Replaceable turner

Abstract

A replaceable turner of which a portion can be replaced is disclosed. The replaceable turner according to one aspect of the present invention may comprise: a tension-maintaining part having a handle on one side thereof; and a pan contact part detachably coupled to the other side of the tension-maintaining part. The pan contact part can have, at one side thereof, a coupling plate for coupling with the tension-maintaining part, and the coupling plate can have coupling recesses. The tension-maintaining part can include: a base plate formed in a flat shape; a support plate positioned on the other side of the base plate, and formed in a flat shape; and coupling protrusions protruding from the base plate and / or the support plate. While the pan contact part is coupled to the tension-maintaining part, the support plate can support the coupling plate and the coupling protrusions can be inserted into the coupling recesses.

Description

Replaceable spatula

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking utensil, and specifically to a replaceable spatula in which a part is replaceable.

[0002] Among cooking tools, the spatula is a commonly used instrument for preparing dishes such as pancakes and fried eggs in a frying pan, and it is universally used in almost all households and restaurants. Spatulas are made from various materials, and those available on the market include stainless steel, silicone, nylon resin, and wood. Depending on the material, each spatula product offers a different user experience, and consumers select and purchase products that provide the feel they prefer according to their individual tastes.

[0003] However, due to the nature of its use, a spatula frequently comes into contact with the surface of a frying pan; if the spatula is made of metal materials such as stainless steel, there is a high risk that it may damage the frying pan's coating. Furthermore, since the spatula is used with a frying pan heated to a high temperature, if it is made of materials such as synthetic resin, there is a risk that parts of the spatula may melt due to the heat of the frying pan, and even if its shape does not deform significantly, there is a risk that harmful substances, such as endocrine disruptors, may be mixed into the food being cooked. While there are synthetic resin materials that do not emit harmful substances even at high temperatures, using them may increase the manufacturing cost of the product.

[0004] Meanwhile, spatulas generally have relatively long handles, and this inconvenient size can make cleaning cumbersome. In particular, the tip of the spatula becomes heavily contaminated due to contact with cooking oil and food, whereas the handle does not easily accumulate oil; however, there is a risk that oil from the tip may transfer to the handle or the rest of the spatula during the cleaning process.

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention has been devised to solve the aforementioned problems, and one aspect of the present invention aims to provide a replaceable spatula that allows a part of the spatula to be separated from the rest of the spatula, thereby enabling the replacement of the part that contacts the frying pan.

[0006] Other objects of the present invention will become more apparent through the embodiments described below.

[0007] A replaceable spatula according to one aspect of the present invention may include a tension maintaining part having a handle on one side; and a fan contact part configured to be detachably coupled to the other side of the tension maintaining part. The fan contact part may have a coupling plate for coupling with the tension maintaining part on one side thereof, and a coupling groove may be formed in the coupling plate. The tension maintaining part may include a base plate formed in a flat shape; a support plate located on the other side of the base plate and formed in a flat shape; and a coupling projection protruding from at least one of the base plate and the support plate. When the fan contact part is coupled to the tension maintaining part, the support plate may support the coupling plate, and the coupling projection may be inserted into the coupling groove.

[0008] The replaceable spatula according to the present invention may have one or more of the following embodiments. For example, the coupling projection may be connected to at least one of the base plate and the support plate by a connecting part, but formed at a position spaced apart from the support plate, so that a gap is formed between the coupling projection and the support plate. When the fan contact part is coupled to the tension maintaining part, the coupling plate may be inserted into the gap between the support plate and the coupling projection. Alternatively, the coupling projection may protrude from the base plate, and the support plate may be connected to the base plate by a connecting part, but formed at a position spaced apart from the coupling projection, so that a gap is formed between the coupling projection and the support plate. In this case as well, when the fan contact part is coupled to the tension maintaining part, the coupling plate may be inserted into the gap between the support plate and the coupling projection.

[0009] A through hole may be formed in the support plate at a position corresponding to the coupling projection. In this case, the length of the through hole may correspond to the sum of the length of the connecting part and the length of the coupling projection.

[0010] A drain hole may be formed in the above coupling plate, and the drain hole may penetrate the above coupling plate vertically, and the drain hole may communicate with the interior of the coupling groove.

[0011] The coupling groove may be formed on the upper part of the coupling plate, and the fan contact portion may further include a groove cover that covers at least partially the upper part of the coupling groove.

[0012] An insertion groove may be formed in the above-mentioned coupling plate so as to be inserted into at least a portion of the support plate. If the insertion groove is formed to be open to one side of the coupling plate, when the support plate is inserted into the insertion groove, a portion of the coupling plate may be located above the support plate and a portion of the coupling plate may be located below the support plate. In this case, the coupling projection may protrude along the vertical direction from the support plate, and the coupling groove may be formed within the insertion groove at a position corresponding to the coupling projection.

[0013] A replaceable spatula according to another aspect of the present invention may include a tension maintaining part having a handle on one side and a flat support plate on the other side; and a fan contact part having a coupling plate on one side for coupling with the support plate, wherein an insertion groove may be formed in the coupling plate that is open to one side and configured to allow at least a portion of the support plate to be inserted therein. Here, a coupling projection may be formed on either the coupling plate or the support plate, and a coupling groove may be formed on the other of the coupling plate and the support plate, and with the support plate inserted into the insertion groove, a portion of the coupling plate may be located on the upper part of the support plate and a portion of the coupling plate may be located on the lower part of the support plate, and the coupling projection may be inserted into the coupling groove.

[0014] A replaceable spatula according to another aspect of the present invention may include a tension maintaining part having a handle on one side and a flat support plate on the other side; and a fan contact part having a coupling plate on one side for coupling with the support plate, wherein an insertion groove may be formed in the support plate that is open to the other side and configured to allow at least a portion of the coupling plate to be inserted. Here, a coupling projection may be formed on either the coupling plate or the support plate, and a coupling groove may be formed on the other of the coupling plate and the support plate, and with the coupling plate inserted into the insertion groove, a portion of the support plate is located on the upper part of the coupling plate and a portion of the support plate is located on the lower part of the coupling plate, and the coupling projection may be inserted into the coupling groove.

[0015] The above-mentioned fan contact part may be made of two or more materials. For example, a material that increases bonding strength, such as metal, may be used for the connecting plate of the fan contact part, and a material with a soft feel, such as wood, may be used for the end contact part.

[0016] According to the means for solving the problem of the present invention as described above, various effects including the following can be expected. However, the present invention is not required to exhibit all of the following effects to be valid.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, it becomes possible to separate and replace a part of the spatula from the rest. This provides the effect of allowing the user to select and use parts of various shapes and materials according to their preferences. Even when using expensive synthetic resin materials to prevent the release of harmful substances, such as endocrine disruptors, during cooking, it is sufficient to apply the expensive material only to the end portion of the spatula, rather than applying it to the entire spatula, thus providing the effect of reducing costs.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the spatula can be separated from the rest, which has the advantage of allowing the user to wash, disinfect, and dry the spatula more easily. In particular, since the handle portion of the spatula is much less contaminated than the end portion, the efficiency of washing can be increased by washing the handle portion together with other dishes and tools with low contamination and washing the end portion together with other dishes and tools with high contamination.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view exemplarily showing a replaceable spatula according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state in which the fan contact part is separated from the replaceable spatula shown in FIG. 1.

[0021] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the replaceable spatula illustrated in Figure 2.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view exemplarily showing the state in which the fan contact part is separated in a replaceable spatula according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view exemplarily showing a state in which the fan contact part is separated in a replaceable spatula according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view exemplarily showing a state in which the fan contact part is separated in a replaceable spatula according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the replaceable spatula illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0026] The present invention is capable of various modifications and may have various embodiments; specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that it includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related prior art are omitted if it is determined that such detailed descriptions may obscure the essence of the present invention.

[0027] The terms used in this application are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprising" or "having" are intended to specify the presence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0028] Terms such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components should not be limited by said terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0029] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In describing with reference to the attached drawings, identical or corresponding components are given the same reference number regardless of the drawing symbols, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view exemplarily showing a replaceable spatula (110) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing a state in which the fan contact portion (500) is separated from the replaceable spatula (110). To aid in understanding the present invention, the dimensions in the drawings of this specification are somewhat exaggerated.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a replaceable spatula (110) according to one embodiment of the present invention may largely include a handle (10), a connecting rod (20), and a food contact part (30). Meanwhile, the food contact part (30) may include a tension maintaining part (300) and a pan contact part (500).

[0032] The handle (10) corresponds to the part for the user to grip the spatula (110), and the connecting rod (20) corresponds to the part connecting the handle (10) and the food contact part (30). The handle (10) may be extended long overall, the food contact part (30) may have a flat shape overall, and the connecting rod (20) may be composed of a shape, structure, and material capable of maintaining sufficient structural strength between the handle (10) and the food contact part (30).

[0033] In some embodiments of the present invention, the food contact portion (30) may be configured to be detachably coupled to the connecting member (20) or the connecting member (20) may be detachably coupled to the handle (10). For example, the connecting member (20) may be formed integrally with the tension maintaining portion (300) of the food contact portion (30), and the handle (10) and the connecting member (20) may include corresponding male and female screws so as to be coupled by screw coupling.

[0034] The food contact portion (30) may include a tension maintaining portion (300) and a fan contact portion (500), and these may be configured to be detachably coupled to each other. Materials that can be used for the tension maintaining portion (300) and the fan contact portion (500) may include, for example, stainless steel, silicone, plastic synthetic resin, wood, etc. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the tension maintaining portion (300) and the fan contact portion (500) may be formed of different materials.

[0035] The tension maintaining part (300) may form one side of the food contact part (30). A handle (10) may be provided on one side of the tension maintaining part (300), and the handle (10) may be connected to one side of the tension maintaining part (300) by a connecting rod (20). Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the tension maintaining part (300) may include a base plate (310), a support plate (320), and a connecting projection (350).

[0036] The base plate (310) is a part corresponding to one side of the tension maintaining part (300). The base plate (310) may form a main part of the tension maintaining part (300), and one side of the base plate (310) may be connected to the handle (10) by a connecting rod (20). The base plate (310) may have a generally flat shape. If necessary, one or more cooking through holes (35) may be formed in the base plate (310). The cooking through holes (35) allow liquids such as cooking oil to pass through while the user is using the spatula (110).

[0037] The support plate (320) is a part corresponding to the other side of the tension maintaining part (300). The support plate (320) may have an overall flat shape and may naturally extend from the flat shape of the base plate (310). In this embodiment, the plane on which the support plate (320) is located is parallel to the plane on which the base plate (310) is located.

[0038] The support plate (320) can serve to support a part of the fan contact part (500) when the fan contact part (500) is combined with the tension maintaining part (300). Therefore, although it is not necessary to strictly define the boundary between the base plate (310) and the support plate (320) in the tension maintaining part (300), the part of the tension maintaining part (300) that overlaps with the connecting plate (520) of the fan contact part (500) in the state where the fan contact part (500) is combined with the tension maintaining part (300) can be considered to be included in the support plate (320).

[0039] If necessary, a through hole (390) may be formed in the support plate (320) at a position corresponding to the coupling projection (350). The through hole (390) formed in the support plate (320) allows for the application of molding using a mold or the like during the manufacturing of the support plate (320), and also enables the discharge of foreign substances that have entered between the coupling projection (350) and the support plate (320) when using the spatula (110).

[0040] The coupling projection (350) may protrude from at least one of the base plate (310) and the support plate (320) and may be used for coupling between the tension maintaining part (300) and the fan contact part (500). The coupling projection (350) may be configured to be inserted into a coupling groove (550) formed in the coupling plate (520) of the fan contact part (500). To this end, one or more coupling projections (350) may be provided in the tension maintaining part (300), and one or more coupling grooves (550) may be formed in corresponding positions in the fan contact part (500).

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 3, in the replaceable spatula (110) according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a coupling projection (350) protrudes from the base plate (310) and is connected to the base plate (310) by a connecting part (330). In this case, the connecting part (330) may be considered as a part of the coupling projection (350). As shown in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the connecting part (330) may extend upward from the other edge of the base plate (310), and the coupling projection (350) may extend from the upper part of the connecting part (330) toward the fan contact part (500) in the other direction. In this way, the coupling projection (350) may be formed at a position spaced apart from the support plate (320), and a gap (450) may be formed between the coupling projection (350) and the support plate (320). At least a portion of the connecting plate (520) of the fan contact portion (500) can be inserted into this gap (450), and thus the length of this gap (450) based on the vertical direction can correspond to the thickness of the portion of the connecting plate (520) inserted into the gap (450).

[0042] In one embodiment of the present invention, the coupling projection (350) is configured to have a downward slope so that the gap (450) between the coupling projection (350) and the support plate (320) can be narrowed as it faces the other side. When the coupling projection (350) has this shape, after the coupling plate (520) is inserted into the gap (450) between the coupling projection (350) and the support plate (320), the coupling projection (350) can prevent the fan contact portion (500) from detaching from the tension maintaining portion (300). In this case, the tension maintaining portion (300) including the coupling projection (350) may be formed of a material that allows for slight elastic deformation.

[0043] The fan contact portion (500) may form the other side of the food contact portion (30) and may form the end portion of the replaceable spatula (110). Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the fan contact portion (500) may include an end contact portion (510), a connecting plate (520), and a groove cover (570).

[0044] The end contact portion (510) is the part corresponding to the other side of the pan contact portion (500). When a user uses the spatula (110), the end contact portion (510) can come into direct contact with a frying pan, etc. To this end, the other edge of the end contact portion (510) can form a slender edge similar to that of a regular spatula.

[0045] The connecting plate (520) is a part corresponding to one side of the fan contact part (500). The connecting plate (320) interacts with the support plate (320) and the connecting projection (350) to enable the fan contact part (500) to be firmly connected to the tension maintaining part (300). Although it is not necessary to strictly define the boundary between the end contact part (510) and the connecting plate (520) in the fan contact part (500), the part of the fan contact part (500) that is supported by the support plate (320) of the tension maintaining part (300) while the fan contact part (500) is connected to the tension maintaining part (300) can be considered to be included in the connecting plate (520).

[0046] A coupling groove (550) may be formed in the coupling plate (520) at a position corresponding to the coupling projection (350) of the tension maintaining part (300). When the fan contact part (500) is coupled to the tension maintaining part (300), the coupling projection (350) may be inserted into the coupling groove (550).

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in a replaceable spatula (110) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a coupling groove (550) may be formed on the upper surface of a coupling plate (520). The coupling groove (550) may be opened to one side of the coupling plate (520) for insertion of a coupling projection (350). As in the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in some embodiments of the present invention, the coupling groove (550) may also be opened at least partially upward.

[0048] Meanwhile, an insertion groove (580) may be formed in the coupling plate (520) at a position corresponding to the support plate (320) of the tension maintaining part (300). When the fan contact part (500) is coupled to the tension maintaining part (300), at least a portion of the support plate (320) may be inserted into the insertion groove (580).

[0049] In a replaceable spatula (110) according to one embodiment of the present invention, an insertion groove (580) may be formed on the lower surface of a coupling plate (520). In the example illustrated in FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 3, the insertion groove (580) is open to one side and also open to the lower side.

[0050] A groove cover (570) may be formed on at least one of the base plate (310) and the support plate (320) and may cover at least partially the upper part of the coupling groove (550). In the example illustrated in FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 3, a plurality of groove covers (570) are formed on the other end of each corresponding coupling groove (550) and are formed only on the end portion of the coupling groove (550).

[0051] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the groove cover (570) may be formed rigidly to have sufficient strength to transmit stress. In this case, when the fan contact part (500) is coupled to the tension maintaining part (300), the coupling projection (350) is inserted into the coupling groove (550), and at least a portion of the coupling projection (350) may be inserted under the groove cover (570). The groove cover (570) serves to fix the coupling projection (350) in a designated position inserted within the coupling groove (550), while also serving to distribute the load by allowing the coupling projection (350) to support the groove cover (570) when the user lifts the spatula (110). In this case, the groove cover (570) may cover the top of the coupling groove (550) over a wider length than the structure shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0052] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the groove cover (570) may be formed of a material and thickness that allows for elastic deformation. In this case, the groove cover (570) may be used to separate the fan contact part (500) from the tension maintaining part (300), and the user may push out the coupling projection (350) from the coupling groove (550) by pressing the other side of the groove cover (570).

[0053] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the user can combine a fan contact part (500) of a preferred material with a tension maintaining part (300) of a preferred material. For example, the user can select a tension maintaining part (300) formed of a metal material such as stainless steel, and can select a fan contact part (500) formed of a plastic material to be combined therewith. The plastic material of the fan contact part (500) may be a material with improved heat resistance and may be a material composed so as not to emit harmful substances even at high temperatures. Assuming that at least a portion of the handle (10) and at least a portion of the connecting rod (20) are formed of the same material as the tension maintaining part (300), in this case, the handle (10), the connecting rod (20), and the tension maintaining part (300) are formed of a metal material with relatively high strength so that the user can operate the spatula (110) nimbly, while the pan contact part (500) that contacts the frying pan is formed of a material with relatively low hardness so that the coating of the frying pan is not damaged.

[0054] As another example, the user may select a tension-maintaining part (300) formed of plastic material and a pan-contacting part (500) formed of metal material to be combined therewith. Assuming that at least a part of the handle (10) and at least a part of the connecting rod (20) are formed of the same material as the tension-maintaining part (300), in this case, the handle (10), the connecting rod (20), and the tension-maintaining part (300) are formed of a relatively light material so that the user can operate the spatula (110) with less force, while the pan-contacting part (500) that comes into contact with food is formed of a relatively high-hardness material so that the user can operate the end portion of the spatula (110) nimbly.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present invention, the fan contact portion (500) may be an integral member formed entirely from a single material, and in some other embodiments of the present invention, the fan contact portion (500) may be made of two or more materials. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, different materials may be used for the end contact portion (510) and the connecting plate (520) of the fan contact portion (500). In this case, a material capable of increasing structural strength and bonding force, such as metal, may be used for the connecting plate (520), and a material with a soft feel, such as wood, may be used for the end contact portion (510). Two or more materials may be used for the end contact portion (510) itself, and two or more materials may be used for the connecting plate (520) itself.

[0056] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the materials of the tension maintaining part (300) and the fan contact part (500), and a wide variety of materials may be applied to each of the tension maintaining part (300) and the fan contact part (500). In addition, the tension maintaining part (300) and the fan contact part (500) do not necessarily have to be formed of different materials. In some embodiments of the present invention, a replaceable spatula (110) may be provided as a set comprising one or more tension maintaining parts (300) and one or more fan contact parts (500) detachably coupled thereto, and the user may select and use the tension maintaining part (300) and the fan contact part (500) of a material and / or shape preferred by the user.

[0057] When connecting the fan contact portion (500) to the tension maintaining portion (300), the user may first position the connecting plate (520) of the fan contact portion (500) so that it faces the support plate (320) of the tension maintaining portion (300), and align each connecting projection (350) with its corresponding connecting groove (550). Subsequently, the fan contact portion (500) may be moved relatively toward the tension maintaining portion (300) so that each connecting projection (350) is inserted into its corresponding connecting groove (550).

[0058] In the case where the coupling projection (350) has a downward slope and the gap (450) between the coupling projection (350) and the support plate (340) is narrower on the other side than on one side as in FIG. 3, the user can move the fan contact part (500) toward the tension maintaining part (300) after slightly lifting the coupling projection (350) toward one end of the coupling plate (520) while the other end of the coupling projection (350) is hooked onto one end of the coupling groove (550). In this case, it would be preferable for at least a portion of the coupling projection (350) and the connecting part (330) to be formed of a material that allows for slight elastic deformation.

[0059] When the fan contact portion (500) is moved relatively toward the tension maintaining portion (300), the support plate (320) can be inserted into the insertion groove (580) at the bottom of the coupling plate (520), and the coupling protrusions (350) can be inserted into the coupling groove (550) at the top of the coupling plate (520), while the ends of the coupling protrusions (350) can be inserted under the groove cover (570). The coupling plate (520) can be inserted into the gap (450) between the support plate (320) and the coupling protrusions (350) and maintain a fixed state. If the gap (450) is formed narrower on the other side and the coupling plate (520) is also formed such that the other side has a smaller thickness than the one side in the portion where the coupling groove (550) is formed, the fan contact portion (500) can be fixed more firmly to the tension maintaining portion (300).

[0060] When the fan contact portion (500) is coupled to the tension maintaining portion (300) in this manner, the support plate (320) supports the coupling plate (520) from below, so that the tension maintaining portion (300) can bear the force applied to the end contact portion (510) of the fan contact portion (500). When the gap (450) between the support plate (320) and the coupling projection (350) is formed to be narrower on the other side than on one side, and the coupling plate (520) is also formed to have a thickness smaller on the other side than on one side in correspondence, the tension maintaining portion (300) can be constrained in the front-back direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction and maintain a firmly fixed state.

[0061] When the user wishes to separate the fan contact part (500) from the tension maintaining part (300), the user can grasp the fan contact part (500) and the tension maintaining part (300) (or the handle (10) connected thereto) and apply sufficient force to pull in the opposite direction, thereby causing the connecting plate (520) to be pulled out from the gap (450) between the connecting projection (350) and the support plate (320). Since there is a part of one end of the connecting plate (520) that is not covered by the connecting part (330), the user can grasp that part and apply force relatively easily. With the fan contact part (500) separated, the user can more easily clean the tension maintaining part (300) and the fan contact part (500), and, if necessary, replace the fan contact part (500) in use with a fan contact part (500) of a different shape and / or material.

[0062] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view exemplarily showing the state in which the fan contact part (500) is separated from the replaceable spatula (120) according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] The replaceable spatula (120) according to the second embodiment of the present invention has many common features with the replaceable spatula (110) according to the first embodiment described above, and the following description will focus on the differences of the replaceable spatula (120) according to the second embodiment. Features described in relation to the first embodiment may be applied to the second embodiment, and likewise features described in relation to the second embodiment may be applied to the first embodiment. Some reference numbers mentioned in describing the second embodiment are intended to refer to components corresponding to the components to which the corresponding reference numbers are applied in the first embodiment.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 4, in a spatula (120) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the length of the through hole (390) formed in the support plate (320) may correspond to the sum of the length of the connecting part (330) and the length of the connecting projection (350). In this case, it is possible to simultaneously form the connecting part (330) and the connecting projection (350) by cutting the flat support plate (320) along positions corresponding to three sides of the through hole (390) and then bending the cut part at two positions.

[0065] Additionally, referring to FIG. 4, in a spatula (120) according to an embodiment of the present invention, a drain hole (540) may be formed in the coupling plate (520). The drain hole (540) may be formed to penetrate the coupling plate (520) vertically and may be formed to communicate with the interior of the coupling groove (550). For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the coupling groove (550) is formed on the upper surface of the coupling plate (520), the drain hole (540) may be formed such that its upper opening is open into the coupling groove (550) on the upper surface of the coupling plate (520) and its lower opening is open into the insertion groove (580) on the lower surface of the coupling plate (520). The drain hole (540) may be formed one per coupling groove (550) or may be formed only in some selected coupling grooves (550).

[0066] During use of the spatula (120), foreign substances such as food residue and cooking oil may enter the coupling groove (550), and this may interfere with the separation of the pan contact part (500) from the tension maintaining part (300) and subsequent re-connection. The drain hole (540) provides a passage through which foreign substances entering the coupling groove (550) can be discharged.

[0067] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 4, if the groove cover (570) is formed along the upper part of the coupling groove (550) for a predetermined length, air cannot communicate into the coupling groove (550) below the groove cover (570). Consequently, a part of the coupling projection (350) blocks the only opening of the coupling groove (550), and it may become difficult to insert and pull out the coupling projection (350) due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the coupling groove (550). The drain hole (540) provides a passage for the inflow and outflow of air while communicating the inside of the coupling groove (550) with the outside.

[0068] In particular, when the drain hole (540) is formed in a straight line along the vertical direction, a through hole (390) may also be formed in the support plate (320) at a position corresponding to the bottom of the drain hole (540), and thus the interior of the coupling groove (550) may communicate with the outside through the drain hole (540) and the through hole (390). As described above, when the length of the through hole (390) corresponds to the sum of the length of the connecting part (330) and the length of the coupling projection (350), a through hole (390) of sufficient size may be secured at the bottom of the drain hole (540).

[0069] FIG. 5 is a perspective view exemplarily showing the state in which the fan contact part (500) is separated from the replaceable spatula (130) according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] The replaceable spatula (130) according to the third embodiment of the present invention has many commonalities with the replaceable spatula (110, 120) according to the first and second embodiments described above, and the following description will focus on the differences of the replaceable spatula (130) according to the third embodiment. Features described in relation to the first or second embodiment may be applied to the third embodiment, and likewise features described in relation to the third embodiment may be applied to the first and second embodiments. Some reference numbers mentioned in describing the third embodiment are intended to refer to components corresponding to the components to which the corresponding reference numbers are applied in the first and / or second embodiments.

[0071] In the replaceable spatula (110, 120) according to the first and second embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, a coupling projection (350) is formed at a position spaced apart from the support plate (320) by a connecting part (330), and a coupling plate (520) is inserted into the gap (450) between the coupling projection (350) and the support plate (320). As the connecting part (330) extends upward from the base plate (310), the coupling plate (520) forms a step on the upper surface of the base plate (310).

[0072] In contrast, in the spatula (130) illustrated in FIG. 5, a gap (450) is formed between the connecting projection (350) and the support plate (320), wherein the support plate (320) is connected to the base plate (310) by the connecting portion (340), and the connecting projection (350) protrudes from the base plate (310) to the other side. As in the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the connecting portion (340) may extend downward from the other edge of the base plate (310), and the support plate (320) may extend downward from the lower part of the connecting portion (340) toward the fan contact portion (500) in the other direction. The connecting portion (340) may have a shape that is bent relative to the base plate (310), and the connecting projection (350) may protrude to the other side in a state parallel to the base plate (310) independently of the connecting portion (340).

[0073] The through hole (390) formed in the support plate (320) may also be formed in the connecting portion (340). In some embodiments, the total length of the through hole (390) formed across the support plate (320) and the connecting portion (340) may correspond to the length of the connecting projection (350).

[0074] In the replaceable spatula (130) according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the gap (450) between the coupling projection (350) and the support plate (320) may be configured to become narrower on the other side. For example, the coupling projection (350) may be extended parallel to the base plate (310), and the support plate (320) may be configured to have an upward slope toward the other side.

[0075] In the replaceable spatula (130) according to the present embodiment, when the pan contact portion (500) is coupled to the tension maintaining portion (300), the coupling plate (520) does not form a step on the upper surface of the base plate (310), but a step may be formed on the lower surface of the base plate (310). The step formed on the lower side of the food contact portion (30) does not significantly affect the use of the spatula (130) during cooking, and rather, the spatula (130) can be used to rest on the edge of the frying pan, etc.

[0076] Of course, in the aforementioned embodiments, the shape of the base plate (310) may be modified so that no step is formed in the food contact portion (30). For example, in the spatula (110, 120) according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention described above, the upper surface of one side of the base plate (310) may be made to be at the same height as the upper part of the connecting portion (330) by making one side of the base plate (310) thicker, and in the spatula (130) according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the lower surface of one side of the base plate (310) may be made to be at the same height as the lower part of the connecting portion (340) by making one side of the base plate (310) thicker.

[0077] FIGS. 6 and FIGS. 7 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, illustrating an exemplary state in which the fan contact portion (500) is separated from the replaceable spatula (140) according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] The replaceable spatula (140) according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has many commonalities with the replaceable spatulas (110, 120, 130) according to the first to third embodiments described above, and the following description will focus on the differences of the replaceable spatula (140) according to the fourth embodiment. Features described in relation to the first, second, or third embodiments may be applied to the fourth embodiment, and likewise features described in relation to the fourth embodiment may be applied to the first to third embodiments. Some reference numbers mentioned in describing the fourth embodiment are intended to refer to components corresponding to the components to which the corresponding reference numbers are applied in at least one of the first, second, and third embodiments.

[0079] Referring to FIGS. 6 and FIGS. 7, a replaceable spatula (140) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a handle (10), a connecting rod (20), and a food contact part (30), and the food contact part (30) may include a tension maintaining part (300) and a pan contact part (500). As with other embodiments described above, the tension maintaining part (300) may include a base plate (310), a support plate (320), and a connecting projection (360), and the pan contact part (500) may include an end contact part (510), a connecting plate (520), a connecting groove (560), and an insertion groove (590). However, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the coupling projection (360), coupling groove (560), and insertion groove (590) differ from the coupling projection (350), coupling groove (550), and insertion groove (580) of the previously described embodiment in terms of position and shape, so different reference numbers have been assigned to them.

[0080] In the replaceable spatulas (110, 120, 130) according to the first to third embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, a coupling projection (350) is formed at a position spaced apart from the support plate (320), and the coupling plate (520) is inserted into the gap (450) between the coupling projection (350) and the support plate (320).

[0081] In contrast, in the spatula (140) illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the insertion groove (590) is formed to be open to one side of the coupling plate (520), and as the support plate (320) is inserted into the insertion groove (590), the fan contact part (500) is coupled to the tension maintaining part (300).

[0082] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the base plate (310) may form one side of the tension maintaining part (300) and the support plate (320) may form the other side of the tension maintaining part (300), and the support plate (320) may be parallel to the base plate (310). In this embodiment, the support plate (320) may correspond to the part that is inserted into the insertion groove (590) of the fan contact part (500) of the tension maintaining part (300).

[0083] In this embodiment, the coupling projection (360) may be formed in a shape that protrudes along the vertical direction at a predetermined position on the upper and / or lower surface of the support plate (320). The degree of protrusion of the coupling projection (360) may be designed to an appropriate dimension so that, after the user connects the fan contact part (500) to the tension maintaining part (300), the fan contact part (500) remains firmly connected, while not requiring excessive force when the user attempts to separate the fan contact part (500) from the tension maintaining part (300).

[0084] The end contact portion (510) may form the other side of the fan contact portion (500), and the coupling plate (520) may form one side of the fan contact portion (500). An insertion groove (590) may be formed in the coupling plate (520) so as to be open to one side, and a coupling groove (560) corresponding to the coupling projection (360) may be formed inside the insertion groove (590).

[0085] For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the coupling projection (360) is formed to protrude upward from the upper surface of the support plate (320), and the coupling groove (560) is formed to be open into the interior of the insertion groove (590) at the portion forming the upper part of the insertion groove (590) on the inner side of the coupling plate (520).

[0086] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connecting plate (520) may be formed of a material that allows for slight elastic deformation while maintaining sufficient strength, and the supporting plate (320) and the connecting projection (360) may be formed of a material with a higher hardness.

[0087] In some embodiments of the present invention, a coupling projection (360) may be formed on either the coupling plate (520) or the support plate (320), and a coupling groove (560) may be formed on the other of the coupling plate (520) and the support plate (320). The example illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 corresponds to the case where the coupling projection (360) is formed on the support plate (320) and the coupling groove (560) is formed on the coupling plate (520). In some unillustrated embodiments, the coupling projection may be formed on the coupling plate (520) (e.g., at the location where the coupling groove (560) is formed in FIG. 7) and the coupling groove may be formed on the support plate (320) at a corresponding location (e.g., at the location where the coupling projection (360) is formed in FIG. 7).

[0088] When a user wishes to combine the fan contact portion (500) with the tension maintaining portion (300), the user may simply press the support plate (320) into the insertion groove (590). When the connecting projection (360) meets the entrance of the insertion groove (590), the portion of the connecting plate (520) around the insertion groove (590) may open due to elastic deformation, and the support plate (320) may be inserted into the insertion groove (590). When the support plate (320) reaches a designated position within the insertion groove (590), all connecting projections (360) are inserted into the corresponding connecting groove (560), and the connecting plate (520) may be returned to its original state due to elasticity. Thus, the support plate (320) can be fixed within the insertion groove (590) by the connecting projection (360), and the fan contact portion (500) can be combined with the tension maintaining portion (300).

[0089] If the user wishes to separate the fan contact part (500) from the tension maintaining part (300), the user can pull out the fan contact part (500) with sufficient force. The part of the connecting plate (520) around the insertion groove (590) can be opened by elastic deformation, the connecting projection (360) can be detached from the connecting groove (560), and the supporting plate (320) can be easily pulled out from the insertion groove (590).

[0090] FIGS. 6 and FIGS. 7 illustrate a structure in which an insertion groove (590) formed in a coupling plate (520) is open to one side and a support plate (320) is inserted into the insertion groove (590). However, in another embodiment of the present invention not illustrated, an insertion groove may be formed in the support plate (320) and open to the other side, and a coupling plate (520) may be inserted into the insertion groove. In this case as well, a coupling projection may be formed on either the coupling plate (520) or the support plate (320), and a coupling groove may be formed on the other of the coupling plate (520) and the support plate (320).

[0091] According to some embodiments of the present invention presented above, a part of the spatula may be separated from the rest and replaced. In some embodiments, a fan contact part (500) corresponding to the end portion of the spatula (110-140) may be detachably coupled to a tension maintaining part (300), and in some embodiments, the tension maintaining part (300) may also be detachably coupled to a connecting rod (20) or a handle (10).

[0092] Since the part corresponding to the food contact portion (30) of the spatula can be replaced, the user can select a tension-maintaining portion (300) and / or a pan-contact portion (500) of various shapes and materials according to their preference. For example, the user may prefer a spatula with more weight and select metal parts for the handle (10) and the tension-maintaining portion (300), while selecting silicone parts for the pan-contact portion (500) to prevent damage to the frying pan. Even if expensive synthetic resin materials are used to prevent the release of harmful substances such as endocrine disruptors during cooking, the expensive material does not need to be applied to the entire spatula, but is sufficient to apply it only to the pan-contact portion (500), thus providing the effect of reducing costs.

