Abstract:
A device that aids in the filling of hot dogs, sausage and the like with fillers such as cheese, mustard and condiments is disclosed. One embodiment discloses a blade having a spiral shape having a cutting edge lying substantially in a plane. The blade is attached to a hollow cylindrical member and the blade is positioned such that it remains interior to and centered within the hollow cylindrical member. The cutting edge cuts a curved incision when a hot dog is forced through the hollow cylindrical member and over the blade. The curved incision expands when filling with filler but springs back into position when released. Other alternative embodiments are presented.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to cutting devices. More particularly the invention relates to devices that cut slits in tubular-shaped food. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Insertion of a filler in tubular-shaped food such as hot dogs and sausages is a common practice. A slit is cut along the length of the hot dog and then the filler is spread inside the slit. Cheese, ketchup, mustard and condiments are common fillers used. However, the slit provides only a minimal surface area for the filler; it allows leakage; and it runs the risk of either being cut to an insufficient depth or of being cut too deep. 
         [0003]    Another common practice is to insert a thin needle-like shaft through the length of the hot dog, and inject the filler by using a housing containing the filler attached to the needle-like shaft, and force the filler from the housing through the shaft via a plunger into the hot dog. Still another approach drills a core along the hot dog&#39;s center and then forces a filler through the core. However, these devices do not work well with fillers such as cheese and condiments. Therefore, there is a need for a device that allows a hot dog and the like to be filled such that a maximum amount of filler may be inserted and such that filler leakage is minimized. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0004]    The slit-cutting device of the present invention solves the problem of slitting a hot dog or other tubular shaped food in a manner that allows a filler, such as cheese, mustard, ketchup or condiments to be inserted in a slit. Once inserted, the tubular shaped food item has a minimum of leakage and has maximum filler capacity. In one embodiment, the device incorporates a blade having a cutting edge lying substantially in a plane such that the blade is spirally shaped and such that the blade is attached to and enclosed by a hollow cylindrical member. When the hollow cylindrical member is placed at one end of a tubular shaped food item and pushed in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the tubular shaped food item through the hollow cylindrical member, a curved incision is cut in the tubular shaped food item. The curved incision may then be spread apart and the filler inserted using a curved incision spreader or by using one&#39;s fingers. Once the filling is completed, the tubular shaped food item&#39;s slit springs back thus retaining the filler. 
         [0005]    An alternate embodiment to the basic slit-cutting device has the spiral shaped blade attached to a hollow cylindrical member segment and includes mechanisms that allow the hollow cylindrical member&#39;s diameter and blade position within the hollow cylindrical member to be adjusted. In another alternative embodiment, a tube is attached to the hollow cylindrical member, and a plunger that pushes the tubular shaped food item through the tube over the blade is provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a spiral blade of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1B  is a sectional view of  FIG. 1A  taken perpendicular to the sides of the blade. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  is a sectional view of the first embodiment taken parallel to the plane of the cutting edge. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a sectional view of the second embodiment taken parallel to the plane of the cutting edge. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  is a diameter-adjusting mechanism detail of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4C  is a sectional view of the diameter-adjusting mechanism of  FIG. 4B . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4D  is a blade-positioning mechanism detail of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4E  is a sectional view of the blade-positioning mechanism of  FIG. 4D . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  is a cutout view illustrating the cutting of a curved incision in a tubular shaped food item using the first embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5B  is a tubular shaped food item having a curved incision created by using the first embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5C  is the use of a tong-like spreader to spread apart the curved incision created by the first embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5D  is a tubular shaped food item having a filler inserted. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a kit containing three different sizes of the first embodiment of the device of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of a composite tool utilizing three different sizes of the first embodiment of the device of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8B  is a sectional view of  FIG. 8A . 
           [0026]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention having the case opened. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of the sixth embodiment of  FIG. 9A  having the case closed. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9C  is a sectional view of  FIG. 9B . 
           [0029]      FIG. 9D  is a perspective of the blade assembly of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    As used in this specification, the terms left, right, top and bottom, upwards and downwards refer to the figure that the reference numeral refers to. 
