Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FOOD CHOPPER
PRIORITY CLAIM
This application claims the benefit of prior U.S. Provisional application
Serial No.
60/623,582, filed October 29, 2004 and U.S Utility application 11/033,944
filed January 11,
2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to food preparation devices, including
devices for chopping or slicing onions, mushrooms, and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In preparing food, it is often desirable to prepare onions by slicing
them in
strips or chopping them into small pieces. Most commonly, this is done by
using a knife.
There are other specially-designed devices for chopping foods, but none are
particularly well
suited to chopping onions.
[0003] One exemplary food cutting device is used to cut potatoes for French
fries,
incorporating a sliding array of rectangular projections that can be pressed
downward to push
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the potato through a grid of blades. This arrangement is common to all French
fry cutters,
which can also be used to cut other vegetables such as onions. In such
devices, the blades
and the projections are parallel to each other at all times. One problem with
such devices is
that there is no integrated reservoir to receive the sliced potatoes as they
are pushed through
the grid of blades.
[0004] There are also presently existing mushroom cutters, including a blade
frame
and pusher element that are pivotally connected to each other via an elongated
handle.
Unfortunately, the operation of the device pushes the food onto the countertop
or work
surface, limiting the amount of food that can be chopped and potentially
mashing the food or
resulting in an uneven slicing operation. Alternatively the user must hold the
device above
the countertop with one hand, and use the other hand to receive the slices as
they emerge
from the device.
[0005] There is therefore a need for an improved food chopping or slicing
device,
including devices suitable for cutting mushrooms, onions, and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(0006] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred food
chopper.
(0007] Figure 2 is an exploded view of a preferred food
chopper.
(0008] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment
of a preferred
food chopper.
[0009] Figure 4 is a side view of a preferred food chopper
oriented on end.
[0010] Figure 5 is a partial exploded view of a preferred
food chopper, oriented
upside
down.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] A preferred food chopper is shown in Figure 1, below. In the embodiment
of
Figure 1, the food chopper includes three primary components, including a lid
10, a blade
tray 20, and a food reservoir 30. The blade tray and the food reservoir are
pivotally connected
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to one another, with the blade tray being removably mounted within an upper
rim of the
reservoir.
[0012] The lid is generally rectangular in shape, having squared corners at a
first
end that is pivotally connected to the reservoir and rounded corners at a
second end opposite
the first end. A downward-extending flange surrounds the peripheral edge of
the lid, and is
sized and shaped to snugly receive an outer surface of the reservoir within
the flange when
the lid is rotated downward against the reservoir.
[0013] The lid further includes a grid of projections 50 on the inner surface,
extending downward in the same direction as the flange. The projections may
take on any
size or shape, as desired, and are ideally shaped to thoroughly push the food
through the
blades within the blade tray. As discussed further below, the blade tray
includes a. network of
blades 40 configured at right angles and forming generally square openings.
The projections
on the lid are sized and located within the lid such that when the lid is
closed a projection fits
within each of the blade openings.
[0014] The food reservoir, best seen in the exploded view of Figure 2, is
formed in
substantially the same shape as the lid when viewed from the top. Thus, in the
preferred
form, it has a generally rectangular shape with two rounded corners. The
reservoir includes a
bottom and four side walls to form an interior rectangular cubic cavity. The
depth of the
reservoir may vary, and is preferably sized to hold a typical expected volume
of onions,
mushrooms, or other food ingredients that may be used in cooking.
[0015] The reservoir includes a boss 64 at opposing sides of the squared ends
of the
top of the rectangular reservoir. The bosses are configured to be received
within a pair of
bores 66 at opposite sides of the squared ends of the lid, forming the pivotal
connection
between the lid and the reservoir. Accordingly, the lid is able to rotate
about the pivotal
connection from an open position that is preferably at least about 90 degrees
with respect to
the blade tray to a closed position resting adjacent and substantially flush
with the blade tray.
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(0016] In alternate embodiments of the invention, the reservoir also includes
volumetric measurements on an inner or outer surface, as shown in Figure 4. As
discussed
further below, the measurements enable the user to determine when he or she
has chopped
enough of the food ingredient, without the necessity of a further step of
transferring the
ingredient to an additional measuring cup.
[0017] In another alternate embodiment, the bores 66 on the lid are open adj
acent
the outer edge of the lid, as shown in Figure 2, forming a C-shape. The C-
shaped openings
enable the lid to more readily be removed from the tray for cleaning.
[0018] The blade tray 20 is formed in the same shape as the lid and reservoir,
such
that in the preferred embodiment it comprises a-rectangular shape with two
rounded corners.
A substantially square blade grid 40 is formed at a central location on the
tray. Preferably, the
tray is formed from plastic and the blade grid formed from stainless steel.
The top edges of
the blades within the grid are sharpened in order to' slice through the foods
that are being
pushed through the blade grid from above.
