WO2020169766A1

WO2020169766A1 - Handheld cutting device

Info

Publication number: WO2020169766A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/054539
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas KENEL
Original assignee: Betty Bossi Ag
Priority date: 2019-02-21
Filing date: 2020-02-20
Publication date: 2020-08-27
Also published as: DE202019106847U1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a handheld cutting device (1) for slicing a sheet-like or band-like portion off a fruit or vegetable. The handheld cutting device (1) comprises a frame part (2) having a bore (21) extending through the frame part (2); a socket (4) arranged at the frame part (2) and rotatable relative to the frame part (2), wherein the frame part (2) is shaped to receive the fruit or vegetable by being arranged at least partially around the fruit or vegetable such that the bore (21) is adjacent to a first side of the fruit or vegetable and the socket (4) is adjacent to a second side of the fruit or vegetable opposite to the first side; a spike shaft (3) arranged to pierce through the fruit or vegetable and dimensioned to extend through the bore (21) of the frame part (2) into the socket (4) of the frame part (2) such that the fruit or vegetable is attached to the frame part (2) when the spike shaft (3) pierces the fruit or vegetable and extends through the bore (21) into the socket (4), wherein the spike shaft (3) has a longitudinal axis; a resilient element; and a blade (8) mounted to the frame part (2) via the resilient element which pushes a cutting edge (81) of the blade (8) towards the fruit or vegetable attached to the frame part (2) such that rotating the socket (4) causes the blade (8) to slice the fruit or vegetable.

Description

Title

HANDHELD CUTTING DEVICE

Technical Field

[0001 ] The present invention relates to slicing a sheet-like or band-like portion off a fruit or vegetable. In particular, it relates to a handheld device which allows for conveniently slicing the fruit or vegetable.

Background Art

[0002] When preparing food or meals it is often desired to slice fruits or vegetables like apples, potatoes or the like. Thereby, besides chopping the fruits and vegetable to smaller parts, it is often aimed to generate a particular form of the sliced portions. In particular, it is more and more common to slice fruits and vegetables into sheet-like or band-like portions. Specifically, it is increasingly popular to cut fruits and vegetables into paper like sheets which can then be used, e.g., for wrapping other food products or the like.

[0003] For allowing convenient slicing of fruits and vegetables, automatic apparatus or devices attachable to automatic kitchen machines are known. Thereby, the fruits and vegetables typically are mounted in the apparatus or device such that they are in contact with a blade. A motor then rotates the fruit or vegetable and the blade cuts thin slices from the outside of the fruit or vegetable. Also, similar tabletop apparatuses are known in which the fruits or vegetables are manually rotated, e.g., via a crank. Even though such apparatus and devices can be conveniently operated, they are typically comparably bulky, laborious to operate and maintain, and expensive. Therefore, in many instances such apparatus and devices are not used. Furthermore, to be properly held for being rotated, such known apparatus and devices do hold the fruit or vegetable concentrically around the axis of rotation by piercing it via blades, spines or the like. Slicing is then stopped prior to reaching the blades, spines or the like in order to assure proper holding. However, like this a comparably large portion of the fruit or vegetable remains uncut or un-sliced which may cause unnecessary waste of food.

[0004] Also, handheld devices which can be used for slicing fruits and vegetables in paper-like sheets are known. For example, various peelers are known which can basically be used for peeling fruits and vegetables but which are also suitable to slice the fruits and vegetables into sheets. Such peelers typically have a grip and a blade mounted to the grip. They are operated by holding the fruit or vegetable in one hand and sliding the blade along its exterior. However, even though such peelers typically are comparably handy and can be used for slicing complete fruits and vegetables, they are comparably difficult to operate. For example, it usually is very difficult or impossible to generate a continuous or endless sheet. Also, it is tricky to generate more or less uniform sheets of the fruits and vegetables. Further, their operation for producing paper like sheets is quite exhausting which can be particularly relevant when a certain amount of fruits or vegetables has to be sliced.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a handheld device allowing a convenient and reliable slicing of a fruit or vegetables into sheet-like or band-like portions.

