U.S. patent application number 12/131915 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-28 for stable basting utensil holding container.
Invention is credited to Edward F. SPELLMAN.
Application Number | 20090134055 12/131915 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40668793 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090134055 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SPELLMAN; Edward F. |
May 28, 2009 |
STABLE BASTING UTENSIL HOLDING CONTAINER
Abstract
The invention provides a pair of tongs in combination with a
basting apparatus and an optional sharpened edge that can be used
as a knife for cutting into food to check for degree of cooking.
The invention also provides a container for use as a holder of a
tool, such as a pair of tongs with a basting apparatus, for
applying a spreadable basting material (e.g., sauce) held in the
container. The container provides a stable support of the tool,
such as the pair of tongs, to prevent cross contamination of
working surfaces and basting material on the basting apparatus,
while at the same time providing a holder from which the
tongs/baster efficiently can be retrieved for use.
Inventors: |
SPELLMAN; Edward F.;
(Lakewood, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
D.A. STAUFFER PATENT SERVICES LLC
1006 MONTFORD ROAD
CLEVLAND HTS.
OH
44121-2016
US
|
Family ID: |
40668793 |
Appl. No.: |
12/131915 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60932818 |
Jun 2, 2007 |
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60993454 |
Sep 12, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/553 ;
206/374; 294/118; 99/345 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 21/10 20130101;
A47J 37/106 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/553 ;
294/118; 99/345; 206/374 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A container for use as a holder of a tool for applying a
spreadable basting material held in the container, wherein the tool
has an elongated arm with a front end; the container comprising: a
pot having a bottom and sides extending upwards from the bottom,
the sides having an interior surface, an exterior surface and a top
edge defining an open pot top; and a pot handle having a first
handle end mounted to a side of the pot, and a second handle end
extending the pot handle longitudinally outward at a downward
angle, wherein: the downward extension of the second handle end
terminates at a ground plane defined by the pot bottom, and
wherein: the second handle end is extended longitudinally outward a
distance suitable to provide a substantial longitudinal
anti-tipping stability to the container when the pot bottom and the
second handle end are in contact with the ground plane and the
container removably supports and holds the tool in a manner such
that the tool arm extends longitudinally outward from the pot along
and above the pot handle.
2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a pot bottom shape
that has a dimension in contact with the ground plane suitable to
provide a substantial anti-tipping stability to the container when
it is supporting and holding the tool.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the second handle end is
laterally broadened to provide a wide contact with the ground
plane, the width being suitable to provide a substantial lateral
anti-tipping stability to the container when it is supporting and
holding the tool.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein the second handle end is
shaped to provide a spaced-apart two-point contact with the ground
plane.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a pair of
tongs with a tong end being the front end of the tool, and a tong
arm being the tool arm.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a pair of
long-armed tongs with a tong end being the front end of the tool,
and a tong arm being the tool arm.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a nose
portion at a front end of the tool.
8. The container of claim 7, wherein a portion of a pot side distal
to the attachment point of the pot handle comprises a nose seating
area having a size and shape suitable for removable engagement with
the nose portion of the front end of the tool.
9. The container of claim 8, wherein the nose seating area
comprises an opening in the pot side.
10. The container of claim 1, wherein a portion of a pot side
proximal to the attachment point of the pot handle comprises an
alignment tab having a size and shape suitable for removably
engaging with the tool arm.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein the alignment tab is
contiguous with the pot handle.
12. The container of claim 10, wherein the alignment tab further
comprises a single protrusion extending upward to engage with an
opening in the tool arm.
13. The container of claim 10, wherein the alignment tab further
comprises a single protrusion extending upward and is shaped with a
downward spreading profile to facilitate engaging with an opening
in the tool arm.
14. The container of claim 1, wherein a portion of a pot side
distal to the attachment point of the pot handle comprises a nose
seating area having a size and shape suitable for removably
engaging with a nose portion of a front end of the tool arm, and
wherein a portion of a pot side proximal to the attachment point of
the pot handle comprises an alignment tab having a size and shape
suitable for removably engaging with the arm of the tool.
