Abstract:
A foldable cutting board has a groove formed in one side thereof to form a thinned region defining a hinge dividing the member into panels which are foldable about the hinge. Stop structure is disposed on at least one panel for engagement with another panel to prevent unfolding of the member beyond a use position wherein the panels are substantially coplanar.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   This application relates to cutting boards and, in particular, to cutting boards of the type which may be used for cutting various food items. The application relates specifically to cutting boards of the foldable type, which have hingedly interconnected parts movable between folded storage and unfolded use positions. 
   Various types of cutting boards, formed of a variety of different types of materials, have heretofore been provided for kitchen use. Such cutting boards are typically formed of materials which are sufficiently rigid and hard to resist damage by knives or other cutting tools, and also to resist staining by or chemical interaction with food products. 
   It is also known to provide foldable cutting boards which have hingedly interconnected parts designed to be hingedly moved among different positions. Such boards are typically designed to be moved to a use position where in the hingedly interconnected parts are substantially coplanar and, for storage purposes, to a folded configuration which occupies less space. A disadvantage of many such prior boards is that the hinge arrangement accommodates movement of the hingedly interconnected parts beyond the coplanar use position in a direction away from the folded storage position. This is not a problem when, in use, the board is fully supported by an underlying support surface, such as a table or countertop. However, it makes it impractical to use the unfolded board as a tray for conveying articles, such as cut food items, from one place to another, such as from a countertop to a stove. 
   SUMMARY 
   There is disclosed herein an improved foldable cutting board which avoids the disadvantages of prior boards while affording additional structural and operating advantages. 
   In an embodiment, there is provided a foldable cutting board comprising a flat member having first and second surfaces respectively on opposite sides thereof, a groove formed in the first surface to form a thinned region of the member defining a hinge which divides the member into panels and divides the first surface into panel first surface portions and divides the second surface into panel second surface portions, the panels being foldable about the hinge between a use position wherein the panel second surface portions are substantially coplanar and a folded position wherein the panel second surface portions are disposed in facing and overlapping relationship, and stop structure on at least one panel disposed for engagement with another panel in the use position to prevent the panel second surface portions from moving substantially beyond the coplanar position in a direction away from the folded position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a foldable cutting board in a partially folded condition; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a cutting board of  FIG. 1  in its unfolded, use position; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged, bottom plan view of the cutting board of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken generally along the line  4 — 4  in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the circled portion designated by the numeral  5  in  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 4 , showing the boat in its folded storage position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–3 , there is illustrated a foldable cutting board, generally designated by the numeral  10 . The board  10  has a flat body member  11  having a first lower surface  12  and a second upper surface  13  which are flat, planar surfaces substantially parallel to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the member  11  is formed of a suitable plastic material, which is sufficiently hard and rigid to be resistant to damage by cutting implements and which also is resistant to staining by or chemical interaction with food items. A suitable material is polypropylene, although other plastic materials could be used. While plastic materials are utilized in the illustrated embodiment, it will be appreciated that, if desired, other materials, such as wood, metal or the like could be used, if desired, and such materials may be desirable if the cutting board is used for cutting items other than food items. 
   Referring also to  FIGS. 4–6 , the member  11  is substantially rectangular in shape having parallel side edges  14  and parallel end edges  15 , which may be tapered, as can best be seen in  FIG. 4 . Integral with the lower surface  12  are a plurality of depending feet  16  which, in the illustrated embodiment, are eight in number, although it will be appreciated that any desired number could be utilized. This provides a stable support for the cutting board  10  on underlying support surfaces, while providing a slight clearance between the underlying support surface and the lower support surface  12  of the board. If desired, a grip sheath  18  may be provided along edges of the member  11  to facilitate grasping. In the embodiment shown, such grip sheaths  18  are provided along each of the end edges  15 , but it will be appreciated that, if desired, they could also be provided along the side edges  14 . The grip sheaths  18  may be formed of a suitable cushioning and frictionally gripping material, such as a suitable elastomer, which may be of the type sold under the trademark SANTOPRENE. The feet  16  may be formed of the same elastomeric material and, indeed, the outer feet adjacent to the grip sheaths  18  may be unitary with the grip sheaths. While a rectangular member  11  is illustrated, it will be appreciated that the cutting board  10  could have other shapes, such as circular and non-rectangular polygonal shapes. 
