Abstract:
A food grater is provided having a grater blade which is removably attached to a base using a latching mechanism to quickly and securely secure the grater blade to the base. The base includes resilient pads thereon to provide for a gripping surface that functions as a handle to easily operate the food grater, including use of a pouring spout formed at an end of the base.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention pertains to a kitchen utensil and in particular a food grater for grating cheese and other foods.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Graters for grating food items such as cheese or chocolate are known to have a removable grater blade attached to a housing. For example, graters are known that have ball shaped engagement lugs formed on the grater blade which are received by projecting ears formed on the housing. Other attachment means are known where the grater blade may slide along channels formed on the housing. Such attachment methods may not maintain the grater blade securely and may allow for movement of the blade during a grating operation. As the grating blade is exposed to many strong grating forces, acting in multiple directions during the grating operation, the securement of the grating blade to the housing in a secure and non-vibrating fashion is important. Therefore, it is desired to provide a latching means which not only securely attaches the grating blade to the housing, but also allows for the grating blade to be easily removed from the housing.  
           [0003]    Other grater devices are known that include additional components attached to the housing that form a handle or other means of grasping the grater. The addition of multiple components, such as a separate handle, adds to the cost and assembly time of such devices. Such graters include housings that may collect the grated food product and enable measurement of such grated product collected in the housing. Graters are also known that have gripping pads attached in order to aid in gripping the grating device. However, there is desired a grater which includes a housing that provides for easy gripping, pouring, grating, and removal of the grater blade.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0004]    The present invention provides for a food grater comprising a grater blade including multiple grating teeth, a detachable base including a food storage cavity having a first end having a spout, a pad attached to the base and a latching member for attaching grater blade to the base, wherein the base may be grasped by a user&#39;s hand so that a user&#39;s finger may grip the pad in order to operate the food grater. In an embodiment, the grater may further comprise a pair of resilient gripping pads attached to the base. In an embodiment, the base may include a pair of sides extending between the first and second ends. In an embodiment, the pair of resilient gripping pads may be attached to the sides adjacent the frame to provide gripping surfaces for the user&#39;s hand or fingers. In an embodiment, the base may include a second end having a flat surface for standing the base upright.  
           [0005]    In an embodiment, the spout may be formed integrally with the first end and is semi-circular in shape. In an embodiment, the latching member may include a tab extending from the frame that may be received by a receptacle formed on the base. In an embodiment, the latching member may include a tab extending from the base that may be received by a receptacle formed on a frame of the grater blade. In an embodiment, the latching member may include a pair of hooks extending from an edge of a frame that may be received by a corresponding aperture formed in the base. In an embodiment, the frame may be formed separate from the blade and may include an opening for receiving the blade therein.  
           [0006]    In an embodiment, the latching member may include a generally U-shaped tab having a proximal end connected to the main body and a distal end having a resilient finger. In an embodiment, a frame is provided that may include a receptacle having a latching rim for receiving the resilient finger. In an embodiment, the latching rim may be flexible so that upon abutment of the resilient finger against the latching rim, the latching rim and resilient finger will flex in opposite directions, allowing the resilient finger to slide past the latching rim so that the finger may orient in a latched position. In an embodiment, the resilient finger may have a nub that protrudes behind the latching rim in order to latch the resilient finger within the receptacle and mount the frame to the base. In an embodiment, a pivotal latching assembly including a hook may protrude from the grater blade and may be received by an aperture at the second end of the base allowing for the pivotal mounting of the grater blade to the base when the hook is received in the aperture. In an embodiment, a latching member may be provided at the first end of the base so that when the frame is pivoted, by the hook received within the aperture, the latching member may engage the grater base and latch the base to the grater blade. In an embodiment, the frame may include measuring indicia for quantifying the volume of food received within the cavity.  