Disclosure of the Invention

[0006] According to the invention this need is settled by a handheld cutting device as it is defined by the features of independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] In particular, the invention deals with a handheld cutting device for slicing a sheet-like or band-like portion off a fruit or vegetable. The handheld cutting device comprises a frame part, a socket, a spike shaft, a resilient element and a blade. [0008] The frame part has a bore extending through the frame part. The socket is arranged at and rotatable relative to the frame part. The frame part is shaped to receive the fruit or vegetable by being arranged at least partially around the fruit or vegetable such that the bore is adjacent to a first side of the fruit or vegetable and the socket is adjacent to a second side of the fruit or vegetable opposite to the first side. [0009] The spike shaft is arranged to pierce through the fruit or vegetable and dimensioned to extend through the bore, or the opening, of the frame part into the socket of the frame part such that the fruit or vegetable is attached to the frame part when the spike shaft pierces the fruit or vegetable and extends through the bore into the socket. The spike shaft has a longitudinal axis.

[0010] The blade is mounted to the frame part via the resilient element which pushes a cutting edge of the blade towards the fruit or vegetable attached to the frame part such that rotating the socket or the spike shaft causes the blade to slice the fruit or vegetable.

[0011 ] The term“handheld” as used in connection with the device according to the invention relates to a structure to be manually held and operated. Typically, such handheld devices are small enough such that they can be held or carried in one hand of a human being. The other hand can then be used for operating the device. In particular, such device does not have to be placed or even attached to a fixed installation such as a table or the like. Advantageously, the handheld device is a non-motorized device.

[0012] The term“sheet” as used in connection with the portions cut off the fruit or vegetable relates to a flat typically essentially even structure having a thickness which is considerably smaller than its length and width. In particular, a sheet-like portion can be in the manner of a paper, foil or similar.

[0013] The term“band” as used in connection with the portions cut off the fruit or vegetable relates to a flat or round structure which has a larger length than thickness and width. In particular, the band can be flat belt-like structure having a certain width such as a width in a range of 5 cm to 15 cm. Band-like portions can also be in the manner of one or plural strings, cords, lines, cables, ropes or the like.

[0014] The term“fruit or vegetable” in connection with the device according to the invention relates to a consumable plant or plant. It covers all sorts of plants or portions thereof which can be consumed by a human or animal being either in a raw and/or in a cooked state. Particularly, the terms fruit or vegetable are not limited to biological or botanical meaning of the expressions. Rather, it covers all plant goods known to be consumable and denoted as fruit or vegetable. For example, fruits and/or vegetables comprise apples, potatoes, zucchinis, cucumbers, pumpkins and many others. Advantageously, the fruits and vegetables involved are homogeneous or have a homogeneous portion. Also, it can be beneficial if the fruits and vegetables involved have a certain rigidity or hardness. For improving legibility, in the following description only vegetables are mentioned. However, unless explicitly indicated that another definition applies the term vegetable also covers fruits.

[0015] The frame part can be a structure of the device to which other parts or components of the device are mounted. It can form a body of the device and it can be gripped by or held in a hand. The bore can be a through hole extending from an outer face of the frame part to an inner face of the frame part. It can have any suitable form but advantageously is essentially cylindrical or has an essentially circular cross-section.

[0016] The term“being arranged at least partially around” in connection with the frame part relates to a shape allowing to position the vegetable in between the bore and the socket. Thereby, the frame part can more or less completely surround the vegetable. Advantageously, it extends only partially around. In a particularly beneficial embodiment, the frame part is essentially C-shaped.

[0017] The spike shaft can be any structure suitable to pierce through the vegetable. Therefore, it can have an essentially straight portion ending in a sharp tip. It can be sword-like, thorn-like, spine-like or similarly shaped. The spike shaft can be designed to specifically allow efficient piercing and holding of a particular vegetable. At one longitudinal end, typically the end opposite the sharp tip, the spike shaft can be equipped with a gripping portion for being manually held and handled.

[0018] The resilient element can be any structure allowing the blade to be sufficiently pushed against the vegetable for slicing it. It can comprise a spring, an elastic material or a similar member. The resilient element can be embodied to specifically exert a suitable force for slicing a particular vegetable.

[0019] The cutting edge of the blade can be formed to generate a particular shape when slicing the vegetable. For example, it can be linearly flat such that a paper-like slice is cut off the vegetable when slicing it. Or it can have recesses adapted to generate a specific type of band when slicing the vegetable. Also, particularly for comparably hard vegetable, it can be equipped with teeth for improving cutting.

[0020] The socket can be rotated either directly by manually accessing it or a particular gripping portion thereof, or indirectly by accessing it via a twist grip as, e.g., described below, via the spike shaft or the like. When rotating the socket, the rotational movement or rotating force can be transferred to the vegetable via the spike shaft and/or a specific structure as described in more detail below. Like this, rotation of the socket can induce rotation of the vegetable when being mounted in the handheld device.

