GB2390971A

GB2390971A - A safety vegetable cutter

Info

Publication number: GB2390971A
Application number: GB0312601A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jacques Vincent
Original assignee: De Buyer
Current assignee: De Buyer
Priority date: 2001-05-28
Filing date: 2001-12-18
Publication date: 2004-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2021-12-18
Also published as: GB2390971B; GB0312601D0

Abstract

A safety vegetable cutter that includes a frame (1) equipped with a cutting blade (9) mounted facing a slot (12) through which the cut vegetables pass, two guide rails (61 , 62) and a guide chamber (2) guided in to-and-fro translational motion. The chamber defines in a loading volume for the vegetables to be cut, being designed to be gripped manually by the user, constantly exerting a pressure on the vegetables to be cut in the loading volume. A height adjustment means is provided comprised of a ramp (10) mounted to be capable of translational motion parallel to the cutting plane.

Description

Safety Manual Vegetable Cutter The subject of this invention is G safety

manual vegetable cutter for domestic end oroessicnal use.

There are currently different types Cal manual vegetable 5 cutters on the market, none of them very practice' and all of them exposing their users to serious risks of cuts. : At the same time, there are also umerous electric 10 vegetable slicers or food processors for hcsehold use or designed for use in industry or collectives, these being multi-purpose machines. However, they are generally sophisticated appliances which, apart from their high cost, often have the disadvantage of being 15 inconvenient to use and also d 95-cult to assemble and clean. So far, users have never been offered simple, practical and inexpensive manual vegetable cutters, allowing the 20 cutting characteristics to be var-ed selectively and also not exposing the user to risks of serious cuts.

The invention is intended to fill this gap.

25 To achieve this, the invention proposes a safety manual vegetable cutter, in broad terms substantially metal, characterized in that it comprises a frame fitted with at least one cutting blade mountec transversely facing a slot through which the cut vegetables pass and also two 30 side rails providing guidance in to and fro translational motion for a.guide chamber equipped with a loading volume for the vegetables to be cut up and

act-ng in conjunction with a press-down cap which the user grips in order to move the guide chamber to and fro alo..g the guide rails while constantly exerting pressure on the vegetables contained in the loading volume so 5 the, they are pressed against the cutting blade or blades fitted to the frame and can be cut up by the brace or blades.

Given this configuration, the to-and-fro motion of the 10 guide chamber along the frame enables vegetables inserted into the loading volume to be cut into slices automatically. Of course, in connection with the invention, the term 15 "vegetables" must be considered in a very broad sense, and the vegetables cut up may be not only vegetables of all kinds in the strict sense (potatoes, cucumbers, carrots etc.) but also fruits or other foodstuffs suitable for slicing.

According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, the press-down cap has a hollow ergonomic body fitting over the guide chamber so as to form a carriage assembly integral in translation with the frame 25 and also an extractor consisting of an extractor rod capable of translational motion on the inside of the ergonomic press-down cap body, and having a first end extending beyond this press-down cap body through a guide opening made in it, and also by a plate 30 transmitting feed pressure preferably fitted with spikes on its outer face.

According to the invention, this feed plate is secured to the second end of the extractor rod to allow the vegetables for slicing to be pressed against the cutting blade or blades fitted to the frame when the carriage is 5 moved.

When the ergonom-c press-down cap body is fitted over the guide chamber, it is able to slide on it.

10 The cross-section of the extractor rod and also the guide opening are preferably not free to rotate and are dimensioned so as to prevent rotation of the extractor relative to the ergonomic press-down cap body.

15 According to the invention, the first outward-proecting end of the extractor rod is fitted with a removable plug with a diameter larger than the diameter of the guide opening so as to allow the extractor to remain constantly integral with the ergonomic press-down cap 20 body.

According to another preferred characteristic of the invention, the pressdown cap has a spring fitted around the extractor rod with one of its ends or first end 25 bearing against the ergonomic press-down cap body on the inside of the latter and also its opposite end or second end bearing against the feed pressure plate.

