Abstract:
A battery powered, automatic feed, disc type grater with a storage cover, interchangeable discs and waterproof motor gives users the ability for one touch operation and extended refrigerator storage and tap water cleaning of the components of the grater. A storage cap/container provides extended storage capability, while a ring stand enables the grater to be operated with the touch of a button while the grater is suspended over an area into which grated material may fall. A pusher assembly provides constant and automatic pressure on a material to be grated and against a grater disk, and a divider sleeve derives turning resistance for material to be grated from the pusher assembly while protecting the holder from contact with the material to be grated.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an improvements in the design and operation of a multi capable grater, utilizable with any solid food, such as cheese, bread, garlic, chocolate, bread crumbs, carrot, ice, nuts, to name but a few. In particular, the invention relates to a grater which has one touch operation, automatic feed, and the ability to use the grater as a storage unit because of its segregated vertical layout and small horizontal footprint. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A number of motor driven graters are known. Typically these fall into three main categories, including, reciprocating, disc and cylinder. In the cylinder type, a strip of metal having raised open perforations is formed into a cylinder with the teeth facing radially outwards. When the cylinder is turned by a motor, the teeth can grate pieces or strips of cheese from a block brought into contact with the cylinder, with the grated pieces usually falling through an opening of one end of the cylinder. Usually there is a lever mounted over hopper which the user uses to press the material being grated against the turning cylinder. The quality of the grated food depends upon the pressure on the lever, and the speed of turning of the cylinder. 
   The disc type of grater uses a disc of metal with similar raised perforations and openings to form teeth. When turned by a motor, the disc again grates cheese when it is brought into contact with the teeth. 
   The reciprocating type grater substitutes a linear reciprocating motion for the rotary motion of the other types of grater. Cheese held against the teeth grates cheese in a manner similar to using a manual cheese grater, although most motorized versions utilize a moving grating platform, and most manual versions utilize a structure for moving the cheese. 
   For most graters, regardless of version, it is impractical to offer a cover to allow storage of grated material within a refrigerator. Also for most graters, a user applied manual force is required to maintain the contact between the object to be grated and the grating surface. This has several disadvantages. First, different users will apply different levels of force against the object to be grated. The result will be a different quality grated product. Second, and even more importantly, the user&#39;s hands and attention are both required in the grating operation. Most high quality and culinary presentation grating operations involve positioning the grater over the plate so that the grated material falls gently into an inviting pattern atop other foods. A hand operated crank grater requires the user to press the food to be grated while simultaneously pressing the food to be grated against the grating surface, all while positioning the device over food located on a plate and also while trying to steady the exit port of the grater in the correct way over the food on the plate. A weak or unsteady user may inadvertently spill the food off the plate. 
   Even in the case of a motorized grater, the user is typically required to press the feed lever to urge the material being grated against the grating surface, and hold the actuation button with the other hand, resulting in a two handed operation. Again, the quality of grated product is likely to have an uneven quality depending upon who is operating the grater. In addition, the operator essentially has no free hand and cannot perform related tasks, such as providing a simultaneous mixing of other grated material or trying to create a food or color blend with other grated materials, or even in simply adding another ingredient. 
   Most grating is done by food processors which are not suitable for storage with the food being processed or grated, and are difficult to clean. Such food processors often fall into disuse directly because of the trouble involved in setup, use, and subsequent difficulty in cleaning and storing. 
   What is needed is a grater which is completely portable and can be operated with one hand. What is also needed is a grater which can be reliably and completely cleaned and which has a drive which is practically isolated from the material to be grated. The needed grater should be small enough and inexpensive enough that it can be used as a container set which may include long term storage of the material to be grated, and which presents simple steps for cleaning, loading of material to be grated and change of grating size. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   There is provided a battery powered, automatic feed, disc type grater with a storage cover, interchangeable discs and which has a waterproof motor compartment for easy washing. The grater is an integrated unit which consists of a power head containing a motor, batteries, gearbox and output Shaft, a holder for containing the cheese to be grated and an automatic pusher feed that urges the material to be grated into force contact with an interchangeable rotating grating disc. 
   The waterproofed design allows the power head, or main housing, with its battery cover and seal in place to be washed under a flowing water tap. Spring sets which are used to apply force to the material to be grated allow one handed action. A ring stand can be used, or a support ring and storage cap/container to provide directed reception of grated material. The use of the legged ring stand enables hands free support of the multi-grater above any container or plate/surface. The use of a shared lid for simultaneous use with grater and storage box gives great flexibility in use and in long term refrigerator storage. 
