GB2197782A

GB2197782A - A vegetable scraper

Info

Publication number: GB2197782A
Application number: GB08628300A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mary Bowyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-11-26
Filing date: 1986-11-26
Publication date: 1988-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2006-11-26
Also published as: GB2197782B; GB8628300D0

Abstract

A vegetable scraper (2) for elongate vegetables (4), comprises a handle (6) and a body (8), the body (8) having a recessed portion (10) for receiving the elongate vegetables (4). The recessed portion (10) has a rough surface (12) for engaging the elongate vegetables (4) and for scraping them when there is relative movement between the vegetable scraper (2) and the vegetables (4). <IMAGE>

Description

A VEGETABLE SCRAPER This invention relates to a vegetable scraper.

Vegetables are usually scraped to remove their peel or skin by means of a knife. Since the knife has a straight blade and the surface of the vegetable is usually curved, it will be apparent that there is only minimum contact between the knife blade and the surface of the vegetable being scraped. This in turn means that it takes longer to scrape the vegetable.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, this invention provides a vegetable scraper for elongate vegetables, which vegetable scraper comprises a handle and a body, the body have a recessed portion for receiving the elongate vegetables, and the recessed portion having a rough surface for engaging the elongate vegetables and for scraping them when there is relative movement between the vegetable scraper and the vegetables.

Usually, the vegetable scraper will be used such that it is held stationary and the vegetables are moved. More specifically, the vegetables may be held at one end and pushed or pulled to move them backwards or forwards in the recessed portion of the vegetable scraper against the rough surface. When the part of the vegetable in engagement with the rough surface has been fully scraped, rotating the vegetable as may be necessary, then the vegetable can be reversed in order to scrape the other end. Examples of vegetables that may be scraped by the vegetable scraper are carrots, parsnips, swedes and turnips.

The rough surface may be formed by an abrasive material. The abrasive material may be, for example, a metal or carborundum. Obviously, the abrasive surface must be constructed such that it will not disintegrate during normal conditions of use.

The rough surface may alternatively be formed as an integral part of the recessed portion.

As a further alternative, the rough surface may be formed on a separate sheet of material which is subsequently secured to the body.

The body may be made of a plastics material. When the body is made of a plastics material, it may be especially convenient to form the rough surface as an integral part of the recessed portion.

The handle may also be made of a plastics material.

Thus the vegetable scraper may be made as a one piece moulding.

Generally, any type of rough surface will function for scraping the vegetables. Thus the rough surface may be formed of protuberances and dips. The protuberances may be in the form of spikes, cones or cups. The rough surface may be shaped like the surface of a known cheese scraper. Generally, the precise design of the rough surface will be chosen to give good vegetable scraping whilst being such as to be easily kept clean. Advantageously, the rough surface is so shaped as to give a self-cleaning action.

The body may be in the form of a V-shape, with the recessed portion being defined by the two legs of the V-shape. The handle may then extend as an elongate handle from the base of the V-shape.

The overal shape of the recessed portion can be varied to fit the approximate outside cross sectional shape of the vegetable to be scraped. The vegetable scraper can be designed for general application to various types of vegetables or a single special vegetable scraper can be specifically designed for each specific type of vegetable so that for example, there would be one vegetable scraper for carrots, and another vegetable scraper having a bigger recess for turnips, since turnips are generally larger in cross sectional shape than carrots.

Dnbodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first vegetable scraper; and Figure 2 shows a second vegetable scraper.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a vegetable scraper 2 for scraping an elongate vegetable 4. The vegetable scraper 2 comprises a handle 6 and a body 8.

The body 8 has a recessed portion 10 for receiving the elongate vegetable 4. The recessed portion 10 has a rough surface 12 for engaging the elongate vegetable 4 as shown and for scraping it when there is relative movement between the vegetable scraper 2 and the vegetable 4.

The vegetable 4 may be a carrot and one end of the carrot may be held whilst the other end is pushed backwards and forwards over the rough surface 12. Rotation of the carrot will ensure that the entire circumferential surface of one end of the carrot is scraped. When that end of the carrot is scraped, the carrot may be reversed and the other end then similarly scraped.

Referring now to Figure 2, similar parts as in Figure 1 have been given the same reference numerals and their precise construction and operation will not again be given.

In Figure 2, the body portion 8 is half circular whereas in Figure 1, the body portion 8 is V-shaped. With the half circular shape shown in Figure 2, a larger recessed portion 10 is defined so that the recessed portion 10 in Figure 2 is more suitable for receiving a vegetable 4 in the form of, for example, a parsnip, swede or turnip.

The vegetable scrapers shown in Figures 1 and 2 can be moulded from plastics material, in which case the rough surface 12 may be integrally formed during the moulding operation. Alternatively, the rough surface 12 can be formed after the remainder of the vegetable scraper 2 has been formed, or the rough surface 12 can be applied as a separate item on to the body 8.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, other shapes may be employed for the body 8 and also for the handle 6. The handle 6 may thus be in the form of a knob instead of being an elongate handle as shown. The vegetable scraper may be of a special use as a cooking aid for housewives and professional chefs.

Claims

1. A vegetable scraper for elongate vegetables, which vegetable scraper comprises a handle and a body, the body having a recessed portion for receiving the elongate vegetables, and the recessed portion having a rough surface for engaging the elongate vegetables and for scraping them when there is relative movement between the vegetable scraper and the vegetables.

2. A vegetable scraper according to claim I in which the rough surface is formed by an abrasive material.

3. A vegetable scraper according to claim 2 in which the abrasive material is a metal or carborundum.

4. A vegetable scraper according to claim 1 in which the rough surface is formed as an integral part of the recessed portion.

5. A vegetable scraper according to claim 1 in which the rough surface is formed on a separate sheet of material which is subsequently secured to the body.

6. A vegetable scraper according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body is made of a plastics material.

7. A vegetable scraper according to any one of the preceding claims in which the handle is made of a plastics material.

8. A vegetable scraper according to any one of the preceding claims in which the rough surface is formed of protuberances and dips.

9. A vegetable scraper according to claim 8 in which the protuberances are in the form of spikes, cones or cups.

10. A vegetable scraper according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body is in the form of a Vshape, with the recessed portion being defined by the two legs of the V-shape.

11. A vegetable scraper substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.