GB2531543A - Vegetable stuffing tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A tool 2 for stuffing vegetables, such as okra, comprises a handle 4 and a dispenser 6. The dispenser comprises a receiving port 8, a dispensing port 10 and a blade 12. There is also a plunger comprising a head 16 and a shaft 18 mounted at the end of an arm 20 which is connected to the handle at hinge 22. In use, stuffing is loaded into the dispenser, the tool is held by the handle and pulled across a surface of a vegetable, causing the blade to cut a cavity which is then immediately filled by stuffing dispensed from the dispenser as the cavity is cut. The plunger is also described.

Description

Vegetable Stuffing Tool

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a kitchen tool adapted for stuffing vegetables.

Background

Stuffed vegetables of various types are a feature of a range of different cuisines. The process of stuffing a vegetable consists of cutting a cavity into the vegetable in question to receive the stuffing in question, and placing the stuffing in the cavity. For example, stuffed okra is a well-known dish and is prepared by cutting okra along its length to produce a trench, and subsequently placing stuffing (typically comprising sesame seeds, coconut, coriander leaves, chili powder and other ingredients) inside said trench.

A difficulty with this dish is that each individual okra has to be cut and stuffed. This can be a time-consuming process. Using standard kitchen tools, the stuffing process entails using a knife to cut a trench in the okra, and then stuffing it with the aid of a spoon or other suitable utensil. The time to prepare what in concept is a simple enough dish can in fact be extensive due to this fiddly, time-consuming process.

There is therefore a need in the art for mplements to make the process of stuffing vegetables easier.

Summary of the invention

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a tool for stuffing vegetables. At its simplest, the tool comprises a handle by which the tool is held, a blade suitable for cutting a cavity in a vegetable, and a dispenser arranged to extrude a material into a cavity cut into a vegetable, wherein the blade and dispenser are arranged such that extrusion of the material into a first part of the cavity may take place as the blade cuts a remainder of the cavity.

With such a tool, stuffing vegetables becomes a simple, one-handed process; stuffing is loaded into the dispenser, and the tool is held by the handle and pulled across a surface of a vegetable, causing the blade to cut a cavity which is then immediately filled by stuffing dispensed from the dispenser.

Preferably, at least part of the blade is oriented towards a user holding the handle.

Preferably, the blade may be attached to the dispenser itself This allows space between the blade and the dispensing port to be minimised.

Preferably, the blade may be detachable from the tool. This allows different blades to be used to suit the properties of different vegetables (which may need to be cut by a differently-shaped blade or a blade of a different size to produce a suitable cavity for stuffing) and different varieties of stuffing (some of which may benefit from a thicker or thinner cavity).

Preferably, the dispenser comprises a dispensing port through which material is extruded and a receiving port through which material to be extruded is received.

Preferably, the blade comprises a straight section and a forked section arranged to receive the dispensing port. Such a "Y"-shaped blade produces a superior trench in many vegetables, with the "stem-of the "Y" cutting an initial slit and the "fork" of the Y forcing the slit open to create a broader trench. When such a blade is used, and where a dispenser with a dispensing port is used, preferably the forked section of the blade is arranged to receive the dispensing port. This allows stuffing to be dispensed into the trench directly as it is formed.

Although any means of dispensing stuffing from the dispenser could conceivably be used with the present invention, the preferred means is by a plunger comprising a shaft and a head arranged to descend into the dispenser via the receiving port. This exerts pressure on stuffing contained in the dispenser, forcing it through the dispensing port.

Preferably, the shaft is slidably threaded through a screw cap adapted to interface with a screw thread comprised in the receiving port. It is envisaged that in use the screw cap will be engaged with the screw thread so as to close the receiving port, with the shaft able to pass up and down through the cap and the cap preventing any stuffing material from passing out through the receiving port, whilst the screw cap keeps the shaft straight. Where a screw cap is used the shaft preferably has a noncircular cross-section to prevent excess friction between the screw cap and the shaft.

Preferably, the plunger can be raised and lowered by an arm interfacing with the shaft. This allows additional leverage to be brought to bear.