         [0031]    The term hot dog, when used in the detailed description, applies equally to other tubular-shaped food items such as frankfurters, knockwurst and sausages. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a blade  1  comprising a flat shaft  2  having a cutting edge  4 . Cutting edge  4  is positioned on shaft  2  of the blade such that cutting edge  4  lies substantially in a plane P and such that a substantial portion of shaft  2  containing cutting edge  4  is substantially spiral-shaped. Blade  1  has a first end  6  terminating at the inside portion of the spiral and an opposing second end  8 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 1B  is a sectional view of blade  1  taken perpendicular to plane P determined by cutting edge  4 . Shaft  2  is perpendicular to plane P along the length of blade  1 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a first embodiment  100  of the present invention in which blade  1  is attached to a hollow cylindrical member  102  at second end  8  of blade  1 . The spiral portion of blade  1  lies within the interior portion  106  of hollow cylindrical member  102 . Hollow cylindrical member  102  has an optional grip  104 .  FIG. 2B  is a sectional view of  FIG. 2A  taken in a plane parallel to plane P of cutting edge  4 . Hollow cylindrical member  102  of first embodiment  100  is preferably made of a rigid material. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a second embodiment  200  of the present invention. Second embodiment  200  has the shape of a hollow cylindrical member segment  202  having an opening  206 . A sectional view of hollow cylindrical member segment  202  is illustrated in  FIG. 3B . Hollow cylindrical member segment  202  is preferably made of a semi-rigid material so inside diameter D of hollow cylindrical member segment  202  may be expanded to accommodate different size hot dogs. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 4A through 4E  illustrate a third embodiment  300  of the present invention. Third embodiment  300  modifies the design of the hollow cylindrical member  102  of the first embodiment  100  so inside diameter D of a hollow cylindrical member  303  of third embodiment  300  can be adjusted. Third embodiment  300  also has a blade  336  and has a cylindrical handle  334  so the location of blade  336  within the hollow cylindrical member  303  can be adjusted once inside diameter D is set. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4B  illustrates an expanded scale perspective view of a detail of a diameter-adjusting mechanism of third embodiment  300 .  FIG. 4C  is a sectional view of  FIG. 4B . Hollow cylindrical member  303  is formed from a semi-rigid, springy, elongate flat band  302  that is bent in the shape of a hollow cylindrical member  303 . Elongate flat band  302  has a narrow leg  304  located on a first end  306  having a set of teeth  308 , and also has a rectangular opening  310  near a second end  312  that accepts narrow leg  304  such that narrow leg  304  fits through rectangular opening  310 . Rectangular opening  310  has a tooth  314  as illustrated in  FIG. 4C . The diameter-adjusting mechanism of elongate flat band  302  is sized and configured such that when narrow leg  304  is inserted in rectangular opening  310 , teeth  308  on narrow leg  304  engage tooth  314  in rectangular opening  310  when pressed against teeth  308 . Inside diameter D of hollow cylindrical member  303  may be made larger or smaller by moving narrow leg  304  back and forth within rectangular opening  310 . Elongate band  302 , when it is shaped like a hollow cylindrical member with narrow leg  304  inserted in rectangular opening  310  of second end  312 , provides outwards tension. This causes teeth  308  of narrow leg  304  to be pressed against tooth  314 , thereby locking elongate flat band  302  to form a hollow cylindrical member  303  of fixed inside diameter D. Once a desired inside diameter D is achieved, narrow leg  304  is released, thereby locking hollow cylindrical member  303  at desired inside diameter D. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4D  is an expanded scale perspective view of the blade-positioning mechanism of  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 4E  is a sectional view of the blade-positioning mechanism of  FIG. 4D . Referring to  FIGS. 2A ,  4 A,  4 D, and  4 E, blade  1  of first embodiment  100  is replaced by blade  336  that has the same spiral shape as blade  1 , but has a rectangular leg  337  at one end. Rectangular leg  337  has a row of teeth  338  and a tab  340  to the right of teeth  338 . Cylindrical handle  334  has a cavity  341  that accepts rectangular leg  337  and also has a first slot  342  that allows tab  340  to move back and forth in the direction of the longitudinal axis A 1  of cylindrical handle  334 . A spring component  344  fits in a second slot  346  located in cylindrical handle  334  below cavity  341 . Spring component  344  is attached to second slot  346  at a first end  348  of spring component  344 , but otherwise may spring up and down. Spring component  344  has a tension that forces a second end  350  of spring component  344  upwards toward the bottom of rectangular leg  337 , thereby forcing rectangular leg  337  upward such that teeth  338  engage a tooth  352  located in cylindrical handle  334 . Teeth  338 , second slot  346 , spring component  344 , and tooth  352  are sized and configured such that blade  336  may move back and forth along the longitudinal axis A 1  of cylindrical handle  334  when tab  340  is pressed down so tooth  352  does not engage teeth  338 . When tab  340  is released, teeth  338  and tooth  352  engage thereby locking blade  336 . This procedure allows the spiral portion of blade  336  to be positioned centrally located relative to hollow cylindrical member  303 . 
         [0039]      FIGS. 5A through 5D  illustrate the use of the first embodiment  100  for filling a hot dog. Hot dog H is placed above blade  1  and pushed downward through hollow cylindrical member  102 . As the hot dog H traverses through hollow cylindrical member  102 , spiral blade  1  cuts a curved incision C along the length of hot dog H.  FIG. 5B  illustrates hot dog H having a curved incision C that has been cut along the longitudinal axis A 2  of hot dog H. To add filler to hot dog H, hot dog H is placed on a horizontal surface (not illustrated in  FIG. 5C ) or held in a user&#39;s hand, and curved incision C is spread apart. The user may use a knife, a spoon, the user&#39;s fingers or an optional tong-like curved incision spreader  364  as illustrated in  FIG. 5C . When curved incision C is spread apart, filler F may be added. Curved incision C tends to return to its closed position when released.  FIG. 5D  illustrates hot dog H having filler F added and curved incision C closed. 
