DE102021104852A1 - Food forming apparatus and use of a food forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The food shaper includes an upper pivot member having a cutting member. Further, the food-forming device has a central pivoting element configured to receive a foodstuff, wherein the cutting element is configured to cut a foodstuff provided on the central pivoting element. The food-forming apparatus further includes a lower pivot member and a hinge member pivotally connecting the upper pivot member, the middle pivot member, and the lower pivot member about a pivot axis.

Description

The present invention relates to a food-shaping device and a use of a food-shaping device for shaping a food.

There are few solutions for cutting out figures and patterns in food, especially food slices. There are several solutions for cutting pasta. However, these are not well suited for cutting out food slices due to their firmer consistency.

The invention is based on the object of providing an improved food-shaping device, in particular with regard to the handling and use of a food-shaping device for shaping a food.

The object is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Developments of the invention are described by the dependent patent claims, the following description and the figures.

Advantages and advantageous configurations of the food-shaping device are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous configurations of the use according to the invention of a food-shaping device for shaping a food and vice versa.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a food-forming apparatus, the food-forming apparatus first having an upper pivoting member having a cutting member. Furthermore, the food-forming device has a central pivoting element which is designed to receive a food. In this case, the cutting element is designed to cut a foodstuff provided on the central pivoting element. The food-forming apparatus further includes a lower pivot member and a hinge member pivotally connecting the upper pivot member, the middle pivot member, and the lower pivot member about a pivot axis.

The food-shaping device is a device for changing the shape of a food, particularly a food slice. The shape can be changed by cutting out or punching out a predetermined shape from a food item. Cutting out or separating one part of the food from another part of the food can be understood as a shaping process.

The upper pivot member, the middle pivot member and the lower pivot member can be moved relative to each other. In particular, the movement can be a rotary movement about the pivot axis. In order to simplify the turning movement and the gripping of the pivoting elements, a gripping element can be provided on the upper pivoting element and/or on the middle pivoting element. In particular, the gripping elements enable two pivoting elements to be moved together or separately from one another. The gripping element can be gripped by the human. By gripping the corresponding gripping members of the upper pivot member and the middle pivot member together, the upper pivot member and the middle pivot member can be moved together.

If a gripping element is additionally provided on the lower pivoting element, the upper pivoting element can be moved independently of the middle pivoting element and the lower pivoting element by engaging the corresponding gripping elements of the middle pivoting element and the lower pivoting element.

The pivoting elements could be formed in one piece. In particular, the pivoting elements can be made of plastic or metal. Provision can be made for the pivoting elements to be produced by means of an injection molding process.

The upper pivoting element can in particular be designed as a flat body. It can be provided that the surface is almost flat. However, it can also be provided that at least one surface side has a structure. In particular, one side of the surface can also be spherical, concave, convex or wavy. In particular, the upper surface of the upper pivoting element can be designed in sections to be smooth and flat, so that a foodstuff can first be shaped thereon into a shape suitable for the food-shaping device, for example by crushing on the upper surface.

The cutting element can be made of a durable material. In particular, it can be provided that the cutting element consists of metal. It is also possible that the cutting element is made of plastic. In any case, the cutting element is designed to cut or divide food.

A first side of the cutting element may be connected to or integral with the upper pivot member. A second side opposite the first side may be disposed toward the central pivot member. The second side may be blade-shaped. The cutting element can also be referred to as a punch.

This results in the advantage that the food shaping device is very easy to handle, easy to disassemble and therefore very easy to clean.

In particular, there is the further advantage that the cut food can be spaced or removed from the lower pivoting element in a particularly simple manner together with the central pivoting element.

For example, a food slice can be positioned on the central pivot element. The slice of food can approximately correspond to a support surface of the central pivoting element. In particular, the dimensions of the slice of food can be smaller than the support surface.

The slice of food can be positioned on the support surface in particular in such a way that when the upper pivoting element approaches the central pivoting element, the slice of food is cut or punched by the cutting element. Then, after the upper pivoting element has been removed from the middle pivoting element, the shaped food slice and the excess, ie the two parts of the food slice, can be removed.

The invention also includes exemplary embodiments which result in additional advantages.

An exemplary embodiment provides that the central pivoting element has a passage corresponding to the cutting element, the food shaping device being further designed such that the cutting element can be guided through the passage by means of a pivoting movement of the upper pivoting element in the direction of the central pivoting element.

The passage can, for example, essentially have the shape of the cutting element. The shape can be round, rectangular, triangular or circular. A superimposition of several forms is also conceivable.

By passing the cutting member through the passage of the center pivot, a food slice positioned on the center pivot can be cut.

In particular, it can be provided that the cutting element is guided through the passage by means of a pivoting movement of the upper pivoting element in the direction of the central pivoting element.

This results in the advantage that the food can be cut with a particularly low expenditure of force. This reduces the effort required to such an extent that the food forming device can also be used by children.

In particular, this means that an overhang on the central pivoting element can be removed or distanced from the shaped food.