15. The container of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a
structure for accommodating a tool that is a pair of tongs that
comprises: a first tong arm and a second tong arm connected to each
other in a manner such that the first and second tong arms can move
toward and away from each other, the first and second tong arms
having a first front end and a second front end, respectively,
designed for grasping articles, a basting apparatus mounted to at
least one of the first front end and the second front end, a nose
portion of the first front end having a size and shape suitable for
removable engagement of the nose portion in a nose seating area of
a distal portion of the pot side, and an opening in the first tong
arm of a suitable size and shape for removably engaging with an
alignment tab associated with a proximal portion of the pot side;
and wherein accommodation comprises removably supporting and
holding the pair of tongs substantially stably with a basting
surface of the basting apparatus being positioned over the open pot
top and with the first and second tong arms extending
longitudinally outward from the pot along and above the pot handle;
the accommodation being accomplished by means of engagement of the
nose portion of the first front end in the nose seating area of the
container, and engagement of the opening in the first tong arm with
the alignment tab of the container.
16. The container of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a
structure for accommodating a tool that is a pair of tongs that
comprises: a basting apparatus having an outward extending basting
surface, and a nose portion in a first front end, wherein: the pair
of tongs can be supported substantially stably by the container by
means of engagement of the nose portion of the first front end in
the nose seating area of the container.
17. The container of claim 16, wherein the tong accommodation
structure further comprises positioning the basting surface above
the open top of the container such that excess basting material on
the basting surface can fall into the pot for containment
therein.
18. The container of claim 16, wherein the pair of tongs further
comprises a first tong arm comprising an opening; and wherein: the
pair of tongs can be supported and removably held substantially
stably by the container by means of engagement of the opening in
the first tong arm with the alignment tab of the container along
with the engagement of the nose portion of the first front end in
the nose seating area of the container.
19. The container of claim 16, wherein the pair of tongs are
long-armed tongs.
20. The container of claim 15, wherein the pair of tongs are
long-armed tongs.
21. The container of claim 1, further comprising ergonomic design
characteristics of the pot handle including: a pot handle width and
length selected to comfortably fit in a user's hand; a downward
angle selected to enable a user's wrist, hand, and arm to be
positioned at a non-stressful, ergonomic angle when holding the
container level during use; and optionally a broadened second
handle end having an increased width selected to help prevent the
container from slipping out of the user's hand.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Nos. 60/932,818 (filed Jun. 2, 2007), and
60/993,454 (filed Sep. 12, 2007), both by Edward F. Spellman.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Tongs are a utensil often used in food preparation and/or
serving to handle hot food items, especially during or after
grilling or barbecuing, baking, frying, and the like. Often a
utensil, such as a basting brush, is also used especially during
barbecuing of meats or other items, or for coating and/or glazing
of baked goods, such as rolls, muffins, pastries, and the like, or
of fried goods, such as donuts, egg rolls, shrimp, chicken, and the
like. Other utensils commonly used during food preparation can
include knife-edged utensils for cutting into an item during
cooking to determine if it is cooked to a desired degree.
[0003] Often, such cooking, coating and/or glazing, includes
handling the food items at high temperatures and/or over open
flames, and it is generally desirable to have the required utensils
nearby for convenient and safe use. It is also desirable to
minimize cost, storage space, and inconvenience associated with
cleaning the utensils and cooking area, without compromising
safety. For example, while grilling, the working ends of the
utensils used to manipulate or coat the food items can get
contaminated with grease, sauce and/or marinade. A common method
used to prevent this contamination from being transferred to a
surface used to support the utensils when not in use, such as a
nearby table or a work platform that is part of a grill, or the
like, is to let the contaminated end of the utensil hang down from
or over the side of the support surface. This is an undesirable
solution in that it can open the possibility that the person doing
the grilling, or someone else, could inadvertently brush up against
the contaminated utensil and stain their clothing, or an animal
such as a family pet may wander by and lick the juices from the
utensil, thereby contaminating the utensil.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for utensils or a combination of
utensils that efficiently reduce or eliminate the problems
associated with cooking and/or barbecuing or grilling food items,
and provides a safer and more effective way to prepare hot food
items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to the invention, a pair of tongs is combined with
a basting apparatus and an optional sharpened edge that can be used
as a knife for cutting into food to check for degree of cooking. As
used herein, the term "basting apparatus" is defined as a device
for applying a spreadable material ("basting material") to any
article, and the article is not limited to food products and the
like. The invention further comprises an open top container for use
as a holder of a tool (utensil) that includes a basting apparatus
for applying a basting material that is held in the container. The
spreadable basting material can be liquid, semi-liquid, paste-like,
powdered and the like without limitation.
