A cutting board system

Abstract

A cutting board system (200) having a rigid support base (201) and a slab (202) defining a work surface for cutting food products. The slab (202) is removably associated with the support base (201), and the support base can hold a plurality of retaining elements (203, 303) and the slab is provided with corresponding retaining openings (204). Each retaining element (203, 303) has a head part (205, 305) on top of a shoulder part (206, 306) on top of a body part (207, 307), and the head part has a larger cross-sectional area than the shoulder part. The body part (207, 307) is inserted in a corresponding recess (204) of the support base. The cross-sectional area of the shoulder part (206, 306) decreases with height from the bottom to middle height of the shoulder part.

Description

[0001] A CUTTING BOARD SYSTEM

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates generally to cutting boards used for food preparation. In particular, the invention relates to a cutting board system having a rigid support base and a slab defining a work surface for cutting food products, where the slab is removably associated with the support base. By using removable slabs, cross-food contamination can be minimized.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Cutting boards used for processing foods are pervasive in restaurants and domestic kitchens. A typical restaurant may have five or more cutting boards. Traditionally, cutting boards have been made of a hardwood, such as maple, oak, or ash. However, concerns about sanitizing a wooden cutting board has led to the increased use of other materials. Polymeric materials, or plastics, such as for example, high density polyethylene (HDPE) are non-porous and easier to clean. HDPE board surfaces get damaged after repeated use as knives cut into the surface. The cut marks in the surface provide locations where bacteria can thrive, and sanitization of plastic cutting boards becomes a critical as it is for wooden cutting boards.

[0006] Because of high volume of food preparation and concerns regarding crosscontamination of bacteria from different type of foods, a restaurant kitchen may have 5 or 6 cutting boards in use at any given time. Separate boards are required to process, cut, slice, or chop different foodstuffs. Alternatively, a single cutting board would have to be washed and sanitized before use with different foodstuffs. This is costly, time consuming and impractical in a restaurant setting.

[0007] Since even plastic cutting boards become damaged and need to be periodically replaced, the cost of maintaining a supply of useable cutting boards is significant to a restaurant or other food processing facility.

[0008] When multiple cutting boards are used in a restaurant, they will have to be washed and sanitized at times throughout the hours of operation, and finally at the end of the day. Further, to prevent conventional cutting boards from moving or sliding during food processing, typically a wet towel is placed underneath the board. This is effective, but it can be unsanitary. An efficient means to stabilize the board during cutting is desirable.

[0009] WO 2012130974 discloses a cutting board system having a rigid support base and a slab defining a work surface for cutting food products. The slab is removably associated with the support base, and the support base holds a plurality of retaining elements while the slab is provided with corresponding retaining openings. Each retaining element has a head part on top of a shoulder part on top of a body part, and the head part has a larger cross-sectional area than the shoulder part. The body part is inserted in a corresponding recess of the support base, and the height and cross-sectional area of the shoulder part are fitted to the thickness of the slab and the cross-sectional area of a retaining opening of the slab. The upper surface of the head part is upwards curved and the cross-sectional area of the retaining openings is slightly smaller than the cross- sectional area of the head part of the retaining elements. When the slab is fixed to the support base via the retaining elements and retaining openings, the lower surface part of the head part of each retaining element covers the enclosing wall of the corresponding retaining opening of the slab. Thus, the disclosed cutting board system provides a solution for reducing the possibility to contaminate food due to cross-contamination from processing different food types.

[0010] For the cutting board system disclosed in WO 2012130974, then for the slab defining the work surface to be securely fixed to the support base, the cross-sectional area of the retaining openings is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the shoulder part of the retaining element, leaving almost no space between the sidewalls of the retaining openings and the sidewalls of the shoulder part of the retaining elements. Also, the height of the shoulder part of the retaining elements is substantially equal to the thickness of the slab holding the retaining openings to keep the slab securely fixed to the support base. However, the slab defining the work surface has a thickness much smaller than the thickness of the rigid support base, whereby the slab absorbs heat or cold significantly faster than the support base thereby changing the size of the slab compared to the size of the support base causing the slab to bend relative to support base.