For example, the upper pivot member may include a triangular cutting member. Correspondingly, the central pivoting element has a corresponding triangular passage, so that the triangular cutting element can be passed through the triangular passage. By passing the cutting element through the passage, a food slice arranged between the passage and the cutting element can be cut out.

An exemplary embodiment provides that the lower pivoting element has a contact surface, with the food shaping device being further developed such that the cutting element can be pivoted by means of a pivoting movement of the upper pivoting element and optionally also the middle pivoting element in the direction of the lower pivoting element and by passing the cutting element through the passage of the middle pivot element can come into contact with the contact surface.

The contact surface may be a surface located on the side of the lower pivot member facing toward the middle pivot member. In particular, the cutting element of the upper pivoting element can come into contact with the contact surface. In particular, the cutting element can be brought into contact by passing the cutting element through the passage of the central pivoting element.

This results in the advantage that a foodstuff arranged on the central pivoting element can be cut and the cutting element is brought into contact with the contact surface only after the foodstuff has been cut.

An exemplary embodiment provides that the lower pivoting element has a counter-element corresponding to the passage and to the cutting element, with the counter-element being designed to receive the food before and after the cutting process.

The counter-element can be an elevation on a side facing the central pivoting element in the direction of the central pivoting element. The counter element has a corresponding shape to the cutting element. The counter-element can be designed in such a way that it can be encompassed by the cutting element. A gap can be provided between the central pivot element and the counter element. The gap can be 0.1 mm to 2 mm, in particular 1 mm, in particular 1.5 mm. The cutting element can be passed through the gap and as it is passed along the mating element to the mating element build up snapping stress or sliding stress. This enables an exact cut.

The counter-element makes it possible to introduce a force that opposes the cutting force that is applied to the food by the cutting element.

This results in the advantage that a cut quality of the cut food can be improved.

An exemplary embodiment provides that a surface of the counter-element can form a cutting plane with a surface of the central pivoting element, in which the food can be cut by the cutting element.

The counter-element can be designed in such a way that the elevation of the counter-element corresponds to a distance between a surface of the lower pivoting element which points in the direction of the upper pivoting element and the cut surface. Thus, when the lower pivoting element is parallel to the middle pivoting element by pivoting, the counter-element can form an almost or completely flat cutting plane on the surface of the counter-element with the surface of the middle pivoting element.

This has the advantage that the foodstuff can be prevented from slipping on the surface of the central pivoting element when it is positioned or cut. This allows for a more accurate cut.

An exemplary embodiment provides that the cutting element has an outer cutting element and an inner cutting element, and the counter-element corresponds to the outer cutting element and to the inner cutting element.

The outer cutting element can have one or more inner cutting elements. The outer cutting element can cut an outer contour. The inner cutting element can cut an inner contour. The inner and the outer cutting element can have the same length, so that a cutting process of the outer contour and a cutting process of the inner contour can take place simultaneously.

A plurality of outer cutting elements can also be arranged with one or more inner cutting elements on the underside of the upper pivoting element.

The counter element can be designed to correspond to each outer cutting element with one or more inner cutting elements. Thus, the outer cutting element engages around the counter element or encompasses the counter element together with the upper pivot element and the lower pivot element.

This results in the advantage that both the outer contour and the inner contour can be cut in one operation by pivoting the upper pivoting element in the direction of the middle pivoting element.

An exemplary embodiment provides that the counter-element has a through-opening that corresponds to the inner cutting element. The opening extends in particular through the entire lower pivoting element.

Thus, the inner cutting element can be passed through the passage of the central pivot element and received through the opening in the counter element.

This results in the advantage that the cut inner contour of the food slice can be passed through the opening.

For example, the outer contour can be circular. The inner contour, which is rectangular for example, can be arranged within the circular outer contour. In particular, the outer contour can have a different shape than the inner contour.

An exemplary embodiment provides that the food shaping device further has a locking element which is designed to lock the central pivoting element to the upper pivoting element in a first locking position and to lock the central pivoting element to the lower pivoting element in a second locking position.

The locking element may be arranged on an opposite side of the food-forming device from the hinge element. The locking element can have several sub-elements, such as a lower locking element, a middle locking element and an upper locking element, which are each connected to the corresponding pivoting element. In this way, the multiple locking elements can interact with one another.

In particular, it can be provided that the upper locking element engages with the middle locking element and/or the middle locking element engages with the lower locking element and locks them together.

In particular, locking can take place either with the lower locking element or with the upper locking element. In this way, a maximum of two locking elements can lock together.

This results in the advantage that an operation of the food forming device is simplified.

After a slice of food has been placed on the support surface of the central pivoting element, for example, the central pivoting element can be locked with the upper pivoting element after the cutting process. In this way, the overhang of the food slice can be fixed between the upper pivoting element and the middle pivoting element and the shaped food slice can be provided for easy removal.

After removal of the formed slice of food, the locking of the upper pivoting member to the middle pivoting member can be released and the middle pivoting member locked to the lower pivoting member.

In this way, the overhang of the food slice can be made available for easy removal. In particular, this prevents the middle pivoting element from being lifted when the overhang is detached.