[0006] Although the invention is described herein in reference to
barbecuing or grilling, other uses for the tools and container
(accessories) are also envisioned. As a non-limiting example, the
inventive accessories can be used for other forms of food
preparation, including handling and spreadably coating baked goods
or fried foods, and the like. The accessories can also be used to
handle and clean or coat hot, toxic, and/or high purity non-food
items such as, but not limited to, computer chips, mirrors, lenses,
biological samples, and the like, without limitation.
[0007] Thus the invention provides a pair of tongs that can be used
as a two-in-one combination of utensils (the pair of tongs and a
basting apparatus) and, optionally, a three-in-one combination of
utensils when the knife edge is included. For example, a long
handled utensil that incorporates the functionality of tongs, a
basting brush or the like, and an optional knife could be the only
utensil needed to safely (cleanly) and efficiently barbecue many
favorite foods.
[0008] The inventive basting material container is intended for use
as a holder of a tool such as, but not limited to, a cooking
utensil such as a pair of tongs or the like, and/or a combination
of tongs with basting apparatus and optional sharpened edge. As
described above, the container can also be used as a holder of a
tool that is used to handle and clean or coat non-food items,
without limitation. Thus the container can also be a combination of
two utensils, for example: a container for a "basting material"
product such as, but not limited to, a marinade, barbecue sauce,
cleaning solution, and the like; in addition to supporting a tool.
Moreover, stable support of the tool on the container can prevent
cross contamination of working surfaces and materials on the tool
by providing a container that supports, for example, a tool such as
a pair of tongs in such a manner that the contaminated tong ends
and/or the basting apparatus are placed over the open top of the
container, while at the same time providing a surface from which
the tongs efficiently can be retrieved for use. Thus working
surfaces are not contaminated by materials (e.g., basting material,
food juices) that are on the tool, and the tool is not contaminated
by objects, people, pets, etc. that could contact the tool's
surfaces and/or materials thereupon.
[0009] In particular, the invention provides a pair of tongs
comprising (a) a first tong arm and a second tong arm connected to
each other in a manner such that the first and second tong arms can
move toward and away from each other, the first and second tong
arms having a first front end and a second front end, respectively,
designed for grasping articles; (b) a first seating portion in the
first front end suitable for mounting of a basting apparatus,
wherein the first seating portion is optionally an opening through
the first front end; (c) an optional basting apparatus comprising a
second seating portion mounted to the first seating portion of the
first front end, wherein the basting apparatus comprises a basting
surface extending outwardly from the first seating portion; (d) an
optional nose portion of the first front end having a size and
shape suitable for removable containment of the nose portion in a
nose seating area of a distal portion of a side of an open
container; and (e) an optional opening in the first tong arm of a
suitable size and shape for removably engaging an alignment tab
associated with a proximal portion of an open container, wherein
the pair of tongs can be supported by the open container by means
of engagement of the nose portion of the first front end in the
nose seating area of the distal portion of the side of the
container and the engagement of the opening in the first tong arm
with the proximal alignment tab of the open container.
[0010] The invention further provides the container for use as a
holder of a tool for applying a basting material held in the
container, the container comprising a structure for accommodating a
tool, such as a pair of tongs, that comprises a basting apparatus
having an exterior basting surface, a nose portion in a first front
end, and a first tong arm comprising an opening, wherein the pair
of tongs can be supported substantially stably by the container by
means of engagement of the nose portion of the first front end in
the distal nose seating area of the container and the engagement of
the opening in the first tong arm with the proximal alignment tab
of the container. The tong accommodation structure of the container
optimally further comprises positioning the basting surface above
the open top of the container such that excess basting material on
the basting surface is containable by the open top portion of the
container. In a simplified embodiment, the tong arm opening and the
alignment tab may be omitted, thereby still enabling support of the
tool, but perhaps not necessarily holding it in place on the
container.
[0011] The invention further provides a convenient mechanism for
stably supporting and removably holding the tool on the container
that both guides the tool into the proper place on the container,
and also secures the tool in place on the container. For example,
the opening in the first tong arm can be spaced apart from the nose
portion such that the nose must be fully engaged in the nose
seating area before the opening in the first tong arm can be fully
engaged with the alignment tab. Then the tool can only be separated
from the container by first lifting the first tong arm from the
alignment tab of the container, and then sliding the tongs outward
along the container handle to disengage the nose portion from the
container.