[0011] Thus, there is a need for an improved cutting board system that expedites the processing of foods, reduces the possibility to contaminate food due to crosscontamination from processing different food types, and provides a stable connection between a thin slab defining a work surface and a thicker support base.

[0012] The present invention provides solutions addressing one or more of the above described problems.

[0013] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] According to the present invention there is provided a cutting board system comprising: a rigid support base and a slab defining a work surface for cutting food products, said slab being removably associated with the support base, with the support base holding a plurality of retaining elements and the slab having corresponding retaining openings, wherein the rigid support base has a thickness being larger than a thickness of the slab, wherein each retaining element has a head part on top of a shoulder part, which shoulder part has a bottom on top of a body part, with the head part having a larger cross-sectional area than the shoulder part and with the body part (207, 307) being inserted in a corresponding recess of the support base, wherein the cross-sectional area of the retaining openings is slightly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the head part of the retaining elements, wherein the upper surface of the head part is curved upwards, and the slab is made of an at least partly flexible material, thereby allowing the curved upwards head part of the retaining elements to be pressed through the retaining openings when fixing the slab to the support base, wherein the shoulder part of the retaining elements has a height being no less than the thickness of the slab, and wherein the cross-sectional area of the shoulder part decreases with height from the bottom to middle height of the shoulder part.

[0015] In a possible implementation form, the shoulder part of the retaining elements has a height being larger or slightly larger than the thickness of the slab. Such as for example at least 10%, at least 15% or at least 20% larger than the thickness of the slab. In a possible implementation form, the cross-sectional area of the shoulder part decreases with height from bottom to the top of the shoulder part.

[0016] By having the cross-sectional area of the shoulder part decreasing with height from bottom of the shoulder part, then when the slab is secured to the support base via the retaining elements and retaining openings, the slab is allowed to move slightly upwards along the shoulder part, due to temperature variations changing the size of the slab compared to the size of the support base. When the slab is allowed to bend upwards at the corner parts, which are secured by the retaining elements, then the middle part of the slab, which defines the work surface, is allowed to remain stable positioned at the thicker support base.

[0017] In a possible implementation form, the cross-sectional area at the bottom of the shoulder part substantially fits the cross-sectional area of a retaining opening of the slab.

[0018] In a possible implementation form, the cross-sectional area at the bottom of the shoulder part is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of a retaining opening of the slab.

[0019] In a possible implementation form, the head part of the retaining elements has a curved edge connecting the curved upper surface with a straight lower surface.

[0020] In a possible implementation form, then when the slab is fixed to the support base via the retaining elements and retaining openings, the lower surface part of the head part of each retaining element covers an enclosing wall of the corresponding retaining opening of the slab.

[0021] In a possible implementation form, the shoulder part has a larger cross-sectional area than the body part of the retaining element, and the body part is inserted in a corresponding recess of the support base whereby a lower surface part of the shoulder part rests on the support base.

[0022] In a possible implementation form, the body part of the retaining elements holds a number of inclined wall parts. In a possible implementation form, consecutive inclined wall parts of the body part have different inclination angles.

[0023] In a possible implementation form, the body part of a retaining element has an upper wall part next to the shoulder part and a lower wall part at the end of the body part, and wherein the cross-sectional area of the lower wall part is smaller than the cross- sectional area of the upper wall part of the body part.

[0024] In a possible implementation form, the cross-sectional area of the lower wall part of the body part decreases with increased distance from the shoulder part of the retaining element.

[0025] In a possible implementation form, the cross-sectional area of an upper part of a recess of the support base is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the upper wall part of the body part, and the cross-sectional area of a lower part of the recess of the support base is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the lower wall part of the body part.

[0026] In a possible implementation form, a number of feet are provided at the bottom of the rigid support base, with a foot having a rubber part secured to the support base and a stainless steel part secured to the rubber part, with the rubber part extending below the stainless steel part.