   To load cheese in the multi-grater, the holder is uncoupled from the main housing (held in place with multiple bayonet structure) and removed while a the grating disc and divider remains in place in place. Pieces of material to be grated, such as cheese, are placed either side of the divider and up to a maximum fill level. A two section feed pusher contains a pair of relatively strong spring sets that urge the pusher away from the main housing. When the holder is empty, the pusher is free to move to a position in which it almost touches, but stops short of the grating structures on the grating disc. Stops on the divider stop the travel of the pusher. A rotating stop structure allows the grater disk to turn without falling below the holder device. When the holder contains the desired level of material to be grated, the act of re-attaching the holder cause the pusher to compresses the spring sets as the holder is re-creating a force that keeps the cheese in good contact with the grating disc. Therefore during reassembly, the pusher touches the material to be grated and is pushed up into the main housing head, compressing the spring sets. When the holder is in the assembled position it can be twisted to relock the bayonets. 
   Pressing the On/Off button activates the switch resulting in the grating disc rotating and grating of the material to be grated. Grating can continue as specified by the user&#39;s actuation of the on-off switch. If grating is allowed to continue by leaving the switch on, the pusher will be forced out to its fullest extent. Again, when the material to be grated is depleted, further movement of the pusher is limited by the stops on the divider. 
   It should be noted that at this fully extended limit, the combined spring force of the spring sets may be about 25 Newtons, rather than zero. This is because the spring sets consist of two plastic moldings that trap a spring that would need to extend considerably more before the spring force dropped to zero. By using the spring sets which are loaded in this way, the minimum grating force is about 25 Newtons while the fully compressed spring sets, when the holder is full of cheese, is about 45 Newtons. To avoid the user being injured by the springs extending to their full unextended length, the spring set moldings, which are clothespin shaped, also limit the maximum spring extension to about 2 mm more than the length required when the holder is empty. In this way the user can unlock the holder bayonets and not have the springs extend to a long and unmanageable length. 
   Furthermore, the ends of the moldings or pair of opposing clothespin shaped structures of the spring set also grip the main housing and the pusher respectively. This means that the pusher will not fall away from the main housing during loading of the material to be grated. However, the pusher and spring assemblies can be fully dismantled with a gentle tug, to facilitate a full cleaning. 
   The holder, divider and grater disc can be split apart for cleaning. When assembled, the grater disc can rests on a lip at the base of the holder. The divider traps the grater disc in position and rests on a lip on the internal wall of the holder. In this way, the grater disc is free to rotate without becoming trapped between the divider and the holder. The pusher is free to slide inside the divider until it comes up against stops at the base of the divider. This stops the divider ever coming into contact with the teeth on the grater disc. 
   The divider has a pair of opposed walls that split the cheese receiving cavity into two halves. These walls act to stop the cheese from simply turning continuously around and around if the teeth on the grating disc dig into the cheese. In addition they support a central tube through which the shaft is passed during assembly. This tube aligns the shaft with an insert in the centre of the grater disc. The insert is fastened to the grater disc and has an internal hole with a plurality of splines. This large number of splines corresponds with an equal number of splines on the shaft. The large number of splines ensures that if there is a mismatch of alignment between the splines on the shaft and in the insert, only a small degree of rotation of the holder/grater disc/divider is required to ensure engagement. The free rotation of the holder around the outside of the divider along with the free rotation of the grater disc between the holder and the divider, allow the holder to be rotated so that the bayonets between the holder and the power head engage. This rotation is resisted if there is material to be grated, under spring pressure, between the pusher and the grating disc. 

