Combination cutting board and countertop system

A cutting board and countertop are correspondingly constructed to enable the cutting board to be supported upon the countertop in multiple, varying height positions. The countertop preferably includes a main, substantially planar work surface provided with a frontal, upstanding lip, as well as at least one ledge provided at a position spaced across the work surface from the lip. The cutting board is generally constituted by substantially planar member having support elements provided on opposing, terminal side portions. In a first height position, the cutting board is arranged against both the lip and the ledge. In the second height position, the cutting board is inverted and positioned against the frontal lip and upon the ledge. In either position, the cutting board can readily slide along the countertop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention is in the kitchen or cooking environment and, more
 specifically, to a versatile cutting board and countertop arrangement for
 use in such an environment.
 2. Discussion of the Prior Art
 In the art of food preparation, it is common to perform slicing, dicing and
 other cutting operations on food products. Typically, these operations are
 performed on a cutting board placed upon a countertop surface. A cutting
 board is generally utilized to avoid marring or otherwise altering the
 finish and aesthetic appearance of the countertop.
 Cutting boards available on the marketplace today are known to be made from
 various materials, including wood, plastic, marble and the like.
 Regardless of the particular material utilized, a cutting board almost
 invariably takes the form of a plate-like member having opposing,
 substantially planar opposing surfaces. With this construction, either of
 the planar surfaces can be readily utilized for a desired food preparation
 purpose. Because of this common cutting board construction, the height at
 which the cutting surface defined by the board is arranged above the
 countertop is identical regardless of which side of the cutting board is
 exposed.
 In some instances, it would be beneficial to readily vary the height of the
 cutting board relative to the upper surface of the countertop. This height
 varying function can be significant for a number of reasons. For instance,
 the height of the particular individual preparing the food can dictate an
 optimal height for the cutting board. That is, a preferred height to
 perform a food preparation operation can vary from a person in a
 wheelchair to a rather tall individual. Furthermore, there are increasing
 concerns regarding repetitive motions causing carpal tunnel and other
 syndromes. Providing a variable height cutting board may have some
 beneficial effect as performing cutting operations at varying heights will
 inherently alter the particular body parts directly affected during the
 cutting operations.
 Another problem associated with standard cutting boards concerns the
 ability of the board to slide or otherwise shift around during use.
 Typically, a cutting board is simply placed upon a portion of a countertop
 without any restraints other than surface friction between the countertop
 and the cutting board. This type of arrangement will not effectively limit
 relative shifting between the cutting board and the countertop during a
 food prep operation. Although certain proposals have been made in the art
 to form a countertop with recessed areas for receiving a cutting board and
 guiding the cutting board for relative sliding movement, such known
 arrangements are considered to be designed to the aesthetic and functional
 detriment of the countertop considered alone.
 Based on the above, there exists a need in the art for a combination
 cutting board and countertop assembly which will permit a cutting board to
 be readily adjusted for use at varying heights, while guidably supporting
 the cutting board in a manner which does not deter from the structure of
 the countertop when considered alone.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention pertains to a combination cutting board and
 countertop system including a countertop having multiple, vertically
 offset support surfaces and a cutting board that can be supported at
 selected ones of the support surfaces in order to enable the cutting board
 to be repositioned at differing heights above the countertop. More
 specifically, the cutting board is generally defined by a planar member
 having first and second, opposing work surfaces from which extend various
 support elements. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the
 support elements are located at respective transverse edges of the cutting
 board. When in a first support position wherein the first working surface
 of the cutting board is exposed, the cutting board is supported upon each
 of the first and second vertically offset support surfaces of the
 countertop. In a second support position, the second working surface of
 the cutting board is exposed for use and the cutting board is entirely
 supported upon only one of the offset surface portions of the countertop.
 In either of these variable height positions, the respective working
 surface of the cutting board extends in a substantially horizontal plane.
 In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the countertop also
 includes a peripheral, upstanding rim portion which aids in locating the
 cutting board on the countertop, while also guidably supporting the
 cutting board for sliding movement along the countertop. With this overall
 arrangement, the cutting board can be advantageously positioned at various
 locations along the countertop, while also accommodating some vertical
 adjustability of the cutting board relative to the countertop. Therefore,
 a cutting board and countertop structured in accordance with the present
 invention combine to define a versatile, readily adjustable, synergistic
 arrangement.
 Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
 become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a
 preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the drawings
 wherein like reference numerals refer to the corresponding parts in the
 several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the cutting board and countertop system of the
 invention is generally indicated at 2. System 2 includes an overall
 countertop 6 including a first work surface 8 provided with an upwardly
 curved, peripheral lip 11. Also located around first work surface 8, at a
 position slightly outwardly and below lip 11, is preferably provided
 railing trim 13. The overall countertop 6 also includes a raised platform
 16 including a central zone 17 which is shown to be recessed. Furthermore,
 countertop 6 includes an intermediate tier 18 arranged between first work
 surface 8 and raised platform 16. Intermediate tier 18 defines a ledge
 surface portion 21 which is defined between a vertical wall 24 of
 intermediate tier 18 and a vertical wall 25 of platform 16.
