Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
I
CHEESE GRATER
Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to a grater. More particularly, the present
invention
relates to a new and improved grater for grating cheese and/or the like, and
also relates
to a kit for assembling the same, and to corresponding methods of assembling,
operating and/or use associated thereto.
Background of the invention:
Devices, such as graters for example, used for grating cheese and/or other
similar substances, are well known in the art.
However, despite these known conventional devices, there is always a need to
continue innovating and finding better and/or different ways of grating cheese
(for
example), in a quicker, easier, simpler, faster, more efficient, more
economical, more
reliable, more adjustable, more versatile, more adjustable, more sustainable
and/or
more desirable manner.
Indeed, it would be particularly useful to be able to provide an improved
grating
device which, by virtue of its design and components, would be able to
overcome or at
least minimize some of the known drawbacks associated with conventional
systems.
Summary of the invention:
An object of the present invention is to provide a new grating device which,
by
virtue of its design and components, is intended to satisfy the above-
mentioned need
and which is thus an improvement over other related graters, and/or grating
devices,
systems, assemblies and/or methods known in the prior art.
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In accordance with the present invention, the above main object is achieved,
as
will be easily understood, with a grating device (and/or an associated method
of grating)
such as the one briefly described herein and such as the one exemplified in
the
.. accompanying drawings.
More particularly, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a grating device for grating a substantially solid product capable of
being
grated, the grating device comprising:
a first housing being positioned, shaped and shaped for encasing the product
to
be grated;
a second housing operatively connectable to the first housing, the second
housing having a loading section being configured for receiving the product to
be
grated;
a grating drum rotatably mountable about the second housing, and being
positioned, shaped and sized for grating the product from the loading section
of the
second housing via a rotation of the grating drum against said product; and
a biasing assembly operatively cooperable with the first housing for biasing
the
product to be grated inside the loading section of the second housing towards
and
against the grating drum.
The present system is particularly advantageous in that, due to its components
and features, the grating devices enables to grate material (ex. cheese,
chocolate, etc.)
more conveniently and ergonomically.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
assembly, a system, a station and/or a machine provided with the above-
mentioned
grating device.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method
of manufacturing (ex. making, assembling, etc.) the above-mentioned grating
device.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method
of operating and/or using the above-mentioned grating device.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
assembly, a system, a station and/or a machine for carrying out the above-
mentioned
method(s).
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of grating using the above-mentioned grating device, assembly, system,
station, machine, and/or components thereof.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of operating the above-mentioned grating device, assembly, system,
station,
machine, and/or components thereof.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit
with
corresponding components for assembling the above-mentioned grating device,
assembly, system, station, machine, and/or components thereof.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided a
set of components for interchanging with components of the above-mentioned
kit.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided
a method of assembling components of the above-mentioned kit and/or set.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided
a method of doing business with the above-mentioned method(s), kit, set,
grating
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device, assembly, system, station, machine, processing plant and/or components
thereof.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided
a product (ex. cheese, etc.) having been obtained and/or processed (modified,
altered,
grated, etc.) with the above-mentioned method(s), kit, grating device,
assembly,
system, station, machine, and/or components thereof.
The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will
become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description
of
preferred embodiments thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only,
with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings:
Figure 1-XX are different views of various aspects, components and features of
a
possible grating device (i.e. "cheese grater") and/or different configurations
thereof
according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention:
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar
elements. Furthermore, for sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to not
unduly
burden the figures with several reference numbers, only some figures have been
provided with reference numbers, and components and features of the present
invention illustrated in other figures can be easily inferred therefrom. The
embodiments,
geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions (expressed
in
inches, for example) shown in the figures are preferred, for exemplification
purposes
only.
