GB2498526A

GB2498526A - Cutter for Potatoes Having Stops To Limit Cutting Depth

Info

Publication number: GB2498526A
Application number: GB201200752A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alistair Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-01-17
Filing date: 2012-01-17
Publication date: 2013-07-24
Also published as: GB201200752D0

Abstract

A potato cutting device 25 comprising a body 30 and cutting portion 35 to create a plurality of cuts in a potato segment in a single movement, at least one of the body and cutting portion comprising a stopping portion to prevent cutting right through the potato segment. The cutting portion may have a plurality of curved blades in a parallel or grid arrangement (Figure 5). The blade may be provided with spikes or protrusions (40, Figure 4) extending beyond the cutting surface to engage a support surface on which the potato is resting, preventing cutting through the potato. Alternatively the stopping portion may be spikes on the body (70, Figure 5). The device may include a potato support (105, Figure 8), the body being hinged to or sliding (Figure 12) with respect to the support, the stopping portion being abutting surfaces (115, 120, Figure 9) of the body and support. An ejector (120, Figure 10) may comprise a plastic portion with prongs to aid in removing the potato from the device.

Description

POTATO CUTTING DEVICE

Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of food preparation tools, and, in particular, to a potato cutting device.

Background to the Invention

The inventor has developed an unconventional method of preparing and cooking a potato. The method comprises cutting off the opposite ends of a potato and then cutting the potato into two halves along its lengthwise axis.

This provides two halves (or segments) 10 of a potato as shown in Figure 1A.

In the largest flat side of the potato segment/half, a plurality of cuts 15 is made in the potato using a knife so as to form a grid pattern of cuts 15. In the example shown in Figure 1A, the grid pattern is formed by first cutting a first set of plurality of parallel spaced apart cuts in the lengthwise direction of the potato segment/half. A second set of parallel spaced apart cuts is then made in the width-wise direction of the potato segment/half (i.e. substantially perpendicular to the first set of cuts). It is noted that the cuts are made such that they penetrate deeply into the potato segment/half towards the potato skin but do not extend through the skin 20 of the potato (as shown in Figure 1B). Instead, the cuts 15 are spaced apart from the potato skin, as illustrated by the circled area labelled "A". Thus, the cuts 15 are made into the potato segment 10, but not through the skin 20 of the potato segment. In this way, the potato skin 20 maintains its integrity and holds the potato segment/half 10 together. The prepared potato segment/half is then baked in an oven for a predetermined length of time.

It will be appreciated that correct performance of the potato preparation method detailed above can de difficult and time consuming, especially for an elderly or physically impaired person.

Summary of the invention

Proposed is potato cutting device that is simple to use and can be employed to create a plurality of cuts in a potato segment in a single movement whilst preventing the cuts from passing right through the extent of the potato segment. In this way, embodiments may be used to create multiple incisions in a potato segment in a single movement of the device, wherein an incision is a cut that penetrates only partly into the potato segment and therefore does not split the potato segment into separated portions.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a potato cutting device comprising a body and a cutting portion, the cutting portion being adapted, in use, to create a plurality of cuts in a potato segment when pressed into the potato segment in a single movement, wherein at least one of the body and the cutting portion comprises a stopping portion adapted to prevent the cutting portion from cutting right through the extent of the potato segment, so as provide at least a portion of the potato segment with a plurality of incisions therein.

By enabling a plurality of cuts to be made in a potato segment in one single movement, whilst also preventing such cuts from extending right through the extent of the potato segment, embodiments of the invention may be simple and easy to use for preparing a potato segment according to the unconventional method detailed in the background section above.

Embodiments may also reduce or eliminate the risk of a user causing personal injury when preparing the potato segment.

The cutting portion may comprise a plurality of parallel spaced apart cutting elements, such as blades. Alternatively, the cutting portion may comprise a plurality of cutting elements arranged in a grid formation. Such cutting elements may be curved to follow the approximate external curvature of a potato segment. In this way, the cutting elements may be prevented from cutting through the extent of the potato segment at its thinner portions.

