CUTTING-BOARD UNIT

Abstract: Single-handedly operable apparatus associated with a cutting board, adapted for retaining a workpiece and comprising a post (3) rigidly attached to a cutting board (1) adapted for mounting on a horizontal substructure, as well as a hanger (4) mounted one the post for adjustment in height and with means (5) for engagement against a workpiece. The hanger (4) is carried on the post (3) by a slide (6) which is adjustable to, and fixable at, a given height. The slide (6) has a first latching means (9) which is manually engageable against the post (3) for fixing the slide at a desired height. The slide (6) has a substantially horizontally orientated guide (8) accommodating the hanger (4) to allow horizontal, glideable displacement of the hanger. The hanger (4) and guide (8) have a plurality of mutual co-action attitudes, predetermined by their respective configurations, with respect to the angular attitude of the hanger (4) about its longitudinal axis in the guide (8) for variable orientation of the means (5) on the hanger for engagement with the workpiece in different directions. The guide (8)carries a second latching means (12), which is manually engageable against the hanger (4) for fixing the latter in a desired axial position in the guide.

Description: Cutting-board unit The invention relates to apparatus for a cutting board operable solely by one hand, intended as an aid for a physically handicapped person. The apparatus is adapted for retaining a workpiece and is associated with a cutting board intended for placing on a horizontal substructure, eg, a table or bench top. A post is fastened to the cutting board and a hanger is mounted on the post such that it is adjustable in height, and it is provided with means for engaging with a workpiece usually resting on the cutting board. The hanger is carried on the post by a slide, which may be adjusted to, and fixed at a desired height. Such apparatus is known in certain of its parts from the U.S. Patent Specification 3 353 578 and with regard to certain other parts from the Swedish Patent Application 8004065-2. The meat holder according to the mentioned U.S. Patent Specification is not at all suited for adjusting solely with one hand, however, since it requires the adjustment and retention of the hanger in a desired position with one hand while a screw for fixing the hanger in this position is tightened with the other hand. In contradistinction hereto the holder according to the Swedish Patent Application may be tightened on to the workpiece with the use of only one hand, but lacks the more universal adjustment to different workpieces and different work operations which is afforded by the holder in accordance with the U.S. Patent Specification. The object of the invention is therefore to provide a universally usable apparatus for a cutting board which is simple to operate with only one hand. The desired result is obtained by the apparatus being given the characterizing features disclosed in the following claim 1. One embodiment of the invention is described in detail in the following with reference to the accompany¬ ing drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus and cutting board provided with a first means for retain¬ ing a workpiece. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a pair of alternative means for retaining the workpiece. Associated with the apparatus there is a cutting board 1 intended to be placed on a bench or table top and fastened thereto with the aid of a quick-adjusting clamping screw 2. A hollow section post 3 with a rectangular cross section is rigidly mounted on the board 1. A hanger 4 is arranged on the post 3 for adjustably positioning it in height and has means 5 for engaging with an un- illustrated workpiece. The hanger 4 is carried on the post 3 by a slide 6 which is displaceable in height and which may be fixed at a desired height. The slide 6 includes a short hollow section tube 7 with a rectangular cross-section. This tube 7 has internal dimensions well suiting the external dimensions of the post 3, such as to enable it to be moved gliding- ly along the post, enclosing it on four sides. A short length of hollow section tube 8 with a quadratic cross- section is rigidly attached horizontally to the tube 7 and serves in a similar way as a guide and mounting for the hanger 4, which has a quadratic cross-section suited to sliding movement. The slide 6 can be fixed in a desired position on the post 3 with the aid of a first latching means 9, which comprises an unillustrated piston in a housing 10, the. piston spring biased against the post. The piston can be disabled for readjusting the slide with the aid of a lever 11 , pivotably connected to one end of the piston projecting out of the housing 10. The lever 11, which is also pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the piston, has at its end engaging against the end wall of the hous¬ ing an end plane allowing adjustment of the lever in an outwardly directed position disabling the piston. With a single-handed grip on the slide, the grip of the latching means 9 on the post may consequently be released and the slide adjusted in height to be restrained manually while moving the lever 11 to a position enabling the piston. The hand grip on the slide does not need to be released for operating the lever with the same hand. A further latching means 12 is arranged in a similar way on the tube 8 carrying the hanger 4. This second latching means 12 is of the same kind as the one already described, with a piston (unillustrated) in a housing 13 and a lever 14 for operating the piston. At an adjusted position in height of the slide this second latching means may be disabled and allowed to remain in a disabled state while the orientation and projecting length of the hanger 4 is selected by gripping the hanger (or its engaging means 5) . After such adjustment has been made, including the selection of a desired angular position from the four possible positions for the hanger and thereby the engagement means, the hanger may be released and the hand moved to the second latching means 12 for latching the hanger in the selected position. The engagement means 5 illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a fork 15 rigidly attached at an angle to the hanger 4 and a fork 16, pivotably mounted in relation to the fork 15, and adjustable in relation thereto with the aid of an adjusting screw 17 associated with a crank. A workpiece such as a lettuce or a chicken may thus be clamped with optional force between the forks for processing. Figure 2 illustrates another engagement means 5 on its hanger 4. The engagement means is of a kind known per se, for keeping such as an onion or a tomato against the cutting board with the aid of a crossbar 18 provided with a plurality of prongs 19, which are pressed into the workpiece in question. Figure 3 illustrates a third engagement means 5 on its hanger 4. At an angle to the hanger there is a rigidly attached arm 20 and a movable arm 21, eg, for clamping a piece of cheese for slicing with a cheese slicer, the arms being in a horizontal attitude.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Single-handedly operable apparatus associated with a cutting board, adapted for retaining a workpiece and comprising a post (3) rigidly attached to a cutting board (1) adapted for mounting on a horizontal sub- structure, as well as a hanger (4) mounted on the post for adjustment in height and with means (5) for engage¬ ment against a workpiece, the hanger (4) being carried on the post (3) by a slide (6) which is adjustable to, and fixable at, a given height, characterized in that a first latching means (9) arranged on the slide (6) is manually engageable against the post (3) for fixing the slide at a desired position in height, in that the slide (6) has a substantially horizontally oriented guide (8) accommodating the hanger (4) to allow horizontal, glide- able displacement of the hanger, the hanger (4) and guide (8) having a plurality of mutual co-action attitudes predetermined by their respective configurations, with respect to the angular attitude of the hanger (4) about its longitudinal axis in the guide (8) for variable orientation of the means (5) on the hanger for engaging with the workpiece in different directions, the guide (8) also carrying a second latching means (12), which is manually engageable against the hanger (4) for fixing the latter in a desired axial position in the guide. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the guide (8) comprises a tube of quadratic cross- section, and that for gliding movement in said guide the hanger (4) has a similarly quadratic cross-sectional configuration adjusted thereto so that the hanger (4) can be inserted in the guide (8) in four predetermined axial angular positions. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterize in that the first and second latching means (9, 12) each comprise a preferably spring-biased piston, oriented substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the post (3) or hanger (4) , said piston being adapted for putting into and out of engagement with the post (3) or hanger (4) with the aid of a lever (11, 14).

Inventors: BLOMBERG LARS, BLOMBERG, LARS
Applicants: BLOMBERG LARS, BLOMBERG, LARS
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A47J43
IPC codes: A47J43