TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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 INVENTION
Corn 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 INVENTION
There 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE 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.
FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of the presently disclosed corn holder storage unit;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the corn holder storage unit shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross section along the line X-X of the embodiment of the corn holder storage unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the presently disclosed corn holder storage system;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the corn holder storage system shown in FIG. 4 having the corn holders disengaged from the corn holder storage unit and depicting a snap fit construction for retaining the corn holders;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross section of the corn holder storage system of FIG. 5 depicting the snap fit construction;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the corn holder storage system depicting a friction fit construction for retaining the corn holders;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross section of the alternative embodiment of the corn holder storage system of FIG. 7 depicting the friction fit construction for retaining the corn holders;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the corn holder storage system depicting a threaded fit construction for retaining the corn holders;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial cross section of another alternative embodiment of the corn holder storage system of FIG. 9 depicting the threaded fit construction for retaining the corn holders;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the corn holder storage system depicting a magnetic fit construction for retaining the corn holders;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial cross section of another alternative embodiment of the corn holder storage system of FIG. 11 depicting the magnetic fit construction for retaining the corn holders;
FIG. 13 is a side view of yet another alternative embodiment of the corn holder storage unit, depicting a construction in which multiple members may be coupled to other members;
FIG. 14 is a perspective partial cross section of an additional alternative embodiment of the corn holder storage system incorporating a central stabilizer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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 FIGS. 1-14, there are illustrated several views and embodiments of a corn holder storage unit 30. Generally, the corn holder storage unit 30 comprises one or more members 32 having a wall 34 defining a cavity 36. A person having ordinary skill in the art would understand that, while the members 32 may be tubes as illustrated in the figures, the members 32 may be of any shape able to accommodate a correspondingly shaped corn holder. For example, the member 32 defining a cavity 36 could be in the shape of a triangular prism to accommodate a corn holder having a triangular base (not shown), a rectangular prism to accommodate a corn holder having a square base (not shown), or any other shape capable of accepting and retaining one or more corn holders, as will be described. For purposes of simplicity, the terms “members” and “tubes” are to be understood as describing the element corresponding to reference number 32, but the members, as described, need not be tubes.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the wall 34 of the member 32 terminates at a first end 38 and an opposing second end 40, either or both of which may be open to permit access to the cavity 36. While the terms “first end” and “second end” may be described in various examples as being open, it is to be understood that the terms need not relate to the member in any particular orientation. In a preferred embodiment, both the first end 38 and the second end 40 are open to simultaneously accept and retain an opposing pair 13 of corn holders, as illustrated in FIG. 4. That a member 32 may accept and retain a corn holder pair 13 is one of the many advantages of the present corn holder storage unit 30 over existing devices. Where the corn holder storage unit 30 is configured to retain a pair 13 of corn holders, individually corresponding to reference number 10, the member 32 may be of sufficient distance D to prevent the operative end 18, and particularly the pin 20 and screw structure 22, of the first corn holder 10 from interfering with the operative end 18 of the second corn holder 10, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6. In some instances, the distance D must be at least two times the length L of the operative end 18, as noted in FIG. 12.
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 FIGS. 3 and 9. When the corn holder storage unit 30 comprises a plurality of members 32, each member's axis C is preferably parallel to each other member's axis C, so to facilitate a compact design for the corn holder storage unit 30 while accommodating several corn holder pairs 13. Accordingly, a corn holder storage unit 30 having, for example, four members 32 may be constructed such that each of the four members 32 is adjacent and coupled to other members 32, each axis C of the members 32 being parallel to each other axis C, and each of the first ends 38 and second ends 40 being open. In such a construction, the corn holder storage unit 30 is thereby configured to accept and retain up to eight individual corn holders 10, such as the unit illustrated in FIG. 4. Alternatively, the corn holder storage unit 30 may be configured such that either the first end 38 or the second end 40 is open, thereby receiving corn holders 10 only on the open end, or the members 32 may alternate in terms of the first end 38 or second end 40 being open. Additionally, while multiple members 32 are illustrated, it is to be understood that the corn holder storage unit 30 may consist of an individual member 32 to retain one corn holder pair 13 or an individual corn holder 10. Because the corn holder storage unit 30 can be manufactured to accommodate a variety of corn holder designs and sizes, the unit 30 may be sold to consumers independent of the corn holders 10. Alternately, the corn holder storage unit 30 may be sold as a system or combination with the corn holders 10, as described below.