           [0007]    In an embodiment, the frame may be formed of a translucent material. In an embodiment, the frame may be formed of a clear polymer material. In an embodiment, the base may include a hole adjacent the latching member and the grater blade may include a post that may be inserted in the hole when the grater blade is attached to the base. In an embodiment, the post may help to align the grater blade to the base so that the latching member aligns within the receptacle. In an embodiment, the resilient pad may be overmolded onto the base. In an embodiment, the resilient pad may be formed of a thermoplastic elastomer. In an embodiment, the blade may be removably mounted to a frame. In an embodiment, the base may form a handle to the be gripped by a user&#39;s hand in order to operate the grater. In an embodiment, the frame may include an opening and the grater blade is mounted within the opening.  
           [0008]    The present invention further provides for a method of assembling a food grater comprising the steps of providing a base having a latching member at a first end, an aperture at a second end and a resilient pad attached at a side, inserting a hook protruding from a grater blade frame into the aperture, pivoting the grater blade frame to enclose an open side of the base and latching the grater blade frame to the base by engaging the latching member to a receptacle of the grater blade frame. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings an embodiment 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.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of the food grater of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the food grater of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a front end view of the food grater of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a rear end view of the food grater of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the food grater of FIG. 2;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the food grater of FIG. 1; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken at line  7 - 7  in FIG. 2. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    An embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1-7. A food grater  10  is provided having a grater blade  20  having multiple grating teeth  22  formed thereon. In an embodiment the grater blade  20  is stainless steel and the grating teeth  22  are stamped therein and chemically etched. In an embodiment, the grater blade  20  is mounted to a frame  30 . In an embodiment, the frame  30  is formed of zinc and, in an embodiment, is chrome plated. However, in an alternate embodiment the frame  30  and grater blade  20  may be formed as a single grater blade unit. The frame  30  includes a first end  31  and a second end  32 . Formed at the first end  31  is a receptacle  33 . The receptacle  33  includes a latching rim  35  and an edge  37 . The second end  32  of the frame  30  includes a pair of hooks  38 ,  39 . In an embodiment, the hooks  38 ,  39  are L-shaped and are formed of zinc or cast aluminum. The frame  30  includes an opening  34  into which is received the grater blade  20 . In an embodiment the grater blade  20  is attached to the frame  30  by press-fitting the edges of the grater blade  20  within the opening  34 . In an alternate embodiment, the grater blade  20  may also be attached to the frame  30  by snap-locking edges, heat staking, and/or insert molding the grater blade  20  to the frame  30 .  
         [0018]    The frame  30  is removably attached to a base  40 . The base  40  includes a first end  41  and a second end  42 . The first end  41  of the base  40  includes a spout  43 . In an embodiment, the spout is integrally formed with the base  40  and forms a semi-circular shaped opening through which the grated food may be poured. In other embodiments, the spout may be attached to the base  40  and have other shapes. In an embodiment, the base  40  may be formed of a polymer material, for example, clear polycarbonate or ABS. In an embodiment, the spout  43  may be molded as one piece with the rest of the base  40 . The first end  41  of the base  40  also includes a bridge  45 . The bridge  45  is formed between a first lateral side  51  and a second lateral side  52 . In an embodiment, the base  40  forms a generally U-shape, where the lateral sides  51 ,  52  have a curved surface that forms each edge of a back or bottom side  54  of the base  40 . In an embodiment, the back side  54  includes measuring indicia  55 , for example, indicating the volume of food received within the base  40 . For example, measurement markings between ¼ cup and 1 cup and 50 and 250 milliliters may be embossed on the back side  54 . Other marking means may be used to apply the indicia  55  to the base  40 . The preferred embodiment of the base  40  is formed of a translucent or clear material. Thus, as the food item fills the base  40 , it can be viewed through the back side  54  so that the measuring indicia  55  can be used to quantify the volume of food grated into the base  40 .  
