JP5854339B2 - Citrus squeezer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a citrus squeezer, and more particularly to a technique that enables squeezing large citrus fruits with a relatively small force without waste.

  Conventionally, the thing of patent document 1 is known as this kind of citrus squeezer. This squeezer has a flat plate-like base portion and a plate-like body erected on the base portion so as to be higher as it approaches the radial central axis from the periphery. It is possible to squeeze fruit juice by rotating while inserting a plate-like body from the side of the citrus fruit cut in half. However, this conventional instrument has a problem that when the plate-like body is rotated, it receives a strong resistance from the target citrus fruits and requires a large force to rotate against this.

  The squeezer disclosed in Patent Document 2 by the applicant of the present application has solved this problem. In this throttling device, a plurality of bar members are erected on a gripping base material, and the tip portion thereof is a blade portion or a pointed portion. Since the tip part is a blade part or a pointed part, it is possible to easily cut or break the citrus capsule, and it is possible to squeeze citrus fruit without requiring excessive force. . However, in this prior art, since the blade part or the point part is formed in the bar material, it is necessary to project a large number of bar materials for use in squeezing large citrus fruits such as grapefruit. This increases the total surface area of the bar and increases the number of narrow voids sandwiched between the bars. In addition, in large citrus fruits such as grapefruit, the gills and flesh are soft and the flesh grain is large. As a result, there has been a problem that a large amount of the citrus fungus film and pulp that are to be squeezed adhere to the surface of the bar or remain cross-linked between the bars.

French application FR2908277A1 Japanese Patent No. 5005794

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a citrus fruit squeezer that can squeeze fruit juice with a relatively weak force without waste even for large citrus fruit. Objective.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is a citrus squeezer, comprising a base and a plurality of plate-like bodies. The plurality of plate-like bodies are erected radially on the base, and the shape of the edge is a shape that rises from the periphery toward the central axis, at least on the outside in the vicinity of the radial central axis, and The edge is serrated.

  According to this structure, fruit juice can be squeezed by cutting a citrus fruit in half and rotating it, inserting a plate-like body into a pulp from a cut surface, or rotating the direction of a citrus fruit. Edges rising from the periphery toward the radial central axis, at least outside the radial central axis, where the plurality of plate-like bodies standing radially on the base are regions where citrus cores exist Since it has a shape, the plate-like body can be allowed to enter the citrus fruits that have been divided in half without waste. Since the edge of the plate-like body has a saw-tooth shape, the citrus urinary membrane can be easily cut or broken with the rotation, and the fruit juice inside can be squeezed out. That is, unlike the technique described in Patent Document 1, fruit juice can be squeezed out by a relatively weak rotational force. Further, unlike the prior art described in Patent Document 2 in which a large number of rods are erected at the base, the surface area of the plurality of plate-like bodies is limited even when large citrus fruits are to be squeezed. In addition, a narrow gap between the plurality of plate-like bodies is limited to the vicinity of the radial central axis even if it exists. For this reason, it becomes possible to squeeze fruit juice without waste even with respect to large-sized citrus fruits by reducing the residual amount of fungi and pulp.

  The base may be one that can be gripped by the hand, one that is placed or fixed on a table such as a table, and one that is connected to a rotating power source such as an electric motor. There may be. The rotation may be performed in one direction or alternately in forward and reverse directions. In addition, when there are two “plural plate-like bodies”, “radially erected” means that they are arranged to face each other.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a citrus squeezer according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of plate-like bodies are erected on the base portion so as to avoid the vicinity of the radial central axis. It is what.

  According to this configuration, when used for citrus fruits having a core along the center axis of the fruit, such as grapefruit, the plate-like body avoids the core, so that the fruit juice can be used without causing resistance by pressing the core. It can be squeezed. In addition, since a narrow gap is not formed between the plurality of plate-like bodies, it is difficult for the film or pulp to remain between the plate-like bodies.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a citrus fruit squeezer according to the first aspect, wherein the edge shape is recessed in the vicinity of the radial central axis from the periphery thereof. is there.

  According to this structure, when using for the citrus fruit which has a core along the center axis | shaft of a fruit like grapefruit, it becomes possible to squeeze fruit juice, weakening the resistance by pushing a core.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is a citrus squeezer according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the plurality of plate-like bodies are within a range from the radial central axis. It has a space | gap between the said base parts.