Preferably, in embodiments using an arm the arm is hingedly connected to the handle. This allows the tool to be used one-handedly, leaving the other hand free to hold the vegetable being stuffed. In such embodiments the arm is preferably biased against the handle by a coil spring or torsion spring.

Preferably, in embodiments using an arm the arm passes through a slot in the handle or the handle passes through a slot in the arm. This avoids torsional forces which may arise by having the arm situated to one side or the other of the handle.

Another aspect of the invention lies in the interface between the arm and the shaft. In this aspect, the shaft is slidably threaded through a gripping piece, the gripping piece is slidably threaded through the arm, and the gripping piece comprises gripping members arranged to grip the shaft when pressure is exerted on by the arm and release the shaft when pressure is released and a flared top or edge of a width suitable to prevent the gripping member from becoming unthreaded from the arm. When the arm moves downwards, it grips the gripping members, which in turn grip the shaft, which in turn moves downwards. When the arm moves upwards, it releases the gripping members, which in turn release the shaft, and the arm presses against the flared top causing the gripping piece to move up the shaft. When used in a tool as previously described, this arrangement allows the plunger to be fed into the dispensing chamber in a step-by-step basis, rather than forcing it all the way down in one motion of the arm, thus allowing more fine control of the dispensing of the stuffing.

in a simple embodiment, the gripping piece is split into two flared halves at its base, these two halves being the gripping members. Alternatively, the gripping members may be springs, or shaped regions of the gripping piece.

It is preferable to enhance the gripping piece's grip on the shaft. This can be accomplished by a number of means. For instance, the gripping members may be lined with rubber, plastic, or metal lining selected to provide grip, and/or the shaft may be roughened, knurled, or toothed to provide grip. Preferably, the shaft has a flattened circular cross-section, with the flattened sides of the shaft being toothed.

Preferably, the shaft may be threaded through a coil spring arranged between the head and the gripping piece. This causes the gripping piece to be biased away from the head, encouraging it to move up the shaft in the absence of pressure exerted by the arm.

Alternatively, the shaft may be threaded through a screw cap and a spring, such that the screw cap is arranged between the head and the spring and the spring is located between the screw cap and the gripping piece.

Preferably, the hole in the arm through which the shaft is threaded will comprise small roller bearings on opposing sides to reduce friction.

Plungers comprising gripping pieces as described above may be used with any embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Figures

Fig. 1 shows a tool according to one aspect of the present invention, incorporating a number of preferable features.

Fig. 2 shows in detail a section of the tool showing the blade.

Fig. 3 shows in detail a section of the tool showing the interface of the arm and handle.

Fig. 4 shows in detail a section of the tool showing various features of the plunger.

Fig. 5 shows a top-down projection of a preferable type of shaft.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 depicts a tool 2 for stuffing vegetables with a number of preferred features according to the present invention. The tool 2 comprises a handle 4 and a dispenser 6, the dispenser comprising a receiving port 8 and a dispensing port 10, and a blade 12. There is also a plunger 14 comprising a head 16 and a shaft 18 mounted at the end of an arm 20, which is hingedly connected to the handle 4 at a hinge 22. A spring 24 provides a biasing force between the handle and the arm, which would tend to keep the plunger 14 in an elevated position. The handle 4 and arm 20 can be squeezed by a user one-handedly, and when they are squeezed this will cause the plunger 14 to lower into the dispenser 6, causing stuffing disposed in the dispenser 6 to emerge from the dispensing port 10.

Fig. 2 provides a detailed view of the dispensing port 10. It will be seen that the blade 12 has a distinctive "Y" shape, with the "stem" of the Y 32 being oriented such that it points towards a user holding the handle 4 and the "forks" of the Y 34 being arranged to receive the dispensing port 10 of the dispenser 6. In use, the stem of the blade 32 cuts an initial slit in a vegetable, whilst the "forks" 34 force the slit open to make a wider cavity to receive stuffing dispensed from the dispensing port 10. Whilst a range of materials could be used to make most parts of the tool, it is anticipated that the blade will usually be made of metal, particularly stainless steel, to allow for extended and regular usage without becoming dulled.