   
     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: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the multi-grater over a support ring and lower storage cap/container; and 
       FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of the multi-grater which illustrates details of the lower mechanical structures which provide a pressing force against the object to be grated, as well as which provide a stable turning structure; 
       FIG. 3 , illustrates a perspective sectional view of a partial assembly of the structures seen in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the internal spring moldings which are clothespin shaped with one having hook ends and one having a bridged end, and with the circular ends for providing stable grasping between the main housing and plunger; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view with the battery cover removed to illustrate the external features of the main housing, including spring housings, motor and gear housing, in addition to the battery storage area; 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view divided between the spring sets and illustrating the motor and reduction gears and looking into half of a battery storage area; 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view similar to that seen in  FIG. 7 , but taken through the spring sets to illustrate details of the plunger/pusher and associated mechanical features; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the multi-grater seen in the previous Figures and in a configuration similar to that seen in  FIG. 1  but without the interposing support ring to show that in its absence the multi-grater can gently slide down into the storage cap/container to form enough sealing so that the multi-grater can be used for long term storage in a refrigerator; 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of a lid/multi-grater rest which acts to provide a handy rest for the multi-grater and as a lid which is sealable onto the storage cap/container seen in  FIGS. 1 and 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing that the lid/multi-grater rest seen in  FIG. 10  can provide a handy rest for the multi-grater while it is in sealable position onto the storage cap/container seen in  FIGS. 1 and 9 ; and 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing the multi-grater used with a legged ring stand which can be used to elevate the multi-grater over any object or surface, such as the storage cap/container, plate or other leg supportable surface. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The description and operation of the multi-grater of the invention will be best described with reference to  FIG. 1  which illustrates the multi-grater  31  seen over a support ring  33  and lower storage cap/container  35 . The multi-grater  31  has a compact, unitary structure seen as a cylindrical overall shape having a diameter of about three inches. The multi-grater  31  is seen as having a battery cover  37  having a saddle shaped upper portion and supporting an on/off membrane switch  39 , which is typically an elastomeric material, within the saddle shaped portion of the battery cover  37 . The saddle shape better enables the multi-grater  31  to be grasped with one hand while a user may selectively activate the on/off membrane switch  39  at will. 
   The multi-grater  31  may include a seal  41  within a housing indent so that the upper portion of the multi-grater  31  will be sealed, between the battery cover  37  and a main housing  43 . Below the main housing  43  a holder  45 . As will be seen, the holder  45  provides a chamber for holding the material to be grated under a force loaded condition against a grater disk (not seen in  FIG. 1 ). The holder  45  also provides an inner lip or raceway (not seen in  FIG. 1 ) to hold the grater disk axially within the holder  45  and yet permit it to rotate. As will be shown, removal of the battery cover  37  will permit access to the battery chamber, and removal of the holder  45  will give user access to the inside of the holder  45  for the purpose of placing material to be grated, or for changing the grater disk. 
   Below the holder  45 , the support ring  33  illustrates it as having an inwardly directed radial lip  51 , the innermost extent of which provides an opening  53 . The inwardly directed radial lip  51 , when the support ring  33  is used, positively engages the bottom of the holder  45  to prevent the holder  45  from passing into the lower storage cap/container  35 . The support ring  33  includes a vertical wall  55  which has a diameter to allow the bottom portion of the cylindrical surface of the holder  45  to enter, but to the extent that the holder  45  contacts the inwardly directed radial lip  51 . The inner vertical wall  55  terminates at a flaring lip  57  to help guide the bottom of the holder  45  into place. 
   At the outside of the ring  33 , an exterior wall  59  has a diameter which will enable it to fit snugly within an internal diameter of the lower storage cap/container  35 . The lower storage cap/container  35  has an upper rim  63  which is circular but for the interruption of a pair of curved portions  65  to assist in gaining a finger or fingernail hold on the flaring lip  57  to separate the ring  33  from the lower storage cap/container  35 . Lower storage cap/container  35  also has a vertical cylindrical wall  67  and includes a floor  69 . In essence, the lower storage cap/container  35  forms a cup which, with the assistance of ring  33  permits it to be stacked to catch grated material which passes from the bottom of the holder  45 . Further, an inside diameter of the vertical cylindrical wall  67  is about the same diameter of the internal vertical wall  55  of the ring  33 , so that the holder  45  can pass into the lower storage cap/container  35  when the ring  33  is removed as an intermediate vertical stop and axial spacing member. This helps the user by providing a more sealed assembly, where the user uses the multi-grater  31  as a periodic dispensing device, to enable the user to place the material to be grated inside the multi-grater  31  for long periods of time and preferably under refrigerator storage. The multi-grater  31  then forms a nearly airtight seal between the lower storage cap/container  35 , and when combined with the attachment of the battery cover  37  and holder  45  to the main housing  43  with close fitting bayonet structures, forms a sufficient seal for long term storage of material to be grated. Further, the on/off membrane switch  39  is preferably a flexible membrane which forms a seal at the top of the battery cover  37  to further exclude moisture. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a partially exploded view of the multi-grater  31  illustrates details of the lower mechanical structures which provide a pressing force against the object to be grated, as well as which provide a stable turning structure. Main housing  43 , has a lower cylindrical portion  71  which includes a set of bayonet depressions  73  to help lock the holder  45  in place, as will be shown. The outer diameter of the lower cylindrical portion  71  is sized to closely fit within an inner diameter of the top of the holder  45 . Also seen extending downwardly from the multi-grater  31  is an output drive shaft  75 . The surface of the output drive shaft  75  may have a suitable shape to engage a fitting or other object to transmit rotational power. The output drive shaft  75  is shown as having ribbed keying. The use of ribbed keying helps users engage and disengage the output drive shaft  75  without having to rotate the output drive shaft  75  through a number of rotational degrees in order to interfit with a fitting. Twelve ribs about the output drive shaft  75  is believed to minimize the need for problems with keying. 
