Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02718225 2010-10-21
SAFETY MANDOLIN SLICER
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvements in
the safety and use of a mandolin slicer and more
particularly to safety features in a simple mandolin device
including a "dead man handle" which works with at least one
of a dropping platform or a blade barrier, as well as a
child resistant lock to protect, respectively, users and
children.
Background of the Invention
The traditional mandolin slicer which has been
commercially available for several decades typically has a
sliding board over which is mounted a blade which lies
parallel to the sliding board which can produce sliced food
by pushing the food to be sliced across the blade.
Generally the dimension of the blade above the sliding
board determines the thickness of cut. The mandolin board
is used to quickly produce a number of slices of even
thickness. The user typically controls the food as it is
sliced and food stabbing devices are often used to protect
the user's hands.
Another problem with many mandolin slicers is the
problem of prevention of movement during use. Many free
standing mandolin slicers can move during use because even
though they may be free-standing, they don't have
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structures which enable the users to grasp them securely.
When a conventional slicer moves it can slide away, tip
over and tumble.
Further, conventional mandolin slicers have their
cutting blades constantly exposed, whether or not the
slicer is in use. Any inadvertent contact with the blade,
during the time when the slicer is deployed or when being
stored and retrieved is a significant danger. Young adults
and children who are not aware of the danger of an exposed
blade are especially at risk. Many mandolin slicers have a
locked position in which the platform is raised to a
locking position at the same level as the cutting edge of
the blade (or slightly higher). This means that if the
slicer is handled there is no chance of the user
accidentally slicing their finger or hand. However to
resume slicing, the user must unlock the platform so that
it can return to a position that allows the blade to slice
the food. If the user is using the product and suddenly
called away, for example to answer the telephone, the blade
remains unguarded. Another person, maybe a child, may touch
the slicer and suffer a serious cut as a consequence. This
is because locking must be done specially as well as
unlocking.
The utility value of a mandolin slicer depends upon
its safety, simplicity and ease of use. For
safety, any
steps which protect injury during use and after use are
very important.
Simplicity is important, since a
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complicated device with many features which occupy a
significant volume can complicate cleaning and maintenance.
Ease of use is another important factor.
The mandolin
should be quickly deployable, easy and simple to use, and
after use, have a structure which is quickly and easily
washable, and quickly stowable to a storage position.
Summary of the Invention
A board shaped mandolin slicer includes a folding leg
to stably enable the slicer to assume a stable angled
orientation. The mandolin slicer includes a front platform
having a front end and a rear end, with the rear end of the
front platform adjacent and slightly above a front cutting
end of a blade. The invention consists of a mandolin slicer
with a "dead mans handle". If the user wants to use the
product, a spring loaded handle is squeezed which will
automatically expose the blade by either allowing the
platform to lower away. If a user were to releases their
grip on the handle, the platform or barrier return to their
position in front of the cutting edge of the blade thereby
returning the product to a safe mode. It is further
possible to add a child resistant lock that would stop a
young child managing to operate the "dead man's handle"
even if the child were strong enough to operate the spring
opposed handle.
So, any time that a user leaves the mandolin slicer
and is not clutching a spring loaded handle, the mandolin
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slicer is in a safety position in which the rear of the
front platform covers the front of the blade and insures
that any object moving toward the blade is isolated from
the blade and is forced to pass over the protected front
end of the blade. Also,
while in this position the
underside of the blade is protected due to a very close and
possibly touching relationship of one end of the cam face,
and such that it would be nearly impossible to place any
object in front of the blade and thus nearly impossible to
be cut by the blade even from the underside of the mandolin
slicer.
The use of the mandolin slicer can only be
accomplished by placing one hand on the grip actuator.
This mechanism insures that the only time the blade is
exposed is during use, and that it automatically causes the
user to have a very good and stable grip on the overall
mandolin slicer to eliminate the possibility that a user
could lose control of it.
In terms of mechanics, a handle includes a spring
resist grip actuator which causes a front edge of a front
platform to move toward the handle to instantly place the
mandolin slicer in a position for use.
Aside from
providing a slicer where the blade is protected during non-
use, the force needed to overcome the spring is strong
enough that very small children will be unlikely to be able
manipulate the front platform forward to expose the cutting
blade.
