Patent Publication Number: US-2009229430-A1

Title: Handle For Kitchen Tools

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/305,045 filed 12 Mar. 2008. The above-listed application is herein incorporated by reference as if fully set forth below in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to handles for kitchen tools. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most kitchen tools are rigid so they can effectively work yet inexpensive so that the consumer can buy multiple tools such as spoons, forks, spatulas, turners, presses, peelers, and whisks. The customer&#39;s need for relative rigidity and inexpensive materials have led to several problems, including: 1) the kitchen tools are often not very decorative because they are either a one piece tool or a tool that has a handle permanently attached to a tool head; 2) the kitchen tools are made of hard materials such as wood, metal, or plastic that are painful to use over a long period of time in the kitchen; 3) softer materials, which will be more comfortable than rigid ones, often have low heat tolerance and too much flexibility, which keeps the tool from functioning effectively; and 4) kitchen tools are often not very decorative because the cost needs to be low enough so that the general public can afford to own different tools. 
     What is needed therefore is a high quality handle design that can be used with multiple tool heads. It is to such a handle that the present invention is primarily directed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly described, in preferred form, the present invention is a handle for kitchen tools made of an injection molded rigid material over molded with a soft outer layer. The handle can have decorative inlay members that are chrome-plated, and the handle can have a customizable insertion member and bolster so the same handle design can be used with various tool heads. The high quality handle is both rigid and soft on the outside so that a user&#39;s hand will not hurt from extended use. The handle also is durable and decorative. 
     The present invention can comprise a handle for a kitchen tool including an elongated body member having an upper and lower face, lateral walls, a receiving end, a hanging end, an inlay member receiving assembly, an insertion member receiving assembly, and a bolster receiving assembly, an inlay member located on the upper face of the elongated body member by the inlay member receiving assembly, an insertion member fittable into the receiving end of the elongated body member by the insertion member receiving assembly, and a bolster fittable over the insertion member and the receiving end of the elongated body member by the bolster receiving assembly. 
     The handle can comprise polypropylene overmolded with a soft wrapping of santoprene on the lower face and lateral walls. The inlay member receiving assembly can comprise one or more apertures sized and spaced to interact with one or more cooperative extensions of the inlay member, wherein the inlay member is press fittable to the elongated body member. The insertion member receiving assembly can comprise one or more ribs extending within a hollow space from an interior lateral wall of the receiving end of the elongated body member to interact with one or more cooperative extensions of the insertion member when the insertion member is inserted into the receiving end of the elongated body member. The bolster receiving assembly can comprise one or more depressions inside the bolster member to interact with one or more cooperative extensions of the elongated body member when the bolster member is placed over the receiving end of the elongated body member. 
     The handle can further comprise injection molded acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plated with chrome on the upper face of the elongated body member. The insertion member can comprise a tool aperture. The bolster too can comprise a tool aperture. 
     The present invention can further comprise a method of making a handle for use with a kitchen tool comprising molding an elongated body member with polypropylene, overmolding at least a portion of the elongated body member with santoprene, molding an inlay member with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, chrome plating at least a portion of the inlay member, molding an insertion member with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, molding a bolster with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, chrome plating at least a portion of the bolster, and assembling the handle from the components molded as described above. 
     The present invention can further comprise a handle system for kitchen tools comprising an elongated body member with a first aperture on a hanging end going all the way through the end, a second smaller aperture in the middle of an upper face that does not extend to the lower face and a third smaller aperture on the upper face near a receiving end that does not extend to the lower face, overmolded with a soft outer layer on at least a portion of the lower face and lateral walls and leaving a space on the upper face for an inlay member, the inlay member having a first aperture on a hanging end with a coupling link protruding from the bottom of the aperture, and two pins protruding from its lower face, the coupling link fittable into the first aperture of the elongated body member, the inlay member being fittable on the upper face of the elongated body member between the soft outer layer on the lateral walls, the receiving end of the elongated body member having an opening and hollow area into which an insertion member is placed, the insertion member having lateral grooves and held inside the elongated body member by ribs on the interior lateral walls of the elongated body member, the insertion member having a tool aperture, a bolster attached on the other end of the extension member also with a tool aperture that extends from end to end, and a tool head placed in the tool aperture extending from the bolster into the insertion member. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a kitchen tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the parts of the handle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3   a  is a bottom view of the inlay member and the elongated body member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3   b  is a top view of the inlay member and the elongated body member of  FIG. 3   a.    
