WO2013112484A1

WO2013112484A1 - Carving block system

Info

Publication number: WO2013112484A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/022582
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stanley Kin Sui Cheng
Original assignee: Meyer Intellectual Properties Ltd.
Priority date: 2012-01-25
Filing date: 2013-01-22
Publication date: 2013-08-01
Also published as: CN203168973U; CN103251334A

Abstract

A carving block system (199) having a series of drain channels (112) formed in the upper surface (111) which drain to a common edge (110a), the lower surface of the common edge being supported above the legs (130) that support the carving block (110). A receiving dish (120) is adapted to be stored under the carving block, between said legs (130). The receiving dish (120) can then be moved so that the opening between the rims (121) thereof is disposed under the common edge (110a) to catch fluid flowing out of the drain channels (112).

Description

Specification for an International (PCT) Patent Application for a :

CARVING BLOCK SYSTEM

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims the benefit of priority to the US Provisional patent application of the same title that was filed on Jan. 25, 2012, having application serial no. 61/590,690, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Background of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to carving boards for cutting foodstuffs, and particularly roasted meats and poultry, or other foods that release liquid on cutting.

[0003] Prior carving devices with depressed surface for catching liquids are known.

Generally, such boards are provided with an upper cutting surface having a looped or circular channel at the edge of the board to catch juices. However, juices tend to puddle before they flow into the channel, and are difficult to capture for separate serving or other kitchen use, such as in stocks or gravies and the like.

[0004] It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide an improved cutting or carving board system that facilitates the capture of liquids released by food when it is cut, and avoid the cut food soaking in the liquid.

[0005] It is another object of the invention to avoid the spilling of the liquid.

[0006] It is a further object of the invention to provide such a cutting or carving board that is easy to clean. It is also an object to provide a receptacle to capture the liquid, and configure the board for convenient stowage of the receptacle when not being used for capture.

Summary of Invention

In the present invention, the first object is achieved by providing carving block system, comprising a substantially planar board having a horizontal upper surface, and a horizontal lower surface on the side of said board opposite the upper surface, in which the upper surface has at least one perforated edge adapted for draining fluid there from, a plurality of legs, each leg having a bottom surface to support the board on a container, each of said legs being attached to said board to raise the lower surface thereof above a counter, a receiving vessel having an upper opening at a rim, being of a lower height than the distance between the bottom of the lower surface and the bottom surface of the legs, a plurality of spaced apart drain channels that extend along the board in the direction orthogonal to the perforated edge, each drain channel sloping downward from the upper surface toward an opening at the perforated edge of the board.

The above and other objects, effects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

[001 0] FIG. 1A is a side elevation of the carving block.

[001 1 ] FIG. IB is a top plan view of the carving block in FIG. 1.

[001 2] FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional elevation of the carving block in FIG. 1 taken at reference line C-C, and also shows in section view the receiving dish.

[001 3] FIG. 2A is a front elevation view of the carving block in FIG. 1.

[001 4] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional elevation of the carving block in FIG. 1 taken at reference line B-B.

[001 5] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of carving block and receiving dish when

positioned to receive draining fluid as in FIG. 1C.

[001 6] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the carving block.

[001 7] FIG. 5 A is a top plan view of another alternative embodiment of the carving block, whereas FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional elevation thereof taken at reference line B-B in FIG. 5 A, and FIG. 5C is a front elevation view of thereof.

Detailed Description

[001 8] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved Carving Block System, generally denominated 100 herein. [001 9] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention carving block system 100 comprises a carving board 110 and a receiving dish 120 adapted to receive juice and drippings released on cutting or carving foodstuffs placed on the upper surface 111 of board 110. The upper surface 111 is raised above a table, counter or other supporting surface 10 by perimeter legs 130. [0020] The legs 130 may in fact extend around the perimeter of the carving board

110, but leave an edge 110a clear for the placement of the receiving dish 120 there under. A series of channels 112 are formed in upper surface 111 to drain liquid away from, preferably into the receiving dish 120. Each channel 112 has a bottom 112a that slopes downward to at least the one edge 110a of the carving board 110. Hence edge 110a may be considered perforated or serrated by the end of channels 112, rather than smooth as the other edges of surface