One embodiment provides that the locking element comprises an upper locking element on the upper pivoting element, a middle locking element on the middle pivoting element and a lower locking element on the lower pivoting element, with the upper locking element being connected to the middle locking element and the middle locking element being connected to the lower locking element in intervention can be brought.

This results in the advantage that the pivoting elements can be locked to one another with the respective corresponding locking elements and the operation of the food shaping device is thus simplified.

An exemplary embodiment provides that the upper locking element has an upper projection and the lower locking element has a lower projection, and the middle locking element has a receptacle that corresponds to the upper projection and the lower projection.

The top protrusion and the bottom protrusion may be formed as a hook, prong, spike, or spring.

If the projections are in the form of a tongue, the corresponding receptacle can be in the form of a groove in order to accommodate the tongue. In particular, however, it can be provided that the projections can be guided or guided into the respective receptacle by means of a respective guide element.

This has the advantage that locking and handling of the food forming device is improved and facilitated.

One embodiment provides that the upper pivoting element has a projection and the middle pivoting element has a recess corresponding to the projection, wherein the food shaping device is further designed such that the projection can be guided through the recess by means of a pivoting movement of the upper pivoting element in the direction of the middle pivoting element can.

A spring or an elevation can be understood as a projection. The protrusion is located on the underside of the upper pivot member. In particular, the projection can be arranged perpendicularly on the underside of the upper pivoting element.

The center pivot has the recess. The recess is arranged in such a way that in the closed state the projection can be passed through the recess.

Provision can also be made for the length of the projection, perpendicular to the underside of the upper pivoting element, to be longer than the cutting element.

This results in the advantage that the upper pivoting element can be centered with respect to the central pivoting element when the upper pivoting element approaches the central pivoting element as a result of the projection and the recess. A cutting accuracy of the cutting element can thus be improved.

A further exemplary embodiment provides that the hinge element comprises an upper hinge element on the upper pivot element, a middle hinge element on the middle pivot element and a lower hinge element on the lower pivot element, with the upper hinge element and the middle hinge element being brought into engagement with the lower hinge element can.

In particular, the upper hinge element and the middle hinge element can be releasably engaged with the lower hinge element and released again without destroying it.

This is useful when the pivoting elements are to be cleaned, when a differently shaped cutting element is desired or the cutting elements are to be replaced, for example due to wear.

This makes the food-forming device particularly easy to maintain.

A further exemplary embodiment provides that the upper hinge element has an upper movement element, the middle hinge element has a middle movement element and the lower hinge element has a central bearing element, with the upper movement element forming a hinge axis with the middle movement element and being able to be accommodated in the central bearing element, so that the upper moving element and the middle moving element can rotate around the hinge axis.

The upper moving member and the middle moving member may be rod-shaped. In particular, the upper moving element and the middle moving element can be bolts.

The upper moving member and the middle moving member can be accommodated separately from each other by the central support member. The upper moving element allows the upper pivoting element to rotate. The middle moving element allows the middle pivoting element to rotate. The lower pivot element can also be rotated relative to the upper pivot element and the middle pivot element. In particular, the movement elements can run along a hinge axis.

This results in the advantage that the pivoting elements can be moved about the pivot axis independently and relative to one another. Furthermore, the hinge structure described above enables the moving elements to be removed independently.

For example, the respective pivoting element can also be removed through the independent removal of the moving elements. For example, the pivoting element can also be exchanged.

A further exemplary embodiment provides that the lower hinge element has a U-shaped bracket with a receptacle for the bracket, the receptacle for the bracket being arranged at the respective ends of the bracket, with the respective ends being made of a flexible material with a pretension, so that the moving elements can be removed by applying a force.

The flexible material may be a material that can be deformed by human force. The flexible material has sufficient prestress to hold a shape and accommodate the moving elements in the receptacles of the tab.

The mounting of the tab can be a bore, a longitudinal hole or a groove, so that the movement elements can be accommodated in the mounting of the tab. Furthermore, the inclusion of the tab enables the moving elements to be mounted with as little friction as possible, so that the moving elements can be twisted.

This results in the advantage that the upper pivoting element and the middle pivoting element can be removed in a simplified manner. This improves handling and allows for easy cleaning.

A second aspect relates to a use of a food shaping device as described above for shaping a food.

Food can be shaped in an improved manner by using the food shaping device.

A further aspect provides a method of shaping a foodstuff using a foodstuff shaping device as described above. In a first step, a food shaping device can be provided.

In an optional further step, the upper pivoting element can be spaced apart from the middle pivoting element by tilting. The gripping members on the center pivot and the bottom pivot allow the center pivot and the bottom pivot to be held in place.

In an optional further step, a foodstuff can be positioned on the central pivoting element. By approaching the upper pivot member to the middle pivot member, the food can be cut.

In an optional further step, the upper pivot element and the middle pivot element can be spaced together from the lower pivot element.

In an optional further step, the shaped food can be removed from the lower pivoting element.