[0027] In a possible implementation form, the cutting board system further comprises an upper chopping board shaped to fit the support base and having a number of recesses corresponding to the retaining elements of the support base, the opening of said recesses being dimensioned to fit over the head part and shoulder part of the retaining elements, whereby the upper chopping board can be arranged on top of the support base with the head and shoulder parts of the retaining elements extending into the recesses.

[0028] In a possible implementation form, the cross-sectional area of an upper chopping board recess is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the head part of the corresponding retaining element. In a possible implementation form, the rigid support base is made of polyethylene and the slab is made of polypropylene or polyethylene.

[0029] In a possible implementation form, the cutting board system comprises a plurality of slabs of same dimensions.

[0030] BRIEF DESCTIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Fig. 1a illustrates a non-assembled prior art cutting board system with a support base, a cutting slab and retaining elements;

[0032] Fig. 1b illustrates part of an assembled prior art cutting board system with a support base a cutting slab and retaining elements;

[0033] Fig. 1c illustrates the assembled prior art cutting board system of Fig. 1a when exposed to a change in temperature;

[0034] Fig. 2a illustrates part of an assembled a cutting board system with a support base, cutting slab and retaining elements according to an embodiment;

[0035] Fig. 2b illustrates the assembled prior art cutting board system of Fig. 2a when exposed to a change in temperature;

[0036] Figs. 3a and 3b illustrate retaining elements for securing a cutting slab to a support base according to first and second embodiments;

[0037] Fig. 4 illustrates a non-assembled cutting board system with a support base, a cutting slab and retaining elements according to an embodiment;

[0038] Figs. 5a and 5b illustrate a further embodiment of the cutting board system of Fig. 2a in which an upper cutting board replaces the cutting slab; and

[0039] Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the cutting board system of Fig. 2a with stabilizing feet provided at the support base. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Fig. 1a illustrates a non-assembled prior art cutting board system 100. The system 100 comprises a rigid support base 101 and a slab 102 defining a work surface for cutting food products. The slab 102, which is much thinner than the base 101, is removably associated with the support base 101 , and the support base 101 holds a number of retaining elements 103 and the slab 102 has corresponding retaining openings 104, whereby the slab 102 can be secured to the base 101 by placing the slab 102 on top of the base 101 with part of the retaining elements 103 extending through the retaining openings 104.

[0041] The design of the prior art retaining elements 103 is illustrated in Fig. 1b, which is an enlarged view showing a corner part of the cutting board system 100 when assembled, with a retaining element 103 inserted into the board 101 , and with the cutting slab 102 secured on top of the board 101 by use of the retaining elements 103 and corresponding retaining openings 104. Each retaining element has a head part 105 on top of a shoulder part 106, which again is on top of a body part 107. The head part 105 has a larger cross-sectional area than the shoulder part 106, and the body part 107 is inserted in a corresponding recess 108 of the support base 101. The height and cross- sectional area of the shoulder part 106 is fitted or dimensioned to the thickness of the slab 102 and the cross-sectional area of the retaining opening 104 of the slab 102. The upper surface 109 of the head part 105 is curved upwards, and the cross-sectional area of the retaining openings 104 is slightly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the head part 105 of the retaining elements 103. A number of projecting streaks or rings 113 are provided at the body part 107 of the retaining elements 103 for locking the retaining elements 103 to the base 101.

[0042] As the head part 105 has a larger cross-sectional area than the area of the retaining openings 104, then when the cutting slab 102 is fixed to the support base 101 , the lower surface part 110 of the head part 105 of each retaining element covers the enclosing wall 111 of the corresponding retaining opening 104 of the slab 102. The slab is made of an at least partly flexible material, such as for example polypropylene, thereby allowing the curved upwards head part 109 of the retaining elements 103 to be pressed through the retaining openings 104 when fixing the slab to the support base. For the prior art cutting board system 100, the cross-sectional area of the retaining element shoulder part 106 is constant along the height of the shoulder part and is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the retaining openings 104. Also, the height of the shoulder 106, which equals the height from the top surface of the base 101 to the lower surface of the head part 105, is substantially equal to the thickness of the cutting slab 102.

