Grease absorbing utensil

A grease absorbing utensil includes a pad that includes a set of layers and a handle coupled to the pad. Each layer is made from at least one flexible material that is lipophilic and biodegradable. The handle is lipophilic and biodegradable.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to grease absorption, and more particularly to methods and systems for absorbing grease such as kitchen grease using a biodegradable utensil.

BACKGROUND

The collection of grease or oil is generally a messy proposition. For example, hot grease or oil created or used when cooking is often poured down a drain or into some glass or metal container. When poured down a drain, the grease/oil becomes a contaminant in a wastewater system and may damage the environment. In addition, grease/oil poured down a drain tends to coat and solidify on plumbing pipes that may ultimately lead to clogged pipes. When poured into a container, the container and grease/oil generally end up in a landfill to become a long-lasting contaminant.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to describe methods and systems for absorbing grease or oil.

Another object of the present disclosure is to describe methods and systems for absorbing cooking grease or oil using an environmentally-friendly utensil.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to describe methods and systems for absorbing cooking grease or oil that allows the absorbed grease/oil to be stored and re-purposed.

Other objects and advantages of the methods and systems described herein will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings.

In accordance with methods and systems described herein, a grease absorbing utensil includes a pad that includes a set of layers and a handle coupled to the pad. Each layer is made from at least one flexible material that is lipophilic and biodegradable. The handle is made from a material that is lipophilic and biodegradable. In some embodiments, pieces of plant-based material are disposed between at least two of the layers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will describe methods and systems for absorbing grease or oil in an efficient, economical, and environmentally-friendly manner. By way of example, the methods and systems described herein may be used to absorb a variety of grease or oils that may be generated or used in food preparation and cooking. In general, the grease or oil to be absorbed is melted or in a liquid (or near liquid) state. For simplicity, the term “grease” will be used hereinafter and will be assumed to include oil or other types of greasy liquid substances that are not water soluble.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly toFIG.1, a grease absorbing utensil is illustrated schematically and is referenced generally by numeral10. Utensil10includes a grease absorbent pad20and a handle30coupled to pad20. In general, pad20is a flexible structure that is both lipophilic and biodegradable. The lipophilic nature of pad20allows it to absorb a variety of lipids (i.e., grease or fatty oils that are insoluble in water). The biodegradable nature of pad20assures that pad20will break down chemically over time without having a negative impact on the environment. A variety of configurations and constructions for pad20may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Several non-limiting embodiments of pad20will be described further below. The shape (e.g., round, triangular, rectangular, etc.) and size of pad20are not limitations of the systems and methods described herein. Handle30may be a rigid or flexible handle that may be both lipophilic and biodegradable. Several non-limiting embodiments of handle30will be described further below.

Referring not toFIG.2, a cross-sectional view of a grease absorbing utensil is shown and is referenced generally by numeral100. Utensil100includes a pad120and a handle130coupled to pad120. In the illustrated example, pad120includes separate layers122and124made from a flexible lipophilic and biodegradable material. For example, such flexible materials may be paper-based, made from 100% renewable plant fibers, etc., without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Layers122and124may also include tear-resistant attributes. Layers122and124are joined at the periphery of pad120as indicated by numeral126. Joins126may be achieved by one of more of stitching, gluing, fusing, folding, etc. Coupled to pad120is handle130where such coupling may occur at and/or using joins126as illustrated. In some embodiments, handle130may be made from wood, bamboo, or cardboard. The shape of handle130may be a cylindrical or shaped rod, a flat stick, or other shapes/configurations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments and as will be described further below, handle130may extend all the way through pad120, may be configured for ready insertion into and retention by pad120, and/or may have holes to enhance the handle's grease absorbing capabilities. In some embodiments, handle130may be made from flammable materials if the post-use utensil is to be used as a fire starter as will be explained further below.

In some embodiments, the utensil's pad may include internal layers as illustrated inFIG.3where pad120has outer layers122and124, and has one or more inner layers128separated from one another and from outer layers122and124. All layers122,124and128are joined at the periphery of pad120as indicated by joins126.

In some embodiments, the utensil's pad may include pieces or particles of a lipophilic material between at least two of the pad's layers. The pieces or particles may be plant-based materials such as, but not limited to, wood, cotton, dried/ground nut shells, citrus peels, and mixtures thereof. The pieces or particles may be present as a loose fill such that interstitial regions are formed between the pieces or particles. When the pieces or particles are made from wood, they may take the form of sawdust, wood chips, wood shavings, and mixtures thereof. The sizes and/or shapes of the pieces or particles used in a pad may be approximately the same or varied throughout the pad.

Several non-limiting embodiments of grease absorbing utensils incorporating lipophilic materials in accordance with the present disclosure are illustrated inFIGS.4-6. InFIG.4, pad120having layers122and124further includes a loose arrangement of particles121made from, for example, wood or any of the other material possibilities mentioned above. InFIG.5, pad120having outer layers122/124and two inner layers128further includes a loose arrangement of particles121(e.g., made of wood) disposed between layers128. InFIG.6, pad120having outer layers122/124and two inner layers128further includes a loose arrangement of particles121(e.g., made of wood, etc.) disposed between all adjacent layers of pad120.

