U.S. patent application number 13/188387 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-10 for home chef spice rack system.
Invention is credited to Fred Berry.
Application Number | 20120111815 13/188387 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46018613 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120111815 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Berry; Fred |
May 10, 2012 |
HOME CHEF SPICE RACK SYSTEM
Abstract
Disclosed is a home chef spice rack system comprising a front
shelf and a back shelf. The front shelf comprises three hole(s) to
store bowl-stored spices while the back shelf comprises a non-hole
compartment designed to hold a plurality of spice bottle(s).
Further, the front shelf is located in front of the back shelf
while the front shelf is located below the back shelf in a tiered
fashion such that both of the bowl-stored spices and the spice
bottles are readily accessible to at least one cook during at least
one spicing/cooking activity. The bowl-stored spices are
bulk-contained within a glass or plastic covered spice jar(s)
having a lid. The back shelf is recessed from an upper planar
surface of the front shelf. The non-hole compartment houses seven
of the spice bottles, the spice bottles located linearly adjacent
to each other in line.
Inventors: |
Berry; Fred; (Ravenna,
OH) |
Family ID: |
46018613 |
Appl. No.: |
13/188387 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61411370 |
Nov 8, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 47/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/74 |
International
Class: |
A47B 73/00 20060101
A47B073/00 |
Claims
1. A tiered spice organizing and storing system comprising: a front
shelf; and a back shelf; wherein said front shelf comprises three
holes to store bowl-stored spices; wherein said back shelf
comprises a non-hole compartment designed to hold exactly seven
spice bottle(s); wherein said front shelf is located in front of
said back shelf; wherein said front shelf and said back shelf are
located on separate horizontal planes; wherein said front shelf
prevents forward, rearward or sideward movement of said bowl-stored
spices; wherein said back shelf prevents forward and rearward
movement of said spice bottles; wherein said tiered spice
organizing and storing system does not contain end walls; wherein
said tiered spice organizing and storing system comprises L-shaped
legs to horizontally support said tiered spice organizing and
storing system; and wherein said front shelf is located below said
back shelf in a tiered fashion such that both of said bowl-stored
spices and said spice bottle(s) are readily accessible to at least
one cook during at least one spicing/cooking activity.
2. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 1
wherein said tiered spice organizing and storing system is storable
on a countertop.
3. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 1
wherein said bowl-stored spices comprises a gasket to prevent said
bowl-stored spices from falling through said holes in said front
shelf.
4. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 1
wherein said bowl-stored spices are bulk-contained within covered
spice jar(s).
5. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 4
wherein said covered spice jar(s) comprises glass.
6. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 4
wherein said covered spice jar(s) comprises plastic.
7. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 4
wherein said covered spice jar(s) comprises a lid.
8. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 1
wherein said back shelf is recessed from an upper planar surface of
said front shelf.
9. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 1
wherein said spice bottles are located linearly adjacent to each
other in line.
10. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 1
wherein said tiered spice organizing and storing system comprises
wood.
11. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 1
wherein said tiered spice organizing and storing system comprises
plastic.
12. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 1
wherein said tiered spice organizing and storing system comprises
stainless steel.
13. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 1
further comprising a middle shelf.
14. A plastic tiered spice organizing and storing system
comprising: a front shelf; and a back shelf; wherein said front
shelf comprises three holes to store bowl-stored spices that are
bulk-contained within covered spice jar(s); wherein said
bowl-stored spices comprises a gasket to prevent said bowl-stored
spices from falling through any one of said three holes in said
front shelf; wherein said back shelf comprises a non-hole
compartment designed to hold seven of spice bottle(s); wherein said
front shelf is located in front of said back shelf; wherein said
front shelf is located below said back shelf in a tiered fashion
such that both of said bowl-stored spices and said spice bottle(s)
are readily accessible to at least one cook during at least one
spicing/cooking activity; wherein said bowl-stored spices comprise
a contoured outer rim to prevent said bowl-stored spices from
falling through said three holes; wherein said tiered spice
organizing and storing system is storable on a countertop; wherein
said front shelf and said back shelf are located on separate
horizontal planes; wherein said front shelf prevents forward,
rearward or sideward movement of said bowl-stored spices; wherein
said back shelf prevents forward and rearward movement of said
spice bottles; wherein said tiered spice organizing and storing
system does not contain end walls; wherein said tiered spice
organizing and storing system comprises L-shaped legs to
horizontally support said tiered spice organizing and storing
system; and wherein said covered spice jar(s) comprises glass;
wherein said covered spice jar(s) comprises a lid; wherein said
back shelf is recessed from an upper planar surface of said front
shelf; wherein said non-hole compartment houses seven of said spice
bottle(s), said spice bottle(s) located linearly adjacent to each
other in line; and wherein said non-hole compartment houses seven
of said spice bottle(s), said spice bottle(s) located linearly
adjacent to each other in line.
