Improvements in and relating to Combined Dish-drainer, Bread-board, and Cutting-board.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date claimed for Patent under Sect. 103 of Act,
being date of first Foreign Application (in 16th May, 1893
United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 18th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Combined Dish-drainer,
Bread-board, and Cutting-board.
I, JOHN DIXON JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at 70 Pelham Street, in the City and County of Newport and State of Rhode
Island, one of the United States of America, Architect, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to dish-drainers, and it has for its object to provide a
simple and improved dish drainer, bread-board and cutting-board combined into
one article or device, and which will possess advantages in point of simplicity
and inexpensiveness in construction, convenience and facility in operation, ready
adaptability to different uses, durability, effectiveness, and general efficiency.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention in position for use as a
dish-drainer.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing my invention in position for use as a
bread-board or cutting-board.
•
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken centrally through
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken on the line x-x,
Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken on the line y-y Figure 3,
looking rearwardly.
Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken on the line y-y Figure 3,
looking forwardly.
Figure 7 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken through the outlet end.
Figure 8 is a detail transverse sectional view taken through the surface grooves.
Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same letters of
reference.
Referring to the drawings, A designates the combined. dish-drainer, bread-board
and cutting board, which is preferably moulded or formed of indurated wood fiber
and in one piece with all its general structure integral. The device A is preferably
of rectangular or square shape and of compact, flat form, and comprises a main
body portion or board, B, the top surface of which forms the dish drainer while
the bottom surface forms the bread-board or cutting board. The top surface of
the body B is provided with a transverse series of longitudinal, parallel grooves or
channels, b, forming intervening ridges, 61, all of said grooves running to and inter-
secting a main transverse groove, B¹, extending across the front or outlet end of
the drainer. The grooves b and ridges b¹ are preferably rounded or curved so that
the bottoms of the grooves are concave and the tops of the ridges are convex, and

page_text: •
the bottoms of the grooves 6 are inclined or deepened from the rear end of the
drainer to their intersection with the main transverse groove B' at the front end
of the drainer. The main groove B¹ is deeper than the parallel feeding grooves b
and its bottom is inclined or deepened convergently from the outer ends to a
central point, and is preferably rounded or concave, as shown. The top surface of
the drainer is formed by the ridges b', the top surface being thus level and uniform
throughout its area.
Intersecting the central or lowest point of the main outlet groove or channel B'
is formed an opening, C, leading forwardly to the front end of the drainer, and in
this opening is inserted a corresponding tube C', formed of brass or other metal,
comprising a main portion c, received by the opening C, and an outer portion c¹
projecting a suitable distance from the end of the drainer, a circumferential collar
or flange, being provided upon the tube, which flange rests against the front end
of the drainer and secures the tube in position.
Surrounding the body or board B, is a rim, D, which projects from both the top
and bottom surfaces of the body portion or board B, and forms a rim, as at d,
surrounding the bread board or cutting board and a corresponding rim, as shown
at d', surrounding the drainer surface. The edges of the rim D are preferably
rounded, as shown at d².
The upper surface of the body portion or board B, inclosed by the surrounding
rim p is smooth and level over its entire area, and this under surface (see 6³) forms
the bread or cutting board, the device being simply turned over or reversed when
thus used.
When the device is used as a drainer, the rim d forms a rest or support and
retains the surface 6 of the bread board or cutting board from contact with the
table or shelf upon which the device is placed. In like manner, when the device is
used as a bread-board or cutting board, the rim d' retains the drainer surface from
contact with the table or shelf. The corners of the device A are preferably
rounded or bevelled, as shown at a.
While I prefer to mold or form the complete device of indurated wood fiber in
one piece with all its structural parts integral, whereby a compact, light, and
inexpensive combined article of this class is provided, it is obvious that my
combined device may be formed of papier-maché, wood, or of any other hard or
adapted material of a corresponding quality or nature, and that it may under some
circumstances be constructed in separate pieces suitably secured together.
The advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in
the art, manufactures, and use to which it appertains, and its operation is apparent.
This improved combined device may be manufactured at a minimum cost, owing to
its extreme simplicity, general structure and characteristics, and may be used with
great convenience and facility owing to its extreme lightness, adaptability and
simplicity. None of the operating parts are at any time in contact, during any of
the uses to which the device is applied, with the supporting table or bench, and by
When used as
simply reversing the device it is adapted for a multiplicity of uses.
a drainer, the device may be set upon the sink table, with the outlet tube C¹
projecting over the end of the sink, or it may be used upon a table or shelf
independent of any sink. To provide for this latter use, a flexible tube E of
rubber or other suitable material, is adapted to be inserted over the projecting
end c' of the metallic outlet tube and operate in combination therewith to conduct
the water from the drainer to a bucket or other suitable receptacle located at any
convenient point.
When my improved combined dish drainer, bread board and cutting board is
designed to be used as a drainer, it is set with the corrugated surface exposed. By
simply turning the device over, the smooth surface is exposed and adapted for use
as a bread board in mixing bread, and it will also serve as a cutting board for
cutting the dough into shape, or for other culinary purposes.
In lieu of the transverse series of parallel feeding grooves or channels b, the top
surface may be provided with any suitable arrangement of feeding grooves

page_text: disposed so that they operate to drain into a main transverse groove located at the
front or sink end of the drainer and communicating with an outlet opening leading
to the front of the drainer.- I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting
myself to the precise construction and detail arrangement herein shown and
described, as numerous manifest variations and modifications may be resorted to
without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A combined dish drainer, bread-board and cutting board, consisting of a body
portion provided with grooves or channels in its top surface leading to a transverse
main groove or channel at the front end, an outlet opening intersecting the main
groove or channel and extending forwardly through the front of the body portion, a
smooth and level under surface extending over the area of the body portion, and a
surrounding rim as at D, projecting from both the grooved top surface, as at d¹
and from the smooth and level under surface, as at d, the top surface being adapted
to form the drainer and the under surface the bread board or cutting board,
substantially as set forth.
2. As an improved article of manufacture, a combined dish drainer, bread board,
and cutting board, molded or formed of suitable material, and consisting of a body
portion provided with a grooved or channelled top surface, an outlet opening
intersecting said channelled surface, a smooth imperforate under surface, and a
surrounding rim projecting from both the grooved top surface and the smooth
under surface, the top surface being adapted to form the drainer and the under
surface a bread-board or cutting board.
Dated this 18th day of December 1893.