GB2183997A - Fruit squeezer - Google Patents

Abstract

The squeezer comprises a pair of plates 2, 4 hinged to one another and an arcuate recess in one plate adapted to receive the skin of a piece of fruit being squeezed, that recess being arranged around a relatively raised portion 24 which engages and squeezes the flesh. The recess may form a reservoir 28 for juice and a pouring spout 30 may be provided from it. The plates may have meshing blocks constituting relatively raised portions (126, 136 fig. 4) on each plate to form channels to facilitate the flow of juice from the squeezed fruit. The plates desirably have upwardly inclined handles 6, 8 which are juxtaposed when the plates are closed, one handle of the empty squeezer being held slightly apart from the other by a resilient element 34. A blade 22 overlying the recess may be provided on the upper plate for holding the fruit pulp or flesh and partially separating it from the skin. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lemon Squeezers This invention relates to lemon squeezers in which a pair of hingedly connected plates are adapted to be pivoted towards one another to squeeze the juice from a segment of fruit retained therebetween. It should be understood that squeezers according to the invention are not limited to use with lemons or other fruits, although the invention is primarily concerned with squeezers for citrus fruits.

When a segment of a citrus fruit is squeezed between hinged plates, the skin of the segment restricts the extent to which the plates can be pivoted towards each other or, in the absence of any means by which the skin is held, can encourage the segment to be ejected. According to the present invention at least one of the plates is provided with an arcuate recess adapted to receive an edge portion of a fruit segment as the segment within the skin is squeezed. The recess thus extends around a raised portion on the surface of the plate which engages the fruit. The raised portion or plateau may be divided into blocks forming channels therebetween which facilitate the flow of juice from the squeezed fruit. A recess is normally only provided on one of the plates, which will be held below the other when the squeezer is used but if desired, one may also be provided on the upper plate.The resulting raised portion on the upper plate may be formed to present a plane surface which engages the fruit, but in some embodiments is also divided into blocks which preferably complement those on the other plate.

As noted above, the recess or recesses serve to retain the fruit segment as it is squeezed. If some retaining means is to be provided in the upper plate, as an alternative to the formation of an arcuate recess therein, teeth or a continuous edge may be provided. For example, a continuous arcuate blade would serve to hold the pulp of the fruit segment in place while at least partially separating it from the skin. The upper plate may be designed to enable the skin to pass through an opening extending adjacent the blade, further enhancing the effectiveness of the squeezing process. The recess in the lower plate preferably also forms a reservoir in which juice from a fruit segment is collected, which will normally enclose completely the raised portion or plateau on the main body of the plate; i.e. include a portion which extends adjacent the hinge.A spout may be formed at the periphery of the plate through which the extracted juice may be poured from the reservoir. The formation of a reservoir of this kind enables the squeezer to be placed on a table for example, without risk of juice reaching the table and creating a potential stain.

Each plate in a squeezer according to the invention is typically semi-circular in outline shape, with the hinge located at a common diameter.

Handles can be included, and will usually extend radially from the plates, preferably inclined upwardly from the plane of the lower plate so as to be easily grasped by a user while the squeezer rests on a table. They will normally be juxtaposed when the plates are closed for ease of use between finger and thumb, and a resilient element may be included in one of the handles to hold them slightly apart when the squeezer is empty and the plates are closed, to facilitate separation of the plates for insertion of a fruit segment. Conveniently, one of the handles is formed with a recess for receiving a complementary projection on the other, with the resilient element when used, being housed in the recess.

Various features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof in which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings. It will be appreciated that the various features shown may be adopted alone or in combination with others. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a lemon squeezer according to a first embodiment of the invention in its open position, Figure 2 is a perspective view from above showing the squeezer of Figure 1 in its closed position; Figure 3 is a perspective view from below of the squeezer in its closed position; and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a lemon squeezer according to a second embodiment of the invention in an open position.

The lemon squeezer illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 has upper and lower plates 2, 4, each substantially semi-circular in outline plan but with handles 6,8 extending generally radially therefrom. The lower plate 4 comprises a block 10 at the base of the semicircle, the ends of which are provided with pins (not visible) which support bosses 12 at the base of the upper plate 2. The pins and bosses 12 define a hinge around which the plates 2,4 can be pivoted relative to each other.

The bosses 12 are disposed at the end of legs 14 which extend from the main body of the plate 2 as shown. When pivoted to the closed position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the legs 14 and bosses 12 are disposed at either end of the block 10 with the outer surface 16 of the upper plate 2 substantially aligned with that of the block 10.

The inner surface of the upper plate 2 has a central semi-circular pressing surface 18 surrounded by a recess 20. At the outer wall of the recess 20 an arcuate blade 22 is mounted. As the squeezer reaches its fully closed position this blade is received in a complementary recess formed in the lower plate 4, and at the inner boundary thereof.