   Below the lower cylindrical portion  71 , a pair of spring sets  77  are seen. Each of the spring sets  77  include a spring  81  and a spring containment structures having pair of opposing elongate interlocking structures  85 . Each spring containment structure  83  has a radial land  87  to engage the end of the springs  81 , and a pair of spaced apart elongate structures  85  which fits within one end of each spring  81 , and each one of the elongate structures fits alongside the similar pair of spaced apart elongate structures  85  of an opposing spring containment structure  83 . The spaced apart elongate structures  85  have a cross sectional area and length such that they provide linear guidance and also help stabilize the center portion of the springs  81 . 
   Below the spring sets  77  a pushing plunger  91  is seen. Pushing plunger  91  may be a unitary structure which includes a pair of spring guide and containment tubes  93  joined by a web  95 . Web  95  may or may not be curved. The web  95  shown is shown laterally curved in a direction away from the viewer, and also has a lower vertical extent which includes a gentle curve  97  and an upper vertical extent  99  which appears curved due to the angle of presentation, but is level with the upper open ends of the spring guide and containment tubes  93 . 
   The base of the tubes of the pushing plunger  91  each have an almost semi-circular pusher plate  101 . The deviation from complete semi-circularity of each almost semi-circular pusher plate  101 . Is due to a central slot space  103  formed between them, as well as a middle notch  105 . The opposing middle notches  105  form a drive shaft  75  central clearance opening  107  so that drive power can be transmitted to a point below each of the almost semi-circular pusher plates  101 , regardless of the vertical position of the pushing plunger  91 . The lateral curvature of the web  95  enables connection of the spring guide and containment tubes  93 , but standing to one side of the tubes to further accommodate the same drive shaft  75 . 
   At the upper right of  FIG. 2 , a pair of materials to be grated  113  and  115  and have an exterior simulating Swiss cheese as an example. These are divided into two pieces to show that they will fit within a divider sleeve  117  which has a pair of dividers  119  and  121 . The use of divider sleeve  115 , having at least one of the dividers  119  and  121  provides at least one structure to prevent a rotating grating surface from moving the materials to be grated  113  and  115 . Further, the at least one of the pair of dividers  119  and  121  need to extend all the way to the top of the divider sleeve  115 . At minimum, if of low height, one of the pair of dividers  119  and  121  only needs to extend upwardly enough to prevent turning of a portion of a single one of the materials to be grated  113  or  115 . The divider sleeve  117  may generally derive its resistance from turning by contact with the plunger  91 , and particularly the semi-circular pusher plates  101  which move vertically to one side of dividers  119  and  121  and prevent their turning. Furthermore, the divider sleeve  117  protects the inside of the holder  45  from direct contact with any material to be grated  113  or  115 . 
   Second, the use a pair of dividers of dividers  119  and  121 , in some geometrically defined orientation will allow a spatial separation of materials to be grated  113  and  115  on a plate or other surface. For example, if material to be grated  113  was a carrot, and material to be grated  115  were black olives, a predominant orange/black pattern would be created as the food was grated. Of course, grated food sometimes will adhere and not drop immediately, but the half and half pattern for a pair of linear dividers  119  and  121  would result. a one-third each pattern would result if three such linear dividers were used and arranged 120° apart, or a one-fourth pattern would result if four such linear dividers were used and arranged 90° apart. Admittedly, in a three inch diameter multi-grater  31  the hoppers for the materials to be grated would begin to become very small, but such subdivision may be more preferable in a larger multi-grater  31 . 
