SLIDABLE KNIFE BLOCK

Abstract

A slidable utensil block. The slidable utensil block includes a chassis that is operably coupled to a mounting surface. A tray, which is moveable with respect to the chassis, may be transitioned between an open position and a closed position. The tray includes a block assembly, operably coupled thereto, which is configured to receive the one or more utensils. When the tray is in the open position, the one or more utensils are externally accessible; however, accessibility to the one or more utensils is limited when the tray is in the closed position.

Description

Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §1.78(a)(4), this application claims the benefit of and priority to prior filed co-pending Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/483,135, filed May 6, 2011, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to storage units for cutting instruments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kitchen knives are an integral part of any kitchen environment, whether it be residential or commercial. A variety of task specific knives, such as chef, boning, bread, carving, paring, serrated, and others, are abundantly available. However, to provide rapid access to and protect users from sharp blades, kitchen knives are typically stored in a knife block placed on a countertop.

The knife block is often a relatively massive piece of material with a plurality of slots, each dimensioned to envelop and protect a blade portion of a particular sized different knife. Conventional knife blocks may be formed by laminating wooden strips into a block assembly, whereby certain strips are omitted to form each slot. Knife handles protrude from the block such that a knife can usually be recovered by grasping the handle of one knife and pulling in a direction that is parallel to the direction of the slot. In many models, a body of the block assembly and/or the plurality of slots within the block assembly are angled downwardly and rearwardly with respect to the countertop so that knives are retained by their own weight within the knife block. Ideally, casual contact with the knife block should not result in contact with a blade edge and reduces the risk of injury.

The block assembly takes up significant countertop space, which is usually very valuable in a kitchen. When working with a variety of tools and ingredients, any equipment that occupies countertop space can interfere with efficient food preparation. Additionally, the lack of securing features in a standard knife block, while allowing for easy access to the knives, makes it possible to accidentally remove knives from the block. Because the knife handles generally protrude, it is easy to unintentionally hit and displace one or more knives or the knife block, which could un-sheath the blade and result in property damage or injury. Such contact is made more likely where space constraints necessitate food preparation near the knife block. Additionally, great care must be taken to ensure that moisture or debris does not enter the slots of a knife block, since cleaning the narrow slots may be difficult, if not impossible. Such contamination can result in unsanitary or rusty knives when stored in the block.

Thus, there remains a need for a knife block that overcomes the above noted disadvantages by securing knives in an efficient, yet productive and safe, way, and conserving valuable countertop space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with principles of the present invention, a slidable knife block is provided to safely store knives while maintaining accessibility and without consuming countertop workspace. While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. To the contrary, this invention includes all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In accordance with other embodiments of the invention, a slidable utensil block includes a chassis that is operably coupled to a mounting surface. A tray, which is moveable with respect to the chassis, may be transitioned between an open position and a closed position. The tray includes a block assembly, operably coupled thereto, which is configured to receive the one or more utensils. When the tray is in the open position, the one or more utensils are externally accessible; however, accessibility to the one or more utensils is limited when the tray is in the closed position.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of using the slidable utensil block includes moving the tray, in a first direction, from the closed position to the open position. A utensil is withdrawn from or inserted into the block assembly—this withdrawal or insertion is unobstructed on at least one side of the tray. The tray is moved from the open position to the closed position to limit access to the one or more utensils.

These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a slidable knife block according to one embodiment of the present invention, shown in an open position.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the slidable knife block of FIG. 1A, shown in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a chassis suitable for use with the slidable knife block of FIG. 1A and in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tray suitable for use with the slidable knife block of FIG. 1A and in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A slidable knife block apparatus is disclosed in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the various embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with alternative methods, materials, or components. Well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the invention.

Similarly, and for purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Nevertheless, the present invention may be practiced with alternative specific details. Furthermore, the various embodiments of the present invention shown in the figures are illustrative representations and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

References throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “certain embodiments” or variations thereof means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, but does not denote that the particular feature present in every embodiment. Thus, the appearances of phrases such as “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or “in certain embodiments” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

Nonetheless, it should be appreciated that, features which, notwithstanding the inventive nature of the general concepts being explained, are also of an inventive nature.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a slidable knife block in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The slidable knife block 10 is comprised of a chassis 12 slidably coupled to a tray 14.