[0012] The inventive container has features that are uniquely
suited to solve the problem of stabilizing a pot against tipping
over while supportively holding a relatively long handled tool
above it such that one end of the tool is held above an open top of
the container. Thus important aspects of the present invention(s)
lie in the novel combination of container and mating tool features,
which then enable conventional stabilizing/anti-tip engineering
design rules to be applied to determine suitable dimensions,
weights, and material characteristics for the inventive
features.
[0013] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will
become apparent in light of the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Reference will be made in detail to preferred embodiments of
the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawing figures. The figures are intended to be
illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally
described in the context of these preferred embodiments, it should
be understood that it is not intended to limit the spirit and scope
of the invention to these particular embodiments.
[0015] Certain elements in selected ones of the drawings may be
illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The
cross-sectional views, if any, presented herein may be in the form
of "slices", or "near-sighted" cross-sectional views, omitting
certain background lines which would otherwise be visible in a true
cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity.
[0016] The structure, operation, and advantages of the present
preferred embodiment of the invention will become further apparent
upon consideration of the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded isometric view of a pair of
tongs that shows a tong arm having a cutout portion for mounting of
a brush type of basting apparatus, an arm with a knife or sharpened
edge, and a conventional locking mechanism.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the tongs of FIG. 1 with the
basting brush mounted in the cutout portion of the tong arm.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a side view of a brush type of basting apparatus
that has bristles, a central stem and two retention flanges.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side view similar to FIG. 3, but showing an
upper retention flange that has a greater width than a lower
retention flange.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternate basting apparatus that
employs a basting pad in place of a bristle brush.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of a pair of tongs, with or without a
basting apparatus, being used to turn a hotdog that is cooking on a
grate suspended above a bed of hot coals.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a side view of a pair of tongs with a basting
apparatus being used to baste a chicken leg.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a side view of a pair of tongs, with or without a
basting apparatus, being used as a knife to check whether a pork
chop is fully cooked.
[0025] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a pair of tongs that shows a
nose portion for removable mounting in a nose seating area of a
tool-holding container, and an optional opening in a tong arm for
removably engaging an alignment tab on the tool holding
container.
[0026] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the pair of tongs of FIG. 9,
also including a seated basting apparatus.
[0027] FIG. 11 is a side view of a pair of tongs being supported by
a tool holding container, including seating of the tong nose
portion in the nose seating area, and engagement of the tong arm
opening with the container's alignment tab.
[0028] FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a pair of tongs being
supported by the tool holding container.
[0029] FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a pair of tongs, including a
basting apparatus, supported by the container, wherein the basting
apparatus extends exteriorly from the tongs and is directly over an
open top of the container.
[0030] FIG. 14 is a front view of the pair of tongs supported by
the container and illustrates decorative features.
[0031] FIG. 14A is a front view of the pair of tongs with basting
apparatus and illustrates decorative features thereof.
[0032] FIG. 15 is an isometric view of the tool holding container
that illustrates an open pot having an ergonomic anti-tipping
handle, an alignment tab, and a nose seating area for a tool, such
as a pair of tongs, or the like.
[0033] FIG. 16 is a side view of the container of FIG. 15.
[0034] FIG. 17 is a top view of the container of FIGS. 15 and 16
shown stably supporting a long-armed pair of tongs, wherein a
portion of a top tong arm is cut away to reveal an opening in a
bottom tong arm that is removably engaged with the alignment tab on
the container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] In one arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, the invention is
directed toward a pair of tongs 10 having a first tong arm 1 and a
second tong arm 2 connected to each other in a manner such that the
first and second tong arms can move toward and away from each
other. In this aspect, the pair of tongs 10 is considered to be a
conventional pair of tongs. As a non-limiting example, the tongs 10
illustrated in FIG. 1 have a separate first tong arm 1 and second
tong arm 2 that are joined at a hinge pin 4, and further have a
locking mechanism 5, and a torsion spring 6. However, tongs having
any type of conventional locking system are suitable for the
invention. Many other arrangements of locking and non-locking tongs
useful in the invention are well known and can include, but are not
limited to, tong arms that can move relative to each other but do
not have a locking mechanism, scissor-type arrangements of tong
arms that include a hinge pin located in a more central location,
tong arms that are manufactured as one piece and do not include a
locking mechanism, and the like. Although tongs that do not have a
locking mechanism are suitable for the invention, tongs with a
locking mechanism are more suitable when the tongs are to be used
in combination with a support container, as described below.
