Abstract:
A kitchen utensil, such as a salad spinner ( 10 ), is disclosed as including a bowl ( 12 ) and a suction base mechanism ( 14 ) for resting on a support surface ( 50 ), in which when the suction base mechanism ( 14 ) rests on the surface ( 50 ), the bowl ( 12 ) is swivelable relative to the suction base mechanism ( 14 ) between a first position in which the space (S 1  between the suction base mechanism ( 14 ) and the surface ( 50 ) is of a first volume and a second position in which the space (S 2 ) between the suction base mechanism ( 14 ) and the surface ( 50 ) is of a second volume which is larger than the first volume to releasably secure said salad spinner ( 10 ) to the surface ( 50 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a kitchen utensil with a suction base mechanism, and in particular such a utensil securable to a support surface by the mechanism. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There are in existence a large variety of kitchen utensils which, when in use, are supported on and by a working top. Such kitchen utensils may include meat choppers, potato chippers, electric blenders and salad spinners. In order to enhance the working of such utensils, it is desirable to secure the utensil to the working top. 
         [0003]    One existing mechanism for securing a kitchen utensil to a working top includes a suction base made of a resilient material. When in use, the user presses the utensil against the working top to drive out some of the air trapped between the suction base and the working top so that the air pressure in the space between the suction base and the working top is lower than the ambient atmospheric pressure. It is found in practice that the suction force between such a kitchen utensil and the working top is relatively weak and will decrease during use, such that performance and safety of the utensil are adversely affected. 
         [0004]    It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a kitchen utensil in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to the present invention, there is provided a kitchen utensil including a body member and a suction member adapted to rest on a support surface, wherein when said suction member rests on said surface, said body member is swivelable relative to said suction member between a first position in which the space between said suction member and said surface is of a first volume and a second position in which the space between said suction member and said surface is of a second volume which is larger than said first volume to releasably secure said utensil to said surface. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0006]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a salad spinner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the salad spinner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the salad spinner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the salad spinner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged exploded view of the suction base mechanism of the salad spinner shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the suction pad shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view showing engagement between a screw fixed to the body and a metal plate fixed to the suction pad of the salad spinner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show the relative positions between the screw and the metal plate during movement of the body relative to the suction base mechanism of the salad spinner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are, respectively, a perspective view and a partial sectional view showing the body in a first position relative to the suction base mechanism; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  are, respectively, a perspective view and a partial sectional view showing the body in a second position relative to the suction base mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    A kitchen utensil in the form of a salad spinner according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , generally designated as  10 . 
         [0019]    The salad spinner  10  includes an outer transparent bowl  12  engaged with a suction base mechanism  14 , in a manner to be further discussed below. For clarity purpose, the other structures of the salad spinner, such as a perforated basket for containing the food to be dried and the driving mechanism for causing the perforated basket to rotate relative to the outer bowl  12  to spin out the water in the food to the outer bowl  12 , are not shown here. 
         [0020]    As shown in more detail in  FIG. 5 , a bottom  16  of the bowl  12  is provided with a hole  18  through which a screw  20  is received from above. The threaded part of the screw  20  is received within an internally threaded portion of a larger screw  22 , which is also externally threaded, to fixedly engage the screws  20 ,  22  to the bottom  16  of the bowl  12 , and thus to the bowl  12 , for simultaneous movement. For aesthetic purpose, a cap  24  is fixed on the head of the screw  20 . 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the suction base mechanism  14  includes a suction pad  26  with two upstanding threaded posts  28  extending through two holes  30  of a circular plastic plate  32 . The posts  28  also extend through two holes  34  of a metal ring  36 . Two nuts  38  are threaded onto the threaded portion of the posts  28  to secure the suction pad  26 , the plate  32  and the ring  36  together for simultaneous movement. A central internally threaded post  40  is provided on the plate  32  for threaded engagement with the screw  22 , the purpose of which will be further discussed below. 
         [0022]    It can also be seen in  FIG. 5  that an annular ring  41  is provided between the bowl  12  and the suction base mechanism  14 , the purpose of which will also be discussed later. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the suction pad  26  includes a narrower circular plate  42  (from which the posts  28  extend) embedded within a raised centre part  43  of a broader circular resilient suction pad  44  with a circular outer edge  46 . The pad  44  may be made of a resilient material, such as natural rubber or a synthetic rubber material. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10 , when the screw  22  is received within the internally threaded cavity of the post  40  of the plate  32 , the screw  22  may be swiveled or rotate relative to the plate  32  in either direction to vary the relative position between the plate  32  and the screw  22 . In particular, swiveling/rotational movement of the screw  22  will cause the plate  32  to move towards or away from the screw  22 . For example, and as shown in  FIG. 10 , clockwise swivel or rotation of the screw  22  will bring the plate  32  closer to the screw  22  whereas anti-clockwise swivel or rotation of the screw  22  will cause the plate  32  to move away from the screw  22 . 
         [0025]    Turning now to  FIGS. 11A to 12B , it can be seen in particular in  FIGS. 11B and 12B  that the annular ring  41  is positioned between and abuts the bottom  16  of the bowl  12  and the upper surface adjacent the circular outer edge  46  of the pad  44 . The distance between the bowl  12  and the outer edge  46  of the pad  44  is therefore kept unchanged during rotational movement of the bowl  12  relative to the suction base mechanism  14 . 
         [0026]    By way of such an arrangement, and as shown in FIGS.  11 A and  1 IB, when the salad spinner  10  is placed on a support surface  50 , the outer edge  46  of the pad  44  and an inner concentric annular ridge  52  (see also  FIG. 3 ) rest on the surface  50 . When the bowl  12  is swiveled clockwise by a user, e.g. through an angle of  900 , this will bring about a corresponding clockwise rotation of the screw  22 . However, by reason of the existence of the annular ring  41 , the distance between the bowl  12  and the outer edge  46  of the pad  44  cannot be shortened; the raised centre part  43  with the concentric annular ridge  52  is therefore brought upwardly towards the bowl  12 , to the position as shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B . 
         [0027]    By comparing  FIGS. 11B and 12B , it can be clearly seen that the volume of the space  81  between the pad  44  and the support surface  50  in  FIG. 11  B is smaller than that of the space  82  between the pad  44  and the support surface  50  in  FIG. 12B . The air pressure in the space  81  is close to the ambient atmospheric pressure. However, because of the increased volume in the space S 2 , the air pressure in the space S 2  is reduced and is thus smaller than the ambient atmospheric pressure. The atmospheric pressure will therefore press the pad  44 , and thus the salad spinner  10 , against the support surface  50 , resulting in a suction force securing the salad spinner  10  to the support surface  50 . 
         [0028]    To release the engagement between the pad  44  and the support surface  50 , the bowl  12  is swiveled in the opposite direction, to lower the centre part  43  of the pad  44  back to the position as shown in  FIG. 11B , in which case because of the decrease in the volume of the space S 1 , the pressure inside the space S 1  is increased back to the ambient atmospheric pressure, thus allowing the pad  44  (and thus the salad spinner  10 ) to be detached from the support surface  50  manually. 
         [0029]    It should be understood that although the present invention has so far been described in the context of a salad spinner, it is apparent to the persons skilled in the art that the suction base mechanism may be employed in other kitchen utensils, such as meat chopper, potato chipper or electric blender. 
         [0030]    It should also be understood that the above only illustrates an example whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. It should also be understood that various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described here in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.