In an optional next step, the central pivoting element can be distanced from the upper pivoting element in order to remove the remaining food.

Improved operation of the food forming apparatus can be achieved by the method provided.

With regard to the advantages and exemplary embodiments of the use and the method, reference is also made to the advantages and exemplary embodiments of the device described above.

• 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Draufsicht einer Nahrungsmittelformungsvorrichtung in einem geöffneten Zustand
• 2 eine perspektivische Darstellung auf die Unterseite einer Nahrungsmittelformungsvorrichtung in einem geschlossenen Zustand
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines Verriegelungselements einer Nahrungsmittelformungsvorrichtung
• 4 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Scharnierelements einer Nahrungsmittelformungsvorrichtung in einem geschlossenen Zustand
• 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines geöffneten Verriegelungszustands des Verriegelungselements einer Nahrungsmittelformungsvorrichtung
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung eines geschlossenen Verriegelungszustands eines Verriegelungselements einer Nahrungsmittelformungsvorrichtung
• 7 eine schematische Darstellung eines oberen Verriegelungszustands eines Verriegelungselements einer Nahrungsmittelformungsvorrichtung
• 8 eine schematische Darstellung eines unteren Verriegelungszustands eines Verriegelungselements einer Nahrungsmittelformungsvorrichtung

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below in connection with the figures. For this shows:

• 1 Figure 14 is a perspective view of a top view of a food forming apparatus in an open condition
• 2 Figure 14 is a perspective view of the underside of a food forming device in a closed condition
• 3 Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of a locking element of a food forming device
• 4 Figure 14 is a perspective view of a hinge member of a food forming device in a closed condition
• 5 Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of an open locking state of the locking member of a food forming device
• 6 Fig. 12 shows a schematic representation of a closed locking state of a locking element of a food forming device
• 7 Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of an upper locking state of a locking member of a food forming apparatus
• 8th Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of a lower locking state of a locking member of a food forming device

In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiment each represent individual features of the invention to be considered independently of one another, which also develop the invention independently of one another and are therefore also to be regarded as part of the invention individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the embodiment described can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

1 12 shows a perspective representation of a top view of a food forming device 10 with an upper pivoting element 100, a middle pivoting element 200 and a lower pivoting element 300, which are arranged to be movable relative to one another by means of a hinge element 400, in an open state.

In the open state, the lower pivoting element 300, the middle pivoting element 200 and the upper pivoting element 100 are spaced apart from one another and connected to one another by the hinge element 400.

The upper pivot member 100 may be formed as a plate. The upper swing member 100 has a bottom of the upper swing member 101 . The underside of the upper swing member 101 can be formed as an almost flat surface. The upper side or surface of the upper pivoting element, which is not shown here, can also be designed as an almost flat surface. In particular, the upper side of the upper pivoting element can be convex or concave. For example, the top of the upper pivot may have a pattern or bulge.

An upper lip 102 may be formed on the underside of the upper pivot member 101 . The upper lip 102 may be positioned circumferentially around the edge of the underside of the upper pivot member 101 . In particular, the upper lip 102 is perpendicular to the underside of the upper pivot member 101 and points towards the middle pivot member 200.

The upper pivot member 100 may include an upper handle 103 . Furthermore, the upper pivoting element 100 can have an upper locking element 500 . The upper handle 103 and the upper locking member 500 may be disposed on an opposite side of the upper pivot member 100 from the hinge member 400 .

On the underside of the upper swing member 101, a projection of the upper swing member 104 may be formed. Specifically, the protrusion of the upper pivot member 104 may be perpendicular to the underside of the upper pivot member 101 and point toward the center pivot member 200 .

Furthermore, the underside of the upper pivoting element 101 can have a cutting element 110 . The cutting element can have an outer cutting element 111 and an inner cutting element 112 . Both the outer cutting element 111 and the inner cutting element 112 can be arranged perpendicularly to the underside of the upper pivoting element 101 and point in the direction of the middle pivoting element 200 . In particular, the inner cutting element 112 can be arranged inside the outer cutting element 111 .

In this figure, the cutting element 110 is shown in three different embodiments. In particular, a first cutting element 110 is shown, which consists only of an outer cutting element 111, which is triangular.

A second cutting element 110 is also shown, which comprises both an outer cutting element 111, which is circular, and an inner cutting element 112, which is square.

Also shown is a third cutting element 110 which comprises an outer cutting element 111 which is square and three inner cutting elements 112, one of which is rectangular and the other two are circular.

Both the outer cutting element 111 and the inner cutting element 112 can have any desired, particularly appealing shape, particularly closed contours, for example circular, oval, rectangular, triangular, also in the shape of a bear, a rabbit or a car.

The middle pivoting member 200 has a top of the middle pivoting member 201 . The upper side of the central pivoting element 201 is arranged in the direction of the upper pivoting element 100 and in the direction of the underside of the upper pivoting element 101, respectively.

The upper side of the central pivoting element 201 and/or the lower side of the central pivoting element (not visible in this figure) can be almost planar. In particular, the central pivot element 200 can be an almost or completely flat plate.

