CORN HOLDER STORAGE SYSTEM
A corn holder storage unit for retaining one or more corn holders in a safe, sanitary, and convenient manner is disclosed. One or more members defining a cavity and having at least one opening is adapted to accept and retain one or more corn holders, and preferably each member is adapted to retain a pair of corn holders along the member axis. Where the corn holder storage unit is configured to retain a pair of corn holders, the distance between opposing ends of the member should be at least two times the length of the corn holder operative end. Preferably a peripheral structure encloses the one or more members, and cooperation between the member and the peripheral structure prevents the holder from passing through the cavity and from being dislodged from the corn holder storage unit by providing an abutment rim and a variety of retaining fits. In an embodiment, a corn holder storage system is provided, wherein a plurality of tubes is enclosed by a peripheral structure, each of the tubes having two opposing open ends for retaining a plurality of corn holders and concealing the corn holder operative ends.
The present disclosure relates to a corn holder storage system. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a corn holder storage unit which retains the operative ends of corn holders to prevent accidental contact with or premature wear of the prongs and provides a system for keeping corn holders together when stored in utensil drawers, dishwashers, and other locations in which corn holders may be customarily placed and misplaced.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCorn holders are common kitchen utensils to aid the user in grasping and manipulating foodstuffs with ease and in a sanitary manner. Corn holders are frequently stored loose in utensil drawers, risking both the seeker's safety and patience. In particular, corn holders are designed with sharp ends of sufficient length to spear and maintain the hold of a corncob. Such ends pose a significant risk to the fingers of unsuspecting persons seeking either the corn holder or an unrelated utensil in a utensil drawer or dishwasher basket. Given the generally diminutive nature of corn holders, unpaired corn holders can take minutes of digging through an otherwise crowded utensil drawer until an appropriate pair can be found. Even further, the points of corn holders can become worn and dull from repeated contact with other utensils.
Existing corn holder management units include corn holders capable of receiving the pins of an opposing holder. Such holder designs are, however, unsanitary as small bits of food can become trapped within the pin receiving bores, and are nearly impossible to dislodge. Additionally, self-storage corn holder designs do not accommodate various designs of holder prongs. For example, in the existing self-storing corn holders, the opposing corn holder must have prongs spaced and sized precisely to fit into the prong bores of the opposing holder. Additionally, existing corn holder storage systems cannot accommodate updated corn holder designs, such as those having a pin and helical screw for better connection with the cob.
Accordingly, a manner for retaining the sharp ends of a variety of designs of corn holders such that the corn holders are stored in pairs to prevent injury in a manner easy to use, manufacture, and maintain in a sanitary condition, is necessary.
The present invention is intended to address these and other possible problems associated with existing corn holder storage units.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThere is disclosed herein an improved corn holder storage unit which avoids the disadvantages of prior units while affording additional structural and operating advantages. An embodiment of the present invention includes a corn holder storage unit including at least one tube having a first end configured to receive an operative end of a corn holder. The first end further retainably engages a grasping end of the first corn holder. The at least one tube may further include a second end for receiving an operative end of a second corn holder and to retainably engage a grasping portion of the second corn holder. In an embodiment, the corn holder storage unit is constructed such that the distance between the first end and second end is sufficient to prevent the operative end of the first corn holder from interfering with the operative end of the second corn holder when the first and second corn holder are retainably engaged in the corn holder storage unit.
Even further, a plurality of tubes may be provided and arranged in parallel for receiving a plurality of the corn holders. The tubes may be releasably coupled to each other, and in an embodiment the axes of the tubes are substantially parallel to each other when the tubes are coupled to each other. An additional aspect of an embodiment may include a peripheral structure enclosing the tubes, and an abutment structure may be provided within the peripheral structure to abut the operative end of the corn holder to maintain the corn holder's position with respect to the first end and the peripheral structure. In an embodiment, the abutment structure is an abutment rim of the wall. Additionally, in an embodiment, the at least one tube is adapted to retain a pair of corn holders along an axis of the at least one tube.
A further embodiment provides for a corn holder storage unit consists of a plurality of tubes, each of the tubes including a wall, a first end, a second end, and an axis, the first end being open to retain an operative end of the corn holder. When coupled to each other, the axes of the tubes are substantially parallel to each other. It is an aspect of at least one embodiment of the presently disclosed unit that both the first end and the second end are open such that the tube may retain a pair of holders along the axis. Another aspect of an embodiment includes a peripheral structure to enclose one or more tubes. An embodiment of the unit includes an abutment structure disposed within the peripheral structure to abut an operative end of the corn holder.
