NL2007808C2

NL2007808C2 - Cheese slicer assembly.

Info

Publication number: NL2007808C2
Application number: NL2007808A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Marcel Plomp; Eelco Jan Gerardus Witteveen; Santos Rui Medeiros
Original assignee: Bin Innovations Bv
Priority date: 2011-11-17
Filing date: 2011-11-17
Publication date: 2013-05-21

Description

P96350NL00

Title: Cheese slicer assembly.

The invention relates to a cheese slicer.

There are different known cheese slicers. Generally, a cheese slicer is suitable for slicing off slices of cheese from a piece of substantially sliceable cheese. Pieces of substantially sliceable cheese often comprise rind (i.e. crust), 5 such as plastic rind, paraffin wax, foil and/or the like. Generally, a cheese consumer does not like to obtain slices of cheese comprising rind. Therefore, the rind is commonly at least partly cut off (of the piece of cheese) prior to slicing off a slice of cheese. Thereby, the rind is preferably only cut off locally, in order to retain relatively a lot of rind surface, so that the retained rind may 10 continue to cover and conserve the cheese.

Usually, a knife (e.g. a peeling knife) is used to cut away the rind. However, a sufficiently sharp knife, such as said peeling knife, is not always at hand. Therefore, often any knife at present, often a normal table knife, will be used for cutting away rind. However, it is quite difficult to cut off rind with a 15 table knife, e.g. due to the fact that table knifes normally are relatively dull. Furthermore, it is not hygienic to use an already used table knife to cut of rind, since any used knife may contaminate the piece of cheese, thereby shortening the storage life of said piece of cheese.

Further, a method for cutting off rind is known, wherein a slicing 20 edge of the cheese slicer is used to cut away rind. However, this is a relatively difficult and relatively unsafe method. The slicing edge is commonly not very suitable for cutting off rind, for instance, the slicing edge may be not sharp enough to cut through the rind. Further, an elongated slit, or so called guiding channel, for guiding sliced cheese through a slicer plate of the cheese slice may 25 be too narrow to guide relatively thick rind. Moreover, the slicing edge may be too long, and can therefore cause too much rind is cut away, which can be highly undesirable, and/or can cause that the slicing edge accidentally catches 2 in the piece of cheese, thereby risking that the cheese slicer cuts in a user’s finger when the user attempt to pull the cheese slicer loose.

European patent publication EP 1 754 577 discloses a cheese slicer having accessories for removing crust, said means for removing crust 5 comprising a crust knife holder that can be pivoted from a stem, in which said crust knife holder can be locked in the folded-out position and has its outer end provided with a specific cutting member in the form of an exchangeable snapped-on crust knife. When not in use, the crust knife can be folded into a cavity and be locked in that position. A handle of the cheese slicer can be held 10 by a user both during slicing cheese and removing crust. However, manufacturing of such a cheese slicer may be cumbersome, laborious, time-consuming and expensive. Further, dirt may accumulate in the cavity and may subsequently foul the crust knife. Besides, cleaning the cavity may be hard and/or may be easily overlooked, and may therefore not be used to cut off rind 15 and/or may be not get cleaned. Also, handling of the crust remover during the removing of crust is quite cumbersome, and might even lead to the user cutting himself or nearby matter (e.g. clothing, furniture) via the cheese slicer section..

It is an object of the invention to alleviate or solve at least one of the 20 disadvantages mentioned above. In particular, the invention aims at providing a solution to the problem of contaminating the piece of cheese when cutting off rind. More in particular, the invention aims at providing a cheese slicer for relatively hygienically and relatively safely removing rind from a piece of cheese.

25 Thereto, there is provided an assembly as defined by claim 1.

Advantageously, there is provided an assembly of a cheese slicer and a rind cutter, the cheese slicer comprising an elongated handle having a proximal end, and a cutting member attached to the proximal end of the handle, the cutting member including a slicer part having an elongated slicing 30 element with a slicing edge for slicing cheese, wherein, in the handle, a cavity 3 is provided, wherein the cheese slicer and the rind cutter are configured for releasably fixing the rind cutter in the cavity.

In a preferred embodiment, the cavity enables fixing the rind cutter in the cavity. With the rind cutter releasably fixed in the cavity, the rind cutter 5 is available when the user wishes to start slicing cheese. Thus, the cheese slicer provided with the cavity enables that looking for the rind cutter can be prevented when the cheese slicer is available for slicing action. Hence, when the cheese slicer is available, the user may use the rind cutter that is releasably fixed in the cheese slicer without having to use another, less 10 suitable, rind cutter. Thus, optionally, the rind cutter is releasably fixed in the cavity.