In addition, the spring resist is used in
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conjunction with a mechanical position guide limiting
switch which allows the user to limit the degree to which
the
front edge of a front platform to move toward the handle to
thereby limit the spacing between the rear side of the
front platform and the front of the blade, to thus limit
the thickness of the slices.
The user can, by determining the degree to which the
spring loaded handle is squeezed, also instantly control
the slice thickness. So, without the mechanical position
guide limiting switch, the user is free to make slices of
varying thickness by controlling the squeeze of the handle.
However, most mandolin slicer users want uniform sized
slices. The mechanical position guide limiting switch is
there so that the user will have a "stop" against which to
squeeze, so that the user doesn't have to precisely control
a manual grip of the spring loaded handle. In essence the
mechanical switch will be enabled to allow the user to
squeeze the spring loaded handle to different depths, with
the user's only needed control aspect being to simply make
physically sure that the handle is squeezed to an extent
that it remains securely displace against one of the
internal stops controlled by the mechanical position guide
limiting switch. In order to allow the user to select the
thickness of a slice, it is normal to adjust the height of
the platform relative to the blade edge. By linking the
height adjustment of the platform to the degree to which
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the "dead man's handle" is squeezed, it is possible to have
the blade edge exposed by varying amounts thereby allowing
the thickness of the slice to be adjusted according to the
displacement of squeeze.
By using adjustable stops, the
user can simply move the adjustable stop to the selected
position and squeeze the handle fully. The platform will
move away from the blade and drop down to the selected
position allowing accurate and repeatable slicing.
Once the mechanical-position guide limiting switch is
set to a position, actuation of the spring opposed handle
will move the front platform forward to a limited position
which corresponds to both physical separation of the front
platform from the blade and a reduced elevation of the
front platform with respect to the blade (due to the action
of the cam face at the back end of the front platform
acting against the support shaft). The mechanical position
guide limiting switch can be configured to perform a
locking function by disabling the ability of a user to
displace the front platform at all.
This position will
prevent the blade from becoming uncovered even if the
spring urged handle is pulled or squeezed.
Alternatively, and in addition to the locking function
of the mechanical position guide limiting switch, two
locking buttons may also be provided through holes in the
main housing to lock whenever the front platform is brought
to a position to rest over and cover the blade.
Thus, it
will close two side locks whenever it is left unattended.
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Two buttons, one on each side of the housing, would provide
a child resistant feature as both buttons would need to be
urged inwardly at the same time, while the other hand
operates the grip, in order to open the mandolin slicer.
The two buttons could be depressed to unlock the front
platform fairly easily with an adult's hand, whereas a
child's hand would have considerable difficulty.
Therefore, a child would have to find a way to close both
side buttons to unlock, insure that the mechanical position
guide limiting switch is unlocked, and then while holding
both side buttons, begin to actuate the spring loaded
handle to begin to open the space in front of the main
blade.
An adjustable julienne multi blade structure may be
provided through the front platform in front of the blade.
A series of cutting members supported by a rotatable member
is easily deployed in front of the horizontal main blade.
The rear side of the front platform is lowered so that the
julienne blades assume a height in front of the main
horizontal blade which is proportional to the depth of cut
to be made by the main horizontal blade.
In this
configuration, the blades will not exceed the thickness of
cut to be made by the main blade.