An alternate embodiment discloses a corn holder storage system in which one or more member defines a cavity for retaining the operative end of a holder in an open end of the member. In an embodiment, the operative ends of two opposing holders are retained by the member along a shared axis. An aspect of an embodiment of this system adapts the member to abut the operative end of the corn holder to prevent the corn holder from passing through the cavity. Yet another embodiment disclosed is a combination corn holder and corn holder storage unit consisting of a plurality of corn holders and a unit comprising a plurality of members, each member having two open ends adapted to conceal the operative end of a pair of corn holders. According to additional aspects of these embodiments, the members may be adapted to retain the holders by various member/holder retention constructions, including a snap fit, friction fit, magnetic retention, and threaded fit, by example. Additionally, aspects of these embodiments further include a central cross-member extending from the inner surface of at least one tube or member between the first and second end. The central cross-member may be constructed with opposing cylindrical walls extending toward each of the first and second end of the tube for receiving the operative ends of first and second corn holders. These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readily from the following description and the appended drawings.
For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated.
Referring to
As best illustrated in
One having ordinary skill in the art would understand, however, that the distance D may be significantly greater than two times the length L of the operative end 18. Additionally, where the corn holder storage unit 30 is configured to accept only one corn holder 10 with respect to each member 32, the distance D may be at least the length L of the operative end 18, though the distance D could be even shorter than the length L where contact with the points of the pin 20 or screw structure 22 is not of concern. The corn holder storage unit's 30 ability to maintain as many corn holders 10 together as there are open ends multiplied by members 32 decreases the frequency of a user digging though a crowded utensil drawer or dishwasher basket to obtain a pair or several pairs of corn holders.
The member 32 further comprises an axis C, as best illustrated in
In an embodiment there is disclosed a corn holder storage system, most clearly illustrated
In use, the combination of the one or more corn holders 10 with the corn holder storage unit 30 allows the user to keep multiple holders 10 together in a single unit without requiring a cumbersome device. Particularly, and as illustrated in
In coordination with the peripheral structure 42, the open end of the member 32 may be adapted to accept the operative end 18 a holder 10 where the pin 20 and screw structure 22 is received within the cavity 36 and concealed by the wall 34, but the grasping end 16 is prevented from passing through the cavity 36 through contact between the abutment rim 44 and the corn holder base 24. More generally, the abutment structure may be a separate structure from the member 32, such as an annular ring, protrusion, or other structure known to persons having ordinary skill to be capable of preventing the corn holder 10 from passing through the cavity 36 when disposed within the peripheral structure 42, as illustrated in
The corn holder 10 is prevented from becoming dislodged from the member through a variety of constructions. In an embodiment illustrated in
Even further, the corn holder storage system may include a unit 30 that magnetically retains the corn holders 10 as illustrated in
Alternate embodiments of the corn holder storage unit 30 are encompassed in the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the members 32 may be releasably coupled to each other by means known to persons having ordinary skill. One such construction, as illustrated in
Additionally, to further maintain the integrity of the unit 30 and the corn holder 10, and prevent contact by a user with the pin 20, the unit 30 may further comprise a central cross-member or central stabilizing structure 64, as illustrated in
Another possible embodiment includes a corn holder storage unit 30 having holes formed therein (not shown) to facilitate easy cleaning of the unit 30. In this embodiment, the holes allow water to pass through the members 32 of the unit 30 to remove food particles so that the user can place the unit 30 in the dishwasher without having to remove the corn holders. This design further prevents injury to the user, retains all holders together, and maintains the quality of the pins.
The corn holder storage unit 30 may be formed of a variety of materials, including thermoplastic. The corn holder storage unit 30 is preferably injection molded, but may be formed through other methods known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, the members 32 and/or peripheral structure 42 may be rigid or semi-rigid, or may even be collapsible, as dictated by manufacturing and marketing constraints. The various components of the corn holder storage unit 30 may be formed integrally with each other, or may be formed as individual members and mechanically or otherwise assembled.
The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicant's contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
Claims
1. A corn holder storage unit, comprising:
- at least one tube having a first end configured to receive an operative end of a first corn holder and to retainably engage a grasping end of the first corn holder.
2. The corn holder storage unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one tube further comprises a second end configured to receive an operative end of a second corn holder and to retainably engage a grasping portion of the second corn holder.
3. The corn holder storage unit of claim 2, wherein the first end and the second end are spaced apart from each other by a distance sufficient to prevent the operative end of the first corn holder from interfering with the operative end of the second corn holder when the first and second corn holder are retainably engaged in the corn holder storage unit.
4. The corn holder storage unit of claim 3, wherein the at least one tube further comprises a central cross-member extending from an inner surface of the at least one tube between the first and the second end.
5. The corn holder storage unit of claim 4, further comprising a first cylindrical wall extending from the central cross-member toward the first end, the first cylindrical wall disposed to receive the operative end of the first corn holder.
6. The corn holder storage unit of claim 5, further comprising a second cylindrical wall extending from the central cross-member toward the second end, the second cylindrical wall disposed to receive the operative end of the second corn holder.
7. The corn holder storage unit of claim 4, wherein the central cross-member constitutes a substantially planar rib bisecting the at least one tube.
8. The corn holder storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the tubes arranged in parallel for receiving a plurality of the corn holders.
