Patent Publication Number: US-2023148223-A1

Title: Cutting board with nested containers

Description:
RELATED ART 
     This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/885,664 (the &#39;664 application; Attorney Docket TB-001) in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 120. The &#39;664 application was filed 28 May 2020 and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/853,394, which was filed 28 May 2019. The contents of the preceding applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to the field of consumer goods. More particularly, a cutting board is provided that features at least one cut-out for accommodating one or more containers. 
     Existing cutting boards often provide mediocre user experiences during food preparation due to their limited surface area, which can quickly become cluttered with prepared ingredients, scraps, containers, etc. For example, some ingredients or scraps may need to be thrown away or composted, others may need to be washed or strained, others may need to be stored, while others may be intended for immediate use. Existing cutting boards generally do not assist a user in separating, sorting, or transporting the items for their intended dispositions. Instead, a user may need to awkwardly transfer items between the board and various containers placed around the area in which the cutting board is being used. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some embodiments, a cutting board described herein features one or more cut-out sections, bores, or voids. The cutting board may be situated such that while some or most of the board is supported by a counter or other underlying support, a cut-out may be located past an edge of the support. One or more removable and nestable/stackable containers fit into a cut-out such that their outer edges substantially align with a border of the cut-out; for example, they may be configured to closely fit the border of the cut-out, which may feature a lip or ledge for engaging and supporting edges of the containers. While the cutting board is in use, items may be easily transferred from a cutting surface by brushing or scraping them into the one or more containers. Lids may be provided for some or all containers. 
     In some embodiments, a cutting board features a single cut-out into which multiple containers are nested or stacked, and different containers may be used for different purposes. For example, one may receive items that are to be stored, another may receive items to be composted, another acts as a strainer, and so on. In addition, when installed in the cut-out, top edges of the installed containers may be substantially coplanar with the surface of the cutting board. Because none of the containers extend above the cutting surface, there is little or no impediment to the movement of items from the working area to the containers. In particular, the items need not be lifted from the cutting board in order to be placed in a container. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram depicting a cutting board featuring multiple nestable containers within a cut-out, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2 A  is a block diagram of the cutting board of  FIG.  1    with multiple nestable containers installed in a cut-out, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2 B  is a block diagram further depicting the cutting board of  FIG.  1    with multiple nestable containers installed in a cut-out, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    is a flow chart demonstrating a method of using a cutting board having one or more nestable containers installed in a cut-out section, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  4 A  is a block diagram depicting a cutting board having a cut-out section for installation of nestable containers, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  4 B  is a block diagram depicting the cutting board of  FIG.  4 A  with multiple removable and nestable containers installed therein, in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosed embodiments, and is provided in the context of one or more particular applications and their requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of those that are disclosed. Thus, the present invention or inventions are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but rather are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, a cutting board is provided that includes at least one cut-out or void for holding nestable or stackable containers. A cut-out may be fully or partially encircled by the cutting board. In these embodiments, the cutting board is placed on a counter or other support such that the cut-out is located beyond an edge of the support (e.g., over a sink, over open air). Some or all of the cutting board may be weighted so that it remains balanced and level even while food items and/or remnants are placed in the containers. 
     In some implementations, top edges of a container or of multiple containers installed in a cut-out are substantially flush with the top surface of a working or cutting area of the cutting board, while bottom ends of the containers extend below the bottom surface of the board. In these implementations, items on the work surface can be easily and cleanly wiped, scraped, or otherwise transferred to the container(s) with virtually no mess or spill and without lifting them from the cutting board. 
       FIG.  1    is a block diagram depicting a cutting board featuring multiple nestable containers within a cut-out, according to some embodiments. In these embodiments, cutting board  100  features work surface  102 , gutter  104 , and cut-out  110 . Cutting board  100 , work surface  102 , and cut-out  110  may be of various suitable dimensions and composition for cutting, chopping, grating and/or otherwise manipulating or preparing food and/or other items. 
     In some implementations, for example, work surface  102  may be approximately 14″ by 15″ while cut-out  110  is approximately 5″ by 15″. In other implementations, work surface  102  may be weighted to reduce the ratio of work surface area to cut-out area. For example, a weighted version of work surface  110  may be approximately 12″ by 12″ while cut-out  110  is approximately 6″ by 12″. These examples are merely illustrative and do not limit the dimensions of cutting board  100  or any component(s) of cutting board  100 . 
