Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02955450 2017-01-19
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62311-163421
FOOD PROCESSING APPARATUS
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application
Serial No.
15/266,419 filed on September 15, 2016, and U.S. Provisional Application No.:
62/280,500
filed on January 19, 2016, which are hereby incorporated here by reference in
their entirety.
Background of the invention
[0002] This disclosure relates to an apparatus for processing foods,
and more specifically
to a tool used to create thin strips of foods in a spiral shape.
Summary of the Invention
[0003] The design disclosed herein provides a food processing apparatus
having a
compact design that improves performance and provides various user protection
features. In
general terms, a food item is placed on an operative surface inside the
apparatus and rotatably
held in place by a pin or similar structure adjacent two cutting blades. One
blade is arranged
generally perpendicular to the operative surface to cut the food item into
strips. This first
blade may include a plurality of blades, with the number of blades depending
on the size of
the strips desired. The other blade is arranged generally parallel to the
first blade or blades and
is used to slice the food item. The food item is engaged by a rotatable pusher
at the top of the
food item, and a handle is provided such that the user is able to rotate the
food item against
both the first blade and the second blade, thereby creating narrow spirals of
food. These
resulting spirals are then discharged through an opening in the operative
surface. The pusher is
easy to remove from the rotatable rod to which it is attached, enabling the
user to clean the
pusher without having to reach into the unit and possibly engaging the blades.
[0004] A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from
the following
detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings, which set forth illustrative
embodiments
that are indicative of the various ways in which the principals of the
invention may be
employed.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
100051 Fig. 1 is a top, front perspective view of an embodiment of a food
processing
apparatus in accordance with this disclosure.
[0006] Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the food processing apparatus of Fig.
1.
[00071 Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the food processing
apparatus as
disclosed herein, and showing optional features and embodiments.
100081 Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional, side elevational view of the food
processing apparatus,
along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 2.
[00091 Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the food processing apparatus
as disclosed
herein.
[00101 Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the food processing apparatus of
Fig. 1.
[0011] Fig. 7 is atop, rear perspective view of the food processing
apparatus of Fig. 1.
[0012] Fig. 8 is a bottom rear perspective view of the food processing
apparatus of Fig. 1.
[0013] Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are perspective views of a food processing
apparatus in
accordance with this disclosure and showing the manner in which certain
elements may be
disengaged from the apparatus.
[00141 Figs. 12 and 13 are partial side views of a food processing
apparatus in accordance
with this disclosure, showing the manner in which certain components may be
retained in a
loading position without the user needing to hold such elements in place.
[00151 Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the food processing apparatus,
similar to Fig. 1 but
showing the unit in the operative position as it would be used with a food
item.
Detailed Description
[0016] The description that follows describes, illustrates and exemplifies
one or more
embodiments of the invention in accordance with its principles. This
description is not
provided to limit the invention to the embodiment(s) described herein, but
rather to explain
and teach the principles of the invention in order to enable one of ordinary
skill in the art to
understand these principles and, with that understanding, be able to apply
them to practice not
only the embodiment(s) described herein, but also any other embodiment that
may come to
mind in accordance with these principles. The scope of the invention is
intended to cover all
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,
such embodiments that may fall within the scope of the appended claims, either
literally or
under the doctrine of equivalents.
100171 It should be noted that in the description and drawings, like or
substantially similar
elements may be labeled with the same reference numerals. However, sometimes
these
elements may be labeled with differing numbers or serial numbers in cases
where such
labeling facilitates a more clear description. Additionally, the drawings set
forth herein are not
necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances proportions may have been
exaggerated to
more clearly depict certain features. As stated above, this specification is
intended to be taken
as a whole and interpreted in accordance with the principles of the invention
as taught herein
and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will be understood that
the reference to
elements as being generally flat or generally parallel or similar terms is
intended to encompass
minor variations therein that may be dictated by manufacturing tolerances or
other concerns,
and/or which are otherwise operable for their intended purposes.
100181 As shown in, e.g., Figs. 1-4, food processing apparatus 10
includes a base 68
intended to be placed on a flat workspace, such as a cutting board or counter
top (not shown),
for creating spiral cuts of a food item 60, shown in Fig. 14. Base 68 may be
removable to
improve the ability to fully clean the unit. Food processing apparatus 10 also
comprises a
main body 12 forming a holding chamber 20 disposed on top of a lower body 14.
Main body
12 consists of a sidewall 22 extending upwardly from lower body 14 to
terminate in a top
surface 18. Sidewall 22 is integrally formed with a plurality of legs 41
extending downwardly
from lower body 14, and these components are preferably composed of a hard
plastic such as
ABS.
[0019] Fig. 3 is an exploded view that shows two different possible
embodiments, namely
one with base 68, shown as being removable, and one where base 68 is not used.