In an embodiment there is disclosed a corn holder storage system, most clearly illustrated FIGS. 4 and 5. In this embodiment the members 32, either individually or as coupled to constitute the corn holder storage unit 30, are configured to accept, retain, and conceal an operative end 18 of one or more corn holders 10. Specifically with regard to the corn holder 10, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, an individual corn holder 10 may consist of a holder body 14 having a grasping end 16 and an operative end 18. More particularly, the corn holder 10 may comprise a base 24 from which a bulbous grasping end 16 extends in a first direction opposing an operative 18 from which a traditional pin 20 extends. In an embodiment, the operative end 18 additionally includes a screw structure 22, particularly a helical screw 22, for maintaining a more secure connection between the corn holder 10 and a corn cob (not shown). It is this non-traditional corn holder design 10 that highlights the ability of the presently disclosed corn holder storage unit 30 to accommodate a variety of designs for operative ends 18 of corn holders 10. While the corn holder storage unit 30 can accommodate such non-traditional designs 30, it can similarly accommodate the more traditional parallel pin corn holders. Further, while the corn holder storage unit 30 could be constructed to accept the grasping end 16, it is preferable that the member 32 conceal the operative end 18 within the cavity 36 to avoid injury to the user and damage to the pins 20 of the operative end 18 which could otherwise result from being stored loose in a utensil drawer.
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 FIGS. 4 and 5, the corn holders 10 are retained individually or in pairs 13 through the interaction between a peripheral structure 42 and the individual members 32, the peripheral structure 42 adapted to enclose the members 32. The peripheral structure 42 may extend the distance D of the members 32, or the peripheral structure 42 may extend beyond the distance D of the members, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, an abutment structure 44 may be disposed within the peripheral structure 42 to abut an operative end 18 of the corn holder 10 to maintain the position of the corn holder with respect to the member 32 and the peripheral structure 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the abutment structure 44 is specifically an abutment rim 44 of the tube. 32. The abutment rim 44 may be on either or both the first end 38 and the second end 40.
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 FIG. 4.
The corn holder 10 is prevented from becoming dislodged from the member through a variety of constructions. In an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2-6 and 14, there is a plurality of retaining protrusions 46 formed within the peripheral structure 42 to facilitate a snap fit with the corn holder base 24. The retaining protrusions 46 may be formed integrally with the peripheral structure 42 or may be affixed to the peripheral structure 42 through mechanical or adhesive means. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the member 32 may be adapted to frictionally retain the corn holder 10. A friction fit of the corn holder 10 by the member 32 may be facilitated by constructing the system such that there is very little clearance between the member 32 and the corn holder operative end 18 or between the peripheral structure 42 and the corn holder base 24. The friction fit may additionally be accomplished through application of a substance such as flexible thermoplastic rubber to the inner surface of the peripheral structure 42. Other manners of providing friction fits are considered, including constructing the peripheral structure 42 of a semi-rigid material such that the material may slightly flare when the base 24 is inserted into the corn holder storage unit 30. Other friction fit mechanisms can be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art.
Even further, the corn holder storage system may include a unit 30 that magnetically retains the corn holders 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. This retention may be facilitated by providing a retaining magnet 48 in at least a portion of the peripheral structure 42, the member 32, or the corn holder 10. Similarly, a magnetic material 26 or opposing magnet may be embedded in or affixed to a portion of the peripheral structure 42, the member 32, or the corn holder 10. Even further, the retaining magnet 48 embedded in the peripheral structure 42 or the member 32 may be attracted to the pin 20 or screw structure 22 of the corn holder operative end 18. Alternately, the corn holder storage unit 30 may threadably retain the corn holder. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the peripheral structure 42 comprises a threaded receiving portion 50 and the corn holder base 24 is constructed with an accommodating threaded structure 27, as is understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art. Other mechanisms for retaining the corn holders 10 with respect to the peripheral structure 42 and/or the member 32 are obvious to persons having ordinary skill.
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 FIG. 13, could include a protuberance 52 formed on the surface on one member and a corresponding recess 54 on an adjacent member, the protuberance 52 and recess 54 thereby releasably coupling adjacent members.
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 FIG. 14. The central cross-member 64 may extend the inner surface 58 of the member 32, the central cross-member 64 being disposed on the wall 34 in the member cavity 36 between the first end 38 and the second end 40. One such construction disposes the cross-member 64 with respect to the member 32 at a length L from the first end 38 and the second end 40, to receive the operative end 18 of respective corn holders 10. The cross-member 64 may approximately bisect the member 32, but may additionally be placed at other points with respect to the member 32, as dictated by whether the member 32 is to accommodate one or two corn holders 10, whether the corn holders 10 are identical in shape and pin configuration, and other design considerations. Further, the cross-member 64 may comprise first and second cylindrical walls 60 extending from the cross-member towards the first end 38 and the second end 40, respectively. Each of the first and second cylindrical walls 60 may be adapted to receive the operative ends 18, and specifically the pins 20, of the corn holders 10. The first and/or second cylindrical walls 60 may include internally beveled ends to guide and stabilize a corn holder pin 20. The cross-member 64 may constitute a substantially planar rib stabilizing the first and second cylindrical walls 60. In combination, the first and second cylindrical walls 60 and the cross-member 64 contribute to retention of the corn holders 10, may accept a corn holder pair 13 along axis C, and decrease the likelihood of warping of the member 32 or bending of the corn holder operative end 18.
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.
Patent Application
20120097575