Further, any device
which is used to push food and which depends upon the upper
rails of the board will not tend to touch the julienne
blades.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
The invention, its configuration, construction, and
operation will be best further described in the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of the upper surface
of the mandolin slicer to facilitate a brief introduction
of the names and orientation of the main components of the
slicer, and shown with the folding leg in stowed position;
Figure 2 is a side view roughly corresponding to the
overall view seen in Figure 1 shown to emphasize the
exterior simplicity, and portability, stowability and ease
of use;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the mandolin slicer
seen in Figures 1-2 and in which the components are further
identified and the details and relationship of assembly is
more completely seen;
Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the spring
loaded handle with the mechanical position guide limiting
block exploded away from to reveal details as a double
series of cross shaped projections or stops from a back
wall of the handle;
Figure 5 is a perspective upward view of the underside
of the mandolin slicer illustrating button locks which can
be employed, in addition to the "dead man's handle" to even
further child-proof the mandolin slicer;
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Figure 6 is a perspective view of the underside of the
mandolin slicer illustrating an overall view of the
components and detail of structures;
Figure 7 a perspective view of the mandolin slicer
seen in a deployed position ready for use with the leg
assembly deployed and supporting the handle end of the
slicer;
Figure 8 is a perspective view from above of one
possible embodiment of a food engaging pusher which may be
used with the mandolin slicer of Figures 1 - 7;
Figure 9 is an exploded view of the food engaging
pusher of Figure 8 which illustrates a separate plug
portion having a series of food engaging extensions and a
base having a regularly triangularly jagged downwardly
directed member;
Figure 10 illustrates a bottom plan view of the food
engaging pusher of Figures 8 - 9;
Figure 11 is a closeup view of the end of the front
platform showing an exaggerated view of blade guard which
exceeds the height of the front platform;
Figure 12 illustrates a closeup view of the end of the
front platform showing an exaggerated view of a "Y" shaped
blade guard which has portions which will cover the exposed
blade both above and below the edge of the blade; and
Figure 13 illustrates a reversal of the location of
the cam face seen as a structure supported by the side
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rails, with a cam follower provided as part of the front
platform;
Figure 14 illustrates an embodiment in which the front
end of the front platform is pinned to the side rails and
in which the handle operates a blade guard directly to
pull the blade guard underneath the front platform to give
the advantage of stability and the ability to have the
blade guard move relative to the front platform; and
Figure 15 illustrates an arrangement similar to that
seen in Figure 14, but where a cam member having a surface
which cooperates with a support shaft which is moved
farther toward its pivot point and where a platform is seen
having a flattened end which has an arc of swing which
brings it close to the front edge of the blade.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The description and operation of the mandolin slicer
of the invention is best begun with reference to Figure 1
which illustrates a perspective drawing of the upper
surface of a mandolin slicer 21 to facilitate a brief
introduction of the names and orientation of the main
components. Mandolin slicer 21 has a pair of side rails,
including a left side rail 23 and a right side rail 25.
The side rails 23 and 25 may be joined by an end handle 27.
Side rails 23 and 25 and end handle 27 may be formed
simultaneously.
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The end handle 27 may have a mechanical switch 31 to
set the cutting height between a front platform 33 and a
cutting blade 35.
In the view of Figure 1, the front
platform 33 slightly overlies the front edge (not seen in
Figure 1) of handle upper portion of the slicer, and is
shown with the folding leg in stowed position. Considering
the end handle 27 to be the front end of the mandolin
slicer 21, to the rear of the cutting blade 35 is a rear
platform 37 which is seen to have a curved portion 41.
The end handle 27 has a number of symbols 43 printed
above the mechanical switch 31 which include a picture of a
pad lock, adjacent a number of columns having one
rectangular symbol, two rectangular symbols and three
rectangular symbols. These symbols correspond to and show
that the mechanical setting of the mechanical switch 31 can
be set to allow the front platform 33 and a cutting blade
35 to be set to a locked position as shown, or can assume a
position where front platform 33 is gradually separated
away from cutting blade 35 in graduated degrees in order to
produce a graduated cutting slot just in front of the
cutting blade 35, as will be shown in greater detail in
subsequent drawings.
A spring loaded handle 47 includes a grip portion 51
and a guide rail portion 53, of which only a left guide
rail portion 53 is observable in Figure 1. When gripped
and when force is applied to cause the grip portion 51 to
move toward the end handle 27, the portion of the spring
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loaded handle 47 seen will move into the end handle 27, and
the front platform 33 will move toward the end handle 27.
Before or after this compressive movement has occurred, and
to limit the distance the grip portion 51 can be drawn into
end handle 27 to limit the movement of the front platform
33 away from the blade 35 the mechanical switch 31 can be
moved to a limit position. By limiting the movement of the
front platform 33 away from the blade 35 the user can have
a controlled, consistent limitation on the cutting
thickness without having to keep the user's hand under
exactly displacement control.
Also seen on the right side of the mandolin slicer 21
is a julienne control knob 55, having a covering end cap
56. Julienne control knob 55 controls a series of blades
(not shown in Figure 1) which can be raised through a
series of julienne blade slots 57 which are formed into
front platform 33. A separation is seen between the
julienne blade slots 57 and the blade 35 of about the same
distance as the length of the julienne blade slots 57.
