Patent Publication Number: US-2005138736-A1

Title: Multi-purpose kitchen utensil

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
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     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
      Not Applicable  
     DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX  
      Not Applicable  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to the field of kitchen utensils and more specifically to a multi-purpose kitchen utensil. Utensils and tools that help facilitate cooking and related activities that take place in a standard kitchen or camp site, have been available in the market place for scores of years. Most people have at least a dozen kitchen tools stored in drawers, on counter tops and hanging from wall or ceiling hooks. Campers also must pack a collection of kitchen related tools when going for an extended trip. The common kitchen tools include knives, serving spoons, graters, can openers, bottle openers, vegetable peelers, cork screws, strainers measuring spoons and the like. While all these tools perform their jobs adequately, they occupy a substantial amount of storage space. Additionally, they are expensive when purchased separately. Also, they are cumbersome and relatively heavy when taken as a collection of utensils. Finally, existing utensil designs are not designed to nest into one another so that they take up the minimum amount of space when stored collectively. Although Cynthia Simpson&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,419, now abandoned, describes a foldable, multi-purpose utensil, it does not include all the utensils that are commonly needed in a typical kitchen or camping trip. There is no provision for storing tools in the handle portion. Additionally, there is no provision for having the flat spatula member and spoon member to act together to be an efficient tongs because the curved spoon shape does not make adequate contact with the straight edged spatula. Additionally, there is no provision to have a nesting coffee making funnel or nesting salt and pepper shaker. Additionally, there is no provision for removing a tool head and replacing it with another tool head. Also, there is no provision for detaching the elastic cord that joins the handle halves together. Finally, there is no mention of a protective case for the device which can also act to removably retain additional kitchen utensils such as a basting brush or fork or salt and pepper shakers. Because of this, the user must have on hand additional utensils thereby increasing the storage space necessary to retain such utensils.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary object of the invention is to provide a kitchen utensil that combines many of the most common kitchen tools into a single device.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide a kitchen utensil that can fold for compact packaging and storage.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide a kitchen utensil that allows the user to unplug a utensil from its handle and replace it with another utensil.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide a kitchen utensil whose handle can separate at a central location so that utensils on each end of the handle can be used separately.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide a kitchen utensil that is light weight.  
      A further object of the invention is to provide a kitchen utensil that is easy to manufacture.  
      Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.  
      In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed Multi-purpose Kitchen Utensil comprising: a flat spatula member that incorporates the elements of a standard spatula, a knife and a grater, a first and second pair of handle members releasably joined to each other at one end by a resilient cord, said first handle member terminating at its opposite end in a scoop member, said second handle member terminating at its opposite end in said flat spatula member, said handle member being foldable at said releasably joined junction so that said handles rest on top of each other and said flat stainless steel member rests intimately on the top perimeter of said scoop, and said first and second handle members having hollowed portions to allow for the storage of a plurality of kitchen tools. The scoop portion is removable and replaceable from said handle member so that additional tools can be plugged into the socket in said handle member.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention showing multiple utensils  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the invention in its folded position  
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view showing the cord connector  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the cork screw of the present invention  
       FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the spring ball assembly  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the whisk attachment  
       FIG. 7  is perspective view of the fork attachment  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the vegetable peeler of the invention  
       FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the can opener portion of the invention  
       FIG. 10  is a side section view of the can opener portion  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the baster portion attached to the spatula  
       FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the nesting of the components that fit in the scoop of the invention  
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the coffee maker portion in use  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the case of the invention shown the multi purpose kitchen tool inside  
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the case in the closed position  
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the tongs feature  