This spring tends to press the feed plate against the 30 frame in the absence of any external force being applied to it.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ergonomic pressdown cap body is equipped with needles attached to the inside of it and intended to be pushed into the vegetables to be cut up, so as to 5 prevent them rolling in the guide chamber.

After the ergonomic press-down cap body is fitted onto the guide chamber, the extractor comes to bear against the vegetables which have previously been put into the 10 loading volume.

When the user then applies pressure to the ergonomic press-down cap body, the latter slides along the guide chamber and moves nearer to the frame.

IS In the course of this movement, the extractor rod rises progressively outwards, compressing the spring, and the needles are pressed into the vegetables.

20 This movement continues until the spring is compressed completely. The length of the extractor rod which then projects beyond the ergonomic press-down cap body through the 25 guide opening indicates to the user the quantity of vegetables present in the loading volume of the guide chamber. From this position, the user can cut up the vegetables 30 by manoeuvring the ergonomic press-down cap body so as to move it to and fro along the frame, so that the level of vegetables is constantly lowered.

In fact, the spring constantly applies pressure to the extractor which forces the vegetables towards the cutting blade or blades fitted to the frame so that they 5 can be sliced.

As the slicing proceeds, the needles are released from the vegetables.

10 According to the invention, the vegetable cutter is dimensioned so that when the cutting is finished, the ergonomic press-down cap body is resting against the guide chamber and the extractor cannot move down to the level of the cutting blades because the length of the IS extractor rod is chosen such that the plug causes its translational motion to be halted.

It should be noted that the assembly thus constituted can be--completely dismantled by means of the plug which, 20 when removed, allows the extractor to be taken out of the press-down cap by releasing the spring so that the user can thus clean the unit thoroughly.

According to another characteristic of the invention, 25 the frame has two parallel side uprights connected by a transverse operating handle and forming the guide rails of the carriage.

According to a preferred characteristic of the 30 invention, the vegetable cutter comprises means for adjusting the depth of cut and therefore the thickness of the slices cut.

These means advantageously include a ramp, capable of translational motion, fitted parallel to the cutting plane and facing the cutting blade or blades at one of 5 its ends or first end to form the slot through which the sliced vegetables pass.

It is also advantageous in accordance with the invention to provide means for keeping the first end of the 10 cutting depth adjustment ramp at a constant short distance from the cutting blade or blades.

According to the invention, when the vegetable cutter is operated, the cutting depth adjustment ramp is of course 15 locked with respect to the side uprights of the frame and the user holds the ergonomic press-down cap body with one hand to move the carriage assembly to and fro along the frame while exerting pressure on the press-

down cap body, and also holds the transverse operating 20 handle of the frame with the other hand to steady the appliance. According to the invention, the cutting depth adjustment ramp may advantageously be constituted by a central 25 plate acting in conjunction with the transverse blade or blades and, by means of side flanges, locating it between the side uprights of the frame.

To achieve this, the uprights may be fitted on their 30 inner faces with studs engaging in oblong holes in the side flanges of the ramp.

These studs and oblong holes may also act in conjunction with identical oblong holes made in the side uprights of the frame with locking components integral with the ramp pass ng through them.

When they are loosened and not providing locking to prevent movement, these locking components also act as guide studs so as to allow translational motion of the cutting depth adjustment ramp with respect to the side lo uprights of the frame.

The holes provided in the flanges of the cutting depth adjustment ramp and also in the side uprights of the frame are preferably inclined obliquely so that the 15 translational motion takes place in both directions, up and down and backwards and forwards.

It is thus possible to keep the cutting depth adjustment ramp constantly parallel to itself and consequently to 20 adjust the depth of cut while ensuring that the first end of the ramp remains at a constant and very short distance from the cutting blade or blades.