Turning the julienne control knob 55 will deploy the blades
(not seen), each one in its associated julienne blade slot
57.
Other details seen include a curving portion 61 of the
front platform 33, and an upper handle guide rail 65 in
which slidably supports guide rail portion 53 of spring
loaded handle 47 from the upper side. Curving portion 61 of
the front platform 33 is adjacent an opening 63 between
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curving portion 61 and the grip portion 51.
Mechanical
switch 31 is seen operating as a side to side slide switch
within a depression 67 to provide stable, protected,
controlled movement for the mechanical switch 31. A leg
and notch fixture 75 is also partially seen at the
underside of the right side rail 25 at the end opposite end
handle 27.
Referring to Figure 2, a side view roughly
corresponding to the overall view seen in Figure 1 shown to
emphasize the exterior simplicity, and portability,
stowability and ease of use of the mandolin slicer 21. Leg
and notch fixture 75 is seen to have a notch 77 for resting
the mandolin slicer 21 on the edge of a bowl or pan. Leg
and notch fixture 75 may be made of a soft, non-skid
material to stabilize the mandolin slicer 21 whether
supported by a flat surface or pan or bowl. The underside
of right side rail 25 (and left side rail 23 although not
seen in Figure 2) is seen as having a less recessed,
downwardly projecting outer wall 81 and a more recessed,
downwardly projecting inner wall 83. The space between the
outer wall 81 and inner wall 83 form a channel 85. The
channel 85 is utilized to partially accommodate a fold down
leg angled member 87. As can be partially seen, is a fold
down leg angled member 87 which is attached to a bar
portion 91 which may be covered in a soft elastomeric
member 93 for non-skid support when the mandolin slicer 21
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is supported by its own folding leg assembly (not yet
completely seen).
Near the bottom of Figure 2, on the end of the
mandolin slicer 21 nearest the mechanical button 31, a leg
bushing 95 is seen inboard of outer wall 81 and outboard of
inner wall 83. The leg bushing 95 engages the leg and
assists its pivot action. A leg bushing securing member 97
has walls to match outer wall 81 and inner wall 83,
including an inner wall 103 and an outer wall 105.
A
slanted joining line 107 is seen between the inner walls
103 and 83, while a very abbreviated slanted joining line
109 is seen between the outer walls 81 and 105.
To the
right of julienne control knob 55 is a julienne blade guard
113 which guards against inadvertent manual contact with
the julienne blades (not yet seen), especially in their
stowed position.
Referring to Figure 3, an exploded view of the
mandolin slicer 21 is see to better illustrate all of the
components of the mandolin slicer 21 and their relationship
with each other. At the upper left, the rear platform 37
is shown as having a recessed space 121 for accommodating
the blade 35 so that in general the planar top of blade 35
will be generally even with the top surface of rear
platform 37. A series of mounting apertures 123 or other
structures. Partially seen at the underside of the rear
platform 37 is a series of protrusions or locating pegs 125
are preferably ultrasonically welded to left and right side
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rails 23 and 25 to help further stabilize the rear platform
37. The underside of the recessed space 121 has an angled
surface 127 to provide a more gentle exit for food sliced
by blade 35 and to facilitate an unmolested orderly exit
for the sliced portion of such food.
Shown to the right of the angled surface 127, the
blade 35 is seen. Blade 35 has a sharpened front edge 131.
Blade 35 may have structures on its underside or opposite
side to that shown in Figure 3 with will interfit with the
mounting bores or apertures 123. In Figure 3, just below
the blade 35, a support shaft 135 is seen. Support shaft
135 connects between the left side rail 23 and right side
rail 25 and forms a support for the camming action of the
rear of the front platform 33. The support shaft 135 has a
pair of reduced diameter portions 137 at each end, only one
of which is clearly seen in Figure 3, so that it can engage
an aperture and be limited in its insertion into that
aperture.
Below the support shaft 135, a julienne assembly 141
is seen. In addition to the control knob 55 and covering
end cap 56, a friction spring 145 is seen. To the left of
friction spring 145 a julienne blade support barrel 147
supports a series of evenly spaced julienne blades 149.
The julienne blade slots 57
should be able to accommodate
the julienne blades 149 over the range of translation and
elevation changes which the front platform 33 is capable.
The spacing of the julienne blades 149 are spaced to
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correspond to the spacing of the julienne blade slots 57 of
the front platform 33.