[0043] By having the cross-sectional area of the retaining element shoulder part 106 constant along the height of the shoulder part and substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the retaining openings 104, the cutting slab 102 is securely fixed to the base 101. However, the cutting slab 102 defining the work surface has a thickness much smaller than the thickness of the rigid support base 101 , whereby the slab 102 absorbs heat or cold significantly faster than the support base 101 thereby changing the size of the slab compared to the size of the support base causing the slab 102 to bend relative to support base 101.

[0044] This is illustrated in Fig. 1c, which shows an assembled prior art cutting board system similar to the system 100 of Fig. 1a when exposed to a change in temperature. A thin cutting board slab 102a is secured to a support base 101a by retaining elements 103a, 103b, and the temperature has increased during use, causing the cutting board slab 102a to bend upwards, since there is no room left at the retaining elements 103a, 103b for expansion of the cutting board slab 102a.

[0045] Figs. 2a and 4 illustrate an improved cutting board system 200 providing a solution for the problem discussed above in connection with the prior art cutting board system 100 and illustrated in Fig 1c. The cutting board system 200 resembles the prior art system 100 but has redesigned retaining elements 203 and 303, see also Figs. 3a and 3b.

[0046] Thus, the cutting board system 200 of Figs. 2a and 4 comprises a rigid support base 201 and a slab 202 defining a work surface for cutting food products. The support base 201 holds a number of retaining elements 203 and the slab 202 has corresponding retaining openings 204, whereby the slab 202 can be secured to the base 201 by placing the slab 202 on top of the base 201 with part of the retaining elements 203 extending through the retaining openings 204. The rigid support base 201 has a thickness being larger than a thickness of the slab 202. A first embodiment of a new design of the retaining elements 203 is illustrated in Figs. 2a and 3a, where Fig. 2a is an enlarged view showing a corner part of the assembled cutting board system 200, with the retaining element 203 inserted into the board 201, and with the cutting slab 202 secured on top of the board 201 by use of the retaining elements 203 and corresponding retaining openings 104. Fig. 3a shows the first embodiment of the new retaining elements 203 without being part of the assembled cutting board system 200.

[0047] The retaining element 203 has a head part 205 on top of a shoulder part 206, which again is on top of a body part 207. The head part 205 has a larger cross-sectional area than the shoulder part 206, and the body part 107 may be inserted in a corresponding recess 208 of the support base 201. The shoulder part 206 of the retaining elements 203 has a height being no less than the thickness of the slab 202, and the cross- sectional area of the shoulder part 206 decreases with height from the bottom to the top of the shoulder part 206.

[0048] A second embodiment of a new design of a retaining element 303 is illustrated in Fig. 3b, which shows the second embodiment of a new retaining element 303 without being part of the assembled cutting board system 200. The retaining element 303 has a head part 305 on top of a shoulder part 306, which again is on top of a body part 307. The head part 305 has a larger cross-sectional area than the shoulder part 306, and the body part 307 can be inserted in a corresponding recess 208 of the support base 201. The shoulder part 306 of the retaining elements 303 has a height being no less than the thickness of the slab 302, and the cross-sectional area of the shoulder part 306 decreases with height from the bottom to the middle height of the shoulder part 306. The cross-sectional area of the shoulder part 306 then increases with height from the middle height of the shoulder part 306 to the top of the shoulder part 306.

