U.S. patent application number 12/025882 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-21 for bowl and basket assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kwok Kuen SO. Invention is credited to Kwok Kuen SO, Yiu Chung Abel WAN.
Application Number | 20080197046 12/025882 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38317936 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080197046 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SO; Kwok Kuen ; et
al. |
August 21, 2008 |
BOWL AND BASKET ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A bowl and basket assembly is disclosed as including a
perforated basket, and a bowl for supporting the basket, the basket
including two annular wall parts and a bottom part which are
engaged with each other, and the bowl including two annular wall
parts and a bottom part which are engaged with each other. A bowl
and basket assembly kit is also disclosed as including two annular
wall parts and a bottom part which are engageable with each other
to form a perforated basket, and two annular wall parts and a
bottom part which are engageable with each other to form a bowl for
supporting the basket.
Inventors: |
SO; Kwok Kuen; (Hong Kong,
CN) ; WAN; Yiu Chung Abel; (Tsuen Wan, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAM J. SAPONE;COLEMAN SUDOL SAPONE P.C.
714 COLORADO AVENUE
BRIDGE PORT
CT
06605
US
|
Assignee: |
SO; Kwok Kuen
Kowloon
HK
|
Family ID: |
38317936 |
Appl. No.: |
12/025882 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/541 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 43/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/541 |
International
Class: |
A45C 11/20 20060101
A45C011/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 15, 2007 |
EP |
07250643.9 |
Claims
1. A bowl and basket assembly kit for holding foodstuffs including:
at least two body members which are engageable with each other to
form a perforated basket; and at least two body members which are
engageable with each other to form a bowl for supporting said
basket, wherein said at least two body members of said basket
include at least an annular wall member and a bottom member, and
wherein said at least two body members of said bowl include at
least an annular wall member and a bottom member.
2. A bowl and basket assembly kit according to claim 1 wherein that
said body members of said basket are snappingly engageable with
each other.
3. A bowl and basket assembly kit according to claim 1 wherein said
body members of said bowl are snappingly engageable with each
other.
4. A bowl and basket assembly kit according to claim 1 wherein one
of said body members of said basket includes at least one resilient
hook member snappingly engageable with a recess portion of the
other of said body members of said basket.
5. A bowl and basket assembly kit according to claim 1 wherein one
of said body members of said bowl includes at least one protrusion
engageable with a recess portion of the other of said body members
of said bowl.
6. A bowl and basket assembly kit according to claim 1 wherein said
body members of said bowl are sealingly engageable with each
other.
7. A bowl and basket assembly kit according to claim 6 wherein at
least one of said body members of said bowl carries a sealing
ring.
8. A bowl and basket assembly for holding foodstuffs including at
least two body members which are engaged with each other to form a
perforated basket; and at least two body members which are engaged
with each other to form a bowl for supporting said basket, wherein
said at least two body members of said basket include at least an
annular wall member and a bottom member, and wherein said at least
two body members of said bowl include at least an annular wall
member and a bottom member.
9. A bowl and basket assembly according to claim 8 wherein said
body members of said basket are snappingly engaged with each
other.
10. A bowl and basket assembly according to claim 8 wherein said
body members of said bowl are snappingly engaged with each
other.
11. A bowl and basket assembly according to claim 8 wherein one of
said body members of said basket includes at least one resilient
hook member snappingly engaged with a recess portion of the other
of said body members of said basket.
12. A bowl and basket assembly according to claim 8 wherein one of
said body members of said bowl includes at least one protrusion
engaged with a recess portion of the other of said body members of
said bowl.
13. A bowl and basket assembly according to claim 8 wherein said
body members of said bowl are sealingly engaged with each
other.
14. A bowl and basket assembly according to claim 13 wherein at
least one sealing ring is positioned between said body members of
said bowl.
15. A bowl and basket assembly kit according to claim 2 wherein
said body members of said bowl are snappingly engageable with each
other.
16. A bowl and basket assembly kit according to claim 2 wherein one
of said body members of said basket includes at least one resilient
hook member snappingly engageable with a recess portion of the
other of said body members of said basket.
17. A bowl and basket assembly kit according to claim 2 wherein one
of said body members of said bowl includes at least one protrusion
engageable with a recess portion of the other of said body members
of said bowl.
18. A bowl and basket assembly kit according to claim 2 wherein
said body members of said bowl are sealingly engageable with each
other.
19. A bowl and basket assembly according to claim 9 wherein said
body members of said bowl are snappingly engaged with each
other.
20. A bowl and basket assembly according to claim 9 wherein one of
said body members of said basket includes at least one resilient
hook member snappingly engaged with a recess portion of the other
of said body members of said basket.
21. A bowl and basket assembly according to claim 9 wherein one of
said body members of said bowl includes at least one protrusion
engaged with a recess portion of the other of said body members of
said bowl.
