GB2453599A - Finger guard - Google Patents

Abstract

A finger guard comprising a plate 1 having a grip 2 extending therefrom for receiving a finger such that the user can hold the finger guard in place with the finger located behind the plate 1 relative to a side of the plate 1 where the cutting is to occur. The grip 2 is adjustable to accommodate different size fingers. The upper end of the plate 1 may be curved 18 so as to overhang the finger inserted into the grip 2. The grip 2 may be arranged to receive two fingers. There is also a claim for a finger guard which additionally has two toes 16, 17 for contacting a work surface, where a recess 15 is defined between the two toes.

Description

FINGER GUARD

This invention relates to a finger guard and, in particular, but not exclusively, a finger guard to protect fingers from being accidentally cut when using a knife during food preparation.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a finger guard comprising a plate having a grip extending therefrom for receiving a finger such that the user can hold the finger guard in place with the finger located behind the plate relative to a side of the plate where cutting is to occur, wherein the grip is adjustable to accommodate different size fingers.

The invention is advantageous as it can be adapted to fit different uses.

In particular, the grip may define a channel for receiving the finger and be arranged such that the size of this channel is adjustable to accommodate different size fingers.

The grip may comprise one end connected to the plate and another free end displaceable between different positions and arranged to remain substantially in position after displacement. The grip may comprise material that behaves in a plastic manner such that if the material is bent into a new shape it will retain that shape. In this way, the user can adjust the grip for different size fingers by displacing the free end of the grip.

The grip may comprise a band of material, the band having one end connected to the plate and an opposite free end that can be located to form with the plate a channel for receiving a finger.

The grip may be arranged for receiving two fingers. For example, the grip may comprise two bands of material, each band having one end connected to the plate and an opposite free end that can be located to form with the plate a channel for receiving a finger. By having a grip that can receive two fingers, the finger guard can be held with sufficient stability/control while the remaining fingers of the user can be used for gripping of the food being cut.

The plate may comprise two toes for contacting a work surface or food being prepared, in use, an edge of the plate in between the toes extending upwardly from the ends of the toes to define a recess. In one embodiment, the plate is of substantially rectangular shape, the rectangular shape broken at a lower end by the recess so as to define the two toes. The recess may have an arcuate shape. It is believed that the two toes and recess increase the user's ability to grip the food being cut.

In particular, for small and/or rounded food items, such as carrots or courgettes, the food item can be located in the cut-out section during cutting with the toes restricting lateral movement. For larger food items, such as turnips or parsnips, the toes can be used in a manner similar to prongs to grip the food item. It is believed that the curved shape of the lower edge of the plate is more effective than a straight edge at gripping food items.

An upper portion of the plate may be curved so as to overhang the finger inserted in the grip, in use. This curved portion of the plate may act to deflect a knife away from the user's fingers.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a finger guard comprising a plate having a grip extending therefrom for receiving a finger such that the user can hold the finger guard in place with the

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finger located behind the plate relative to a side of the plate where cutting is to occur, the plate having two toes for contacting a work surface or food being prepared, in use, an edge of the plate between the toes extending upwardly from the ends of the toes to define a recess.

Embodiments for the invention will now be described, by example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows a front view of a finger guard according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the finger guard shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross-section view of the finger guard along lines A -A as shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a front view of a finger guard according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows a side view of the finger guard shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the finger guard along with the lines B -B shown in Figure 5.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a finger guard according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises a plate 1 having a grip 2 extending therefrom.

The grip 2 comprises a pair of bands 3, 4. Each band 3,4 having end 5, 6 connected to narrow side 7,8 of plate 1 and free end 9,10 that can be

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displaced as required by the user. The bands 3, 4 are formed of a material that has a high degree of plasticity (i.e. material that when bent into a new shape will substantially retain that shape; as opposed to a material that has a high degree of elasticity which will substantially return to its original shape when deflected). In this embodiment the bands 3, 4 are metal, preferably stainless steel.

The free end 9,10 of each band 3,4 can be displaced to a location such that the band 3,4 defines with the rear major surface 11 of plate 1 a channel 12,13 for receiving a finger of the user. By inserting a finger in channels 12,13 the user is able to hold the finger guard in place.

As bands 3, 4 can be displaced and remain substantially in the displaced position, the grip 2 is adjustable to change the size of channels 12, 13 to fit different size fingers. In this way, the finger guard is adaptable to different users and to changes in the size of the user's fingers.