   Formed in the lower surface  12  substantially midway between the end edges  15  is a deep hinged groove  20 , which extends between the side edges  14 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the groove  20  may have a relatively narrow inner portion  21  with parallel side surfaces  22  joined by a curved or faceted end surface  23 , which is disposed closely adjacent to the upper surface  13  for cooperation therewith to define a thinned region or bridge  14  which forms a flexible living hinge. The groove  20  also has a relatively broad outer portion  25  having tapered side surfaces  26  which diverge outwardly toward the lower surface  12  and opened thereat. If desired, a shallow recess  27  may be formed in the upper surface  13  along the bridge  24  to further thin the material of the bridge and facilitate folding movement. The groove  20  may extend all the way through the thickness of the member  11  at the side edges  14  to define side notches  28 . It can be seen that the hinged groove  20  and the thinned bridge  24  defined thereby create a hinge to accommodate folding of the member  11  along the hinge line  29  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
   It can also be seen that the hinge groove  20  divides the member  11  into rectangular panels  30  and  40  and divides the lower surface  12  into lower panel surface portions  32  and  42  and divides the upper surface  13  into panel upper surface portions  33  and  43 . The cutting board  10  is foldable about the hinge line  29  between an unfolded use position illustrated in  FIGS. 2–4 , wherein the panel upper surface portions  33  and  43  are substantially coplanar, and a folded storage position, illustrated in  FIG. 6 , wherein the panel upper surface portions  33  and  43  are disposed in facing overlapping relationship, and may be in abutting relationship if, as in the illustrated embodiment, the grip sheaths  18  are substantially flush with the panel upper surface portions  33  and  43 . 
   It is a significant aspect of the invention that each of the panels  30  and  40  is provided with plural stop lugs  50  (see  FIGS. 3–5 ). The stop lugs  50  on the panel  30  are arranged substantially as mirror images of those on the panel  40 , each stop lug  50  projecting from the associated tapered side surface  26  of the groove  20  and having a bottom surface  51 , which may be substantially coplanar with the lower surface  12  of the member  11 , and a side or abutment surface  52 , which may be substantially perpendicular to the lower surface  12 . Thus, when the cutting board  10  is disposed in its unfolded use position described above, the abutment surfaces  52  of the stop lugs  50  on the panel  30  will respectively abut the abutment surfaces  52  on the corresponding stop lugs of the panel  40 , as seen in  FIG. 5 . This will effectively prevent the panels  30  and  40  from pivoting beyond the coplanar use position in a direction away from the folded position of  FIG. 6 . Thus, when in the use position, the cutting board  10  may be grasped along one of the end edges and lifted and it will remain in its rigid coplanar use position, facilitating use of the unfolded cutting board as a tray or the like. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, there are two pairs of stop lugs  50  respectively on the panels  30  and  40 , with the lugs of each pair being longitudinally spaced apart and respectively disposed closely adjacent to the side edges  14 . However, it will be appreciated that other numbers of stop lugs  50  could be provided or, alternatively, a single, long, continuous stop lug on each panel  30  and  40  could be provided. While, in the illustrated embodiment, stop lugs  50  are provided on each of the panels  30  and  40 , it will be appreciated that, if desired, lugs could be provided on only one of the panels and shaped and dimensioned for engagement with the opposite side of the groove  20  on the other panel in the use position of the cutting board  10 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, wherein the stop lugs are respectively adjacent to the inner ones of the feet  16 , they may, respectively, be unitary with those feet. In that event, each foot/lug member may be press-fitted into an associated recess (not shown) in the underside of the associated panel  30 ,  40 . 
   The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.