15. The tiered spice organizing and storing system of claim 14
further comprising a kit including said at least one tiered spice
organizing and storing system; said plurality of said bowl-stored
spices in said covered spice jar(s) and said spice bottle(s); and a
set of cook-instructions.
16. A method of using a tiered spice organizing and storing system
comprising the steps of: inserting a plurality of spice bottles
adjacently into a back shelf; locating a covered spice jar for
storing a frequently used spice in bulk; pouring said frequently
used spice into said spice jar and placing a lid over said covered
spice jar; and placing said covered spice jar on a front shelf in a
hole for convenient storage and use.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is related to and claims priority
from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/411,370, filed Nov.
18, 2010 which application is incorporated herein by reference.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise
reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).
[0003] The following includes information that may be useful in
understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that
any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material,
to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any
publication or document that is specifically or implicitly
referenced is prior art.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates generally to the field of
organizing and storing systems and more specifically relates to a
tiered spice organizing and storing system.
[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0007] Cooking can be a very time-sensitive process. Ingredients
may need to be cooked at certain temperatures for specific amounts
of time. If the cooking time is exceeded, the quality of the
ingredients and resulting dishes may be compromised. Because of
this, cooks may not have time to search for necessary spices while
cooking.
[0008] A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative
substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food
additive for flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful
bacteria or prevents their growth. It may be used to flavor a dish
or to hide other flavors. In the kitchen, spices are distinguished
from herbs, which are leafy, green plant parts used for flavoring.
Many spices are used for other purposes, such as medicine,
religious rituals, cosmetics, perfumery, or for eating as
vegetables.
[0009] A spice may be available in several forms: fresh, whole
dried, or pre-ground dried. Generally, spices are dried. A whole
dried spice has the longest shelf life so can be purchased and
stored in larger amounts, making it cheaper on a per-serving basis.
Some spices are rarely available either fresh or whole, for example
turmeric, and must be purchased in ground form. Small seeds, such
as fennel and mustard seeds, are used both whole and in powder
form.
[0010] The shelf life of a whole spice is roughly two years; of a
ground spice roughly six months. The "flavor life" of a ground
spice can much shorter. Ground spices are better stored away from
light. Spices are often kept in cabinets or on shelves, making
specific spices potentially difficult to locate. The cluttered
nature of traditional spice cabinets and shelves may cause cooks to
search extensively for certain spices, which is inconvenient both
before and during the cooking process. Therefore, a convenient and
effective tiered spice organizing and storing system that is simple
to use and takes up very little space is needed.
[0011] Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned
problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. Nos. D561,539; D397,898;
D354,875; D243,298; D468,162; and 5,871,107. This prior art is
representative of spice racks. None of the above inventions and
patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe
the invention as claimed.
[0012] Ideally, a home chef spice rack system should be
cook-friendly, easy to install and yet, would operate reliably and
be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a
reliable home chef spice rack system for organizes a variety of
spices.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
organizing and storing system art, the present invention provides a
novel home chef spice rack system. The general purpose of the
present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater
detail, is to provide a tiered spice organizing and storing system
to afford cooks unobstructed access to spices when cooking or
preparing to cook. Using this product may substantially eliminate
the need for cooks to search through cluttered shelves in order to
locate specific spices.
[0014] The present invention, home chef spice rack system as
disclosed herein preferably comprises: a front shelf and a back
shelf. The front shelf may comprise three holes to store
bowl-stored spices while the back shelf comprises a non-hole
compartment designed to hold a plurality of spice bottles lined up
adjacently with each other.
[0015] Further, the front shelf is located in front of the back
shelf while the front shelf is located below the back shelf in a
tiered fashion such that both of the bowl-stored spices and the
spice bottles are readily accessible to at least one cook during at
least one spicing/cooking activity. The front shelf and the back
shelf are preferably located on separate horizontal planes.
Additionally, the front shelf prevents forward, rearward or
sideward movement of the bowl-stored spices which are preferably
bulk-contained within the covered spice jar(s).
