WO2025111324A1

WO2025111324A1 - Nesting trivet and utensil holder system

Info

Publication number: WO2025111324A1
Application number: PCT/US2024/056635
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles D. Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-11-20
Filing date: 2024-11-20
Publication date: 2025-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-20

Abstract

A Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System comprising: a base utensil rest; one or a plurality of trivets, which nest within said base utensil rest; and one or a plurality of utensil holders, which nest within said one or a plurality of trivets.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

NESTING TRIVET AND UTENSIL HOLDER SYSTEM

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a PCT application, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/601,085 filed on Nov. 20, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention described herein relates to the fields of cooking and kitchen utensils. Specifically, the invention provides a nestable system that can be configured in multiple ways to place pots and pans on for cooking, hold utensils for easy retrieval and placement, and contain all cooking contents within the system base to prevent drips and spills on kitchen surfaces.

[0002] Cooking pots and pans are routinely removed from heat and placed on a cooking surface for adding ingredients, stirring, mixing, etc. While doing so, most cooks place the pot or pan on an insulated pad or trivet, utilize a cooking utensil, then set the cooking utensil down directly on the cooking surface, generally a kitchen counter. This creates a mess by cooking contents dripping off of the utensil and spilling on to the cooking surface or kitchen counter. This can be remedied by utilizing a plate and resting the cooking utensil on the plate to hopefully catch and contain the cooking contents on the plate rather than them dripping on to the kitchen counter. Of course, a plate must be dirtied, and a plate provides no means to conveniently hold a kitchen utensil for easy placement and retrieval by the cook. While there are various utensil holders in the art, there are no utensil holders that can be placed on pots and pans with varying rim shapes and thicknesses. Nor can any utensil holder in the art be configured to provide for multiple holding positions of virtually any type of kitchen utensil.

[0003] Furthermore, there is no system in the art that is capable of being configured in multiple ways to place pots and pans for cooking, hold utensils for easy retrieval and placement, and contain all cooking contents within the system base to prevent drips and spills on kitchen surfaces, which is completely nestable for convenient storage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Due to the problems identified above, a need exists for a fully Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System described herein is comprised of a base utensil rest wherein one or a plurality of trivets nest within said base utensil rest along with one or a plurality of novel utensil holders. Once the system is unnested, a pot or pan can be placed on the trivet. A concave shaped lateral border of the base allows the lateral border of the base to snugly rest up against the pot or pan resting on the trivet. In this configuration, the base acts as a utensil rest where kitchen utensils can be rested without dripping or spilling cooking contents on a kitchen counter. A raised border of the base acts as a barrier to contain all cooking contents on the base. Furthermore, the system is comprised of one or a plurality of wishbone shaped utensil holders. Said utensil holders can be configured upon the border of the base, or said utensil holders can be configured upon the rim of a pot or pan. The wishbone shaped utensil holders function to hold kitchen utensils in various positions to secure said utensils from falling over, falling into a pot, and/or to make the utensils easy to retrieve and secure while confining dripping cooking contents within said base. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the trivet and utensil holder system completely nested for storage.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a trivet unnested.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base utensil rest without trivet.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the system in use showing a pot resting on trivet with utensil holders configured to hold a ladle on the side of the pot and spatula, where ladle and spatula are both within utensil rest to prevent cooking contents from dripping or spilling on cooking surface.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the system in use showing a pot resting on trivet with utensil holder installed on side of pot ready to engage utensil to hold utensil within base utensil rest.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the system in use showing a pot resting on trivet with utensil holder on side of pot with ladle engaged by utensil holder and resting on utensil rest.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a side view of the base utensil rest showing utensil holder engagement recesses of perimeter raised border.

[0012] FIG. 8 is a top side view of the trivet showing cutouts, which accommodate utensil holders in nested configuration.

[0013] FIG. 9 is a top view of the base utensil rest.