In a further embodiment, the assembly enables removing cheese rind by moving away the rind cutter from a user. In this way, a probability of wounding e.g. a hand or finger of a user of the cheese slicer may be diminished. 15 The cheese slicer can be provided with a slicing edge that is directed substantially transverse to the handle. In a further embodiment, the cheese slicer can be provided with a slicer plate, wherein the slicer part is included in the slicer plate, and wherein the slicing element is or comprises a portion of the slicer plate, preferably a bended and/or folded plate portion, more 20 preferably folded over a folding line and/or bended about an axis, the folding line and/or axis being substantially parallel with the slicing edge.

Embodiments described herein may relate to the assembly, to the cheese slicer and/or to the rind cutter.

In an embodiment, the cavity (of the cheese slicer) and the rind 25 cutter are arranged for releasably fixing the rind cutter in the cavity by means of a snap-fit connection. Preferably, the cavity has a cavity surface and the rind cutter has an outer rind cutter surface, wherein a ridge or notch, respectively, is provided on the cavity surface and a fixing notch or ridge, respectively, is provided in the outer rind cutter surface, wherein the ridge fits 30 at least partly in the fixing notch when the rind cutter is fixed in the cavity.

4

The fixing notch and the ridge may form at least part of the snap-fit connection. A snap-fit connection may provide a relatively firm connection between the rind cutter and the cheese slicer (i.e. its handle). Such a connection may also be relatively easy to release.

5 In an embodiment, the cavity (of the cheese slicer handle) and the rind cutter are arranged for releasably fixing the rind cutter in the cavity by means of a clamped joint and/or a wringing fit.

In an embodiment, the cavity (of the cheese slicer handle) has a cavity surface and the rind cutter has an outer rind cutter surface, wherein, on 10 the cavity surface and/or on the outer rind cutter surface, a flexible material is provided so that the cavity and the rind cutter are arranged for releasably fixing the rind cutter in the cavity by deforming the flexible material.

In an embodiment, the cavity (of the cheese slicer handle) forms an opening through the handle. In that way, at two opposing sides of the cheese 15 slicer it may be detected whether the rind cutter is fixed to the cheese slicer.

In an embodiment, the opening through the cheese slicer handle is dimensioned so that a user can shift part of a hand of the user, preferably at least one finger of the hand of the user, more preferably four or five fingers of the hand of the user, through the opening through the handle. The opening 20 through the handle may provide for an improved grip by a user. Such an improved grip may be especially useful for a user with a decreased functionally in his or her hand. When the at least one finger is shifted through the opening through the handle, less force may be necessary for holding the handle during use.

25 In an embodiment, the cavity (of the cheese slicer handle) is dimensioned for fixing therein the rind cutter so that the rind cutter does not project out of the cavity. As a result, when the rind cutter is received in the cavity, the assembly may occupy a relatively small amount of space. In addition, in this embodiment, safety for a user may be enhanced when the user 30 grasps the assembly in order to use it.

5

In a preferred embodiment, the rind cutter comprises a rind cutter handle for holding the rind cutter as such (i.e. in case the rind cutter has been removed from the handle of the chees slicer).

The rind cutter preferably includes a rind removing element, e.g. a 5 blade or a grating element, that is, in use, rigidly connected to the rind cutter handle

In an embodiment, the rind cutter handle is provided with an opening through the rind cutter handle that is dimensioned so that the user can shift part of a hand, preferably at least one finger, through the opening 10 through the rind cutter handle. In that way, an improved grip may be provided. Such an improved grip may be especially useful for a user with a decreased functionally in his or her hand. When the at least one finger is shifted through the opening through the rind cutter handle, less force may be necessary for holding the rind cutter handle. The opening in the rind cutter 15 handle may also be beneficial for releasing the rind cutter handle from the cheese slicer.

In an embodiment, the rind cutter is provided with a bumper that is positioned, in use, between the rind cutter handle and the cheese. Such a bumper may prevent direct contact between the cheese and the rind cutter 20 handle.

In an embodiment, the rind removing element has an elongated shape.

The invention will be illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 25 Figure 1A shows a perspective view of an assembly of an embodiment according to the invention;

Figure IB is similar to Fig. 1A, showing the assembly with the rind cutter being entirely separated from the cheese slicer;

Figure 2 shows a top view of the assembly depicted in Fig. 1A; 6

Figure 3A is a side view of the rind cutter of the assembly shown in Fig. 1A; and

Figure 3B is a top view of the rind cutter of the assembly shown in

Fig. 1A.