In some embodiments, a pad of a utensil in accordance with the present disclosure may be quilted to improve its structural integrity and/or maintain the pad's distribution of lipophilic particles. Several non-limiting embodiments of grease absorbing utensils having a quilted pad are illustrated inFIGS.7-9. InFIG.7, pad120having just layers122and124has quilting joins123coupling portions of layer122to layer124with resulting pockets125being created between the layers. Quilting joins123may be achieved using one or more of stitches, glue, fusing, etc. The number and/or pattern of quilting joins123are not limitations of the present methods and systems. InFIG.8, pad120further includes loose arrangements of particles121(e.g., made of wood, etc.) in each of pockets125created by quilting joins123. InFIG.9, pad120includes outer layers122/124and two inner layers128, and further includes loose arrangements of particles121(e.g., made of wood, etc.) in each of pockets125created by quilting joins123.

As mentioned above, a grease absorbing utensil in accordance with the present disclosure may include a handle that extends all the way through the utensil's pad. Such embodiments may provide additional stability for the utensil, especially after the utensil's pad has absorbed a quantity of grease. One such embodiment is illustrated inFIG.10where handle130extends fully through pad120and is coupled to opposing sides of pad120at joins126. In some embodiments, the utensil's handle may be configured to provide more area for attachment to the utensil's pad. For example and with reference toFIG.11, handle130includes wings132that align with the periphery of pad120to thereby increase the amount of attachment length and/or area for joins126.

In some embodiments, the utensil's handle may be configured for both ready insertion into the utensil's pad and retention in the pad. For example and with reference toFIG.12, handle130may include arrow-shaped wings134that facilitate insertion into a hole129in pad120. Hole129and wings134may also be sized and shaped such that they cooperate to aid in the retention of handle130in pad120. In such cases, the utensil may be packaged compactly with its pad and handle placed side-by-side.

The grease absorbing utensil described herein may also include a container that provides for both before-use storage and after-use storage of the utensil. Before-use storage may protect the utensil's pad during pre-use handling, while after-use storage may simplify the handling of the pad after it has absorbed grease. Referring now toFIGS.13and14, a container140is operable to store utensil100. If container140is to be used for disposal of a used utensil100(i.e., pad120is saturated or ladened with grease), container140may be made from a biodegradable material. In some embodiments, container140may be configured as an envelope made from, for example, wax paper or lined with a waxy material so that grease cannot seep through the walls of container140. In some embodiments, container140may be made from materials such as pulverized nut shells, citrus peels, dried herbs, etc. In some embodiments and as illustrated inFIG.14, container140may be configured to receive pad120therein, while allowing at least a portion of handle130to protrude from container140to facilitate pre and post-use handling.

In some embodiments and as illustrated inFIG.15, some or all of a handle130may include holes136to facilitate flexibility of the handle and/or enhance the handle's ability to absorb grease. For example, when handle130is made of wood, bamboo, cardboard, etc., inclusion of holes136at least in the portion thereof enclosed within a pad (not shown inFIG.15) as described above, the exposed wood created by each hole136provides additional surface area for grease absorption. The size and shape of a handle having holes may also be configured to have any of the other above-described features without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, a utensil in accordance with the present disclosure may have its pad formed by a wrap of one or more lipophilic and biodegradable materials on the utensil's handle. For example and with reference toFIG.16, a handle130configured in any of the ways described or contemplated herein is wrapped with a lipophilic and biodegradable wrap150(e.g., cotton gauze) to form pad120. As in the previously-described examples, particles of lipophilic and biodegradable materials may be contained within pad120as constrained by wrap150.

In some embodiments, the grease absorbing utensil in accordance with the present disclosure may incorporate wood particles of the type that are used in the grilling or smoking of foods. Such woods may include, but are not limited to, mesquite, hickory, oak, maple, pecan, alder, fruitwoods, and mixtures thereof.

In use of any of the grease absorbing utensils described herein, a user grasps the utensil's handle and wipes the utensil's pad over a surface (e.g., cook pan, stovetop, counter, floor, etc.) having grease or oil that is to be collected. The utensil with its resulting grease-saturated pad may be disposed of directly or via a container as described previously herein. In either case, the utensil and (if used) its container are biodegradable such that there will be minimal environmental impacts. In some cases, a user may re-purpose a utensil with its grease-saturated pad as a fire starter. That is, the lipophilic nature of the utensil's pad and handle allow it to be readily used as a tool to start a fire. Indeed, the handle's lipophilic nature allows it to wick absorbed grease from the utensil's pad along the length of the handle such that the handle may serve as a fuse for safe ignition of the grease-saturated pad. When the grease-saturated pad includes one or more of the above-mentioned grilling or smoking woods, the utensil's handle and grease-saturated pad also contributes to the flavoring of a cooked or smoked food.

As mentioned above, a grease-ladened pad as described herein may be used as a fire starter ignited by a lit match, lighter, etc. For example and as illustrated inFIG.17A, a grease-ladened pad50(i.e., any of the pads described herein that has already been used to absorb grease) may be lit directly by the flame202of a match200. In some embodiments and as illustrated inFIG.17B, a grease-ladened pad50disposed in a container140is ignited indirectly by the flame202of a match200used to ignite container140. In some embodiments and as illustrated inFIG.17C, a grease-ladened pad50is ignited directly via a fuse52extending from pad50and/or indirectly via a fuse142extending from container140.

Although the methods and systems presented herein have been described for specific embodiments thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. For example, in some embodiments, the utensil's handle may be positioned along an edge of the grease-absorbing pad thereby allowing the pad to be rolled up with the handle at the center of such a roll. The rolled utensil may be packaged for pre-use handling as well as post-use handling. The post-use rolled utensil presents a convenient package for use as a fire starter as described above. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the methods and systems presented herein may be practiced other than as specifically described.