Base 68
includes a plurality of slots 69, each adapted to receive one of legs 41 of
main body 12. As
noted above, it will be understood that base 68 is optional, and in case it is
not desired to use
the base 68, a plurality of feet 66 may be provided for mounting on the bottom
of legs 41 to
provide support on the appropriate working surface. Optional markings (not
shown) may be
placed on the base 68 adjacent one of the slots 69 and on one of the legs 41
to make it easier
for the user to assemble the unit properly after it has been disassembled.
[0020] A plate 30 is attached to an upper portion of lower body 14 and
forms a generally
flat operative surface 32 that will be disposed in holding chamber 20 and
parallel to the
working surface. In the embodiment depicted, plate 30 is clipped to receiving
structure 35 in
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lower body 14 by means of clips 34. Center pin 31 is secured to plate 30 to
act as a spike or
holding member to retain the food item 60 adjacent to the operative surface 32
in a rotatable
manner. Slicing blade 36 is fastened to plate 30 and has a cutting surface 37
that is slightly
offset from, and parallel to, the generally flat operative surface 32. Slicing
blade 36 is located
adjacent to the exit channel 55 formed in plate 30, whereby food that has been
sliced exits
through the exit channel 55 to the working surface. Base 68 also includes a
discharge chute 70
to permit the spiral output of food processing apparatus 10 to be easily
discharged from the
operative surface 32 to the working surface (not shown) such as a cutting
board or countertop.
100211 A dual comb blade 38 is also mounted to food processing apparatus 10
in one of
two positions. As can be seen in Fig. 3, dual comb blade 38 has a first,
larger comb 38a on
one side to cut food into wider strips, and a second narrower comb 38b on the
other side to cut
food into narrower strips. Both combs consist of a plurality of upright pins
formed by wire
cutting, and dual comb blade 38 may be installed so that one or the other of
the combs 38a,
38b is exposed above operative surface 32.
100221 Dual comb blade 38 includes an insert molded grip 39 and is held in
its operative
position by means of a fixing screw 42 inserted into passage 43 as seen most
clearly in Fig. 6.
Conical tip 42a of fixing screw 42 will fit into center slot 38c of comb blade
38. The user
should ensure that dual comb blade 38 is installed so that each cutting pin
thereon is the same
height from the operative surface 32; i.e., the tops thereof are not at an
angle to operative
surface 32, where they might contact pins 48 on pusher 16, as discussed below,
resulting in
damage to comb blade 38. As discussed in more detail below, a removable blade
guard 50 is
also provided. Dual comb blade 38 may be installed in its blade channel 44
when the blade
guard 50 is in place, which helps to retain the dual comb blade 38 in the
proper alignment and
avoids an improper angle for dual comb blade 38. A rib (not shown) may be
placed on the
bottom of the main body 56 of blade guard 50, directly above comb blade 38, to
assist in
maintaining comb blade 38 in its proper alignment. Therefore, when dual comb
blade 38 is
installed in either configuration, the upright pins of combs 38a or 38b are
generally
perpendicular to operative surface 32. Thus, as shown, e.g., in Fig. 14, a
food item 60 being
processed will first be cut into strips by one side of dual comb blade 38, and
then sliced thinly
by slicing blade 36.
100231 When not in use, dual comb blade 38 may be stored in a storage slot
57 formed in
blade guard 50. It will be understood that only one comb is needed, and the
dual comb
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=
arrangement shown is optional. It will also be understood that food processing
apparatus 10
could be used without dual comb blade 38 to create a wider spiral output.
[0024] As seen most clearly in Fig. 3, boss 19 is disposed on top
surface 18 and forms a
rod opening 21, which extends entirely through top surface 18. Main body 12
has a first or
front opening 28 through which the food item 60 may be placed to the holding
chamber 20 for
processing; this front opening 28 should be large enough to accommodate the
usual food items
that one would wish to spiral cut. A second or rear opening 29 is also
provided to, e.g., assist
in removing or attaching removable blade guard 50.
[00251 Pusher rod 24 extends through rod opening 21 and is supported
by rod bushing 25.
Rod 24 has a proximal end disposed inside the holding chamber 20 and a distal
end disposed
external to holding chamber 20. A pusher 16 is threaded on the proximal end of
rod 24, and a
crank 26 is fixed to the distal end of rod 24. Crank 26 further comprises a
crank arm 26a to
which a crank knob 27 may be attached. The size of the components of crank 26
will
dependent on the size of the overall unit and the force required to process
the food item 60. It
will be understood that pusher rod 24 and the components attached thereto may
be moved
upward and downward, in a direction parallel to the central axis of pusher rod
24, without
rotation, and the rotation of crank 26, rod 24 and pusher 16 is used for
processing the food
item 60 with the blades as discussed herein.