[0014] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the base utensil rest with utensil holder configured to secure spatula on utensil rest in position for easy retrieval and use. [0015] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the utensil rest with utensil holder configured horizontally to secure spatula on utensil rest in position for easy retrieval and use and another utensil rest configured vertically to secure ladle on utensil rest for easy retrieval and use.

[0016] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the utensil rest and multiple trivets unnested.

[0017] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the utensil rest and multiple trivets unnested with two utensil holders demonstrating horizontal configuration and vertical configuration on said utensil rest.

[0018] FIG. 14 is a top view of a utensil holder.

[0019] FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of a utensil holder.

[0020] FIG. 16 is a side view of a utensil holder showing engagement grooves.

[0021] FIG. 17 is a bottom perspective view of a utensil holder.

[0022] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the utensil rest with utensil holder configured vertically on a shallow pan to secure a spatula on utensil rest in position for easy retrieval and use.

[0023] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the utensil rest with utensil holder configured vertically on a shallow pan to secure a ladle on utensil rest in position for easy retrieval and use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Although only some embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, the figures and explanations should be understood as illustrations only and are not intended to limit the invention in its scope. Also, in describing the embodiments, specific terminology may be used, but it should be understood that specific terms include all technical equivalents that operate in similar manners to accomplish similar purposes. [0025] With reference to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the subject Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System 100 is described in detail below. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System 100 is comprised of a base utensil rest 10 wherein one or a plurality of trivets 20 nest within said base utensil rest 10 along with one or a plurality of novel wishbone shaped utensil holders 30. Once the system is unnested a pot 200 or pan can be placed on the trivet 20. Said base utensil rest is further comprised of a first end concave shaped lateral border 11 and a second end concave shaped lateral border 12 of said base, which allows either lateral border 11, 12 of the base utensil rest 10 to snugly rest up against said pot 200 or pan resting on a trivet 20 as shown in FIGs. 4-6. In this configuration, the base utensil rest 10, acts as a utensil rest where kitchen utensils can be rested without dripping or spilling cooking contents on a kitchen counter. A raised perimeter border 15 of the base acts as a barrier to contain all cooking contents on the base utensil rest 10.

[0026] Furthermore, the system is comprised of one or a plurality of wishbone shaped utensil holders 30. Said utensil holders 30 can be configured upon the raised perimeter border 15 of the base utensil rest 10 or said utensil holders can be configured upon the rim 210 of a pot 200 or pan. The wishbone shaped utensil holders 30 function to hold kitchen utensils such as a ladle 300 or spatula 400 in various positions to secure said utensils from falling over, falling into a pot, and/or to make the utensils easy to retrieve and secure while confining dripping cooking contents within said base utensil rest 10.

[0027] The features of the Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System 100 are further explained below. Said base utensil rest 10 is comprised of flat bottom side 13, which rests upon a surface such as a kitchen counter and a top side 14, which accepts other components of the system 100 for nesting and also provides a surface to rest utensils upon to prevent cooking materials from spilling onto said surface. Said base utensil rest 10 is further comprised of a first end concave shaped lateral border 11 and a second end concave shaped lateral border 12 of said base, which allows either lateral border 11, 12 of the base utensil rest 10 to snugly rest up against said pot 200. Said base utensil rest 10 is substantially rectangular in shape; however, one familiar in the art would recognize that said base utensil rest 10 could comprise any shape so long as opposing borders are generally concave to facilitate said base being able to snugly rest up against a substantially round shaped pot 200. Said raised perimeter border 15 is further comprised of a plurality of cutouts 16, which function to accept a corresponding first bottom side groove 36 of said wishbone shaped utensil holders 30.