   Referring again to the divider sleeve  117 , the pair of dividers  119  and  121  meet at a central drive shaft tube  125 . The central drive shaft tube  125  surrounds the output drive shaft  75  from the point it emerges from the lower cylindrical portion  71  and isolates it from any of the materials to be grated  113  and  115 . Divider sleeve  117  has a cylindrical wall  127  having series of spacing ribs  129 . The top of the divider sleeve  117  has a circumferentially outwardly flange  133  interrupted by a series of notches  135  each of which only happen to occur at a position over each of the spacing ribs  129 , but need not be numbered the same as or located near the spacing ribs  129 . 
   Underneath the divider sleeve  117 , a grater disk  141  is seen. Grater disk  141  is seen as having a circular planar expanse of material  143  having a series of apertures  145  adjacent raised grater structures  147 . At the outer periphery of the a circular planar expanse of material  143 , the material turns upward to form a circular vertical wall  149 . The connection between the circular vertical wall  149  and the circular vertical wall  149 . The circular planar expanse of material  143  at the lower outside of the grater disk  141  is a smooth upturn at a corner  151  which represents a low friction edge which can be supported and yet easily will turn with minimum friction. 
   At the center of the grater disk  141  an upstanding shaft engagement fitting  155  is seen as having an upper ribbed bore  157  which easily interfits with a short portion of the end of the output drive shaft  75 . a portion of the upstanding shaft engagement fitting  155  extends through the circular planar expanse of material  143  and is engaged through and back onto the underside of the circular planar expanse of material  143  but cannot be seen in the perspective of  FIG. 2 . 
   Below the grater disk  141  some of the inner detail of the holder  45  can be seen. Inside the holder  45 , a slightly expanded internal diameter upper section of bore  161  is seen just above a slightly reduced diameter section of bore  163  and they are separated by a diameter transition  165 . The slightly expanded internal diameter upper section of bore  161  has a depth and internal diameter matching the lower cylindrical portion  71  of the main housing  43 . The slightly expanded internal diameter upper section of bore  161  supports a series of circumferentially inwardly disposed bayonet projections  167  which are complementary to the set of bayonet depressions  73  seen on the cylindrical portion  71  of the main housing  43 . Not seen in  FIG. 2  are the internal lower details of the main housing  43  which extend circumferentially inwardly to cradle and rotationally support the grater disk  141  at the corner  151  and extending slightly inwardly of the corner  151  to restrain grater disk  141  from falling or passing through the bottom of the holder  45 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2  illustrates further details of the spring  81  and pair of opposing spring containment structures  83 . At the bottom of the holder  454 , to the inside, a concentrically inwardly projecting inward rim  171  is seen supporting the grater disk  141  near its rounded corner  151 . As can be seen, the grater disk  141  cannot pass through the bottom of the holder  45 . Even when being loaded into the holder  45  with a position half turned, the effective diameter of the inward rim  171  is such that the grater disk will be easily captured by the holder  45  and almost automatically be righted into its operating position. 
   In the sectional view of  FIG. 3 , further details of the shaft engagement fitting  155  are seen in a perspective sectional view of a partial assembly of the structures seen in  FIG. 2 . a small lower portion  173  is seen extending below the circular planar expanse of material  143  and is captured by the circular planar expanse of material  143 . The lower center of the shaft engagement fitting  155  is seen as having an aperture  175 . As can be seen, the bottom of the central drive shaft tube  125  has an expanded diameter bore portion  179  to allow the shaft engagement fitting  155  to rotate with respect to the lower inside portion of the central drive shaft tube  125 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the clearance between the bottom of the divider  121  and the tops of the raised grater structures  147  is more than sufficient for free rotation. Any materials to be grated  113  or  115  will be under downward force urging from the almost semi-circular pusher plate  101  and may turn only slightly with the circular planar expanse of material  143  before one of the pair of dividers  119  and  121  is encountered. Then, as the circular planar expanse of material  143  continues to turn and slide beneath the materials to be grated  113  or  115 , grating occurs as small slivers of material are cut by the raised grater structures  147  and pass through the series of apertures  145  below the turning grater disk  141 . The multi-grater  31  can be grasped and actuated with one hand while held over a plate or other object to insure that grated material falls freely and lightly, without compression, preferably directly on food to be supplemented or seasoned. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a sectional view of the spaced apart elongate structures  85  of the spring containment structures  83  are shown. a first common pair of spaced apart elongate structures are designated  85 A, while a second common pair of spaced apart elongate structures are designated  85 B. The two common structures  85 A slide pass and are stabilized with respect to the two common structures  85 B. Spring  81  is shown partially encasing the pair of spring containment structures  83 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , an operating pair of the spring containment structures  83  are shown adjacent each other and in a position which they may be joined by being brought toward one another and rotated slightly. The common structures  85 A extend from the land  87  are joined by a web  181 . The common structures  85 B extend from the land  87  terminate in a pair of opposing hook structures  185  which, when the common structures  85 B are rotated ninety degrees and approach the web  181 , the pair of opposing hook structures  185  will pass around the web  181  to form a limit on the ability of the joined pair of opposing spring containment structures  83  to unlock from each other at their most displaced extent. Compressing the two pair of opposing spring containment structures  83  together is performed against the force of the spring  81 . Further, just inside the two lands  87 , a depression fits an opposing projection which is found within the terminal extent of the lower cylindrical portion  71  of the main housing  43 , and within the terminal extent of the spring guide and containment tubes  93 . To further orient an explanation of the overall sectional views, a perspective view of the multi-grater  31  with the battery cover  37  removed is shown in  FIG. 6 . The holder  45  is shown as transparent and attached to the main housing  43 . Above the main housing, with the battery cover  37  removed, a further set of bayonet depressions  73  are seen which engaged with a further series of circumferentially inwardly disposed bayonet projections  167  which are near the lower inside rim of the battery cover  37  (not seen in  FIG. 6 ). 
   a pair of spring housings  191  are seen, each of which accommodates one of the pair of spring sets  77  and contains the spring compression when the plunger  91  is in its uppermost position. a battery storage section  193  has a battery cover  195  which may be expected to accommodate a series of four size “AA” batteries arranged adjacent each other in an arc configuration. The battery cover  195  forms an angle with the main motor housing  197  using a latch  199 . 
   The main motor housing  197  includes a main motor housing cover  201  having an integrally formed lever member  203  connected through a curved junction  205  and which overlies an electrical on/off switch (not seen). An indentation  207  may be present to register with a projection on the underside of on/off membrane switch  39  to help insure that any actuation anywhere on the on/off membrane switch  39  will result in actuation. Pressing the on/off membrane exterior switch  39  on the battery cover  27  will move the integrally formed lever member  203  to close an electrical switch to turn on a motor (also not seen in  FIG. 6 ) to operate the output drive shaft  75 . This electrical on/off switch may be a touch to close switch or it may be a latch switch which is pressed to turn on and stays on, and then which may be pressed to turn off, much like the action of a click action ball point pen. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , a partial half section taken through the middle of the battery storage section  193  illustrates further details. An electrical switch  211  is seen underneath the uppermost part of the integrally formed lever member  203  just to the right of indentation  207 . Also seen is a downward projection  215  on the underside of the on/off membrane switch  39  which interfits with the indentation  207  of the integrally formed lever member  203 . 
   Mechanical details on the left side of the multi-grater  31  are seen including a motor  217  having an output pinion gear  219 . The output pinion gear  219  is mechanically connected to a series of mechanically interconnected reduction gears  221  which reduce the speed and increase the force of turning of the output drive shaft  75 . The output drive shaft  75  is shown connected to a drive shaft gear  225  to which the drive shaft  75  is connected. Drive shaft gear  225  is interconnected to be mechanically driven by the series of mechanically interconnected reduction gears  221 . The drive shaft gear  225  has an upper bearing  227  which turnably fits within a bearing support  229 . Below the drive shaft gear  225  a bearing and seal combination  231  is supported by a horizontal portion  233  of the main housing  43 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 8  a sectional view taken through the middle of the pair of spring sets  77 , in such a way that pair of opposing spring containment structures  83  have common structures  85 B shown over common structure  85 A. As can be seen the radial land  87  lies adjacent a plug opening  241  of each of the ends of the pair of opposing spring containment structures  83 . a plug  243 , seen within both the spring housings  191  and within the spring guide and containment tubes  93 , is seen as interfitting with the plug opening  241  to help stabilize each of the spring sets  77  so that the combination of the main housing  43 , spring sets  77  and plunger  91  will be held together even when the holder  45  and divider sleeve  117  is removed. This helps the user load new materials to be grated  113  and  115  without having to re-assemble the spring sets  77  and plunger  91  into the main housing  43  each time. This makes changing or re-loading the materials to be grated  113  and  115  occur much more quickly. 