5 Unless stated otherwise, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings.

Figures IA, IB show perspective views of an assembly 2 of a cheese slicer 4 and a rind cutter 6 in a non-limiting embodiment according to the invention. In Fig. 1A, the slicer 4 and rind cutter 6 are joined with one 10 another. Fig. IB shows the assembly with the rind cutter 6 being entirely removed from the slicer 4 (to be independently used, remote from the slicer 4, e.g. for removing a said rind).

In the example, the cheese slicer 4 comprising an elongated handle 8 having a proximal end, and a slicer element (slicer plate) 10 attached to the 15 proximal end of the handle 2.

The slicer element can be configured in various ways, as will be appreciated by the skilled person. In this example, the (slicer plate) 10 includes an elongated slicing element 5 with a slicing edge 6 for slicing cheese, said edge 6 being directed substantially transverse to the handle 2. The 20 present slicing element 5 is formed as a folded portion 5 of the slicer plate 10, being folded over a folding line being substantially parallel with the slicing edge 6. The slicer plate 10 comprises an elongated opening 15, or so called slit 15, for guiding slices sliced off of the piece of cheese. The slicing edge is preferably spaced from the slicer plate in a direction substantially transverse 25 to the slicing direction and substantially transverse to the elongated slit 15.

In the slicer handle 8, a cavity 20 is provided. In this example, the cavity 20 forms an opening 22 through the handle 8. However, in other embodiments, the cavity 20 may be provided with a cavity bottom that limits the cavity 20.

7

The cavity 20, in the present example being the opening 22 through the handle 8, and the rind cutter 6 are configured for releasably fixing the rind cutter 6 in the cavity 20, here in the opening 22 through the handle 8. As shown in figures 1A and IB, the rind cutter 6 may be received and fixed in the 5 opening 22 through the handle 8. The rind cutter 6 may be released from the opening 22 through the handle 8. The cavity 20 enables to have the rind cutter 6 available to the user when the cheese slicer 4 is available to the user. Additionally, as a result of the cavity 20, an amount of material to be used for manufacturing the handle 8 of the cheese slicer 4 may be reduced.

10 Herein, the term ‘fixing’ may be interpreted broadly. E.g., the term ‘releasably fixing the rind cutter 6 in the cavity 20 may comprise releasably attaching, mounting, and/or putting the rind cutter 6 in the cavity 20. As a result of said fixing, it may be prevented that the rind cutter falls out of the cavity 20 during normal storing and handling of the assembly with the rind 15 cutter 6 fixed in the cavity 20. For example a handle inner surface 28 that defines the cavity 20 and an outer surface 32 of the rind cutter can be configured to cooperate, to provide a detachable or releasable connection therebetween.

More in general, the handle 8 may have an outer surface 26. The 20 cavity 20 may have a cavity surface 28. The handle cavity 20 may define cavity edges 30 (faced away from one another) that separate the cavity surface 28 from the outer surface 26.

The rind cutter 6 may have an outer rind cutter surface 32 (see Fig. 3A, 3B). At least one ridge 24 may be provided on the handle’s interior (cavity) 25 surface 28 (see Fig. IB). The at least one ridge 24 may extend approximately in parallel way the cavity edges 30. In this example two such ridges 24 are provided, located opposite one another, on respective sides of the inner surface 28.

Similarly, at least one fixing notch 34 may be provided in the outer 30 rind cutter surface 32. In this example two such notches 34 are provided, 8 located in the outer surface 32 and facing away from each other, to cooperate with the respective (two) ridges 24 of the cavity surface

As follows from the above, the opening 22 through the handle 8 and the rind cutter 6 may be arranged for releasably fixing the rind cutter 6 in the 5 opening 22 through the handle 8, by means of a snap-fit connection 24, 34. Thereto, the at least one ridge 24 may be provided in the opening 22 through the handle 8. Furthermore, the respective at least one fixing notch 34 may be provided in the outer rind cutter surface 32. The at least one ridge 24 is configured to fit at least partly in the fixing notch 34 when the rind cutter 6 10 has been joined with the handle of the cheese cutter (see Fig. 1A, 2), i.e. in case the pricker 6 is releasably fixed in the cavity 20. Thus, the fixing notch 34 and the ridge 24 may form at least part of the snap-fit connection. In a further embodiment, a resilient material, e.g. a resilient plastic, of the handle 8 and/or the rind cutter 6 may enable the snap-fit connection.