 At this point, it should be readily apparent that countertop 6 is shown
 associated with a kitchen island and for this reason countertop 6 is shown
 to be provided with a pair of spaced sinks 30 and 31, as well as an
 electric cooktop 34. Although countertop 6 is disclosed in connection with
 a kitchen island, it should be realized that the invention has
 applicability outside this particular environment. More specifically, the
 cutting board and countertop system 2 can be used in various types of
 workstations. In addition, even in the kitchen environment, the invention
 also has applicability to countertop arrangements mounted against a wall,
 wherein ledge 21 would be formed in a backsplash portion of the
 countertop. In any event, regardless of the particular environment of use,
 system 2 preferably incorporates the countertop 6 having the first work
 surface 8 with the annular lip 11 and the ledge portion 21. The particular
 importance of these structural features will become more readily apparent
 below in further detailing the invention.
 For the sake of completeness, countertop 6 is shown to be supported by a
 base 40 having a lowermost section 42 and an upper section 44 that
 includes an outwardly extending portion 46. Therefore, upper section 44,
 with outwardly extending portion 46, supports countertop 6 such that first
 work surface 8 extends in a substantially horizontal plane. Furthermore,
 in the preferred embodiment shown, upper section 44 further supports a
 cantilevered table 49. With this arrangement, table 49 can be used in
 connection with chairs or the like as a small breakfast or other eating
 area while the portion of countertop 6 located on the opposite side of
 platform 16 from table 49 would generally be located in a kitchen area.
 Again, this arrangement is merely presented in accordance with the
 preferred embodiment of the invention. For the sake of completeness,
 system 2 is also shown to include an upper tabletop 51 that is supported
 above raised platform 16 by means of spaced pillars 52 and 53.
 System 2 also includes a cutting board generally indicated at 56. As shown
 in these figures, cutting board 56 includes a first side 60 and a second
 side 61, both of which define potential, planar work surfaces for a user
 of cutting board 56. Cutting board 56 has a first end portion 66 and a
 second end portion 67. In accordance with the invention, cutting board 56
 is adapted to be usable at varying height positions above work surface 8
 due to the presence of various support elements 70-73. More specifically,
 support elements 70 are preferably defined by a pair of spaced feet 76 and
 77 which project from first side 60 of cutting board 56 at first end
 portion 66. Opposing feet 76 and 77 and projecting from second side 61 of
 cutting board 56 at first end portion 66 is a transverse, preferably
 rounded projection 80. As clearly shown in FIG. 1, projection 80
 preferably extends entirely across first end portion 66. Support elements
 72 and 73 are located at second end portion 67 of cutting board 56. More
 specifically, support element 72 extends from first side 60 of cutting
 board 56 and is defined by an elongated transverse node 83. Finally,
 support element 73 is defined by a nodule 84 that projects from second
 side 61 of cutting board 56 at second end portion 67.
 With this arrangement, cutting board 56 can be supported such that the work
 surfaces on first and second sides 60 and 61 are arranged above work
 surface 8 of countertop 6 in one of two varying height positions. FIG. 2
 illustrates cutting board 56 in a lowered support position wherein nodule
 84 is generally arranged against a portion of annular lip 11 and
 transverse projection 80 extends along vertical wall 24 of intermediate
 tier 18. In this position, cutting board 56 is permitted to shift
 longitudinally along countertop 6, i.e., generally to the right of that
 shown in FIG. 1 to beyond sinks 30 and 31 and also to the left beyond
 electric cooktop 34. Shifting in a direction generally perpendicular to
 this sliding movement is controlled due to the arrangement of nodule 84
 against lip 11 and transverse projection 80 against vertical wall 24.
 On the other hand, cutting board 56 can be inverted such that second side
 61 is exposed as generally shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this configuration,
 feet 76 and 77 are generally arranged at annular lip 11 and node 83 is
 supported upon ledge portion 21, while also generally abutting vertical
 wall 25. In this position, cutting board 56 can also slide along
 countertop 6, while being restricted from shifting in a direction
 generally perpendicular to this sliding movement. Therefore, with this
 construction of cutting board 6 and countertop 56, an extremely practical
 and versatile cutting board arrangement is defined. That is, cutting board
 56 can be readily repositioned for use at varying heights and essentially
 at any position across countertop 6.
 In accordance with the invention, cutting board 56, as well as countertop
 6, can be formed of various materials. For instance, cutting board 56 can
 be formed of wood, plastic, ceramic, marble and like materials. There is a
 wide range of materials generally utilized in connection with countertops
 in the art and all of these known materials are usable in accordance with
 the present invention. Cutting board 56 can be formed integral with
 support elements 70-73, or separate support elements 70-73 could be
 attached at first and second end portions 66 and 67. In any event, it is
 only important to note that countertop 6 and cutting board 56 combine to
 produce synergistic results in enabling cutting board 56 to be readily
 utilized and sufficiently supported in multiple, varying height positions.
 However, although described with respect to a preferred embodiment of the
 invention, it should be understood that various changes and/or
 modifications can be made from the invention without departing from the
 spirit thereof. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited
 by the scope of the following claims.