22. A bowl and basket assembly according to claim 9 wherein said
body members of said bowl are sealingly engaged with each other.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a bowl and basket assembly, such
as a salad bowl and basket assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0002] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional salad bowl and basket
assembly, generally designated as 10, includes at an outer bowl 12
and an inner perforated basket 14 for holding foodstuffs, e.g.
vegetables. The basket 14 is receivable within the outer bowl 12,
for draining purpose. This assembly may also form part of a salad
spinner in which the basket 14 is rotatable relative to the outer
bowl 12 about a common longitudinal axis L-L. During the rotational
movement, the foodstuffs held by the basket 14 is dried as water
attached to it is spun off and collected by the outer bowl 12. A
cover may be provided for covering the bowl 12 and the basket 14.
In some other conventional salad spinners, mechanisms are provided
for driving the basket to rotate relative to the bowl to dry the
foodstuffs held by the basket.
[0003] As can be seen in FIG. 2, when the salad bowl and basket
assembly 10 is packaged, for example, for transport, it occupies a
space with a height Y which is no less than the height of the outer
bowl 12. However, the assembly 10 so packaged has an empty space 16
which is not utilized.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,463 discloses a salad spinner and mixer
made from two substantially identical transparent bowls that can be
joined together at their rims to define a chamber; two
substantially identical colanders that can be joined together at
their rims and received within the chamber; and a bifurcated base
that has a spindle on each of two parallel upstanding portions.
When the spindles are received within dimples on the bottoms of the
bowls, the bowl and colander assembly can be spun about an axis
defined by the spindles to remove water from the salad ingredients.
The bowl assembly, used without the colanders, can also be use to
mix salad dressing with salad ingredients. The resultant salad can
be served in one of the bowls. Moreover, the bifurcated base can
serve as a napkin holder.
[0005] EP 1348 369 Al discloses a colander with reduced dimensions
comprising a casing in the form of a spherical bowl, the lower part
of which is provided with a series of small through holes designed
for drainage. The colander includes a first casing in the form of a
spherical bowl and a second casing in the form of a spherical
segment with two bases, an upper circular rim of the spherical bowl
of said first casing being connected in correspondence with a lower
base of the spherical segment with two bases of the second casing
by removable fixing means between the first and second casings.
[0006] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a
bowl and basket assembly and a bowl and basket assembly kit in
which the aforesaid shortcoming is mitigated, or at least to
provide a useful alternative to the public.
[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a bowl and basket assembly kit for holding foodstuffs
including at least two body members which are engageable with each
other to form a perforated basket; and at least two body members
which are engageable with each other to form a bowl for supporting
said basket, characterized in that said at least two body members
of said basket include at least an annular wall member and a bottom
member, and said at least two body members of said bowl include at
least an annular wall member and a bottom member.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a bowl and basket assembly for holding foodstuffs
including at least two body members which are engaged with each
other to form a perforated basket; and at least two body members
which are engaged with each other to form a bowl for supporting
said basket, characterized in that said at least two body members
of said basket include at least an annular wall member and a bottom
member, and said at least two body members of said bowl include at
least an annular wall member and a bottom member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional salad bowl and
basket assembly;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows the way in which the conventional salad bowl
and basket assembly of FIG. 1 is packaged;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the basic idea of the
present invention as applied to an outer bowl of a bowl and basket
assembly;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an outer bowl of a bowl and
basket assembly according to the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the basic idea of the
present invention as applied to an inner basket of a bowl and
basket assembly;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an inner basket of a bowl and
basket assembly according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the parts forming a bowl and
basket assembly according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the
parts forming the bowl and basket assembly according to the present
invention are arranged when packaged;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in
FIG. 8;
[0019] FIG. 10 show sectional views of the packaging in FIG. 2 and
FIG. 9 for comparison purpose;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a partial sectional perspective view of the
basket shown in FIG. 6;
[0021] FIG. 12A is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked A
in FIG. 11;
[0022] FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked B
in FIG. 11;
[0023] FIG. 12C is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked C
in FIG. 11;
[0024] FIG. 12D is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked
Din FIG. 11;
[0025] FIG. 13 is a partial sectional perspective view of the bowl
shown in FIG. 4;
[0026] FIG. 14A is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked E
in FIG. 13;
[0027] FIG. 14B is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked F
in FIG. 13;
[0028] FIG. 14C is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked G
in FIG. 13;
[0029] FIG. 14D is an enlarged view of the encircled part marked H
in FIG. 13;
[0030] FIG. 15 is a side view of an assembled basket of the bowl
and basket assembly according to the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 16 is a side view of an assembled bowl of the bowl and
basket assembly according to the present invention; and
[0032] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the basket of FIG. 15
and the bowl of FIG. 16 assembled with each other.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] As can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 6, the basic idea of the
present invention is that, instead of integrally forming a basket
and a bowl, each of the basket and the bowl is formed of a number
of parts which are engageable with each other. As shown in FIG. 4,
an open-top bowl 102 of a bowl and basket assembly of the present
invention is formed of two annular wall parts 102a, 102b and a
bottom part 102c. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6, an open-top
perforated basket 104 of a bowl and basket assembly of the present
invention is formed of two annular perforated wall parts 104a, 104b
and a perforated bottom part 104c.
