Abstract:
Provided is a tool for cutting food into pieces, that includes at least one cutting element adjacent to a bearing surface. The cutting element has at least one vertical member forming a longitudinal cutting member provided for slicing the food to be cut longways, and a transverse wall having, on either side of the vertical member, two transverse cutting members provided for separating the food pieces that were sliced longways, so as to provide two channels for cut food. The vertical member has a front notch. A retaining member, which is rigidly connected to the bearing surface, can be inserted into the front notch. Also provided is an accessory for preparing food and to an appliance for preparing food having the above-described tool for cutting food into pieces.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the United States national phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2012/060191 filed May 30, 2012, and claims priority to France Patent Application No. 1154847 filed Jun. 1, 2011, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention concerns the technical area of cutting food into pieces. 
     This invention concerns, in particular, cutting food into sticks or slices for French fries or julienned vegetables. 
     This invention relates to tools for cutting food into pieces, to accessories for preparing food designed to cut food into pieces and to food preparation devices to cut food into pieces. 
     One purpose of this invention is to provide a cutting tool of the aforementioned type which is robust but compact. 
     Another purpose of this invention is to provide a food preparation accessory with a cutting tool of the aforementioned type which is robust but compact. 
     Another purpose of this invention is to provide a food preparation device with a cutting tool of the aforementioned type which is robust but compact. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These purposes are achieved with a tool for cutting food into pieces with at least one cutting element adjacent to a support surface which provides for movement of the food item to be cut relative to the cutting element, where the cutting element contains a transverse wall which extends along a support surface, the cutting element includes at least one mount projecting from the transverse wall, where said mount forms a longitudinal cutting body designed to split the food to be cut, where the transverse wall includes on either side of said mount two transverse cutting bodies designed to detach the pieces of split food, where said mount includes two passages for cut food with the transverse wall and the support surface, where due to the fact that said mount has a frontal notch, the longitudinal cutting body is located between the transverse wall and the frontal notch and a retention body is attached to the support surface engaged with the frontal notch. This allows the distance between the support surface and the transverse cutting bodies to be better maintained. The risk of deformation and/or rising of the cutting element because of a hard food item is significantly reduced or even eliminated. 
     The shape of the passages for cut food is more easily retained without requiring cutting elements which are particularly rigid and/or sharp. 
     In accordance with one advantageous embodiment, the retention body forms part a support element which makes up at least a portion of the support surface. 
     During cutting, therefore, the food item may slide along the support surface up to the mount. This reduces the length of the mount between the frontal notch and the transverse wall, thereby increasing mount rigidity. In an alternative, the support element could, in particular, be mounted on a wall of the tool for cutting food into pieces opposite the support surface. 
     In accordance with one advantageous embodiment, the cutting element is attached to a tool body. In an alternative, the cutting element could, in particular, extend from a tool body or be mounted, in a removable manner, to a tool body. 
     The cutting element may then be attached to the tool body with rivets. In an alternative, the tool body could, in particular, be milled onto the cutting element. 
     In accordance with one advantageous embodiment, the retention body is attached to the tool body. In an alternative, the retention body could, in particular, extend from a tool body, or even be mounted in a removable fashion to a tool body attached to the partner cutting element. 
     The retention body may then be attached to the tool body with rivets. 
     In an alternative, the tool body could, in particular, be milled onto the retention body. 
     The tool body could advantageously form at least a portion of the support surface. This would reduce the size of the cutting element and/or the retention body. 
     The tool body could advantageously be made of plastic. This would allow great flexibility in the shape of the tool body. 
     In accordance with one form of completion, the tool for cutting food into pieces contains a rotation element. The tool for cutting food into pieces then can be cylindrical, in the shape of a truncated cone, or in the shape of disk. In an alternative, the tool for cutting food into pieces could include a translation drive mechanism, as part of an electric slicer, or even lack a drive mechanism, as part of a slicer. 
     The rotation element could advantageously be part of the tool body. This would simplify completion of the tool for cutting food into pieces. 
     The tool for cutting food into pieces could advantageously be in the shape of a truncated cone or cylindrical wall surrounding a bottom wall with a rotation element. The cutting element would then be located outside the truncated cone or cylindrical wall. In this configuration, the transverse cutting bodies have a curved trajectory and exert a pull on the food to be cut. A particularly hard or resistant food item could then force the transverse cutting bodies to rise. The retention body engaged in the frontal notch housed in the mount offsets the rising force of the food item. The cutting element&#39;s rigidity is increased. A particularly robust cutting tool in the shape of a truncated cone or in a cylindrical shape could then be designed. 