[0021 ] The handheld device according to the invention allows for an efficient and convenient slicing of the vegetable by means of comparably small and handy apparatus. Also, the device can be constructed from comparably few parts, can be efficiently cleanable and maintainable. Further, it can be comparably robust and cost efficiently manufactured.

[0022] For slicing the vegetable in operation of the device, it has to be rotated in the frame part such that it is moved along or turned against the blade which is pushed towards the vegetable by the resilient element. Thereby, the vegetable is rotated simultaneously together with the socket when being arranged in the frame part. For rotating the vegetable together with the socket, the spike shaft can be rotated. The rotational movement is thereby transferred to the vegetable via the contact areas between the spike shaft and the vegetable established by the spike shaft piercing the vegetable. For achieving an efficient transfer, the spike shaft can be shaped to provide comparably large contact areas. However, even though the design of the spike shaft may help to achieve an appropriate transfer of the rotational movement or rotational force to the vegetable, it may be that the contact areas are damaged, particularly when the vegetable is comparably soft or unstable. Also, providing a comparably large contact area may lead to a comparably large central section of the vegetable which cannot be sliced since the blade would contact the spike shaft. Particularly, when the spike shaft has a comparably large outer diameter which may be beneficial to provide comparably large contact areas, a comparably large portion of the vegetable will not be cut.

[0023] To achieve better holding and, thus, transfer of the rotational movement to the vegetable, a gap preferably is arranged between the socket and the blade such that a section of the vegetable neighboring the socket of the frame part is not accessible by the blade when the fruit or vegetable is attached to the frame part. Thereby, the gap preferably is located between the socket and the blade along the longitudinal axis of the spike shaft, when the fruit or vegetable is attached to the frame part. [0024] Providing such section on the vegetable by means of the gap allows for safely holding or gripping the vegetable. The section can also be referred to as gripping section of the vegetable. More specifically, for rotating the vegetable to be cut by the blade the rotation of the socket has to be transferred to the vegetable or the vegetable has to be rotated simultaneously.

[0025] In particular, the gripping section allows for gripping or holding a comparably large area or volume of the vegetable for rotating it. Like this, in addition or alternatively to the spike shaft rotating the vegetable, the vegetable can be held at the gripping section such that it can be rotated in an efficient and safe manner. This allows to slice comparably soft vegetable in the handheld device. Furthermore, it allows to use a comparably thin spike shaft such that a comparably large portion of the vegetable can be sliced.

[0026] Preferably, the handheld cutting device comprises a twist grip coupled to the socket of the frame part. In particular, the twist grip preferably is releasably coupled to the socket such that it can be mounted for rotating the socket and the vegetable, and de-mounted, e.g., for cleaning. Such a twist grip allows for efficiently rotating the socket and the vegetable for slicing it. In particular, it allows for conveniently rotating the vegetable by hand. For this purpose, the twist grip preferably comprises a knob portion configured to facilitate a manual rotation of the twist grip and a coupling portion configured to be coupled to the socket of the frame part.

[0027] For efficiently and safely holding or gripping the vegetable, the twist grip preferably is equipped with at least two eccentric teeth and the socket has corresponding eccentric through holes, wherein the teeth extend through the through- holes when the twist grip is coupled to the socket.

[0028] Preferably, the socket has a recess opening towards the bore for accommodating the spike shaft. Such recess allows for receiving the spike shaft in order to couple it to the socket. Like this, the socket and spike shaft can be rotated together when the vegetable is mounted to the frame part.

[0029] Thereby, the recess preferably widens towards the bore. By having such a widening or conical recess the spike shaft can be conveniently introduced into the socket and at the same time centered relative to the socket. This allows for a convenient coupling of spike shaft and socket when piercing the vegetable.

[0030] Preferably, the eccentric through-holes are positioned radially offset from the recess of the socket and the eccentric teeth are correspondingly positioned at the twist grip. Such position of the teeth and through-holes allows for efficiently holding the vegetable and for safely coupling the twist grip to the socket.

[0031 ] Preferably, the blade is tiltably mounted to the frame part. Compared to a linearly movable blade, such a tiltable blade can efficiently be embodied in the handheld device in a comparably simple and robust construction.