Moreover, other design features of conventional tongs such as, but
not limited to, heat insulation and/or grip improvement materials
added to either one or both of the tong arms (1, 2), decorative
features on the tong arms and/or their front ends, and the like,
are suitable without departing from the scope of the invention.
Typical conventional tongs designed for high heat use are made of
stainless steel or the like. However, depending on the use of the
tongs, other materials, such as plastics and the like, are
envisioned.
[0036] As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the first tong arm 1 and
the second tong arm 2 of the tongs 10 terminate in a first front
end 7 and a second front end 8 that are opposed to each other and
are designed for grasping articles such as, but not limited to,
food products or the like. According to one aspect of the
invention, the tongs 10 have a seating portion 9 in at least one of
the first or second front ends 7, 8 (illustrated in the first front
end 7), where the seating portion 9 is suitable for mounting of a
basting apparatus 11. The basting apparatus 11 can be, but is not
necessarily, removable from the seating portion 9. The basting
apparatus 11 has a basting surface 12 and a baster seating portion
14 such as a retention arrangement 14 for engaging and mounting the
basting apparatus 11 to the seating portion 9. The retention
arrangement 14 can be, but is not limited to, a retention flange
arrangement described further below. The seating portion 9 can be
an indented or cutout portion on an exterior surface 13 of the
front end 7, 8 or can be an opening through the entire thickness of
the front end 7, 8 as shown. The seating portion 9 has a size and
shape suitable to receive the retention arrangement 14. The
retention arrangement 14 illustrated in FIG. 1, allows the use of
the basting apparatus 11 to baste various items while it is firmly
in place in the front end 7, 8 of the tong arm. In particular, if
the tongs 10 are to be used for barbecuing or grilling foods that
require basting, the arms of the tongs can be long enough to keep
the user's hands away from the high temperatures of the barbecue
while basting and/or turning the foods during cooking. Optionally,
a portion of an outside edge of at least one of the front ends 7, 8
of the first and/or second tong arms 1, 2 can comprise a cutting
edge 25 for cutting food or for cutting into a piece of food to
check for "doneness." The cutting edge 25 can be, as a non-limiting
example, a sharpened or serrated edge section. The cutting edge 25
can be omitted from the front end 8 of tong arm 2 and/or added to
the front end 7 of tong arm 1. The cutting edge 25 can be, for
example, hardened, coated, or flame sprayed with a hard material,
such as tungsten or the like, in order to maintain the sharp edge
for a longer period of time.
[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates a pair of tongs 10 having a basting
apparatus 11 comprising a basting surface 12 extending outwardly
from the front end 7 of the first tong arm 1 and mounted to the
seating portion 9 of the front end by means of the retention
arrangement 14 of the basting apparatus 11. The basting apparatus
11 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 is a basting brush 15 having
bristles 16 arising from a stem portion 17. The basting apparatus
11 can be any overall shape, for example: oval, elliptical, round
or square, without limitation. The basting brush 15 and/or the
bristles 16 are most suitably made of a flexible material such as,
but not limited to, a flexible urethane, silicone, or the like. For
example, the basting brush 15, bristles 16 and retention
arrangement 14 can suitably be molded in one or more pieces (as a
multi-component assembly), such as by compression molding, or the
like. The illustrated retention arrangement 14 is a retention
flange arrangement comprising upper and lower retention flanges 18
and 19, respectively, that encircle and extend laterally from the
stem portion 17. Although the retention flanges 18, 19 can be of
equal size as illustrated in FIG. 3, it is more desirable that one
of them, preferably the upper retention flange 18, be slightly
wider (i.e. extend laterally farther than the other flange), as
illustrated in FIG. 4, to provide a more positive seating of the
basting apparatus 11 in the seating portion 9 of the tongs 10. The
retention flanges 18, 19 can also be, for example, a plurality of
raised bumps rather than a continuous ridge, and the like without
limitation.
[0038] The bristles 16 suitable for use in the basting brush 15 can
be of any conventional size and shape. FIG. 5 illustrates an
alternative basting apparatus 11 that makes use of a pad 20 instead
of bristles 16, but still has a basting surface 12 and a retention
arrangement 14 such as that illustrated in either of FIG. 3 or 4.