The orientation of the julienne
blades 149 are the same as they would appear through the
julienne blades slots 57, with the rear of the blades
having a flat edge 151 which would be supported by the end
of the julienne blades slots 57 nearest the main blade 35
as seen in Figure 1. Julienne blade support barrel 147 has
a pair of projections 153, only one of which is seen an
partially obscured by spring 145. The friction spring 145
will surround the projection 153 on one side and is used so
that some frictional stability is added to the supported
julienne blade support barrel 147 so that when the
julienne blades 149 are raised they will not inadvertently
tip down and so that when the julienne blades 149 are in
the down position, they will not be inadvertently raised.
Further, projection 153 is surrounded by a series of detent
projections 154 which may be on one side only of the
julienne blade support barrel 147 and interact with
matching structure on the inside of right side rail 25 (not
shown) so that the julienne blade support barrel 147 may be
selectably set at a number of stable positions. This is
but one of many ways that the julienne blade support barrel
147 may be pivotally fixed in a stable position.
Seen below the julienne assembly 141 is the julienne
blade guard 113. Julienne blade guard 113 has a three sided
structure including a base 155, longer front wall 157 and
shorter rear wall 159. A pair of side walls 116 cover the
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sides of the portion of the julienne blade guard 113 which
extend slightly below the more recessed, downwardly
projecting inner wall 83 on each of the left and right side
rails 23 and 25.
Near the upper corners of the longer front wall 157
and the shorter rear wall 159, a lateral projection 161 is
seen, but only on the lateral side facing the viewer. The
projections 161 on the opposite sides are not clearly seen
and are indicated by arrows.
To the left of the julienne blade guard 113, the front
platform 33 is again seen. Some details of the underside
are seen including a front cam face 165 which is positioned
to engage the support shaft 135.
As front cam face 165
engages the support shaft 135, the support shaft 135
supports the rearward side of the front platform 33. When
the front platform 33 is moved slightly forward, toward the
end handle 27, the rear end of the front platform 33 most
closely adjacent the blade 35 is allowed to both move
forward and downward by the action of the front cam face
165. Movement of the front platform 33 toward the blade 35
causes the rear end of the front platform 33 to move upward
as it approaches the blade 35, and preferably to a point
that it meets but is slightly above the sharpened front
edge 131 of the blade 35.
This action of meeting at a
point slightly above the front edge 131 of the blade 35
helps insure protection of the sharpened front edge 131 of
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the blade 35 as well as to protect users from inadvertent
contact with sharpened front edge 131 of the blade 35.
Front cam face 165 may be planar to give a completely
proportional action against the support shaft 135, but it
can also be curved to produce a non-linear
approach/displacement profile, such as an exponential drop
away at the start of the displacement of the front platform
33. This causes the ability to make thicker slices to
occur immediately upon opening of the mandolin slicer 21,
but gives a finer adjustment range concentrating on the
thicker slices. Conversely, it may cause the rear end of
the front platform to drop slowly during the first portion
of its travel and drop more steeply at the latter portion
of its travel, to give a finer adjustment range
concentrating on the thinner slices.
Further, the action of moving the platform 33 away
from the blade 35 adjusts the height at which the sharpened
front edge 131 of the blade 35 will engage a moving food
mass. When the front platform 33 is in a forward position,
the rear end of the front platform 33 will have moved down
to enable the front edge 131 of the blade 35 to cut a
moving food mass at a greater height above the front
platform 33 to produce a thicker slice to be ejected during
cutting below the angled surface 127. Conversely, when the
front platform 33 is in a rearward position, the rear end
of the front platform 33 will have moved upward to enable
the front edge 131 of the blade 35 to cut a moving food
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mass at a lesser height above the front platform 33 to
produce a thinner slice to be ejected during cutting below
the angled surface 127 and underneath the mandolin slicer
21.
Front platform 33, underneath and adjacent curving
portion 61, has a curved fitting 171 having a downwardly
directed engagement opening 173.
Curved fitting 171 and
downwardly directed engagement opening are used to enable
the grip portion 51 of the spring loaded handle 47 to exert
forward motion, toward the end handle 27, upon the front
platform 33.
