Abstract:
A kitchen utensil having a first operable position and a second storage position is provided. The utensil has a head that is rotatably connected to opposing support arms and is lockable in either an operable or storage position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present principles relate to kitchen utensils. More particularly, they relate to a kitchen utensil having a collapsible head or end portion. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    The concept of collapsible or folding utensils has been shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,615,120, 5,940,974, 4,589,204 and 1,768,425. In addition, U.S. published applications 2003/0234547, 2003/0029044 and 2007/0084064 disclose other collapsible and/or folding utensil configurations. 
         [0005]    When using utensils that have large heads or ends, often times the storage of that utensil in a kitchen drawer or the like becomes troublesome, and in some cases, simply not possible. Examples of these types of kitchen utensils are potato mashers, ladles and even strainers. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    It is therefore an aspect of the present principles to provide a kitchen utensil that has a collapsible head which enables the utensil to be easily stored in a drawer or the like. 
         [0007]    According to one aspect, the kitchen utensil includes a handle having support arms being outwardly biased from each other, a utensil head rotatably connected to distal ends of each of the support arms, and means for securing the rotatable utensil head in a first operable position and a second storage position. 
         [0008]    According to one implementation, the securing means can be made up of a geometric shaped hole at a distal end of the support arms, and connection pins connected to the utensil head and passing through the geometric shaped holes in the respective support arm. The connection pins have a cylindrical portion connected to the utensil head and a geometric shaped portion corresponding to the geometric shaped holes in the support arms. 
         [0009]    According to another implementation, the securing means can be made up of an indexing mechanism 
         [0010]    In a further implementation, the kitchen utensil includes a handle, a utensil head connected to the handle and having a first operable position and a second storage position, and means for rotating the utensil head into and out of the first and second positions. 
         [0011]    Other aspects and features of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the present principles, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of a kitchen utensil according to an implementation of the present principles; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2   a  is a side view of the kitchen utensil in the operable position, according to an implementation of the present principles; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2   b  is a side view of the kitchen utensil while being changed from the collapsed position to the operable position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2   c  is a side view of the kitchen utensil in a collapsed storage position, according to an implementation of the present principles; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 3   a - 3   d  show the collapsing operation of the kitchen utensil according to an implementation of the present principles. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the kitchen utensil  10  is shown in its operable position  10 A. The utensil  10  includes a handle  12  and legs or supports  14   a  and  14   b . The supports  14   a  and  14   b  are spring biased outwardly or away from each other by the central support  20  or other biasing device such as, for example one or more springs. The head or utensil portion  16  is connected to the ends of the supports  14   a  and  14   b . In the example shown, utensil  10  is potato masher having a mashing head  16 . 
         [0019]    In the present example, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill (and even the average homeowner) that the potato masher head  16 , when in its operable position (See  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A), does not fit well into a drawer where other kitchen utensils are typically stored. The operable position is such that mashing head  16  extends transversely from the support arms  14  and thereby provides an increased surface area for engaging the potatoes being mashed. 
         [0020]    It is an aspect of the present principles to provide a kitchen utensil that has a head that is rotatable so that it can be positioned in an operable and/or storage position depending on the current need. As will be shown herein, one example of a rotating system has been disclosed where the head of the kitchen utensil can be rotated in 90 degree increments. However, it is to be understood that other increments can be implemented without departing from the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2C  shows the utensil  10  in its storage position  10   b  where the mashing head  16  has been rotated 90 degrees such that the head is longitudinally aligned with the support arms  14   a  and  14   b  and does not extend outwardly therefrom. In this position, the utensil  10  is easily stored in a drawer without interfering with the operation of the same. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2B  shows an example of the present principles where the supports  14   a  and  14   b  are flexed inward by the user (against the outward spring bias caused by central support  20 ) such that the head  16  is unlocked and becomes rotatable and capable of being positioned in a configuration different from the operable position. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3A-3D  show one implementation of the rotating head according to the present principles. The head  16  as fixedly secured to ends of pins  30 , and the pins include a cylindrical portion  34  and a square portion  32 . The support arms  14  include a square shaped aperture  15  configured to receive the square shaped portion  32  of the pin  30 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3A  shows the head  16  locked in its operable position with the square portion  32  seated within the square opening  15 . Referring to  FIG. 3B , when the support arm  14  is flexed inward against the outward spring bias of central support  20 , the square hole  15  is disengaged from the square portion  32  of pin  30  thereby allowing head  16  to be rotated. As shown in  FIG. 3C , once the square portion  32  is disengaged from the square hole  15 , head  16  is rotated, and when it is in the desired flat or collapsed position, the support arm  14  is released and the square hole  15  engages the square portion  32  of the pin  30 , thereby locking head  16  in the collapsed position.  FIG. 3D  shows the head  16  locked in the collapsed position. 
         [0025]    According to other implementations of the present principles, other geometric shapes can be used for hole  15  and pin portion  32 , such as triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, etc. The selection of the geometric shape can be based on the desired operation and/or the desired storage capabilities of the kitchen utensil. 
         [0026]    In yet further implementations, the rotating mechanism can be an indexed and locking system that does not require the flexing of the support arms and/or the use of the geometric shapes of the pins and support arm receiving holes. An example of such an indexing system can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,646, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0027]    While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the present principles, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the same. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the present principles. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or implementation of the present principles may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or implementation as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.