The pad 20 can be any conventional non-bristled coating or
application tool such as, for example, a porous sponge, random
arrangement of fibers, soft cloth, etc. Many conventional types of
basting apparatuses 11 can be used in the invention, provided they
have a suitable means for permanent or removable mounting to a one
of the tong arms 1, 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the suitable
mounting means are the retention arrangement 14 for mounting to the
seating portion 9 of the front end 7 of the first tong arm 1. In
other arrangements, the basting apparatus 11 can be fastened to a
tong arm front end 7, 8 with screws, clips, rivets, posts, adhesive
or the like, without limitation. In such cases, the seating portion
9 can be simply a selected but unmodified area on the tong arm
front end 7, 8.
[0039] In a very suitable arrangement, the basting apparatus 11 has
a double-flanged stem 17 such that the lower flange 19 can be
compressed and deflected enough to allow it to be passed through
the seating portion 9 for removable mounting purposes. A basting
apparatus 11 made of a flexible material will allow the user to
mount and remove the basting apparatus 11 from the tongs 10 with
relative ease.
[0040] The tongs 10 and basting apparatus 11 are suitably made of
materials selected to minimize corrosion, resist cooking
temperatures (e.g., 500.degree. F. or more), be compatible with
foods and be dishwasher safe. Many such materials are well known
and commercially available.
[0041] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the tongs 10, with or without
the basting brush 15 and the optional cutting edge 25 according to
FIGS. 1 and 2, being used to turn a hotdog 20 that is cooking on a
grate 21 suspended above a bed of hot coals 22, being used to baste
a similarly suspended chicken leg 23, and being used as a knife to
check whether a similarly suspended pork chop 24 is fully
cooked.
[0042] Although the illustrated uses of the invention concern food
items, it should be understood that the inventive tongs 10 with
basting apparatus 11 can be similarly used for handling non-food
items and cleaning or coating them with a variety of "spreadable
basting materials". The spreadable basting material can be liquid,
semi-liquid, paste-like, powdered and the like without limitation,
edible or not.
[0043] FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate an arrangement of a tool 30
that is, for example, a pair of tongs like tongs 10, but modified
(as detailed hereinbelow) to be suitable for removable attachment
to an open container 40 (best seen in FIG. 15) that can serve as a
substantially stable holding device for the tool 30, with or
without an attached basting apparatus 11. Additionally referring to
FIGS. 12-17, the exemplary tool/tongs 30 has a nose portion 31 of
the first front end 7 of the first tong arm 1 having a size and
shape suitable for removable containment of the nose portion 31 in
a nose seating area 41 (best seen in FIGS. 14 and 15) that can be a
depression in the material of a side of the container 40, or can be
an opening through the side of the container 40. Other arrangements
of the nose seating area 41 are also described below.
[0044] As shown in the figures, the front ends 7, 8 of the pair of
tongs 30 have a scalloped edge and the nose portion 31 can be
either one of the scallops or a forward-extended scallop. However,
the scallop design is not intended to be limiting, as other designs
of the front ends 7, 8 are appropriate and the nose portion 31 may
or may not be an extension thereof. To provide further stability
when the open container 40 is holding a pair of tongs 30, the first
tong arm 1 can further have an opening 32 having a suitable size
and shape for removably engaging an alignment tab 42 associated
with the open container 40, also as further illustrated in FIGS.
11-13.
[0045] FIGS. 12 and 13 are further views, with and without an
attached basting apparatus 11, respectively, illustrating the pair
of tongs 30 supported on the open container 40. In these figures,
the second tong end 8 has an optional decorative feature 43 of two
metal buttons (bumps, dimples and the like) that look like "eyes"
when the tongs 30 are viewed head on, as illustrated in FIG. 14.
Furthermore, when a basting apparatus 11 is in place, particularly
a basting brush, then the optional decorative feature 43 helps make
the tongs 30 resemble a "bearded billy goat," when viewed head on
as illustrated in FIG. 14A. Any type of decorative feature can be
added to increase visual appeal.
[0046] FIG. 15 further illustrates an open container 40 for use as
a holder of a tool (utensil) for applying a spreadable coating
(basting) material that is held in the container 40. Although
throughout this description the container 40 is described as
providing support for a pair of tongs 10, 30, the container 40 can
provide support for any type of tool or utensil 10, 30 having a
nose portion 31 that can be seated in a nose seating area 41
described further below and an optional opening or slot 32 in an
arm of the tool for removably engaging an optional alignment tab 42
of the container 40. In the arrangements described herein, the tool
30 can be a pair of tongs (like tongs 10), or can be a basting
brush with handle (not shown), or any other suitable tool,
especially a cooking utensil. For example, a pair of cooking tongs
30, even without an integral basting apparatus 11, can be
advantageously supported by the inventive utensil-holding container
40 so that food residue on the tongs 30 can fall into the open
container 40 when the tongs 30 are not in use.