Such a configuration means that the cut can be optimised 25 both because of the short distance between the ramp and blade(s) as they pass each other, which ensures optimum regularity and accuracy, and also because there is no variation in height during translational motion of the vegetables towards the cutting blade or blades; this 30 arrangement avoids any phenomenon of thinning at the end of the cut such as might be observed if the cutting depth adjustment ramp, instead of being made to move in

translation parallel to the cutting plane, was able to move in rotation about an axis integral with the frame at its second end opposite the first end located facing the cutting blade or blades.

According to the invention, cutting depth adjustment can advantageously be achieved by operating a hand grip provided for the purpose at the rear of the ramp.

10 The distance between the transverse operating handle and the hand grip is preferably arranged to allow movement of the fingers so that the user can push or pull the cutting depth adjustment ramp with the hand which is holding the transverse operating handle.

All that needs to be done then is to lock the adjustment using the locking components.

It should be noted that the side uprights of the frame 20 can advantageously be equipped with markings to show this adjustment and therefore to indicate to the user the thickness of the slices cut.

According to another characteristic of the invention, 25 the guide chamber is made integral with the frame by means of slides preferably of a man-made material, particularly polycarbonate.

The function of these slides is to exclude any risk of 30 seizure resulting from metal to metal friction and therefore to allow the guide chamber to slide easily, smoothly and silently along the frame.

Fitting the guide chamber so that it is integral with the frame represents a particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention since it eliminates any S danger of the guide chamber accidentally coming off its guide rails during use, and consequently causing injury to the user.

According to the invention, the loading volume of the lO guide chamber may advantageously be cylindrical in shape and of relatively large size (particularly a diameter of the order of 50 to 150 mm for a height of the order of lo to 80 mm) to allow professional use.

15 Of course, a loading volume of the guide chamber of the kind described acts in conjunction with an ergonomic press-down cap body which is also substantially cylindrical inside and a feed plate forming a press-down device constituted by a disc.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vegetable cutter rests on at least one foot, preferably folding.

25 The frame can advantageously be mounted on two folding trapezoidal feet, namely a front foot and a rear foot, substantially U-shaped.

The front foot raises the front of the frame, that is to 30 say the end opposite the transverse operating handle to allow a dish to be slid under it and filled up; a

substantially larger volume of vegetables can thus be sliced. The rear foot allows the vegetable cutter to be used 5 over a container such as a basin, using i_ as a support; the support thus obtained is stable and consequently makes for safe use of the vegetable cutte_. Resting the vegetable cutter on the front foot and on the rear foot enables a convenient working angle to be obtained.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vegetable cutter comprises at least two removable and interchangeable transverse blades capable of being selectively positioned and snapped into place in the 15 frame.

One of these blades is preferably equipped with a straight cutting edge while the other is equipped with a corrugated cutting edge, with various possible shapes.

The blades having a straight cutting edge and the blades having a corrugated cutting edge can be selectively fitted in the cutting position facing the slot through which the cut vegetables pass, depending on whether 25 smooth slices or ridged slices are required.

According to the invention, the transverse blades are composed of a body of a man-made or metal material in which the cutting portion is inserted.

The body of each transverse blade may advantageously include a mark which the user will also find on the

frame when fitting the blades so as to ensure that they are inserted in the right direction and on the right side of the cutting portions.

5 According to another characteristic of the invention, the vegetable cutter comprises at least one removable lengthwise cutter blade fitted with a set of equidistant blades aligned substantially a_ right angles to the transverse blades so that the vegetables can be cut into 10 sticks.

The vegetable cutter may advantageously be equipped with a series of such cutting knives where the blades are a greater or smaller distance apart so that larger or 15 smaller sticks can be obtained.

According to the invention, the cutter blade is preferably snapped into place in the frame between the side uprights of the frame, in particular by means of 20 projections and corresponding recesses.

It is particularly advantageous for these projections and these recesses to be asymmetrical to ensure that the blade is always fitted the right way round. The 25 ergonomic shape of the press-down cap body provides a good grip for installing it without risk of injury.