[0019] At one end of the tray, in this case, the rounded end, a bore 62 is
included to
more easily enable the tray to be lifted from the reservoir and removed for
cleaning and
removal of the food within the reservoir.
[0020] The tray includes a flat base that transitions to a generally vertical
peripheral
wall, as best seen in Figure 2. At the top of the wall, the tray includes a
substantially
horizontal peripheral flange. The wall and flange are sized and configured
such that the wall
is snugly received within the side walls of the reservoir, and the flange
rests against a top rim
of the reservoir. In this fashion, the flange enables the tray to rest
securely atop the reservoir.
Alternative arrangements are also possible, including for example an internal
flange or
shoulder within the reservoir. Likewise, the size and shape of the tray and
other components
may be varied, consistent with the invention.
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[0021] Each of the lid, tray, and reservoir is preferably formed from plastic,
except
for the blades as noted above. In a preferred form, at least the reservoir is
formed from clear
plastic to enable the user to see the volume of food inside.
[0022] The reservoir may optionally include non-skid feet attached to the
bottom,
as best seen in Figure 4, formed from silicone or other suitable materials. In
yet other
embodiments, as best seen in Figures 2 and 5, the reservoir 30 may include a
removable
bottom section 70 that is preferably friction-fitted or snap-fitted into the
reservoir 30. Thus,
with the bottom section in place, food that is chopped with the device will be
retained within
the reservoir and can be readily carried to a pot or bowl. With the bottom
removed, the
chopper can be placed directly onto a plate, bowl, or other device to allow
food to be
chopped and dropped directly into the plate, bowl, or pan.
[0023] In some embodiments, a top surface of the lid includes a generally
rounded
convex shape adjacent the rounded end, as best seen in Figure 2. This provides
a better grip
and more ergonomic surface for the user when chopping food within the device.
[0024] In use, the user places an onion (or other food item) atop the grid of
blades
while the lid is open. By pressing against the lid, causing pivotal and
downward rotation of
the lid, the grid of projections is pressed against the onion. In turn, the
onion is pressed
against the grid of blades, urging it through the blade openings and producing
chopped onion
sections having a cross-sectional shape that is the same as the blade
openings. Once the lid
approaches the blade grid, the projections press through the grid to clear any
remaining food
from the grid.
[0025] When the reservoir is full, or the chopping is completed, the tray is
removed
from the top of the reservoir. The chopped onion or other food may then be
readily removed
from the reservoir. The entire device can also be easily cleaned by separating
the tray from
the reservoir and, if desired, also removing the lid.
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[0026] An alternate form of the food chopping device is shown in Figure 3. In
this
form, the device includes the same primary components of a lid, tray, and
reservoir. The
primary difference is that the grid of blades comprises a plurality of
elongated parallel
blades, rather than two pluralities of blades arranged at right angles. The
grid of projections
extending from the lid is similarly configured as a series of adjacent
parallel bars that will fit
snugly through the grid of blades. In addition, the reservoir is somewhat
deeper and the
rectangular shape is somewhat shorter, with the length and width of the
rectangle being
closer in length to one another.
[0027] As shown in Figure 4, the food chopping device may include measurement
markings 80. In the preferred form, the measurement markings 80 are oriented
vertically, so
that the words are read properly with the device tipped up on end, or rotated
90 degrees. As
food is chopped with the device, it will form a mound shape, making it
difficult to tell with
certainty the amount of food that has been chopped, even if there are
measurement markings
oriented horizontally. This is especially true for devices that have a base of
a width or length
that is substantially greater than the height. In order to determine the
amount of food that has
been chopped, the device is rotated 90 degrees, allowing the food to settle to
the hinged end.
The device may be shaken gently to allow the food to settle and form a
substantially
horizontal top. At that point, the user can determine the amount of chopped
onions or other
food ingredients by looking at the measurement markings associated with the
top of the
ingredient level through the clear plastic food reservoir. Ideally, the size
of the reservoir is
sufficient to accommodate a typically expected volume of food. In the example
shown in
Figure 4, there are markings in half cup increments up to the 2-cup level,
with the reservoir
itself exceeding 2 cups in volume.
[0028] As shown in Figure 4, the volumetric markings 80 are placed on a
sidewall
of the reservoir. In alternate embodiments, the markings may be placed on the
bottom 70, the
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lid 10., or in other locations that are visible and enable a determination of
the volume of
articles within the device.
[0029] This alternate embodiment is particularly well suited for use in
slicing
mushrooms or other foods intended to be sliced rather than chopped into
smaller bits. The
device is used in the same manner, by placing a mushroom or other food item
atop the grid of
blades and rotating the lid toward the tray, urging the food through the grid
of blades.
[0030] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated
and
described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the
spirit and
scope of the invention.