The center pivot member 200 may include a recess 204 . The recess 204 may correspond to the protrusion of the upper pivot member 104 . Thus, the projection of the upper pivot member 104 can be passed through the recess 204 .

Furthermore, the central pivoting element 200 has a passage 210 . The passage 210 can correspond to the outer cutting element 111 . The passage 210 can in particular be designed in such a way that the outer cutting element 111 can be guided through the passage 210 .

The central pivoting element 200 can have a passage 210 or a plurality of passages 210 corresponding to a number of the outer cutting elements 111 . The passage 210 can correspond to the basic shape of the outer cutting element 111 .

Furthermore, the central pivoting element 200 can have a central locking element 510 . The middle locking element 510 can with the upper locking element 500 can be locked.

Furthermore, the middle pivoting member 200 is arranged between the upper pivoting member 100 and the lower pivoting member 300 . In particular, an upper side of the central pivoting element 201 points in the direction of the upper pivoting element 100. An underside of the central pivoting element 200, not shown here, can point in the direction of the lower pivoting element 300.

The lower pivot member 300 has a top of the lower pivot member 301 . The top of the lower pivot 301 points towards the underside of the middle pivot. Furthermore, the lower pivoting element 300 has an underside of the lower pivoting element 305 that is not shown here. At this time, the underside of the lower pivoting member 305 is arranged on a side opposite to the upper side of the lower pivoting member 301 .

The lower pivot member 300 may include a lower lip 302 . The lower lip 302 can be arranged on the edge of the lower pivot element 300, in particular perpendicularly on the upper side of the lower pivot element 301. The lower lip 302 may run along the lower pivot member 300 .

The lower lip 302 can be configured similarly to the upper lip 102 . In particular, the lower lip 302 can be brought into contact with the upper lip 102 in the closed state. Thus, in a closed condition of the food forming apparatus 10, the lower lip 302, the upper lip 102, the upper pivot member 100, and the lower pivot member 300 may comprise the middle pivot member 200.

Furthermore, the lower pivoting element 300 can have a receptacle 304 . The receptacle 304 can receive the projection of the upper pivot member 104 . In particular, the projection of the upper pivot element 104 can be passed through the receptacle 304 . Thus, the receptacle 304 can be formed as an opening in the lower pivot member 300 .

The lower pivoting element 300 has a counter-element 310 . The counter element 310 is arranged on the surface of the lower pivoting element 301 . The counter-element 310 is designed as an elevation in the direction of the middle pivoting element 200 . The counter-element 310 can protrude into the passage 210 in the closed state of the food-forming device 10 .

In the closed state, the outer cutting element 111 can be guided past the counter-element 310 through the passage 210 . Thus, the outer cutting element 111 can be brought into contact with a contact surface. The contact surface can correspond to the surface of the lower pivot element 301 .

Furthermore, the lower pivoting element 300 can have a lower locking element 520 which can be arranged on a side of the lower pivoting element 300 opposite the hinge element 400 . The lower locking element 520 can be locked with the middle locking element 510 .

When the lower pivoting element 300 comes into contact with the middle pivoting element 200 , a contact surface of the counter-element 311 can form a cutting plane with the upper side of the middle pivoting element 201 .

Furthermore, the counter-element 310 can have an opening 312 corresponding to the inner cutting element 112 . Thus, the inner cutting element 112 can be inserted through the passage 210 into the opening 312 .

The upper side or surface of the lower pivoting element 301 can additionally also have further counter-elements 310 . In particular, the number of counter elements 310 and the arrangement of the counter elements 310 can correspond to a number, an arrangement and the basic shape of the cutting elements 110 , in particular the outer cutting elements 111 and the passages 210 .

2 12 is a perspective view of the underside of lower pivot member 305 of food forming apparatus 10 in the closed condition.

In the closed state shown, the pivoting elements 100, 200, 300 are parallel to one another.

The underside of the lower pivoting element 305 can have a base 306 . In particular, the underside of the lower pivoting element 305 can have a plurality of feet 306 .

Further, the counter member 310 or counter members 310 is offset from the bottom of the lower pivot member 305 toward the top of the lower pivot member 301 .

In the case that the underside of the upper pivoting member 101 has an outer cutting member 111 and an inner cutting member 112, the underside of the lower pivoting element 305 or the counter-element 310 has the opening 312 at the locations where the inner cutting element 112 is inserted.

2 also shows the upper locking element 500 and the lower locking element 520, which interact with the middle locking element 510, not shown here.

The upper locking element 500 has an upper rear surface 503 . The lower locking member 520 has a lower back surface 522 . In the shown closed condition of the food forming apparatus 10, the backs 503, 522 overlap and interact with each other.

Thus, in the event that the lower locking element 520 is locked with the middle locking element 510, which is not shown here, when the food forming device 10 is closed, i.e. when the upper pivoting element 100 is brought into contact with the middle pivoting element 200, the upper rear side 503 cancel the locking of the middle locking element 510 with the lower locking element 520. This can be done by applying a force from the upper rear side 503 to the lower rear side 522. Next, the middle locking element 510 can now be locked with the upper locking element 500.

