Abstract:
Aspects of the present invention are directed to methods and apparatus for sectioning produce into substantially equal pieces. A produce slicer is provided for sectioning the produce into substantially even wedges, the produce slicer includes a base unit for supporting a piece of produce and a slicing unit having an array of spaced apart blades for partitioning the piece of produce. The base unit further includes a plurality of individual support members that operate to force the piece of produce through the blade array and to guide the slicing unit during a slicing operation. The base unit and the slicing unit are designed to congruently mate, such that the blades of the blade array pass through the piece of produce and between the individual support members of the base unit.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/262,594, filed Sep. 30, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/072,609, filed Feb. 7, 2002, now abandoned, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed generally to food processing devices and more specifically to devices for sectioning or subdividing food such as fruit into wedges.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Produce is often sliced or sectioned for a variety of applications. One such application is in the coring and sectioning of apples, pears and other fruit into edible pieces. Other applications are particularly relevant in the food industry, such as in the restaurant and bar industries, where it is often necessary to cut or slice fruit, particularly citrus, into individual wedged shapes for presentation to a customer as a garnish for food or beverages.  
           [0004]    There are several types of prior art devices for slicing or sectioning produce. Many of these devices employ a stationary member and a movable member wherein one member will include sectioning means, such as an array of equally spaced blades, and the other member will include means for pushing the piece of produce through the sectioning means, such as an array of equally spaced members. As the two members are brought together the piece of produce is pushed through the sectioning means, thereby dividing the piece of produce into equally sized pieces.  
           [0005]    In some designs, the stationary member will include sectioning means, while in other designs, the movable member will house the sectioning means. In many of the prior art designs, regardless of which member contains the sectioning means, the piece of fruit is rested on or in the stationary member while the movable member is brought together with the stationary member. In order to maintain proper alignment of the stationary and movable members during a slicing or wedging operation, many of these devices will employ a plurality of rod and sleeve alignment means for guiding the two members together. While generally adequate for alignment purposes, this method often requires pre-alignment of the rods and the sleeves prior to operation. It is desirable to provide a slicing apparatus wherein aligning one or more rods with a corresponding sleeve prior to slicing is not required.  
           [0006]    Typical prior art sectioning devices also include an exposed or inadequately sheltered blade array, which often makes using them hazardous. Therefore, it is also desirable to provide a device that provides an improved enclosure for a blade array.  
           [0007]    It is also desirable to provide a device that captures and contains any juice from the sliced fruit that may become dislodged during slicing, a device which has multiple surfaces for displaying advertisement and a device that is less expensive to manufacture than prior art designs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a produce slicer for sectioning produce into individual pieces. The produce slicer includes a base unit having a substantially cylindrical produce-supporting pedestal, wherein the pedestal has an exterior circumference, a slicing unit having a hollow cylindrical conduit, wherein the hollow cylindrical conduit includes an interior surface, an exterior surface, an upper end and a lower end, the hollow cylindrical conduit further having an inner circumference slightly larger than the exterior circumference of the cylindrical pedestal and a conical array of blades operatively disposed within the cylindrical conduit between the upper end and the lower end such that the conical array of blades is substantially sheltered from contact by an operator.  
           [0009]    The interior surface of the hollow cylindrical conduit may slidably engage an exterior surface of the cylindrical produce-supporting pedestal thereby aligning and guiding the slicing unit during a slicing operation. The produce slicer can further include additional means for aligning the slicing unit during a slicing operation. The additional means for aligning the base unit with the slicing unit during a slicing operation may include a pair of curved guide members, wherein the curved guide members are arranged to slidably engage the exterior surface of the cylindrical conduit and wherein the curved guide members operate to channel the cylindrical conduit of the slicing unit over the produce-supporting pedestal of the base unit. Likewise, the additional means for aligning the base unit with the slicing unit during a slicing operation may include a pair of notches in the bottom end of the cylindrical conduit and a pair of corresponding tabs operatively located on the base unit such that the tabs slidably engage the notches and prevent the rotation of the slicing unit about a center axis during a slicing operation. The produce slicer may be dishwasher safe and it may include at least one substantially flat surface appropriate for advertising. Further, the conical array of blades may include a pin at a center of the conical array for piercing a piece of produce. In addition, the produce slicer may include a pair of handles operatively disposed along the exterior surface of the cylindrical conduit. The base unit may further include a basin for collecting an amount of juice run off.  
