GB2130080A

GB2130080A - Folding chopping board

Info

Publication number: GB2130080A
Application number: GB08232467A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick James Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-11-13
Filing date: 1982-11-13
Publication date: 1984-05-31

Abstract

A folding chopping board comprises two equal half boards 1, 1, joined by a channel-sectioned flexible hinge strip 2, the upper surface of which is flush with the chopping surface. End plates 3, one on each board half, have abutment or stop surfaces 4 to define a maximum degree of folding wherein the board forms a channel to assist tipping out chopped food pieces. The legs of the channel-sectioned strip 2 are secured by fasteners through keep strips 8 and are recessed into the edges of the board halves. Ribs 11 may be provided on the legs of the hinge strip 2 for locating in corresponding grooves in the board half edges. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Folding chopping board This invention relates to chopping boards used as an anvil member for use in chopping food stuffs and other materials to be processed by chopping, shredding or dicing.

Existing chopping boards are usually pianar boards of substantiai construction and are usually made of wood, plastics surfaced wood or other facing materials. Such boards after chopping required careful and awkward manipulation with the board and a spatula or scraper if chopped pieces are not to be spilled for removal of the chopped pieces into a container such as a pan, bag or waste bin or the like.

In the kitchen, a chopping knife is usually used to remove the chopped pieces which involves a number of awkward changes in the direction of movement and angle of the knife to achieve removal without spiliage over lateral edges of the board or by missing the receptacle into which the chopped pieces are intended to fall.

An object of the present invention is to ensure a quick and easy operation to clear the chopped pieces into a receptacle such as a pan, bag or the like by enabling the board to fold, and by using a V-shaped scraper conforming to the angle of the parts of the folded board. The board then functions as a channel for the pieces which can easily be directed into a container. A secondary advantage of the scraper is that it can be used for cleaning off pieces stuck to the chopping knife thus avoiding the risk of cut fingers and unhygienic practices.

A hinge of ordinary construction cannot be used for a folding chopping board according to the invention, because the centre line must be flush with the chopping surface and therefore at least part of an ordinary hinge would project above the surface and so prevent efficient chopping.

Furthermore such a hinge, even a recessed hinge, would trap food particles in the various points between the hinge parts and between the hinge and the board, and thus be unhygienic.

The invention provides a hinged or folding chopping board. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the hinge problem is solved by the use of a channel shaped jointing strip made of a flexible material such as rubber, or a suitably formulated synthetic rubber, extending along the full length of the chopping surface with the upper surface of the jointing strip being flush with the chopping surface and held firmly against the chopping board edges by means of metal or other suitable kept strips.

For convenience of operation the two halves of the board are fitted with end handles which are closed by hand against stops, thus positioning the two halves of the board at a defined acute angle and enabling the folded board to be held by one hand only.

A preferred embodiment of chopping board according to the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the chopping board in the flat, chopping, position, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the board in the folded position; Figs. 3a and 3b illustrate the function of the end plate stops; Fig. 4 is a view of the scraper or spatula for use with the board; Fig. 5 is a cross section showing the hinge construction; Fig. 6 is a similar view showing an alternative method of locating and fastening the keep strips and hinge together; and Fig. 7 is a cross section showing a modified form of flexible hinge construction.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the two halves of the board 1 are shown joined by the flexible channel sectioned hinge 2, the board being shown in the flat chopping position. Two end plates 3, to which end handles 6 are attached are so shaped that the edges 5 and 4 act as stops in the fiat and folded positions respectively. The function of the stops is shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 2, the board is shown folded with the edges 4 in contact, so defining the angle V configuration, and with the two handles 6 butted together for holding by one hand.

Fig. 4 shows a scraper with a blade provided at one corner with an angle 7 made to fit the angle V formed by the half boards in the folded position, so that the scraper may easily and effectively be used with the folded board for scraping chopped material into a receptacle.

Fig. 5 shows the channel sectioned flexible hinge 2 which is secured by keep strips 8 using wood screws 9 passed through the keep strips and the legs of the channel section hinge, and into the edges of the half boards 1.

Fig. 6 illustrates an alternative method of securement using clips 10, similar to paper fastener clips which hold keep strips 8 to the respective leg of the flexible channel section hinge 2, and these are designed to facilitate assembly in the correct relative positions.

Finally, Fig. 7 illustrates a modification of the flexible hinge strip 2, by provision of a bead 11 extending along the face of each strip leg, entering a corresponding groove in the board part edge to assisting correctly locating the hinge strip and board part for assembly.

