CA2284336A1 - Food preparation aid for single-handed persons - Google Patents
Food preparation aid for single-handed persons Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2284336A1 CA2284336A1 CA 2284336 CA2284336A CA2284336A1 CA 2284336 A1 CA2284336 A1 CA 2284336A1 CA 2284336 CA2284336 CA 2284336 CA 2284336 A CA2284336 A CA 2284336A CA 2284336 A1 CA2284336 A1 CA 2284336A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- food preparation
- preparation aid
- working surface
- food
- aid
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G21/00—Table-ware
- A47G21/08—Serving devices for one-handed persons
Landscapes
- Food-Manufacturing Devices (AREA)
Abstract
A food preparation aid for single-handed persons has a board member providing a flat upper working surface and having an anti-slip arrangement on its underside. At least one upstanding post is provided on the board member for skewering foodstuff so as to hold the foodstuff in position on the working surface while a single-handed person works therewith. A removable, massive retaining block with at least one guide hole complementary to the posts is mountable on the working surface with the posts guided in a respective complementary hole in the block. The block has an upper surface with a lip for receiving one end of an inclined food processing accessory. A pair of orthogonal abutment bars are provided on the working surface to retain jars, slices of bread and the like while the user works on them.
Description
FOOD PREPARATION AID FOR SINGLE-HANDED PERSONS
This invention relates to food preparation, and more particularly to a food preparation aid for single-handed persons.
Most people take the use of both hands for granted and do not realize the practical difficulties experienced by those persons who have lost the use of one hand through injury or illness. A simple everyday task that most people take for granted becomes difficult for persons lacking the use of one hand. For example, a simple task such as spreading butter on a slice of bread, or opening a jam jar, becomes difficult to carry out without the ability to retain the item in place using the other hand.
Similarly, slicing a tomato, for example, becomes difficult without the other hand to hold the tomato in place. The same is also true for grating and slicing operations.
Most food aids implicitly imply the availability of both hands.
An object of the invention is to alleviate these difficulties for single-handed persons.
According to the present invention there is provided a food preparation aid for single-handed persons, comprising a board member providing a flat upper working surface and having an anti-slip arrangement on its underside; at least one upstanding post on said board member for skewering foodstuff so as to hold said foodstuff in position on said working surface while a single-handed person works therewith; and a removable, massive retaining block with at least one guide hole complementary to said at least one post mountable on said working surface with said at least one post guided in a respective complementary hole in said block, said block having an upper surface with a lip for receiving one end of an inclined food processing accessory .
Typically, a pair of posts are provided, although the invention would be operative with a different number.
The food preparation aid in accordance with the invention, which has an appearance in some ways resembling a chopping board with additional features, permits the single-handed user to slice food items, for example, tomatoes by removing the retaining block and placing them on the posts in a skewered fashion. The skewered food item will be held firmly in place, allowing the user to slice it or chop it as desired with the aid of a knife and only one hand.
With the retaining block in place on the upstanding posts, the single-handed user can place a conventional scraper or grater on the working surface with its upper end retained by the massive block. This holds the grater or scraper at an inclined angle, allowing the user to grate or scrape food items with his or her working hand.
The massive block can also be used to trap items, such as slices of meat, between the working surface of the aid and the lower surface of the retaining block. This permits the user to chop up a piece of sliced meat, for example.
In a further aspect, the invention also provides a pair of abutment bars, which are perfectly removable, on the working surface of the food preparation aid. These abutment bars, which normally lie at 90° to each other, locate a food item, such as a slice of bread, which the user might wish to work on. For example, the user can place the slice of bread in abutting relationship with the abutment bar so as to spread butter on the slice of bread with his or her working hand. It will be understood that the abutment bars could lie at other angles provided they offer a corner to an item to be supported. Such other angles will be less convenient for accommodating rectangular items, such as slices of bread.
A friction pad may also be provided to permit the user to place a jar or like element against the abutment bars while opening the lid.
The aid should preferably be made of a strong, fairly heavy, hygienic material such as CorianTM available from Dow Chemical Company. This is a compressed synthetic material used for kitchen working surfaces and the like. It is easily washable to remove bacteria, and has a fairly high density so as to give the food preparation aid a reasonably solid and massive feel.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the food preparation aid; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the food preparation aid seen from the opposite corner.
This invention relates to food preparation, and more particularly to a food preparation aid for single-handed persons.
Most people take the use of both hands for granted and do not realize the practical difficulties experienced by those persons who have lost the use of one hand through injury or illness. A simple everyday task that most people take for granted becomes difficult for persons lacking the use of one hand. For example, a simple task such as spreading butter on a slice of bread, or opening a jam jar, becomes difficult to carry out without the ability to retain the item in place using the other hand.