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the assembled elongated body member of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the inlay member of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the insert of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bolster of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is an internal view of the elongated body member of  FIGS. 2 and 4 . 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of another preferred embodiment of the handle of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the embodiment of the handle of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a right side view of the embodiment of the handle of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a rear view of the embodiment of the handle of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the embodiment of the handle of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the embodiment of the handle of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 1-14 . 
     The kitchen utensil  100  in  FIG. 1  has a tool head  300  attached to the handle  200 . The handle  200  is comprised of an elongated body member  400 , inlay member  500 , insertion member  600 , and a bolster  700  as best seen in  FIG. 2 . Each of the parts, inlay member  500 , insertion member  600 , and bolster  700 , is connected to the elongated body member  400  via receiving assemblies to form the assembled handle  200 . 
     The elongated body member  400  preferably comprises lateral walls  410 , a hanging end  430 , a receiving end  440 , an upper face  480 , a lower face  490 , and incorporates an inlay member receiving assembly, an insertion member receiving assembly, and a bolster receiving assembly; 
     The inlay member  500  is attached to the upper face  480  of the elongated body member  400 . The insertion member  600  is engagingly received within the receiving end  440  of the elongated body member  400 . The bolster  700  covers the insertion member  600  and receiving end  440  of the elongated body member  400 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the handle  200  is permanently affixed to a single tool head  300 , although in another embodiment, a handle  200  can be used with many different tool heads  300  to provide a less expensive and space-saving alternative to buying many kitchen tools. The handle  200  can be decorative yet at the same time have important ergonomic features such as being rigid enough to function, and yet being soft on the hand so that the hand will not hurt or blister from extended use. 
     The elongated body member  400  can be made of several materials. The elongated body member  400  can be made of an injection molded hard plastic, such as polypropylene, and overmolded with soft wrapping  420  of a softer plastic, such as thermoplastic elastomer material like SANTOPRENE™. An overmolding process firmly attaches a soft wrapping  420  on a lower face  490  and outer lateral walls  410  of the elongated body member  400 . 
     The elongated body member  400  can include a number of apertures forming elements of the various receiving assemblies. In one embodiment, the member  400  is provided with a first set of circular apertures  450 ,  460 ,  470 , and a second set of rectangular apertures  482 ,  484 , although the number and shape can vary. The apertures of the member  400  cooperate with extensions of the inlay member  500  for proper alignment and engagement of the inlay member  500  to the member  400 . 
     On its upper face  480 , the elongated body member  400  has the first set of three apertures  450 ,  460 ,  470  and the second set of two apertures  482 ,  484  in the upper face between the lateral ends of the soft wrapping. A first aperture  450  of the first set of apertures is a through hole in the member  400 , and is a relatively large aperture. A second and third aperture  460 ,  470  of the first set of apertures are not through holes, and are relatively small apertures, for example, pin sized apertures. In this embodiment, the second aperture  460  is located in the middle of the upper face  480 , and the third aperture  470  is nearer the receiving end  440  of the member  400 . 
     The two apertures  482  and  484  of the second set of apertures are generally long troughs indented into the hard plastic of the upper face. Each one of the apertures  482  and  484  is adjacent to the soft wrapping  420 . The apertures  482  and  484  extend from just below the first aperture  450  to nearly in line with the second aperture  460 . 
     The elongated body member  400  has a hanging end  430  and the receiving end  440 . The hanging end  430  incorporates the first aperture  450  going through it, and can be used to hang the utensil  100  in the kitchen. The receiving end  440  presents a generally hollow space in the end of the elongated body member  400  for reception of the insertion member  600 , and can incorporate ribs  442  or protrusions extending within the hollow space from an interior lateral wall  444 , which ribs  442  will be useful for the engagement of the insertion member  600  into the receiving end  440  of the elongated body member  400 . 
