GB1597108A - Device for decoratively cutting fruit and vegetables - Google Patents

Description

(54) DEVICE FOR DECORATIVELY CUTTING FRUIT AND VEGETABLES (71) I, TREVOR MORGANS, British Subject, c/o Kaplan & Stratton, Advocates, P.O. Box 40111, Queensway House, Kaunda Street, Nairobi, Kenya, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the hollowing statement:- This invention relates to a device for decoratively cutting fruit and vegetables.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for cutting fruit or vegetables, or parts thereof, in two with each cut part displaying a serrated cut periphery and portions of triangular cross-section extending therefrom towards the centre of the fruit or vegetable, the device comprising a cutting portion consisting of two elongate substantially triangular blade portions meeting along a common edge and terminating in a point at which two acute-angled apices of the blade portions adjoin, the device including a handle carrying said blade portions.

The device of this invention is of extremely simple construction and yet allows fruit and vegetables to be decoratively cut simply by repeated stabbing motions around the periphery thereof with the device of this invention. The serrated or triangular edge form produced is one commonly desired by a hostess attempting to make food placed on a table look more attractive. The device is easy to employ, not requiring the care required when employing a conventional knife for this purpose and enables the desired decorative result to be achieved quickly.

Because it is employed with a stabbing motion, the device of this invention will have to possess sufficient strength to enable it to penetrate the skin or rind of the fruit or vegetable with which it is employed. The device can be made of steel, particularly stainless steel and more particularly surgical steel. other alloys or even of plastics material.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made. by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of device according to this invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of part of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view from the side of an alternative form of device according to this invention; Figure 4 shows a fruit or vegetable in which cuts have been provided by the device of Figures 1 and 2 or the device of Figure 3; and Figures 4a and 4b show the separate parts of the fruit or vegetable when formed with cuts as shown in Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the cutting device of the invention comprises a handle 1 including a bracket portion 2 constituted by an arc or metal strip carrying a blade device 3 including two elongate blade portions 4 and 5 meeting along a common side 6 and terminating at acute angles at their ends remote from the bracket portion 2 in a point 7. The curvature of the bracket portion 2 is in accordance with the usual curved shape of the periphery of fruit so as to act as a stop to prevent the cutting device from being driven right through the fruit to damage it and possibly injure the user of the cutting device.

Figure 2 omits the handle other than to indicate generally the position at which it projects from the bracket portion 2.

The cutting device shown in Figure 3 of the drawings differs from that shown in Figures 1 and 2 in that the handle 1 terminates in a wedge shaped mounting portion 8 on which the blade device 3 of similar form to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 is mounted. Here the depth to which the cutting device may enter a fruit or vegetable is determined by means of a depth adjusting device 9 which is constituted by a length of metal strip folded over into a triangle with two end portions of the metal strip overlapping to form the side 10 of the triangle. The sides overlap in accordance with the width of the space opposite the common side 6 of the blade device 3 at the position at which the depth adjusting device 9 is to be positioned.

In use, the depth adjusting device is simply slid over the blade device 3 from its point 7 until a position is reached which is spaced apart from the point 7 by the depth of cut which is required. The depth adjusting device 9 is then held in position by means of a grub screw introduced through a hole 11 thereof.

Turning next to Figure 4, a fruit or vegetable 12 is shown to be provided with triangular cuts 13 around the periphery thereof so that when the parts of the fruit are separated into a lower part 14 and an upper part 15 as shown in Figures 4a and 4b respectively, it can be seen that the portions of fruit possess a serrated edge 16 and opposite fluted surfaces 17.

The sizes of the blade portions of devices embodying this invention are largely arbitrary. However, in view of the usual size of fruit and vegetables, it is expected that a size giving them a length of about 2.5 inches will generally suffice, with the base size of the cutting surfaces having a length of about 0.75 inches. Moreover, the magnitudes of the acute angles of the blade surfaces at the point 7 are arbitrary. However, they are preferably approximately of the size shown in the drawings. It is pointed out that the shape of the edge of the blade portion opposite the acute angle apices at the point 7 is largely immaterial. What is essential, is that this edge should be short in relation to the other two edges.Although it is most simply straight so that the blade portions are triangular, it may vary from linear and be curved as shown in Figure 1 when the blades thus have the shape of a sector of a circle. It is for this reason that the blades are defined herein as being of "substantially triangular form".

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A device for cutting fruit or vegetables, or parts thereof, in two with each cut part displaying a serrated cut periphery and portions of triangular cross-section extending therefrom towards the centre of the fruit or vegetable, the device comprising a cutting portion consisting of two elongate substantially triangular blade portions meeting along a common edge and terminating in a point at which two acute-angled apices of the blade portions adjoin, the device including a handle carrying said blade portions.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle includes a bracket portion of curved formation for limiting the depth to which the blade portions may enter a fruit or vegetable.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, which comprises means for varying the maximum depth to which the blade portion may enter a fruit or vegetable.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, which comprises a depth adjusting screw device comprising an elongate member angled at a central position in accordance with the angle between said blade portions and including means for attaching it to the blade portions at any one of a plurality of positions along the length thereof.

5. A device for cutting fruit or vegetables, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. apart from the point 7 by the depth of cut which is required. The depth adjusting device 9 is then held in position by means of a grub screw introduced through a hole 11 thereof. Turning next to Figure 4, a fruit or vegetable 12 is shown to be provided with triangular cuts 13 around the periphery thereof so that when the parts of the fruit are separated into a lower part 14 and an upper part 15 as shown in Figures 4a and 4b respectively, it can be seen that the portions of fruit possess a serrated edge 16 and opposite fluted surfaces 17. The sizes of the blade portions of devices embodying this invention are largely arbitrary. However, in view of the usual size of fruit and vegetables, it is expected that a size giving them a length of about 2.5 inches will generally suffice, with the base size of the cutting surfaces having a length of about 0.75 inches. Moreover, the magnitudes of the acute angles of the blade surfaces at the point 7 are arbitrary. However, they are preferably approximately of the size shown in the drawings. It is pointed out that the shape of the edge of the blade portion opposite the acute angle apices at the point 7 is largely immaterial. What is essential, is that this edge should be short in relation to the other two edges.Although it is most simply straight so that the blade portions are triangular, it may vary from linear and be curved as shown in Figure 1 when the blades thus have the shape of a sector of a circle. It is for this reason that the blades are defined herein as being of "substantially triangular form". WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A device for cutting fruit or vegetables, or parts thereof, in two with each cut part displaying a serrated cut periphery and portions of triangular cross-section extending therefrom towards the centre of the fruit or vegetable, the device comprising a cutting portion consisting of two elongate substantially triangular blade portions meeting along a common edge and terminating in a point at which two acute-angled apices of the blade portions adjoin, the device including a handle carrying said blade portions.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle includes a bracket portion of curved formation for limiting the depth to which the blade portions may enter a fruit or vegetable.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, which comprises means for varying the maximum depth to which the blade portion may enter a fruit or vegetable.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, which comprises a depth adjusting screw device comprising an elongate member angled at a central position in accordance with the angle between said blade portions and including means for attaching it to the blade portions at any one of a plurality of positions along the length thereof.

5. A device for cutting fruit or vegetables, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.