Similarly, slicing a tomato, for example, becomes difficult without the other hand to hold the tomato in place. The same is also true for grating and slicing operations.
Most food aids implicitly imply the availability of both hands.
An object of the invention is to alleviate these difficulties for single-handed persons.
According to the present invention there is provided a food preparation aid for single-handed persons, comprising a board member providing a flat upper working surface and having an anti-slip arrangement on its underside; at least one upstanding post on said board member for skewering foodstuff so as to hold said foodstuff in position on said working surface while a single-handed person works therewith; and a removable, massive retaining block with at least one guide hole complementary to said at least one post mountable on said working surface with said at least one post guided in a respective complementary hole in said block, said block having an upper surface with a lip for receiving one end of an inclined food processing accessory .
Typically, a pair of posts are provided, although the invention would be operative with a different number.
The food preparation aid in accordance with the invention, which has an appearance in some ways resembling a chopping board with additional features, permits the single-handed user to slice food items, for example, tomatoes by removing the retaining block and placing them on the posts in a skewered fashion. The skewered food item will be held firmly in place, allowing the user to slice it or chop it as desired with the aid of a knife and only one hand.
With the retaining block in place on the upstanding posts, the single-handed user can place a conventional scraper or grater on the working surface with its upper end retained by the massive block. This holds the grater or scraper at an inclined angle, allowing the user to grate or scrape food items with his or her working hand.
The massive block can also be used to trap items, such as slices of meat, between the working surface of the aid and the lower surface of the retaining block. This permits the user to chop up a piece of sliced meat, for example.
In a further aspect, the invention also provides a pair of abutment bars, which are perfectly removable, on the working surface of the food preparation aid. These abutment bars, which normally lie at 90° to each other, locate a food item, such as a slice of bread, which the user might wish to work on. For example, the user can place the slice of bread in abutting relationship with the abutment bar so as to spread butter on the slice of bread with his or her working hand. It will be understood that the abutment bars could lie at other angles provided they offer a corner to an item to be supported. Such other angles will be less convenient for accommodating rectangular items, such as slices of bread.
A friction pad may also be provided to permit the user to place a jar or like element against the abutment bars while opening the lid.
The aid should preferably be made of a strong, fairly heavy, hygienic material such as CorianTM available from Dow Chemical Company. This is a compressed synthetic material used for kitchen working surfaces and the like. It is easily washable to remove bacteria, and has a fairly high density so as to give the food preparation aid a reasonably solid and massive feel.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the food preparation aid; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the food preparation aid seen from the opposite corner.
In the drawings, the food preparation aid comprises a rectangular board member 10 of CorianTM, a trademark of Dow Chemical. The rectangular board member has four elastomeric, anti slip pads provided on the underside so that when placed on a working surface, such as a kitchen countertop, it will not easily slide.
The board member 10 has an upper working surface 12 surrounded by a shallow groove 14, which serves to catch drips leaking from items placed on the working surface 12.
A pair of posts 16, spaced close enough apart to jointly skewer, for example, a tomato, are fixedly mounted on the board member adjacent one of the shorter sides. The posts 16 have beveled, but have blunt ends for skewering a food item, such as a tomato, in an efficient but safe manner. The ends should not be sufficiently sharp to cause injury if lent on by the user.
A rectangular block 18 has a pair of through holes 20 complementary to the upstanding post 16. The rectangular block can be placed on the working surface 12 with the upstanding post guided into the through holes 20. In this manner, the block is retained firmly in position on the working surface 12 of the board member 10. The through holes allow for easy cleaning with the aid of a simple wire brush.
The lower surface 22 of the block 18 is flat, although it may be roughened to serve as a gripping surface in order to trap food items, such as slices of meat, between the lower surface of the block and the working surface of the board member 10.
20 A rectangular channel 24, extending lengthwise at the block, 18 is formed in its upper surface. The rectangular channel 24 provides a lip 26 which engages the upper edge of a food working device, such as a grater or scraper, which may be placed at an angle on the board with its upper edge engaged by the lip 26.
In use, the single-handed person, after placing the grater or scraper in position, can work on a food item by moving it up and down the working device with one hand. The retaining block 18 with lip 26 will prevent the working device from moving.
Slices of meat can be trapped under the block, which will retain them in place due to its weight, so as to allow the user to slice them further, or chop them into strips or cubes, for example.
The board member 10 has an upper working surface 12 surrounded by a shallow groove 14, which serves to catch drips leaking from items placed on the working surface 12.
A pair of posts 16, spaced close enough apart to jointly skewer, for example, a tomato, are fixedly mounted on the board member adjacent one of the shorter sides. The posts 16 have beveled, but have blunt ends for skewering a food item, such as a tomato, in an efficient but safe manner. The ends should not be sufficiently sharp to cause injury if lent on by the user.