     The inlay member  500  can be made by injection molding acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and then coating the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with chrome on an upper face  510  thereof. The inlay member  500  can include a number of apertures and extensions that cooperate with the apertures of the member  400 . 
     At a hanging end  530 , the inlay member  500  can include an inlay member aperture  550  that cooperates with the first aperture  450  of the first set of apertures in the member  400 . The inlay member aperture  550  is a through hole in the inlay member  500 . Also at the hanging end  530 , a flank  554  extends from the upper face  510  of the inlay member  500  on three sides of the aperture  550 . An inlay member shaft  560  extends from the inlay member aperture  550 . The length of the inlay member shaft  560  is several multiples of the width, which gives the inlay member shaft  560  a relatively long, thin appearance. The inlay member  500  has a receiving end  540 , with points  590  that extend in a straight line horizontally with receiving end  540 . The points  590  are connected to each lateral wall with an inverted arc. 
     On the lower face  520  of the inlay member  500 , a coupling link  552  surrounds the inlay member aperture  550  and extends from the lower face  520  of the inlay member  500 . The coupling link  552  is not as wide as the flank  554 . 
     The inlay member  500  further comprises pins to cooperate with the some of the first set of apertures of member  400 . For example, inlay member  500  can include two pins  570  and  580 : a first pin  570  near the center both laterally and longitudinally of the lower face  520  of the inlay member  500 ; and a second pin  580  in the center laterally, but near the receiving end  540 . 
     The inlay member  500  further comprises bars to cooperate with the second set of apertures of member  400 . For example, inlay member  500  can includes two bars, a first bar  562  and a second bar  564 , extending from the lower face  520  generally perpendicular to each lateral edge of the inlay member  500 . Each distal end of the bars  562  and  564  can begin at the flank  554  surrounding the aperture, and extend near the second pin  580 . 
     The insertion member  600  can be made of an injection molded hard plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and can be generally rectangular in shape. The insertion member  600  can have grooves, for example, three grooves  620  or cut-outs on its exterior lateral walls  630 . Preferably, the lateral walls are longer than the ends. A tool aperture  610  is on a proximal receiving end of the insertion member  600 . This tool aperture  610  does not go all the way through to the other end of the insertion member  600 . 
     The bolster  700  is hollow on the distal end and is longer in width than in length. Inside the distal end is a depression  740  in the upper interior wall. From proximal end  720  to distal end  730 , the bolster  700  has a tool aperture  710 . The bolster  700  can be made of an injection molded hard plastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 
     The handle  200  is preferably assembled by pressure fitting. In other words, the pieces are fit so snugly together that they resist being separated. The inlay member  500  is attached to the elongated body member in three ways:
         the coupling link  552  in the inlay member  500  fits into the first aperture  450  of the elongated body  400 ;   the inlay member  500  is attached on the upper face  480  of the elongated body member  400  by pins  570  and  580  on the inlay member&#39;s lower face  520  that fit in the apertures  460  and  470  on the upper face  480  of the elongated body member  400 ; and   the bars  562  and  564  on the lower face  520  of the inlay member  500  fit into the apertures  482  and  484  of the elongated body member  400 .       

     The insertion member  600  is made to fit snugly inside the elongated body member  400 . The grooves  620  of the insertion member are spaces where the ribs  442  of the elongated body member  400  fit and hold the insertion member  600  inside the elongated body member  400 . 
     The bolster  700  fits onto and over the ridge  472  or raised portion on the upper face  480  of the elongated body member  400 . The depression  740  inside the bolster  700  fits over the ridge  472  to hold the bolster  700  in place. 
     The present handle  200  can be formed by molding the elongated body member, overmolding at least a portion of the elongated body member, molding the inlay member, plating at least a portion of the inlay member, molding the insertion member, molding the bolster, plating at least a portion of the bolster, and assembling the handle from the components molded. In a preferred embodiment, the elongated body member comprises polypropylene overmolded with santoprene, the inlay member comprises acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with chrome plating, the insertion member comprises acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and the bolster comprises acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with chrome plating. 
     While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the following claims.