative edges and in the regions where a support framework is required is determined by the thickness of the material as shown in  FIGS. 20-24 . Even a relatively inflexible material, like ABS plastic for example, can become relatively flexible if it is thin enough, and a relatively flexible material, like rubber for example, can become relatively inflexible if it is thick enough. These facts allow for a broad range of choices in material in creating the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72 . 
     A thickened ring  74  runs around the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72  just beyond the ends of the slits  32  and is wide and thick enough, given the material used, to maintain its shape during normal use. 
     Five thickened wedges  76  extend from the inside of the thickened ring  74  toward the point at which the slits  32  intersect. These thickened wedges  76  are on either side of and provide support to the slits  32  so that they maintain their general dispositions during normal use. During normal use the forces acting on the thickened wedges  76  are a fraction of those acting on the thickened ring  74  so it is not necessary for them to be as thick. The example depicted in FIGS.  20 - 24  features thickened wedges  76  which are about half the thickness of the thickened ring  74 . 
     The operative edges of the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72 , the outer circumference of the concave edge  78 , and the opposed edges of the slits  32 , have a flexibility provided by the degree to which they have been thinned and the width of the thinned area. Consistent with a less flexible material than that of the silicone material  36  of the whisk wiper  30 , the concave edge  78  is thinned to a relatively narrow wall that extends out from the thickened ring  74 . Similarly a concave groove  80  which is wide, relative to the groove  42 ,  330  makes thinned walls which extend out from the thickened wedges  76  to the opposed edges of the slits  32 .  FIG. 23  clearly shows, in cross section, the thicknesses of the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72 .  FIG. 24  shows the loop  44  passing through the slit  32 , just as in  FIG. 6 , with the opposed edges of the slit  32  flexing aside. 
       FIG. 25  shows a sponge  82 , with a deep slit  84  cut into it, which is attached to the back of the fourth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  72 . The sponge  82  would provide additional means of cleaning the loops  44 . Similarly  FIG. 26  shows opposed brushes  86  positioned to provide additional cleaning means. 
       FIG. 27  shows a fifth alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  88  which is composed of only a conventional sponge with deep slits  84  cut through it. This extremely economical embodiment lacks the grooves, frame, thickened to thinned areas, or other details of the other embodiments and though it would not work as well in retaining mixture to be returned to the mixing bowl, since it is absorbent, it would still work very well in cleaning the whisk, particularly with soap and water. 
     While it is preferable that the whisk wiper have a number of slits which corresponds to the number of wire loops on a whisk, it is not necessary. It is only important that the number of slits be equal to or greater than the number of loops on the whisk. For example a whisk wiper having 8 slits, as the first alternative embodiment of the whisk wiper  56 , would be compatible with the whisk  46  having 5 loops. Some difference in angular disposition between the slits and the loops would be acceptable as the loops are flexible. 
     The variations in the embodiments shown in  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  illustrate the adding of additional tools and features valuable to the cook, and there are of course many more such tools and features. The sponge  82  and brushes  86  shown are just two simple examples of the many combined cleaning means which could be part of the whisk wiper. There are a wide variety of designs which would suitably arrange the slits in the angular dispositions desired which would also work well. 
     None of the specifics of the detailed description above should be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of a few preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 
     Having thus described the invention,