Patent Grant
11700960
The present invention relates to serving boards and, more particularly, to a serving board that can be varied in size to accommodate different size gatherings.
Serving boards (also referred to as cheese boards) are used to present food in an artful way. They are used in professional settings, as well as home gatherings. Even when someone is hosting an informal private gathering for a small or large group of people, food presentation is very important to the overall ambiance of the event.
Most serving boards are fixed in shape in terms of area. They are either small for small gatherings (e.g., four people or less), or large for parties and other large gatherings. Large boards have the problem of being hard to store, take up too much space when a small board footprint is needed (e.g., there is limited counter space), and are harder to transport (as needed). Small serving boards do not have these problems, but they fail to be adequately sized for large gatherings. Consequently, hosts, at the present, need to have the two variations in size to be adequately prepared for different event sizes, or serve the food on multiple boards, which does not make for an artful presentation.
As can be seen, there is a need for a serving board that provides the functional benefits of both large and small serving boards, without the drawbacks previously described.
In one aspect of the present invention, a serving board includes: (1) a base board defining a plurality of peripheral edge regions, with each peripheral edge region including a first coupling element; (2) a cover board coupled to or integral with the base board on an upper side of the base board; and (3) a plurality of side boards, with each side board comprising a second coupling element and a third coupling element, and each side board is configured to detachably couple to the base board such that: (a) in a first serving board configuration, the second coupling element couples with one of the first coupling elements; and (b) in a second serving board configuration, the third coupling element couples with the one of the first coupling elements.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following figures are included to illustrate certain aspects of the present disclosure, and should not be viewed as exclusive embodiments. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modifications, alterations, combinations, and equivalents in form and function, without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Broadly, one embodiment of the present invention is an adjustable-size serving board that can be converted selectively to a compact configuration or an expanded configuration. In preferred embodiments, the serving board includes a base board, a cover board, and side boards. The base board includes a number of peripheral edge regions that have a first coupling element. The cover board may be provided as coupled to or integral with the base board on an upper side of the base board. The side boards each include a second coupling element and a third coupling element. Each side board detachably couples to the base board using the second and third coupling elements to result in a compact size serving board in a first configuration, and an expanded size serving board in a second configuration.
Embodiments of the present invention will allow for a more customizable serving area. Advantageously, a plurality of side boards can be detached from a base board and then attached/interlocked at a different location on the base board (away from a center of the base board) to result in a more spacious serving board. At the same time, one or more bowls that are used to serve dips can be relocated to a different region of the board to allow easier accessibility. When expanded, the aesthetic of the serving board is preserved, while simultaneously allowing for a larger number of people to enjoy the food on the board. When less surface area for a serving board is needed, the plurality of side boards can again be detached from the base board and attached/interlocked at a location closer to a center of the base board.
While additional benefits to the present invention will be made apparent by the following disclosure, the teaching of the present invention yield a customizable, expandable serving board that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Embodiments of present invention accomplish, among others, the two following goals: (1) serving a larger number of guests and (2) being compact and easily storable. Never before has it been conceived nor accomplished to have two aesthetically-pleasing serving boards integrated into a single apparatus.
Making reference now to
As shown in
Referring now to
By way of example, a method of converting the serving board from a small board in the compact configuration (
To convert the serving board to a large board (i.e., one with a larger surface area and greater perimeter than that of the small serving board configuration), each side board 20 is detached from the base board 10 by lifting the side board 20 up such that the locating pins 22, lower pin holes 25, and magnets 26 are no longer coupled with one another. Next, as shown in
As shown, for example, in
In general, all the parts can be geometrically shaped to provide a substantially continuous serving surface in both the compact and extended configurations. Many potential configurations are possible, and within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
To make various embodiments of the serving board, they may be formed, for example, from wood. Computer numerical control (CNC) machines may be used to cut and carve the wood, for example. In summary, converting the board into the expanded version will solve the problem of being small and not enough for parties. Converting the board into the compacted version will solve the problem of being too large for storage. It will also solve the problem of being too large for small gatherings. For instance, an entertainment of only two people (e.g., a romantic evening) will not require a large cheese server. The customizability described herein provides the advantages of different size boards with none of the disadvantages otherwise associated therewith.
Therefore, the disclosed systems and methods are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the teachings of the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered, combined, or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The systems and methods illustratively disclosed herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically disclosed herein and/or any optional element disclosed herein.
While apparatuses and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the apparatuses and methods can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. All numbers and ranges disclosed above may vary by some amount. Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the elements that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.
The terms “inner” and “outer” are defined herein relative to the serving board. The term “inner” refers to the position of an element closer to the center of the serving board and the term “outer” refers to the position of an element further away from the center of the serving board. Moreover, the use of directional terms such as above, below, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, the upward or upper direction being toward the top of the corresponding figure and the downward or lower direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding figure.
As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list (i.e., each item). The phrase “at least one of” allows a meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” each refer to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040037078 | Lee | Feb 2004 | A1 |
| 20140110413 | Kelly | Apr 2014 | A1 |
| 20160107791 | Schlief | Apr 2016 | A1 |
| 20190254454 | Boyatt | Aug 2019 | A1 |
| 20220287492 | Siek | Sep 2022 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230084698 A1 | Mar 2023 | US |