[0028] Said novel wishbone shaped utensil holders 30 are designed to hold kitchen utensils such as a ladle 300 or spatula 400 in various positions to secure said utensils in a position where a cook may easily grasp the handle of the utensil while simultaneously confining dripping cooking contents within said base utensil rest 10. Referring more particularly to FIGs. 14-17, said novel wishbone shaped utensil holders 30 are generally comprised of a top side 31 and a bottom side 32. Said top side 31 and bottom side 32 are generally comprised of the shape of a wish bone, wherein a first arm 33 and a second arm 34 protrude at an angle and longitudinally from a common body portion 35 of said wishbone shaped utensil holders 30. Said first and second arms 33 and 34 may be shaped as mirror images of each other or substantially similarly; however, one familiar in the art would recognize that said arms 33 and 34 may be comprised of any shape or configuration, which substantially extends longitudinally and away from said body portion 35. Said arms 33 and 34 may curve slightly upward from a horizontal plane in relation to the top side 31 of said body portion 35. Said top side 31 is further comprised of a thumb depression 31a, which provides a spot for placement and grip of the cook’s thumb while installing and removing said wishbone shaped utensil holders 30.

[0029] The bottom side 32 of said novel wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 is further comprised of at least one or a plurality of grooves designed to engage raised perimeter border 15 cutouts 16 of said base utensil rest 10 and the rim of a pot 200 or pan 201. In the exemplary embodiment, said bottom side is comprised of a first bottom side groove 36, which is designed to correspond to, and engage said cutouts 16 of said base utensil rest 10 to secure said wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 in a substantially horizontal position in relation to the top side 14 of said base utensil rest 10. Said first bottom side groove 36 is designed so that when said first bottom side groove 36, is engaged upon a cutout 16 of said base utensil rest 10, said wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 may be installed with said arms 33, 34, extending toward the interior of said base utensil rest 10 as shown in FIG. 13, or with said body portion 35 extending toward the interior of said base utensil rest 10 as shown in FIG. 10. The engagement of said novel wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 first bottom side groove 36 upon said cutout 16 creates a space 40 between the bottom side 32 of said novel wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 and said top side 14 of said base utensil rest 10. The purpose of said space 40 is to provide a means to secure a cooking utensil such as a ladle 300 or spatula 400.

[0030] When said wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 is installed with said arms 33, 34, extending toward the interior of said base utensil rest 10 as shown in FIG. 13, a larger space is created between the bottom side 32 of said novel wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 and said top side 14 of said base utensil rest 10 due to the arms 33 and 34 curving slightly upward from a horizontal plane in relation to the top side 31 of said utensil holder 30. In this configuration, kitchen utensils with thicker implements can be wedged between said bottom side 32 of said novel wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 and said top side 14 of said base utensil rest 10. For example, a spoon or slotted spoon would be able to wedged and secured so that the handle of said spoon or slotted spoon would be held up off of the base utensil rest 10 for easy grasping of the handle by the cook.

[0031] When said wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 is installed with said body portion 35 extending toward the interior of said base utensil rest 10 as shown in FIG. 10, a smaller space is created between the bottom side 32 of said novel wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 and said top side 14 of said base utensil rest 10 due to the substantially horizontal configuration of said body portion 35 in relation to said top side 14 of said base utensil rest 10. In this configuration, kitchen utensils with thin implements can be wedged between said bottom side 32 of said novel wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 and said top side 14 of said base utensil rest 10. For example, a spatula blade 400 is secured by wedging the spatula’s blade 401 in the space 40 between the bottom side 32 of said novel wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 and said top side 14 of said base utensil rest 10 as shown in FIG. 10. In this configuration, the handle 402 of said spatula 400 is held up off of the base utensil rest 10 for easy grasping of the handle 402 by the cook.

[0032] Yet another feature of the wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 is a second bottom side groove 37, which is designed to correspond to, and engage a rim 210 of a pot 200 or pan 201 as shown in FIGs. 4-6. Said a second bottom side groove 37 is configured to engage a rim 210 of a pot or pan with a lip by shaping said second bottom side groove 37 with a lip portion engaging surface 38 to firmly engage the rim 210 of a pot 200 or pan 201 in a substantially horizontal position in relation to the kitchen surface. Said second bottom side groove 37 is designed so that when said second bottom side groove 37, is engaged upon a pot 200 or pan 201, said wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 may be installed with said arms 33, 34, extending toward the interior of said pot 200 or pan, or with said body portion 35 extending toward the interior of said pot 200 or pan as shown in FIGs. 4-6.