[0032] Preferably, the frame part has a flat base surface at the socket such that the bore is positioned vertically above the socket when the frame part stands on the base surface. Such a base surface allows for stably placing the frame part in an upright position. Like this, the spike shaft can be forwarded top down when piercing the vegetable which allows for a particularly convenient operation also when comparably hard vegetables are involved.

[0033] Preferably, the spike shaft has a profiled cross-section and the socket of the frame part comprises a plug structure being formed corresponding the profiled cross- section such that a rotation of the socket rotates the spike shaft about its longitudinal axis when the spike shaft extends through the bore, or the opening, of the frame part into the socket of the frame part. Such a profiled cross-section allows on the one hand for efficiently coupling the spike shaft to the socket such that they are simultaneously rotated. Furthermore, it allows for providing a comparably large contact area with the vegetable when having pierced it.

[0034] Preferably, the handheld cutting device comprises a clip structure configured to hold the spike shaft when extending it through the bore, or opening, of the frame part into the socket of the frame part. Such clip structure can provide for a secure mounting of the spike shaft when piercing the vegetable. Furthermore, it allows for generating a haptic and/or acoustic feedback to an operator such that he knows the spike shaft is properly mounted and coupled to the socket after piercing the vegetable.

[0035] Preferably, the handheld cutting device comprises at least one insert configured to define a shape of the sheet-like or band-like portion sliced off the fruit or vegetable. Thereby, the frame part preferably comprises an insert mount configured to exchangeably receive the at least one insert in a predefined orientation relative to the blade. Such insert and insert mount may provide for generating various different shapes cut off the vegetable.

[0036] Preferably, the handheld cutting device comprises a switch configured to hold the blade in a non-slicing position in which the resilient element is tensioned such that the cutting edge of the blade is distant from the fruit or vegetable attached to the frame part. Such switch allows for holding the blade away from the frame when mounting the vegetable to the frame part. Like this, a convenient operation can be achieved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0037] The handheld cutting device according to the invention is described in more detail herein below by way of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a partially exploded perspective view of a handheld cutting device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the handheld cutting device of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the handheld cutting device of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 shows a first step of preparing a frame part of the handheld cutting device of Fig.

1 to receive an apple;

Fig. 5 shows a second step of mounting the apple to the frame part of the handheld cutting device of Fig. 1 by placing the apple at least partially within the frame part which, thus, partially surrounds the apple;

Fig. 6 shows a step of coupling a twist grip to a socket of the handheld cutting device of Fig. 1 in order to hold the apple; and

Fig. 7 shows a step of acting on a switch of the handheld cutting device of Fig. 6, to bring a blade of the handheld cutting device from a non-slicing position wherein a cutting edge of the blade is distant from the apple attached to the frame part, to a slicing position.

Description of Embodiments

[0038] In the following description certain terms are used for reasons of convenience and are not intended to limit the invention. The terms“right”,“left”,“up”,“down”,“under" and“above" refer to directions in the figures. The terminology comprises the explicitly mentioned terms as well as their derivations and terms with a similar meaning. Also, spatially relative terms, such as "beneath", "below", "lower", "above", "upper", "proximal", "distal", and the like, may be used to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different positions and orientations of the devices in use or operation in addition to the position and orientation shown in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be "above" or "over" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both positions and orientations of above and below. The devices may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Likewise, descriptions of movement along and around various axes includes various special device positions and orientations.

[0039] To avoid repetition in the figures and the descriptions of the various aspects and illustrative embodiments, it should be understood that many features are common to many aspects and embodiments. Omission of an aspect from a description or figure does not imply that the aspect is missing from embodiments that incorporate that aspect. Instead, the aspect may have been omitted for clarity and to avoid prolix description. In this context, the following applies to the rest of this description: If, in order to clarify the drawings, a figure contains reference signs which are not explained in the directly associated part of the description, then it is referred to previous or following description sections. Further, for reason of lucidity, if in a drawing not all features of a part are provided with reference signs it is referred to other drawings showing the same part. Like numbers in two or more figures represent the same or similar elements.

[0040] With reference to Fig. 1 , Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, an embodiment of a handheld cutting device 1 according to present invention is shown. The handheld cutting device comprises a frame part 2, a socket 4 arranged at the frame part 2, a spike shaft 3, a blade 8 mounted to the frame part 2 via a spring as a resilient element (not shown), and a twist grip 5 coupled to the socket 4 of the frame part 2. The frame part 2 has a bore 21 at a left hand lateral side extending therethrough.

