GB2189380A

GB2189380A - Bread cutting aid

Info

Publication number: GB2189380A
Application number: GB08609876A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mavis Jean Gorvin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-04-23
Filing date: 1986-04-23
Publication date: 1987-10-28
Also published as: GB8609876D0

Abstract

A bread cutting aid comprises a central portion (1) of inverted "U" shaped cross section and a pair of wing portions (2) extending outwardly from opposite limbs of the "U" shaped central portion. The wing portions (2) extend transverse to the limbs of the "U" in, or substantially in, a common plane and together define a substantially rectangular area when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the common plane. In use the aid is placed with its wing portions (2) resting on top of one or more slices of bread and the bread is cut by a knife inserted through the "U" shaped central portion (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bread cutting aid This invention relates to a bread cutting aid and an improved method of cutting bread. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with cutting bread that forms part of a sandwich.

According to the invention there is provided a bread cutting aid comprising a central portion of inverted "U" shaped cross section and a pair of wing portions extending outwardly from opposite limbs of the "U" shaped central portion, the wing portions extending transverse to the limbs of the "U" in, or substantially in, a common plane and together defining a substantially rectangular area when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the common plane.

A bread cutting aid of this kind greatly facilitates the cutting of one or more slices of bread. A knife can be inserted into the central channel portion and a user of the knife is protected from the knife by the device which also serves to hold the bread securely in position.

Preferably the wing portions are each of right angled triangular shape with a hypotenuse of each triangle adjoining a respective "U" shaped limb of the central portion. Such an arrangement is particularly suitable for making a diagonal cut across a slice of bread. An alternative arrangement which is less preferable but is within the scope of the invention is for each of the wing portions to be of rectangular shape; such an arrangement is best suited to making cuts parallel to the edges of a rectangular slice of bread.

Preferably the cutting aid is made in one piece, preferably from plastics material.

While the wing portions may be exactly coplanar it is preferable for them to slope downwardly slightly towards their distal ends. This enhances the grip of the cutting aid on the edges of a slice of bread while it is being cut.

The present invention also provides a method of cutting one or more slices of bread in which a bread cutting aid as defined above is placed with its wing portions resting on top of the one or more slices of bread to be cut and the bread is cut by a knife inserted through the U shaped central portion of the aid.

This method is particularly useful for cutting sandwiches.

Preferably the wing portions of the cutting aid extend over most, but not all, of the top of the one or more slices of bread. In such a case, the edges of the cutting aid can serve as a guide in cutting off edges of the one or more slices of bread.

After cutting the bread by the method as defined above, the cutting aid may be rotated through about a right angle about an axis perpendicular to the substantially common plane of the wing portions and may then be rested again on top of the one or more slices of bread and the bread cut again by a knife inserted through the U shaped central portion of the axis.

By way of example an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bread cutting aid, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the lines Il-Il in Fig. 1.

The bread cutting aid shown in the drawing comprises an elongate central part 1 of inverted "U" shaped cross section and two wing portions 2 which are of right-angled triangular shape when seen in plan view, as in Fig. 1, with the hypotenuse of each triangle connected to a respective limb of the "U".

The aid is made in one piece with the limbs of the central portion merging into the triangular portions as shown in Fig. 2.

As can be seen from Fig. 2 the triangular portions slope downwardly towards their distal ends. In the interests of clarity the downward slope is exaggerated in Fig. 2 and, while it is preferred to have a small slope of the kind shown, an acceptable alternative is to have coplanar triangular portions.

The aid is of a size such that its area when seen in plan view is a little smaller than that of a typical slice of bread. In use the aid is placed on top of one or more slices of bread, which may form part of one or more sandwiches. Before or after placing the aid on top of the bread, a knife, which may be electrically operated, is inserted into the channel formed between the limbs of the central portion 1 and a diagonal cut is made through the bread using the knife, while pressing down slightly on the bread cutting aid. The wing portions 2 hold the bread firmly in place during the cutting and these portions, together with the central portion 1, protect the user from the knife. If desired the bread cutting aid may be rotated through 90" about a perpendicular axis and a second cut made in the bread.The edges of the triangular portions 2 may be used as guides for trimming the edges off the bread.

The bread cutting aid may be made from any suitable material, but a hard plastics material is particularly preferred.

1. A bread cutting aid comprising a central portion of inverted !'U" shaped cross section and a pair of wind portions extending outwardly from opposite limbs of the "U" shaped central portion, the wing portions extending transverse to the limbs of the "U" in, or substantially in, a common plane and together defining a substantially rectangular area when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the common plane.

2. An aid as claimed in claim 1 in which the wing portions are each of right angled triangular shape with the hypotenuse of each triangle adjoining a respective "U" shaped limb of the central portion.

