U.S. patent application number 12/760710 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-04 for combined tray and bowl system for food preparation sink.
Invention is credited to Niels J. Eilmus, Jason R. Miller.
Application Number | 20100275369 12/760710 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43029274 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100275369 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eilmus; Niels J. ; et
al. |
November 4, 2010 |
Combined Tray And Bowl System For Food Preparation Sink
Abstract
A food preparation system is disclosed. It has a sink with an
upper rim, a carry tray slideable along the rim regardless of
whether inverted or not, the carry tray having a carry cavity on an
upper side and a cutting board surface on a bottom side, and at
least one bowl capable of being oriented in the carry cavity in
either of two inverse orientations. The bowl has a first upward
facing compartment defining a first volume for larger items, and a
second downward facing compartment defining a second volume for
smaller items. The system provides, in a compact way, cutting
board, carry tray, and customized bowl storage capability adjacent
a food preparation sink. Specialize bowls for use therewith are
also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Eilmus; Niels J.;
(Sheboygan, WI) ; Miller; Jason R.; (Sheboygan
Falls, WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUARLES & BRADY LLP
411 E. WISCONSIN AVENUE, SUITE 2040
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202-4497
US
|
Family ID: |
43029274 |
Appl. No.: |
12/760710 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61173678 |
Apr 29, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/631 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 47/20 20130101;
A47J 47/005 20130101; E03C 1/186 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/631 |
International
Class: |
E03C 1/18 20060101
E03C001/18 |
Claims
1. A food preparation system, comprising: a sink having an upper
rim; a carry tray slideable along the rim, the carry tray having a
carry cavity on an upper side and a cutting board surface on a
bottom side; and a bowl capable of being oriented in the carry
cavity in two inverse orientations, the bowl comprising: a first
upward facing compartment defining a first volume; and a second
downward facing compartment defining a second volume, wherein the
second volume is less than the first volume.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second volume is at least
one-fifth of the first volume.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein there are at least four such
bowls positioned in the carry cavity.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein if the sink is mounted to a
countertop and the tray is positioned on the rim with the cutting
board surface up, the cutting board surface will be essentially
flush with an upper surface of the countertop.
5. A flipable culinary bowl, comprising: a first upwardly open
compartment defining a first volume; a second downwardly open
compartment under the first volume; wherein a top edge of the first
compartment can form a support pedestal when the bowl is inverted
while food is positioned in the second volume; wherein a bottom
edge of the second compartment can form another support pedestal
when the bowl is not inverted while food is positioned in the first
volume; and wherein the second volume is less than the first volume
and at least one-fifth of the first volume.
6. The bowl of claim 5, wherein: the first compartment defines a
first perimeter that is essentially square; and the second
compartment defines a second perimeter that is essentially
square.
7. The flipable culinary bowl of claim 5, wherein: the top edge
defines a first perimeter; the bottom edge defines a second
perimeter; and the second perimeter is encompassed within the first
perimeter in plan view.
8. The flipable culinary bowl of claim 5, wherein the first and
second compartments share a common wall.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority based on U.S. provisional
application 61/173,678 filed Apr. 29, 2009. STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY
SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to kitchen sinks used for food
preparation. More particularly it relates to multi-functional
tray/bowl system for use therewith.
[0004] Various bowls have been used to prepare, deliver, and
present food items. For example, a bowl is often used to store a
food item prior to or during preparation. Once the food item is at
least partially prepared (e.g. washed, diced, sliced, portioned,
etc.) it is then often transferred to a pan for cooking, or to a
more aesthetically pleasing bowl.
[0005] It is often beneficial to prepare food items near a kitchen
sink such that the food items can be cleaned as necessary, and food
waste and drippings can be more easily disposed of via a
conventional drain/garbage disposal. However, counter space
conveniently located near a kitchen sink basin is often very
limited, thus requiring frequent reorganization of various cooking
utensils and accessories, and/or removal thereof during the
preparation process.
[0006] Trays have been used to carry food and other items to and
from the sink area, and cutting boards have been provided near or
removably on a sink to provide a place for cutting food that won't
mark exposed surfaces of the countertop or sink. Again, this can
take up scarce counter space near the sink.