     The cutting element could advantageously include at least two mounts, each with a frontal notch, with the retention body engaged with the frontal notches. Therefore, the same retention body could be used for at least two mounts. This would simplify the implementation of the cutting tool while improving its strength. 
     These purposes can also be achieved with a food preparation accessory designed to cut food into pieces which includes a storage compartment housing a tool for cutting food into pieces with at least one cutting element with at least two passages for cut food adjacent to a support surface, where the storage compartment has a food insertion opening which leads to the support surface and an cut food exit linked to the passages for cut food, where the tool for cutting food into pieces has at least one of the aforementioned characteristics. 
     These purposes can also be achieved with a food preparation device designed to cut food into pieces which includes a storage compartment housing a tool for cutting food into pieces with at least one cutting element with at least two passages for cut food adjacent to a support surface, where the storage compartment has a food insertion opening which leads to the support surface and a cut food exit linked to the passages for cut food, where the device with a drive mechanism designed to move the tool for cutting food into pieces so that the cutting element sweeps the food insertion opening, if desired using a drive mechanism, where the tool for cutting food into pieces has at least one of the aforementioned characteristics. 
     In accordance with one advantageous embodiment, the storage compartment is mounted in a removable fashion to a motor casing, the drive mechanism is part of the motor casing, and the storage compartment has a transmission mechanism which works with the drive mechanism when the storage compartment is mounted on the motor casing, and the transmission mechanism allows the tool for cutting food into pieces to be placed in the storage compartment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood by examining an example of embodiment, which is in no manner limitative, shown in the attached figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an example of embodiment of a tool for cutting food into pieces in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded side view of the tool for cutting food into pieces shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an example of embodiment of a food preparation accessory containing the tool for cutting food into pieces shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an example of embodiment of a food preparation device containing the food preparation accessory shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The tool for cutting food into pieces  1  shown in  FIG. 1  is in the shape of a truncated cone and designed to be rotated. However, the invention is not limited to cutting tools in the shape of a truncated cone, but also covers fixed cutting tools, cutting tools which move back and forth, and cutting tools which rotate and which are cylindrical or circular. 
     The tool for cutting food into pieces  1  shown in  FIG. 1  contains at least one cutting element  2  adjacent to support surface  3 . Support surface  3  is designed to allow movement of the food item to be cut relative to cutting element  2 . Retention body  4  is attached to support surface  3 . 
     Cutting element  2  includes transverse wall  10  which extends along the support surface. Cutting element  2  includes at least one mount  11  which projects from transverse wall  10 . Said mount  11  contains two passages for cut food  12  with transverse wall  10  and support surface  3 . To this end, said mount  11  forms longitudinal cutting body  13  designed to split the food to be cut, and transverse wall  10  has on either said of said mount  11  two transverse cutting bodies  14  designed to detach the pieces of food split. 
     In the example of embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , retention body  4  forms part of support element  5  which forms at least a portion of support surface  3 . Cutting element  2  is attached to tool body  6 . Tool body  6  forms at least a portion of support surface  3 . Tool body  6  is advantageously made of plastic. 
     More in particular, cutting element  2  is attached to tool body  6  with rivets  7 . Retention body  4  is attached to tool body  6 . More in particular, retention body  4  is attached to tool body  6  with rivets  8 . 
     Tool for cutting food into pieces  1  includes truncated cone wall  20  which is part of tool body  6 . Cutting element  2  is attached outside truncated cone wall  20 . 
     Cutting element  2  shown in Figures includes six mounts  11  of transverse wall  10 . Six mounts  11  have seven passages for cut food  12 . Transverse wall  10  contains seven transverse cutting bodies  14 . Accordingly, two adjacent mounts  11  are separated by transverse cutting body  14 . 
     As better seen in  FIG. 2 , each mount  11  has frontal notch  15 . Retention body  4  attached to support surface  3  is engaged with frontal notch  15  of each mount  11 . If desired, frontal notches  15  may be used to lightly tighten retention body  4 . 
     Accordingly, cutting element  2  includes at least two mounts  11  which each have frontal notch  15  and retention body  4  engaged with frontal notches  15 . 
     Longitudinal cutting body  13  of each mount  11  is located between transverse wall  10  and the notch  15 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , retention body  4  is engaged with frontal notch  15  of each mount  11 . The cutting width made by transverse cutting bodies  14  exceeds the cutting height of longitudinal cutting bodies  13 . Frontal notches  15  are anchored to limit the deformation of transverse wall  10 , in particular, at the level of the connections between mounts  11  and transverse wall  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , tool for cutting food into pieces  1  contains two cutting elements  2 , each associated with retention body  4  belonging to support element  5 . Tool body  6  has bottom wall  21  linked to truncated cone wall  20 . Truncated cone wall  20  houses cut food exit opening  22 . Truncated cone wall  20  has openings  23  which lead to passages for cut food  12 . Truncated cone wall  20 , cutting elements  2  and support elements  5  have perforations designed for installing rivets  7  and  8 . 