3. An aid as claimed in claim 1 in which each of the wing portions is of rectangular shape.

4. An aid as claimed in any preceding claim which is made in one piece.

5. An aid as claimed in claim 4which is made from plastics material.

6. An aid as claimed in any preceding claim in which the wing portions slope downwardly slightly towards their distal ends.

7. A bread cutting aid substantially as herein

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bread cutting aid This invention relates to a bread cutting aid and an improved method of cutting bread. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with cutting bread that forms part of a sandwich. According to the invention there is provided a bread cutting aid comprising a central portion of inverted "U" shaped cross section and a pair of wing portions extending outwardly from opposite limbs of the "U" shaped central portion, the wing portions extending transverse to the limbs of the "U" in, or substantially in, a common plane and together defining a substantially rectangular area when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the common plane. A bread cutting aid of this kind greatly facilitates the cutting of one or more slices of bread. A knife can be inserted into the central channel portion and a user of the knife is protected from the knife by the device which also serves to hold the bread securely in position. Preferably the wing portions are each of right angled triangular shape with a hypotenuse of each triangle adjoining a respective "U" shaped limb of the central portion. Such an arrangement is particularly suitable for making a diagonal cut across a slice of bread. An alternative arrangement which is less preferable but is within the scope of the invention is for each of the wing portions to be of rectangular shape; such an arrangement is best suited to making cuts parallel to the edges of a rectangular slice of bread. Preferably the cutting aid is made in one piece, preferably from plastics material. While the wing portions may be exactly coplanar it is preferable for them to slope downwardly slightly towards their distal ends. This enhances the grip of the cutting aid on the edges of a slice of bread while it is being cut. The present invention also provides a method of cutting one or more slices of bread in which a bread cutting aid as defined above is placed with its wing portions resting on top of the one or more slices of bread to be cut and the bread is cut by a knife inserted through the U shaped central portion of the aid. This method is particularly useful for cutting sandwiches. Preferably the wing portions of the cutting aid extend over most, but not all, of the top of the one or more slices of bread. In such a case, the edges of the cutting aid can serve as a guide in cutting off edges of the one or more slices of bread. After cutting the bread by the method as defined above, the cutting aid may be rotated through about a right angle about an axis perpendicular to the substantially common plane of the wing portions and may then be rested again on top of the one or more slices of bread and the bread cut again by a knife inserted through the U shaped central portion of the axis. By way of example an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bread cutting aid, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the lines Il-Il in Fig. 1. The bread cutting aid shown in the drawing comprises an elongate central part 1 of inverted "U" shaped cross section and two wing portions 2 which are of right-angled triangular shape when seen in plan view, as in Fig. 1, with the hypotenuse of each triangle connected to a respective limb of the "U". The aid is made in one piece with the limbs of the central portion merging into the triangular portions as shown in Fig. 2. As can be seen from Fig. 2 the triangular portions slope downwardly towards their distal ends. In the interests of clarity the downward slope is exaggerated in Fig. 2 and, while it is preferred to have a small slope of the kind shown, an acceptable alternative is to have coplanar triangular portions. The aid is of a size such that its area when seen in plan view is a little smaller than that of a typical slice of bread. In use the aid is placed on top of one or more slices of bread, which may form part of one or more sandwiches. Before or after placing the aid on top of the bread, a knife, which may be electrically operated, is inserted into the channel formed between the limbs of the central portion 1 and a diagonal cut is made through the bread using the knife, while pressing down slightly on the bread cutting aid. The wing portions 2 hold the bread firmly in place during the cutting and these portions, together with the central portion 1, protect the user from the knife. If desired the bread cutting aid may be rotated through 90" about a perpendicular axis and a second cut made in the bread.The edges of the triangular portions 2 may be used as guides for trimming the edges off the bread. The bread cutting aid may be made from any suitable material, but a hard plastics material is particularly preferred. CLAIMS

4. An aid as claimed in any preceding claim which is made in one piece.

5. An aid as claimed in claim 4which is made from plastics material.

7. A bread cutting aid substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of cutting one or more slices of bread in which a bread cutting aid as claimed in any preceding claim is placed with its wing portions resting on top of the one or more slices of bread to be cut and the bread is cut by a knife inserted through the "U" shaped central portion of the aid.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the wing portions of the cutting aid extend over most, but not all, of the top of the one or more slices of bread.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9 in which after cutting the bread a first time, the cutting aid is rotated through about a right angle about an axis perpendicular to the substantially common plane of the wing portions and is then rested again on top of the one or more slices of bread and the bread cut again by a knife inserted through the "U" shaped central portion of the axis.

11. A method of cutting one or more slices of bread, the method being substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.