[0047] The container 40 has an anti-tipping design that is
especially suitable for stably supporting a long-armed pair of
tongs 30 such as those often used for barbecuing or grilling.
[0048] The container 40 also has an ergonomic pot handle 57 design
that comfortably fits in a hand, and which enables a user's wrist,
hand, and arm to be positioned at a non-stressful, ergonomic angle
when holding the container 40 level during use. A broadened second
handle end 59 advantageously helps prevent the container 40 from
slipping out of the user's hand.
[0049] The container 40 can be fabricated by any means including,
but not limited to, wire forming, stamping, forging, casting,
molding, and the like. Also, a resilient, soft, or insulating
material such as, but not limited to, rubber, foam, felt, cork, and
the like, can optionally be added to the bottom of the container
40. The pot handle 57 and the alignment tab 42 can be formed as a
single piece with the pot 50 or, optionally can be attached to the
pot 50 using rivets, screws, adhesive, welds, or the like, without
limitation.
[0050] FIGS. 15-16 illustrate details of a simple exemplary form of
the container 40 as a pot 50 having a bottom 51 and side(s) 52
extending upwards from the bottom 51; the sides 52 having an
interior surface 53, an exterior surface 54 and top edge 55
defining an open pot top 56. The pot 50 further has a pot handle 57
extending outward from the exterior surface 54 of a side 52, and
having a first handle end 58 mounted to the pot side 52 of the pot
and a second handle end 59 having a width and length and extending
at an outward and downward angle suitable for substantially optimum
ergonomic handling of the pot 50.
[0051] The outward and downward extension of the second handle end
59 terminates at a ground plane 60 defined by the pot bottom 51
such that a handle extension distance from the first handle end 58
to the second handle end 59 is sufficient to provide a
substantially longitudinal anti-tipping stability to the container
40 when the pot bottom 51 and the second handle end 59 are in
contact with the ground plain 60 and, especially, when the
container 40 supports a tool (e.g., tongs 30) that extends outward
from the pot 50 above the pot handle 57. To further facilitate the
substantial anti-tipping stability of the container 40, the pot
bottom 51 can have a shape that has a dimension suitable to provide
anti-tipping stability to the container 40 when in contact with the
ground plane 60. For example, the pot bottom 51 can have a concave
shape (opening downward, not shown). Further, a base ring or feet
(not shown) optionally can be attached to extend outward the area
of contact of the pot bottom 51 with the ground plane 60.
[0052] The second handle end 59 of the pot handle 57 terminates in
a laterally broadened shape sufficient to provide a substantially
lateral anti-tipping stability to the container 40 when the pot
bottom 51 and the second handle end 59 are in contact with the
ground plane 60 and the container supports a tool 30 that extends
outward from the pot 50 above the pot handle 57. In an especially
suitable arrangement, the second handle end 59 is shaped to provide
a spaced-apart two-point contact 71a, 71b with the ground plane
60.
[0053] A portion of the pot side 52 proximal to the attachment
point of the first handle end 58 comprises an alignment tab 42
having a size and shape suitable for removably engaging with the
opening 32 in the arm of the tool (e.g., tong arm 1) described
above. The alignment tab 42 can be, for example contiguous with the
pot handle 57 or a single protrusion extending upward from the pot
handle 57. In other examples, the alignment tab 42 can be attached
to the pot side 52 or to the top edge 55 of the pot or to the pot
handle 57, especially if the pot handle 57 is a single molded
piece. The alignment tab 42 does not have to be laterally centered
on the pot handle 57. It is only necessary that the opening 32 in
the arm 1 of the tool 30 that it supports can be aligned with the
alignment tab 42 when the tool 30 is engaged with the container 40
for removable holding and support. A very suitable arrangement is
for the alignment tab 42 to be attached to, and extend upward from,
the pot side 52 and optionally to be shaped with a downward
spreading profile to facilitate engaging of the opening 32 in the
tool arm 1.