Fig. 3 provides a detailed view of the interface between the handle 4 and the arm 20. It will be noted that preferably the arm 20 is threaded through a slot 36 in the handle 4, to avoid torsional forces that may result if the arm 22 were situated to one side of the handle 4. To bias the arm 20 against the handle 4 a spring 24 is provided; here this is depicted as a coil spring, but a torsion spring located at the hinge 22 would also work.

Fig. 4 provides a detailed view of the plunger 14. As can be seen, the shaft 18 is slidably threaded through a gripping piece 26, which is in turn slidably threaded through the arm 20.

Gripping members 28 at the base of the gripping piece 26 are arranged to grip the shaft 18 in the event of downward movement of the arm 20. In the event of upward movement of the arm 20, the flared top 30 ensures that the gripping piece 26 travels up the shaft 18 with the arm. The shaft 18 is roughened to aid grip.

Fig. 5 shows a top-down projection of a preferred shaft 18. As can be seen, the shaft 18 has a flattened circular cross-section. The two flattened faces 40 are toothed to enhance the grip of the gripping piece 26.

Claims (1)

1. Claims 1: A tool for stuffing vegetables, comprising: a) a handle by which the tool is held; b) a blade suitable for cutting a cavity in a vegetable; and c) a dispenser arranged to extrude a material into a cavity cut into a vegetable; wherein the blade and dispenser are arranged such that extrusion of the material into a first part of the cavity may take place as the blade cuts a remainder of the cavity.

   2: The tool of claim 1, wherein at least part of the blade is oriented towards a user holding the handle.

   The tool of any preceding claim, wherein the blade is attached to the dispenser.

   4: The tool of any preceding claim, wherein the blade is capable of being detached from and reattached to the tool.

   5: The tool of any preceding claim, wherein the dispenser comprises a dispensing port through which material is extruded and a receiving port through which material to be extruded is received.

   6: The tool of any claim 5, wherein the blade is arranged proximate to the dispensing port.

   7: The tool of claim 6, wherein the blade comprises a straight section and a forked section.

   8: The tool of claim 7, wherein the forked section of the blade is arranged to receive the dispensing port.

   9: The tool of any of claims 5 to 8 preceding claim, further comprising a plunger comprising a shaft and a head arranged to descend into the dispenser via the receiving port.

   10: The tool of claim 9, wherein the shaft is slidably threaded through a screw cap adapted to interface with a screw thread comprised in the receiving port.

   11: The tool of claim 9 or 10, wherein the shaft has a noncircular cross-section.

   12: The tool of any of claims 9-11, wherein the plunger can be raised or lowered by an arm interfacing with the shaft.

   13: The tool of claim 12, wherein the arm is hingedly connected to the handle.

   14: The tool of claim 13, wherein the arm is biased against the handle by a coil spring or torsion spring.

   15: The tool of any of claims 12-14, wherein the arm passes through a slot in the handle or the handle passes through a slot in the arm.

   16: A plunger comprising a head and a shaft, the shaft slidably threaded through a gripping piece, the gripping piece slidably threaded through an arm, the gripping piece comprising gripping members arranged to grip the shaft when pressure is exerted on by the arm and release the shaft when pressure is released, and a flared top or edge of a width suitable to prevent the gripping member from becoming unthreaded from the arm.

   17: A plunger according to claim 16, wherein the gripping piece is split into two flared halves at its base, and the gripping members are the flared halves.

   18: A plunger according to claim 16, wherein the gripping members are springs or shaped regions of the gripping piece.

   19: A plunger according to any of claims 16-18, wherein the gripping members are lined with rubber, plastic, or metal.

   20: A plunger according to any of claims 16-19, wherein the shaft is roughed, knurled or toothed.

   21: A plunger according to claim 20, wherein the shaft has a flattened circular cross-section and the flattened sides of the shaft are toothed.

   22: A plunger according to any of claims 16-21, further comprising a coil spring through which the shaft is threaded, such that the coil spring is arranged between the head and the gripping piece.

   23: A plunger according to claim 22, further comprising a screw cap through which the shaft is threaded, such that the screw cap is arranged between the head and the coil spring.

   24: A plunger according to any of claims 16-23, wherein the gripping piece is threaded through a hole in the arm comprising roller bearings on opposing faces.

   25: A tool according to any of claims 1-15, comprising a plunger according to any of claims 16-24.