GB2618761A

GB2618761A - Roll cutting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2618761A
Application number: GB2202796.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tian Shijie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-02-23
Filing date: 2022-03-01
Publication date: 2023-11-22
Also published as: GB202202796D0

Abstract

A cutting and storage solution 100 for holding and cutting the variety of rolled sheets present in the modern day kitchen comprises a frame 102 having one or more internal dividers 108 forming a plurality of separate chambers in which the rolls can be mounted on protrusions 112, 118, with corresponding windows 106 in a wall of the frame 102 allowing the ends of the rolls to be pulled out. A sliding cutter 116 is disposed on an exterior surface of the apparatus 100 for each of the chambers, which can be used to safely and cleanly cut off a desired length of the roll. One end of the frame 102 is provided with one or more detachable wall elements 110, coupled to the frame by magnets (120, 122 fig. 2), which can be easily removed to change or install new rolls.

Description

Title: Roll Cutting Apparatus Field of Invention.

[1] The present invention relates generally to a cutting apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a housing for holding foil and clingfilm rolls which has integrated sliding cutters.

Background

[2] The average kitchen in the present day is usually equipped with multiple different types of sheet material held on rolls of similar dimensions. This includes, for example, rolls such as clingfilm, foil of different types, baking paper, and absorbent kitchen towels.

[3] Some of these sheets of material, particularly the former three, are difficult for a user to tear cleanly unassisted, and as such their packaging comes with a cutting mechanism. However, given the low budget allocated to packaging, these cutting elements are of poor quality. A user can often cut themselves if the mechanism is made too sharp, or they may not be able to cut the sheet at all if the mechanism is too blunt. Furthermore, in order to keep using these cutting mechanisms a user must keep the rolls separate in their respective packaging, which many users find an unappealing arrangement in terms of both aesthetics and convenience.

[4] There is a need for an apparatus that allows a user to both house and cut multiple rolls in a more appealing and convenient manner. It is within this context that the present invention is provided.

Summary

[5] The present disclosure provides a cutting and storage solution for holding and cutting the variety of rolled sheets present in the modern day kitchen. The apparatus comprises a frame having a plurality of separate chambers in which the rolls can be mounted, with corresponding windows in a wall of the frame allowing the ends of the rolls to be pulled out. A sliding cutter is disposed on an exterior surface of the apparatus for each of the chambers, which can be used to safely and cleanly cut off a desired length of the roll. One end of the frame is provided with one or more detachable wall elements, coupled to the frame by magnets, which can be easily removed to change or install new rolls.

[6] Thus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a cutting apparatus, comprising: a frame in the form of a hollow box having one or more internal dividers positioned so as to divide the internal volume of the frame into two or more separate chambers, a first wall of the frame having two or more windows fitted therein, each window exposing a respective chamber; wherein a second wall of the frame adjacent to the first wall has formed therein one or more openings, each configured to receive one or more corresponding wall elements and each having a plurality of first magnets disposed about the opening edges; wherein an interior surface of a third wall of the frame, adjacent to the first wall and opposite to the second wall, has disposed thereon a first mounting protrusion in each of the two or more chambers.

[7] The cutting apparatus further comprises one or more wall elements dimensioned to cover the one or more openings and having a plurality of corresponding second magnets disposed about the wall element edges and configured to couple with the plurality of first magnets, the one or more wall elements comprising a plurality of corresponding second mounting protrusions; and two or more sliding cutters disposed on an exterior surface of the first wall, each sliding cutter being positioned adjacent to and spanning the length of a respective window.

[8] In some embodiments, the cutting apparatus comprises a separate opening and corresponding separate wall element for each of the two or more chambers.

[9] In some embodiments, the cutting apparatus comprises a single opening and a single wall element each dimensioned to span across the entirety of the two or more chambers.

[10] In some embodiments, the plurality of first magnets are also disposed on portions of the one or more internal dividers proximal to the second wall.