           [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a self-aligning produce slicer for sectioning a piece of produce. The produce slicer includes a slicing unit having a substantially cylindrical conduit, the conduit having an inner surface and an exterior surface, a conical array of blades operatively disposed within the cylindrical conduit, a base unit having a substantially cylindrical produce-supporting pedestal, the base unit further comprising a pair of curved guide members, wherein the curved guide members are arranged to slidably engage the exterior surface of the cylindrical conduit and the slicing unit further comprising a pair of handles, wherein each handle is operatively disposed about a portion of the exterior surface of the cylindrical conduit such that one of the curved guide members passes between the handles on either side of cylindrical conduit.  
           [0011]    The slicing unit may include a pair of notches in the bottom end of the cylindrical conduit and the base unit may include a pair of corresponding tabs operatively located such that the tabs slidably engage the notches and prevent the rotation of the slicing unit about a center axis during a slicing operation.  
           [0012]    Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for slicing produce with a produce slicer having a base unit that includes a substantially cylindrical support pedestal and a slicing unit having a substantially hollow cylindrical conduit with a conical blade array disposed therein. The method includes steps of placing a piece of produce on the produce-supporting pedestal of the base unit, aligning the hollow cylindrical conduit of the slicing unit with the cylindrical support pedestal and pushing the slicing unit against the piece of produce.  
           [0013]    The method may also include the step of aligning an exterior surface of the hollow cylindrical conduit of the slicing unit between a pair of curved guide members. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings, which are incorporated herein by reference, and in which:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fruit-sectioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention showing a base portion and a slicing portion;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a base portion of FIG. 1 and a part of a slicing unit including a blade array;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a top view of the base portion of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is an end view of the two portions of the fruit-sectioning device of FIG. 1 as mated;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a side view of the two portions of the fruit sectioning device of FIG. 1 as mated; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a top view of the two portions of the fruit-sectioning device of FIG. 1 as mated. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    For purpose of illustration, the present invention will now be described with reference to slicing fruit, particularly lemons and limes. One skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these particular fruits, and that the present invention may be used for other applications requiring the sectioning of produce, such as tomatoes, apples and the like.  
         [0022]    A first embodiment of a fruit-sectioning device  10  of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.  1 - 6 . The fruit-sectioning device  10  includes a base unit  20  and a slicing unit  30 . In the present embodiment, the base unit  20  includes a generally cylindrical pedestal  12 , however, it should be noted that several other pedestal shapes are contemplated, such as square, oval and the like.  
         [0023]    Pedestal  12  includes a plurality of supporting members  32  for supporting a piece of fruit  40  during slicing. Each of the supporting members  32  has a curved exterior surface  46  and an inwardly curved upper surface  48 . The supporting members  32  of the cylindrical pedestal  12  are arranged in a circular pattern wherein the plurality of curved upper surfaces  48  combine to form a bowl shaped surface upon which the piece of fruit  40  rests during slicing.  
         [0024]    In the present embodiment, the slicing unit  30  includes a hollow cylindrical conduit  36 , however, other conduit shapes are contemplated. The conduit  36  has a top end  50 , a bottom end  52 , an inner surface  54  and an exterior surface  56 . In the present embodiment the slicing unit  30  is fashioned as a two-piece unit and includes a top piece  60  and a bottom piece  62  that are fastened together using screws (not shown), thereby forming a seam  64  at a point somewhat midway between the top end  50  and the bottom end  52  of cylindrical conduit  36 . Other means for fastening the top piece  60  with the bottom piece  62 , such as glue, rivets and the like are also contemplated. Additionally, the slicing unit  30  may be fashioned as a single piece unit.  
         [0025]    The slicing unit  30  includes a conical blade array  42  that includes a plurality of equally spaced angled slicing blades  44 . It should be noted that other blade array shapes may be employed, especially, if conduit  36  is not cylindrical. In the present embodiment, the angled slicing blades  44  are fabricated from a durable material, such as a commercial quality steel, which can withstand the acidity of the juice contained in citrus fruit and other produce, and that is capable of several slicing operations without the need for sharpening. The conical blade array  42  includes a ring  72 , which has an inner surface  74  and an exterior surface  76 . The slicing blades  44  are welded or otherwise attached on a first end  70  to the inner surface  74  of the ring  72 . Each of the angled slicing blades  44  is welded or otherwise attached on a second end  78  to a fruit-piercing pin  80 , thereby forming a conically shaped array  42 . Each slicing blade  44  further comprises a downwardly facing, sharpened cutting edge  82 . In certain other embodiments, the second ends  78  of the slicing blades  44  are connected together without a fruit-piercing pin  80 .  