         [0019]    In an embodiment, the bridge  45  also forms one edge of an open side  57 . The open side  57  is also formed by each lateral side  51 ,  52  and the second end  42  of the base  40  (see FIG. 1). In an embodiment, the open side  57  receives the frame  30  and grater blade  20  mounted thereon, as will be discussed further below. The bridge  45 , in an embodiment, includes a latching mechanism  60 , which includes a latching member  62  formed generally as a U-shaped tab  64  (see FIG. 7), having a proximal end  66  which is attached to the bridge and a distal end  68  that includes a resilient finger  70  having a nub  72  formed thereon. The distal end  68  of the latching member  62  is located within an aperture  74 . In an embodiment, the latching member  62  is formed of a polymer material which provides for flexibility and resilience of the member  62  so that it may flex laterally within the aperture  74  when latching occurs. In an embodiment, the latching member  62  is molded as one piece with the bridge  45 . Also formed on the bridge  45  is a hole  75 , formed adjacent to the latching mechanism  60 . In an embodiment, the hole  75  receives a post  77  that protrudes from the frame  30 . The post  77  helps to align the frame  30  with the base  40  in order for the latching mechanism  60  to latch with the receptacle  33  of the frame  30 . In an alternate embodiment, the latching member may be on the frame and the receptacle on the base. In a further alternate embodiment, the post may be on the base and the hole on the frame.  
         [0020]    In an embodiment, a bore  80  may be formed adjacent the edge of the spout  43 . In an embodiment, the bore  80  may be used to hang the food grater  10  on a hook or for receiving a string therethrough in order to hang the food grater  10 . In an embodiment, the bore  80  is small enough so that when food is poured through the spout  43 , the bore  80  will not impede the food&#39;s egress.  
         [0021]    The second end  42  of the base  40  is formed as a flat planar surface  79 , in an embodiment. The flat surface  79  will allow for the base  40  to be stood on its end on a support surface (not shown) such as a countertop, so that the food grater  10  need not be held continuously in a user&#39;s hand. The flat surface  79  at the second end  42  has a pair of slots  81 ,  82  formed therein for receiving the hooks  38 ,  39 , respectively therein. In an alternate embodiment, the hooks may be on the base and the slots on the frame.  
         [0022]    Therefore, it may be understood that the lateral sides  51 ,  52 , second end  42  and the back side  54  form a generally four sided container, which forms a food storage cavity  85 . Formed on each lateral side  51 ,  52  is a pad  91 ,  92  respectively. In an embodiment, pads  91 ,  92  respectively extend longitudinally along the majority of the length of lateral sides  51 ,  52  of the base  40 . Each pad  91 ,  92  is formed generally adjacent the open side  57  of the base  40 . In an embodiment, each pad  91 ,  92  is formed of a resilient, flexible material. In an embodiment, the pads  91 ,  92  are attached to the base  40  by overmolding. In an embodiment, each pad is formed of a polymer material, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer. The formation of the base  40 , having a curved back side  54  and having the pads  91 ,  92  on each lateral side  51 ,  52 , respectively, provides for a base  40  which generally forms a handle which may be easily grasped by a user&#39;s hand. For example, if the user is “right-handed” the user will grip the base  40  so that his/her thumb is abutting pad  91  and his/her other fingers abut pad  92 . The food grater  10  may then be easily operated by grating a food item against the grater blade  20 . The base  40  also includes a pad  93  formed at the second end  42  (see FIG. 6). The pad  93  helps to grip a horizontal surface upon which the food grater  10  is placed with the flat surface  79  parallel thereto, so that the grater is upright and the blade  20  is perpendicular to a horizontal surface or counter. Upon scraping of a food item against the blade  20 , the pad  93  will absorb the grating force against the blade  20  and will help to prevent the food grater  10  from sliding on the horizontal surface. In an embodiment, the pad  93  is formed by overmolding thermoplastic elastomer on the second end  42  of the base  40 . In an alternate embodiment, a pad may be formed at an end of the frame  30 , for example at the first end  31 .  