15 In another embodiment, the cavity 20 and the rind cutter 6 may be arranged for releasably fixing the rind cutter 6 in the cavity 20 by means of a clamped joint and/or a wringing fit. A clamped joint and/or a wringing fit may refer to a broad range of connections wherein friction between the outer rind cutter surface 32 and the cavity surface 28 may prevent release of the rind 20 cutter 6 from the cavity 20. A force exerted by a user of the assembly 2 may be needed to overcome the friction and release the rind cutter 6 from the cavity 20. Examples of such a clamped joint are known as such to the skilled person so that a further description is deemed superfluous.

In yet another embodiment, on the cavity surface 28 and/or on the 25 outer rind cutter surface 32, a flexible material may provided. This flexible material may be deformed when the rind cutter 6 is fixed in the cavity 20. In that way, the cavity 20 and the rind cutter 6 may be arranged for releasably fixing the rind cutter 6 in the cavity 20 by deforming the flexible material.

The cavity 20 may be dimensioned for fixing therein the rind cutter 30 6 so that the rind cutter 6 does not project out of the cavity 20. Then, when 9 fixed in the cavity 20, the rind cutter 6 may e.g. not project past the two cavity edges 30.

According to a preferred embodiment, the opening 22 through the handle 8 may be dimensioned so that a user can shift four fingers or even five 5 fingers of a user’s hand through the opening 22 through the handle 8.

Figure 3A shows a top side view of the rind cutter 6 of the assembly 2. Figure 3B shows a top view of the rind cutter 6 of the assembly 2. The rind cutter 6 may comprise a rind cutter handle 40 for holding the rind cutter 6 during use. The rind cutter 6 may comprises a blade 42 that may be, in use, 10 rigidly connected to the rind cutter handle 40 and can be used for cutting rind from cheese. Alternatively, the rind cutter 6 can be provided with a grating element configured for grating the rind from cheese.

In the present example, the rind cutter handle 40 may be provided with an opening 44 through the rind cutter handle 40. The opening 44 through 15 the rind cutter handle 40 may be dimensioned so that a user can shift part of a hand of the user, preferably at least one finger of the user, for example one, two or three fingers (or optionally all fingers) of the hand of the user, through the opening 44 through the rind cutter handle 40. The rind cutter 6 may be provided with a bumper or protrusion 46, extending between a top section of 20 the rind cutter handle 40 and the cutting element 4. The bumper 46 may be positioned, in use, between the rind cutter handle 40 and the cheese or other object that is to be treated. The bumper may prevent that the cheese (or other object) reaches the hand during use

The rind cutter blade 42 as such can be configured in various ways. 25 For example, in one embodiment, the blade 42 may be rotatably mounted to the rind cutter handle 40. For example, the handle 40 may be provided with bearings 14 in which the knife 10 can rotate. The blade 42 may in general extend along a longitudinal axis of the blade. The blade 42 may be mounted in the handle 40 rotatably around the longitudinal axis of the blade 42.

10

In other embodiments, the blade 42 may be rigidly mounted to the handle 40.

In this example, the blade 42 has an elongated shape (as an elongated U) and is provided with a longitudinal slot 16 that is provided with 5 one or two sharp knife edges 17 for cutting e.g. cheese rind. Said one or two knife edges 17 may extend along the slot 16. The longitudinal slot 16 and the longitudinal axis of the blade may extend approximately in parallel with each other.

Also, in the present example, the slot 16 generally extends along a 10 plane that is normal with respect to a central plane of the rind cutter handle opening 44 (see Figures 3A, 3B). A resulting cutting direction X (provided by the one or two sharp knife edges 17) is substantially normal with respect to the plane of the rind cutter opening 44, i.e. substantially parallel with respect to the outer and inner sides of the handle 40, in this example. Thus, the rind 15 cutter 6 can be handled in a safe and reliable manner, for efficiently removing e.g. rind from cheese.

At least one of the handle 8 and the rind cutter 6 may comprise a plastic. This plastic may be somewhat resilient but still relatively stiff. Preferably, at least the handle 8 of the slicer 4 and the handle 40 of the rind 20 remover 6 can be made entirely of (such) plastic.

Also, optionally, the handle 8 of the cheese slicer 4 and the handle of the rind remover 6 may be provided with respective cavities, having respective reinforcement bridge sections 8A, 40A therein. Bridge sections 8A, 40A may extend e.g. centrally at an end section of the cavity, i.e. an end section that is 25 located near a respective cutting member 10, 42. In this example, both handles 8, 40 are provided with such bridge sections 8A, 40A, the bridge sections 8A, 40A particularly being bridging platelets interconnecting opposite cavity sides of the respective cavities.