  According to this configuration, the squeezed fruit juice can be collected through the gap so as to be united without being separated by the radial plate-like body.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a citrus fruit squeezer according to the second or fourth aspect, wherein the surface of the base on which the plurality of plate-like bodies are erected is the radial central axis. In a predetermined area around the area, the area recedes from the surrounding area.
According to this configuration, the squeezed fruit juice can be collected in a predetermined region in which the surface of the base is retracted.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a citrus fruit squeezer according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising a plurality of other plate-like bodies. The other plurality of plate-like bodies are erected radially on the base portion avoiding the vicinity of the radial central axis, and the shape of the edge is a shape rising from the periphery toward the central axis, and It has a smooth shape.

  According to this structure, the pulp which tends to remain in the vicinity of the inner surface of the citrus peel can be scooped up by the edges of the other plurality of plate-like bodies. In addition, when “another plurality of plate-like bodies” are two, “radially erected” means that they are arranged to face each other.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a citrus squeezer according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the sawtooth portions of the plurality of plate-like bodies are arranged in the radial radial direction. The tip seen from the point is sharp.
According to this structure, it is easy to cut | disconnect or fracture | rupture the citrus urinary membrane, and resistance becomes smaller.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a citrus squeezer according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the edge of each of the plurality of plate-like bodies having a sawtooth shape has a sawtooth shape. The range of the pitch is 3 mm to 10 mm and the depth of the sawtooth is 3 mm to 12 mm.

  According to this configuration, since the sawtooth pitch and depth are optimized, the pulp is less likely to remain in the citrus fruits when used for large citrus fruits, and the resistance when squeezing is further reduced, and the serrated valley portion It is hard to clog the pulp.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a citrus squeezer according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the base is gripped by a hand and rotated alternately in forward and reverse directions. It is a possible shape.

  According to this structure, it becomes possible to squeeze the citrus fruits by holding the base portion in the hand.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a citrus fruit squeezer according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, further comprising a receiving portion. The said receiving part restrains rotation around the said radial central axis by accepting the said base part so that attachment is possible, and makes the container which can accommodate citrus juice.

  According to this configuration, the citrus fruits can be squeezed by placing the receiving part on a table or the like and rotating the receiving part in the forward or reverse direction by hand or the like in a state where the base is attached to the receiving part. . The fruit juice squeezed from citrus fruits can be stored in a receiving part that forms a container.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a citrus fruit squeezer according to the tenth aspect, wherein the receiving portion is picked with a finger and rotated in the forward and reverse directions around the radial central axis. It has a knob that makes it possible.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to rotate the receiving portion in the forward and reverse directions by picking the knob with a finger.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a citrus fruit squeezer that can squeeze fruit juice with a relatively weak force and without waste even for a large citrus fruit.

1 is a perspective view of a citrus squeezer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the aperture_diaphragm | restrictor of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the restrictor taken along the line AA in FIG. 2. It is sectional drawing which shows the cross section along the cutting line corresponded to the AA cutting line of FIG. 2 about the citrus fruit squeezer by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the citrus fruit squeezer by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and also shows the cross section of the citrus fruit which is squeezed object simultaneously. It is a perspective view of the citrus squeezer by the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the citrus squeezer by the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which cuts out and shows about the citrus squeezer by the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the citrus fruit squeezer by the 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure of the citrus fruit squeezer by the 8th Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a perspective view which shows the main-body part of a squeezer, (b) The perspective view which cuts off and shows a part about the main-body part of a squeezer FIG. 4C is a perspective view of a receiving portion as a part of the diaphragm.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a citrus squeezer (hereinafter abbreviated as “squeezer”) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The squeezer 101 has a base 1 and a plurality of plate-like bodies 3. The base 1 has a shape that can be gripped by human hands and can be alternately rotated in forward and reverse directions, and is a circular flat plate in the illustrated example. The plurality of plate-like bodies 3 are erected radially on the upper main surface of the base 1. In the illustrated example, the plurality of plate-like bodies 3 are three and are connected to each other at the radial central axis CA and its vicinity. The edges of the three plate-like bodies 3 have a shape that rises as they approach the radial central axis CA from the periphery, that is, a shape that increases while gradually changing the height, and is formed in a sawtooth shape. Yes. As an example, the base 1 and the plate-like body 3 are integrally formed by resin molding.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the diaphragm 101. In the illustrated example, the symmetry axis of the plate-like body 3, that is, the radial center axis CA is located at the center of the main surface of the base portion 1. The three plate-like bodies 3 are arranged at equal intervals around the symmetry axis so as to have three-fold axial symmetry around the symmetry axis.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the diaphragm 101 taken along the line AA in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the edge of the plate-like body 3 rises so as to be convex upward as it approaches the radial central axis CA from the periphery, and is highest on the central axis CA. In the example of FIG. 3, the edge of the plate-like body 3 has a substantially arc shape.