The stopping portion may be formed from at least one protrusion extending from the cutting edge of the cutting elements. The protrusion may extend from the cutting edge of a cutting element in the cutting plane of the cutting element so that it comes into contact with a supporting surface of the potato segment before the cutting edge of the cutting element cuts through the skin of the potato. This arrangement may therefore prevent the cutting elements being pushed further into the potato segment, thus preventing the cutting edge of the cutting elements from passing through the entire extent of the potato segment and cutting through the potato skin.

The body may comprise first and second body portions movable between first and second positions, wherein, in use, the single movement moves the first and second body portions from the first position to the second position so as to press the cutting portion into the potato segment. In this way, a single movement may be used to move the cutting portion from a position where it does not cut into the potato segment to a position where it is urged into the potato and forms a plurality of cuts corresponding to the shape of the cutting portion. One single movement of the device between two positions may therefore result in the formation of multiple cuts in the potato, wherein the cuts have a controlled or restricted depth.

The device may comprise a recess adapted to receive the potato segment. In this way, the potato segment may be securely held in position whilst the cutting portion is pressed or moved into it.

Brief description of the drawings

Examples of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1A and lB illustrate a potato segment prepared according to an unconventional method described in the background section above; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the invention being used to create a pattern of cuts in a potato segment; FIG. 3A illustrates the direction of a single rolling movement of the device of FIG. 2 when being used to create a pattern of cuts in a potato segment; FIG. 3B illustrates the direction of a single downward pressing movement of the device of FIG. 2 when being used to create a pattern of cuts in a potato segment; FIG. 4 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 2, wherein a cutting blade comprises a plurality of protrusions extending from the cutting edge of the cutting blade; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an alternative embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 illustrates the direction of a single downward pressing movement of the device of FIG. 5 when being used to create a pattern of cuts in a potato segment; FIG. 7 is a side view of the device of FIG. 5 wherein the device is resting on a horizontal support surface; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing yet another embodiment of the invention, wherein the device is in an open configuration; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 8 in use, wherein the device has been moved into a closed configuration after a potato segment has been inserted therein; FIG. 10 shows a modification of the device of FIG. 8, wherein the device has been moved into an open configuration after being used to create a plurality of cuts in a potato segment; FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the invention, wherein the device is in an open configuration; FIG. 12A shows the device of FIG. 11 in use, wherein the device has been moved into a first closed (expanded) configuration after a potato segment has been inserted therein; FIG. 12B shows the device of FIG. 11 in use, wherein the device has been moved into a second closed (compacted) configuration using a single downward pressing movement on the top of the device; and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 11 in use, wherein the device has been moved been moved into a second closed (compacted) configuration (shown in FIG. 12B).

Detailed description

The same reference numbers have been used in different figures to denote the same or similar features.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a hand-held potato cutting device 25 according an embodiment of the invention. The potato cutting device 25 comprises a body 30 and a cutting portion 35. During use of the device 25, the cutting portion 35 is adapted to create a plurality of cuts 15 in a potato segment 10 when pressed into the potato segment 10 in a single movement.

The potato cutting device 25 is adapted to prevent the cutting portion from passing through opposing edges of the potato segment 10 and cutting right through the extent of the potato segment 10. In this embodiment, the cutting portion 35 comprises a plurality of parallel spaced apart blades 35, wherein the cutting edge of the blades 35 is curved so as to follow the approximate curvature of the potato segment. Further, as shown in Figure 4, each of the blades 35 comprises a plurality of spikes or protrusions 40 extending from it cutting edge. Here, the spike-like protrusions 40 extend from the cutting edge of the blade 35 in the cutting plane of the blade 35 so that it will come into contact with a supporting surface 45 before the cutting edge of the blade 35 (when the blade is moved toward the supporting surface 45 at an angle that is inclined to the support surface). Thus, with the potato segment supported on the surface 45, this arrangement prevents the cutting edge of the blades 35 passing through the entire extent of the potato segment 10 and cutting through the potato skin 20.