3 Fig. 12 shows a schematic representation of a locking element of a food forming device 10.

The locking element has the upper locking element 500 . The upper locking element 500 has an upper connection lug 501 . The upper locking element 500 can be connected to the upper pivoting element 100, which is not shown here, by means of the upper connecting lug 501. In particular, the upper locking element 500 can have two upper connecting lugs 501 . An upper rear side 503 is arranged on the upper connecting strap 501 .

The upper rear side 503 is connected to the upper connecting flap 501 by means of a U-shaped upper sub-segment 505 . In particular, the U-shaped upper sub-segment 505 can consist of a flexible material. In this way, the upper rear side 503 can be tilted with respect to the upper connecting strap 501 .

The U-shaped upper partial segment 505 can in particular be arranged in such a way that the upper rear side 503 runs in the direction of the central locking element 510 in a non-deflected state. An upper projection 502 is arranged on the upper rear side 503 . The upper projection 502 is formed in such a way that the upper locking element 500 can be locked with the middle locking element 510 by means of the upper projection 502 .

The upper projection 502 can have a groove in the direction of the upper connecting strap 501 . In particular, a cross section, perpendicular to the upper connecting strap 501, of the upper projection 502 can taper as the distance from the upper connecting strap 501 decreases.

The middle locking element 510 has a middle connecting tab 511 . The middle connecting element 510 can be connected to the middle pivoting element 200, which is not shown here, by means of the middle connecting lug 511. A lower guide element 512 is arranged on the middle connecting strap 511 .

The lower guide element 512 is designed to guide the lower locking element 520 into a lower receptacle 513 . The lower guide element 512 and the lower receptacle 513 can be arranged on opposite sides of the middle connecting flap 511 . The lower guide element 512 can guide a lower projection 523, which is described further below.

The receptacle 513 can be configured to receive the lower projection 523 . The middle locking element 510 can be locked to the lower locking element 520 by means of the lower projection 523 which engages in the lower receptacle 513 .

In addition, the middle locking element 510 also has an upper guide element 514 and an upper receptacle 515 . The upper guide element 514 and the upper receptacle 515 can be arranged offset to the lower guide element 512 and the lower receptacle 513 along the middle connecting strap 511 . In particular, the receptacles 513, 515 and the guide elements 512, 514 can be arranged in such a way that the upper locking element 500 is opposite to the lower locking element 520, as in FIG 1 shown offset and/or overlapping.

The lower locking element 520 has a lower connection lug 521 . In particular, the lower locking element 520 can have a plurality of lower connecting lugs 521, for example 2 lower connecting lugs 521. Using the lower connecting straps 521 can the lower locking element 520 can be connected to the lower pivot element 300 .

A lower rear side 522 of the lower locking element 520 is connected to the lower connecting lug 521 by means of a U-shaped lower sub-segment 524 . The U-shaped lower sub-segment 524 may be made of a flexible material. In a non-deflected state, the lower rear side 522 can be arranged perpendicularly in the direction of the middle locking element 510 and/or perpendicularly to the lower connecting flap 521 .

The lower back 522 has a lower projection 523 . As already described above, the lower projection 523 can be designed to be guided into the lower receptacle 513 by means of the lower guide element 512 . Furthermore, the lower projection 523 can be designed to lock the middle locking element 510 to the lower locking element 520 by means of the lower receptacle 513 .

4 12 shows a perspective view of the hinge member 400 of the food forming apparatus 10 in a closed condition.

The hinge element 400 has a lower hinge element 401 , the lower hinge element 401 being connected to the lower pivot element 300 . Furthermore, the lower hinge element 401 has a central bearing mount 406 . The central bearing seat 406 can have an upper movement element 407 of an upper hinge element 405 . The upper hinge member 405 is connected to the upper pivot member 100 . The central bearing mount 406 can also accommodate a middle movement element 408 of a middle hinge element 404 independently of the upper movement element 407 . The middle hinge element 404 is connected to the middle pivot element 200, which is not shown here.

The hinge element 400 also has a tab 402 . The tab 402 can be positively connected to the central bearing mount 406 . In particular, the central bearing mount 406 and the tab 402 can be manufactured in one piece. In particular, the tab 402 can be made of a flexible material that has a pretension. In particular, it is provided that the respective ends of the tab 402 consist of a flexible material.

The tab 402 may be U-shaped in cross section. The ends of the tab 402 can be bent away from the central bearing mount 406 to the side.

The central bearing mount 406, in particular the lugs 402, each have a mount for the lug 403. The upper moving element 407 can be movably accommodated between the central bearing receptacle 406 of the lower bearing element 401 and one receptacle of the tab 403 .

A central movement element 408 can be accommodated between the other receptacle of the tab 403 and the central bearing receptacle 406 . In particular, the movement elements 407, 408 can be arranged along a hinge axis. The pivoting elements 100, 200, 300 can thus be tilted or rotated relative to one another about the hinge axis.