It is also advantageous to equip the vegetable cutter with a bar for locking the cutting blade after it is 30 fitted into the frame.

The characteristics of the vegetable cutter which is the subject of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings in which: - figure l is a perspective view of the vegetable cutter 5 - figure 2 is a perspective view of the frame showing the upper part of the frame - fig_re 3 is a perspective view of the frame showing the lower part of the frame - fig re 4 is a perspective view of the frame fitted 10 wit:- the guide chamber - figure 5 is a perspective view corresponding to figure 4 when the press-down cap is fitted - figure 6 is a sectional view of the vegetable cutter fit led with the complete carriage in action on the 15 vegetables to be sliced - figure 7 is a perspective view showing the upper part of the guide chamber - figure 8 is a perspective view showing the lower part of the guide chamber 20 - figure 9 is a perspective view showing the press-down cap fitted onto the guide chamber - figures 10 and 11 are cutaway views of the whole of the carriage - figure 12 is a sectional view of the carriage with the 25 precs-down cap shown in the down position - figure 13 is a sectional view of the carriage with the fitted press-down cap shown in the up position - figure 14 is a perspective view of the cutting depth adjustment ramp showing the lower part of the ramp 30 - figure 15 is a perspective view of the cutting depth adjustment ramp showing the upper part of the ramp

- figure 16 is a detailed perspective view of the upper part of the frame - figure 17 is an exploded view corresponding to figure 5 - figure 18 is a lengthways sectional view of the frame showing the cutting depth adjustment ramp in the low position - figure 19 is a lengthways sectional view of the frame showing the cutting depth adjustment ramp in the high 10 position - figure 20 is a detail view corresponding to figure 18 - figure 21 is a detail view corresponding to figure 19 - figure 22 is a perspective view of one of the faces of a transverse blade having a straight cutting edge 15 - figure 23 is a view similar to figure 22 showing the other face of this transverse blade having a straight cutting edge - figure 24 is a perspective view of one of the faces of a transverse blade having a corrugated cutting edge 20 - figure 25 is a perspective view corresponding to figure 24 and showing the other face of the transverse blade having a corrugated cutting edge - figure 26 is a perspective view showing one of the faces of a cutter blade 25 - figure 27 is a perspective view similar to figure 26 and showing the other face of the cutter blade - figure 28 is a perspective view of the cutter blade locking bar.

30 As shown in figure 1, the vegetable cutter consists of a frame 1 shown in detail in figures 2, 3, 16 and 17 and

also of a carriage assembly consisting of a guide chamber 2 and a pressdown 3 cap capable of translational motion to and fro along this frame 1.

5 The guide chamber 2 is shown in detail in figures 4, S. 7 and 8 while the press-down cap 3 is shown in detail in figures 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.

As shown in figures 1, 2 and 3, the frame 1 is mounted 10 on two trapezoidal feet, substantially U-shaped, namely a front foot 4 and a rear foot 5.

The frame 1 consists mainly of two parallel side uprights 6, 7 linked by a transverse operating handle 15 13, and by a spacer 8 on which a transverse cutting blade 9, 9' slides in a manner which will be described in more detail later in this presentation and also a cutting depth adjustment ramp 10, a firs_ end 11 of which is positioned facing the cutting blade 9, 9' so as 20 to form a slot 12 through which the sliced vegetables pass. The configuration of the cutting height adjustment ramp 10 will also be described in more detail later in this 25 presentation with reference to figures 14 to 21.

As shown in figures 1, 4 and 5, the upper edges 6, 71, opposite the feet 4, 5 of the side uprights 6, 7 of the frame 1, form two guide rails for the guide chamber 2.

As shown in figures 7 and 8, the guide chamber 2 consists of a substantially rectangular chamber body 14,

having two opposite edges turned down to form two slides 15,, 152 substantially U-shaped in section which act in conjunction with the guide rails 71, 72, and also of a cylindrical wall 16, the inside of which forms the 5 boundary of a loading chamber 17, open at either end, holding the vegetables to be cut up, shown by dotted lines in figure 6.