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Moreover, although the present invention was primarily designed as a grater
for
grating purposes (i.e. "cut", "remove", "detach", etc.) a gratable material,
such as a
cheese and/or the like (for example), it may be used with other types of
objects, and in
other fields, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For this reason,
expressions
such as "grater", "grating", "cheese", etc., used herein should not be taken
as to limit
the scope of the present invention and includes all other kinds of objects or
fields with
which the present invention could be used and may be useful, as apparent to a
person
skilled in the art.
Moreover, in the context of the present invention, the expressions "grater",
"device", "product", "system", "station", "machine", "equipment", "method",
"kit", and
"assembly", as well as any other equivalent expressions and/or compounds word
thereof known in the art will be used interchangeably, as apparent to a person
skilled in
the art. This applies also for any other mutually equivalent expressions, such
as, for
example: a) "producing", "manufacturing", "cutting", "processing", "altering",
"modifying",
"changing", etc.; b) "grating", "cutting", "removing", "detaching",
"separating", etc.; as
well as for any other mutually equivalent expressions, pertaining to the
aforementioned
expressions and/or to any other structural and/or functional aspects of the
present
invention, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art.
Furthermore, in the context of the present description, it will be considered
that all
elongated objects will have an implicit "longitudinal axis" or "centerline",
such as the
longitudinal axis of a shaft, or the centerline of a hole, for example (and as
a result,
there is a "transversal axis" being substantially "perpendicular" for each
longitudinal
axis, etc.), and that expressions such as "connected" and "connectable", or
"mounted"
and "mountable", may be interchangeable, in that the present invention also
relates to a
kit with corresponding components for assembling a resulting fully assembled
and
operational grating device (and/or simply "grater") for grating purposes
and/or the like,
such as with cheese for example.
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Moreover, components of the machine(s) and/or steps of the method(s)
described herein could be modified, simplified, altered, omitted and/or
interchanged,
without departing from the scope of the present invention, depending on the
particular
applications which the present invention is intended for, and the desired end
results, as
briefly exemplified herein and as also apparent to a person skilled in the
art.
In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings may comprise various components, and
although the preferred embodiments of the grating device and/or associated
method(s)
(ex. of assembling, operating, use, etc.) may consist of certain preferred
steps and
components as explained herein, not all of these steps and components are
essential
to the invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e.
should not
be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be
understood, as also
apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable steps, components
and
cooperation thereinbetween, may be used for the present method and
corresponding
grating device (as well as corresponding components) according to the present
invention, as will be briefly explained hereinafter and as can be easily
inferred
herefrom by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of
the
invention.
List of numerical references for some of the corresponding possible components
illustrated in the accompanying drawings:
1. XXX
3. XXX
5. XXX
7. XXX
9. XXX
11. XXX
13. XXX
15. XXX
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17. XXX
19. XXX
21. XXX
23. XXX
25. XXX
27. XXX
29. XXX
31. XXX
33. XXX
The present grating device is particularly advantageous in that, by virtue of
its
design, components and features, as better described and illustrated herein,
it enables
to grate material (ex. cheese, chocolate, etc.) more conveniently and
ergonomically.
The present system also advantageously allows to grate cheese in a quicker,
easier,
simpler, faster, more efficient, more economical, more reliable, more
adjustable, more
versatile, more adjustable, more sustainable and/or more desirable manner than
what is
possible with other conventional graters.
The present grating device 1 may come in the form of a grating device
including
one and/or several of the following possible components and features (and/or
different
possible combination(s) and/or permutation(s) thereof):
1.
A grating device (1) for grating a substantially solid product (3) capable of
being grated, the grating device (1) comprising:
a first housing (5) being positioned, shaped and shaped for encasing the
product
(3) to be grated;
a second housing (7) operatively connectable to the first housing (5), the
second
housing (7) having a loading section (9) being configured for receiving the
product (3) to
be grated;
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a grating drum (11) rotatably mountable about the second housing (7), and
being
positioned, shaped and sized for grating the product (3) from the loading
section (9) of
the second housing (7) via a rotation of the grating drum (11) against said
product (3);
and
a biasing assembly (13) operatively cooperable with the first housing (5) for
biasing the product (3) to be grated inside the loading section (9) of the
second housing
(7) towards and against the grating drum (11).
