BACKGROUND ART T In particular the present invention relates to a cutting board which is suitable for cutting slices from an uncut loaf of bread.

However, this should not be seen as limiting as the present invention may also be used for cutting and/or slicing other foodstuffs or products.

For ease of reference only, the present invention will now be discussed in relation to the cutting of slices from a loaf of bread.

At present, people commonly find it difficult to quickly and easily cut a slice, or slices with a uniform thickness from a loaf of bread.

In particular, it is often difficult for people to cut thin slices of bread from an uncut loaf.

One consequence of the above problems, is many people who have purchased breadmakers often complain that they cannot consistently cut straight slices of bread having a uniform thickness. As a result of this, many purchasers can become reluctant to use their breadmaker.

It would therefore be an advantage if there could be provided a cutting board which is able to allow people to quickly and easily cut straight slices of bread having a uniform thickness from an uncut loaf of bread.

One invention which has attempted to overcome the above difficulties is disclosed in US Patent No. 5664474. The bread slicing device ("cutting board") disclosed in this patent specification has a horizontal support surface with a vertical rim connected thereto, the height of which corresponds to a predetermined thickness of slice.

However, a drawback with this invention is that in order to cut a thicker slice of bread having uniform thickness, a separate ring is required to be interfitted with the vertical rim. Accordingly, this unnecessarily complicates the cutting board as it now consists of two separate components which must be connected and unconnected to one another. As well as washed, dried and stored separately, if one wishes to have the ability to cut thick and thin slices using this apparatus. Further, if the separate ring is lost the board can only cut slices of one thickness.

It would therefore be an advantage if there could be provided a cutting board which of itself is able to allow people to quickly and easily cut straight slices of bread of a thick or thin thickness.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cutting board for product which is to be cut into slices, wherein the board includes:

-a support surface which includes at least two spaced apart and opposed raised edges ("first edges"), wherein the height that the first edges extend above the support surface, is equivalent to a first desired thickness of slice to be cut from product placed between the first edges; characterised in that the board also includes at least two spaced apart and opposed lower edges ("second edges") which extend below the bottom surface of the support surface, a distance which equates to a second desired thickness of slice.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a cutting board substantially as described above wherein the thickness of the slice to be cut from the product can be determined by altering the orientation of the cutting board.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cutting board substantially as described above wherein the cutting board includes a knife stop.

The cutting board and first edges may be made from a variety of different materials without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In preferred embodiments, the cutting board may be made from any suitable non-toxic, plastic material which is preferably scratch resistant.

The product may be just about any product which is to be cut into slices.

In general, the product may be a foodstuff, however, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present invention.

In preferred embodiments, the product may be an uncut loaf of bread.

For ease of reference only, the product will now be referred to as being a

loaf of bread.

The bread may be cut by any suitable cutting implement. In general, the bread may be cut by either a standard or electric knife. However, this should not be seen as limiting.

For ease of reference, the cutting implement will now simply be referred to as being a knife.

In general, the support surface of the cutting board may be substantially flat in nature.

To cut a slice from a loaf simply requires running the knife in a horizontal direction across the cutting board using the top of the first edges as a guide.

The first and second edges may have a number of different transverse cross-sectional profiles without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In some embodiments, the first and second edges may have a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional profile.

In preferred embodiments, the first and second edges may have a substantially rectangular transverse cross-sectional profile.

In some preferred embodiments, each of the first and/or second edges may be formed from a separate piece of material. In such embodiments there may be also provided a third edge which effectively connects one set of like terminal ends of : a) the first edges; and b) the second edges.

Whilst in other preferred embodiments both of the first and/or second edges may be formed from a single piece of material which is bent so as to substantially form a U-shape. In such embodiments the interconnecting portion (i. e. bottom region) of the U-shape can be considered to be equivalent to the third edge mentioned above. As it connects one set of like terminal ends of : a) the first edges; and b) the second edges.

For the avoidance of any doubt it should be understood that the term"third edge"refers to any edge which effectively connects either one set of like terminal ends of the first edges, and/or, one set of like terminal ends of the second edges (i. e. the third edge may extend above the support surface and/or below the bottom surface of the support surface).

In preferred embodiments, the height that the first edges extend above the support surface does not correspond to that which the second edges extend below the bottom of the support surface. Consequently, a different thickness of slice can be cut depending on the orientation of the cutting board, as when the board is turned over the first edges effectively become the second edges and vice versa.

In preferred embodiments, the third edge or equivalent may include a knife stop which protrudes above the top of the third edge.

In some embodiments the knife stop may be integrally formed as part of the third edge.

In other embodiments, the knife stop may be attached to the third edge.

In preferred embodiments the knife stop may be slidably attached to the third edge so the knife stop is capable of moving upwardly whenever the board is turned over. Consequently, the cutting board is always able to sit flush on a supporting surface such as a bench, and the knife stop always protrudes above the third edge.

The function of the knife stop is to prevent any further horizontal lateral movement of the knife once it has cut a slice from a loaf of bread. Thus, the knife stop can help prevent the possibility of any injuries being caused as a result of using the cutting board of the present invention.

In general it is envisaged the height/distance which the first and second edges extend above the support surface or below the bottom surface of the support surface may be anywhere substantially in the region of 10-20mm.

Thus preferred embodiments of the present invention may have a number of advantages over the prior art.

One advantage is that it allows a person to quickly and easily cut a slice of bread of uniform thickness from an uncut loaf.

A further advantage is that the cutting board can be used to cut a loaf of bread into either thick or thin slices of a uniform thickness depending on the orientation of the cutting board.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the knife stop is able to help prevent the possibility of injury occurring due to further movement of the knife occurring after a slice has been cut.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the

following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a front end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 looking along arrow A, and Figure 4 is a back end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 looking along arrow B, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With respect to the drawings there is provided a cutting board generally indicated by arrow 1 the cutting board is made via two halves A and B (formed by injection moulding) shown in Figure 5 which have been bonded together. The cutting board 1 has a support surface 2 and two spaced apart first edges 3 and 4 which extend above the support surface 2.

The cutting board 1 also includes a third edge 6 which also extends above the support surface 2.

Located within an aperture 7 of the third edge 6 is a knife stop 10.

The knife stop 10 protrudes above the top of the third edge 6. The knife stop 10 is slidably attached to the third edge 6 via means of protrusions 11 on either side of aperture 7 which can engage with shoulders 12 on the stop 10. Hence the knife stop 10 can slide within aperture 7 yet be retained by

the bosses 12 and protrusions 7.

The cutting board 1 also includes second edges 20,21 and a third edge 24 which all extend below the bottom surface 23 of the support surface 2.

As is shown clearly in Figure 3 the distance indicated by double headed arrow Y is smaller than the distance indicated by double headed arrow X such that thin slices can be cut when the cutting board has the orientation shown. Conversely, if the board is turned over thicker slices may be cut as bottom surface 23 and second edges 21,20 now effectively, respectively become the support surface 2 and first edges 3,4 and vice versa.

In order to cut a slice from a loaf a knife 50 may be moved along the top of the first edges 3 and 4 in the direction indicated by arrow 101.

To prevent the cutting board from slipping on a support surface when in use the board 1 also has rubber feet 17 located on the edges 3,4 and 20,21.

In some preferred embodiments there may also be feet 17 on the third edge 6.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.