As can be seen, the end handle 27 and the side rails
23 and 25 may be formed as a one piece unit. With the
exception of an upward extension of the more recessed,
downwardly projecting inner wall 83 to form an
accommodation space 181, both of the insides of the side
rails 23 and 25 are nearly identical.
In the view of
Figure 3, many of the inside details of side rail 25 are
identical to those of side rail 23 and those features of
side rail 23 may be may be visible.
Side rails 23 and 25 each have a rear platform
support rail 185 which may have a series of small blind
bores 187 to interfit with the series of protrusions 125 of
the rear platform 37. The rear platform support rails 185
support the rear platform 37 and insure that it will remain
locked into place between side rails 23 and 25 and is
preferably affixed by ultrasonic welding.
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Forward of the a rear platform support rail 185 each
of the side rails 23 and 25 have a shallow support shaft
blind bore 191 into which will fit the reduced diameter
portions 137 at each end of the support shaft 135.
Also seen is an inwardly disposed rim 193 which may be
used as a limited overhang and against which the front
platform 33 may be limited in its upward pivoting movement,
and which may also serve to support and stabilize blade 35
and rear platform 37. Adjacent the shallow support shaft
blind bore 191, each of the side rails 23 and 25 has a
julienne blade support barrel bore 195 which will
rotationally support projections 153 of the julienne blade
support barrel 147 to pivot between a deployed and stowed
position.
Accommodation space 181 is adjacent julienne
blade support barrel bore 195.
Accommodation space 181
enables a closer connection of julienne control knob 55 to
one of the pair of projections 153.
A pair of small blind bores 197 and 199 on each of the
side rails 23 and 25 correspond to the lateral projections
161 on the julienne blade guard 113. The longer front wall
157 is supported between the small blind bores 197 and the
shorter rear wall 159 is supported between the small blind
bores 199.
A small slot 207 interrupts the more recessed,
downwardly projecting inner wall 83 at a place where the
bar portion 91 of the leg assembly (to be discussed) folds
under the side rails 23 and 25. Closer to the end handle
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27 and under the level of the upper handle guide rail 65, a
lower handle guide rail 211 is present on both the side
rails 23 and 25. Between the upper handle guide rail 65
and lower handle guide rail 211, the guide rail portion 53
of the spring loaded handle 47 is supported, guided and
allowed to translate between the forward and rear positions
smoothly.
A number of components are seen adjacent the end
handle 27. A lower housing 221, during assembly, makes way
for entry of the spring loaded handle 47, with its guide
rail portions 53 slidably entered into the space between
the upper handle guide rail 65 and lower handle guide rail
211. Lower housing 221 includes spring securing posts 225
which will engage springs 227. The other end of springs
227 engage spring engaging posts 231 at the front of the
spring loaded handle 47. Thus, when the lower housing 221
is assembled in place, the spring loaded handle 47 is urged
toward the blade 35 and away from the end handle 27.
On the end handle 27, the depression 67 is adjacent an
access opening 235. The mechanical switch 31 is seen as
having a lever 237 which will extend into the access
opening 235. A clip 239 is slidably attached to the lever
237 after it is extended through the access opening 235 to
hold it in place. A mechanical position guide limiting
block 243 is engaged by the lever 237 and used to control
the permitted position of the spring loaded handle 47 in
the direction towards the end handle 27.
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To the right of the right side rail 25, a full view of
a leg assembly 251 is shown. In addition to the fold down
leg angled member 87, bar portion 91, and soft elastomeric
member 93, the angled member 87 is seen to be connected to
a fold down leg curved member 253. The curved member 253
and straight member 71 join to form a single member and
curve inward to a pair of terminations 255. These facing
terminations 255 are inserted into the leg bushings 96.
The placement of the Lower housing 221 causes the covering
outer wall 105 to trap end terminations 255 within the leg
bushings 96.
The leg and notch fixture 75 are each seen as having a
plug insert portion 261 each of which are affixed into the
far ends of the left and right side rails 23 and 25. On
the inside of the guide rail portion 53, inward projections
265 are seen. The projections 265 will be engaged by the
engagement opening 173 of the curved fitting 171. The
engagement opening 173 may have a snap fit onto the
projections 265.
Referring to Figure 4, a front perspective view of the
spring loaded handle 47 with mechanical position guide
limiting block 243 exploded away from it sufficient to see
its details, reveals a number of structures.