A rectangular block 18 has a pair of through holes 20 complementary to the upstanding post 16. The rectangular block can be placed on the working surface 12 with the upstanding post guided into the through holes 20. In this manner, the block is retained firmly in position on the working surface 12 of the board member 10. The through holes allow for easy cleaning with the aid of a simple wire brush.
The lower surface 22 of the block 18 is flat, although it may be roughened to serve as a gripping surface in order to trap food items, such as slices of meat, between the lower surface of the block and the working surface of the board member 10.
20 A rectangular channel 24, extending lengthwise at the block, 18 is formed in its upper surface. The rectangular channel 24 provides a lip 26 which engages the upper edge of a food working device, such as a grater or scraper, which may be placed at an angle on the board with its upper edge engaged by the lip 26.
In use, the single-handed person, after placing the grater or scraper in position, can work on a food item by moving it up and down the working device with one hand. The retaining block 18 with lip 26 will prevent the working device from moving.
Slices of meat can be trapped under the block, which will retain them in place due to its weight, so as to allow the user to slice them further, or chop them into strips or cubes, for example.
Tomatoes, onions, apples or like food items can be skewered by the upstanding post after removal of the block and worked on by the user with the aid of a knife. Drips tend to be caught in the groove 14.
A pair of abutment bars 28 lying at right angles to each other so as to define a corner are located on the working surface at the end remote from the massive block 18.
Each of these bars has a pair of protruding pins on its underside, which engage in complementary holes formed in the upper surface of the board member 10. The bars are also made of CorianTM.
The abutment bars 28 have mutually facing rounded ends 30 separated by a gap sufficient to accommodate a knife (not shown).
If the user wishes to spread butter on a slice of bread, for example, he or she places the slice of bread so as to abut the bars 28. The user can then spread butter on the slice of bread without fear of it slipping off the working surface by spreading in a direction toward the bars 28.
1 S The user can cut the bread diagonally with a knife by passing the knife through the gap 32 between the bars 28. An optional elastomeric, neoprene friction pad 34 can be placed on the working surface in the vicinity of the bars 28, preferably extending under them and being retained temporarily in place by the pins 36 from the bars extending into the holes on the working surface. The friction pad 34 is used primarily for permitting the user to open jam jars and the like. For example, a jam jar with a twist top can be placed on the friction pad in a butting relationship with the abutment bars 28. The user can then apply downward pressure with his or her working hand and friction will hold the jar in place while the top is twisted off. To get an even better grip, the user may wish to invert the jar temporarily just to loosen it before complete removal.
The dimensions are as follows: board 10 11 His" x 8 His"; retaining block 18 2 His" x 1 %2" x 1 '/z"; abutment bars 28 %Z" x '/2" x 4" with a 3is" gap.
The food preparation aid in accordance with the invention is thus a highly versatile aid suitable for use by single-handed persons who have lost the use of one hand and arm. It permits them to carry out many food preparation operations that are taken for granted by two-handed persons, but which for single-handed persons can become difficult to execute.
A pair of abutment bars 28 lying at right angles to each other so as to define a corner are located on the working surface at the end remote from the massive block 18.
Each of these bars has a pair of protruding pins on its underside, which engage in complementary holes formed in the upper surface of the board member 10. The bars are also made of CorianTM.
The abutment bars 28 have mutually facing rounded ends 30 separated by a gap sufficient to accommodate a knife (not shown).
If the user wishes to spread butter on a slice of bread, for example, he or she places the slice of bread so as to abut the bars 28. The user can then spread butter on the slice of bread without fear of it slipping off the working surface by spreading in a direction toward the bars 28.
1 S The user can cut the bread diagonally with a knife by passing the knife through the gap 32 between the bars 28. An optional elastomeric, neoprene friction pad 34 can be placed on the working surface in the vicinity of the bars 28, preferably extending under them and being retained temporarily in place by the pins 36 from the bars extending into the holes on the working surface. The friction pad 34 is used primarily for permitting the user to open jam jars and the like. For example, a jam jar with a twist top can be placed on the friction pad in a butting relationship with the abutment bars 28. The user can then apply downward pressure with his or her working hand and friction will hold the jar in place while the top is twisted off. To get an even better grip, the user may wish to invert the jar temporarily just to loosen it before complete removal.
The dimensions are as follows: board 10 11 His" x 8 His"; retaining block 18 2 His" x 1 %2" x 1 '/z"; abutment bars 28 %Z" x '/2" x 4" with a 3is" gap.
The food preparation aid in accordance with the invention is thus a highly versatile aid suitable for use by single-handed persons who have lost the use of one hand and arm. It permits them to carry out many food preparation operations that are taken for granted by two-handed persons, but which for single-handed persons can become difficult to execute.