     Gutter  104  may define one or more edges of work surface  102  but, in at least some embodiments, does not extend between work surface  102  and cut-out  110 . Although cutting board  100  is rectangular in  FIG.  1   , with rounded corners, in other embodiments a cutting board may be square, elliptical or have some other regular or irregular shape. 
     Cut-out  110  of cutting board  100  accommodates multiple removable containers, including containers  120 ,  122 , some or all of which may be stackable or nestable. Upon installation, edges of the containers are supported on some or all sides by a ledge or edge defining the cut-out. In  FIG.  1   , container  120  may be considered a ‘primary’ container in that it is placed first within cut-out  110 , while container  122  may be considered a ‘secondary’ container because it stacks or nests within container  120 . 
     A primary container may accept any number of secondary containers. Therefore, if container  122  is no longer than half the length of container  120 , two or more of container  122  may be nested within container  120 , side-by-side. Further, one or more of container  122  may be installed as primary containers, that is, they may be installed in cut-out  110  without container  120 . Yet further, one or more containers smaller than container  122  may be stacked within container  122 . 
     A container (e.g., container  120 , container  122 ) may feature solid walls and a solid bottom, or one or more walls and/or a bottom may be open or perforated (e.g., to allow liquid to escape). For example, if container  120  has a perforated bottom (and/or if parts of one or more walls of the container are perforated), liquid may flow or seep from the container, possibly into a sink or basin placed below cut-out  110 . Also, or alternatively, if the bottom or one or more walls of container  122  are perforated, liquid may flow or seep from container  122  into container  120 , thereby allowing container  122  to act as a strainer. Yet further, a separate strainer implement may be installed on a container (e.g., as a top), and the resulting assembly (i.e., the strainer and one or more containers) may remain flush with work surface  102 . 
     In some embodiments, during use of cutting board  100  container  120  is situated in cut-out  100  without any other containers when scraps or remnants on work surface  102  are to be removed from the surface. Container  120  may be emptied as necessary to dispose of the scraps. One or more of container  122  may then be nested in container  120  in order to receive food items or ingredients that are not to be disposed of. For example, as multiple different items (e.g., onion, carrot, tomato) are manipulated (e.g., diced, chopped) on work surface  102 , the prepared ingredients may be wiped or scraped into one or more containers  122 . 
     In some embodiments, cutting board  100  (e.g., work surface  102 ) is made from bamboo, wood, and/or a synthetic polymer that can withstand slicing, chopping and/or other actions with sharp instruments. Containers (e.g., containers  120 ,  122 ) may be made of silicon, glass, metal, and/or a natural or synthetic polymer. 
       FIGS.  2 A-B  are block diagrams depicting cutting board  100  of  FIG.  1    with nested containers installed in a cut-out, according to some embodiments. In  FIG.  2 A , a perspective view of cutting board  100  shows that the cut-out is populated with containers  120 ,  122 . A lip or edge of the cut-out supports lip  120   a  of container  120  (shown in  FIG.  1   ) along its some or all of its circumference and, likewise, lip  120   a  of container  120  supports lip  122   a  of container  122  (shown in  FIG.  1   ). 
     Illustratively, container  122  may be a strainer-type container, in which case a bottom of the container is perforated or pierced in some manner so that liquid moved into container  122  (e.g., liquid that accompanies food ingredients or scraps) passes through container  122  and into container  120 . If container  120  is also of the strainer type, the liquid would also pass through container  120 . In some implementations, multiple (e.g., two) of container  122  may be installed in container  120 , with one of them being of the strainer type and another being of a collector type that features a closed bottom and walls so that whatever is placed in the container (e.g., liquid, solid) remains in the container. 
       FIG.  2 B  is a side view of cutting board  100 , showing container  120  hanging from the cutting board and supported by cut-out  110 . In particular, an edge or rim of container  120  engages a ledge or lip of cut-out  110  (not visible in  FIG.  2 B ), which prevents the container from falling or passing through the cut-out. As shown in  FIG.  2 B , container  120  does not extend above the work surface of cutting board  100 , and neither do any containers nested within container  120  (e.g., container  122 ). 
