IP Library Granted Patent US 7,213,964
Granted Patent B2
US 7,213,964 · App. 10/731,980 · Granted May 8, 2007

Flexible whisk

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,213,964
App. No.
10/731,980
Granted
May 8, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A kitchen whisk having a whisk-head attached to a grippable handle by a coupling, the handle having a flex zone for enhancing the “whipping” action of the whisk-head. A cable can be embedded within the flex zone region of the handle for reinforcing the same, the ends of the cable being disposed between and encased within a handle core and an inner plug core, the inner plug core being located within the coupling. In addition, the coupling captures the ends of the wires for attachment to the handle.

Claims (21)

1. A kitchen whisk comprising:

a whisk-head having a plurality of wire segments configured to function as a whisk;

a handle having a cover formed about a core, at least a portion of the handle forming a flex zone for biasly permitting deflection of the whisk-head and urging the whisk-head back toward its natural position while in use; and

a coupling connecting the whisk-head to the handle, the coupling having a cable disposed between the core and the coupling, the cable encased within the flex zone for reinforcement thereof, and the coupling having a capturing means for attaching the whisk-head with the coupling.

2. The kitchen whisk of claim 1 wherein the whisk-head is made from looped wires having a tear dropped shape.

3. The kitchen whisk of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of each of the wires are covered with a flexible material.

4. The kitchen whisk of claim 1 wherein the cover and flex zone are made from an over-molded thermoplastic elastomer.

5. The kitchen whisk of claim 1 wherein the core is made from a molded plastics material such as nylon, polypropylene, or ABS.

6. The kitchen whisk of claim 1 wherein the cable is made from stainless steel.

7. A kitchen whisk comprising:

a whisk-head having a pluraLity of wire segments configured to function as a whisk;

a handle having a cover formed about a core, at least a portion of the handle forming a flex zone for biasly permitting deflection of the whisk-head and urging the whisk-head back toward its natural position while in use;

a coupling connecting the whisk-head to the handle, the coupling having a cable disposed between the core and the coupling, the cable encased within the flex zone for reinforcement thereof, and the coupling having a capturing means for attaching the whisk-head with the coupling; and

a grommet at each end of the cable, a first cable end encased in the core and a second cable end encased in an inner plug core.

8. The kitchen whisk of claim 7 wherein the inner plug core is made from a molded plastic material such as nylon, polypropylene, or ABS.

9. The kitchen whisk of claim 7 , further comprising an inner plug and an outer plug configured such that the wires are captured therebetween, and the inner plug configured to receive the inner plug core.

10. The kitchen whisk of claim 9 wherein the inner plug and outer plug are made from Stainless Steel.

11. The kitchen whisk of claim 9 wherein the outer plug is comprised with a plurality of holes for insertably receiving the whisk-head wire ends.

12. The kitchen whisk of claim 9 wherein the inner plug is configured with a gear-like cross section such that the whisk-head wire ends nest between vertically oriented gear-like protuberances of the inner plug and the outer plug.

13. The kitchen whisk of claim 12 wherein the whisk-head wire ends are spot welded to at least one of either the inner or outer plugs.

14. The kitchen whisk of claim 7 , further comprising a collar attachable around the coupling and made from stainless steel.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2015
From: CAPITALSOUTH PARTNERS FUND II LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CAPITALSOUTH PARTNERS SBIC FUND III, L.P.
To: THE CHEF'N CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034760/0293 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 18, 2011
From: THE CHEF'N CORPORATION; CHEF'N ACQUISITION, INC.
To: CAPITALSOUTH PARTNERS FUND II LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; CAPITALSOUTH PARTNERS SBIC FUND III, L.P.
Reel/Frame 027255/0258 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 16, 2011
From: THE CHEF'N CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 027240/0270 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2003
From: HOLCOMB, DAVID A.; STEWART, JOSHUA R.
To: CHEF'N CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014793/0148 →