Claims (17)
1. A food preparation aid for single-handed persons, comprising:
a board member providing a flat upper working surface and having an anti-slip arrangement on its underside;
at least one upstanding post on said board member for skewering foodstuff so as to hold said foodstuff in position on said working surface while a single-handed person works therewith; and a removable, massive retaining block with at least one guide hole complementary to said at least one post mountable on said working surface with said at least one post guided in a respective complementary hole in said block, said block having an upper surface with a lip for receiving one end of an inclined food processing accessory.
a board member providing a flat upper working surface and having an anti-slip arrangement on its underside;
at least one upstanding post on said board member for skewering foodstuff so as to hold said foodstuff in position on said working surface while a single-handed person works therewith; and a removable, massive retaining block with at least one guide hole complementary to said at least one post mountable on said working surface with said at least one post guided in a respective complementary hole in said block, said block having an upper surface with a lip for receiving one end of an inclined food processing accessory.
2. A food preparation aid as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of said upstanding posts spaced sufficiently close to skewer a tomato or like food item.
3. A food preparation aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anti-slip-arrangement comprises silicone pads.
4. A food preparation aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said lip is defined by a longitudinal channel formed in the upper surface of said block adjacent a longitudinal edge thereof.
5, A food preparation aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a pair of abutment bars mountable on said working surface at an angle to each other for retaining food components or jars and like elements against displacement on said working surface while being worked therewith by a single-handed person.
6. A food preparation aid as claimed in claim 4, wherein said abutment bars are arranged at right angles to each other.
7. A food preparation aid as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said abutment bars are removably located on said board by means of complementary pins and holes.
8. A food preparation aid as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising a friction pad locatable on said working surface in the vicinity of said abutments.
9. A food preparation aid as claimed in claim 8, wherein said friction pad is removable.
10. A food preparation aid as claimed in claim 9, wherein said friction pad is retained by said complementary pins and holes.
11. A food preparation aid as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein said abutments bars are separated by a knife-accommodating gap at their proximate ends.
12. A food preparation aid for single-handed persons, comprising:
a board member providing a flat upper working surface and having an anti-slip arrangement on its underside; and a pair of abutment bars mountable on said working surface, said abutment bars lying at an angle to each other for retaining food elements or jars and like elements.
a board member providing a flat upper working surface and having an anti-slip arrangement on its underside; and a pair of abutment bars mountable on said working surface, said abutment bars lying at an angle to each other for retaining food elements or jars and like elements.
13. A food preparation aid as claimed in claim 12, wherein said abutment bars are located at right angles to each other.
14. A food preparation aid as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein said abutment bars are removably retained on said board by means of complementary pins and holes.
15. A food preparation aid as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising a friction pad locatable on said working surface adjacent said abutments and retained by said pins.
16. A food preparation aid as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein said abutments bars are separated by a knife-accommodating gap at their proximate ends.
17. A food preparation aid as claimed in claim 16, wherein said proximate ends are rounded.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2284336 CA2284336A1 (en) | 1999-09-29 | 1999-09-29 | Food preparation aid for single-handed persons |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2284336 CA2284336A1 (en) | 1999-09-29 | 1999-09-29 | Food preparation aid for single-handed persons |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2284336A1 true CA2284336A1 (en) | 2001-03-29 |
Family
ID=4164265
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2284336 Abandoned CA2284336A1 (en) | 1999-09-29 | 1999-09-29 | Food preparation aid for single-handed persons |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2284336A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2926198A1 (en) * | 2008-01-16 | 2009-07-17 | Jean Paul Begouen | Food e.g. rice, feeding facilitating device for upper limb handicapped person in e.g. restaurant, has rigid plate with pews that have edge inclined at angle of hundred degrees, where edge forming separation permits to collect foods in fork |
| WO2019035018A1 (en) * | 2017-08-16 | 2019-02-21 | Bouncer Bvba | Tray |
| WO2019135263A1 (en) * | 2018-01-08 | 2019-07-11 | Madanat Sahar | Partitioned tableware |
-
1999
- 1999-09-29 CA CA 2284336 patent/CA2284336A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2926198A1 (en) * | 2008-01-16 | 2009-07-17 | Jean Paul Begouen | Food e.g. rice, feeding facilitating device for upper limb handicapped person in e.g. restaurant, has rigid plate with pews that have edge inclined at angle of hundred degrees, where edge forming separation permits to collect foods in fork |
| WO2019035018A1 (en) * | 2017-08-16 | 2019-02-21 | Bouncer Bvba | Tray |
| BE1025476B1 (en) * | 2017-08-16 | 2019-03-18 | Bouncer Bvba | TRAY |
| WO2019135263A1 (en) * | 2018-01-08 | 2019-07-11 | Madanat Sahar | Partitioned tableware |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |