FR2737963A1 - Support for spreading toast slice etc. with butter or other paste - Google Patents

Abstract

A flat support (1) includes a recess into which an insert (2) to retain the toast slice, biscuit etc. to be spread is positionable. The insert includes an anti-slip surface on at least part of its upper face, formed e.g. by a series of ribs (2a) of an elastically-deformable material running transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of the slice. The insert is shaped to conform closely to the shape of the recess in the support, retained by a series of lugs (2b) on the insert which are engageable in slots (1a1) of the recess walls. The support has a peripheral lip (1c) with at least one shaped portion (1f) forming a handle or gripping area.

Description

 Spreader.

 The invention relates more particularly to an apparatus for spreading food products of the butter, liver type, and more generally all pasty products.

 The spread of butter, especially on a slice of hard bread such as rusks, toast or others, poses real problems. It very often appears that there are risks of breaking the cracker, given the hardness of the product to be spread. The greatest precautions are necessary to avoid breaking the rusk.

 To try to remedy this drawback, it is possible to superimpose several crackers. It is understood, however, that this solution is not rational and not very hygienic. Furthermore, the result obtained is not guaranteed.

 Apparatuses have also been proposed which make it possible to automatically spread the butter over the slice of bread considered. We can cite for example the teaching of patent FR 2,600,243. However, this device is of a relatively complex technological design thus making its use dissuasive. Besides the relatively high cost, such devices are bulky and require special storage.

 Finally, other types of apparatus have also been proposed, the principle of which is based on cutting a thin film of the food product in order to apply it to the slice of bread or the like.

 From this state of the art, the problem which the invention proposes to solve is to produce a device of a very simplified design of ergonomic shape allowing manual spreading of a cracker or other sliced product, without risk of breakage. .

 To solve such a problem, an apparatus has been designed and developed which comprises a flat support capable of receiving the spread product in support in the form of a wafer, said support having means for positioning and retaining the wafer. .

 Another problem that the invention proposes to solve is to avoid any risk of unexpected movement of the wafer when the latter is spread. Such a problem is solved in that the support has in its middle part an anti-slip surface.

 Advantageously, the non-slip surface is constituted by a plurality of ridges with capacity for elastic deformation. The streaks are arranged perpendicular to the direction in which the slice is normally spread.

 To solve the problem posed by streamlining the manufacturing process and allowing easy cleaning of the device, the non-slip surface is constituted by an attached element housed in a complementary imprint of the support formed from the bearing surface of the wafer. .

 To resolve the problem posed of ensuring the removable fixing of the non-slip surface relative to the support, the added element has retaining arrangements in the form of pins cooperating with arrangements complementary to the imprint.

 The problem posed of ensuring the retention and positioning of the wafer when the latter is spread, is solved in that the means consist of at least two flanges formed projecting from the support surface of the wafer and on two sides support.

 Another problem which the invention proposes to solve is to have a perfectly ergonomic device while allowing the slice to be spread to be easily grasped. For this purpose, the support has a general quadrangular shape, in particular rectangular, with, overhanging its support surface, a peripheral rim having two diametrically opposite angles cut in a bevel to provide two free spaces for gripping the wafer.

 Another problem that the invention proposes to solve is having the support in hand to spread the wafer. For this purpose, the support has gripping means constituted by at least one handle formed in overflow from the underside of the support.

The invention is explained below in more detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view before mounting of the components of the device.

 Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 after assembly of the components of the device.

 Figure 3 is a plan view showing the principle of using the device for spreading the slices.

 Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus.

 As shown in Figure 3, the device comprises a flat support (1) capable of receiving the spread in the form of a wafer (T).

The device finds a particularly advantageous application for spreading rusks or other similar products. The support (1) has means for positioning and retaining the edge (T), as will be indicated in the following description.

 According to another characteristic, the support (1) very substantially has, in its central part, an anti-slip surface constituted by an attached element (2). This element (2) is made of an elastically deformable material and has a plurality of transverse ridges (2a). The element (2) is housed in an imprint of complementary shape (la) that has the bearing surface (lob) of the support receiving the wafer (T).

 The element (2) has, on all or part of its peripheral edge, lugs (2b) cooperating with openings (las) that have, correspondingly, the imprint (la). After positioning and fixing the element (2) in the impression (la), the ridges (2a) are arranged perpendicular to the direction of spreading of the spread.

 As shown in particular in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the support (1) has a generally rectangular shape. In addition, the support (1) has, overhanging its bearing surface (it), a peripheral rim (lc) constituting the means for positioning and retaining the wafer (T).

More particularly, this peripheral rim (lc) has two diametrically opposite angles cut in a bevel to provide two free spaces (ld - le) facilitating the manual grip of the wafer (T).

 Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is not excluded to produce a support of rectangular shape whose peripheral rim is formed only along the length or part of the length of the two adjacent sides.

 According to another characteristic, the underside of the support (1) has an ergonomically shaped grip handle (if) to facilitate grip of the entire support. The entire support is advantageously produced by injection of a plastic material.

 The use of the device is particularly simple, safe and effective. It suffices to manually position the edge (T) on the support surface (lob) of the support, in abutment at one of the angles of the peripheral flange (it). The support being maintained manually by the grip part (sharp), it is sufficient to spread normally the slice (T) which is perfectly maintained by the combination of the peripheral rim (lc) and the non-slip surface (2) while resting on the flat support surface (lob) of the support avoiding any risk of breakage of the edge.

 The advantages are apparent from the description.

Claims (10)

-1- Spreader, characterized in that it comprises a flat support (1) capable of receiving the spread in the form of a wafer, said support having positioning and retaining means (lc-2) of the slice (T). -2- A spreading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support has in its middle part an anti-slip surface (2). -3- A spreading device according to claim 2, characterized in that the non-slip surface (2) is constituted by a plurality of ridges (2a) with elastic deformation capacity. -4- A spreading device according to claim 3, characterized in that the ridges (2a) are arranged perpendicular to the direction in which the slice is normally spread. -5- Spreader according to claim 3, characterized in that the non-slip surface (2) is constituted by an insert element housed in a complementary imprint (la) of the support formed from the support surface (lob ) receiving the installment. -6- Spreader according to claim 5, characterized in that the insert (2) has retaining arrangements in the form of pins (2b) cooperating with complementary arrangements (lai) of the imprint (la) . -7- A spreader according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining and positioning means are constituted by at least two flanges (tic) formed projecting from the support surface of the wafer and along two adjacent sides of the support. -8- A spreading device according to any one of claims 1 and 7, characterized in that the support (1) has a general quadrangular shape, in particular rectangular, with, overhanging its bearing surface, a peripheral rim ( tic) having two diametrically opposite angles cut in a bevel to provide two free spaces (1d - le) for gripping the wafer. -9- A spreading device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (i) has gripping means (sharp). -10- Spreader according to claim 9, characterized in that the gripping means are constituted by at least one handle (if) formed in overflow from the underside of the support.