Aside from
the two spring engaging posts 231 already seen, a series of
cross shaped projections from a back wall 271 are
horizontally joined by a common central horizontal
projection 275. The central horizontal projection 275 is
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shared by the two spring engaging posts 231, and a number
of projection areas from the back wall 271.
The
projections seen occur in pairs and include a first locking
projection 281 and a second locking projection 283.
The
first and second locking projections 281 and 283 project
farthest from the back wall 271 (disregarding the two
spring engaging posts 231) and when mechanical position
guide limiting block 243 is positioned in front of first
and second locking projections 281 and 283, the spring
loaded handle 47 cannot be compressed into the lower handle
guide rail 211, and the front platform 33 cannot be urged
away from the blade 35.
A first thinnest slice support projection 287 and a
second thinnest slice support projection 289 are located
adjacent the first and second locking projections 281 and
283 and have a displacement away from the back wall 271 of
a lesser distance than the first and second locking
projections 281 and 283. First and second thinnest slice
support projections 287 and 289 enable spring loaded handle
47 to be slightly compressed into the lower handle guide
rail 211, so that the front platform 33 is urged down and
away from the blade 35 sufficient to produce the thinnest
slices.
Adjacent first and second thinnest slice support
projections 287 and 289, First and second medium slice
support projections 291 and 293 enable spring loaded handle
47 to be compressed into the lower handle guide rail 211
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about half of the maximum distance, so that the front
platform 33 is urged down and away from the blade 35
sufficient to produce the medium thickness slices. Adjacent
first and second medium slice support projections 291 and
293, first and second thickest slice support projections
297 and 299 enable spring loaded handle 47 to be compressed
into the lower handle guide rail 211 to the maximum
distance, so that the front platform 33 is urged down and
away from the blade 35 sufficient to produce the maximum
thickness slices.
The mechanical position guide limiting block 243 has a
main plate 307 with a rectangular aperture 309 through
which the lever 237 extends, in order to connect the
mechanical position guide limiting block 243 to the
mechanical switch 31 and enable the mechanical position
guide limiting block 243 to move laterally with any lateral
movement of the mechanical switch 31. Attached to the main
plate 307 are a pair of spaced apart parallel engagement
plates 311 and 313.
The spacing of the spaced apart
parallel engagement plates 311 and 313 is the same spacing
between projections 281 and 283, projections 287 and 289,
projections 291 and 293, and projections 297 and 299. These
force bearing pairs help spread and stabilize the force
resistance of the grip portion 51 against the mechanical
position guide limiting switch 243, which is in turn
supported, through its main plate 307 as main plate 307
bears against the inside of the lower housing 221. Other
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possibilities include greater multiples of the spaced apart
parallel engagement plates 311 and 313, and corresponding
multiples of the projections 281, 287, 291, and 297.
A
sloping, and therefore continuous surface would allow
selection of an infinite number of thicknesses to be
selected.
Referring to Figure 5, a perspective upward view of
the underside of the mandolin slicer 21 nearest the end
handle 27 illustrates one possible embodiment of the
previously mentioned button locks. A button aperture 325
permits partial passage of a spring loaded button 327. As
can be seen from the opposite side, the button 327 can be
made of a cantilevered part of the material making up the
guide rail portion 53 of the spring loaded handle 47. A
keyhole cut about the cantilevered portion and its location
in the guide rail portion 53 of the spring loaded handle 47
permits this feature to be added simply with a button
aperture 325 and a substituted spring loaded handle 47.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the underside of the
mandolin slicer 21 which illustrates a good overall view of
the components and detail of structures best seen from a
bottom view.
A series of three rivets 351 are seen
adjacent the angled surfaces 127 for holding the blade 35
in place.
The notches 77 of each of the leg and notch
fixtures 75 are seen as having a parallel orientation and
are wide enough to accommodate either a linear or curved
member placed between them.
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Referring to Figure 7, a perspective view of the
mandolin slicer 21 is seen in a deployed position ready for
use. There is plenty of clearance for a user to set the
mechanical switch 31, and bring the user's hand around the
end handle 27 through the leg assembly 251. The user will
likely bring their fingers around the grip portion 51 in
order to urge it toward the end handle 27 to cause the
front platform 33 to move away and down from the blade 35.
