GB2386541A

GB2386541A - Abrasive articles for peeling food products

Info

Publication number: GB2386541A
Application number: GB0306226A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carl Beaman
Original assignee: LIMALIMA Ltd
Current assignee: LIMALIMA Ltd
Priority date: 2002-03-18
Filing date: 2003-03-18
Publication date: 2003-09-24
Also published as: AU2003214415A1; WO2003077716A1; GB0306226D0

Abstract

An element for use in peeling a food product, comprises a flexible body suitably in the form of a glove having a plurality of abrasive areas 24 on an exterior surface thereof wherein at least a portion of the element has a regular array of closely spaced abrasive areas thereon. The abrasive areas may be particles bonded to the glove or interwoven abrasive regions of the glove fabric. The areas may be arranged in staggered rows.

Description

238654 1

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AN ELEMENT FOR USE IN

PEELING FOOD PRODUCTS

5 The present invention relates to an element for use in peeling food products, in particular to a glove for use in peeling food products having an outer skin, such as various kinds of fruit and vegetables.

There are many known devices available for peeling the skin of fruit and vegetables 10 for consumption. For instance, a known type of apparatus in the form of an electrically driven drum can be used to peel potatoes and other vegetables placed into the drum. The drum has a grating and when the drum is arranged to rotate at a relatively high speed the food product inside the drum can be peeled. Mechanical peeling devices are also available to peel the skin off fruit and vegetables. Some of 15 the known devices are not very efficient in peeling food products especially if there are tough or hard parts present on the skin of the food product, such as "eyes" that commonly form on the skin of potatoes. Furthermore, the use of known devices often entails a considerable amount of time in peeling food products.

2 0 A purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved way of abrading objects, in particular food products which is versatile and efficient to carry out.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an element for use in peeling a food product, comprising a flexible body haying apluralityofabrasive areas

on an exterior surface thereof wherein at least a portion of the element has a regular array of closely spaced abrasive areas thereon.

It is preferred that the element is in the form of a glove in which the array of abrasive 5 areas cover substantially the entirety of at least a palmer surface of the finger portions of the glove. This is particularly useful in enhancing the peeling effect of the abrasive areas when the glove is used for peeling vegetables or fruit, such as, for example, potatoes, carrots, apples and the like. Having the array of abrasive areas on at least a palmer surface of the finger portions provides an optimum surface area for abrading 10 desired objects, in particular for peeling fruit and vegetables. In an alternative embodiment, the element of the invention may be in the form of a laminar sheet or cloth. The array of abrasive areas may also be provided on at least part of a surface of the finger portions of the glove above the fingernails of a person wearing the glove. This may enhance the operation ofthe glove in abrading certain objects.

It is preferred that the array of abrasive areas are fommed in a plurality of rows. The abrasive areas of each row may be offset in relation to the corresponding areas of 2 o adjacent rows. The abrasive areas may be of such a size to effectively peel fruit and vegetables with a minimum of effort. Furthemmore, the spaces between adjacent abrasive areas is particularly useful for collecting any peel or detritus which can easily be removed or cleaned, such as by rubbing the surface of the element or by the use of water. The array of abrasive areas together with the size of such areas is particularly

effective in abrading desired objects, in particular fruit and vegetables, so as to abrade or peel substantially the entire surface of the objects with the minimum amount of effort. 5 Each abrasive area may be formed by a particulate abrasive material bonded to the surface of the element. It is preferred that the abrasive material may comprise a ceramic material, such as a silicate, oxide or nitride. Alternatively, the abrasive material may comprise granite or sand. The abrasive material may desirably be bonded to the surface of the element by adhesive means.

In an embodiment, the abrasive areas may comprise units supported by a substrate layer applied to the areas. At least part ofthe spaces between the abrasive areas and/or the abrasive areas themselves on the layer may be bonded to the element surface by suitable adhesive means or the application of heat.

In another embodiment, the abrasive areas may comprise elements of abrasive material applied to the areas individually. The array of abrasive areas may comprise a particulate abrasive material of various coarseness. The abrasive areas may be removably detached from the element surface in order to change the grade or 2 o coarseness of the abrasive material or to apply a fresh array of abrasive areas thereto.

The element (preferably in the form of a glove) of the invention may be made of any suitable material, such as a plastics, rubber or fabric material. The element may be used to scour or abrade desired objects or surfaces, and may be used in cleaning or

washing crockery. Each of the abrasive areas on the element surface may have a suitable shape, such as a circular, square or rectangular shape.

In another embodiment of the invention, the abrasive areas may be fonned by 5 interwoven abrasive regions of the fabric of the element.

A preferred embodiment of the invention shall now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a view of a glove embodying the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a glove generally designated by reference numeral 10. The glove 10 has a palm portion 12 and finger portions 14, 16,18, 20, 22. An array of abrasive areas 24 substantially cover the entirety of the palm surface 12 and the surface of the finger portions 14, 16, 18, 20, 22. The abrasive areas 24 5 have a circular shape and are arranged in a plurality of rows along the length of the glove 10. Each of the abrasive areas 24 in adjacent rows are in a staggered relationship. The abrasive areas 24 have such a size which is particularly effective in abrading or peeling substantially the entire surface of a desired object, in particular a piece of fruit or vegetable. The abrasive areas 24 are separated by spaces 26. The 2 0 spaces 26 between the array of discrete abrasive areas 24 are particularly effective in collecting the peel or detritus which is produced by use of the glove when scouring, smoothing or peering a desired object. The detritus that may build up in the spaces 26 may allow the surface of the abrasive areas 24 to remain free of any matter which may inhibit the abrading action. Advantageously, any detritus between the abrasive areas

24 can easily be washed or cleaned away before using the glove to abrade another object. The array of abrasive areas 24 over substantially the entire surface area of the finger 5 portions 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 of the glove 10 has been found to be very effective in peeling fruit and vegetables with relative ease. The close proximity of the abrasive areas 24 on the glove surface is beneficial for abrading any rough or hard parts on an object, for instance the "eyes" that may occur on potatoes. Desirably, at least part of the glove surface above one or more fingernails of a user wearing the glove may have 10 abrasive areas 24 thereon to assist in abrading an object. Each ofthe abrasive areas 24 comprise particulate granite bonded to the surface of the glove by an adhesive.

Claims

1. An element for use in peeling a food product, comprising a flexible body having a plurality of abrasive areas on an exterior surface thereof wherein at least a 5 portion of the element has a regular array of closely spaced abrasive areas thereon.

2. An element according to Claim 1, in the form of a glove wherein the array of

abrasive areas cover substantially the entirety of at least a palmer surface of the finger portions of the glove.

3. An element according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the array of abrasive areas are formed in a plurality of rows.

4. An element according to Claim 3, wherein the abrasive areas of each row are 5 offset in relation to the corresponding areas of adjacent rows.

5. An element according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each abrasive area is formed by a particulate abrasive material bonded to the surface of the element.

2 0

6. An element according to Claim 5, wherein the abrasive material comprises particulate granite.

7. An element according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the abrasive material is bonded to the surface of the element by adhesive means.

l

8. An element according to any preceding claim, wherein the abrasive areas comprise units supported by a substrate layer applied to the said areas.

5

9. An element according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the abrasive areas comprise elements of abrasive material applied to the said areas individually.

10. An element as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, in which the abrasive areas are formed by interwoven abrasive regions of the fabric of the element.

11. An element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.

12. A glove comprising an element substantially as hereinbefore described with 15 reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing. tar