Abstract:
A food processing tool is provided with a base forming an operative surface disposed above a work surface. A first blade is disposed adjacent and generally parallel to the operative surface. A main body has a sidewall forming a chamber with front and rear openings. A rotatable rod extends into the chamber, and an external handle rotates the rod. A pusher element is attached to the rod and includes a set of pins extending from its lower surface to engage a food item. A second blade ma be mounted in a slot adjacent the work surface and have a plurality of cutting points extending upwardly from a central spine, generally perpendicular to the first blade. A cover is removably attachable to the operative surface to cover the blades. A top face of the cover has a pin receiving structure to assist in removing the pusher from the rod.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/232,137, filed on Sep. 24, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/280,500, filed on Jan. 19, 2016. The contents of these prior applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to an apparatus for processing foods, and more specifically to a tool used to create thin strips of foods in a spiral shape. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The design disclosed herein provides a food processing apparatus having a compact design that improves performance and provides various user protection features. In general terms, a food item is placed on an operative surface inside the apparatus and rotatably held in place by a pin or similar structure adjacent two cutting blades. One blade is arranged generally perpendicular to the operative surface to cut the food item into strips. This first blade may include a plurality of blades, with the number of blades depending on the size of the strips desired. The other blade is arranged generally parallel to the first blade or blades and is used to slice the food item. The food item is engaged by a rotatable pusher at the top of the food item, and a handle is provided such that the user is able to rotate the food item against both the first blade and the second blade, thereby creating narrow spirals of food. These resulting spirals are then discharged through an opening in the operative surface. The pusher is easy to remove from the rotatable rod to which it is attached, enabling the user to clean the pusher without having to reach into the unit and possibly engaging the blades. 
         [0004]    A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings, which set forth illustrative embodiments that are indicative of the various ways in which the principals of the invention may be employed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a top, front perspective view of an embodiment of a food processing apparatus in accordance with this disclosure. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the food processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the food processing apparatus as disclosed herein, and showing optional features and embodiments. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional, side elevational view of the food processing apparatus, along the lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the food processing apparatus as disclosed herein. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the food processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a top, rear perspective view of the food processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a bottom rear perspective view of the food processing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIGS. 9, 10 and 11  are perspective views of a food processing apparatus in accordance with this disclosure and showing the manner in which certain elements may be disengaged from the apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are partial side views of a food processing apparatus in accordance with this disclosure, showing the manner in which certain components may be retained in a loading position without the user needing to hold such elements in place. 
           [0015]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the food processing apparatus, similar to  FIG. 1  but showing the unit in the operative position as it would be used with a food item. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The description that follows describes, illustrates and exemplifies one or more embodiments of the invention in accordance with its principles. This description is not provided to limit the invention of the embodiment(s) described herein, but rather to explain and teach the principles of the invention in order to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to understand these principles and, with that understanding, be able to apply them to practice not only the embodiment(s) described herein, but also any other embodiment that may come to mind in accordance with these principles. The scope of the invention is intended to cover all such embodiments that may fall within the scope of the appended claims, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents. 
         [0017]    It should be noted that in the description and drawings, like or substantially similar elements may be labeled with the same reference numerals. However, sometimes these elements may be labeled with differing numbers or serial numbers in cases where such labeling facilitates a more clear description. Additionally, the drawings set forth herein are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated to more clearly depict certain features. As stated above, this specification is intended to be taken as a whole and interpreted in accordance with the principles of the invention as aught herein and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will be understood that the reference to elements as being generally flat or generally parallel or similar terms is intended to encompass minor variations therein that may be dictated by manufacturing tolerances or other concerns, and/or which are otherwise operable for their intended purposes. 
         [0018]    As shown in, e.g.,  FIGS. 1-4 , food processing apparatus  10  includes a base  68  intended to be placed on a fiat workspace, such as a cutting board or counter top (not shown), for creating spiral cuts of a food item  60 , shown in  FIG. 14 . Base  68  may be removable to improve the ability to fully clean the unit. Food processing apparatus  10  also comprises a main body  12  forming a holding chamber  20  disposed on top of a lower body  14 . Main body  12  consists of a sidewall  22  extending upwardly from lower body  14  to terminate in a top surface  18 . Sidewall  22  is integrally formed with a plurality of legs  41  extending downwardly from lower body  14 , and these components are preferably composed of a hard plastic such as ABS. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view that shows two different possible embodiments, namely one with base  68 , shown as being removable, and one where base  68  is not used. Base  68  includes a plurality of slots  69 , each adapted to receive one of legs  41  of main body  12 . As noted above, it will be understood that base  68  is optional, and in case it is not desired to use the base  68 , a plurality of feet  66  may be provided for mounting on the bottom of legs  41  to provide support on the appropriate working surface. Optional markings (not shown) may be placed on the base  68  adjacent one of the slots  69  and on one of the legs  41  to make it easier for the user to assemble the unit properly after it has been disassembled. 