During use, the assembly 2 can be operated for slicing cheese. To 30 that aim, the user can hold the handle 8 of the slicer, the handle 8 still 11 including the rind cutter 6, or alternatively with the rind cutter 6 being removed from the handle 8. In case the rind cutter 6 is still present in the main handle 8, any sharp section (edges 17) of the rind cutter 6 can be safely held within the boundaries defined by the slicer handle, e.g. opposite the inner 5 cavity surface 26 and spaced-apart from handle edges 30, thereby avoiding harm to the user from such sharp section(s).

Also, during use, the rind cutter section 6 can be entirely removed from the handle 8 of the cheese slicer 4, to be operated separate from the cheese slicer 4 (and handle) via its own respective handle 40, e.g. for cutting 10 the rind of the cheese. More in general, in this example, such a rind cutting may comprise moving the rind cutter 6 in a safe direction away from the user.

After use, the rind cutter 6 can be joined again with the main handle 8, by being fixed in the handle cavity 20.

The present assembly 2 provides an efficient and safe means for 15 cutting respective parts from cheese. Also, the assembly can be cleansed in a straight-forward, reliable manner, with the two components 2, 6 being in the disassembled state so that all their sides, cavities and edges can be reached/treated.

The invention is not limited to any embodiment herein described 20 and, within the purview of the skilled person, modifications are possible which may be considered within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the invention relates to other methods than the preferred method as well, and relates also to other assemblies than the assembly 2 in the first embodiment. As another example, the invention also relates to the rind cutter 6 and the 25 cheese slicer 4 on itself, i.e. apart from the assembly 2. The use of expressions like: "preferably", “in particular”, “especially”, “typically” etc. is not intended to limit the invention. The indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Features which are not specifically or explicitly described or claimed may be additionally included in the structure according to the present 30 invention without deviating from its scope.

Claims

1. An assembly of a cheese slicer and a crust cutter, wherein the cheese slicer comprises an elongated handle with a proximal end, and a cutter connected to the proximal end of the handle, the cutter comprising a slicer part with an elongate slicer element with a slicer edge for planing cheese, wherein a cavity is provided in the handle, the cheese slicer and the crust cutter being configured to detachably fix the crust cutter in the cavity.

2. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity and the crust cutter are adapted for releasably fixing the crust cutter by means of a snap connection.

3. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the cavity has a cavity surface and the crust cutter has a crust cutter outer surface, said cavity surface and crust cutter outer surface are configured to cooperate, e.g. via one or more respective mutually blocking ledge / groove connections, e.g. a snap connection, for releasably fixing the crust cutter in the cavity.

Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the cavity 20 and the crust cutter are configured for releasably fixing the crust cutter in the cavity by means of a clamp connection.

5. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the cavity has a cavity surface and the crust cutter has a crust cutter outer surface, wherein a flexible material is provided on the cavity surface and / or on the crust cutter outer surface such that the cavity and crust cutter are arranged for releasably in fixing the cavity cutter cavity by deforming the flexible material.

An assembly according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the cavity forms an opening through the handle.

Assembly according to claim 6, wherein the opening through the handle is dimensioned such that a user can insert a part of a user's hand through the opening through the handle, preferably at least one finger of the user, more preferably at least least four fingers from the user's hand.

Assembly according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the cavity is dimensioned for fixing the crust cutter therein such that the crust cutter does not protrude from the cavity.

An assembly according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the crust cutter is fixed in the cavity.

An assembly according to any of claims 1-9, wherein the crust cutter has a crust cutter handle for holding the crust cutter, and comprises a crust removal element, e.g. a knife or a rasp element, which is connected to the crust cutter cutter and can be used for removal of cheese crust.

11. Assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the crust cutter handle is provided with an opening through the crust cutter handle which is dimensioned such that a user can insert a part of a hand of the user through the opening through the crust cutter handle, preferably at least one finger of the crust cutter handle. user, more preferably at least four fingers of the user's hand.

12. Assembly as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the crust cutter is provided with an impact part.

An assembly according to any one of claims 10-12, wherein the crust removal element has an elongated shape.

Assembly as claimed in any of the claims 10-13, wherein the crust removal element is substantially U-shaped.

15. Assembly as claimed in any of the claims 10-14, wherein the crust removal element is provided with a longitudinal slot which is provided with one or two sharp knife edges

The cheese slicer of the assembly according to any of claims 1-15.

17. The crust cutter of the assembly according to any one of claims 1-15