Supports: cabinet structure – Mounted on wall – ceiling or spaced panels – Movably mounted housing or compartment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-08
2001-10-09
Chen, Jose V. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
Mounted on wall, ceiling or spaced panels
Movably mounted housing or compartment
C108S143000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299267
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to mounting devices for cutting boards, and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to a mounting device for mounting a cutting board on the underside of a wall cabinet, typically located over a countertop.
2. Description of Related Art
Cutting boards are well known accessories in kitchens and industrial settings to provide users with a cutting surface for cutting items without causing damage to underlying surfaces or knives. Cutting boards are constructed of diverse materials in various sizes and shapes. Commonly, cutting boards are portable or are concealed in cabinets. Concealed cutting boards are commonly integral parts of the cabinets, sliding in slots from a stored position to an accessible position. Such concealed cutting boards are convenient but are usually constructed as part of the cabinet. Therefore, retrofitting a cabinet with a concealed cutting board feature requires extensive reconstruction and is usually not feasible.
Attempts have been made in the prior art to provide alternative cutting board storage devices. U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,772 (granted Dec. 15, 1998 to Fitzgerald) discloses a kitchen cutting board storage apparatus which uses a series of brackets for restricting the lateral and linear movement of the cutting board. Adhesive strips are used to attach the brackets to a surface. Thus, if a strong adhesive is used, the storage device cannot be removed without causing damage to the surface. If a weaker adhesive is used, the storage device is not attached with sufficient strength to withstand cutting forces applied to the board while in the storage device. Furthermore, the device requires the cutting board to slide flush with the attaching surface. Therefore, the device is not suited for use on the underside of wall cabinets having a vertical edge extending below the front bottom of the cabinet.
The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present invention.
The present invention minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein.
In view of the drawbacks inherent in the available art, it would be a significant advance in the art to provide a mounted cutting board device which is simple in design and manufacture and capable of being installed on existing cabinetry and removed if desired. It would also be an advancement in the art to provide a cabinet mounted cutting board which is easy to install and capable of withstanding significant forces.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cabinet mounted cutting board device which is simple in design and manufacture.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a cabinet mounted cutting board capable of being installed on existing cabinetry and removed if desired.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a cabinet mounted cutting board which is easy to install.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a mounting device for a cutting board capable of withstanding significant forces.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention without undue experimentation. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The present invention accomplishes these objects using a novel structure providing advantages not previously available in the art. The present invention includes a cabinet mounted cutting board for attaching on a surface such as an underside of a wall mounted cabinet over a countertop. The cabinet mounted cutting board includes a cutting board and a mounting member. The mounting member has at least one attaching portion for attaching the mounting member to the underside of the wall mounted cabinet, and a support portion for supporting the cutting board. The support portion has a first support member for supporting a first side of the cutting board and a second support member for supporting a second side of the cutting board. The attaching portion and the support portion are connected to form a single piece.
The attaching portion has apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten the mounting member to the cabinet. The attaching portion also has a planar portion with a first attaching end and an opposing second attaching end, the first and second attaching ends are bent angularly from the planar portion. The first attaching end is attached to the first support member, and the second attaching end is attached to the second support member such that a space is provided between the planar portion and the support portion to form an offset to enable the cutting board to clear a front edge of the cabinet.
In a preferred embodiment, the first and second support members are channel shaped and capped at their ends to limit sliding of the cutting board. However, the first and second support members can be made of a single piece of channel shaped material bent to form a substantial U shape, the connecting member forming a stop to limit the movement of the cutting board.
REFERENCES:
patent: 132165 (1872-10-01), Maples
patent: 1073483 (1913-09-01), Frost
patent: 2616775 (1952-11-01), Nesbitt et al.
patent: 4184725 (1980-01-01), Spangler
patent: 4632472 (1986-12-01), Bross
patent: 4736689 (1988-04-01), Stanko
patent: 4944566 (1990-07-01), Carper
patent: 5626067 (1997-05-01), Lothe
patent: 5662371 (1997-09-01), Gera et al.
patent: 5848772 (1998-12-01), Fitzgerald
Chen José V.
Clayton Howarth & Cannon, P.C.
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