The chassis 12 may be under-mounted to a cabinet or other mounting surface 25 to conserve available workspace on countertops, workbenches, and the like. This storage configuration is also advantageous over conventional surface-placed knife blocks, which are prone to inadvertent contact when positioned on cluttered surfaces. Moreover, the under-surface storage configuration provides the additional benefit of fixably mounting the entire slidable knife block 10 to an immovable substrate, which eliminates the dangerous possibility of knocking over the knife block 10.

FIG. 2 depicts the details of the chassis 12, which includes a shell 18 configured to surround the tray 14 and to facilitate under-mounting of the slidable knife block 10. The shell 18, as shown, comprises a bottom wall 20 and at least one sidewall 22 extending upwardly from the bottom wall 20 (two sidewalls 22 are shown). The sidewalls 22 terminate at a pair of mounting flanges 24, which are generally parallel to the bottom wall 20.

The shell 18 may be stamped from a single piece of metal, but may alternately be assembled from individual segments. Moreover, while stainless steel construction is conventionally-used in a commercial environment, other materials may be used, including, for example, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics, fiberglass, and other sufficiently rigid materials.

The mounting flanges 24 may include mounting holes 26 configured to secure the slidable knife block 10 to the underside of the mounting surface 25 (FIG. 1A), for example, using mechanical fasteners (wood screws, machine screws, rivets, and so forth). To facilitate access to the drive-heads of mechanical fasteners, access holes 28 may be provided on the bottom wall 20 and in vertical alignment with the mounting holes 26. By doing so, a straight-shaft driver (not shown) or similar tool may extend through the access hole 28 to engage the mechanical fastener, which is received by the respective mounting hole 26. Accordingly installation of the chassis 12 does not necessitate the use of an offset or right angle driver. The mounting holes 26 may be of the keyhole type, elliptical or cross shaped, or any other geometric shape that facilitates rapid installation or tolerance for imprecisely positioned mounting fasteners. In other embodiments, the mounting holes 26 may be omitted, and the mounting flanges 24 alternatively welded to the mounting surface 25 (FIG. 1A), as is often desirable in the case of stainless steel commercial equipment, or by other joining process known by the skilled artisan.

One or more rail assemblies 30, each operably-coupled to both the chassis 12 and the tray 14 (FIG. 1A), are operable such that the tray 14 (FIG. 1A) may slide with respect to the stationary chassis 12 that is coupled to the mounting surface 25, e.g., stationary. Each rail assembly 30 includes a track 30a and a slide 30b, wherein the track 30a is fixedly-mounted to an interior side of the bottom wall 20 of the chassis 12, and the slide 30b is fixedly mounted to an underside of the tray 14 (FIG. 1A). The tracks 30a allow the tray 14 (FIG. 1A) to slide between a closed position (shown in FIG. 1B), in which the tray 14 (FIG. 1A) is subsumed by the chassis 12, and an open position (FIG. 1A), in which the tray 14 (FIG. 1A) extends outwardly from the chassis 12.

With reference to FIGS. 1A and 2, and while in the open position, the tray 14 may extend, at least partially, forwardly of a front edge 32 of the chassis 12. In this way, the tray 14 is configured to safely store components (shown herein as one or more knives 33) while in the closed position and to provide user access to the components while in the open position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, full-extension under cabinet type ball bearing drawer slides may be used as the rail assembly and would include an additional track segment (not shown) interspersed between the track 30a and the slide 30b. In this way the tray 14 may slide completely forward of a front edge 32 of the chassis 12 such that the tray 14 is fully exposed external to the chassis 12. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that other types of rail assemblies may be alternatively used and include, for example, linear bearings, interlocking dovetails, metallic rails with nylon inserts, etc. Although not shown, rail assemblies in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention may include a detent configured to positively retain the tray 14 in one or both of the open or closed positions. Additional force or activation of a mechanically- or electrically-controlled mechanism may be required to release the tray 14 from either or both detent positions. Accordingly, unintentional movement of the tray 14 during seismic events, motion of mobile kitchens and food service trucks, or other dynamic operating conditions may be reduced or eliminated. The mechanism may additionally or alternatively be designed to reduce or otherwise deter theft of contents within the tray 14 or provide child resistance. Still other embodiments of the present invention may include a dampener system to prevent rapid acceleration or deceleration when initiating or stopping movement of the tray 14. Such dampeners may be configured to reduce rattling or jarring of the contents when the tray 14 is moved between the open and closed positions. In still other embodiments of the present invention, the rail assemblies may include a spring bias, in either or both of the open or closed positions, to facilitate enhanced retention or rapid access to the contents of the tray 14.