[0007] In view of the above, a need exists for improved systems for
more compactly positioning storage bowls, a carry tray, and a
cutting board adjacent a food preparation sink.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In one aspect the invention provides a food preparation
system. It has a sink with an upper rim, a carry tray slideable
along the rim (the carry tray having a carry cavity on an upper
side and a cutting board surface on a bottom side), and a bowl
capable of being oriented in the carry cavity in two inverse
orientations.
[0009] The bowl has a first upward facing compartment defining a
first volume and a second downward facing compartment defining a
second volume. Thus, the first volume could be used to store larger
items such as cubed meat and the second could be used to store
smaller items such as seasoning.
[0010] Preferably there are at least four such bowls positioned in
the carry cavity so that a customized storage array can be created
for each meal. Also, if the sink is mounted to a countertop (e.g.
an undercounter mounted installation) and the tray is positioned on
the rim with the cutting board surface up, the cutting board
surface can be essentially flush with an upper surface of the
countertop.
[0011] In another aspect the invention provides a flipable culinary
bowl. It has a first upwardly open compartment defining a first
volume, and a second downwardly open compartment under the first
volume. A top edge of the first compartment can form a support
pedestal when the bowl is inverted while food is positioned in the
second volume, and a bottom edge of the second compartment can form
another support pedestal when the bowl is not inverted while food
is positioned in the first volume. The second volume is preferably
less than the first volume and at least one-fifth of the first
volume.
[0012] In refinements, the first compartment defines a first
perimeter that is essentially square, the second compartment
defines a second perimeter that is essentially square, the top edge
defines a first perimeter, the bottom edge defines a second
perimeter, and the second perimeter is encompassed within the first
perimeter in plan view. The first and second compartments may also
share a common wall.
[0013] The flipable culinary bowls and tray may be made of a
variety of materials. Polypropylene is preferred for the tray, and
ceramics are preferred for the bowls.
[0014] Hence, a single accessory functions as both a carry tray and
a cutting board that can be flush with the adjacent counter top
when desired. Further, it compactly organizes an array of
customizable bowls. This is a low cost way to preserve scarce space
adjacent a food preparation sink.
[0015] These and still other advantages will be apparent from the
detailed description and drawings. What follows is merely a
preferred example embodiment. The claims should therefore be
referenced to assess the full scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front left perspective view of a food
preparation system of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the FIG. 1 tray
inverted to form a cutting board;
[0018] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a FIG. 1 bowl;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and
[0020] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the tray in its
upright position and holding five bowls.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] A flipable culinary bowl 10 and a flipable culinary tray 12
are shown in FIG. 1. The flipable culinary bowl 10 and the flipable
culinary tray 12 are "flipable" because each is configured to
included two functional inverted orientations.
[0022] A sink 14 is mounted beneath a counter top 16 and includes a
ledge/rim 18 upon which the flipable culinary tray 12 is configured
to slide and rest. A conventional faucet 15 is mounted to the
counter top 16 to selectively direct water into the basin 14.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the ledge 18 is located at a depth 20
beneath the work surface 16 such that, when seated, the flipable
culinary tray 12 is substantially flush with the counter top's
upper surface regardless of the orientation. The ledge 18 is shown
protruding from the back wall 19 and integral with the front wall
21 of the basin 14 (shown in FIG. 2). A variety of basin shapes 14
(e.g., rectangular, oval, circular, etc.) and ledge 18
configurations (e.g., integral, coupled, continuous, level,
sloping, etc.) can be applied.
[0024] With additional reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the flipable
culinary tray 12 includes a first side 24 (best shown in FIG. 1)
and a second side 26 (best shown in FIG. 2) that is offset from the
first side 24 (defining a thickness 28). A cavity 30 is generally
defined by the first side 24 and includes a rim edge 32. The rim 32
of the example embodiment is substantially uniform about a
perimeter 34 of the cavity 30. One function of the first side 24 is
to carry the flipable culinary bowls 10 and other items generally
within the cavity 30.
[0025] The second side 26 generally defines a surface 36 which, as
shown in the example embodiment, may be a generally flat surface.
The surface 36 may function as a cutting surface during preparation
of the food items.