[0016] The back shelf prevents forward and rearward movement (but
not side to side movement) of the spice bottle(s). The bowl-stored
spices are bulk-contained within a glass or plastic covered spice
jar(s) having a lid. The bowl-stored spices comprise a gasket to
prevent the bowl-stored spices from falling through the hole(s) in
the front shelf.
[0017] The back shelf is recessed from an upper planar surface of
the front shelf. The non-hole compartment houses seven of the spice
bottles, the spice bottles located linearly adjacent to each other
in line.
[0018] Further, the tiered spice organizing and storing system is
storable on a countertop and may comprise a middle shelf. The
tiered spice organizing and storing system may be manufactured from
stainless steel, plastic, or wood.
[0019] A kit is also embodied herein for the home chef spice rack
system comprising the following parts: at least one tiered spice
organizing and storing system; a plurality of the bowl-stored
spices in the covered spice jar(s) and the spice bottles; and a set
of cook-instructions.
[0020] In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention
a preferred method of use is disclosed herein comprising: step one
inserting a plurality of spice bottles adjacently into a back
shelf; step two locating a covered spice jar for storing a
frequently used spice in bulk; step three pouring the frequently
used spice into the spice jar and placing a lid over the covered
spice jar; and step four placing the covered spice jar on a front
shelf in a hole for convenient storage and use.
[0021] The present invention holds significant improvements and
serves as a home chef spice rack system. For purposes of
summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel
features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be
understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved
in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention.
Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that
achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as
taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may
be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which
are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and
distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with reference to the
following drawings and detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The figures which accompany the written portion of this
specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the
present invention, home chef spice rack system, constructed and
operative according to the teachings of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a home chef
spice rack system in an `in-use` condition according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view illustrating a tiered spice
organizer and storer of the home chef spice rack system to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows another perspective view illustrating the
tiered spice organizer and storer of the home chef spice rack
system to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 4 is perspective view illustrating a covered spice
jar(s) and a spice bottle(s) of the home chef spice rack system to
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 5 is perspective view illustrating an alternate
embodiment of the home chef spice rack system to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for the
home chef spice rack system according to an embodiment of the
present invention of FIGS. 1-5.
[0029] The various embodiments of the present invention will
hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings,
wherein like designations denote like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention
relate to field of organizing and storing systems and more
specifically relates to a tiered spice organizing and storing
system.
[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 showing perspective views of home
chef spice rack system 100 according to an embodiment of the
present invention. Home chef spice rack system 100 preferably
comprises tiered spice organizer and storer 102. Tiered spice
organizer and storer 102 provides cooks with immediate access to
necessary spices. Cooks may position tiered spice organizer and
storer 102 on a countertop or other cook-accessible location such
as in a cupboard for example.
[0032] Tiered spice organizer and storer 102 may be manufactured in
a wide array of colors and materials to fit a cook's preference and
to match a specific decor in the cook's kitchen for example.
Further, tiered spice organizer and storer 102 preferably comprises
plastic, wood, or stainless steel as shown best in FIG. 2. Upon
reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under
appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as cook
preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing
preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances,
etc., other materials such as, for example, glass, ceramic,
composite, other metals and alloys, non-metals, etc., may be
sufficient.
[0033] Tiered spice organizer and storer 102 preferably comprises a
shelf-like structure without end walls in preferred embodiments.
Further, tiered spice organizer and storer 102 includes two
separate compartments for storing spices most frequently used by
the cook as shown best in FIG. 3. These two separate compartments
preferably comprise front shelf 110 and back shelf 130. Tiered
spice organizer and storer 102 comprises L-shaped legs 108
(inwardly facing) to horizontally support tiered spice organizer
and storer 102. Further, tiered spice organizer and storer 102 may
comprise removable walls such as in the form of end caps to prevent
spice bottle(s) 138 from falling off tiered spice organizer and
storer 102.
[0034] Front shelf 110 may comprises at least one hole(s) 114, to
store bowl-stored spice(s). It should be noted that the use of
three hole(s) 114 is the preferred layout of tiered spice organizer
and storer 102 as shown best in FIG. 2. Bowl-stored spices are
preferably bulk-contained within covered spice jar(s) 118 as shown
best in FIG. 4. Covered spice jar(s) 118 may be filled with the
spices most frequently used by the cook, such as basil and paprika
for example, however other spices may be stored inside covered
spice jar(s) 118 that may be more frequently used by the cook.