As shown in figures 9 to 13, the press-down cap 3 10 consists mainly of an extractor 19 and a hollow ergonomic press-down cap body 18 fitting onto the cylindrical surface 16 of the guide chamber 2 so as to form a carriage assembly integral with the frame and able to move in translation, as shown in particular in 15 figure 6.

As figures 10 and 11 show, the extractor 19 consists of an extractor rod 20 which is not free to rotate, carrying at one of its ends a disc transmitting feed 20 pressure 22 fitted with spikes 23.

The end 21 of the extractor rod 20 opposite the disc transmitting feed pressure 22 projects from the ergonomic press-down cap body 18 through a guide opening 25 24 which is not rotationally symmetrical either, made for this purpose in the central part of the ergonomic press-down cap body 18.

A removable plug 25 shown more precisely in figure 11 is 30 fitted onto the end 21 of the extractor rod 20 to allow the extractor 19 to remain constantly integral with the ergonomic press-down cap body 18.

Moreover, as shown in figures 10 and 11, the extractor 19 is equipped with a spring 26 which is fitted around the extractor rod 20 and bears against the inner face of 5 the ergonomic press-down cap body 18 at one of its ends 27 and also against the disc transmitting feed pressure 22 at its opposite end 28.

: As shown in figure 6, the spring 26 tends to press the 10 disc transmitting feed pressure 22 against the frame 1 in the absence of any external force exerted on it.

As shown in figures 10 and 11, the ergonomic press-down cap body 18 is also equipped on the inside with needles 15 29 designed to be pressed into the vegetables to be sliced (figure 6).

As shown in figure 4, when the user wishes to use the vegetable cutter, the first operation consists in 20 inserting vegetables to be sliced, shown in dotted lines, in the loading volume 17 of the guide chamber 2.

After the vegetables are inserted, the user must fit the ergonomic pressdown cap body 18 onto the cylindrical 25 surface 16 of the guide chamber 2 as shown in figure 5.

Prior to this fitting operation, the extractor 19 is in a rest position shown in figure 12 in which the plug 25 is bearing against the outer periphery of the guide 30 opening 24 in the ergonomic press-down cap body 18.

When the fitting operation is carried out, the disc transmitting feed pressure 22 comes up against the vegetables contained in the loading volume 17 and the spikes on this disc 23 press into the flesh of these 5 vegetables to hold them.

When the disc is pressing on the vegetables, the user must apply pressure to the ergonomic press-down cap body 18 to make it slide along the cylindrical wall 16 of the 10 guide chamber 2 in the direction of arrow A (figure 6).

As shown in figure 13, the needles 29 then enter the openings 30 made for this purpose through the disc transmitting feed pressure 23 and are then pressed into 15 the flesh of the vegetables to be sliced to hold them more securely; at the same time, the extractor rod 20 rises in the direction of arrow B. compressing the spring 26 in the process, until compression is complete.

20 As shown in figure 6, the user must then move the carriage assembly consisting of the guide chamber 2 and the press-down cap 3 in translation to and fro along the frame 1 in the directions showing by double arrow C so that the vegetables are sliced by the transverse blade 25 9, 9'.

In the course of this movement, the spring 26 constantly presses down on the disc transmitting feed pressure 22 which presses the vegetables to be sliced against the 30 transverse blade 9, 9' so that they can be sliced.

As the level of vegetables in the loading volume 17 of the guide chamber 2 decreases, the needles 29 are withdrawn from the vegetables.

5 At the end of the cu_, the ergonomic press-down cap body 18 is resting against the body 14 of the guide chamber 2, in the position shown in figure 12.

It should be noted that the disc transmitting feed 10 pressure 22 cannot move down to the level of the transverse blade 9, 9' since its translational motion is stopped before this by the plug 25.