         [0026]    The ring  72  also includes a circumferential lip  84  that protrudes away from the center of the blade array and that is substantially perpendicular to the inner surface  74  and the exterior surface  76  of the ring  72 . In the present embodiment, the conical blade array  42  is positioned within the hollow cylindrical conduit  36 . The exterior diameter of ring  72  corresponds with the inner diameter of cylindrical conduit  36  such that when the conical blade array  42  is inserted into hollow cylindrical conduit  36  the exterior surface  76  of ring  72  is flush with the inner surface  54  of the hollow cylindrical conduit  36 .  
         [0027]    To secure the conical blade array in place within the hollow cylindrical conduit  36 , the circumferential lip  84  of the ring  72  is sandwiched between the top piece  60  and the bottom piece  62  of the slicing unit  30  within the seam  64 . Securing the conical blade array  42  in this manner allows it to be easily removed and sharpened, repaired or replaced if one or more of the slicing blades  44  should become dull or damaged. It should be noted, however, that several other techniques are contemplated for attaching the conical blade array  42  within the cylindrical conduit  36 , including screws, rivets, adhesive or other attachment means. In the present embodiment, the conical blade assembly  42  is remotely located from the bottom end  52  of cylindrical conduit  36 , to prevent harm to an operator from accidental contact with the cutting edges  82  of the slicing blades  44 .  
         [0028]    As described above, the base unit  20  includes a plurality of supporting members  32  for supporting a piece of fruit  40  during slicing. The base unit  20  further includes a plurality of notches  100 , with each notch  100  formed by and located between adjacent supporting members  32 . As shown in FIG. 6, each notch  100  is constructed and arranged to allow a corresponding slicing blade  44  from the blade array  42  to pass between adjacent supporting members  32 . Further, in the present embodiment, the bottom of each notch  100  is angled outward to direct any juice that escapes from the sliced fruit  40  into a bowl-shaped basin  130  in the base unit  20  for collection.  
         [0029]    In the present embodiment, the inner circumference of the hollow cylindrical conduit  36  is slightly larger than the exterior circumference of the cylindrical pedestal  12 . Therefore, as the slicing unit  30  is brought together with the base unit  20 , the cylindrical pedestal operates to slidably channel the two units together. In addition, the base unit  20  further includes curved guide members  110 ,  112 , which act to guide the cylindrical conduit  36  and thereby guide the slicing unit  30  down over the piece of fruit  40  and over the pedestal  12  onto the base unit  20 . The curved guide members  110 ,  112 , as shown, include a pair of semicircular faces  114 ,  116 , which correspond to the curved exterior surface  56  of the cylindrical conduit  36 .  
         [0030]    During a slicing operation, a piece of fruit  40  is place on the curved upper surfaces  48  of the supporting members  32 . The bottom end  52  of the cylindrical conduit  36  is placed over the piece of fruit  40 . As the slicing unit  30  is brought down over the base unit  20  the slicing blades  44  pass through the piece of fruit  40  and into the notches  100 , while the cylindrical conduit  36  passes over the exterior surface of cylindrical pedestal  12 .  
         [0031]    In addition to the guiding mechanisms described thus far for aligning the slicing unit  30  with the base unit  20  during the slicing of produce, the cylindrical conduit  36  further includes a pair of notches  118  that correspond to a pair of tabs  122 ,  124  at the bases of guide members  110 ,  112 . As the slicing unit  30  engages the base unit  20 , the tabs  122 ,  124  ride up into notches  118 , thereby preventing the rotation of the slicing unit  30  about axis AA′.  
         [0032]    For gripping, maneuvering and guiding the slicing unit  30  during a slicing operation, the slicing unit  30  also includes a pair of handles  90 ,  92 , which are located on the exterior surface  56  of the cylindrical conduit  36 . In the present embodiment, handles  90 ,  92  include substantially flat surfaces,  132 ,  134  upon which advertisements may be placed, for example in a section  136 . Other advertising surfaces and shapes are contemplated whereby the functionality of the fruit sectioning device  10  is not compromised. For example, guide members  110 ,  112  may be formed in the shape of bottles (not shown) or other restaurant industry related shapes for the promotion of certain products or brands.  
         [0033]    In embodiments of the present invention, either the base unit  20  or the bottom end  52  of the cylindrical conduit  26 , or both, may include a rubber or some other resilient covering to absorb the shock of the end  52  contacting the base unit when cutting a piece of fruit.  
         [0034]    Having thus described at least one illustrative embodiment of the invention, various alterations, modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended as limiting. The invention&#39;s limit is defined only in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.