[0041 ] The frame part 2 is substantially C-shaped and thus integrates an opening which allows to position an apple as a fruit or vegetable in between the bore 21 and the socket 4. In other words, by the C-shape the frame part 2 is formed to partially surround the apple. Thereby, the structure is such that, when the apple is positioned, the bore 21 is adjacent to a first side of the apple and the socket 4 is adjacent to a second side of the apple, opposite to the first side. An end side of the frame part 2 facing the twist grip 5 is provided with an even flat surface 22. As shown in more detail below, this allows for placing the frame part 2 in an upright position.

[0042] The spike shaft 3 is substantially spine-shaped, has a longitudinal axis terminating in a tip 35 and is arranged to pierce through the apple positioned in the frame 2. The spike shaft 3 is dimensioned to extend through the bore 21 into the socket 4, such that, when the spike shaft 3 pierces the apple, the latter ends up being attached to the frame part 2. The spike shaft 3 is equipped with a flange 31 as a gripping portion for being manually held and handled. The flange 31 rests in a dedicated seat of the frame 2, once the spike shaft 3 pierces the apple. The spike shaft 3 further is provided with a circumferential notch 34 close to the flange 31.

[0043] The twist grip 5 can releasably be coupled to the socket 4 such that it can be mounted for rotating the socket 4 and the apple, and de-mounted, e.g., for cleaning. By grabbing the twist grip 5, an operator can efficiently manually rotate the socket 4 and, consequently, the apple and the spike shaft 3. For this purpose, the twist grip 5 comprises a knob portion 51 , configured to facilitate a manual rotation of the twist grip 5 by incorporating anti-slip means like ribs. The twist grip 5 further comprises a multiplicity of eccentric teeth 52 functioning as a coupling portion and therefore configured to be coupled to the socket 4 of the frame part 2. Furthermore, the teeth 52 have sharp knife like ends which penetrate and grip the apple when the twist grip 5 is coupled to the socket 4 and the spike shaft 3 pierces the apple. The socket 4 comprises eccentric through-holes 42 corresponding to the teeth 52 of the twist grip 5. The twist grip 5 and the socket 4 are thus configured so that, when the twist grip 5 is coupled to the socket 4, the eccentric teeth 52 extend through the through-holes 4, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

[0044] The socket 4 has a central recess 41 opening and widening towards the bore 21 for accommodating the spike shaft 3. Such recess 41 allows for receiving the spike shaft 3 in order to couple it to the socket 4. Like this, the socket 4 and spike shaft 3 can be rotated together when the apple is mounted to the frame part 2, following a manual rotation of the coupled twist grip 5. The rotation of the socket 4 brings about a rotation of the connected spike shaft 3. A simultaneous rotation of the apple arranged in the frame part 2 is thus achieved.

[0045] For rotating the apple together with the socket 4, the rotational movement of the spike shaft 3 is transferred to the apple via the contact areas between the spike shaft 3 and the apple, when the spike shaft 3 pierces the apple. For improving transfer of the rotational moment, the spike shaft 3 is shaped to provide comparably large contact areas. In this respect, the spike shaft 3 has a profiled cross-section 32, i.e. it is substantially star shaped. The socket 4, in its turn, comprises a plug structure whose shape corresponds to, or is complimentary to, the shape of the profiled cross-section 32. Thus, a rotation of the socket 4 efficiently induces a corresponding rotation of the spike shaft 3 about its longitudinal axis when the spike shaft 3 extends through the bore 21 of the frame part 2 into the socket 4 of the frame part 2.

[0046] As it can be seen in Fig. 1 , as well as in Fig. 4, the eccentric through holes 42 of the socket 4 are positioned radially offset from the central recess 41. Correspondingly, the eccentric teeth 52 at the twist grip 5 are eccentrically positioned. As already mentioned, such position of the teeth 52 and through-holes 42 allows for efficiently holding the apple and for safely coupling the twist grip 5 to the socket 4.

[0047] Between the socket 4 and the blade 8 a gap 6 is arranged such that a section of the apple neighboring the socket 4 is not accessible by the blade 8 when the apple is mounted to the frame part 2. More specifically, the gap 6 is located between the socket 4 and the blade 8 along the longitudinal axis of the spike shaft 3, when the apple is attached to the frame part 2. As mentioned, the provision of such gap 6 results in the creation of an uncut gripping section of the apple. Thanks to such gripping section, better holding and, thus, transfer of the rotational movement to the apple can be achieved.