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the scoop portion  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 1  we see a perspective view of the present invention  100 . Handle portions  14 ,  16  are releasably joined at one end  29  as will be described in more detail later. Handle  14  terminates at its opposite end in a removable, replaceable scoop tool  50  that includes a straight leading edge  8 , a recessed portion  2  and a ladle type pouring portion  6 . One wall of recessed portion  2  includes measuring lines  4  that allow the scoop  50  to be used as a measuring cup. This design allows the scoop  50  to also be used as a measuring cup and a ladle. Scoop  50  is made of molded plastic such as food grade nylon or polypropylene. Shank portion  10  removably inserts into a socket  11  located at the end of handle  14 . Tabs  12  mate with square aperture  32  when the two handles are in the folded position as shown in  FIG. 2 . The handle portions  14 ,  16  are recessed on their sides  23 ,  28 ,  41 ,  43  to allow storage of a bottle opener  22 , a can opener  24  a cork removing tool  20  and a vegetable peeler  26 . Handle  16  terminates at its opposite end in a spatula tool  40 . Spatula shank  34  is permanently inserted into a recess located at the end of handle  16 . Spatula  40  also includes a grater feature  36  and a serrated knife  38 . Aperture  39  located at the front portion of spatula  40  allows a basting brush to be removably attached as will be described later. Spatula  40  is made of stainless steel or other flat stamped and sharpened metal or high temperature molded plastic such as nylon or Ultem. Handle portions  14 ,  16  are made of molded plastic such as ABS and include molded rubber or rubber-like plastic inserts  15  that add to the comfort when gripping the handles.  FIG. 2  shows the present invention in its folded position. This folding feature allows the device of the present invention  100  to be stored in a compact manner. Also, in this configuration, the device  100  can be used as a strainer. For example, if a person scooped out cooked peas from a water filled pot using scoop  50 , he or she could then trap the peas and water with the spatula portion  40  and, because the perimeter of the spatula  40  and the perimeter of the scoop  50  are similar in shape, the user can turn the assembly  100  upside down and drain the water out of grater apertures  36  without spilling the peas enclosed inside scoop  50 . Elastic cord  60  helps keep handles  14 ,  16  together and acts as a flexible hinge. Cord  60  can be detached and reattached from handle  16  by removing plastic end piece  63  from retaining end piece  61  a is shown more clearly in  FIG. 3 . Elastic cord  60  is retained at its opposite end within handle  14 .  FIG. 4  shows handle  14  removed from handle  16  so that the device can be used as a cork removing tool. Cork screw  20  has been radially sung out from recess  41  by pivoting on post  49 .  FIG. 4  also shows shank accepting aperture  11  more clearly. Scoop  50  as well as other utensils that will be described later are removably retained in handle  14  by use of spring  70  and ball  72  that snaps into an aperture  51  shown in  FIG. 17 . Of course other known retaining means may be used.  FIG. 6  shows a whisk tool  300  made of a wire form  302  welded to a shank  304 . Aperture  306  allows the whisk tool to be removably inserted into aperture  11  in handle  14  in a similar fashion as scoop portion  50 . Whisk portion  302  is made of relatively heavy gauge wire so that can also be used as a potato masher.  FIG. 7  shows a fork utensil  130  made of stainless steel. Its shank  134  also includes an aperture  132  so that it can be removably inserted into aperture  11  of handle  14 . By separating handle  14  from handle  16 , the user can impale a food object such as a piece of meat, and use the serrated knife portion  38  of spatula tool  40  to cut said meat.  FIG. 8  shows vegetable peeler  26  pinned at swivel joint  129  and swung one hundred and eighty degrees out of recess  28  so that it may be used comfortably while gripping handle  14 . Handles  14  and  16  have been separated for this application.  FIG. 9  shows can opener tool  25  after it has been removed from handle recess  43 . Tool  25  can swivel about aperture  29  and be removed from handle  16  because handle  16  includes a spring biased  35  post  33 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , that allows can opener handle  27  to snap in and out. Referring back to  FIG. 9 , pin  31  can be removed from handle portion  27  so that the can opener end  25 A can be removed and turned one hundred and eighty degrees so that paring knife portion  25 B is exposed. Pin  31  can be replaced so that knife portion  25 B is secure. Of course, other known retaining means can be used instead of pin  31 .  FIG. 11  shows a basting brush  500  removably attached to the end of spatula  40 . Bristles  504  are captured by plastic portion  502 . Plastic finger  504  snaps into aperture  39  so that the basting brush is removably secured.  FIG. 12  shows an exploded view of scoop  50 , coffee maker assembly and salt and pepper containers  602 ,  604 . The coffee maker assembly  600  includes a measuring spoon  608  that can measure a tablespoon and a teaspoon. Salt and pepper containers  604 ,  602  are shaped to slidably insert into the recess of coffee maker  600  and coffee maker  600  is shaped to slidably fit into the recess of scoop  50 .  FIG. 13  shows coffee maker  600  in place on a coffee cup  618 . The bottom  610  of coffee maker  600  is made of a fine screen material so that coffee grounds are retained but hot water poured over the coffee grounds is allowed to pass through to the coffee cup below. Tab  612  helps hold the coffee maker  600  in place on one end, and the measuring spoon extension tab  609  holds the coffee maker  600  on the opposite end.  FIG. 14  shows The invention  100  stored in a molded plastic container  700 . Accessories such as the baster  500 , a match box  600 , the fork attachment  130  and the whisk attachment  140  are also stored in that container  700 . The container  700  includes a lid  702  that is hinged  703  and a cord holding tab  705  to hold hanging cord  710  as shown in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 16  shows handles  14 ,  16  attached by elastic cord  60 . Spatula portion  40  is reversed so that the device  100  can be used as a tongs. Because scoop edge  8  mates with spatula edge  47 , items such as salad and the like can be easily picked up and served.  FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the scoop  50 .  
      As the above description and drawings show, the present invention provides the storage and easy accessibly of plurality of commonly used kitchen utensils within a compact, versatile, novel configuration. Because many of the utensils of the present invention use a common handle, the resulting multi use invention is light weight and inexpensive to manufacture. As described above, the present invention can be used as a scoop, a ladle, a measuring cup, a measuring spoon, a serrated carving knife, a fork, a tongs, a strainer, a can opener, a paring knife, a bottle opener, a cork screw, a vegetable peeler, a whisk, a potato masher, a basting brush, a coffee maker, a grater, a spatula, a match box and a salt and pepper shaker.  
      While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.