While still grasping the end handle 27 and grip portion 51
together simultaneously the user can slice foods by sliding
them along the front platform 33 and toward the main blade
35.
The julienne blades 149 are also illustrated in the
deployed position.
Referring to Figure 8, one possible embodiment of a
food engaging pusher 375 is shown. The use
of a food
engaging pusher 375 is important for protecting the user's
hand from any contact with either the main blade 35 or the
julienne blades 149, especially when the mass of food being
cut has a small remaining mass. The food engaging pusher
375 has a knob portion 377, upper cap 379 and an upwardly
curved lower portion 381. The upwardly curve lower portion
381 may have a regular shape and thus may have some
indicators such as arrows 385 to indicate the orientation
for the user to use with the mandolin slicer 21.
Referring to Figure 9, an exploded view of the food
engaging pusher 375 shows that the cap 379 is part of a
plug 391 having a series of food engaging extensions 393.
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The upwardly curved lower portion 381 has a bore 395, with
the lower opening of the bore 395 having a regularly
triangularly jagged downwardly directed member 397.
A
curved space 399 lies under the arrows 385 seen in Figure
8. Referring to Figure 10, a bottom view of the food
engaging pusher 375 illustrates the overall shape and
illustrates the structures which will engage a mass of food
working together.
Referring to Figure 11, a closeup schematic side view
of the end of the front platform shows an exaggerated view
of a blade guard 425 which exceeds the height of the front
platform 33. Here the end of blade guard 425 extends
slightly above the surface of the front platform 33. The
ramp effect will not significantly impact the slicing
function, and the top of the blade guard 425 may simply
include a slight upturn of the end of the front platform 33
to form the over coverage of the edge 131 of the blade 35.
The blade guard 425 is shown as somewhat continuous with
the angled surface 127 but it can be discontinuous with the
angled surface 127.
Referring to Figure 12 a closeup view of the end of
the front platform showing an exaggerated view of a "Y"
shaped blade guard 431 is seen. The "Y" shaped blade guard
431 is shown somewhat exaggeratedly, but provides an upper
edge 433 which will rest over the edge 131 of blade 35 and
a lower edge 435 which will rest under edge 131 of blade
35.
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Referring to Figure 13, a reversal of the location of
the cam face 127 is seen where a cam follower member 341 is
provided to work in conjunction with a cam member 345 which
may depend from the left side rail 23. The cam member 345
may be formed integral with the left side rail 23 (not
shown in Figure 13) and it may only need to extend a
centimeter or so beyond the inside surface of the left side
rail 23 and thus can be inexpensively formed and made. The
front platform 33 may still guard the front edge 131 of the
blade 35 depending upon the manner in which the cam member
345 is set.
Referring to Figure 14, an embodiment in which a front
end of a front platform 352 may have a pivot pin 353 or
other pivot connection to the left and right side rails 23
and 25. A guard link 357 is connected to a combination
blade guard and cam member 361, and to the curved fitting
171. The guard link 357 moves underneath the front
platform 33 and in essence moves behind the edge of the
front platform 352 which may then be positioned quite close
to the front edge of the front edge of the blade 131.
Referring to Figure 15 an arrangement similar to that
seen in Figure 14 is illustrated, but where a cam member
127 is seen as having a surface which cooperates with a
support shaft 135 which is moved farther toward its pivot
point 353. A front platform 381 has a vertically broader
end 385 which has the capability to provide a guarding
extent both above and below the blade 35. Figure 15 also
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illustrates that a range of placement for the cooperating cam
members can occur along a broad length, from adjacent and
under the blade 35 to a point much farther away from the blade
35.
This also opens the possibility for a shorter
displacement stroke for grip portion 51 which may translate
into a mechanically advantaged lowering of the front platform
381. The flattened end 385 of the platform 381 has an arc of
swing which comes close enough to the front edge 351 of the
blade 35 to effectively isolate it from manual contact, but so
close enough that any part of the flattened end 385 will touch
front edge 351 of the blade 35.
While the present invention has been described in terms
of a structure, device and process for a new mandolin slicer
and which has high safety and ease of use characteristics; one
skilled in the art will realize that the structure and
techniques of the present invention can be applied to many
structures and devices which are used in the kitchen, and
particularly where ease of use, safety, and adjustability can
be achieved in a single device.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the
embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the
broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a
whole.
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