Although not shown, in other embodiments of the present invention, the chassis 12 may include a rear panel configured to close a void enclosed by a rear edge 34 of the bottom wall 20, the sidewalls 22, and the mounting flanges 24 of the chassis 12 with the mounting surface 25.

With reference now to FIG. 3, the tray 14 is shown in greater detail and in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The tray 14 may include a horizontal platform 36 and a face 38 extending generally upwardly from the platform 36. Accordingly, and when the tray 14 is in the closed position (as shown in FIG. 1A), the face 38 may be positioned proximal to the front edge 32 of the chassis 12, in vertically alignment with a extending front face 39 of the cabinet or other structure providing the mounting surface 25.

While the tray 14 may be configured to support various components, the tray 14 shown in FIG. 3 is configured to support, organize, and protect cutlery or other sharp-edged utensils within a block assembly 41. The block assembly 41 includes a plurality of modules 40, each fabricated as a sub assembly and extending upwardly from the platform 36. Each module 40 may have one or more minor slots 42 dimensioned to receive a sharp edge of the utensil, such as the blade 17 (FIG. 1A) of a knife 33. The minor slots 42 may vary in width and/or depth, but generally do not extend the full depth of the module 40.

Adjacent ones of the modules 40 are space apart to form major slots 44, the dimensions of which being a function of the module height and the spacing. Minor slots 42 and major slots 44 are configured to be substantially parallel to each other, perpendicular to the platform 36, and upwardly facing such that during operation the slots 42, 44 are generally open.

Varying the dimensions of the major and minor slots 42, 44 allows the tray 14 to accommodate knives 33 of various sizes and shapes, for example, from a small blade paring knife to a large blade meat cleaver or a long chef's knife. Therefore, the modules 40 may have a fixed relative relation or may be moveable with respect to one another, which allows the user to customize the block assembly 41 for the desired use.

The modules 40 of the block assembly 41 may be constructed individually or as a unitary structure from a single piece of stock. The materials may include wood, plastic, or other that is compatible with storage of knives 33. When the block assembly 41 is constructed as a unitary structure, the slots 42, 44 may be formed by removing material from the single piece of stock, or otherwise extruded or cast to provide the desired shape.

One or more straps 46 may extend across the modules 40, passing substantially perpendicularly to a direction of the slots 42, 44. The straps 46 may be constructed from leather, plastic, elastic, or other suitable material that is compatible with the components (i.e., knives 33) stored within the tray 14. Straps 46 may be secured to the block assembly 41 with one or more mechanical fasteners 47, which may be similar to those described previously with respect to the mounting holes 26 (FIG. 2). In use, the straps 46 may provide a flexible retainer for blades 17 placed within an appropriately sized or selected slot 42, 44. Alternatively, and when a blade 17 which is too large to fit within the confines of a major slot 44, the knife 33 may be stowed by sliding the blade 17 of the knife between the strap 46 and the block assembly 41 such that the blade 17 is in an orientation substantially parallel to the platform 36.

For additional retention and safety, a knife 33 may be placed within a slot 42, 44 having a dimension that is slightly less than the width of the blade 17 of the knife 33. As a result of this contact, frictional forces between the strap 46 and a spine of the blade 17, and thus a level of retention, may be increased or decreased. As one of ordinary skill in the arts will recognize, the retainer by also be a magnet, clamp or other frictional element.

Although not shown, slots 42, 44 may be closed, for example, with a cover in place of the strap 46 as shown.

The relative length of the modules 40 with respect to the platform 36 may be selected so as to accommodate handles 31 of the knives 33. For instance, a handle support surface 48 spanning between the face 38 of the tray 14, ends of the platform 36, and the modules 40 may be configured and appropriately dimensioned to support the handles 31 and such that the handles 31 do not interfere with movement of the tray 14 between the open and closed positions. Desirably, the configuration of the handle support surface 48 causes a user to withdraw a selected knife 33 by drawing the handle 31 toward an accessible, generally unobstructed side 16 of the tray 14 and in a direction that is perpendicular to movement of the tray 14. Therefore, and unlike known, conventional knife blocks, the user does not withdraw the selected knife from the knife block in toward the user's body that, when the user's hands are wet, oily, or greasy, may result in loss of control of the blade 17 while the momentum of the withdrawal causes the blade 17 to continue, dangerously, toward the user. Conversely, withdrawal of knives 33 from the illustrative slidable knife block 10 is in a direction that is angled away from the user.