[0048] For safety and/or hygiene purposes, a blade cover 82 is arranged to partially shield the body of the blade 8. The blade 8 is tiltably mounted to the frame part 2. Thanks to the tiltable configuration, a non-slicing position and a slicing position can be defined, respectively when the blade 8 is kept tilted in an upward position by a tensioned resilient element, and when the blade 8 is instead let to a downward position by releasing the resilient element. [0049] In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a switch 9 is shown which is configured to hold the blade 8 in the non-slicing position. When the switch 9 is held in such a non-slicing state and the blade 8 is in the non-slicing position, a cutting edge 81 of the blade 8 is kept distant from the apple attached to the frame part 2. The switch 9 is configured to selectively alternate to a slicing state, in order to let the blade 8 take the slicing position, upon intervention of an operator 10.

[0050] This facilitates the operation of an operator 10 who needs to carry out all of the preparatory steps, including the mounting of the apple to the frame part 2, prior to the execution of the slicing of the apple into a sheet-like or band-like portion.

[0051 ] In Figs 4 to 6, a sequence of steps of operating the handheld cutting device 1 is shown. Thereby, the switch 9 holds the blade 8 in a non-slicing position.

[0052] Fig. 4 shows a first step of preparing the frame part 2 of the handheld cutting device 1 to receive the apple, wherein the twist grip 5 and the spike shaft 3 are disengaged from the frame part 2. The blade 8 is lifted upwards to let enough space within an opening of the C-shaped frame part 2 to receive the apple.

[0053] Fig. 5 shows a second step of mounting the apple to the frame part 3. More specifically, Fig. 5 shows the handheld cutting device 1 positioned on its flat surface 22 such that it stands in an upright position. Thereby, the bore 21 is positioned vertically above the socket 4. An operator 10 introduces the apple to be partially surrounded by the frame part 2, in a way that the bore 21 is adjacent to a first side of the apple and the socket 4 is adjacent to a second side of the apple opposite to the first side.

[0054] In Fig. 5, the operator 10 subsequently lets the spike shaft 3 pass through bore 21 and pierce through the apple, up to when a haptic and/or acoustic feedback is generated for the benefit of the operator himself, such that he knows when the spike shaft 3 is properly mounted. The haptic and/or acoustic feedback is provided by a circular rim inside the through bore 21 engaging the notch 34. In fact, the rim in the bore 21 of the frame part 2 is designed to click into a notch 34 of the spike shaft 3 such that an acoustic and haptic feedback is given to the operator 10 to indicate that the apple is attached to the frame part 2 and the spike shaft 3 is properly set.

[0055] In Fig. 6 the operator 10 couples the twist grip 5 to the socket 4 of the handheld cutting device 1 , by forwarding the eccentric teeth 52 of the twist grip 5 through the through-holes 42 of the socket 4. Thereby, the front ends of the teeth 52 penetrate the apple in the gap 6 such that the apple is gripped by the twist grip 5.

[0056] In Fig. 7 the operator 10 acts on the switch 9 of the handheld cutting device 1 , to bring the blade 8 from a non-slicing position so far kept, wherein the cutting edge 81 of the blade 8 is distant from the fruit or vegetable attached to the frame part 2, to a slicing position. In such slicing position, the blade 8 and particularly its cutting edge 81 is pushed on the apple by the spring. When the apple now is rotated via the twist grip 5, socket 4 and spike shaft 3, slicing of the apple is achieved.

[0057] This description and the accompanying drawings that illustrate aspects and embodiments of the present invention should not be taken as limiting the claims defining the protected invention. In other words, while the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. Various mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this description and the claims. In some instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Thus, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope and spirit of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below.

[0058] The disclosure also covers all further features shown in the Figs individually although they may not have been described in the afore or following description. Also, single alternatives of the embodiments described in the figures and the description and single alternatives of features thereof can be disclaimed from the subject matter of the invention or from disclosed subject matter. The disclosure comprises subject matter consisting of the features defined in the claims or the exemplary embodiments as well as subject matter comprising said features.