  In order to use the squeezer 101 configured as described above, for example, the peripheral surface of the base 1 is gripped by one hand, and the citrus fruits cut in half are gripped by the other hand. And while pressing the plate-like body 3 from the cut surface of citrus fruits, the squeezer 101 is rotated alternately in both forward and reverse directions, for example. Citrus may be rotated, or both may be rotated in opposite directions. By doing so, fruit juice can be squeezed out from citrus fruits. Since the edge of the plate-like body 3 is formed in a sawtooth shape, the citrus urinary membrane can be easily cut or broken with the rotation, and the internal fruit juice can be squeezed out. Moreover, even if it is a use which squeezes large citrus fruits, the surface area of the plate-shaped body 3 does not become so large, and the clearance gap between the plate-shaped bodies 3 is narrow only in the vicinity of the radial central axis CA. It has become. For this reason, it is difficult for the fungus membrane and pulp to remain on the surface of the plate-like body 3 and the gap. That is, even for large citrus fruits such as grapefruit, it is possible to squeeze fruit juice with a relatively weak force and without waste.

  The shape of the edge of the sawtooth plate-like body 3 is preferably in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm with respect to the sawtooth pitch, and is preferably in the range of 3 mm to 12 mm with respect to the sawtooth depth. If the pitch is excessively wide, the pulp that cannot be cut increases. Conversely, if the pitch is excessively narrow, the pulp is likely to be clogged between the serrated valleys. In addition, if the serrated depth is excessively deep, the pulp tends to remain in the serrated valley, and conversely if excessively shallow, the resistance when squeezing increases. The above numerical range is a desirable range since these balances can be achieved.

  The squeezer 101 can be placed on or fixed on a table such as a table. The base 1 can be gripped by hand so as not to rotate, or can be alternately rotated in both forward and reverse directions while gripping the base 1. The base 1 may be shaped like a dish so that pulp and fruit juice can be stored. Further, the planar outline of the base 1 is not limited to a circular shape, and may be an irregular shape so that it can be easily grasped, or a protrusion that is provided on a part of the peripheral surface and can be picked with a finger. When there is a knob, the base 1 can be alternately rotated in the forward and reverse directions with the squeezer 101 placed on the table and pinched with the finger. Alternatively, the squeezer 101 can be used as an electric squeezer by connecting the center of the base 1 to an electric rotary power source.

  Although the example in which the plate-like body 3 is three is shown, four, five, six, more, or two may be used. In the case of two sheets, the two plate-like bodies 3 are arranged so as to face each other. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the base 1 and the plate-like body 3 are both solid without a cavity inside, but the inside may be hollow. In the present specification, the term “plate-like body” is used to include non-solid materials such as a hollow inside. By making the inside hollow, the squeezer 101 can be made lightweight.

  The above-described modifications and optimum numerical ranges described for the squeezer 101 are similarly applicable to the squeezers of the embodiments described below.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a restrictor according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The plan view of the squeezer 102 is represented in the same manner as FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA when FIG. 2 is regarded as a plan view of the squeezer 102. In the squeezer 102, the shape of the edge of the plate-like body 5 is recessed in the vicinity of the radial center axis CA than in the vicinity thereof. For this reason, when squeezing the citrus fruit which has a core along the fruit's central axis like a grapefruit, the resistance force which arises by pushing a core can be weakened.