[0033] When said wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 is installed with said arms 33, 34, extending toward the interior of said pot 200 or pan 201, said arms 33 and 34 function to secure a spoon or ladle 300 from falling into the interior of said pot 200 or pan. In this configuration said arms 33 and 34 block the bottom of a handle 301 of said spoon or ladle 300 from sliding downward into said pot 200 or pan. Furthermore, said spoon or ladle 300 is secured in a manner where said handle 301 can be easily grasped by a cook.

[0034] When said wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 is installed with said arms 33, 34, extending toward the exterior of said pot 200 or pan 201, as shown in FIGs. 4-6, said arms 33 and 34 function to secure a spoon or ladle 300 resting upon said base utensil rest 10. In this configuration said arms 33 and 34 block the bottom of a handle 301 of said spoon or ladle 300 from sliding downward off of said pot 200 or pan. Furthermore, said spoon or ladle 300 is secured in a manner where said handle 301 can be easily grasped by a cook. In this configuration, said base utensil rest 10 acts as a utensil rest where kitchen utensils such as said spoon or ladle 300 can be rested where cooking contents are confined from dripping or spilling onto the cooking surface or kitchen counter. When said wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 is installed horizontally on the rim of said pot 200 or pan, said wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 may provide the added benefit of being a lid spacer to allow space between a lid and said pot or pan to prevent boil overs and allow steam to escape.

[0035] Yet another feature of said wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 is an end groove 50 disposed on the end of said body portion 35 opposite from said first and second arms 33 and 34. The purpose of said end groove 50 is to engage said raised perimeter border 15 cutouts 16 of said base utensil rest 10 and/or the rim 210 of a pot 200 or pan 201 so that said utensil holder 30 is secured in a vertical position 60 as shown in FIGs. 11 and 18-19. In this configuration said first and second arms 33 and 34 extend vertically creating a “V” shape where said arms 33 and 34 converge at a common connection point 61 with said body portion 35. Said common connection point 61 functions to provide a resting point to place a cooking utensil such as a spoon, ladle 300, or tongs where the handle portion of said utensil is supported by said utensil holder 30 common connection point 61. In this configuration, said base utensil rest 10 acts as a utensil rest where kitchen utensils such as said spoon or ladle 300 can be rested where cooking contents are confined from dripping or spilling onto the cooking surface or kitchen counter. Furthermore, said spoon or ladle 300 is secured in a manner where said handle 301 can be easily grasped by a cook.

[0036] Yet another component of the Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System 100 is the one or a plurality of trivets 20, which nest within said base utensil rest 10. Said trivets 20, are shaped substantially the same as said base utensil rest 10 so said trivets 20 can nest within the raised perimeter border 15 of said base utensil rest 10. Said trivets 20 may be comprised of one or a plurality of trivet cutouts. In the preferred embodiment said trivet is comprised of a first end trivet cutout 21 and second end trivet cutout 22, which function to provide a space for said wishbone shaped utensil holder 30 to securely nest while in storage as shown in FIG. 1. Said trivet is further comprised of a topside 23, which serves as a place to rest pots 200 and pans upon for serving or performing cooking tasks, and a bottom side 24 which rests upon the kitchen counter or other cooking surface while in use. Said trivet 20 topside 23 may be comprised of a plurality of ridges 25, which function to provide heat dissipation from the bottom of any pots 200 and pans resting on said trivet 20. Also said ridges provide added grip to the underside of any pots 200 and pans to prevent sliding of said pots 200 and pans during cooking activities such as stirring.