[0049] For both retaining elements 203 and 303, the upper surface 209, 309 of the head part 205, 305 is curved upwards, and the cross-sectional area of the retaining openings 204 is slightly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the head part 205, 305 of the retaining elements 203, 303. The slab 202 is made of an at least partly flexible material, such as for example polypropylene or polyethylene, thereby allowing the curved upwards head part 205, 305 of the retaining elements 203, 303 to be pressed through the retain- ing openings 204 when fixing the slab 202 to the support base 201. As the head part 205, 305 has a larger cross-sectional area than the area of the retaining openings 204, then when the cutting slab 202 is fixed to the support base 201, a lower surface part 210, 310 of the head part 205, 305 of each retaining element covers an enclosing wall 211 of the corresponding retaining opening 204 of the slab 202.

[0050] The head part 205, 305 of the retaining elements 203, 303 may have a curved edge connecting the curved upper surface 209, 309 with a straight lower surface 210, 310 of the head 205, 305. Such a curved edge makes it easier to remove the slab 202, once it has been fixed to the support base 201.

[0051] It is preferred that the shoulder part 206, 306 of the retaining elements 203, 303 has a height being larger or slightly larger than the thickness of the slab 202. Such as for example at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, or at least 50% larger than the thickness of the slab 202.

[0052] By having the cross-sectional area of the shoulder part 206, 306 decreasing with height from bottom of the shoulder part 206, 306, then when the slab 202 is secured to the support base 201 via the retaining elements 203, 303 and retaining openings 204, the slab 202 is allowed to move slightly upwards along the shoulder part 206, 306 due to temperature variations changing the size of the slab 202 compared to the size of the support base 201. When the slab 202 is allowed to bend upwards at the corner parts, which are secured by the retaining elements 203, 303 then the middle part of the slab 202, which defines the work surface, is allowed to remain stable positioned at the thicker support base 201.

[0053] Fig. 2b shows an assembled cutting board system similar to the system 200 of Fig. 2a when exposed to a change in temperature. A thin cutting board slab 202a is secured to a support base 201a by retaining elements 203a, 203b similar to the retaining element 203 of Fig. 2a, and the temperature has increased during use, but the middle part of the cutting board slab 202a does not bend upwards, since there is room left at the retaining elements 203a, 203b for expansion of the cutting board slab 202a.

[0054] It is preferred that the cross-sectional area at the bottom of the shoulder part 206, 306 substantially fits the cross-sectional area of a retaining opening 204 of the slab 202. The cross-sectional area at the bottom of the shoulder part 206, 306 may be slightly smaller than or substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of a retaining opening 204 of the slab 202. Thus, the cross-sectional area of a retaining opening 204 of the slab 202 may be around 5% larger than the cross-sectional area at the bottom of the shoulder part 206, 306.

[0055] It is also preferred that the shoulder part 206, 306 has a larger cross-sectional area than the body part 207, 307 of the retaining element 203, 303. Thus, when the body part 207, 307 is inserted in a corresponding recess 208 of the support base 201, a lower surface part of the shoulder part 206, 306 rests on the support base 201.

[0056] For the retaining elements 203, 303 shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, the body part 207, 307 holds three inclined wall parts 213b, c,d, 313b, c,d, for which consecutive inclined wall parts have different inclination angles. The body part 207, 307 has a straight upper wall part 213a, 313a next to the shoulder part 206, 306 and an inclined lower wall part 213d, 313d at the end of the body part 207, 307 next to the inclined wall part 213c, 313c, where the cross-sectional area of the lower wall part 213d, 313d is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the upper wall part 213a, 313a of the body part 207, 307. The cross-sectional area of the lower wall part 213d, 313d decreases with increased distance from the shoulder part 206, 306. It is preferred that the cross-sectional area of an upper part of a recess 208 is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the upper wall part 213a, 313a of the body part 207, 307, and that the cross-sectional area of a lower part of the recess 208 is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the lower wall part 213d, 313d of the body part 207, 307.