[11] In some embodiments, each chamber is dimensioned to receive and hold a roll of clingfilm, foil, or paper in place between the first mounting protrusions and second mounting protrusions.

[12] In some embodiments, each window is positioned and dimension to allow a roll of clingfilm, foil, or paper held in a corresponding chamber to be unravelled and drawn through the window.

[13] In some embodiments, one or more stoppers are provided on an internal surface of the frame to prevent the wall elements from falling into the internal volume.

[14] In some embodiments, the cutting apparatus comprises a frame with two chambers separated by a single divider and having two corresponding windows and sliding cutters for the two chambers.

[15] In some embodiments, the cutting apparatus comprises a frame with three chambers separated by two dividers and having three corresponding windows and sliding cutters for the three chambers.

[16] In some embodiments, the cutting apparatus comprises a frame with four or more chambers with an equal number of corresponding windows and sliding cutters for the four or more chambers.

1017] In some embodiments, the frame and wall element(s) are formed of wood for a pleasing aesthetic.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[18] Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[19] FIG.1 illustrates an isometric view of a first embodiment of a cutting apparatus according to the present disclosure, having a respective opening and wall element for each chamber, in an assembled state.

[20] FIG.2 illustrates an isometric view of the first embodiment of the cutting apparatus in a disassembled state.

[21] FIG.3 illustrates an isometric view of the first embodiment of the cutting apparatus in an assembled state with a roll of cling film or foil installed in the bottom chamber.

1022] FIG.4 illustrates an isometric view of a second embodiment of a cutting apparatus according to the present disclosure, having a single wall element and opening covering multiple chambers, in an assembled state.

[23] FIG.S illustrates an isometric view of the second embodiment of the cutting apparatus in a disassembled state.

[24] FIG.6 illustrates an isometric view of a third embodiment of the cutting apparatus of the present disclosure having three chambers instead of two.

[25] Common reference numerals are used throughout the figures and the detailed description to indicate like elements. One skilled in the art will readily recognize that the above figures are examples and that other architectures, modes of operation, orders of operation, and elements/functions can be provided and implemented without departing from the characteristics and features of the invention, as set forth in the claims.

Detailed Description and Preferred Embodiment

[26] The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention. The embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the invention, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalent; it is limited only by the claims.

[27] Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

[28] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[29] The apparatus of the present disclosure provides a safer and more convenient mechanism for storing and cutting multiple rolls of sheet material in the same place. The apparatus may vary 4 in terms of the arrangement and number of wall elements, openings, and chambers. Three embodiments are described in the following passages to illustrate this.

[30] Referring to FIGs. 1-3, isometric views of a first embodiment of the cutting apparatus 100 are shown, the first embodiment being structured so as to have a respective opening 106 and wall element 110 for each of two internal chambers. FIG.1 shows the first embodiment in an assembled state, with the wall elements 110 coupled to the openings in the side of the frame 102.

[31] The frame 102 is in the form of a hollow box, with a single internal divider 108 separating the two chambers. Two windows 106 are built into the front wall 104 of the frame, exposing the chambers, and when the detachable wall 110 elements are coupled to the frame 102, the side walls 103 of the chambers have opposing mounting protrusions 118 and 112 on which a roll can be fit. The windows 106 are dimensioned such that sheet material form mounted rolls can be pulled out through them, and then sliced off safely at a desired length using a cutter 114 mounted on a slider 116 disposed on the exterior surface of the front wall 104 below each chamber.

[32] The sliding cutters are a type of safe cutting mechanism which completely cover a blade of a housing 116 disposed on a track 114 to which the housing 116 is slidably coupled. This prevents risk of injury to a user's fingers while providing a completely straight and clean cut to material held over the track.

[33] In the present embodiment, each chamber has a respective opening in the side wall 103 and a respective wall element 110 that fits into it, coupled together by magnets when in place. Referring to FIG.2, the magnets can be seen more clearly. They are positioned so that the magnets 120 of the wall sliders align with and are adjacent to the magnets of the frame 122 when the apparatus is assembled together.