The central moving element 408 can be released from receiving the tab 403 by bending the corresponding tab 402 . Likewise, the upper moving element 407 can be released from receiving the tab 403 by bending the corresponding tab 402 . In particular, the middle moving element 408 and the upper moving element 407 can be released independently of one another.

5 shows a schematic representation of an open locking state of the locking elements 500, 510, 520 of a food forming device 10.

As already mentioned above 1 described, the locking elements 500, 510, 520 are arranged on the corresponding pivoting elements 100, 200, 300.

to 2 the arrangement of the rear sides 503, 522 to one another was described in more detail above.

In the 5 elements shown have different levels. The hatched elements can be arranged on a first plane parallel to the plane of the figure. The non-hatched elements may be parallel and located behind the first level on a second level. 5 thus shows a possible interaction of the shaded and non-shaded elements.

The food forming apparatus 10 is shown in an open condition. In the open condition, the food-forming device 10 can be cleaned or prepared for use. In the open state, the pivoting elements 100 , 200 , 300 are tilted spatially relative to one another by means of the hinge element 400 .

The upper locking member 500, which is arranged on the upper pivot member 100, has the upper rear 503 on. The upper rear side 503 is connected to the upper pivot element 100 by means of an upper connecting strap 501 .

The upper rear side 503 is perpendicularly spaced from the upper pivot member 100 . The upper back 503 is also arranged parallel to the upper lip 102, which is not shown here.

The upper connecting strap 501 is arranged at a first end of the upper rear side 503 . A protrusion 502 is disposed at an end opposite the first, toward the center locking member 510 . The projection 502 can have a groove 504 . The groove 504 can be arranged on a side facing the upper connecting strap 501 .

The middle locking element 510, which is arranged on the middle pivoting element 200, has an upper guide element 514. The upper guide element 514 can be wedge-shaped.

In particular, the upper guide element 514 can taper in the direction of the upper locking element 500 . Opposite the upper guide element 514 in the direction of the lower locking element 520, the middle locking element 510 has the upper receptacle 515. The upper receptacle 515 can have a tongue 516 corresponding to the groove 504 .

Furthermore, the middle locking element 510 also has the lower guide element 512 and the lower receptacle 513, which are offset to the upper guide element 514 and the upper receptacle 515 and are arranged mirrored about the middle connecting strap 511. The lower guide element 512 and the lower receptacle 513 are in 3 shown.

The lower locking element 520 is connected to the lower pivoting element 300 by means of the lower connecting lug 521 . A first end of the lower backside 522 is connected to the lower connecting flap 521 . The upper back 503 may correspond to the lower back 522 mirrored and offset by the middle connecting tab 511 .

At an end opposite the first end towards the middle locking member 510 , the lower locking member 520 has a lower projection 523 which is arranged towards the lower pivoting member 300 . The lower projection 523 may be wedge-shaped. A cross section of the protrusion 523 may taper toward the lower pivot member 300 .

6 shows a schematic representation of a closed locking state of the locking elements 500, 510, 520 of the food forming device 10.

6 shows an arrangement of the already in 5 items shown. The pivoting elements 100, 200, 300 are arranged parallel to one another. In the arrangement shown, one can speak of a closed state.

In particular, the closed state is characterized in that the upper locking element 500 is locked with the middle locking element 510 . Thus, the upper projection 502 is engaged with the upper socket 515 . The engagement is brought about by a sliding of the upper projection 502 along the upper guide element 514 and by the concomitant deformation of the flexible U-shaped upper sub-segment 505 .

When the upper projection 502 slides along the upper guide element 514, the upper rear side 503, which is as in FIG 2 described, overlapped with the bottom back 522, the bottom back 522 is pushed outwardly away from the center locking member 510.

7 shows a schematic representation of an upper locking state of the locking elements 500, 510, 520 of a food forming device 10.

7 shows an arrangement of the already in 6 items shown.

As already in 6 described, the upper projection 502 is engaged with the upper socket 515 . The upper locking member 500 is locked to the middle locking member 510 .

When the upper pivoting element 100 is tilted, the middle pivoting element 200 is also tilted. When the pivoting elements 100, 200 are tilted, a distance between the pivoting elements 100, 200 and the lower pivoting element 300 is increased.

By tilting the pivoting elements 100, 200, an overlapping of the upper rear side 503 with the lower rear side 522 can be eliminated. The lower back 522 turns into one original initial state, as in 5 shown back.

8th shows a schematic representation of a lower locking state of the locking elements 500, 510, 520 of the food forming device 10.

8th shows an arrangement of the already in 7 items shown.

The bottom locking state is different from that in 6 shown closed state characterized in that the lower locking element 520 with the middle locking element 510, in particular the lower projection 523 is in engagement with the lower receptacle 513, which is not shown here.

When the middle swinging member 200 and the upper swinging member 100 are tilted after they have assumed the upper locked state, and the middle swinging member 200 and the upper swinging member 100 approach the lower swinging member 300, the upper back 503 is separated from the lower back 522 from an initial state, as in 6 shown, deflects and releases the upper latch condition.