Turning back to FIG 3A and FIG 3B, the currently described embodiment (i.e. the device of FIG. 2) can be used to create a pattern of cuts in a potato segment using a single movement. The arrow labelled "B" in FIG. 3A illustrates the direction of a single rolling movement of the hand-held potato cutting device 35 that can be used a create a plurality of parallel spaced apart cuts in a potato segment (which correspond to the parallel spaced apart cutting blades 35). Alternatively, the arrow labelled "C" in FIG. 3B illustrates the direction of a single downward pressing movement of the hand-held potato cutting device 35 that can be used a create a plurality of parallel spaced apart cuts in a potato segment (which correspond to the parallel spaced apart cutting blades 35).

Thus, it will be understood that to create a grid-like pattern of cuts 15 in a potato segment 10 as shown in FIG. 1A, the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4 can be used by firstly cutting a first set of parallel spaced apart cuts in the lengthwise direction of the potato segment 10 (using a single rolling or downward pressing movement), and then secondly cutting a second set of parallel spaced apart cuts (using another single rolling or downward pressing movement) in the width-wise direction of the potato segment 10 (i.e. substantially perpendicular to the first set of cuts). It is noted that, due to the spike-like protrusions 40 provided at spaced apart locations along the cutting edge of each blade 35, the cuts will be made such that they penetrate deeply into the potato segment 10 towards the potato skin but are automatically prevented (by the protrusions contacting a support surface) from extending through the skin 20 of the potato segment 10.

Turning now to FIGS 5-7, there is shown a potato cutting device 50 according to an alternative embodiment of the invention. The device 50 comprises a rigid body 55 and a cutting portion 60, the cutting portion 60 being adapted, in use, to create a plurality of cuts 15 in a potato segment 10 when pressed into the potato segment in a single downwards pressing movement (illustrated by the arrows labelled "D" in FIG. 6).

The cutting portion 60 comprises a plurality of blades 65 arranged in grid formation, wherein the blades 65 are curved so as to follow the approximate curvature of the outside edge of the potato segment 10.

The potato cutting device 50 also comprises a stopping portion 70 adapted to prevent the cutting portion 60 from passing through opposing edges of the potato segment 10 and cutting right through the extent of the potato segment 10. The stopping portion 70 comprises a pair of spaced-apart and parallel protrusions 70 extending downwardly from the body in the same direction as the general cutting direction of the blades 65, i.e. in a direction parallel to a cutting plane of the blades (or, in other words, in the same direction as the arrow labelled "D" in FIG. 6). It is noted, however, that the protrusions 70 extend downwardly from the body 55 by a greater distance than the plurality of blades 65. As result, when placed on a supporting surface (with the protrusions 70 extending downwardly from the body 55), the potato cutting device 50 is supported by contact between the protrusions 70 and the support surface 75, and the blades 65 are spaced apart from the support surface 75. Thus, when the cutting portion 60 is pushed downwardly onto a potato segment 10 placed on the support surface 75 (as illustrated in FIG. 7), the protrusions 70 come into contact with the supporting surface 75 before the blade 65 passes through the entire extent of the potato segment 10. The protrusions 70 therefore prevent the blades 65 from cutting right through the whole of the potato segment 10 in the cutting direction (i.e. the downward pressing direction).

Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8-9. Here, a potato cutting device 80 comprises a rigid body 85 and a cutting portion 90.

The cutting portion 90 is similar to that of the previously described embodiment in that comprises a plurality of curved blades 95 arranged in a grid formation, wherein the curvature of the cutting edge of the blades is designed to follow the approximate curvature of the outside edge of half a potato (formed by cutting the potato into two halves along its lengthwise direction).

In this embodiment, the body 85 of the device 80 comprises first 100 and second 105 body portions movable between first and second positions.

The first body portion 100 comprises the cutting portion 90, and the second body portion comprises a recess 110 adapted to receive a potato segment 10.

The recess 110 has a curved bottom with a curvature designed to match the approximate curvature of the outside edge of half a potato. In other words, the shape of the recess is design to match that of the outside curved edge of half a potato so that the complimentary geometries of the recess and a potato segment placed in the recess cooperate to locate and hold the potato segment placed therein.