2. A grating
device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the biasing assembly (13) includes at least one
spring (15)
operatively extendable between a given wall (17) (ex. a bottom wall) of the
first housing
(5) and the product (3) to be grated, for urging the product (3) to be grated
towards and
against the grating drum (11).
3. A grating
device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein a first extremity (15a) of the at least one spring
(15) is
operatively connectable to a first pushing component (19) configured for
operatively
pushing against the given wall (17) (ex. a bottom wall) of the first housing
(5), and
wherein a second extremity (15b) of the at least one spring (15) is
operatively
connectable to a second pushing component (21) configured for operatively
pushing
against the product (3) to be grated.
4. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the first pushing component (19) is provided with a
protruding
section (23) being removably insertable into a corresponding cavity (25)
provided about
the given wall (17) (ex. a bottom wall) of the first housing (5).
5. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the corresponding cavity (25) of the about the given
wall (17)
(ex. a bottom wall) of the first housing (5) is a through-hole cavity.
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6. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the protruding section (23) of the first pushing
component (19)
has a rectangular profile, and wherein the corresponding cavity (25) provided
about the
given wall (17) (ex. a bottom wall) of the first housing (5) has a
complementary
rectangular profile.
7. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the at least one spring (15) includes at least one
pair of
springs (15), the springs (15) being provided about opposite sides of a same
pushing
component.
8. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the least one spring (15) includes two pairs of
springs (15),
each pair of springs (15) being provided about a corresponding opposite distal
side of
the same pushing component.
9. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein each spring (15) is disposed about a corresponding
guiding
post (27) operatively projecting from the same pushing component.
10. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein each guiding post (27) has an elongated body (27c)
extending
between first and second ends (27a,27b), said elongated body (27c) being
shaped,
positioned and sized for allowing an operative pushing component of the
grating device
(1) to travel therealong, the first end (27a) of the guiding post (27) being
securely affixed
to a first pushing component (19), and the second end (27b) of the guiding
post (27)
being configured for preventing egress of the second pushing component (21)
from the
guiding post (27).
11. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein each guiding post (27) is slidably insertable into a
corresponding bore (29) of the second pushing component (21) for allowing the
second
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pushing component (21) to travel freely along the elongated body (27c) of the
guiding
post (27), and wherein the second end (27b) of each guiding post (22) is
configured to
be capped with a corresponding closing plate (31) for preventing egress of the
second
pushing component (21) from the guiding post (27).
12. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein each bore (29) of the second pushing component (21)
is
positioned downwardly with respect to a corresponding supporting surface (33)
of the
second pushing component (21) intended to support the product (3) to be
grated.
13. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein each guiding post (27) has a substantially X-shaped
cross-
sectional profile.
14. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the second end (27b) of each guiding post (27) is
melted onto
a corresponding receiving portion of a closing plate (31) for creating a
permanent
connection with the closing plate (31).
15. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the first pushing component (19) comprises at least
one
stopping flange (35) being positioned, shaped and sized for delimiting a
minimal
distance between the first and second pushing components (19,21) when said
pushing
components (19,21) are compressed towards one another.
16. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the at least one stopping flange (31) includes a pair
of
stopping flanges (35), each stopping flange (35) being provided about a
corresponding
side of the first pushing component (19).
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17. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the least one stopping flange (35) is further
configured for
providing the first pushing component (19) with structural rigidity.
18. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the least one stopping flange (35) has a
substantially
trapezoid-shaped profile.
19. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the second pushing component comprises a curved
supporting surface (33) for supporting the product (3) being biased by the
biasing
assembly (13), and to be grated via the grating drum (11).
20. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the curved supporting surface (33) of the second
pushing
component (21) is complementary to an outer shape of the grating drum (11).
21. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the grating drum (11) is insertable into a
corresponding recess
(37) defined within the second housing (7).
22. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein second housing (7) has first and second openings
(39,41), the
grating drum (11) being insertable into the second housing (7) via the first
opening (39)
.. thereof, and wherein a distal rim (43) of the grating drum (11) is
configured to be
operatively mountable and rotatable about the second opening (41) of the
second
housing (7).
23. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the distal rim (43) of the grating drum (11) is
further configured
to be connectable with a securing ring (45) being removably mountable about
the
second opening (41) of the second housing (7).
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24. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the distal rim (43) of the grating drum (11) is
connectable with
the securing ring (45) via an interlocking mechanism (47).
25. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the interlocking mechanism (47) comprises
complementary
male and female components (47a,47b), at least one male component (47a) being
provided about the securing ring (45), and at least one corresponding female
(47b)
component being provided about the distal rim (43) of the grating drum (11).
26. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the at least one corresponding female (47b) component
is L-
shaped, including a first insertion portion (47c) and a second abutment
portion (47d).
27. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the second opening (41) of the second housing (7) is
further
configured for releasing product having been grated by the grating device (1).
28. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the securing ring (45) is coaxially mounted with
respect to the
second opening (41) of the second housing (7), thereby allowing grated product
to exit
through the securing ring (45) and corresponding second opening (41) of the
second
housing (7).
29. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the grating device (1) includes a cap (49) being
operatively
mountable onto the second opening (41) of the second housing (7) for
selectively
closing said second opening (41) of the second housing (7) and thus preventing
product
having been grated from being released.
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30. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the cap (49) is removably mountable onto the securing
ring
(45), and is positioned, shaped and sized for selectively closing said second
opening
(41) of the second housing (7).
31. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the cap (49) is provided with a handling tab (51) for
facilitating
handling (ex. removal) of the cap (49) from the second housing (7) (and/or
from the
securing ring (45)).
32. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the handling tab (51) of the cap (49) is provided
with at least
one finger-receiving rib (53).
33. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the grating drum (11) comprises a cylindrical grating
surface
provided with a plurality of grating elements (55).
34. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein each grating element (55) comprises a grating body
(55c)
protruding from a main body of the grating drum (11) and having at least one
grating
cavity (55a,55b) for allowing the product (3) to be grated via a driving of
the grating
drum (11) along a given direction of rotation.
35. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein each grating element (55) has opposite first and
second
grating cavities (55a,55b) for allowing the product (3) to be grated via a
driving of the
grating drum (11) along opposite directions of rotation.
36. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein each grating cavity (55a,55b) of each grating element
(55) has
at least one cutting edge (55d).
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37. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein each grating element (55) is symmetrical about a
center line
thereof.
38. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the grating elements (55) are punched into the
grating drum
(11).
39. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the grating drum (11) comprises a plurality of
slanted rows
(57) of grating elements (55) disposed about the cylindrical grating surface
of the
grating drum (11).
40. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein a first slanted row (57a) of grating elements (55) is
positionally
offset with respect to an adjacent second slanted row (57b) of grating
elements (55).
41. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the second slanted row (57b) of grating elements (55)
is
positionally offset with respect to an adjacent third slanted row (57c) of
grating elements
(55).
42. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the third slanted row (57c) of grating elements (55)
is
positionally offset with respect to an adjacent fourth slanted row (57d) of
grating
elements (55).
43. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein grating elements (55) of the fourth slanted row (57d)
of grating
elements (55) are aligned with respect to grating elements (55) of the first
slanted row
(57a) of grating elements (55).
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44. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein a first given slanted row (57a) of grating elements
(55)
includes seven grating elements (55), and wherein a second adjacent slanted
row (57b)
of grating elements (55) includes eight grating elements.
45. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the grating drum (11) is made of stainless steel.
46. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein first and second opposite rims (11 a,11 b) of the
grating drum
(11) are provided respectively with corresponding first and second covering
inserts
(59,61).
47. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the covering inserts (59,61) are overmolded onto the
opposite
rims (11 a,11 b) of the grating drum (11).
48. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the opposite rims (11a,11b) of the grating drum (11)
are
provided with corresponding indents (63) for receiving the corresponding
covering
inserts (59,61).
49. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the covering inserts (59,61) are made of a polymeric
material
(ex. ABS, etc.).
50. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein a first covering insert (59) is configured for
receiving a
corresponding handle (65) intended to rotably drive the grating drum (11), and
wherein
a second covering insert (61) is configured to cooperate with a securing
component (67)
of the grating drum (11).
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51. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the handle (65) s provided with a rotating knob (69)
being
pivotably mountable about a distal end of the handle (65).
52. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the knob (69) comprises opposite first and second
flattened
sides (69a,69b) for ergonomic handling by a user of the grating device (1).
53. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the handle (65) is operatively mountable into the
first covering
insert (59) of the grating drum (11) via a corresponding connection mechanism
(71).
54. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the connection mechanism (71) comprises at least one
clip
(73) disposed about a bottom section of the handle (65).
55. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the connection mechanism (71) comprises four clips
(73)
being distanced with respect to one another (ex. equally) about a bottom
section of the
handle (65).
56. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the first housing (5) comprises at least one side
wall and a
bottom wall (5e), said walls defining a containment space for containing the
biasing
assembly (13), and for encasing the product (3) to be grated.
57. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the first housing (5) comprises opposite first and
second end
side walls (5a,5b), and opposite first and second longitudinal side walls
(5c,5d).
58. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein a plurality of side walls of the first housing (5)
are curved
outwardly towards the second housing (7).
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59. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein opposite upper support portions of the first housing
(5) are
complementary in shape to an outer shape of a main portion of the second
housing (7).
60. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein said main portion of second housing (7) is
substantially
cylindrical, and wherein said upper support portions of the first housing (5)
are arched.
61. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the longitudinal side walls (5c,5d) have upper
support finger-
receiving sections (75) for receiving at one finger of a user of the grating
device (1).
62. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the upper finger-receiving sections (75) are slanted
with
respect to the longitudinal side walls (5c,5d) to provide a gripping section
of the first
housing (5).
63. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the first housing (5) comprises at least one bottom
anti-
skidding pad.
64. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the first housing (5) comprises a pair of elongated
bottom anti-
skidding pads, said pads being positioned at opposite sides of the first
housing (5).
65. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the second housing (7) is operatively and removably
connectable to the first housing (5) via at least one interlocking assembly.
66. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the at least one interlocking assembly comprises
complementary male and female components, at least one male component being
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provided about the second housing (7), and at least one corresponding female
component being provided about first housing (5).
67. A grating device (1) according to any one of the preceding
combinations(s), wherein the at least one interlocking assembly comprises a
pair of
spaced-apart projecting tabs provided about the second housing (7), said pair
of
spaced-apart projecting tabs being removably insertable into a pair of
corresponding
orifices provided on opposite side walls of the first housing (5).
As may now better be appreciated, the present invention is a substantial
improvement over the know prior art in that, by virtue of its design and
components, as
explained herein, and the particular configuration of the grating device
and/or
components/accessories thereof according to the present system enable to grate
material (ex. cheese, chocolate, etc.) more conveniently and ergonomically.
The
present system also advantageously allows to grate cheese in a quicker,
easier,
simpler, faster, more efficient, more economical, more reliable, more
adjustable, more
versatile, more adjustable, more sustainable and/or more desirable manner than
what is
possible with other known conventional grating devices and/or methods.
Of course, and as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art, the
scope of the claims should not be limited by the possible embodiments set
forth in the
examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the
description as a whole.
Furthermore, although preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been briefly described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it
is to be
understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments and that
various
changes and modifications could be made without departing form the scope and
spirit of
the present invention, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art.
,
CA 2998212 2018-03-16