The lower projection 523 can be guided into the lower receptacle 513, which is also not shown, by means of the lower guide element 512, which is not shown here. By receiving the lower protrusion 523 into the lower receptacle 513, the middle locking member 510 can be locked to the lower locking member 520.

Reference List

10

food forming device

100

upper swivel element

101

Underside of the upper swivel element

102

upper lip

103

top handle

104

Protrusion of the upper pivot element

110

cutting element

111

outer cutting element

112

inner cutting element

200

middle swivel element

201

Top of middle pivot

204

recess

210

passage

300

lower swivel element

301

Top of lower pivot

302

lower lip

303

lower handle

304

recording

305

Underside of the lower swivel element

306

stand

310

counter element

311

bearing surface of the counter-element

312

opening

400

hinge

401

lower hinge element

402

tab

403

Capture the tab

404

middle hinge element

405

upper hinge element

406

central storage

407

upper movement element

408

middle movement element

500

upper locking element

501

upper connection tab

502

upper ledge

503

upper back

504

upper groove

505

upper segment

510

middle locking element

511

middle connecting strap

512

lower guide element

513

lower shot

514

upper guide element

515

upper shot

516

medium spring

520

lower locking element

521

lower connection tab

522

lower back

523

lower ledge

524

lower segment

Claims (14)

Food forming apparatus (10) comprising: - An upper pivot member (100) having a cutting member (110); - a central pivot member (200) adapted to receive a food item, wherein the cutting member (110) is adapted to cut a food item provided on the central pivot member (200); - a lower pivot member (300); - A hinge element (400) that pivotally connects the upper pivot element (100), the middle pivot element (200) and the lower pivot element (300) about a pivot axis. Food forming apparatus (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the middle pivoting element (200) has a passage (210) corresponding to the cutting element (110), wherein the food shaping device (10) is further designed such that the cutting element (110) can be rotated by means of a pivoting movement of the upper pivoting element (100) in the direction of the middle Pivoting element (200) can be performed through the passage (210). Food forming apparatus (10) according to claim 2 , wherein the lower pivoting element (300) has a counter-element (310) corresponding to the passage (210) and to the cutting element (110), wherein the counter-element (310) is designed to receive the food. Food forming apparatus (10) according to claim 3 , wherein a surface of the counter element (310) with a surface of the central pivoting element (201) can form a cutting plane in which the food can be cut by the cutting element (110). Food-forming apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 3 until 4 , wherein the cutting element (110) has an outer cutting element (111) and an inner cutting element (112) and wherein the counter-element (310) corresponds to the outer cutting element (111) and to the inner cutting element (112). Food forming device (10) according to the previous one claim 5 , wherein the counter-element (310) has a through-opening (312) corresponding to the inner cutting element (112). Food-forming apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a locking member (500, 510, 520) adapted to lock the middle pivoting member (200) to the upper pivoting member (100) in a first locking position and in a second locking position lock the middle pivot (200) to the lower pivot (300). Food forming apparatus (10) according to the preceding claim 7 , wherein the locking element comprises an upper locking element (500) on the upper pivot element (100), a middle locking element (510) on the middle pivot element (200) and a lower locking element (520) on the lower pivot element (300), wherein the upper Locking element (500) with the middle locking element (510) and the middle locking element (510) with the lower locking element (520) can be engaged. Food forming device (10) according to the previous one claim 8 , wherein the upper locking element (500) has an upper projection (502) and the lower locking element (520) has a lower projection (523) and wherein the middle locking element (510) has a to the upper projection (502) and the lower projection ( 523) has a corresponding receptacle (513, 515). A food-forming device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper pivot member (100) has a projection (104) and the middle pivot member (200) has a recess (204) corresponding to the projection (104), the food-forming device (10) is further formed that the projection (104) by means of a pivoting movement of the upper pivoting element (100) in the direction of the middle pivoting element (200) through the recess (204) can be performed. Food forming apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hinge member (400) comprises an upper hinge member (405) on the upper pivot member (100), a middle hinge member (404) on the middle pivot member (200) and a lower hinge member (401) on the lower pivot member (300), wherein the upper hinge member (405) and the middle hinge member (404) are engageable with the lower hinge member (401). Food forming device according to the previous one claim 11 , wherein the upper hinge element (405) has an upper movement element (407), the middle hinge element (404) has a middle movement element (408) and the lower hinge element (401) has a central bearing element (406), wherein the upper moving element (407) forms a hinge axis with the middle moving element (408) and can be accommodated in the central bearing element (406), so that the upper moving element (407) and the lower moving element (408) around the hinge axis can rotate. Food-forming apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding Claims 11 or 12 wherein the lower hinge member comprises a U-shaped tab (402) having a tab receptacle (403), the tab receptacle (403) being located at respective ends of the tab (402), the respective ends being made of a flexible material exist with a pretension so that the movement elements (407, 408) can be removed by applying a force. Use of a food forming device (10) according to any one of the preceding Claims 1 until 13 for shaping a food.

Images