Combination table, sifter and collection tray

A combination table, sifter, and collection tray for herbs is described herein. The device is generally a food and plant processing device, and more particularly is a combination table, sifter, and collection tray. The table, sifter, and tray are nested into one another to form a unitary device for easy transport.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to food and plant processing devices, and more particularly is a combination table, sifter, and collection tray for herbs. The table, sifter, and tray are nested into one another to form a unitary device.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the combination table, sifter, and collection tray includes an upper element surface with a flat surface that serves as a table, a sifter plate, and a collection tray. Each of the components is nested within one or more of the other components for easy storage and transport.

To secure the device in a unitary configuration, the table includes a pair of side flaps, each of the side flaps including at least one projection that mates with a lip on the collection tray to secure the table to the collection tray.

The sifter includes a plurality of pass-through holes, the pass-through holes allowing ground or chopped plant material to pass from a material receiving space formed in the sifter into a collection area in the collection tray.

A hand-held chopper/scraper can be included with the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to devices used to any material the user wishes to grind. In particular, the devices are well suited to processing plant material. The subject device is a combination table, sifter, and collection tray10, as shown inFIG.1.

Referring first toFIGS.1and2, the combination device10includes a table12, a sifter14, and a collection tray16. The table12element has a flat top surface formed as an unobstructed planar surface, thereby maximizing the usable work area. The table12is therefore suitable to be used as a work station to process whatever material is desired. Any shape of table will suffice, so long as a flat unbroken planar top surface is provided.

The table12may also include a chopper clip121, (shown inFIG.2of the drawings as optionally positioned on an underside of the table12), to secure a scraper/chopper18tool (seeFIG.3) to the table12. The table12may include a pair of side flaps122that secure the table12element to the collection tray16. While those skilled in the art could design numerous mechanisms by which to secure the table12to the collection tray16, in various preferred embodiments, the securing mechanism is simply one or more projections123that create a friction fit with a peripheral lip161(seeFIG.8) of the collection tray16.

As shown inFIGS.3and4, the sifter14has a feed-in area141to accept the working material. The feed-in area141has a plurality of pass-through holes142therein. The pass-through holes142enable a user to separate larger pieces of material from smaller pieces of whatever material is being worked on. The user may sift material either by manually moving the sifter14, or by forcing material through the through holes142with the scraper/chopper tool18.

In some embodiments of the device10, the sifter14is made at least in part from hemp. The sifter14, as well as the table12and the collection tray16, may be up to 99% hemp, with the remaining component being polypropylene. A more typical composition for the components is 70-80% hemp, and 20-30% polypropylene.

The collection tray16, as illustrated inFIG.3, includes the lip161, a collection area162to collect processed product, and a pour spout163that enables the user to easily pour product out of the collection tray16. The table12may include a sealing projection124that mates with and covers the pour spout163to prevent product from spilling out of the pour spout163. The collection tray16is generally positioned beneath and spaced apart from the sifter14to collect the fines of whatever substance is being sifted. As shown inFIG.3, the collection tray16is deeper than the sifter14to provide the required collection area. It should also be noted that in many cases, the preferred product of a ground plant material is the much desired trichomes of the plant, the fines yielded by grinding and sifting the plant.

FIGS.5-8further illustrate the function of the combination device10.FIG.5shows bulk plant material placed in the feed-in area141of the sifter14. The user sections the plant with the scraper/chopper18until the pieces are workable.FIG.6shows the user working the plant with the scraper/chopper18until the plant is ground to the desired fineness. As shown inFIG.7, the plant is ground with the scraper/chopper18until the plant has been processed so that the pieces of the plant are small enough to fit through the pass-through holes142in the sifter14. The resultant product, mostly fines, is collected in the collection area162of the collection tray16. When the user is ready to use the product, the user pours the processed material out of the pour spout163.

Referring again toFIG.3, the device10is configured as a unitary device so that the user can easily transport it. The sifter14fits into the collection tray16. The table12is then placed on top of the sifter14and the collection tray16, and the side flaps122affix the table12to the collection tray16. The locking projections123on the side flaps122are press fit around the lip161of the collection tray16to lock the elements of the combination device10in place. In this configuration, the table12can be readily accessed by the user.

It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with like reference characters. It will be further understood that several of the figures are merely schematic representations of the present disclosure. As such, some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for pictorial clarity.