The first 100 and second 105 body portions are rotatably connected together with a hinge 107 so that they are movable between the first and second positions by rotation relative to each other about the hinge's axis of rotation. When the device 80 is used, a single rotating movement (of the first portion 100 relative to the second portion 105) moves the first 100 and second body portions from the first position (an open configuration of the device as shown in FIG. 8) to the second position (a closed configuration of the device illustrated in FIG. 9) so as to press the cutting portion 90 into a potato segment located in the recess 110 and form a plurality of cuts in the potato segment.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first body portion 100 is provided with a seat 115, and the second body portion 105 is provided with an elbow 120. In the second position (i.e. in the closed configuration), the elbow 120 of the second body portion 105 sits against the seat 115 of the first body portion 100 with the blades 95 of the cutting portion 90 spaced apart from the curved bottom surface of the recess 110. Further movement of the cutting portion 90 towards the curved bottom surface of the recess 110 is prevented by the elbow 120 contacting the seat 115. This prevents the blades 95 passing through the entire extent of the potato segment 10. The seat 115 and elbow 120 arrangement of the body 85 therefore prevents the blades 95 from cutting right through the whole of the potato segment lOin the cutting direction.

FIG. 10 shows a modification of the device of FIGS. 8-9, wherein the device 80 has been moved into the open configuration after being used to create a plurality of cuts in a potato segment 10. Here the modified version of the device comprises an ejector 120 arranged to assist removal of a potato segment from the cutting portion in the situation that the potato segment is stuck to the blades 95. The ejector 120 comprises a rigid piece of plastic formed with prongs that are adapted pass through the holes in the grid of blades 95. The prongs are aligned with the gaps/holes between the blades 95 and the ejector 120 then pushed towards the cutting portion (in direction indicated by the arrow labelled "E"), so that the prongs enter into the gaps between the blades and push the potato segment 10 away from the blades 95.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 11-13.

Here, a potato cutting device 150 according to the invention comprises a rigid body 155 and a cutting portion 158. The cutting portion 158 is similar to that of the previously described embodiment in that comprises a plurality of curved blades 159 arranged in a grid formation, wherein the curvature of the cutting edge of the blades is designed to match the approximate curvature of the outside edge of half a potato (formed by cutting the potato into two halves along its lengthwise direction).

In this embodiment, the body 155 of the device 150 comprises first 160 and second 165 body portions that are movable between different positions.

The first 160 and second 165 body portions also have complimentary geometries so that the first body portion 160 can be placed on top of the second and releasably connected to each other.

The first body portion is formed from two sub-portions 160a and 160b.

The cutting portion 158 is connected to the first sub-portion 160a, wherein the first sub-portion 160a is slidably connected to the second sub-portion 160b.

The first sub-portion 1 60a (and the connected cutting portion 158) can therefore be moved relative to the second sub-portion 160b in a sliding movement.

The second body portion 165 comprises a recess 170 adapted to receive a potato segment 10. The recess 170 has a curved bottom with a curvature designed to match the approximate curvature of the outside edge of half a potato. In other words, the shape of the recess is design to match that of the outside edge of half a potato, so that the complimentary geometries of the recess and a potato segment placed in the recess cooperate to locate and hold the potato segment placed therein.

The first 160 and second 165 body portions can be moved between open and closed configurations.

In the open configuration of the device (shown in FIG. 11), the first 160 and second 165 body portions are separated from each other so that access can be gained to the recess 170 of the second body portion 165 and, as shown by the arrow labelled "F", a potato segment 10 can be placed in the recess 170 (with a curved portion of the potato segment 10 placed in contact with the curved surface of the recess 170).

In the closed configuration (shown in FIGS. 12-13), the first 160 and second 165 body portions contact each other with the first body portion 160 positioned directly on top of the second body portion 165. The recess 170 (and the potato segment it supports) is therefore housed with the closed body of the device and inaccessible from the exterior of the device.

Further, when arranged in the closed configuration, the first sub-portion 160a of the first body portion 160 can be moved from a first position (in which the device 150 can be said to be in an expanded configuration as shown in FIG. 12A) to a second position (in which the device 150 can be said to be in a compacted configuration as shown in FIG. 12B) in a single movement. This movement of the first sub-portion 1 60a relative to the second sub-portion 1 60b and to the second body portion 165 presses the blades 159 of the cutting portion 158 towards the curved surface of the recess 170 and thus into the potato segment. Such movement may be made by imparting a downward pressing force on the top of the first sub-portion 1 60a of the first body portion 160, as shown by the arrow labelled "G" in FIG. 12B.