[0054] The portion of a pot side 52 distal to the attachment point
of the pot handle 57 suitably has a nose seating area 41 that can
be a depression or an opening in the material of the pot side 52,
and having a size and shape suitable for removably containing a
nose portion 31 of a front end 8 of an arm 1 of a tool (e.g., pair
of tongs 30) being held/supported by the container 40. In alternate
arrangements, the nose seating area 41 can be, for example, a tab,
post, latch or separate loop attached to, or integral with, the pot
edge 55 or side 52, without limitation. Further, an optional step
or ramp (not shown) can be formed and/or added around or near the
nose seating area 41 to ease insertion of the nose portion 31 of
the tool.
[0055] FIG. 16 is a side view of the container 40 described
hereinabove with reference to FIG. 15. FIG. 17 is a top view of a
tool or utensil such as a pair of tongs 30 while being supported by
the open container 40. When the tool 30 is engaged with the
container 40, the tool 30 is suitably positioned on top of the
container 40 with its front end 7, 8 over the open area 56 of the
container and the handle(s) of the tool 30 (e.g., tong arms 1, 2)
are in registration with the anti-tip pot handle 57 as they extend
outward over the pot handle 57 by (a) inserting the nose portion 31
of the tool into the nose seating area 41 of the container, and
lowering the tool handle (e.g., arm 1) to engage the alignment tab
42 with the opening 32 in the tool handle 1. In a most suitable
arrangement when a combination tool of a pair of tongs including a
basting brush is used, the tongs are positioned such that the
basting apparatus has the basting surface positioned over the open
top of the container and excess basting material contained on the
basting surface is allowed to fall into the container, where it is
contained. Conveniently, the container 40 can be used as a
receptacle (e.g., sauce pot) for containing basting materials
(e.g., barbecue sauce), such that the basting apparatus 11 can be
dipped into the pot 50 to obtain the basting material for coating
items (e.g., sauce for basting food).
[0056] In general, the inventive container 40 has features that are
uniquely suited to solve the problem of stabilizing a pot 50
against tipping over while supportively holding a relatively long
handled tool 30 above it such that one end of the tool 30 is held
above the open top 56 of the container 40, even when the container
40 is empty (i.e., at its lightest weight). Thus important aspects
of the present invention(s) lie in the novel combination of
container 40 and mating tool 30 features, which then enable
conventional stabilizing/anti-tip engineering design rules to be
applied to determine suitable dimensions, weights, and material
characteristics for the inventive features.
[0057] For example, a general engineering rule for preventing
tipping of a structure is to keep the structure's center of gravity
laterally within the bounds of the structure's footprint on the
ground plane. The pot handle 57 is an inventive feature in that it
extends the footprint of the combined container 40 and tool 30
structure in a selected longitudinal direction. In combination, the
container's nose seating area 41 and alignment tab 42 cooperate
with the corresponding inventive features (nose 31 and opening 32
in an arm 1) of a tool (e.g., 30) intended for use with the
container 40 to position the tool arm 1 above the pot handle 57
such that it extends in the same selected longitudinal direction.
When provided these inventive features, it is a routine design task
to determine a pot bottom 51 longitudinal dimension and a pot
handle 57 extension length needed to longitudinally stabilize the
combined structure with a given tool handle 1 length. Similarly, a
pot bottom 51 lateral dimension, and/or a width for the laterally
broadened second handle end 59 can be easily calculated for given
heights and weights of the container 40 and tool 30. (It can be
seen, then, why a locking mechanism is desirable (to reduce the
structure height) when the supported tool is a pair of tongs.)
[0058] Thus the inventive features related to stability include,
but are not limited to, one or more of: the pot handle 57 with the
outward and downward extension of the second handle end 59 that
terminates at the ground plane 60 defined by the pot bottom 51; the
second handle end 59 of the pot handle 57 terminating in a
laterally broadened shape, optionally with a spaced-apart two-point
contact 71a, 71b with the ground plane 60; and the container's nose
seating area 41 and alignment tab 42 with the corresponding nose 31
and opening 32 in an arm 1 of a tool (e.g., 30) intended for use
with the container 40. Other inventive features have been described
hereinabove as well.
[0059] This written description sets forth the best mode of
carrying out the invention(s), and describes the invention so as to
enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the
invention, by presenting examples of the elements recited in the
claims. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples, which may be available either
before or after the application filing date, are intended to be
within the scope of the claims if they have elements that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they have
elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language
of the claims.
* * * * *