       FIG.  3    is a flow chart demonstrating a method of using a cutting board in which nestable containers can be installed, according to some embodiments. In one or more embodiments, one or more of the steps may be omitted, repeated, and/or performed in a different order. Accordingly, the specific arrangement of steps shown in  FIG.  3    should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments. 
     In operation  302 , a cutting board having one or more cut-out sections is placed on a counter or other support. Each cut-out is defined by a ledge, edge, or rim that extends around some or all of the cut-out. In some implementations, the cut-out(s) extend beyond the counter and over a sink or open air. Therefore, while a work surface of the cutting board has immediate underlying support, the cut-out(s) have no immediate underlying support. 
     In operation  304 , a first container is installed in a cut-out section, such that an outer edge or rim of the container catches on and is supported by the cut-out, thereby preventing the first container from falling through the cut-out. The first container does not extend above the plane of the working surface of the cutting board. 
     The first container may be a strainer type of container (with a bottom that is perforated or otherwise pierced) or a collector type (with a solid bottom), depending on a type of food ingredient to be prepared. For example, if tomatoes are to be diced and the liquid is not needed a strainer-type container may be installed or, if an ingredient having less liquid is to be prepared (e.g., carrot, apple, potato) a collector type of container may be installed. 
     In optional operation  306 , one or more first ingredients are prepared and the ingredients and/or scraps are scraped or wiped into the first container. The first container may then be emptied (e.g., into a cooking pan or pot, into a trash can if it only contains scraps or remnants). 
     In operation  308 , one or more second containers are nested within the first container, such that an outer edge or rim of each second container catches on and is supported by an inner edge or rim of the first container. None of the first and second containers extend above the plane of the working surface of the cutting board. 
     In operation  310 , additional food ingredients are prepared (e.g., cut, sliced, chopped, minced) and moved into the second containers and/or (e.g., by removing a second container) the first container. If any of the additional food ingredients require straining, one or more of the second containers may be strainer-type containers, in which case the strained liquid will pass through to the first container and, if the first container is also a strainer-type container, will also pass through the first container (e.g., and into a sink). 
     In optional operation  312 , one or more second containers may be swapped for other, empty, second containers or may be emptied (e.g., into a cooking vessel, into the trash) and re-installed for additional use with other ingredients. 
     In operation  314 , some or all of the first and second containers are removed from the cutting board cut-out(s). Contents of the containers may be used or placed appropriately; for example, one or more containers may be sealed with a lid to store or conserve their contents. 
     In some implementations, lids may be placed on the upper-most containers before, during, and/or after the containers are used. Although no container normally extends higher than the work surface of the cutting board, when a lid is placed on a container some or all of the lid may extend above the plane of the work surface. 
       FIG.  4 A  is a block diagram depicting a cutting board having a cut-out section for installation of nestable containers, according to some embodiments. 
     In these embodiments, cutting board  400  includes work surface  402 , gutter  404  and cut-out  410 , similar to cutting board  100  of  FIG.  1   .  FIG.  4    also illustrates distal end  406  of cutting board  400 , which borders cut-out  410 . Note that distal end  406  may be used as a handle for the cutting board. 
     Cut-out  410  is defined by walls or edges that include upper ledge  412  and lower ledge  414 . In some implementations, ledges  412 ,  414  completely surround the cut-out, while in other implementations they do not completely surround the cut-out. Operation of ledges  412 ,  414  is shown in more detail in  FIG.  5   . 
       FIG.  4 B  is a block diagram depicting the cutting board of  FIG.  4 A  with multiple removable and nestable containers installed therein, according to some embodiments. In  FIG.  4 B , two containers (containers  420 ,  430 ) are nested within cut-out  410 . Note that neither of the containers extends above the surface of distal end  406 , which is coplanar with work surface  402 . 
     Container  420  includes upper (or external) rim or edge  422 , which engages or mates with upper ledge  412 , and lower (or internal) rim or edge  424 , which engages or mates with lower ledge  414 . Similarly, container  430  includes rim or edge  432 , which engages with lower rim  424  of container  420 . 
     In some alternative embodiments in which more than two containers are nested without a cut-out, container  430  may include upper and lower rims or edges to engage with container  420  and another container nested within container  430 . 
     The foregoing embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit this disclosure to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The scope is defined by the appended claims, not the preceding disclosure.