1. A chopping board characterised in that a hinge is provided therein to enable it to be folded.

2. A chopping board according to claim 1 wherein said hinge is formed of a channel shaped flexible strip located to avoid projection above the chopping surface with its upper surface level with the chopping surface.

3. A chopping board according to claim 2 wherein keep strips are provided to secure the channel shaped flexible hinge to the respective edges of the members which together form the board.

4. A chopping board according to any

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Folding chopping board This invention relates to chopping boards used as an anvil member for use in chopping food stuffs and other materials to be processed by chopping, shredding or dicing. Existing chopping boards are usually pianar boards of substantiai construction and are usually made of wood, plastics surfaced wood or other facing materials. Such boards after chopping required careful and awkward manipulation with the board and a spatula or scraper if chopped pieces are not to be spilled for removal of the chopped pieces into a container such as a pan, bag or waste bin or the like. In the kitchen, a chopping knife is usually used to remove the chopped pieces which involves a number of awkward changes in the direction of movement and angle of the knife to achieve removal without spiliage over lateral edges of the board or by missing the receptacle into which the chopped pieces are intended to fall. An object of the present invention is to ensure a quick and easy operation to clear the chopped pieces into a receptacle such as a pan, bag or the like by enabling the board to fold, and by using a V-shaped scraper conforming to the angle of the parts of the folded board. The board then functions as a channel for the pieces which can easily be directed into a container. A secondary advantage of the scraper is that it can be used for cleaning off pieces stuck to the chopping knife thus avoiding the risk of cut fingers and unhygienic practices. A hinge of ordinary construction cannot be used for a folding chopping board according to the invention, because the centre line must be flush with the chopping surface and therefore at least part of an ordinary hinge would project above the surface and so prevent efficient chopping. Furthermore such a hinge, even a recessed hinge, would trap food particles in the various points between the hinge parts and between the hinge and the board, and thus be unhygienic. The invention provides a hinged or folding chopping board. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the hinge problem is solved by the use of a channel shaped jointing strip made of a flexible material such as rubber, or a suitably formulated synthetic rubber, extending along the full length of the chopping surface with the upper surface of the jointing strip being flush with the chopping surface and held firmly against the chopping board edges by means of metal or other suitable kept strips. For convenience of operation the two halves of the board are fitted with end handles which are closed by hand against stops, thus positioning the two halves of the board at a defined acute angle and enabling the folded board to be held by one hand only. A preferred embodiment of chopping board according to the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the chopping board in the flat, chopping, position, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the board in the folded position; Figs. 3a and 3b illustrate the function of the end plate stops; Fig. 4 is a view of the scraper or spatula for use with the board; Fig. 5 is a cross section showing the hinge construction; Fig. 6 is a similar view showing an alternative method of locating and fastening the keep strips and hinge together; and Fig. 7 is a cross section showing a modified form of flexible hinge construction. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the two halves of the board 1 are shown joined by the flexible channel sectioned hinge 2, the board being shown in the flat chopping position. Two end plates 3, to which end handles 6 are attached are so shaped that the edges 5 and 4 act as stops in the fiat and folded positions respectively. The function of the stops is shown more clearly in Fig. 3. In Fig. 2, the board is shown folded with the edges 4 in contact, so defining the angle V configuration, and with the two handles 6 butted together for holding by one hand. Fig. 4 shows a scraper with a blade provided at one corner with an angle 7 made to fit the angle V formed by the half boards in the folded position, so that the scraper may easily and effectively be used with the folded board for scraping chopped material into a receptacle. Fig. 5 shows the channel sectioned flexible hinge 2 which is secured by keep strips 8 using wood screws 9 passed through the keep strips and the legs of the channel section hinge, and into the edges of the half boards 1. Fig. 6 illustrates an alternative method of securement using clips 10, similar to paper fastener clips which hold keep strips 8 to the respective leg of the flexible channel section hinge 2, and these are designed to facilitate assembly in the correct relative positions. Finally, Fig. 7 illustrates a modification of the flexible hinge strip 2, by provision of a bead 11 extending along the face of each strip leg, entering a corresponding groove in the board part edge to assisting correctly locating the hinge strip and board part for assembly. CLAIMS

4. A chopping board according to any preceding claim fitted with end plates with stops adapted to define the angular limit of the folding of the board, and to prevent reflux folding from the flat position.

5. A chopping board according to any preceding claim fitted with handles one attached to each half of the board, said handles being shaped to close together in the folded position to form effectively a single handle for enabling the whole board to be held by one hand.

6. A chopping board substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 or as modified in Figs. 6 or 7, of the accompanying drawings.