[0057] Figs. 5a and 5b illustrate a further embodiment of the cutting board system of Fig. 2a in which an upper cutting or chopping board 221 replaces the cutting slab 202. The upper chopping board 221 is shaped to fit the support base 201 and has a number of upper recesses 222 corresponding to the retaining elements 203 of the support base 201. The opening of these upper recesses 222 is dimensioned to fit over the head part 205 and shoulder part 206 of the retaining elements 203, whereby the upper chopping board 221 can be arranged on top of the support base 201 with the head 205 and shoulder part 206 of the retaining elements 203 extending into the upper recesses 222. The cross-sectional area of an upper chopping board recess 222 is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the head part 205 of the corresponding retaining element.

[0058] Both the support base 201 and the upper chopping board 221 may be made of polyethylene, while the cutting slab 202 may be made of polypropylene or polyethylene. The thickness of the upper chopping board 221 may be in the range of 10-40 mm, such as about 22 mm, and it is preferred that the thickness of the chopping board 221 and the thickness of the support base 201 are close to each other. The support base 201 can be produced in many different dimensions, and it is preferred that the surface area of the slab 202 equals the surface area of the support base 201. It is also preferred that the surface area of the upper chopping board 221 equals the surface area of the support base 201. Typical dimensions of the support base 201 may be 28x28 cm, 30x40 cm, and 30x50cm.

[0059] Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the cutting board system of Fig. 2a with stabilizing feet 223 provided at the support base 201. In order to stabilize the cutting board in use, a number of feet 223 are provided at the bottom of the rigid support base 201. It is preferred that a foot 223 is provided at the bottom of the support base 201 at each corner of the base 201. Each foot 223 has a rubber part 224 secured to the support base 201 and a stainless steel part 225 secured to the rubber part 224, with the rubber part 224 extending below the stainless steel part 225. The rubber parts 224 stabilize the support base 201 when in use.

[0060] According to an embodiment, the diameter of the head part 205, 305 is in the range of 0,2-0, 5 mm larger than the diameter of the retaining openings 204. In a preferred embodiment the diameter of the head part is about 0,25 mm larger than the diameter of the retaining openings 204. In order for the cutting slab 202 to be securely fixed to the base 201 , the cross-sectional area at the bottom of the shoulder part 206, 306 should be substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the retaining openings 204. Here, the retaining opening 204 may have a cross-sectional diameter being equal to or slightly larger, such as for example up to 0,05 mm or such as up to 0,1 mm larger than the diameter at the bottom of the shoulder part 206, 306.

[0061] It is also within embodiments of the invention that the height of the shoulder part 206, 306 which equals the height from the top surface of the base 201 to the lower surface of the head part 205, 305 is no less than or larger than the thickness of the cutting slab 202. Here, the shoulder part 206, 306 may have a height slightly larger than the thickness of the cutting slab 202, such as for example up to 0,5 mm or up to 1 mm larger than the thickness of the cutting slab 202. It is preferred that the thickness of the slab is in the range of 0,5-3 mm, such as about 1 mm.

[0062] For the retaining element 203 of Fig. 2a, the cross-sectional area of the shoulder part 206 decreases with height from bottom to top of the shoulder part 206, to thereby allow the cutting slab 202 to move slightly or fully upwards along the shoulder part, due to temperature variations changing the size of the cutting slab 202 compared to the size of the support base 201. The diameter at the bottom of the shoulder part 206 may be in the range of 1-1 ,5 mm larger than the diameter at the top of the shoulder part 206.

[0063] For the retaining element 303 of Fig. 3a, the cross-sectional area of the shoulder part 306 decreases with height from bottom to middle height of the shoulder part 306, to thereby allow the cutting slab 202 to move slightly upwards along the shoulder part, due to temperature variations changing the size of the cutting slab 202 compared to the size of the support base 201. The diameter at the bottom and the top of the shoulder part 306 may be in the range of 0,5-1, 5 mm larger than the diameter at the middle height of the shoulder part 306.

[0064] The upper surface 209, 309 of the head 205, 305 is curved upwards, and the height or thickness of the head 205, 305 may be about 1-2 mm at the highest point. The curved upper surface 209, 309 not only allows the head 205, 305 to be pressed through the slab opening 204, but if a cutting knife hits the head 205, 305 the knife will slide down from the coved surface 209, 309 and avoid further contact with the head 205, 305.