     Tool for cutting food into pieces  1  contains rotation element  17 . In the example of completion shown in the diagrams, rotation element  17  in included within tool body  6 , more in particular in bottom wall  21 . Rotation element  17  can, for example, be formed by an opening in a star shape centered in bottom wall  21 . 
     If desired, longitudinal cutting bodies  13  may extend perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of tool for cutting food into pieces  1  and have a planar motion. Transverse cutting bodies  14  revolve around the axis of rotation of tool for cutting food into pieces  1 . The movement of transverse cutting bodies  14  is a truncated cone or cylindrical and transverse cutting bodies  14  do not all necessarily have the same angle compared to the axis of rotation of tool for cutting food into pieces  1 . 
       FIG. 3  shows food preparation accessory  30  designed to cut food into pieces. 
       FIG. 4  shows food preparation device  40  designed to cut food into pieces with food preparation accessory  30 . 
     Food preparation accessory  30  includes storage compartment  31  which houses tool for cutting food into pieces  1  with at least one cutting element  2  including at least two passages for cut food  12  adjacent to support surface  3 . 
     Storage compartment  31  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  is preferably made of a transparent material. 
     As showed in  FIG. 3 , storage compartment  31  has food insertion opening  32  formed by spout  33 . Spout  33  may accept pushing element  34 . Food insertion opening  32  leads to support surface  3 . Storage compartment  31  has cut food exit  35 . Cut food exist  35  leads to passages for cut food  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , storage compartment  31  is mounted in a removable manner on motor casing  41 . For this purpose, storage compartment  31  and motor casing  41  have hooking mechanisms  36  and  42 , for example, bayonet-type fittings. Motor casing  41  contains an electrical motor which is electrically connected to command mechanisms and mechanically to the drive mechanism designed to drive the rotating portion of food preparation accessory  30 , which is not shown in the diagrams. The drive mechanism is part of motor casing  41 . Storage compartment  31  has transmission mechanisms, which are not shown in the diagrams, which work with the drive mechanism when storage compartment  31  is mounted on motor casing  41 . The transmission mechanisms are designed to drive tool for cutting food into pieces  1  within storage compartment  31  using rotation element  17 . The rotating portion of food preparation accessory  30  contains tool for cutting food into pieces  1  and the transmission mechanisms. 
     In a variation, storage compartment  31  could be integrated into motor casing  41 . The transmission mechanisms are then no longer necessary as the drive mechanism can act directly on rotation element  17 . 
     Therefore, food preparation device  40  contains a drive mechanism designed to move tool for cutting food into pieces  1  so that cutting element  2  sweeps food insertion opening  32 , if desired by using transmission mechanisms. 
     Food preparation device  40 , food preparation accessory  30  and tool for cutting food into pieces  1  operate and are used as follows. 
     The user insets a food item such as a potato into spout  33 . The food item may come into contact with support surface  3  of tool for cutting food into pieces  1 . Starting food preparation  40  device causes tool for cutting food into pieces  1  to rotate. The food item is blocked laterally with food insertion opening  32 . Longitudinal cutting bodies  13  split the lower portion of the food item and transverse cutting bodies  14  detach the split portions of the remains of the food item. Retention body  4  inserted in frontal notches  15  prevents deformation of cutting element  2 , thereby increasing the useful life of tool for cutting food into pieces  1 . 
     In a variation, retention body  4  is not necessarily engaged with in all frontal notches  15 . Several retention bodies  4  may be used if desired. 
     In a variation, all mounts  11  do not necessarily have frontal notch  15 ; at least one mount  11  must have frontal notch  15 . 
     In a variation, tool for cutting food into pieces  1  may be cylindrical rather than in the shape of a truncated cone. The bottom wall is then surrounded by a cylindrical wall. 
     In a variation, tool for cutting food into pieces  1  is not necessarily in the shape of a truncated cone or cylindrical, but may, for example, be in the form of a disk in which transverse cutting bodies  14  move in a plane around the axis of rotation of tool for cutting food into pieces  1 . 
     In a variation, tool for cutting food into pieces  1  does not necessarily rotate, but may, for example, move rectilinearly back and forth alternately like an electric slicer. 
     In a variation, tool for cutting food into pieces  1  is not necessarily driven, but may, for example, be part of a slicer-type device which includes a device to hold food which moves back and forth relative to the cutting element. 
     This invention is not in any manner limited to the examples of embodiment described and its variants, but encompasses many variations within the framework of the claims.