Although not specifically illustrated herein, the block assembly may be further configured to provide suitable space, slots, and/or openings for receiving utensil other than kitchen knives. For example, scissors, meat forks, meat thermometers, knife sharpener, and so forth. Still other block assemblies may be constructed to receive woodworking tools, craft supplies, or other, non-kitchen related tools.

As provided in detail herein, a slidable knife block configured to organize and protect cutlery or other sharp-edged utensils includes a closed position in which the utensils are enveloped by a chassis and a user is protected from inadvertently contact with the utensil or accidentally dislodging of the utensil from storage. The slidable knife block also has an open position configured to display the utensils and provide accessibility to the same while providing for safe withdrawal of the utensil.

While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments, and while these embodiments have been described in some detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The various features of the invention may be used alone or in any combination depending on the needs and preferences of the user. This has been a description of the present invention, along with methods of practicing the present invention as currently known. However, the invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A slidable utensil block comprising:

a chassis operably coupled to a mounting surface;

a tray configured to move relative to the chassis between an open position and a closed position; and

a block assembly operably coupled to the tray and configured to receive the one or more utensils,

wherein the one or more utensils received within the block assembly are accessible external to the tray when the tray is in the open position and access to the one or more utensils received within the block assembly is limited when the tray is in the closed position.

2. The slidable knife block of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one detent mechanism operably associated with at least one of the open and closed positions,

wherein the at least one detent mechanism is configured to prevent inadvertent movement of the tray.

3. The slidable utensil block of claim 1, wherein the chassis includes at least one sidewall and is configured to be mounted such that the chassis depends from the mounting surface.

4. The slidable utensil block of claim 1, wherein accessibility to the one or more utensils received within the block assembly is unobstructed on at least one side of the tray when the tray is in the open position.

5. The slidable utensil block of claim 1, wherein the block assembly includes a plurality of slots, each slot of the plurality being configured to receive at least one of the one or more utensils.

6. The slidable utensil block of claim 5, wherein the plurality of slots extends in a direction that is generally transverse to a sliding direction of the tray with respect to the chassis.

7. The slidable utensil block of claim 6, wherein the block assembly further comprises a plurality of modules, wherein spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of modules form the plurality of slots.

8. The slidable utensil block of claim 7, wherein the spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of modules is adjustable.

9. The slidable utensil block of claim 5, further comprising:

at least one retainer configured to resist vertical movement of a utensil from the block assembly.

10. The slidable utensil block of claim 9, wherein the retainer is a strap extending across the block assembly in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a direction of the plurality of slots.

11. A method of using a slidable utensil block comprising a chassis operably coupled to a mounting surface, a tray configured to support one or more utensils and to move relative to the chassis, and a block assembly operably coupled to the tray and configured to receive one or more utensils, the method comprising:

moving the tray, relative to the chassis, in a first direction from a closed position to an open position;

performing at least one of withdrawing a utensil from the block assembly and inserting a utensil into the block assembly, wherein withdrawing and inserting the utensil is unobstructed on at least one side of the tray; and

moving the tray from the open position to the closed position to limit access to the one or more utensils.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein moving the tray includes overcoming and passing a detent mechanism, the detent mechanism configured to prevent inadvertent movement of the tray.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the chassis includes at least one sidewall and is configured to be mounted such that the chassis depends from the mounting surface.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the block assembly includes a plurality of slots, each slot of the plurality being configured to receive at least one of the one or more utensils.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of slots extends in a direction that is generally transverse to a sliding direction of the tray with respect to the chassis.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the block assembly further comprises a plurality of modules, wherein spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of modules form the plurality of slots.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of modules is adjustable.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one retainer configured to resist vertical movement of a utensil from the block assembly.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the retainer is a strap extending across the block assembly in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a direction of the plurality of slots.