GB2315990A

GB2315990A - Hand operated garlic peeler

Info

Publication number: GB2315990A
Application number: GB9616367A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benjamin Beveridge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-08-03
Filing date: 1996-08-03
Publication date: 1998-02-18
Also published as: GB9616367D0

Abstract

A flexible tube 1 which will accommodate a clove or cloves of garlic. The garlic is peeled by compressing and rolling the tube 1 between a hand and a flat surface. To assist in peeling the inner surface of the tube 3 may have a raised, roughened or knurled surface while a similar surface on the outside of the tube 4 increases purchase between the tube 1 and the hand. Advantageously garlic can be peeled using only one hand and contact with the garlic by hand is unnecessary.

Description

HAND OPERATED GARLIC PEELER.

This invention relates to a hand operated garlic peeler.

The usual method of removing the skin from a garlic clove, after the garlic bulb has been separated into the individual cloves, involves the peeling of the skin from the clove by use of a knife, or the fingernails. An alternative method is to crush the clove, together with the skin, with a heavy object and then to separate the pieces of crushed garlic flesh from the ruptured skin.

Any of these methods is fiddly, time-consuming and resulting in the strong odour of the garlic clove remaining on the hands of the operator, or the work-surface on which the clove was crushed.

All the normal methods of removing the skin from the garlic cloves involves the use of two hands, which makes it difficult for those who may not have the full use of both hands.

This invention aims to allow the skin to be removed from the individual garlic clove in a safe, speedy, hygienic and odour-free way using, if necessary, only one hand.

This is achieved by means of a flexible hollow tube which has an inside diameter such that a garlic clove, or cloves, may be accommodated within the tube, and of a length such that the width of a normal-sized palm may exert an even pressure over the length of the tube. The method of removing the peel from a garlic clove, or cloves, is to place the clove, or cloves, within the flexible hollow tube, place the tube with the garlic clove, or cloves, inside on a firm, flat surface and then to place the flat of the palm of the hand over the flexible hollow tube such that the tube is square across the palm. With a firm downward pressure of the hand onto the hollow tube garlic peeler, roll the tube backward and forward with the palm of the hand until the skin is released from the garlic clove, or cloves, inside the hollow tube. The peeled clove, or cloves, together with the loose garlic skins, may then be removed from the flexible hollow tube garlic peeler, such that the peeled garlic has not been directly in contact with either the flat surface over which the garlic peeler has been rolled back and forth, or with the hand, or hands, of the operator.

The flexible hollow tube is moulded from a natural rubber, or similar material which will give the necessary flexibility, adhesion and which is completely safe to be in contact with any edible material, such as garlic cloves. The inside surface of the hollow tube may have a raised knurled finish to provide extra grip or purchase on the garlic skin to improve the removal of the garlic skin when the tube, with the garlic cloves inside, is rolled back and forth. The exterior surface of the flexible hollow tube may also have a raised knurled or checkered finish, to give extra grip or purchase to the palm of the hand rolling the tube back and forth, with the garlic inside.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows the flexible hollow tube.

Referring to the drawing, the flexible hollow tube (1) is of such a length that it will be slightly wider than the width of a large hand, typically about 130mm, and with an internal diameter (2) suitable to accommodate a large standard sized garlic clove, typically about 30mm. The internal bore (3) of the flexible hollow tube may have a patterned or raised knurled finish to provide extra grip to the garlic clove being rolled inside the tube to ease the removal of the skin from the clove. A roughened texture may also be applied to the outside (4) of the flexible hollow tube to provide extra grip, or adhesion, between the outside of the tube and the surface of the palm of the hand which is rolling the tube, with the garlic clove or cloves inside, on a firm surface.

The wall thickness of the flexible hollow tube (5)is such that as the tube is rolled by the hand, the skin is removed from the garlic clove without undue distortion or folding of the the flexible tube.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A hand operated garlic peeler for the purpose of removing skin from garlic cloves.

2. A garlic peeler as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the peeler consists of a flexible hollow tube.

3. A garlic peeler as claimed in Claims 1 & 2 wherein the flexible hollow tube has an internal diameter such that a large garlic clove can easily be accommodated within the flexible hollow tube.

4. A garlic peeler as claimed in Claims 1 to 3 wherein the length of the flexible hollow tube is such that it will extend beyond the width of a man's hand.

5. A garlic peeler as claimed in Claims 1 to 4 wherein the internal bore of the flexible hollow tube has a raised, or roughened, or knurled surface to provide added grip, or purchase, between the inside surface of the tube and the skin of the individual garlic cloves.

6. A garlic peeler as claimed in Claims 1 to 5, wherein the external surface of the flexible hollow tube may have a raised, or roughened, or knurled surface to provide added grip, or purchase, between the external surface of the tube and the palm of the hand.

7. A garlic peeler as claimed in Claims 1 to 6, wherein the flexible hollow tube is made from a flexible material suitable and safe for direct contract with edible materials.

8. A garlic peeler as claimed in Claims 1 to 7, such that the skin can be removed from a single clove, or a multiple of cloves of garlic, with the use of, if necessary, only one hand

9. A garlic peeler substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawing Figure 1.