Abstract:
A universal cutting board system comprising a cutting surface and a drawer, wherein said drawer is coupled with a first side of said cutting surface such that said drawer can be transitioned from an open state, a closed state and a removed state without substantial physical movement of said cutting surface.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional patent Application No. 60/917,632, filed May 11, 2007, the complete contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by referenced, and U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/917,650, filed May 12, 2007, the complete contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates generally to kitchen utensils and more specifically to cutting boards. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    When preparing items for cooking or just generally during food preparation, frequently individuals need to cut more that one item and will need to transfer the food from the cutting board to either a serving dish or another container, either for cooking or use. While numerous flexible cutting boards exist that allow a user to funnel and “pour” the cut items into a dish, nothing is currently on the market which allows a user to transfer the cut items to a container without physically elevating the cutting board in some manner. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a universal cutting board system which allows a user to access multiple surfaces and allows a user to transfer the cut articles into a container without requiring physical movement of the cutting board. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A universal cutting board system comprising a cutting surface and a drawer, wherein said drawer is coupled with a first side of said cutting surface such that said drawer can be transitioned from an open state, a closed state and a removed state without substantial physical movement of said cutting surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIGS. 1   a - 1   e  depict embodiments of the universal cutting board system. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2-3E  depict various alternate embodiments of the cutting board system depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  depicts an alternate embodiment of the cutting board system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    With reference to  FIGS. 1   a - 1   e , the universal cutting board system  100  is a chopping board  102  that allows chopped food or scraps to be scraped off the board without having to lift the board up. The food and/or scrap is thrown into the drawer  104  or into a tray  106  which can optionally be placed into the drawer  104 . The tray  106  or drawer  104  can then be taken out and replaced by a clean tray  110  or drawer  108 . This allows food preparation to be clean and convenient. 
         [0012]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   e , the chopping board  102  has a predetermined thickness and can be hollowed and/or elevated to allows space for a drawer  104  to be removeably inserted below the cutting board  102 . The drawer  104  is capable of holding one or more containers  106  and the container(s)  106  can be comprised of any known and/or convenient material, as can the cutting surface  102 . In operation, during, before or after cutting, the drawer  104  can be withdrawn from the closed position and the cut food and/or scraps can be scraped off the board into the desired container(s)  106  and/or the drawer  104 . The container(s)  106  and/or the drawer  104  can then be replaced and the user can continue with food preparation. 
         [0013]      FIGS. 2A-2E  depict alternate embodiments of the universal cutting board system depicted in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   e . In  FIG. 2   a , the cutting board  200  can be configured such that the cutting surface  202  can be changed as desired and can be changed with various colored boards and/or reversed as desired by the user. Additionally, in some embodiments the cutting surface  202  can include dimension markings  204  such that a user can accurately measure food and/or accurately cut food. In still further alternate embodiments, the cutting board  200  and/or drawer  206  and/or containers  208  can be comprised of a material  210  impregnated and or bonded with an anti-bacterial substance, such as an N-alkylated poly(4-vinylpyridine) group substance, tea tree oil and/or any other known and/or convenient material. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2   b  depicts an alternate embodiment in which multiple containers  208  can be included in the drawer  206  and the containers  208  can have differing sizes and shapes. In some embodiments one or more of the containers  212  can be perforated to allow contents to be strained. Moreover, in some embodiments the under portion  214  of the drawer can be at least partially removable and/or not present and the containers can be supported on side rails or by any other known and or convenient mechanism. Thus, when food is strained in a straining container, the liquid will not be contained by the drawer, but will pass directly through to either a sink or a container below the straining container. Additionally, in some embodiments more than one drawer  216  can be included such that liquid could be captured in the lower layer and the solid contents could be strained/captured in the upper drawer&#39;s container(s)  212 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 2C  depicts an alternate embodiment in which the containers  208  are positioned on a carousel  218  which can be rotated. Additionally, in some embodiments the cutting surface can contain guides  220  such that liquid can be directed toward the perimeter of the cutting surface and ultimately delivered to a desired location such as the drawer  206  and/or any other desired location. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2D  an alternate embodiment which includes a second drawer  222 . In some embodiments the second drawer  222  (and/or more drawers) can be on a different level than the first drawer  206  and/or the same level. In some embodiments the drawer  222  can located in opposition to the first drawer  206 . However, in alternate embodiments the drawers  206  and  222  (two or more) can be configured in any convenient geometric relationship. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments any one or more of the drawers  222  can include divisions/locations for cutlery, utensils and/or knives. Moreover, in some embodiments the cutting surface  224  can be coupled with a blade sharpener  226 . In alternate embodiments, the blade sharpener  226  can be coupled with the system in any known convenient location and/or in any known and/or convenient manner. 
         [0018]    As depicted in  FIG. 2E , in some embodiments the containers  208  in the drawer  206  can have lids  228  adapted to selectively seal the containers in a closed position. In some embodiments the containers can include measurement markings  204 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3A  depicts an alternate embodiment which comprises an additional surface  302 . In some embodiments the second surface can be a secondary cutting surface  302  and/or can be a filtering surface  304 . Thus, in some embodiment if the user is attempting to collect liquid in the container(s)/drawer(s)  306 / 308  below user can strain the item through the filter  304  and collect liquid in the container  306  below. Alternately, the user can insert an additional cutting surface  302  which will allow a user to expand the cutting surface  300  available. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3B  depicts an alternate embodiment in which an aperture  312  is located in the cutting surface  300 . The aperture  312  can be used to deliver items to the drawer(s)/container(s)  306 / 308  below and/or can be coupled with a flexible container  314  located below ( FIG. 3C ). In some embodiments the flexible container  314  can be held in place by a retainer element  316  that can engage the cutting surface  300  and/or selectively engage the system in any known and/or convenient manner. In some embodiments, the system can include an insert  318  adapted to mate with the aperture  312  in the cutting surface  300  and provide the user with a substantially uniform cutting surface without the aperture  312 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 3D and 3E  depict an alternate embodiment in which the cutting surface  300  can be used in a plurality of positions to provide a user with multiple cutting surfaces  320  and/or alternate cutting surfaces  322  without having to replace the cutting surface  300 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 3D and 3E , the cutting surface  300  can be hinged  324  such that a total of at least five cutting surfaces are available depending upon how the cutting surface  300  is configured. In operation, two flaps  326  can be folded down on top of the main body of the apparatus  328 . Once these two flap surfaces are dirty, one or both of the flaps can be unfolded to expose the underside of the flaps  330  and a secondary cutting board located under the flaps. Thus, providing the user with three new/clean surfaces  332  to use for cutting items. In alternate embodiments, the cutting board can be configured to have any known and/or convenient geometric proportions and/or to assume any number of convenient geometries such that any desired number of surfaces can be used by a user. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  depicts an alternate embodiment in which the drawer  400  and/or individual containers  402  can include a measuring arm  406  and the drawer and/or container(s) can include markings on their bases  404  and/or sides. In operation, after items are swept into the container  402  and/or drawer  400 , the arm  406  can be moved to direct and/or group the contents to a specific area within the container  402  and/or drawer  400 . The user can then determine the quantity of the item by comparing the measuring markings  404  on the container  402  and/or drawer  400  with the arm  406  location. 
         [0023]    Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention as described and hereinafter claimed is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. It should be understood that the particular embodiments described above are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and various modifications could be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.