         [0023]    The assembly of the food grater, in an embodiment, is as follows. The frame  30  is provided adjacent to the open side  57  of the base  40 . The frame  30  is tilted so that the hooks  38 ,  39  are moved towards the second end  42  of the base  40 . The hooks  38 ,  39  are moved downward into the open side  57  so that each hook  38 ,  39  is aligned with the slots  81 ,  82 , respectively. The second end  32  of the frame  30  is then slid downward toward the second end  42  of the base  40  so that the hooks  38 ,  39  are received completely within the slots  81 ,  82 , respectively. The frame  30  is then pivoted so that the first end  31  of the frame  30  is rotated downward toward the first end  41  of the base  40 . Upon rotation and pivoting of the frame  30 , the frame  30  and grater blade  20  assembly will enclose the open side  57  of the base  40 .  
         [0024]    As the frame  30  is continued to be rotated, enclosing the open side  57 , the post  77  is received by the hole  75  provided on the bridge  45  of the base  40 . The insertion of the post  77  into the hole  75  helps to align the frame  30  over the open side  57  so that the sides of the frame  30  are aligned with the sides  51 ,  52  of the base  40  and also so that the latching mechanism  60  is aligned to the receptacle  33  of the frame  30 . Latching of the frame  30  to the base  40  occurs by the resilient finger  70  abutting the edge  37  of latching rim  35  of the receptacle  33  (see FIG. 7). The resilient finger  70  is formed as part of the U-shaped tab  64  which is resilient. The latching rim  35  is also formed so that it may flex upward, upon abutment by the resilient finger  70 . As the frame  30  and base  40  are continued to be moved together, the finger  70  slides past the edge  37 , causing both the latching rim  35  and distal end  68  of the U-shaped tab  64  to flex and move away from each other. As the finger  70  is moved up and through the receptacle  33 , the nub  72  of the finger  70  will slide past and engage the edge  37  so that the latching rim  35  may relax and return to its static position, abutting the bridge surface  45 . The distal end  68  of the U-shaped tab  64  will regain its static position so that it is latched above the edge  37  of the latching rim  35  and the nub  72  engages the edge  37  (as shown in FIG. 7). In an embodiment, this latching operation of the nub  72  engaging the edge  37  will provide a “snap” sound, upon the full engagement of the latching member  62  within the receptacle  33 . Although other embodiments may be provided, having other types of latching mechanisms, it is desirable for the latching mechanism to provide secure attachment of the frame  30  and grater blade  20 . For example, the latching member  62  and hooks  38 ,  39  act to securely fasten the frame  30  and grater blade  20  to the base  40 , so that during vigorous grating motions, the frame  30  will not become removed or vibrate improperly during operation of the food grater  10 .  
         [0025]    As well, after the grating operation is completed, the latching mechanism  60  allows for the frame  30  to be easily removed. A user&#39;s finger is placed on the distal end  68  of the U-shaped tab  64  on the resilient finger  70 . By pushing the distal end  68  towards the proximal end  66  so that the nub  72  is moved away from the edge  37 , the latching member  62  is disengaged. Using the same hand that delatches the latching member  62 , the user may grasp the sides of the frame  30  and pull it away from the frame  40 , while the resilient finger  70  is depressed (by the user&#39;s index finger) and orientated within the receptacle  33 . Upon complete removal of the resilient finger  70  from the receptacle  33 , due to the pivoting of the frame  30  and separating the first end  31  of the frame  30  from the first end  41  of the base  40 , the frame  30  may then be completely separated from the base  40  by removing the hooks  38 ,  39  from the slots  81 ,  82 , respectively. This operation of attaching and detaching the frame  30  and grater blade  20  to and from the base  40  is accomplished more easily due to the assembly and construction of the base having the pads  91 ,  92  formed on the lateral sides  51 ,  52  and having the entire back side  54  of the base formed as a handle so that the base  40  is easily grasped while the latching mechanism  60  is operated.  
         [0026]    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.