111. The receiving dish 120 is shallower, that is of lower height, than the legs 130 so that it can be disposed below the ends of the channels 112 to catch fluid that drains from the board surface 111 via channels 112, as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 3. The upper surface 111 preferably has a portion 111a that is not perforated by the drain channels 112. Each drain channel 112 that perforates the otherwise planar surface 111 has a bottom 112a that slopes downward to edge 110a. The drains channels 112 are preferably straight, parallel and equally spaced apart with a generous width for cleaning. As the carving board 110 can be made of different materials or fabrication processes that may present a less dirt retaining, or easier to clean surface, the channels can be narrower than shown, with the same or different spacing. The ratio of the channel spacing to the channel width can vary from 1 : 1 , as may be desired in the board 110 is adapted to prepare a particular foodstuff. The channels may have a rectangular or square cross section as shown in the FIG's. 1-4, or a round, oval or combination of curvilinear and straight cross-sections. Further the channel width and cross section shape can also vary along the length, as may be desirable for decorative reasons or accommodating the characteristic of different foodstuffs. Further, the board 110 may include any sort of projection above surface 111 for the purpose of holding meat while curving. Such projection may be a spike, rail or fork, and may be fixed, retractable or removable. For example, FIG. 5 A and 5C illustrate triangular spikes 119 set between channels 112. Further, one or more channels 112 may be adapted to have a cross-section or other shape to retain, hold or grasp such a retractable or removable projection. Further the channels 112 are not restricted to being straight, but all or any portion of the channels can be curvilinear or a combination of straight and curvilinear as may be desirable for decorative reasons or accommodating the characteristic of different foodstuffs. As a non- limiting example, in FIG. 5A-C, the channels 112 have a V-shaped cross section and are in the shape of elongated trapezoids at the intersection with the board's upper surface 111.

[0021 ] It is also preferable that the legs 113 are not continuous along the other 3

edges of the board 110, but rather has a discontinuity 117 to provide access for the user's hands to grip the edges of the board 110 that are orthogonal to edge 110a.

[0022] It should also be appreciated that receiving dish 120 is sufficiently wide at the rim 121 to span the entire length of the drain channels 112 along edge 110a, as well as being narrow enough to fit between the legs 130 on the drain channel side 110a so the ends of the channels are evenly disposed towed the middle of the dish 120 to collect all of the liquid without spills. More preferably, receiving dish 120 has a corner 121a of rim 121 adapted for the controlled pouring out of the collected liquid, being spout shaped. [0023] The carving board 110 can be made of wood, plastic resin, composites of plastic resin and wood or other organic fibers, as well as laminates of the same. Further, in such composites the drain channels 112 can be a different material than the surface 111 , for example metal or a plastic that is easier to cleaner, whereas the surface 111 is ideally of a material that will not dull metallic knife blades, such as the aforementioned wood and plastic resin.

[0024] While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

[cl] A carving block system, comprising: a) a substantially planar board having a horizontal upper surface, and a horizontal lower surface on the side of said board opposite the upper surface, in which the upper surface has at least one perforated edge adapted for draining fluid there from, b) a plurality of legs, each leg having a bottom surface to support the board on a supporting surface, each of said legs being attached to said board to raise the lower surface thereof above a counter, c) a receiving vessel having an upper opening at a rim, being of a lower height than the distance between the bottom of the lower surface and the bottom surface of the legs, d) a plurality of spaced apart drain channels that extend along the board in the

direction orthogonal to the perforated edge, each drain channel sloping downward from the upper surface toward an opening at the perforated edge of the board.

[c2] The carving block system according to claim 1 wherein said receiving vessel has a rim with a pouring spout.

[c3] The carving block system according to claim 1 wherein said receiving vessel has a side with a first dimension that is shorter than a distance between the legs in the plurality that is on the perforated edge of the planar board.

[c4] The carving block system according to claim 4 wherein the first dimensional is at least as large as the width of the plurality of drain channels along the perforated edge.

[c5] A carving block comprising: a) a substantially planar board having a horizontal upper surface with at least one perforated edge adapted for draining fluid there from, b) a plurality of spaced apart drain channels that extend along the board in the

direction orthogonal to the perforated edge, each drain channel sloping downward from the upper surface toward an opening at the perforated edge of the board

[c6] The carving block according to claim 5 and further comprising a plurality of legs, each leg having a bottom surface to support the board on a supporting surface, each of said legs being attached to said board to raise the lower surface thereof above a counter,

[c7] The carving block according to claim 5 and further comprising a gap between

adjacent legs on at least one side of the board.

[c8] The carving block according to claim 4 and further comprising a means for holding meat while curving.

[c9] The carving block according to claim 5 wherein the spaced apart drain channels are equally spaced part.

[clO] The carving block according to claim 5 wherein the drain channels have a

rectangular cross section.

[cl 1] The carving block according to claim 5 and further comprising a depression

below the horizontal upper surface disposed adjacent to the plurality of spaced apart drain channels.