Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. application No. 62/161,138, filed 13 May 2015 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The field of the invention relates to the culinary arts, specifically food preparation utensils. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    Outdoor cooking has been a popular entertainment and family diversion in the United States since the mid-1940s. Common events, such as family reunions, birthday parties and “tailgating” in stadium parking lots before sporting events, such as college and professional football games, utilize outdoor cooking. An industry has arisen to provide the outdoor cook with the accessories needed to successfully perform the outdoor cooking operation. While cooking outdoors has its advantages, such as the ability to prepare foods in a tasty manner and fostering a sense of community at outdoor parties, there are disadvantages, including the smoke and odors produced by outdoor cooking methods, such as cooking over hot coals or using a smoker. Cooking outdoors often requires the chef to transit back and forth between the outdoor grill and an indoor kitchen; for an average person, this is a mere inconvenience, for individuals with disabilities, this can be prohibitive; While permanent outdoor food preparation structures may be built, these can be prohibitively expensive for the average consumer. Furthermore, food preparation on commonly available surfaces, such as picnic tables, are unsanitary and carry a risk of transmitting foodborne illnesses. 
         [0006]    Therefore there exists a need for an invention which allows for the ease of preparation of food in an outdoor environment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The exemplary embodiment of the present invention addresses a need to aid in the outdoor preparation of food, which allows convenient and sanitary access to individuals to prepare food in an outdoor setting. The invention consists of a table used as a caddy to hold barbecue supplies and utensils. The table was designed to allow the user to utilize the proper equipment/utensils while cooking/barbecuing. The user can chop on the cutting board provided and slide food directly into a mixing bowl for later use. Features included in the table include: a height adjustable leg; a rack/hook to hold utensils; a basin for raw or cooked food; a bottle opener; a bowl; a holder for kitchen towels; a garment or utility hook; a magnet for knives or metal utensils; a paper towel holder and a basket for holding spices and or condiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These and other objects, features, and aspects of the invention will be better understood and more fully described upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention, a utensil for preparing food at an outdoor grill. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a photograph of the underside of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for a food preparation table and adjustable carrier for outdoor grill supplies and utensils. After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. Although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention. 
         [0012]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which detail a preferred embodiment of the invention. The invention consists of a table  101  supported by a height adjustable vertical leg  102 , which is in turn supported by at least three horizontal supports  103 , 104 ,  105 . The table  101  includes several built-in items, including: a basket  112  for holding spices and/or condiments, a rack/hooks  107  to hold utensils, pan  108 , cutting board  109 , paper towel holder  201 , a magnet  202  for knives or metal utensils, D ring wall mount metal towel holder  111 , a bottle opener  2013  and bowl  110 . 
         [0013]    The table  101  is used as a caddy to hold barbecue supplies and utensils. The table  101  is designed to allow the user to utilize an ease of use for equipment/utensils while cooking/barbecuing. In the preferred embodiment, the tabletop surface dimensions are 18″ width×38″ length×1.125″ thick and constructed of laminated pine and Hard Rock Maple. The table  101  offers 4.5 ft 2  of prep space, it allows the user to put buns, bread, plates or anything else a person ordinarily uses during the grill session. There is a recessed area on the top surface of the table to allow an 8×11 to 10×14 inch cutting board to be recessed and flush with the surface. The cutting board  109 , made of wood, plastic, metal, and/or polycarbonate, allows the user to cut meat, fish, poultry etc. on the table. The user can chop on the cutting board provided and slide food directly into a bowl  110  for later use. 
         [0014]    On either side of the table  101 , are metal brackets used to hold a removable spice basket  112 . This basket  112  is designed to hold spices used for seasoning meat or condiments such as ketchup and mustard. The basket  112  is removable so that the user can fill it up with all the spices/condiments that they will need at a kitchen or other remote and/or remote location and set it on table-side mounted brackets keeping the tabletop free and open for other items. 
         [0015]    A first set of rails  203  are attached under the table and to hold a 2 quart or 3 quart mixing bowl  110  that the bowl can either be stowed under the table or slide out for food to be slid/pushed directly from the cutting surface into the mixing bowl. The runners  203  may be constructed of wood, metal or plastic. 
         [0016]    The paper towel holder  201  features built-in spring tension to hold paper towels securely to the table and allows the user to have paper towels at their disposal. It is fastened on the underside of the table normally next to the spice basket. 
         [0017]    Utility hooks  107  installed on the back underside of the table so the user can hang grill utensils such as tongs, forks, grill brush etc. This allows the user to keep all the necessary tools exactly where they are being used. 
         [0018]    A metal magnet  202  is positioned under the table along the long-side, underside of the table, so that the user can cut or chop on the cutting board and then quickly secure the knife to the magnet, keeping the tabletop free of dangerous sharp objects and removing the chance of the knife being knocked off the table and injuring someone&#39;s foot. 
         [0019]    Positioned behind the bottle opener  205 , is a D ring wall mount metal towel holder  111 , designed to allow the user to have a kitchen towel on hand for various uses. 
         [0020]    Positioned next to the towel holder  201 , under the table, is a second set of runners  204  designed to hold a metal basin for food (steam table pans, baking pans). The second set of runners  204  are placed to support a pan  108 . The runners  204  may be constructed of wood, metal or plastic. The pan  108  may be used for various functions such as marinating meat, transferring food from the kitchen, storing food under the table and keeping it warm until it&#39;s time to take it inside. 
         [0021]    Next to the runners  203 , is a wall mount bottle opener  205 . This is in place for user convenience, so that one has the ability to open beverages at the grill site and reduces trips to the kitchen or bring an extra utensil, which may be lost. 
         [0022]    Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.

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