[34] Also visible in FIG.2 are stoppers 124 for each chamber, which may be used to prevent the wall elements form falling too far into the internal volume of the frame.

[35] Referring to FIG.3, a roll is shown mounted to the bottom chamber, with the rolled material sheet being pulled out through window 106 and over the track 114 and being sliced by the blade of housing 116.

[36] As mentioned above, different arrangements of the wall elements and openings in the side wall are possible. Referring to FIGs. 4-5, an alternative embodiment of the disclosed apparatus is 5 shown, wherein a single opening in the side wall of the frame 202 spans multiple chambers, and is covered by a single wall element 210 that has a mounting protrusion 218 on it for each chamber.

[37] As can be seen from FIG.5, the arrangement of wall element magnets 220 and the corresponding arrangement of frame magnets 222 differs in this embodiment, and no stoppers are required to prevent the wall element 210 from falling into the internal volume of the frame 202, since this is prevented by the divider 208 that separates the chambers.

[38] Aside from the differences outlined above, the general function of the second embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment, with the windows 206 formed in the front wall, opposing mounting protrusions 212 on the other side wall, and housings 216 on tracks 214 for cutting the sheet material.

[39] Also noted above is the fact that the apparatus may be extended to form any number of chambers. Referring to FIG.6, an apparatus 300 with a frame 302 forming three separate chambers is shown. Each chamber having a corresponding detachable wall element 310. This is merely another example, and it will be understood that the concept could be extended to frames with four chambers, five chambers, etc. [40] The frame and wall element(s) can be formed of any suitable material, but wood in particular may be used for a pleasing aesthetic.

[41] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[42] The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. While specific configurations of the cutting apparatus have been described in a specific manner referring to the illustrated embodiments, it is understood that the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of solutions which fit within the scope and spirit of the claims. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention.

[043] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is: 1. A cutting apparatus, comprising: a frame in the form of a hollow box having one or more internal dividers positioned so as to divide the internal volume of the frame into two or more separate chambers, a first wall of the frame having two or more windows fitted therein, each window exposing a respective chamber; wherein a second wall of the frame adjacent to the first wall has formed therein one or more openings, each configured to receive one or more corresponding wall elements and each having a plurality of first magnets disposed about the opening edges; wherein an interior surface of a third wall of the frame, adjacent to the first wall and opposite to the second wall, has disposed thereon a first mounting protrusion in each of the two or more chambers; one or more wall elements dimensioned to cover the one or more openings and having a plurality of corresponding second magnets disposed about the wall element edges and configured to couple with the plurality of first magnets, the one or more wall elements comprising a plurality of corresponding second mounting protrusions; and two or more sliding cutters disposed on an exterior surface of the first wall, each sliding cutter being positioned adjacent to and spanning the length of a respective window.
2. A cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting apparatus comprises a separate opening and corresponding separate wall element for each of the two or more chambers.
3. A cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting apparatus comprises a single opening and a single wall element each dimensioned to span across the entirety of the two or more chambers.
4. A cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first magnets are also disposed on portions of the one or more internal dividers proximal to the second wall.
5. A cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each chamber is dimensioned to receive and hold a roll of clingfilm, foil, or paper in place between the first mounting protrusions and second mounting protrusions.
6. A cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each window is positioned and dimension to allow a roll of clingfilm, foil, or paper held in a corresponding chamber to be unravelled and drawn through the window.
7. A cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more stoppers are provided on an internal surface of the frame to prevent the wall elements from falling into the internal volume.
8. A cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting apparatus comprises a frame with two chambers separated by a single divider and having two corresponding windows and sliding cutters for the two chambers.
9. A cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting apparatus comprises a frame with three chambers separated by two dividers and having three corresponding windows and sliding cutters for the three chambers.
10. A cutting apparatus according to claim 1, the cutting apparatus comprises a frame with four or more chambers with an equal number of corresponding windows and sliding cutters for the four or more chambers.
11 A cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame and wall element(s) are formed of wood for a pleasing aesthetic.