100261 Pusher 16 has a plurality of pins 48 extending downwardly a
bottom surface to
engage and hold the food item 60. Pins 48 are preferably stainless steel and
molded into
pusher 16. Pusher 16 also includes a boss 45 formed thereon which acts as a
receptacle to
receive, among other things, the proximal end of rod 24. A pusher threaded
insert 62 is
mounted in opening 59 of boss 45. As seen more clearly in Figs. 12 and 13, a
flexible sleeve
33, which in this embodiment consists a silicone sleeve, also fits into
opening 59, and is held
in place by tube anchor 65, which includes a set of internal threads to
receive the threads 24a
on the proximal end of rod 24 to secure pusher 16 to rod 24. Thus, a top
portion 33a of
flexible sleeve 33 extends above the top of opening 59 on boss 45.
10027] As seen in Figs. 12 and 13, when crank 26 is pulled up to the
loading position, the
top portion 33a of flexible sleeve 33 is received in the rod opening 21 in top
18. As crank 26 is
turned slightly, the friction fit between flexible sleeve 33 and rod opening
21 holds the pusher
rod 24 and pusher 16 in the loading position, without the user needing to
maintain any upward
pressure thereon, so that the user may use both hands to load the food item 60
into the holding
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chamber 20. Then, a small amount of downward pressure on crank 26 will release
this friction
fit, and enable the user to engage the food item 60 with pusher pins 48 and
start the process.
[00281 As shown in Fig. 14, after food item 60 is held by both center pin
31 and pusher
16, the rotation of crank 26 will cause the food item 60 to rotate against the
dual comb blade
38 first, and then against cutting surface 37 of slicing blade 36, thereby
creating narrow spirals
of food which are discharged through exit channel 55. To prevent the spiraled
food from
collecting below lower body 14, discharge chute 70 may be provided to assist
in discharging
the food to the working surface such as a cutting board.
[0029] Additional safety features are provided by the present design. For
example, blade
guard 50 is used to protect the user from the slicing blade 36 when the food
processing
apparatus 10 is not in use and also assists in separating the pusher 16 from
rod 24. Blade guard
50 is preferably composed of a stiff plastic such as ABS and consists of a
main body 56, a
front guard leg 52 at a front end thereof for gripping and holding the blade
guard 50 and a rear
guard leg 53 that engages plate 30. A pin engagement structure 54 is also
formed on the top
surface of the main body 56 of blade guard 50, and is shaped to receive the
pins 48 on pusher
16, as will be described in more detail below.
[0030J Blade guard 50 may be installed by inserting it through front
opening 28 until rear
guard leg 53 extends out the rear opening 29 and over catch 30a, which is
formed as part of
plate 30, and slot 53a lines up with notch 30b. A small rib or similar
structure (not shown)
may be formed on the inner surface of second guard leg 53 to lock into a small
slot formed
between plate 30 and lower body 14. Front guard leg 52 then connects to lower
body 14 by
means of a similar rib 52a connecting to surface 41a between a pair of legs
41. Thus, when
blade guard 50 is in place, cutting surface 37 of blade 36 is fully covered,
as is comb blade 38
if installed in its operative position. As noted above, comb blade 38 may be
removed from its
storage slot 57 when blade guard 50 is in place, such as is shown in Fig. 1
and 4, and then
placed into its operative channel 44, before blade guard 50 is removed. The
interaction of
either comb blade 38a or 38b with an inner surface of rear guard leg 53 will
help to ensure that
the comb blade 38a or 38b is in the proper operative position (i.e., not askew
with respect to
operative surface 32).
[00311 The use of blade guard 50 to assist in removal of pusher 16 can be
seen most
clearly in Figs. 9 through 11, where there is no food item in holding chamber
20, and blade
guard 50 has been installed, e.g., after food processing apparatus 10 has been
used and is in
need of cleaning. In Fig. 9, crank 26 and rod 24 are pushed downwardly, until
pins 48 on
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pusher 16 engage the pin engagement structure 54 and thereby prevent further
clockwise
rotation of rod 24 and pusher 16, as shown in Fig. 10. Since pusher 16 is
threaded onto rod 24
in a clockwise direction, a turn of the crank 26 in the counter-clockwise
direction will unscrew
the rod 24 from pusher 16 as rod 24 continues to rotate. Once the rod 24 and
pusher 16 are
disassembled, as shown in Fig. 11, the user may remove blade guard 50, with
pusher 16
mounted thereon, from the assembly for cleaning without having to reach inside
the housing
where the blades are located, increasing the overall safety of the unit.
(00321 It will be understood that the rotating nature of food processing
apparatus 10
requires that the food item 60 being sliced is centered on center pin 31.
Operative surface 32
may optionally include one or more centering rings 46 to assist the user in
ensuring that the
food item 60 is properly centered. These centering rings 46 can be seen most
clearly in Fig. 3.
[0033] While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in
detail, it will
be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and
alternatives to those
details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the
disclosure. Accordingly, the
particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not
limiting as to the
scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended
claims and any
equivalent thereof
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