[0026] The flipable culinary tray 12 is sized such that the
flipable culinary tray 12 may be inverted (i.e., oriented such that
either the first side 24 or the second side 26 may be engaged with
the ledge 18) and yet remain substantially flush with the counter
top 16. With specific reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, when the surface
36 of the second side 26 is engaged with the ledge 18, the rim 32
of the first side 24 is substantially flush with the counter top
16. Similarly, with specific reference to FIG. 2, flipping the
flipable culinary tray 12 such that the rim 32 of the first side 24
engages the ledge 18 positions the second side 26 substantially
flush with the counter top 16, thus providing additional surface
areas for food preparation.
[0027] Returning to FIGS. 1 and 5, and with additional reference to
FIGS. 3 and 4, the flipable culinary bowl 10 is shown oriented in
two inverse orientations. The example flipable culinary bowl 10
includes a first compartment 38 that defines a first volume 40 and
has a first opening 42. Similarly, a second compartment 44 defines
a second volume 46 and has a second opening 48. The first opening
42 is oriented substantially opposite of the second opening 48 such
that the flipable culinary bowl 10 functions to allow use of either
the first compartment 38 or the second compartment 44 depending
upon the orientation of the flipable culinary bowl 10.
[0028] A bottom wall 50 is located between the first compartment 38
and the second compartment 44, and also defines a bottom surface 52
of the first compartment 38 and a bottom surface 54 of the second
compartment 44 (noted only on FIG. 4). The bottom surface 52 of the
first compartment 38 and the bottom surface 54 of the second
compartment 44 may alternatively be formed from distinct walls.
[0029] While both the first compartment 38 and the second
compartment 44 may be used to store food items, the second volume
46 of the second compartment 44 is less than the first volume 40 of
the first compartment 38. However, the second volume 46 is
preferably at least one-fifth of the first volume 40 such that both
the first compartment 38 and the smaller second compartment 44 are
capable of customizable use in food preparation, delivery, and
presentation when oriented appropriately.
[0030] With specific reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the example
flipable culinary bowl 10 is described in more detail. As shown,
the first compartment 38 defines a substantially square first
perimeter 56 and the second compartment 44 defines a substantially
square second perimeter 58. The first compartment 38 also defines a
first depth 60 and the second compartment 44 defines a second depth
62 that is less than the first depth 60. The second compartment 44
is sized such that the second compartment 44 may fit within the
first compartment 38 of an adjacent flipable culinary bowl 10, that
is the second perimeter 58 is encompassed with the first perimeter
56 in top view. Moreover, in the example embodiment, a wall
thickness 64 of the first compartment 38 is generally less than a
wall thickness 66 of the second compartment 44.
[0031] The flipable culinary bowl 10 may have a variety of other or
alternative features. For example, the flipable culinary bowl 10
may include a first compartment 38 and a second compartment 44 that
are generally spherical. Additionally, the relative depth of the
first compartment 38 and the second compartment 44 are configurable
depending upon the application requirements. In the example
embodiment, the depth 60 of the first compartment 38 may be
approximately 2.4 inches and the depth 62 of the second compartment
44 is approximately 0.7 inches.
[0032] With specific reference to FIG. 5, a plurality of flipable
culinary bowls 10 are shown being carried by the cavity 30 defined
by the first side 24 of the flipable culinary tray 12. As shown,
four of the five flipable culinary bowls 10 are shown oriented with
the larger, first compartment 38 opening upwards to hold primary
food items (e.g., poultry, vegetables, etc.). One of the five
flipable culinary bowls 10 is shown inversely oriented with the
first compartment 38 proximate the cavity 30 such that the smaller,
second compartment 44 opens upward to hold food items (e.g.,
spices, condiments, etc.). Many arrangements and configurations of
flipable culinary bowls 10 and flipable culinary trays 12 are
available given the specific requirements of each food preparation,
delivery, or presentation.
[0033] A preferred example embodiment has been described in
considerable detail. Many modifications and variations of the
preferred example embodiment described will be apparent to a person
of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the invention should not
be limited to the example embodiment described.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0034] The invention provides flipable culinary bowls and trays for
use in a compact array with food preparation sinks.
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