9. The corn holder storage unit of claim 8, wherein the tubes are releasably coupled to each other.
10. The corn holder storage unit of claim 8, wherein axes of the tubes are substantially parallel to each other and the tubes are coupled to each other.
11. The corn holder storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a peripheral structure enclosing the tubes.
12. The corn holder storage unit of claim 11, wherein an abutment structure is disposed within the peripheral structure to abut the operative end of the corn holder to maintain the corn holder's position with respect to the first end and the peripheral structure.
13. The corn holder storage unit of claim 11, wherein the abutment structure is an abutment rim of the wall.
14. The corn holder storage unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one tube is adapted to retain a pair of corn holders along an axis of the at least one tube.
15. The corn holder storage unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one tube is adapted to retain the corn holder by a snap fit.
16. The corn holder storage unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one tube is adapted to frictionally retain the corn holder.
17. The corn holder storage unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one tube is adapted to magnetically retain the corn holder.
18. The corn holder storage unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one tube is adapted to threadably retain the corn holder.
19. The corn holder storage unit of claim 1, wherein the tubes are releasably coupled to each other.
20. A corn holder storage system comprising:
- a corn holder including a body having a grasping end and an operative end, a pin extending from the operative end, and a screw structure extending from the operative end;
- a corn holder storage unit including a member defining a cavity and having an open end adapted to retain the operative end of the corn holder.
21. The corn holder storage system of claim 20, wherein the member includes two open ends adapted to simultaneously retain the operative ends of a pair of opposing corn holders along a shared axis.
22. The corn holder storage system of claim 20, wherein the member comprises a central stabilizer disposed between the two open ends.
23. The corn holder storage system of claim 20, wherein the unit further comprises a peripheral structure enclosing the member.
24. The corn holder storage system of claim 23, wherein an abutment structure is disposed within the peripheral structure to abut the operative end to prevent the corn holder from passing through the cavity.
25. The corn holder storage system of claim 23, wherein the member is adapted to abut the operative end to prevent the corn holder from passing through the cavity.
26. The corn holder storage system of claim 20, wherein the member is adapted to retain the corn holder by a snap fit
27. The corn holder storage system of claim 20, wherein the member is adapted to frictionally retain the corn holder.
28. The corn holder storage system of claim 20, wherein the member is adapted to magnetically retain the corn holder.
29. The corn holder storage system of claim 20, wherein the member is adapted to threadably retain the corn holder.
30. The corn holder storage system of claim 20, wherein more than one member is coupled adjacent to each other.
31. The corn holder storage system of claim 30, wherein the members are releasably coupled.
32. A combination corn holder and corn holder storage unit comprising:
- a plurality of corn holders, each corn holder comprising a body having a grasping end and an operative end, a pin extending from the operative end, and a helical screw extending from the operative end;
- a corn holder storage unit comprising a plurality of members, each member defining a cavity and having a first end, a second end, and an axis, wherein the first end is open and adapted to conceal the operative end of a corn holder along the axis and the second end is open and adapted to conceal the operative end of a corn holder along the axis.
33. The combination of claim 32, wherein the plurality of members each further comprise a stabilizing structure within the cavity between the first end and the second end.
34. The combination of claim 32, wherein the unit further comprises a peripheral structure enclosing the plurality of members.
35. The combination of claim 34, wherein the plurality of members are disposed within the peripheral structure to abut the operative ends of the plurality of corn holders.
36. The combination of claim 32, wherein the plurality of members are adapted to retain the plurality of corn holders by a snap fit.
37. The combination of claim 32, wherein the plurality of members are adapted to frictionally retain the plurality of corn holders.
38. The combination of claim 32, wherein the plurality of members are adapted to magnetically retain the plurality of corn holders.
39. The combination of claim 32, wherein the plurality of members are adapted to threadably retain the plurality of corn holders.
40. A corn holder storage system comprising:
- a plurality of corn holders, each corn holder including a body having a bulbous grasping end, a base, and an operative end, a pin and a helical screw extending from the operative end;
- a corn holder storage unit including four tubes enclosed by a peripheral structure having a plurality of retaining protrusions formed thereon, each tube having opposing open ends, each open end terminating in an abutment rim, an axis, and a centralized stabilizing structure disposed on an inner surface, the tubes being coupled and adjacent to each other;
- wherein each of the tubes is adapted to accept the operative ends of opposing corn holders along the axis and simultaneously retain each base of opposing corn holders between the abutment rim and the plurality of retaining protrusions, the centralized stabilizing structure adapted to accept each operative end.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 25, 2010
Publication Date: Apr 26, 2012
Inventors: Evan Abel (Rockaway Park, NY), Anthony Di Bitonto (Brooklyn, NY), Hideaki Matsui (New York, NY), Nicholas Oxley (New York, NY)
Application Number: 12/910,916
International Classification: B65D 71/00 (20060101); A47G 29/00 (20060101); A47G 21/00 (20060101);