[0037] It is understood that the foregoing examples are merely illustrative of the present invention. Certain modifications of the articles and/or methods may be made and still achieve the objectives of the invention. Such modifications are contemplated as within the scope of the claimed invention. For example, one skilled in the art would recognize that the invention herein could be comprised of many different configurations of virtually any kitchen utensil.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System comprising: a base utensil rest; one or a plurality of trivets, which nest within said base utensil rest; and one or a plurality of utensil holders, which nest within said one or a plurality of trivets.

2. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 1, wherein said base utensil rest is comprised of a concave shaped lateral border.

3. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 1, wherein said base utensil rest is comprised of a first end concave shaped lateral border and a second end concave shaped lateral border.

4. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 1, wherein said base utensil rest is comprised of a raised perimeter border.

5. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 4, wherein said raised perimeter border is further comprised of a plurality of cutouts, accept one or a plurality of said utensil holders for installation.

6. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 1, wherein said base utensil rest is further comprised of a flat bottom side, which rests upon a surface; and a top side, wherein said one or a plurality of trivets and one or a plurality of utensil holders nest; and also wherein said top side provides a surface to rest utensils upon.

7. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 1, wherein said utensil holder is comprised of a top side, and a bottom side, wherein said top side and said bottom side are generally comprised of the shape of a wish bone, wherein a first arm and a second arm protrude at an angle and longitudinally from a common body portion of said wishbone shaped utensil holder.

8. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 7, wherein said first arm and said second arm curve slightly upward from a horizontal plane in relation to the top side of said body portion.

9. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 7, wherein said utensil holder is further comprised of one or a plurality of grooves.

10. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 9, wherein said utensil holder is further comprised of a first bottom side groove, which is designed to correspond to, and engage said base utensil rest.

11. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 9, wherein said utensil holder may engage said base utensil rest with said first and second arms extending toward the interior of said base utensil rest.

12. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 9, wherein said utensil holder may engage said base utensil rest with said body portion extending toward the interior of said base utensil rest.

13. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 11, wherein a space is created between the bottom side of said utensil holder and said top side of said base utensil rest when said utensil holder is engaged upon said utensil rest.

14. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 12, wherein a space is created between the bottom side of said utensil holder and said top side of said base utensil rest when said utensil holder is engaged upon said utensil rest.

15. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 13, wherein said space provides a means to secure a cooking utensil so that a handle of said cooking utensil is held up for easy grasping.

16. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 14, wherein said space provides a means to secure a cooking utensil so that a handle of said cooking utensil is held up for easy grasping.

17. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 9, wherein said utensil holder is further comprised of a second bottom side groove, which is designed to correspond to, and engage a rim of a pot or pan.

18. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 17, wherein said a second bottom side groove is configured to engage a rim of a pot or pan with a lip with a lip portion engaging surface of second bottom side groove to firmly engage the rim of a pot or pan in a substantially horizontal position.

19. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 17, wherein said utensil holder may engage said pot or pan with said first and second arms extending toward the interior of said pot or pan.

20. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 17, wherein said utensil holder may engage said pot or pan with said body portion extending toward the interior of said pot or pan.

21. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 9, wherein said utensil holder is further comprised of an end groove disposed on the end of said body portion opposite from said first and second arms.

22. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 21, wherein said end groove corresponds to and engages said raised perimeter border cutouts of said base utensil rest or the rim of a pot or pan so that said utensil holder is secured in a vertical position.

23. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 22, wherein said first and second arms extend upward creating a “V” shape where said arms converge at a common connection point with said body portion and said common connection point functions to provide a resting point to place a cooking utensil where the handle portion of said utensil is supported by said utensil holder common connection point.

24. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 1, wherein said one or a plurality of trivets are shaped substantially the same as said base utensil rest.

25. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 24, wherein said one or a plurality of trivets are further comprised of one or a plurality of trivet cutouts, which function to provide a space for said one or a plurality of utensil holders to securely nest within.

26. The Nesting Trivet and Utensil Holder System of claim 24, wherein said trivet is comprised of a first end trivet cutout and second end trivet cutout, which function to provide a space for said one or a plurality of utensil holders to securely nest within.