         [0040]    The first, second and third embodiments of the present invention may be adapted to accommodate hot dogs of various sizes. The first embodiment  100  has hollow cylindrical member  102  matched to a hot dog size so hot dog H fits snugly inside hollow cylindrical member  102 . To adapt the first embodiment  100  to be used with various size hot dogs, a kit having different hollow cylindrical member sizes may be provided.  FIG. 6A  illustrates the first embodiment  100  of the present invention implemented in three sizes  354 ,  356  and  358 .  FIG. 6B  illustrates a tool  360  having three sizes of the device  362 ,  364  and  366  of the first embodiment  100 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  illustrates a fourth embodiment  400 . It has a first hollow tube  402  attached to the top of the hollow cylindrical member  102  of first embodiment  100 , centered on hollow cylindrical member  102 . First hollow tube  402  is attached to hollow cylindrical member  102  such that an interior portion  106  of the hollow cylindrical member  102  so an interior cylinder  406  of first hollow tube  402  extends interior portion  106  of hollow cylindrical member  102  to form a single cylindrical surface. A plunger  404 , sized to fit inside first hollow tube  402 , is included. 
         [0042]    Refer now to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  7 . To operate fourth embodiment  400 , hot dog H is inserted in first hollow tube  402 , and the user inserts plunger  404  in first hollow tube  402  and then pushes plunger  404  against hot dog H such that hot dog H is pushed through tube  402  against blade  1 . When hot dog H emerges from tube  402 , curved incision C has been cut into hot dog H. Hot dog H is not shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0043]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a fifth embodiment  500  of the present invention, which includes all the components of the fourth embodiment  400 , and has an additional second hollow tube  502  that fits in first hollow tube  402 . Plunger  404  is resized such that it fits inside the second hollow tube  502 . Fifth embodiment  500  works over a wider range of hot dog sizes than the fourth embodiment  400 , since it may be used without second hollow tube  502  for one size of hot dog, and when second hollow tube  502  is in place, it may be used for hot dogs of a smaller diameter. Second hollow tube  502  has a lip  504  that prevents second hollow tube  502  from falling thorough first hollow tube  402  and allows second hollow tube  502  to be gripped easily. Second hollow tube  502  has two optional rings  506  placed inside of second hollow tube  502  to allow a smaller hot dog to slide smoothly. Use of plunger  404 , first hollow tube  402  and second hollow tube  502  makes cutting the curved incision C easier, since fifth embodiment  500  provides support for the hot dog as it is being pushed against blade  1 . The hot dog is not shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . 
         [0044]      FIGS. 9A through 9D  illustrate a sixth embodiment  600  of the present invention. Sixth embodiment  600  has a case  602  having a bottom case component  604  and a top case component  606  that are joined together by a hinge  615  positioned at the back of case  602  such that case  602  opens and closes like a clamshell. Bottom case component  604  has a bottom cavity  610  and the top case component  606  has a top cavity  612 . Bottom cavity  610  and top cavity  612  accommodate a hot dog H with room to spare to accommodate blade  618 . When hot dog H is placed in bottom cavity  610  and positioned toward the right end of bottom cavity  610 , and case  602  is closed, hot dog H is constrained by bottom cavity  610  and top cavity  612 . When case  606  is opened hot dog H is removable. Top case component  606  has a slot  614  that runs along a longitudinal axis A 3  of case  602  and is centered on cavity  612 . The upper case slot  614  accommodates a spiral blade assembly  616  comprised of a spiral blade  618 , a short rectangular shaft  622 , a tab  624  and a handle  620 . Tab  624  of spiral blade assembly  616  is matched to a notch  626  located on slot  614  such that spiral blade assembly  616  moves to the left and right within slot  614 , but is restricted from moving in an up and down motion or in a rotational motion with respect to slot  614 . 
         [0045]    Spiral blade  618  has a cutting edge  628  that is positioned in a plane that is perpendicular to longitudinal axis A 3 . Sixth embodiment  600  of the present invention is sized and configured such that blade assembly  616  moves to the right and left while being constrained by slot  614 . To use sixth embodiment  600 , hot dog H is inserted in bottom cavity  610  positioned toward the right end of bottom cavity  610 , and case  602  is closed with blade assembly  616  initially positioned to the extreme left of bottom cavity  610 . When assembly  616  is moved from left to right, a curved incision is cut in hot dog H. Once the curved incision is cut in hot dog H, case  602  is opened and hot dog H is removed. 
         [0046]    The hollow cylindrical members  102  and  303  of the present invention disclosed herein have annular cross sections, that is cross sections consisting of concentric circles. However other cross sections are included in the present invention, such as but not limited to those with elliptical and rectangular concentric shapes, as well as cross sections that vary in shape along different cross sections. 
         [0047]    The spiral blade of the present invention disclosed herein is spiral-shaped. However other shapes that depart from a strict spiral that cut curved incisions in a tubular shaped food item, such as but not limited to hook-shaped, U-shaped and C-shaped are included in the present invention. 
         [0048]    The embodiments of the present invention are to be considered as only illustrative of the present invention and not a limitation of the scope of the present invention. Various permutations, combinations, variations and extensions of these embodiments are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. Therefore the scope of this slit-cutting device should be determined with respect to the claims and not just by the embodiments presented.