WO2008087462A1

WO2008087462A1 - Vegetable peeler

Info

Publication number: WO2008087462A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/003553
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juergen Schmitt-Bylandt
Original assignee: Juergen Schmitt-Bylandt
Priority date: 2006-12-11
Filing date: 2006-12-11
Publication date: 2008-07-24
Also published as: WO2008087462A9

Abstract

With ordinary hand operated vegetable peelers, peels use to stick easily at the peeled object, or on the blade or within the gap between pressing bar and blade of the peeler. A hand operated peeler for vegetables is provided, that directs the peels up- and sidewards for easy lifting off and prevents their re-adhering to the peeled object. Therefore a discharge section (7) behind the blade (6) is curved in two dimensions and coated with a non-stick layer, the discharge section being part of the blade (6) or closely adhering to it. For adaptation to a preferred working angle, the blade unit can be mounted into the open segment of a sliding ring (12), which permits swivelling adaptation.

Description

Vegetable Peeler

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a hand operated peeler for vegetables, built to direct peels up- and sidewards for easy lifting off the peeler, so that they cannot re-adhere to tehe peeler or the peeled object.

[0003] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] When using hand-held vegetable peelers, it is sometimes cumbersome to separate the peels from the object or from the peeler's blade or gap between blade and pressing bar, and to direct it into a collecting unit. Moreover, most peelers must be operated with an ancled wrist or are particularly inconvenient to use for left-handed persons.

[0005] PRIORART

[0006] For peeling vegetables, like cucumbers, carrots, potatoes and asparagus, a multiplicity of devices are well-known. But most kitchen devices are bound to certain diameters and forms of the objects and therefore only a very few of it became generally accepted.

[0007] Generally, in households hand peeling devices are still in common use, comprising a support bar, pressing to the peeling object and the peeling blade, so to determine the gauge of the peels.

[0008] Formerly professional cooks would rule out that anybody would use them except untrained laymen, since with some experience better results could be achieved with a simple knife.

[0009] One reason for this is, that peels can be thrown off by hurling the knife sidewards, with no risk that it would fall back and stick to the peeling object or at the blade itself, as frequent with peelers.

[0010] However, during further development, particularly for preparing potatoes, peelers became generally accepted.

[0011] Those were characterized by shaping a gap between a gliding support and a overlaying fixed blade. They had been particularly suited for pota- toes, which can easily be peeled when turning the ankle of the holding hand against the peeler.

[0012] But for vegetables like asparagus or carrots, which need to be peeled in longitudinal direction, these instruments appeared hard to handle, because they must be guided with an increased twist of the ankle. Besides, they exhibit the disadvantage that peels tend to stick within the gap between blade and leading bar too easily.

[0013] This is less cumbersome when peeling potatoes, since with each succeeded peeling movement the before separated peel will mostly be shoved out. But this is not the case at oblong vegetables with fibrous peels, in particular with asparagus, peeling of which often results in an increasing ball of sticking remainders, which must then be plucked out.

[0014] Therefore Herly's US-Patent 2.007.647 disclosed the idea of directing the peels away from the peeling object by arranging a upwardly curved blade holder to deflect the peels from the peeling object.

[0015] This device had been in common use, even though peels quite frequently fall back and again adhere to the fissure of the peeled object with their own, wet fissure and either stick on there again or remain adhering to the discharge section.

[0016] A further step in development was characterized by peelers with an axially hinged unit of blade and counter-pressure bar, which better adapt to multi-curved surfaces and ensure an even gauge of the peel, in particular for oblong vegetable.

[0017] Their further advantage is, that only a narrow passage between blade and counter-pressure bar is flexing when in use, so the peels are less subject to sticking in between. Today the use of such peelers therefore is frequent also among cooks.

[0018] Later developments, as in US patent 6.874.236 show a concave deflection of the blade system in the longitudinal direction, in order to effect a better adjustment to peeling cylindric objects. However, it might be doubtful whether this will become generally accepted, due to the high technical effort it requires to make it.

[0019] In 1995 Kuhlmann disclosed in German utility patent DE 295 16 514 a solution for disposing the peels from hand-operated peelers with hinged units of blade and pressure bar, again using a curved guiding plate adhering to the blade, so to lift the peels off the peeled object. This did obviously not solve the problem so well, as seen with Herly's aforementioned US patent 2.007.647.

[0020] Therefore Kuhlmann later in 1995 added DE 295 16 514, disclosing a version of the deflecting extension without curvature, but with the option of sharpening it and using this section as an additional cutting blade.

[0021] German utility patent DE 297 12 318 later disclosed the idea of solving the problem of adhering peels in a way that a discharge section should be formed of six scythe-like twisted teeth. This in fact would rather lead to even more sticking remainders, disregard the danger of injuries with that instrument.

[0022] So up to present, in all cases of hand peelers in use, the problem of a secure release of the peels is still unsolved: they mostly remain sticking either on the peeling object, or hang at and/or in the peeler, or drop uncontrollably. This is not only annoying with regard to the whereabouts of the peels, but also substantially handicaps the work routine.

