CA1066997A - Food cutting device - Google Patents

Abstract

FOOD CUTTING DEVICE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An integral grater and spoon combination for shredded vegetables and/or spices including opposed grating surfaces, the opposite ends of which are so shaped to form bucket-like spoon members that function to collect the grated food product and retain same for deposit as the user may desire.

Description

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S P E C I F I C A T I O N__ The present invention generally relates to an improved food cut~ing device, more particularly, of the type that will be used when it is desired to shred small quantities of a food product. For example, it is not uncommon to purchase a variety of spices such as cinnamon sticks, pepper corns, chiles, nutmeg, garlic and the like in whole form and to grate small portions in accordance with ones immediate needs for proper food seasoning. In view of the fact that only very small quantities of such seasonings ~re normally required, it is inappropriate and often clumsy to attempt to use the commonly known food grater to accomplish that end. Accordingly, in the preferred form of this invention, it is anticipated that the food cutting device or grater itself will be relatively small and that such will be provided with bucket-like members or spoons on each end thereof to provide convenien~ collection receptacles that will enable the user to retain appropriate quantities of the grated product for use in the food preparation ; process.
The present invention, therefore, has as its principal objective the provision of a small , cutting device comprised of a single principal grating member having oppositely directed protrusions that may be used to effectively shred or grate vegetable or spice products. Furthermore, it is an objective to provide as an integral part thereof and at each : . .
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----` 1066~97 end of such grating surface bucket-like members or spoons that will effectively collect and retain the grated product as the implement is being used. As indicated above, a principal advant-age of such construction is to afford the user the capability of simply and easily grating and collecting small quantities of spices such as cinnamon sticks, pepper corns, chiles, nutmeg, garlic and the like, in a fashion which readily evidences the quantity of such product that has been grated. However, it should be apparent that other advantages such as simplicity of use and ease of manipulation may be equally important to the user under certain specific circumstances.
Thus, a food cutting device is provided which comprises a principal grating surface which has oppositely direct-ly protruding means thereon and substantially smooth extensions thereof. The extensions have first and second generally planar portions of approximately equal 45 and 80 respectively from the plane of the principal grating surface so that each portion lies in approximately parallel planes, and wall members integral with both the principal grating surface and the extensions.
Further, it should be obvious that additional features and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent from the following description reference being had to the accompanying drawings illustrating one specific embodiment thereof by way of an example and in which:
Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of the food cutting device showing the unchanneled side thereof with its accompanying spoon-like member;
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of such device;
Fig. 3 is an end view of the grater looking from right to left along Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the grater;
Fig. 5 is the other end view thereof;

-2-- ' ' '' :`~ ```` 1066997 Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the grater taken along lines 6-6 of Fig. 5;
and Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken of the gra~er taken along lines 7-7 of Fig. 2.
-~ Referring to the drawings, more specifically, numeral 10 designates the overall miniature grater as may be seen in Fig. 1. Such grater or food cutting ~evice 10 incorporates therein a principal grating -- surface 12 which includes a plurality of oppositely directed protruding projections 14 which are offset -~ one with respect to another but are aligned as is evident also in Figs. 1 and 2. Note, in particular, that the mentioned projections 14 emanate from both sides of the grating surface 12 so that in effect two graters are incorporated into a single structural `~ embodiment. Likewise, note that the mentioned pro-jections 14 are formed by a plurality of substantially vertical side walls 16 and a generally planar top , . .. .
wall 18. It should also be apparent from the various figures, and in particular, Figs. l and 2, that these projections are rhombodic parallelepipids, the acute corners of which are longitudinally aligned along the grater surface. This edge alignment provides the principal cutting edges which will be in contact with the particular foodstuff being moved thereover ., i.
to generate the shredded product particles.
The principal grating surface 12 also includes as an integral p rt thereof substantially .

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smooth extensions 20 and 22 that protrude from the opposite ends of such surface. These respective extensions are oppositely angled from the plane of the grating surface 12 and each is divided into two portions 24 and 26 as may best be seen in Fig. 6.
Each such respective portions 24 and 26 are of approx-imately equal size and each is approximately parallel with its respective counterpart at the opposite end of the surface 12. Similarly, note that the portions ; 24 are positioned at approximately a 45 angle from -the plane of principal grating surface 12 and that portions 26 are at approximately 80 angles with respect thereto. This angular arrangement of the extensions 20, 22 form the basic shape for the spoon portion 28 of the grater 10.
The overall grater construction is completed -by the side wall members 30 which extend along opposite sides of the principal grating surface 12 and extend outwardly therefrom at approximately 90.
Likewise~ note that such walls emanate only in a single direction from principal grating surface 12 ~Figs, 4 and 7) and that those portions of the terminal edges 32 of the side wall members 30 that are proximate the principal grating surface 12 parallel such surface.
Furthermore, these wall members 30 extend to the respective terminal edges 34 and 36 of extensions 20 and 22 and in these extension areas the wall surface edges 38 lie in planes that are approximately -parallel with those in which surface portions 24 lie.

106699'7 Due to the construction of side wall 30, a channel is created along the entirety of one grating surface and that such channel extends into the spoon 36. This produces a completely contained area within which grated material may be collected and retained during the grating operation itself.
Furthermore, note that the other exposed surface such as is most apparent in Fig. 1 does not include that channeling arrangement. However, such does have a similar spoon arrangement 34 at the lower end thereof to receive grated material. It should further be noted that the particular angled relation-ship of portions 24 provide the user with a substantially planar surface which may be rested upon a typical countertop supporting surface providing a steadying influence upon the grater during its use. Accordingly, the grater itself is supported at approximately a 45 angle with respect to the kitchen cabinet surface or supporting means thus enabling gravity to provide the means by which grated particles descend into the spoons 34, 36.
From the foregoing,it should be apparent that the particular grating device as is herein ~-disclosed provides an appropriate and simple mechanism by which the user may grate small quantities of foods for inclusion in a basic dish and in the preparation of such grated particulate maintain an accurate control of the amount or quantity of such which is to be added to that main dish. Furthermore, the device is relatively simple and preferably is .''' ~

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,, to be made from a suitable plastic material which will adequately shred the products normal for such uses.

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Claims (6)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A food cutting device comprising a principal grating surface having oppositely directed protruding means thereon and substantially smooth extensions thereof, said extensions having first and second generally planar portions of approximately equal 45° and 80° respectively from the plane of said principal grating surface so that each portion lie in approximately parallel planes, and wall members integral with both said principal grating surface and said extensions.

2. A food cutting device according to claim 1 wherein the wall members extend between the terminal edges of said planar portions, and the outer edges thereof are substantially parallel with either the respective ones of said portions or with the principal grating surface.

3. A food cutting device according to claim 2 wherein said wall members are at an approx-imate 90° angle with respect to said principal grating surface and the extensions thereof.

4. A food cutting device according to claim 1 wherein said protruding means include a plurality of projections each being offset but aligned one with respect to another.

5. A food cutting device according to claim 4 wherein said projections have substantially vertical side walls and planar top walls.

6. A food cutting device according to claim 5 wherein each of said projections is a rhombodic parallelepipid.