Patent Application
20160214147
The present invention generally relates to nozzles attached to spray bottles, and more specifically to a spray bottle attachment for sanitizing knife blocks.
The presently claimed invention discloses a knife block spray sanitizer system for safely dispensing sanitizer fluid into the open slots of a knife block. The knife block spray sanitizer system uses an improved spray-attachment for safely dispensing sanitizing fluid into the open slots of a knife block is described. The spray-attachment includes a rear intake side for working with commercially available pump heads that include an “on” and “off” rotatable outlet valve. The pump head provides pressurized sanitizing fluid that is sprayed out of the front discharge end. The front discharge end includes a substantially flat splash guard and a substantially rectangular slot guide disposed on the flat splash guard.
The rectangular slot guide includes one or more ejection ports or nozzles. The nozzles are in fluid communication with the cylindrical head pass channel for directing the pressurized fluid therefrom. The rectangular slot guide is specifically sized to fit within the various small knife block slots. A user upon engaging the trigger on a nozzle spraying device will cause the solution within the spray bottle to be broadcast through the orifices of the splash guard to the inside of the knife block slot. The splash guard stops splash back of sanitizer liquid coming out of the knife block onto items surrounding the knife block.
The accompanying figures wherein reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention, in which:
As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and that the systems and methods described below can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present subject matter in virtually any appropriately detailed structure and function. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the concepts.
The description of the presently claimed invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
A “knife block” is a block of solid material, typically wood or plastic containing long grooves in which kitchen knives of various sizes can be inserted up to the handle. The slots are sized to accept a knife blade into it. Typically the slots are formed such that it is impossible to have access of the interior of the small slots openings. Contaminants are easily transmitted by knives inserted into the slots that were perhaps previously used to cut raw foods that were not cleaned or sanitized properly before replacing them back to the knife block. Studies made in 2013 by the N.S.F. National Sanitizing Foundation which is a worldwide agency and approved by the U.S. Government proved the following. Among the top 20 kitchen work items containing dangerous bacteria, their studies proved that the knife block was among the top three most dangerous items. Improperly washed knives returned to the knife block develop dangerous food born bacteria and germs in the dark moist and unattended environment of the small knife block slots. This, combined with the introduction of residue on the knives encourages this germ and bacteria growth that can bring about illness and even death. Therefore reducing and eliminating harmful germs, bacteria, and contaminants developing inside the slots of a knife block is a problem identified by the inventor.
Furthermore, the problem of achieving the sanitizing objective without a back splash or cover of some type when trying to spray liquids into these small multiple slots without a cover or guard of some type with today's large common spray tips has been identified as dangerous by the inventor.
In one example the sanitizer head (109) has two positions a first position “off” to prohibit spray to discharge and a second position “on” to allow spray to discharge. The first position or “off position” is shown in
In order to properly insert inside a slot of a knife block (1501), the rectangular slot guide (105) has a width approximately between 0.050 and 0.200 inches and in one example the width is approximately 0.100 inches. The length of the rectangular slot guide (105) is approximately between 0.200 and 0.800 inches and in one example the length is approximately 0.625 inches. The depth of the rectangular slot guide (105) is approximately between 0.100 and 0.400 inches and in one example the depth is 0.200 inches.
All fluids based upon or containing anti-bacterial compounds, anti-viral compounds, and/or anti-fungal compounds properties could be used in the device including but not limited to ones based on vinegar, alcohol, iodine, silver, silver nitrate, zinc, citric acid, hydrogen peroxide as well as combinations and compounds thereof.
Although a clear sanitizing fluid as used in one embodiment of the presently claimed invention, other types of sanitizing fluids and foams may be dispensed in various forms by the nozzle trigger including fluids, liquids, aerosols, sprays, streams and/or the like.
Further, although the presently claim invention is directed to decontamination and sanitizing knife blocks, other kitchen products, especially kitchen products with porous surfaces have been shown to be successfully decontaminated and sanitized. Kitchen products with porous surfaces, such as wood, are particularly difficult to properly clean. Using the currently claim invention, kitchen products with porous surfaces are including cutting boards, spoon rests, utensils, and bowls are decontaminated and sanitized as well.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and “having” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e. open language). The term “coupled” as used herein, is defined as “connected” although not necessarily directly.
The description of the present application has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