As shown in figures 14 and 15, the cutting depth 15 adjustment ramp 10 consists of a centre plate 31 equipped on either side with two side flanges 32, 32' substantially perpendicular to the plate and serving to lock the ramp lO onto the side uprights 6, 7 of the frame 1.

For this purpose, the side flanges 32, 32' of the ramp 10 are provided with oblong holes 33, 33' aligned obliquely, and fitting into these are pegs 34, 34' projecting from the inside faces of the side uprights 6, 25 7 of the frame l, as shown in figures 16 and 17.

The side uprights 6, 7 of the frame 1 also have oblong holes 35, 35' aligned obliquely which are similar to the oblong holes 33, 33' in the cutting depth guide ramp 10.

The oblong holes 35, 35' in the frame 1 are positioned to line up with and act in conjunction with circular

openings 36, 36' in the side flanges 32, 32' of the cutting depth guide ramp 10 shown in figure i r and passing through these are locking screws 37, 37' for locking the ramp 10 in a given position by means of nuts 5 38. The oblong openings 33, 33' in the cutting depth adjustment ramp 10 extend to the level of the centre plate 31 of this ramp 10 and are dimensioned o allow 10 the pegs 34, 34' to pass through so that the ramp 10 can be completely dismantled after removing the locking screws 37, 37' and the nuts 38.

As shown in figures 18 to 21, the geometry of the oblong 15 holes 33 and 33' and also 35 and 35' is selected so that the position of the cutting depth adjustment ramp 10 can be altered by moving it in translation parallel to the cutting plane as indicated by arrow I in figures 20 and 21 between a low position shown in figures 18 and 20 and 20 a high position shown in figures 19 and 21, in such a way that the first end 11 of this ramp 10 is always located at a constant short distance from the transverse blade 9, 9'.

25 The first end 11 of the ramp 10 thus moves in a trajectory shown by dotted lines in figures 20 and 21.

To carry out this adjustment of the ramp 10, the user must loosen the locking screws 37, 37' and nuts 38, and 30 push or pull the ramp as indicated by double arrow II in figures 18 and 19, doing this by taking hold of a hand grip 39 provided for the purpose at the second end 40 of

the ramp 10 opposite the first end 11 which is positioned facing the transverse cutting blade 9,,'.

As shown in figures 16, 17, 18 and 19, a graduated scale 5 41 marked on the inner face of the side uprights 6, 7 of the frame 1 provide the user with an indication of the level of the ramp 10.

Of course, when the ramp 10 has been adjusted, the user 10 must lock it by means of the locking screws 37 and 37' and nuts 38 before beginning the slicing operation.

Moreover, as shown in figures 22 to 25, the vegetable cutter is equipped with two removable and 15 interchangeable transverse blades which can be selectively fitted to the frame 1 facing the first end 11 of the cutting depth adjustment ramp 10, namely a first transverse blade 9 fitted with a straight cutting edge 42 shown in figures 22 and 23 and also a second 20 transverse blade 9' having a corrugated cutting edge 43 which is shown in figures 24 and 25.

As shown in figures 20 and 21, these blades 9, 9' both consist of a body of a man-made or metal material 44 25 into which the cutting portion 42 or 43 is inserted.

As shown in figures 22 to 25, the body of a man-mace or metal material 44 is extended to form a handling grip 45 allowing the user to take hold of the blades 9, 9' 30 without touching the cutting portion 42 or 43, and is provided on a first face 47 with a positioning mark or device ensuring correct location 46 corresponding to a

similar positioning mark or device 46' provided on the frame 1 so as to guarantee that the blade 9, 9' is always inserted the right way round in the frame 1.

5 The first face 47 of the body of a man-made or metal material 44 is also equipped with a snap fitting device 49 holding it in the frame 1 and also with a step 50 to guide the blade 9, 9' when it is inserted into the frame. As for the second face 48 of the body of a man-made or metal material 44, this is equipped with a guide groove 54 in the centre.