[0093] In addition to the possibility of applying different materials to the tension-maintaining part (300) and the fan contact part (500), the tension-maintaining part (300) and / or the fan contact part (500) can be replaced, so the user can select and use a part of a preferred size and shape among parts of various sizes and shapes. For example, the user may use a fan contact part (500) in which the end contact part (510) is formed with a wider area, and then, if necessary, replace it with a fan contact part (500) in which the end contact part (510) is formed with a narrower area. In some embodiments, for example, the width of the end contact part (510) may increase as it faces one side, the end may have an arc shape or other curved shape, or the end may form a diagonal with respect to the extension direction of the spatula. As the fan contact part (500) has various shapes in this way, various functions can be imparted to the spatula.

[0094] Since the tension maintenance part (300) and / or the pan contact part (500) can be replaced, cleaning the spatula becomes easier. The spatula generally has a relatively long handle, which makes cleaning the spatula cumbersome; however, if the pan contact part (500) is separated or both the tension maintenance part (300) and the pan contact part (500) are separated, cleaning becomes easier because the individual parts are of a size that is easier to handle. In particular, since the handle (10) part of the spatula is much less contaminated than the tension maintenance part (300) and the pan contact part (500), the efficiency of cleaning can be increased by washing the handle (10) part together with other dishes and tools with low contamination, and washing the tension maintenance part (300) and the pan contact part (500) together with other dishes and tools with high contamination.

[0095] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to one embodiment, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

Claims

1. A tension maintaining part having a handle on one side; and It includes a fan contact part configured to be detachably coupled to the other side of the tension maintaining part, The above-mentioned fan contact part is provided with a coupling plate on one side for coupling with the above-mentioned tension maintaining part, and a coupling groove is formed in the coupling plate, and The above tension maintaining part is, A base plate formed in a flat shape; A support plate located on the other side of the base plate and formed in a flat shape; and It includes a connecting projection protruding from at least one of the base plate and the support plate, and A replaceable spatula characterized in that, with the fan contact part coupled to the tension maintaining part, the support plate supports the coupling plate and the coupling projection is inserted into the coupling groove.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned connecting projection is connected to at least one of the base plate and the support plate by a connecting portion, and is formed at a position spaced apart from the support plate so as to form a gap between the connecting projection and the support plate. A replaceable spatula characterized in that when the fan contact part is coupled to the tension maintaining part, the coupling plate is inserted into the gap between the support plate and the coupling projection.

3. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned connecting projection protrudes from the base plate, and the support plate is connected to the base plate by a connecting portion, but is formed at a position spaced apart from the connecting projection, so that a gap is formed between the connecting projection and the support plate. A replaceable spatula characterized in that when the fan contact part is coupled to the tension maintaining part, the coupling plate is inserted into the gap between the support plate and the coupling projection.

4. In Paragraph 2 or 3, A replaceable spatula characterized by having a through hole formed in the support plate at a position corresponding to the coupling projection.

5. In Paragraph 2 or 3, A replaceable spatula characterized in that a drain hole is formed in the coupling plate, the drain hole penetrates the coupling plate vertically, and the drain hole communicates with the interior of the coupling groove.

6. In Paragraph 2 or 3, The above coupling groove is formed on the upper part of the coupling plate, and A replaceable spatula characterized in that the above-mentioned fan contact portion further includes a groove cover that at least partially covers the upper part of the coupling groove.

7. In Paragraph 1, A replaceable spatula characterized by having an insertion groove formed in the above-mentioned connecting plate so that at least a portion of the above-mentioned supporting plate is inserted therein.

8. A tension maintaining part having a handle on one side and a flat support plate on the other side; and It includes a fan contact portion having a coupling plate for coupling with the support plate on one side, The above coupling plate has an insertion groove formed therein that is open to one side and configured to allow at least a portion of the support plate to be inserted therein, and A coupling projection is formed on either the coupling plate or the support plate, and a coupling groove is formed on the other of the coupling plate and the support plate. A replaceable spatula characterized in that, with the support plate inserted into the insertion groove, a part of the coupling plate is located on the upper part of the support plate and a part of the coupling plate is located on the lower part of the support plate, and the coupling projection is inserted into the coupling groove.

9. A tension maintaining part having a handle on one side and a flat support plate on the other side; and It includes a fan contact portion having a coupling plate for coupling with the support plate on one side, The above support plate has an insertion groove formed therein that is open to the other side and configured to allow at least a portion of the above coupling plate to be inserted, and A coupling projection is formed on either the coupling plate or the support plate, and a coupling groove is formed on the other of the coupling plate and the support plate. A replaceable spatula characterized in that, with the coupling plate inserted into the insertion groove, a part of the support plate is located on the upper part of the coupling plate and a part of the support plate is located on the lower part of the coupling plate, and the coupling projection is inserted into the coupling groove.

10. In any one of Paragraphs 1, 8 and 9, A replaceable spatula characterized in that the above-mentioned fan contact part is made of two or more materials.

Images