Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
  • B26D3/00—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor
  • B26D3/24—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor to obtain segments other than slices, e.g. cutting pies
  • B26D3/26—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor to obtain segments other than slices, e.g. cutting pies specially adapted for cutting fruit or vegetables, e.g. for onions
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B26B5/00—Hand knives with one or more detachable blades
  • B26B5/008—Hand knives with one or more detachable blades for performing several incisions simultaneously; for cutting cubes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
  • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
  • B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
  • B26D1/547—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a wire-like cutting member
  • B26D1/553—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a wire-like cutting member with a plurality of wire-like cutting members
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
  • B26D3/00—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor
  • B26D3/18—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor to obtain cubes or the like
  • B26D3/185—Grid like cutters
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
  • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
  • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
  • B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
  • B26D1/12—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis
  • B26D1/25—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member
  • B26D1/26—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis substantially perpendicular to the line of cut
  • B26D1/30—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis substantially perpendicular to the line of cut with limited pivotal movement to effect cut

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to food preparation devices, including devices for chopping or slicing onions, mushrooms, and the like.
• One exemplary food cutting device is used to cut potatoes for French fries, incorporating a sliding array of rectangular projections that can be pressed downward to push the potato through a grid of blades. This arrangement is common to all French fry cutters, which can also be used to cut other vegetables such as onions. In such devices, the blades and the projections are parallel to each other at all times. One problem with such devices is that there is no integrated reservoir to receive the sliced potatoes as they are pushed through the grid of blades.
• mushroom cutters including a blade frame and pusher element that are pivotally connected to each other via an elongated handle.
• the operation of the device pushes the food onto the countertop or work surface, limiting the amount of food that can be chopped and potentially mashing the food or resulting in an uneven slicing operation.
• the user must hold the device above the countertop with one hand, and use the other hand to receive the slices as they emerge from the device.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred food chopper.
• Figure 2 is an exploded view of a preferred food chopper.
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a preferred food chopper.
• Figure 4 is a side view of a preferred food chopper oriented on end.
• Figure 5 is a partial exploded view of a preferred food chopper, oriented upside down.
• a preferred food chopper is shown in Figure 1, below.
• the food chopper includes three primary components, including a lid 10, a blade tray 20, and a food reservoir 30.
• the blade tray and the food reservoir are pivotally connected to one another, with the blade tray being removably mounted within an upper rim of the reservoir.
• the lid is generally rectangular in shape, having squared corners at a first end that is pivotally connected to the reservoir and rounded corners at a second end opposite the first end.
• a downward-extending flange surrounds the peripheral edge of the lid, and is sized and shaped to snugly receive an outer surface of the reservoir within the flange when the lid is rotated downward against the reservoir.
• the lid further includes a grid of projections 50 on the inner surface, extending downward in the same direction as the flange.
• the projections may take on any size or shape, as desired, and are ideally shaped to thoroughly push the food through the blades within the blade tray.
• the blade tray includes a network of blades 40 configured at right angles and forming generally square openings.
• the projections on the lid are sized and located within the lid such that when the lid is closed a projection fits within each of the blade openings.
• the food reservoir is formed in substantially the same shape as the lid when viewed from the top. Thus, in the preferred form, it has a generally rectangular shape with two rounded corners.
• the reservoir includes a bottom and four side walls to form an interior rectangular cubic cavity.
• the depth of the reservoir may vary, and is preferably sized to hold a typical expected volume of onions, mushrooms, or other food ingredients that may be used in cooking.
• the reservoir includes a boss 64 at opposing sides of the squared ends of the top of the rectangular reservoir.
• the bosses are configured to be received within a pair of bores 66 at opposite sides of the squared ends of the Hd, forming the pivotal connection between the lid and the reservoir.
• the lid is able to rotate about the pivotal connection from an open position that is preferably at least about 90 degrees with respect to the blade tray to a closed position resting adjacent and substantially flush with the blade tray.
• the reservoir also includes volumetric measurements on an inner or outer surface, as shown in Figure 4. As discussed further below, the measurements enable the user to determine when he or she has chopped enough of the food ingredient, without the necessity of a further step of transferring the ingredient to an additional measuring cup.
• the bores 66 on the lid are open adjacent the outer edge of the lid, as shown in Figure 2, forming a C-shape.