Plate 1 comprises rear major surface 11 and a front major surface 14.

The plate 1 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed front side on (as in Figure 1), this rectangular shape being broken by central arcuate recess 15 located in a lower portion of the plate 1. This recess 15 is located between two rounded toes 16, 17 that are arranged to contact a work surface or the item being cut. The recess 15 has a shape suitable for receiving medium size vegetables, such as typical carrots, courgettes or leeks. For example, the recess 15 may have a depth of between 5 to mm and a width of between 20 to 40 mm. In use, the user can insert vegetables of appropriate size in recess 15 and cut on the side of the guard before front surface 14.

It is believed that the recess 15 and toes 16,17 facilitate gripping of the item being Cut. Firstly, by locating the item being cut in recess 15, the toes 16,17 may prevent lateral movement of the item during cutting.

Secondly, the toes 16,17 may act as prongs for gripping the item being cut. Thirdly, the recess 15 facilitates gripping of the item to be cut as the recess 15 may allow the food item to be located closer to the user's fingers received in channels 12, 13 allowing the ends of these fingers to grip the item being cut.

An upper portion 18 of plate I curves away from the side of the plate 1 on which cutting occurs, in use, to form an overhang that helps to deflect the knife away from the fingers of the user that are holding the guard.

In this embodiment, the plate 1 is made of stainless steel, however it will be understood that the plate 1 could be made of other materials, such as other metals or plastics. The finger guard may be pressed from a sheet of stainless steel, with the grip 2 formed integrally with the plate 1.

Now referring to Figures 4 to 6, a second embodiment of the invention will now be described. Features of the second embodiment that are same or similar to features of the first embodiment have been given like reference numbers but in the series 100.

The second embodiments differs from the first embodiment in that grip 102, rather than comprising flexible bands 3,4, comprises a rigid member 103 having a single aperture 112 therein for receiving fingers of a user.

The rigid member 103 is welded to surface 111 of plate 101.

It will be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the above described embodiments but it is intended to include modifications and alterations that fall within the scope of the claims.

For example, the finger guard may comprise a single adjustable band or the grip could comprise strips of woven material that are attached together with hook and loop type fasteners (such as Velcro), the hook and loop type fasteners allowing the grip to be adjusted for different size fingers.

The finger guard may comprise a recess having a different size and shape.

For example, the recess may be of a size and shape suitable for receiving larger vegetables, such as turnips or parsnips.

Claims (14)

1. A finger guard comprising a plate having a grip extending therefrom for receiving a finger such that the user can hold the finger guard in place with the finger located behind the plate relative to a side of the plate where cutting is to occur, wherein the grip is adjustable to accommodate different size fingers.

2. A finger guard according to claim 1, wherein the grip defines a channel for receiving the finger and is arranged such that the size of this channel is adjustable to accommodate different size fingers.

3. A finger guard according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the grip comprises one end connected to the plate and another free end displaceable between different positions and arranged to remain substantially in position after displacement.

4. A finger guard according to claim 3, wherein the grip comprises material that behaves in a plastic manner.

5. A finger guard according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grip comprises a band of material, the band having one end connected to the plate and an opposite free end that can be located to form with the plate a channel for receiving a finger.

6. A finger guard according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grip is arranged for receiving two fingers.

7. A finger guard according to claim 6, wherein the grip comprises two bands of material, each band having one end connected to the plate and an opposite free end that can be located to form with the plate a channel for receiving a finger.

8. A finger guard according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate comprises two toes for contacting a work surface or food being prepared, in use, an edge of the plate in between the toes extending upwardly from the ends of the toes to define a recess.

9. A finger guard according to claim 8, wherein the plate is of substantially rectangular shape, the rectangular shape broken at a lower end by the recess so as to define the two toes.

10. A finger guard according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the recess has an arcuate shape.

11. A finger guard according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an upper portion of the plate is curved so as to overhang the finger inserted in the grip, in use.

12. A finger guard comprising a plate having a grip extending therefrom for receiving a finger such that the user can hold the finger guard in place with the finger located behind the plate relative to a side of the plate where cutting is to occur, the plate having two toes for contacting a work surface or food being prepared, in use, an edge of the plate between the toes extending upwardly from the ends of the toes to define a recess.

13. A finger guard substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3. a *

14. A finger guard substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 4 to 6.