[0035] Additionally, covered spice jar(s) 118 further comprises
gasket 124. Gasket 124 preferably prevents bowl-stored spices that
are preferably bulk-contained within covered spice jar(s) 118 from
falling through hole(s) 114 in front shelf 110. Gasket 124 may be
manufactured from rubber for example however other materials may be
used. Further, gasket 124 is located around a periphery rim of
covered spice jar(s) 118. Covered spice jar(s) 118 may comprises
glass or plastic, depending upon cook-preference and color scheme
chosen for tiered spice organizer and storer 102.
[0036] Additionally, covered spice jar(s) 118 preferably comprises
lid 120 to preserve the life of the spice inside covered spice
jar(s) 118 as shown best in FIG. 4. Lid 120 is preferably
removably-coupleable to covered spice jar(s) 118 thereby creating a
vacuum seal when lid 120 is removably-coupled to covered spice
jar(s) 118. Lid 120 may be removed from covered spice jar(s) 118 by
either twisting and/or turning lid 120 relative to covered spice
jar(s) 118 or by lifting lid 120 upwardly relative to covered spice
jar(s) 118.
[0037] Front shelf 110 is preferably located in front of back shelf
130. Further, front shelf 110 is preferably located below back
shelf 130 in a tiered fashion such that both covered spice jar(s)
118 and spice bottle(s) 138 are readily accessible to at least one
cook during at least one spicing/cooking activity. Front shelf 110
and back shelf 130 are preferably located on separate horizontal
planes (at different heights from shelf, such that spice products
located therein may be easily reached). Additionally, front shelf
110 prevents forward, rearward or sideward movement of bowl-stored
spices (which are preferably bulk-contained within covered spice
jar(s) 118.) Back shelf 130 prevents forward and rearward movement
(but not side to side movement) of spice bottle(s) 138.
[0038] Back shelf 130 may be recessed from upper planar surface 112
of front shelf 110 to limit displacement of spice bottle(s) 138
when resting on tiered spice organizer and storer 102 as shown best
in FIGS. 1 & 3. Back shelf 130 may also include non-hole
compartment 134 that is preferably open. Non-hole compartment 134
may hold up to seven (equal to or more or less than) standard-sized
spice bottle(s) 138 linearly adjacent to each other in line at one
time as shown best in FIG. 1.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 5 showing a perspective view
illustrating an alternate embodiment of the home chef spice rack
system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Tiered spice organizer and storer 102 may comprise an optional
middle shelf 500. In other embodiments more tiers may be employed.
Middle shelf 500 may be included in tiered spice organizer and
storer 102 to accommodate more than seven spice bottle(s) 138 due
to the additional shelf that is provided. Middle shelf 500
preferably may hold up to seven additional spice bottle(s) 138
thereby promoting organization and ease of finding a particular
spice during the cooking or baking process.
[0040] Home chef spice rack system 100 according to an embodiment
of the present invention of FIGS. 1-5 may comprise kit 540. Kit 540
may comprise the following parts: at least one tiered spice
organizer and storer 102; a plurality of the bowl-stored spices in
covered spice jar(s) 118 and spice bottle(s) 138; and a set of
cook-instructions.
[0041] Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated
that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as
design preference, cook preferences, marketing preferences, cost,
structural requirements, available materials, technological
advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for
example, including more or less components, customized parts,
different color combinations, parts may be sold separately.
[0042] FIG. 6. shows flowchart 650 illustrating method of use 600
according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 1-5. A
method of using (at least herein enabling method of use 600) home
chef spice rack system 100 may comprise the steps of: step one 601
inserting a plurality of spice bottle(s) 138 adjacently into a back
shelf 130; step two 602 locating covered spice jar(s) 118 for
storing a frequently used spice in bulk in front; step three 603
pouring the frequently used spice into covered spice jar(s) 118 and
placing lid 120 over covered spice jar(s) 118; and step four 604
placing covered spice jar(s) 118 on front shelf 110 in hole(s) 114
for convenient storage and use. The system may then be used and
refilled as needed.
[0043] It should be noted that the steps described in the method of
use can be carried out in many different orders according to cook
preference. Upon reading this specification, it should be
appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such
issues as design preference, cook preferences, marketing
preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials,
technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements
such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list,
elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding
certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.
[0044] The embodiments of the invention described herein are
exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements
can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent
results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit
and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing
abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the
public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and
practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal
terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory
inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of
the application.
* * * * *