US2746458A - Bean and pea pod splitter - Google Patents

Description

May 212, 1956 F. s. HUGHES BEAN AND PEA POD SPLITTER Filed June 10, 1955 INVENTOR. FRED HUGHES 3 PVZ' MpMZa/n ATTOIZMEY5 l r 2,746,458 Patented 1956;

2,746,458 BEAN AND PEA Poi) SPLITTER Fred S. Hughes, Augusta, Ga. Application June 10, 1955, Serial No. 514,537 7 i 3 Claims. 01. 130- 30 v The invention relates to food processing implements, and more particularly to an improved bean and pea pod splitter adapted to be employedto expedite the shelling of beans and peas, and particularly useful'in the case of relatively large pods, such as those of lima beans.

A main object of the inventionis to provide a novel and improved bean and pea pod splitter which is simple in construction, which is easy to use, and which facilitates the removal of pods from beans and peas, and which is especially useful in removing the pods from lima beans. i

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bean and pea pod splitter employing, a conventional razor blade as a cutting element thereof, the splitter being arranged so that the razor blade may be readily replaced whenever required, the device involving relatively simple components, being durable in construction, and being arranged to readily and easilyslit a bean or pea pod as the b ean or pea pod is forced through the device and providing a means for splitting relatively large pods, such as those of lima beans.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved bean and pea pod splitter constructedin accordance with the presportion with a generally C-shaped member 13 adapted to be engaged with the edge of a table or shelf, the

bottom arm 14 of the member 13 being provided with a screw clamp 15, which, when tightened, clamps the bottom member 13 to the edge of a table or shelf, clamping force being exerted upwardly by the screw member 15 with respect to a flange element 15' provided on member 13 above the screw member 15, the edge of the table or shelf being received between the flange member 15' and the screw 15.' i

' The support member 12 is formed at its upper end with the head portion 16 having the upwardly and rearwardly inclined top surface 17. Designated at 18 is a block member similar in shape to the head portion 16 and being detachably secured thereto by a bolt 19 extending" transversely through the block member 18 and being threadedly engaged in a tapped transverse bore 19' provided in the head portion 16.

The head portion 16 is formed with the upstanding vertical lug 20 at its outer side margin and the block member 18 is formed with the upstanding vertical lug 21 at the outer side margin thereof, the lugs 20 and 21 of head member, 16 and block member 18;

Rigidly securedto the upper rear portion of thelug 20 is a, transversely extending pin member 23 which is engageable in a centrally apertured boss 24 provided on the inside surface of the upper portion of lug 21.

\ face with. a channel 26, whereby spaced lugs, 27 and An additionalpin 24 is rigidly secured to the forward portion of the lug 20, theflpin 24being parallel to and spaced from the pin 23. b

Designatedat 25 isa guidearm which is pivoted .on the pin 23, said guide arm being formed at its rearsur- 28 are defined on the guide arm through which the transverse pin 23 extends, as shown in Figure 3. Designated at 29 is a coil spring which surrounds the pin 23 between the lugs 27 and 28, one end of the spring, shown at 30 engaging'against the surface of the channel 26 below i the pin 23, and the. other end of the spring, shown at 31 being'anchored .on the pin 24, the coil spring 29 acting to bias the arm 25 downwardly toward the top surfaces'17 and 22 of head element 16 and block member 18, namely, in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1.

The guide arm 25 is formed at its front surface with a downwardly convergent channel 32 facing the inclined surfaces 17 and 22 and ,being formed to define a con vergent feed passage therewith to receive the bean or pea pods. e

The inside opposing surfaces of the elements 16 and 18 are formed with mating inclined recesses 33 and 34 adapted to receive the thickened longitudinal handle portion 35 of a conventionalr'a zor blade 36 with the edge of the blade uppermost, as is clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The recesses 33 and 34 are inclined so as to generally parallel to the inclined top surfaces 17 and 22, and guide pins 35 are provided on the head 16 adjacent the recess 33 to engage in the guide opening 36' and guide notches 37' on the razor blade and in opposingrecesses 38 in the block member 18 when the device is assembled in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