  FIG. 5: is a perspective view of the squeezer by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and has also shown the cross section of the halved citrus fruit which is a squeeze object. In the squeezer 103, the plate-like body 7 is erected on the base 1 avoiding the vicinity of the radial central axis CA. For this reason, when squeezing the citrus fruit 9 having the core 11 along the central axis of the fruit like grapefruit, the plate-like body 7 avoids the core 11, so that the fruit juice does not cause resistance by pressing the core 11. Can be squeezed.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a squeezer according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the squeezer 104, the upper surface of the base 13 has a recess 15 in a predetermined region around the radial center axis CA of the plate-like body 3. For this reason, the squeezed fruit juice and pulp can be collected in the recess 15. In the recess 15, a gap is formed between the plate-like body 3 and the base portion 13, so that fruit juice and pulp can be collected in the recess 15 through the gap without being obstructed by the radial plate-like body 3.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a squeezer according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. This squeezer 105 has three plate-like bodies 17 arranged in a radial manner, and the lower part of each plate-like body 17 is cut out in a certain range from the radial central axis CA so that the whole forms an arch. Yes. Squeezed fruit juice and pulp can be collected in the vicinity of the center of the upper surface of the base 1 through the gap between each plate-like body 17 and the base 1 formed by cutting.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a squeezer according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention with a part cut away. In the squeezer 106, the upper surface of the base 19 is concave. Similar to the squeezer 104 (FIG. 6), the squeezer 106 is a specific example of the configuration of the present invention “the surface of the base is retracted from its periphery in a predetermined region around the radial central axis”. It corresponds to. Similarly to the squeezer 104, the squeezer 106 can collect the squeezed fruit juice and pulp in the vicinity of the center of the upper surface of the base 19.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a squeezer according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In this squeezer 107, in addition to the three plate-like bodies 7 whose edges are serrated, three other plate-like bodies 21 whose edges are smooth are radially formed on the base 1. It is erected. The edge of the plate-like body 21 has a shape that rises from the periphery toward the radial central axis CA, like the plate-like body 7, and has, for example, a substantially arc shape. The radial central axis CA is at the same position between the two types of plate-like bodies 7 and 21. In the example of FIG. 9, two types of plate-like bodies 7 and 21 are alternately arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. The plate-like body 21 having a smooth edge can scoop up the pulp that tends to remain near the inner surface of the citrus peel. That is, the pulp can be taken out without waste from the citrus fruits to be squeezed. In order to effectively perform this function without excessively increasing the resistance force, the height of the edge of the plate-like body 21 at the position equidistant from the radial central axis CA in the radial direction is the plate-like body. It is desirable to set the height to be approximately equal to the height of the crest of the 7 serrated edge.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of each part of the squeezer according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. The squeezer 109 has a main body 108 that can function as a squeezer alone, and a receiving portion 31 that detachably accommodates the main body 108. The main body 108 has a base 23, six plate-like bodies 27, and a reinforcing member 29. The base portion 23 is a flat plate having an outer contour that is deformed, and an opening portion 25 penetrating both main surfaces is formed in the center portion. The six plate-like bodies 27 are erected on the base 23 radially and at equal intervals. The edge of each plate-like body 27 has a shape that rises from the periphery toward the radial central axis CA, and has a sawtooth shape. The serrated portion is thinner from the valley toward the mountain, and the peak of the mountain is pointed even when viewed from the radial direction. That is, each mountain has a substantially quadrangular pyramid shape. Such a shape in the serrated portion is more preferable because it is easy to cut or break the citrus urinary membrane and the resistance becomes smaller. The plate-like body 27 is erected to avoid the vicinity of the radial central axis CA, like the plate-like body 7 (FIG. 5), so as to escape the core of citrus fruits.

  Since the base 23 has a wide opening 25 at the center, the plate-like body 27 is connected to an annular portion around the opening 25. For this reason, the plate-shaped body 27 has a cantilever structure (cantilever; cantilever) extending from the annular portion of the base portion 23 to above the opening portion 25. In order to increase the strength of the cantilever, the ends of the six plate-like bodies 27 on the radial central axis CA side are connected to each other by an annular reinforcing member 29. Since the reinforcing member 29 is annular, it does not interfere with the citrus core. If the strength of the plate-like body 27 is sufficient, the reinforcing member 29 is not necessary. Note that FIG. 10B shows a part of the main body 108 cut away in order to more clearly show the structure of the main body 108.

  As an example, the base 23, the plate-like body 27, and the reinforcing member 29 are integrally formed by resin molding. The base 23, the plate-like body 27, and the reinforcing member 29 may all be solid without a hollow inside, or may be solid such as a hollow inside.