15 As shown in figures 16, 17, 20 and 21, the spacer 8 of the frame 1 is provided at its end 51 positioned facing the first end 11 of the cutting depth adjustment ramp 10 with a guide strip 52 for the transverse blade 9, 9', the free end 53 of which is bent to form a guide rib 20 which acts in conjunction with the guide groove 54 in the body of a man-made or metal material 44 of the transverse blades 9, 9'.

In a similar way, the end 51 of the spacer 8 acts in 25 conjunction with the guide step 50 on the body of a man-

made or metal material 44 of the transverse blades 9, 9' to complete the guidance of these blades when they are installed in or removed from the frame 1.

30 Openings 55, 55' provided in the side uprights 6,7 of the frame 1 permit these insertion and removal operations as shown in figures 16 and 17.

The posi toning of a transverse blade 9, 9' in the frame 1 is thusparticularly quick and easy: in fact, the blade only has to be inserted through the opening 55 in 5 the upright 6 and slid along the guide strip 52 so that it is automatically guided by components 51, 53 until, once fully home, it passes through the opening 55' in the upright 7 and is held in position by the snap-in device i,.

As shown in figures 20, 21, 26 and 27, the vegetable cutter is also equipped with a lengthwise cutter blade S6 acting in conjunction with the transverse blade 9, 9' to cut tile vegetables into sticks.

This cutter 56 consists of a body of a man-made or metal material 57 equipped with a set of equidistant blades 58 aligned substantially at right angles to the cutting edge 42, 43 of the transverse blades 9, 9' and at its 20 ends has recesses 59, 59' acting in conjunction with corresponding projections 60, 60' provided on the inner face of the side uprights 6, 7 of the frame 1.

The cutter 56 can thus be held by snapping into place 25 between the uprights 6, 7.

The recesses 59, 59' and also the projections 60, 60' are asymmetrical to ensure that the blade 56 is always fitted the right way round.

As shown in figures 26 and 27, the body of a man-made or metal material 57 of the cutter 58 includes two

ergonomically shaped notches 61, 61' acting in conjunction with projections 62, 62' which provide a stop for the user's fingers to avoid slipping towards the blades 58 when inserting the cutter into the frame 5 1. As shown in figures 16, 17 and 2B, a transverse locking bar 63 capable of translational motion between the side uprights 6, 7 holds the cutter blade 56 in the frame 1.

For this purpose, the bar 63 has two side tabs 64, 64' inserted into the slots 65, 65' provided on the side uprights 6 and 7.

15 The bar 63 is also equipped in its centre portion with a projecting part 66 by which the user can grip it to slide it into slots 65, 65' in order to install the cutter blade 56 in the frame 1 or remove it.

Claims

-24 Claims:

1. A safety vegetable cutter comprising: a frame equipped with a cutting blade mounted transversely facing a slot through which the cut vegetables pass; two guide rails; a guide chamber guided in to-and-fro translational motion along the guide rails and defining in its inner part a loading volume for the vegetables to be cut, the chamber being designed to be gripped manuallybythe user to be moved in a to-and-fro motion along the guide rails, constantly exerting a pressure on the vegetables to be cut in the loading volume; a height adjustment means comprised of a ramp mounted to be capable of translational motion parallel to the cutting plane and positioned facing the cutting blade at one of its ends to define the slot.

2. The safety vegetable cutter of Claim 1 including means for holding a first end of the ramp at a constant short distance from the cutting blade.

3. The safety vegetable cutter of Claim 1 or 2 including at least two removable and interchangeable transverse blades which can be selectively positioned and snapped onto the frame.

4. The safety vegetable cutter of Claim 3 wherein one of said blades is a corrugated cutting edge.

5. The safety vegetable cutter of any one of the preceding claims wherein there is a longitudinal cutting blade equipped with a set of equidistant blades oriented substantially perpendicular to the transverse blades.