[0023] Another impediment to rational working with manual operated vegetable peelers is that common models are not adjustable to the preferred working angle of the operator, particularly not for left-handed persons.

[0024] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Object of this invention therefore is to design peelers in such a way, that the peels will not remain sticking at the peeled object but be formed and guided in a way that they naturally detach from blade and peeled object and be easily collected.

[0026] For this purpose a peeling blade is provided with a double-curved discharge section, either being an integral part of the blade, or closely bound to it.

[0027] This discharge section is twisting the peels up- and sidewards, so that they fall off to one side due to the spring-effect of being annulated and their outwardly directed center of gravitation.

[0028] Instead, if in case of inapt handling they fall back to it, due to being annulated, they predominantly land at their flange or back side and do not adhere with their fresh fissure to the other fresh fissure on the peeled object

[0029] In a further advantageous embodiment of the here disclosed invention, the discharging section of the blade is coated with a hydrophobic repellent, as homopolar plasties like poly- tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or sputtered or plas- ma-vaccuum disposed thin layers of slip-effect or lotus-effect structures, well known by people skilled in the art.

[0030] The more sophisticated and ergonomic embodiment of the present invention is to enable the users of such vegetable peelers, besides the easy discharge of the peels, to adjust the angle of operation to their personal disposition and preferences.

[0031] For this purpose the cutting system is hinged in the open segment of a flat ring that is closely guided within a proper aperture in the upper part of the handle.

[0032] In an embodiment with stronger technical appeal, the top side or outer radius of said ring is toothed and together with a suitable pinion forms a worm gear, which can turn the ring and the peeling unit within.

[0033] To that end the pinion is mounted within the upper part of the handle, engaging with the toothing on the closed section of said ring. The ring can then be pivoted and thus the working angle adjusted by turning the pinion with the pressure of one thumb, like it is similarly done with adjustable wrenches.

[0034] It is the advantage of this version, that the pivoting angle can be adjusted with the one operating hand, whereas the disadvantage is less easy cleaning of it.

[0035] In a further, easy-to-clean embodiment, the abovementioned ring is formed as a torus segment with preferably elliptical cross-sectional shape, which is as well, or even more, closely guided in a proper aperture, cut into the upper part of the peeler's handle. For fixing the selected position, proper means like a latch lug, fixing screws or interlocks can be applied. [0036] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Fig. 1 discloses a first, simple embodiment of the invention.

[0038] The handle 1 proceeds into the holding fork 2, which holds the pivoting unit, consisting of a counter-pressure bar 5, the hinges 3, 4 and the blade 6 with the abovementioned curved discharge section 7, guiding the peel 10.

[0039] Fig.2 and Fig.3 show that this deflecting extension of the cutting blade 7 may be attached with spot welds S, 9, or with a laser welding seam 10 to the blade for easy manufacturing, whereas it could as well be made in one piece together with the blade, as in Fig. 1.

[0040] Fig.4 demonstrates the proper double curvature of the discharge section 11.

[0041] Fig 5 discloses a first ergonomic and more sophisticated embodiment, wherein the bracket with the hinged arrangement of pressure bar 5, blade 6 and its deflecting extension 7 is formed as an open flat ring or torus segment 12. The open sector of this ring girds the hinges 3, 4 with the peeling arrangement 5-7. Said ring 12 is toothed 13 on top, thus forming one part of a worm gear, the pinion 14 of which is turning within a recess 16 in the upper part of the handle 17, which has an aperture 16 for closely guiding the ring 12 within.

[0042] Fig. 6 represents an easy-to-clean version of the one in Fig. 4 described system, however without the one-handed option: here the torid- al ring 20 with ellipsoidal cross section is not toothed, but form-closedly swivelling within a proper aperture 15 of the handle 17. It is fixed with the clamping latch plate 21 to a anti-swiveling position. 15a demonstrates an alternative cross-section of the ring 20.

[0043] DESCRIPTION OF THE BASIC EMBODIMENTS

[0044] General Construction

[0045] A manually operated vegetable peeler is disclosed, containing a hinged system of pressing bar and peeling blade, the blade being elongated by an adhering discharge blade, said discharge blade section being outwardly twisted in a double curvature. [0046] As easily to be recognized, the curvature of the blade discharge 7 causes an upward twist of the peel 10, by which it is detached. Diagonal curvature than results in peels easily separating from the peeled object by twisting and being directed sidewards for easily being disposed.

[0047] In a more sophisticated and easy-to-handle embodiment, the pressure bar 5 and blade 6 with its discharge section 7 is mounted to the open sector of a swivelling ring 11.

[0048] By turning the corrugated pinion 15 with the pressure of a thumb the ring 12 and with it the peeling arrangement 5-7 can thus be arranged to an optimum working angle in a way known e.g. from adjustable wrenches.

[0049] In an easy-to-clean version as to Fig. 5, said ring 11 is guided form-closedly within the handle 1 of the peeler and therefore can be arranged manually. It is then retained by engaging the clamping fixture pressed to said ring 11.

[0050] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0051] As mentioned before, modern peelers contain a hinged subsystem of peeling blade, pressing bar, the pressing bar sliding on the peeled object and having a fixed distance to the cutting blade, so to ensure a regular gauge of the peels.