[0065] The present invention also covers embodiments, wherein the bottom of the shoulder part 206, 306 of the retaining element 203, 303 has a larger cross-sectional area than the upper wall part 213a, 313a of the body part 207, 307. The body part 207, 307 may be inserted in a corresponding recess 208 of the support base 201 whereby a lower surface part of the shoulder part 206, 306 rests on the support base and covers part of the support base 201. The cross-sectional area at the bottom of the shoulder part 206, 306 is also larger than the cross-sectional area of the recess 208, whereby the shoulder part 206, 306 provides an efficient closure of the recess 208, when the retaining element 203, 303 is inserted into the recess 208. Here, the cross-sectional area of the recess 208 may vary substantially equal to variations of the cross-sectional area of the body part 207, 307.

[0066] By having the shoulder part 206, 306 providing a closure for the recess 208, fluid from food being processed is prevented from entering the recess 208. Similarly, as the retaining openings 204 are fitted to the shoulder part 206, 306 the head part 205, 305 of the retaining elements provides a closure for the retaining openings 204, which prevents fluid from food being processed to enter to opening 204.

[0067] According to an embodiment, the retaining elements 203, 303 are dimensioned so that the diameter of the upper wall part 213a, 313a of the body part 207, 307 is about 6,45 mm, the diameter at bottom of the shoulder part 206, 306 is about 9,45 mm, and the diameter of the head part 205, 305 is about 9,80 mm. The diameter of the retaining openings 204 is about 9,50 mm. The height of the shoulder part 206, 306 which equals the height from the top surface of the base 201 to the lower surface of the head part 205, 305 is about 2mm and the thickness of the cutting slab 202 is about 1mm. For the retaining element 203, the diameter at the top of the shoulder part 206 is about 8mm. For the retaining element 303 the diameter at top of the shoulder part 306 is about 9,45mm, while the diameter at the middle height of the shoulder part 306 is about 8,45mm.

[0068] The support base 201 may be made of polyethylene and have thickness, which for example can be in the range of 8-40 mm, such as about 22 mm, and the upper diameter of the recesses 208 is about 6,45 mm.

[0069] It should be understood that cutting board system of the present invention may include several cutting slabs 202 with the same dimensions. These slabs may have different colours. Thus, instead of having multiple separate cutting boards, a user may have the cutting board system of the present invention holding only one support base 201, but with a number of cutting slabs 202 corresponding to the previous number of separate cutting boards.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cutting board system (200) comprising: a rigid support base (201) and a slab (202) defining a work surface for cutting food products, said slab (202) being removably associated with the support base (201), with the support base (202) holding a plurality of retaining elements (203, 303) and the slab (202) having corresponding retaining openings (204), wherein the rigid support base (201) has a thickness being larger than a thickness of the slab (202), wherein each retaining element (203, 303) has a head part (205, 305) on top of a shoulder part (206, 306), which shoulder part (206, 306) has a bottom on top of a body part (207, 307), with the head part (205, 305) having a larger cross-sectional area than the shoulder part (206, 306) and with the body part (207, 307) being inserted in a corresponding recess (208) of the support base (201), wherein the cross-sectional area of the retaining openings (204) is slightly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the head part (205) of the retaining elements (203), wherein the upper surface (209, 309) of the head part (205, 305) is curved upwards, and the slab (202) is made of an at least partly flexible material, thereby allowing the curved upwards head part (205, 305) of the retaining elements (203, 303) to be pressed through the retaining openings (204) when fixing the slab (202) to the support base (201), wherein the shoulder part (206, 306) of the retaining elements (203, 303) has a height being no less than the thickness of the slab (202), and wherein the cross-sectional area of the shoulder part (206, 306) decreases with height from the bottom to middle height of the shoulder part (206, 306).