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , a perspective view of the storage configuration is seen, similar to that seen in  FIG. 1  but where the interposed support ring  33  is removed and where the lower storage cap/container  35  is brought up completely around the holder  45  to produce a low height configuration. This configuration is believed to be ideal for storing materials to be grated  113  and  115  in the pre-grated state as the close fitting lower storage cap/container  35  forms a seal which is nearly air tight. The clearance between the close fitting lower storage cap/container  35  and the holder  45  is preferably close and it is preferable for the top of the close fitting lower storage cap/container  35  to come upward at least as high as the holder  45 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , a perspective view of a container lid/multi-grater rest  251  is shown. An outer edge  253  gently flares concentrically outwardly so that the user can place the multi-grater  31  onto the container lid/multi-grater rest  251  without having to use both hands. The container lid/multi-grater rest  251  serves as a handy coaster to place the multi-grater  31  in between uses. Since the materials to be grated  113  and  115  may produce hanging “chad” or food particles beneath the grater disk  141 , the use of the container lid/multi-grater rest  251  will insure that any particles attached or falling through the grater disk  141  will be isolated to one spot. The outer edge  253  insures that any grated food will stay within one area. The gently sloping transition from rim  253  to a bottom surface  255  insures that the multi-grater  31  can be grasped, lifted and replaced without having to steady the container lid/multi-grater rest  251 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 11 , container lid/multi-grater rest  251  is shown as being a close fitting lid for the storage cap/container  35 , while serving as a support for the multi-grater  31 . The configuration of  FIG. 11  , along with the configuration of  FIG. 1 , as well as the configuration of  FIG. 9  illustrates the laterally compact nature of the system used with the multi-grater  31 , and its ability to be used in conjunction with the storage cap/container  35  and container lid/multi-grater rest  251 . a user who uses the container the multi-grater  31  as a simple condiment dispenser might predominantly use the configuration of  FIG. 9  for refrigerator storage. a user who wishes storage of one type of materials to be grated  113  and  115  while leaving the multi-grater  31  either empty, especially in a clean condition, or filled with materials to be grated  113  and  115 . If the components seen in  FIG. 1  were combined, the appearance would be essentially as seen in  FIG. 11  as the support ring  33  when covered by multi-grater  31  and placed on top of storage cap/container  35 , will appear similar to container lid/multi-grater rest  251 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 12 , a ring stand  261  is seen. Ring stand  261  has a ring portion  263  and may have the support details including the inwardly directed radial lip  51 , opening  53 , vertical wall  55 , and flaring lip  57  seen in  FIG. 1  with respect to support ring  33 . In addition, the ring stand  261  has a number of support legs  265  extending from the ring portion  263 . Ring stand  261  can be used over a plate or, as seen in  FIG. 12 , suspended over storage cap/container  35 . The configuration of  FIG. 12  is advantageous where a number of containers are sought to be positioned under the ring stand  261 . 
   Given the configuration seen in  FIG. 1 , and knowing that the grating process will take materials to be grated  113  and  115  and expand their volume. Since the storage cap/container  35  is about the same size as the holder  45 , it is clear that the storage cap/container  35  will not be large enough to accommodate all of the grated product from a single full loading of materials to be grated  113  and  115  from within the holder  45 . Especially where the user wishes to turn the multi-grater  31  on for a considerable time in order to grate a full load of take materials to be grated  113  and  115 , the use of the ring stand  261  over, perhaps a plate, will insure that all of the grated material is properly collected while the collection space is not limited. Where the grating process expands the materials to be grated  113  and  115  three, four or five times the volume, the ring stand  261  will be beneficial for extended time grating. 
   While the present invention has been described in terms of an integrated multi-grater, and particularly to a structure and device which solves the problem of uneven pressure provided to the material to be grated, solves the problem of producing an uneven grated product, solves the problem of requiring a user to be physically strong and requiring the user to utilize both hands and full attention at the time of grating food, and solves the problem of providing a refrigeratable container where the user wishes to use the grater primarily for dispensing one type of material to be grated over time. The combinational aspects of the grater invention are such that one skilled in the art will realize that the structure, facilitating accessories and techniques in which the objectives are achieved relating to the present invention can be applied to many structures and devices which are used for processing, storing and preparation of food items. 
   Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.