The lower plate 4 has a corresponding pressing surface defined by a plurality, four are shown, of sectors 24 forming a plateau for supporting a fruit segment to be squeezed. The boundary of the plateau generally corresponds to the arc of the blade 22, the overall area of the plateau thus being less than that of the surface 18. Between the blocks 24 extend channels 26 which merge with a peripheral reservoir 28 at the edge of the recess. As a fruit segment is squeezed against the plateau by the pressing surface 18 as the plates 2 and 4 are brought together, the juice extracted flows into the channels 26 and reservoir 28, the pulp being compressed as the skin moves into the reservoir 28 in the lower plate 4. By tipping the squeezer, the juice may be poured from the reservoir through a spout 30.The spout 30 may be located at any suitable position, but is shown at about 45Q relative to the pivoted axis of the plates.

The handle 8 is arranged symmetrically on the lower plate 4 with respect to the spout 30, and extends radially outward, inclining also upwardly with respect to the plane of the lower plate 4. While the location of the handle 8 is not critical, its orientation as shown, and the provision of the reservoir 28 enables the squeezer to be placed on a table before and after use with minimal risk of extracted juice in the reservoir leaking or spilling thereonto. It will be appreciated that a fruit segment can be squeezed as extracted juice is poured from the squeezer, and that a partially squeezed segment can be left in the squeezer on a table, for further use when required.

The handle 8 has an open face for receiving a projection 32 on the second handle 6 complementarily located on the upper plate 2 so that in the closed position the handles 6, 8 nest together. In the base of the handle 8 a resilient element 34 is mounted to keep the handles 6,8 slightly separate. The element 34 takes the form of a spring plate extending out of the plane of the handle base towards the open face. The element facilitates opening of the plates 2, 4for receipt of a fruit segment in the squeezer.The handle 6 is similarly inclined to the plane of the upper plate as is the handle 8 to the plane of the lower plate, and the hinge so designed to ensure that the closed (and empty) squeezertakes on the compact shape shown in Figures 2 and 3 with the outer surfaces of the plates 2,4 substantially parallel, although a small divergence will be preserved by the element 34 if used. The handles 6,8 are also shown with recesses 36,38 for ease of use.

The embodiment shown in Figure 4 is substantially similar to that of Figures 1 to 3, and like references are used to identify like parts where appropriate. The sectors 24 of the plateau in the lower plate 4 of Figure 1 are in the second embodiment shaped to form V-section channels 126 which converge radially towards the linear section of the reservoir 28 extending adjacent the pivotal axis of the squeezer. The pressing surface on the upper plate 2 is also modified as shown at 118 to form prismatic projections 136 which complement the channels 126 in the lower plate, and the recess 20 is omitted. The handles also differ from those of the first embodiment in that handle 106 is of planer form, and resilient element 134 projects beyond the face of handle 108 to engage handle 106 when the squeezer is closed. The design of the squeezer at the pivotal axis is also different, but functionally it is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Claims (11)

1. A lemon squeezer for pieces of lemon and other fruit as herein defined, in which a pair of hingedly connected plates are adapted to be pivoted towards one another to squeeze the juice from a piece of fruit retained therebetween, and in which at least one of the plates is provided with an arcuate recess adapted to receive an edge or skin portion of the fruit piece as the segment within the skin is squeezed, the recess extending around a raised portion on the surface of that plate which is raised relative the recess and which engages and squeezes the flesh of the fruit.

2. A lemon squeezer as claimed in Claim 1 in which the raised portion is divided into blocks forming channels therebetween which facilitate the flow of juice from the squeezed fruit.

3. A lemon squeezer as claimed in Claim 2 in which each plate has a raised portion and each raised portion is divided into blocks which complement those on the other plate.

4. A lemon squeezer as claimed in Claim 3 in which the blocks are of zig-zag or tooth shape crosssection and those on one plate mesh with those on the other plate.

5. A lemon squeezer as claimed in any preceding claim in which a recess is provided in only one of the plates, which plate will be held below the other when the squeezer is used.

6. A lemon squeezer as claimed in any preceding claim in which a continuous arcuate blade is provided on one plate to be received in the recess in the other plate, the blade serving to hold the pulp or flesh of the fruit in place while at least partially separating it from the skin.

7. A lemon squeezer as claimed in any preceding claim in which the recess is provided in that plate which is the lower plate when in use and that recess also forms a reservoir in which juice is collected.

8. A lemon squeezer as claimed in Claim 7 which additionally includes a spout formed at the periphery of the plate through which the extracted juice may be poured from the reservoir.

9. A lemon squeezer as claimed in any preceding claim in which handles are provided which extend radially from the plates, and inclined upwardly from the plane of the lower plate so as to be easiiy grasped buy a user while the squeezer rests on a table, and are juxtaposed when the plates are closed.

10. A lemon squeezer as claimed in Claim 9 in which a resilient element is included in one of the handles to hold them slightly apart when the squeezer is empty and the plates are closed.

11. A lemon squeezer substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 3, or to Figure 4, of the accompanying drawings.