[0034] With such an arrangement, and as can be seen in FIGS. 7 to
9, the annular wall parts 102a, 102b, bottom part 102c, annular
perforated wall parts 104a, 104b and perforated bottom part 104c
can be arranged concentrically in the following order (as counted
from the outermost layer): the annular wall part 102a, the annular
perforated wall part 104a, the annular wall part 102b, the annular
perforated wall part 104b, the bottom part 102c, and the perforated
bottom part 104c. An upwardly extending protrusion 106 of the
bottom part 102c is received within a recess 108 of a lower surface
of the perforated bottom part 104c for supporting the perforated
bottom part 104c.
[0035] It can be seen that the height X occupied by the packaged
bowl and basket assembly kit 110 shown in FIG. 9 is only slightly
larger than the height of the annular wall part 102a. As can be
seen more clearly in FIG. 10, the height Y (see FIG. 2 above) is
significantly larger than the height X. It is found in practice
that the volume occupied by the packaged bowl and basket assembly
kit 110 according to the present invention is at least 40% less
than that occupied by the conventional package as shown in FIG. 2.
This will also mean that more bowl and basket assembly may be
transported in the same containers, thus reducing the
transportation cost.
[0036] FIGS. 11 to 12D show the structure of the annular perforated
wall parts 104a, 104b and perforated bottom part 104c which allow
these parts to be releasably engaged with each other. In FIG. 11,
the annular perforated wall parts 104a, 104b are shown as being
detached from each other, and the annular perforated wall part 104b
and the perforated bottom part 104c are shown as being engaged with
each other.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12C, a lower rim of the wall part
104a is provided with a recess 112 around the outer surface of the
wall part 104a for receiving a complementarily shaped and sized
male portion 114 along an upper rim of the wall part 104b. Along
the upper rim of the wall part 104b are provided four resilient
hooks 116 which are integrally formed with the wall part 104b.
Along the lower rim of the wall part 104a are provided four shaped
recesses 118 each for engagement with one of the hooks 116.
[0038] When the wall part 104b is moved upwardly relatively to the
wall part 104a, the hooks 116 are snap fitted with the respective
recess 118, in the manner as shown in FIG. 12B, to fixedly engage
the wall parts 104a, 104b with each other. When the wall parts
104a, 104b are so engaged, the recess 112 and the male portion 114
are engaged with each other in the manner as shown in FIGS. 12D.
The wall part 104b and the bottom part 104c are releasably
engageable with each other in the same manner.
[0039] If necessary, the hook 116 may be acted on by a force in the
direction indicated by the arrow K in FIG. 12B to pivot outwardly
so as to disengage the hook 116 from the respective recess 118.
When all the hooks 116 are thus disengaged from the recesses 118,
the wall parts 104a, 104b may be disengaged from each other, or the
wall part 104b and the bottom part 104c may be disengaged from each
other.
[0040] FIGS. 13 to 14D show the structure of the annular wall parts
102a, 102b and the bottom part 102c which allow these parts to be
engaged with each other. In FIG. 13, the annular wall parts 102a,
102b are shown as being detached from each other, and the annular
wall part 102b and the bottom part 102c are shown as being engaged
with each other.
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14C, a lower rim of the wall part
102a is provided with a male portion 120 around the outer surface
of the wall part 102a, to be received within a complementarily
shaped and sized recess 122 along an upper rim of the wall part
102b. Along the lower rim of the wall part 102a are provided four
resilient extensions 124 which are integrally formed with the wall
part 102a. Along the upper rim of the wall part 102b are provided
four shaped recesses 126 each for engagement with one of the
extensions 124.
[0042] When the wall part 102b is moved upwardly relatively to the
wall part 102a, the extensions 124 are snap fitted with the
respective recess 126, in the manner as shown in FIG. 14B, to
fixedly engage the wall parts 102a, 102b with each other. When the
wall parts 102a, 102b are so engaged with each other, the recess
122 and the male portion 120 are engaged with each other in the
manner as shown in FIGS. 14D. The wall part 102b and the bottom
part 102c are engageable with each other in the same manner.
[0043] It can also be seen that along the outer surface of the wall
part 102a and adjacent its lower rim is a resilient O-ring 128,
which may be made of silicon rubber, to ensure that the engagement
between the wall part 102a and the wall part 102b is sealed.
Similarly, an O-ring is also carried by the wall part 102b for
achieving sealed engagement with the bottom part 102c.
[0044] FIG. 15 shows the inner basket 104 as assembled, and FIG. 16
shows the outer bowl 102 as assembled. The basket 104 and the bowl
102 may be assembled with each other to form a bowl and basket
assembly according to the present invention, and generally
designated as 130 in FIG. 17. The basket 104 may be supported by
the bowl 102 for draining, and for relative rotational movement
about a common longitudinal axis if the bowl and basket assembly
130 is employed in a salad spinner.
[0045] It should be understood that the above only illustrates an
example whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that
various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention. It should be
understood that various features of the invention which are, for
brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also
be provided separately or in any appropriate sub- combinations.
* * * * *