[0059] Furthermore, in the claims the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single unit or step may fulfil the functions of several features recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. The terms“essentially”,“about”,“approximately” and the like in connection with an attribute or a value particularly also define exactly the attribute or exactly the value, respectively. The term“about” in the context of a given numerate value or range refers to a value or range that is, e.g., within 20%, within 10%, within 5%, or within 2% of the given value or range. Components described as coupled or connected may be electrically or mechanically directly coupled, or they may be indirectly coupled via one or more intermediate components. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

Claim 1 : Handheld cutting device (1 ) for slicing a sheet-like or band-like portion off a fruit or vegetable, comprising

a frame part (2) having a bore (21 ) extending through the frame part (2); a socket (4) arranged at the frame part (2) and rotatable relative to the frame part (2), wherein the frame part (2) is shaped to receive the fruit or vegetable by being arranged at least partially around the fruit or vegetable such that the bore (21 ) is adjacent to a first side of the fruit or vegetable and the socket (4) is adjacent to a second side of the fruit or vegetable opposite to the first side;

a spike shaft (3) arranged to pierce through the fruit or vegetable and dimensioned to extend through the bore (21 ) of the frame part (2) into the socket (4) of the frame part (2) such that the fruit or vegetable is attached to the frame part (2) when the spike shaft (3) pierces the fruit or vegetable and extends through the bore (21 ) into the socket (4), wherein the spike shaft (3) has a longitudinal axis;

a resilient element; and

a blade (8) mounted to the frame part (2) via the resilient element which pushes a cutting edge (81 ) of the blade (8) towards the fruit or vegetable attached to the frame part (2) such that rotating the socket (4) causes the blade (8) to slice the fruit or vegetable.

Claim 2: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein a gap (6) is arranged between the socket (4) and the blade (8) such that a section of the fruit or vegetable neighboring the socket (4) of the frame part (2) is not accessible by the blade (8) when the fruit or vegetable is attached to the frame part

(2).

Claim 3: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of claim 2, wherein the gap (6) is located between the socket (4) and the blade (8) along the longitudinal axis of the spike shaft

(3), when the fruit or vegetable is attached to the frame part (2).

Claim 4: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a twist grip (5) coupled to the socket (4) of the frame part (2).

Claim 5: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of claim 4, wherein the twist grip (5) is releasably coupled to the socket (4) of the frame part (2).

Claim 6: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of claim 4 or 5, wherein the twist grip

(5) comprises a knob portion (51 ) configured to facilitate a manual rotation of the twist grip (5) and a coupling portion (52) configured to be coupled to the socket (4) of the frame part (2).

Claim 7: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of any one of claim 4 to 6, wherein the twist grip (5) is equipped with at least two eccentric teeth (52) and the socket (4) has corresponding eccentric through-holes (42), wherein the teeth (52) extend through the through-holes (42) when the twist grip (5) is coupled to the socket (4).

Claim 8: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the socket (4) has a recess (41 ) opening towards the bore (21 ) for accommodating the spike shaft (31 ).

Claim 9: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of claim 8, wherein the recess (41 ) widens towards the bore (21 ).

Claim 10: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of claim 7 and claim 8 or 9, wherein the eccentric through-holes (42) are positioned radially offset from the recess (41 ) of the socket (4) and the eccentric teeth (52) are correspondingly positioned at the twist grip (5).

Claim 11 : The handheld cutting device (1 ) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the blade (8) is tiltably mounted to the frame part (2).

Claim 12: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame part (2) has a flat base surface (22) at the socket (4) such that the bore (21 ) is positioned vertically above the socket (4) when the frame part (2) stands on the base surface (22). Claim 13: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spike shaft (3) has a profiled cross-section (32) and the socket (4) of the frame part (2) comprises a plug structure being formed corresponding the profiled cross-section (32), such that a rotation of the socket (4) rotates the spike shaft (3) about its longitudinal axis when the spike shaft (3) extends through the bore (21 ) of the frame part (2) into the socket (4) of the frame part (2).

Claim 14: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a clip structure (34) configured to hold the spike shaft (3) when extending through the bore (21 ) of the frame part (2) into the socket (4) of the frame part (2).

Claim 15: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one insert configured to define a shape of the sheet-like or band-like portion sliced off the fruit or vegetable.

Claim 16: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of claim 15, wherein the frame part (2) comprises an insert mount configured to exchangeably receive the at least one insert in a predefined orientation relative to the blade.

Claim 17: The handheld cutting device (1 ) of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a switch configured to hold the blade (8) in a non-slicing position in which the resilient element is tensioned such that the cutting edge (81 ) of the blade (8) is distant from the fruit or vegetable attached to the frame part (2).