  The receiving part 31 has a receding part 33 that opens to the upper surface and recedes from the upper surface. The shape of the inner peripheral surface of the receding portion 33 corresponds to the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 23 of the main body portion 108. Accordingly, the receiving portion 31 receives the base portion 23 in the retracted portion 33 and restrains the rotation of the base portion 23. The receiving portion 31 is formed with a knob 35 protruding outward. The receiving part 31 is formed by resin molding, for example.

  In order to use the squeezer 109, for example, the receiving portion 31 is placed on a table such as a table, and the main body portion 108 is attached to the retreating portion 33 thereof. Then, the half-cut citrus is held in one hand, and the cut surface thereof is directed downward and pressed against the plate-like body 27 of the main body 108. At the same time, the knob 35 of the receiving part 31 is picked with the fingers of the other hand, and the receiving part 31 is rotated alternately left and right, that is, forward and reverse. By doing so, citrus fruit juice and pulp can be squeezed out. The squeezed fruit juice and pulp are accumulated at the bottom of the retreating portion 33 of the receiving portion 31 through the opening portion 25 of the base portion 23. When the squeezing is completed, the main body part 108 is taken out from the receiving part 31. The juice and pulp stored in the retreating portion 33 can be poured into tableware and cooking utensils by tilting the receiving portion 31. Thus, the receiving part 31 functions also as a container which accommodates the squeezed fruit juice and pulp. In the example of FIG. 10, since the six plate-like bodies 27 are arranged at equal intervals, the rotation width when the receiving portion 31 is rotated in the forward / reverse direction is about 60 degrees. In order for the receiving part 31 to constrain the rotation of the base part 23, the shape of the peripheral surface does not necessarily have to be an irregular shape, and any shape other than a circle is sufficient. Moreover, the convex part and recessed part which mutually engage may be formed in one and the other.

  It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 can be implemented in appropriate combination. For example, a recess 15 similar to the base 1 of the squeezer 104 (FIG. 6) can be formed on the upper surface of the base 1 of the squeezer 107 (FIG. 9).

1, 13, 19, 23 Base 3, 5, 7, 17, 27 Plate-like body 9 Citrus 11 Core 15 Recess (retreat part)
21 Plate (another plate)
25 Opening (retreating part)
31 receiving part 101-109 squeezer 108 body part (squeezer)
CA radial center axis

Claims (11)

The base,
Radially standing on the base, and the shape of the edge is a shape that rises from the periphery toward the central axis at least in the vicinity of the radial central axis, and the edge is serrated. A plurality of plate-like bodies ,
It said plurality of plate-like body, avoiding the vicinity of the center axis of the radial, and citrus squeezed devices that are erected on the base at a distance from each other. 2. The citrus fruit squeezer according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of plate-like bodies have a gap with the base within a certain range from the radial central axis. The citrus fruit squeezer according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a surface of the base on which the plurality of plate-like bodies are erected recedes from a periphery thereof in a predetermined region around the radial central axis. . Another plurality of plates that are erected radially on the base portion so as to avoid the vicinity of the radial central axis, and whose edge shape rises from the periphery toward the central axis, and is a smooth shape The citrus fruit squeezer according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a state body. The citrus fruit squeezer according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the saw-toothed portions of the plurality of plate-like bodies have pointed ends as viewed from the radial radial direction. The shape of the edges of said plurality of plate-like body forming a sawtooth shape, in the range of 3mm to 10mm with respect to serrated pitch ranges from 12 mm 3mm respect serrated depth claims 1 to 5, The citrus fruit squeezer according to any one of the above. The citrus fruit squeezer according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the base is a shape that can be gripped by a hand and rotated alternately in forward and reverse directions. The base, the receiving portion of the rotating restraint, and forms can accommodate containers juice of citrus around the radial center axis by accepting detachably, further comprising any one of claims 1 to 7 Citrus squeezer as described in 1. 9. The citrus fruit squeezer according to claim 8 , wherein the receiving part has a knob that can be picked with a finger and rotated around the radial central axis in forward and reverse directions.   The base is formed with an opening that penetrates the upper surface and the lower surface within a certain range that occupies the most part of the serrated edges of the plurality of plate-like bodies from the radial central axis. ,
  The citrus squeezer according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the plurality of plate-like bodies are supported by a portion around the opening of the base. The citrus fruit squeezer according to claim 10, further comprising an annular reinforcing member that connects ends of the plurality of plate-like bodies on the radial central axis side.

Images