2. A cutting board system according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder part (206, 306) of the retaining elements (203, 303) has a height being larger than or slightly larger than the thickness of the slab (202).

3. A cutting board system (200) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cross-sectional area of the shoulder part (206) decreases with height from bottom to the top of the shoulder part (206).

4. A cutting board system (200) according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the cross-sectional area at the bottom of the shoulder part (206, 306) substantially fits the cross-sectional area of a retaining opening (204) of the slab (202).

5. A cutting board system (200) according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the cross-sectional area at the bottom of the shoulder part (206, 306) is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of a retaining opening (204) of the slab (202).

6. A cutting board system (200) according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the head part (205, 305) of the retaining elements (203, 303) has a curved edge connecting the curved upper surface (209, 309) with a straight lower surface (210, 310).

7. A cutting board system (200) according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein when the slab (202) is fixed to the support base (201) via the retaining elements (203, 303) and retaining openings (204), the lower surface part (210, 310) of the head part (205, 305) of each retaining element (203, 303) covers an enclosing wall (211) of the corresponding retaining opening (204) of the slab (202).

8. A cutting board system (200) according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the shoulder part (206, 306) has a larger cross-sectional area than the body part (207, 307) of the retaining element (203, 303), and the body part (207, 307) is inserted in a corresponding recess (208) of the support base (201) whereby a lower surface part of the shoulder part (206, 306) rests on the support base (201).

9. A cutting board system (200) according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the body part (207, 307) of the retaining elements (203, 303) holds a number of inclined wall parts (213b,c,d, 313b,c,d).

10. A cutting board system (200) according to claim 9, wherein consecutive inclined wall parts (213b,c,d, 313b,c,d) have different inclination angles.

11. A cutting board system (200) according to any one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the body part (207, 307) of a retaining element (203, 303) has an upper wall part (213a, 313a) next to the shoulder part (206, 306) and a lower wall part (213d, 313d) at the end of the body part (207, 307), and wherein the cross-sectional area of the lower wall part(213d, 313d) is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the upper wall part (213a, 313a) of the body part (207, 307).

12. A cutting board system (200) according to claim 11, wherein the cross-sectional area of the lower wall part decreases with increased distance from the shoulder part (206, 306) of the retaining element (203, 303).

13. A cutting board system (200) according to claim 8 and 11 or 12, wherein the cross- sectional area of an upper part of a recess (208) is substantially equal to the cross- sectional area of the upper wall part (213a, 313a) of the body part (207, 307), and wherein the cross-sectional area of a lower part of the recess (208) is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the lower wall part (213d, 313d) of the body part (207, 307).

14. A cutting board system (200) according to any one of the claims 1 to 13, wherein a number of feet (223) are provided at the bottom of the rigid support base (201), with a foot (223) having a rubber part (224) secured to the support base (201) and a stainless steel part (225) secured to the rubber part (224), with the rubber part (224) extending below the stainless steel part (225).

15. A cutting board system (200) according to any one of the claims 1 to 14, further comprising an upper chopping board (221) shaped to fit the support base (201) and having a number of recesses (222) corresponding to the retaining elements (203, 303) of the support base (201), the opening of said recesses (222) being dimensioned to fit over the head part (205, 305) and shoulder part (206, 306) of the retaining elements (203, 303), whereby the upper chopping board (221) can be arranged on top of the support base (201) with the head and shoulder parts (205, 305, 206, 306) of the retaining elements (203) extending into the recesses (222).

16. A cutting board system (200) according to claim 15, wherein the cross-sectional area of an upper chopping board recess (222) is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the head part (205, 305) of the corresponding retaining element (203, 303).

17. A cutting board system (200) according to any one of the claims 1 to 16, wherein the rigid support base (201) is made of polyethylene and the slab (202) is made of poly-propylene or polyethylene.

18. A cutting board system (200) according to any one of the claims 1 to 17, wherein the system (200) comprises a plurality of slabs (202) of same dimensions.

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