The top surfaces of the head 16 and block member 18 are generally arcuately contoured along the edge of the blade 36 so as to rise above the intermediate portion of the blade edge and to expose the end portions of the blade, shown at 39 and 40., Thus, the upper end portion 39 of the blade edge'projects into the small end of the convergent feed passage defined between channel 32 of'arm 25 and the upper rear portions of the surfaces 17 and 22. As shown in Figure 3, the upper rear portions of surfaces 17 and 22 are contoured to define an upwardly concave channel 41 facing and opposing the downwardly concave channel 32 of arm 25. The rear end portion 39 of the razor blade projects upwardly and longitudinally in the channel 41. Thus, when a pea pod is forced longitudinally through the aforementioned convergent feed passage between channels 32 and 41, the pod will be slit by the engagement thereof with the end 6 portion 39 of the razor blade, and the pod will be cut posed forward portion 40 of the blade edge.

tate the guiding of the large pod 43 against the forward completely along its length after it is forced through the edge portion 40, the forward lower ends of the top surfaces 17 and 22 are recessed at 45 and 46 adjacent ceive the edge portion of a relatively large pod, such as the lima bean pod 43.

While a specific embodiment of an improved bean and pea pod splitterjhas been disclosed'in the foregoing description, it will be nnderstood that variousmodifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to, those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except asdefined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimedis: e s

l. A bean and pea pod. splitter comprising an upstanding support member formed with a head portion, a block member detachably secured to said head portion, said block member and head portion having upwardly and rearwar'dly inclined adjacent top surfaces, upstanding lug' members at the upper outer portions of the top surfaces, a, guide arm pivoted between saidlug members for rotation therebetween, said guide arm: being formed with a downwardly convergent channel facing said 'inclinedtop surfaces andbeing formed to define a convergent feed passage therewith', spring means biasing said guide arm downwardly toward said top surfaces, and a blade having a straight edge secured between said head portion and block member beneath said arm, said head portion and block member. being" arcuately contoured along the edge of the blade and rising above the intermediate portion of said edge, the end portions of said edge being exposed. j i

2. A bean and pea pod splitter comprising an upstanding support member formed with a head portion, a block member detachably secured to said head portion, said block member and head portion having upwardly and rearwardly inclined adjacent top surfaces, upstanding lug members at the upper outer portions of said top surfaces, a guide arm pivoted between said lug members for rotation therebetween, said guide arm being. formed with a, downwardly convergent channel facing said inclined top surfaces and being formed to define a convergent feed passage therewith, spring means biasing said guide arm downwardly toward said top surfaces, and a blade having a straight edge secured between said head portion and block member beneath said guide arm, said head portion and block member being arcuately contoured alongthe edge of the blade and rising above the intermediate portion of said edge, one end portion of the blade being exposed adjacent the forward lower ends of said inclined top surfaces, and the other end portion of the blade' being exposed adjacent'the rear upper ends of said inclined top surfaces.

'3. A beam and pea pod splitter, comprising an upstand fling support'member formed with a head portion, a block member detachably secured to said head portion,

1 surfaces, a' guide arm pivoted between said lug members for rotation, therebetween, said guide arm being formed with a downwardly convergent channel facing said inclined top surfaces and being formed to define a convergent feed passagetherewith, spring means biasing said guide'arm downwardly toward said top surfaces, and a blade having a straight edge secured between said head portion and block member beneath said guide arm, said headportion and block member'being arcuately contoured along the edge of the blade and rising above the intermediate portion of said edge, one end portion of the blade being exposed adjacent the forward lower ends of said inclined top-surfaces and the other end portion of the blade being exposed adjacent the rear upper ends of 'said inclinedtop surfaces, the forward lower ends of said top surfaces being recessed adjacent said exposed one end portion of the blade to define a generally V- shaped channel of substantial size to receive the edge portion of a relatively large pod:

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,731,970 Hughes Jan. 24, 1956

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