[0052] The aforementioned subsystem with pressing bar and cutting blade plus deflecting extension is basically hinged in a bracket at the tip of the handle.

[0053] All here disclosed embodiments comprise an extension attached to the cutting blade for curlingly deflecting the peels.

[0054] The abovementioned deflecting extension adjacent to the blade is coated with a non-stick layer, so to ease the lifting of the peels from it.

[0055] Said layer preferably will be water-repellent, since peels are primarily sticking with their wet surface structure.

[0056] There are a few different methods to obtain this non-adhesive effect: most simply by a coating of granulated waxes, resulting in a so- called Lotos effect. However, this is of limited durability. [0057] Quite more durable, but less hydrophobic are layers of Polytetrafluorethylen (PTFE or TEFLON®), which are more repellent to greases, but are widespread in use for kitchen tools now.

[0058] Most resistive to abrasion are thin layers of carbon material, resulting in a diamond-like structure when applied by plasma vacuum disposition (PVD) in a process designed for producing particular smooth surfaces. These may be applied as they become less expensive and thus common for tableware and cutlery.

[0059] With reference to paragraph 30 to 35 et sqq., preferred embodiments comprise a swivelling ring-segment to hinge that unit comprising the pressure bar, cutting blade and its deflecting extension.

[0060] As Fig. 4 demonstrates, with the single- handed version said ring is toothed at the upper side (or frontside), thus forming the base part of a worm gear, the pinion or driver of which is running within a gap in the upper section of the handle, just above the aperture for closely guiding that ring within.

[0061] The pinion, having a flattened and chequered toothhead, can be turned with the pressure of a thumb. By this movement the wormgear will turn the ring, as known from adjustable wrenches, so to adjust the angle of operation to the operator's preferred direction. This avoids a possibly uncomfortable angling of the wrist when peeling, which is particularly practical if the user is left- handed.

[0062] In another easy-to-clean embodiment, this bracket is formed as an open torus, e.g. of elliptical cross-sectional shape, and is pivoted within a properly tight aperture in the upper part of the peeler's handle.

[0063] Foremost by technical requirements, the handle will be produced as pointed cast part, preferably of alkylbenzenesulfonate or polyaether- sulfonate plastics, because in it a metallic torus might slide without further lubrication.

[0064] However, as an additionally conceivable version, the guidance of the ring might have a special sliding bearing, e.g. made of polyacetales, to possibly produce the handle from other materials, too. This might even in all cases make an even softer sliding of the ring.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

J. A manually operated vegetable peeler with blade and counter-pressure bar, wherein the peeler is giving a twist to the peels for a secure release to one side.

2. A vegetable peeler according to claim 1 , wherein a deflecting extension to the blade is curved in horizontal and vertical direction.

3. Vegetable peeler according to claim 1, wherein the peeling arrangement is horizontally adjustable against the center line of the handle,

4. Vegetable peeler according to claim 1, wherein the deflecting extension behind the blade is coated with a hydrophobic layer,

5. Vegetable peeler according to claim 1 and 2 or 3, wherein the system of blade and counter-pressure bar is pivotally hinged in a suspension vertically adjustable to the peeling direction.

6. Vegetable peeler according to claim 9, wherein the peeler arrangement is girded in a segment of a ring that swiveHingly runs through a close aperture in the upper part of the handle.

7. Vegetable peeler according to claim 6, wherein said ring is toothed on one side, thus forming the worm wheel of a worm gear.

8. Vegetable peeler according to claim 7, wherein said ring, functioning as a worm wheel, can be fixed and turned by press-turning the pinion.

9. Vegetable peeler according to claim 7 to S , wherein said pinion is mounted within a recess in the upper part of the handle.

10. Vegetable peeler according to claim 8 and 9, wherein said pinion is levelled and sand blasted or corrugated at its tooth point, so to be adjustable by pressing and turning it with one thumb, similarly to the fitting of adjustable wrenches.

11. Vegetable peeler according to claim 3 and 6, wherein said ring consists of a swivelling torus segment with preferably elliptical cross section, where the cutting unit, consisting of pressure bar, blade and deflecting extension, is pivotally hinged within the open segment.

12. Vegetable peeler according to claim 11 , wherein said ring is sliding in a form-closed appropriate recess within the handle of the peeler,

13. Vegetable peeler according to claim 11 and 12, wherein the handle is made of a plastic material, such as alkylbenzeπesulfonate or polyaethersulfonate.

14. Vegetable peeler according to claim 12, wherein the ring is guided through an additional socket, e.g. made of polyacetales.

15. Vegetable peeler according to claim 3 and 11, wherein the ring is fixed by means of a compression joint.

16. Vegetable peeler according to claim 15, wherein this compression joint consists of a thumb operated clamping sljdegate-fastener, built into the handle of the peeler.

17. Vegetable peeler according to claim 11, wherein the front of the clamping slidegatc-fastener consists of a spring-fitted friction plate built to match the form of the ring.

18. Vegetable peeler according to claim 15, wherein the fixing js achieved by means of clamping screws, cut and tapped, or inserted into the handle by means of a threaded bushing.

* * * * *