• the C-shaped openings enable the lid to more readily be removed from the tray for cleaning.
• the blade tray 20 is formed in the same shape as the lid and reservoir, such that in the preferred embodiment it comprises a rectangular shape with two rounded corners.
• a substantially square blade grid 40 is formed at a central location on the tray.
• the tray is formed from plastic and the blade grid formed from stainless steel. The top edges of the blades within the grid are sharpened in order to slice through the foods that are being pushed through the blade grid from above.
• a bore 62 is included at one end of the tray, in this case, the rounded end to more easily enable the tray to be lifted from the reservoir and removed for cleaning and removal of the food within the reservoir.
• the tray includes a flat base that transitions to a generally vertical peripheral wall, as best seen in Figure 2, At the top of the wall, the tray includes a substantially horizontal peripheral flange.
• the wall and flange are sized and configured such that the wall is snugly received within the side walls of the reservoir, and the flange rests against a top rim of the reservoir. In this fashion, the flange enables the tray to rest securely atop the reservoir.
• Alternative arrangements are also possible, including for example an internal flange or shoulder within the reservoir.
• the size and shape of the tray and other components may be varied, consistent with the invention.
• Each of the lid, tray, and reservoir is preferably formed from plastic, except for the blades as noted above. In a preferred form, at least the reservoir is formed from clear plastic to enable the user to see the volume of food inside.
• the reservoir may optionally include non-skid feet attached to the bottom, as best seen in Figure 4, formed from silicone or other suitable materials.
• the reservoir 30 may include a removable bottom section 70 that is preferably friction-fitted or snap-fitted into the reservoir 30.
• a top surface of the lid includes a generally rounded convex shape adjacent the rounded end, as best seen in Figure 2. This provides a better grip and more ergonomic surface for the user when chopping food within the device.
• the user places an onion (or other food item) atop the grid of blades while the lid is open.
• the grid of projections is pressed against the onion, hi turn, the onion is pressed against the grid of blades, urging it through the blade openings and producing chopped onion sections having a cross-sectional shape that is the same as the blade openings.
• the projections press through the grid to clear any remaining food from the grid.
• FIG. 3 An alternate form of the food chopping device is shown in Figure 3.
• the device includes the same primary components of a lid, tray, and reservoir.
• the primary difference is that the grid of blades comprises a plurality of elongated parallel blades, rather than two pluralities of blades arranged at right angles.
• the grid of projections extending from the lid is similarly configured as a series of adjacent parallel bars that will fit snugly through the grid of blades.
• the reservoir is somewhat deeper and the rectangular shape is somewhat shorter, with the length and width of the rectangle being closer in length to one another.
• the food chopping device may include measurement markings 80.
• the measurement markings 80 are oriented vertically, so that the words are read properly with the device tipped up on end, or rotated 90 degrees.
• the device will form a mound shape, making it difficult to tell with certainty the amount of food that has been chopped, even if there are measurement markings oriented horizontally. This is especially true for devices that have a base of a width or length that is substantially greater than the height.
• the device is rotated 90 degrees, allowing the food to settle to the hinged end. The device may be shaken gently to allow the food to settle and form a substantially horizontal top.
• the user can determine the amount of chopped onions or other food ingredients by looking at the measurement markings associated with the top of the ingredient level through the clear plastic food reservoir.
• the size of the reservoir is sufficient to accommodate a typically expected volume of food. In the example shown in Figure 4, there are markings in half-cup increments up to the 2-cup level, with the reservoir itself exceeding 2 cups in volume.
• the volumetric markings 80 are placed on a sidewall of the reservoir. In alternate embodiments, the markings may be placed on the bottom 70, the lid 10., or in other locations that are visible and enable a determination of the volume of articles within the device.
• This alternate embodiment is particularly well suited for use in slicing mushrooms or other foods intended to be sliced rather than chopped into smaller bits.
• the device is used in the same manner, by placing a mushroom or other food item atop the grid of blades and rotating the lid toward the tray, urging the food through the grid of blades.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Forests & Forestry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Food-Manufacturing Devices (AREA)
• General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
• Jellies, Jams, And Syrups (AREA)
• Preparation Of Fruits And Vegetables (AREA)
• Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=36319491

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

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Citations (5)

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• 2005
  • 2005-02-17 CA CA2568556A patent/CA2568556C/en active Active
  • 2005-02-17 AT AT05723348T patent/ATE504403T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-02-17 DE DE212005000048U patent/DE212005000048U1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2005-02-17 WO PCT/US2005/005330 patent/WO2006049639A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2005-02-17 EP EP05723348A patent/EP1833643B1/de active Active
  • 2005-02-17 DE DE602005027394T patent/DE602005027394D1/de active Active
  • 2005-10-19 AU AU2005225052A patent/AU2005225052B2/en active Active

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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