Thus, in use, a single downward sliding movement (of the first sub-portion 160a relative to the second sub-portion 160b and the second body portion 165) moves the device from the expanded configuration to the compacted configuration so as to press the blades 159 of the cutting portion 158 into a potato segment 10 located in the recess 170 and form a plurality of cuts in the potato segment corresponding to the pattern of the blades 159.

As shown in FIG. 13, the first sub-portion 160a is provided with a seat 175, and the second sub-portion 160b is provided with an elbow 180. In the compacted configuration, the elbow 180 of the second sub-portion 160b sits against the seat 175 of the first sub-portion 160a with the blades 159 of the cutting portion 90 spaced apart from the curved bottom surface of the recess 170. Further movement of the blades 159 of the cutting portion 158 towards the curved bottom surface of the recess 170 is therefore prevented by the elbow 180 contacting the seat 175. This prevents the blades 159 passing through the entire extent of the potato segment 10. The seat 175 and elbow arrangement of the first body portion 160 therefore prevents the blades 159 from cutting right through the whole of the potato segment 10 in the cutting direction.

As will be apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings, embodiments are adapted to prevent the cutting portion from passing through opposing edges of a potato segment and cutting right through the extent of the potato segment. That is, when used with a half a potato (formed from cutting a potato in half along its lengthwise axis, for example), the cutting portion is designed to: enter a first flat potato surface (opposite the curved potato surface) that was formed when creating the potato segment; cut into the potato segment to create a plurality of cuts corresponding to the cutting elements of the cutting portion, wherein the cuts extend only partly into the potato and not right across the entire extent of the potato (from the first flat potato surface to the curved potato surface opposite). This embodiments are designed to form a plurality of cuts (extending down into the potato in a cutting direction) in a potato segment without cutting right through the potato segment (e.g. through the surface or skin of the potato located opposite the surface into which the cutting elements enter) in the cutting direction.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A potato cutting device comprising a body and a cutting portion, the cutting portion being adapted, in use, to create a plurality of cuts in a potato segment when pressed into the potato segment in a single movement, wherein at least one of the body and the cutting portion comprises a stopping portion adapted to prevent the cutting portion from cutting right through the extent of the potato segment, so as provide at least a portion of the potato segment with a plurality of incisions therein.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The potato cutting device of claim 1, wherein the cutting portion comprises a plurality of parallel spaced apart cutting elements.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The potato cutting device of claim 1, wherein the cutting portion comprises a plurality of cutting elements arranged in a grid formation.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The potato cutting device of any preceding claim, wherein the cutting elements are curved so as to follow the approximate curvature of the potato segment.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The potato cutting device of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the stopping portion comprises a protrusion extending from the body further than the plurality of cutting elements in a direction parallel to a cutting plane of the cutting elements.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The potato cutting device of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the stopping portion comprises a protrusion extending from the cutting edge of at least one of the plurality of cutting elements.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The potato cutting device of any preceding claim, wherein the body comprises first and second body portions movable between first and second positions, wherein, in use, the single movement moves the first and second body portions from the first position to the second position so as to press the cutting portion into the potato segment.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The potato cutting device of claim 7, wherein the first and second body portions are hinged together, and wherein, in the first position, the first and second body portions are in an open configuration, and, in the second position, the first and second body portions are in a closed configuration.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The potato cutting device of claim 7, wherein the first body portion is slidable relative to the second body portion, and wherein, in the first position, the first and second body portions are in an expanded configuration, and, in the second position, the first and second body portions are in a compacted configuration.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The potato cutting device of any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the second body portion comprises a recess adapted to receive the potato segment.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The potato cutting device of any preceding claims, wherein the device is adapted to be hand-held.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The potato cutting device of any preceding claim, wherein the potato segment is formed from a potato cut in half along its lengthwise axis.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A potato cutting device substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying figures</claim-text>