         [0020]    A plate  30  is attached to an upper portion of lower body  14  and forms a generally flat operative surface  32  that will be disposed in holding chamber  20  and parallel to the working surface. In the embodiment depicted, plate  30  is clipped to receiving structure  35  in lower body  14  by means of clips  34 . Center pin  31  is secured to plate  30  to act as a spike or holding member to retain the food item  60  adjacent to the operative surface  32  in a rotatable manner. Slicing blade  36  is fastened to plate  30  and has a cutting surface  37  that is slightly offset from, and parallel to, the generally flat operative surface  32 . Slicing blade  36  is located adjacent to the exit channel  55  formed in plate  30 , whereby food that has been sliced exits through the exit channel  55  to the working surface. Base  68  also includes a discharge chute  70  to permit the spiral output of food processing apparatus  10  to be easily discharged from the operative surface  32  to the working surface (not shown) such as a cutting board or countertop. 
         [0021]    A dual comb blade  38  is also mounted to food processing apparatus  10  in one of two positions. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , dual comb blade  38  has a first, larger comb  38   a  on one side to cut food into wider strips, and a second narrower comb  38   b  on the other side to cut food into narrower strips. Both combs consist of a plurality of upright pins formed by wire cutting, and dual comb blade  38  may be installed so that one or the other of the combs  38   a ,  38   b  is exposed above operative surface  32 . 
         [0022]    Dual comb blade  38  includes an insert molded grip  39  and is held in its operative position by means of a fixing screw  42  inserted into passage  43  as seen most clearly in  FIG. 6 . Conical tip  42   a  of fixing screw  42  will fit into center slot  38   c  of comb blade  38 . The user should ensure that dual comb blade  38  is installed so that each cutting pin thereon is the same height from the operative surface  32 ; i.e., the tops thereof are not at an angle to operative surface  32 , where they might contact pins  48  on pusher  16 , as discussed below, resulting in damage to comb blade  38 . As discussed in more detail below, a removable blade guard  50  is also provided. Dual comb blade  38  may be installed in its blade channel  44  when the blade guard  50  is in place, which helps o retain the dual comb blade  38  in the proper alignment and avoids an improper angle for dual comb blade  38 . A rib (not shown) may be placed on the bottom of the main body  56  of blade guard  50 , directly above comb blade  38 , to assist in maintaining comb blade  38  in its proper alignment. Therefore, when dual comb blade  38  is installed in either configuration, the upright pins of combs  38   a  or  38   b  are generally perpendicular to operative surface  32 . Thus, as shown, e.g., in  FIG. 14 , a food item  60  being processed will first be cut into strips by one side of dual comb blade  38 , and then sliced thinly by slicing blade  36 . 
         [0023]    When not in use, dual comb blade  38  may be stored in a storage slot  57  formed in blade guard  50 . It will be understood that only one comb is needed, and the dual comb arrangement shown is optional. It will also be understood that food processing apparatus  10  could be used without dual comb blade  38  to create a wider spiral output. 
         [0024]    As seen most clearly in  FIG. 3 , boss  19  is disposed on top surface  18  and forms a rod opening  21 , which extends entirely through top surface  18 . Main body  12  has a first or front opening  28  through which the food item  60  may be placed) the holding chamber  20  for processing; this front opening  28  should be large enough to accommodate the usual food items that one would wish to spiral cut. A second or rear opening  29  is also provided to, e.g., assist in removing or attaching removable blade guard  50 . 
         [0025]    Pusher rod  24  extends through rod opening  21  and is supported by rod bushing  25 . Rod  24  has a proximal end disposed inside the holding chamber  20  and a distal end disposed external to holding chamber  20 . A pusher  16  is threaded on the proximal end of rod  24 , and a crank  26  is fixed to the distal end of rod  24 . Crank  26  further comprises a crank arm  26   a  to which a crank knob  27  may be attached. The size of the components of crank  26  will dependent on the size of the overall unit and the force required to process the food item  60 . It will be understood that pusher rod  24  and the components attached thereto may be moved upward and downward, in a direction parallel to the central axis of pusher rod  24 , without rotation, and the rotation of crank  26 , rod  24  and pusher  16  is used for processing the food item  60  the blades as discussed herein. 
         [0026]    Pusher  16  has a plurality of pins  48  extending downwardly a bottom surface to engage and hold the food item  60 . Pins  48  are preferably stainless steel and molded into pusher  16 . Pusher  16  also includes a boss  45  formed thereon which acts as a receptacle to receive, among other things, the proximal end of rod  24 . A pusher threaded insert  62  is mounted in opening  59  of boss  45 . As seen more clearly in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a flexible sleeve  33 , which in this embodiment consists a silicone sleeve, also fits into opening  59 , and is held in place by tube anchor  65 , which includes a set of internal threads to receive the threads  24   a  on the proximal end of rod  24  to secure pusher  16  to rod  24 . Thus, a top portion  33   a  of flexible sleeve  33  extends above the top of opening  59  on boss  45 . 
         [0027]    As seen in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , when crank  26  is pulled up to the loading position, the top portion  33   a  of flexible sleeve  33  is received in the rod opening  21  in top  18 . As crank  26  is turned slightly, the friction fit between flexible sleeve  33  and rod opening  21  holds the pusher rod  24  and pusher  16  in the loading position, without the user needing to maintain any upward pressure thereon, so that the user may use both hands to load the food item  60  into the holding chamber  20 . Then, a small amount of downward pressure on crank  26  will release this friction fit, and enable the user to engage the food item  60  with pusher pins  48  and start the process. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , after food item  60  is held by both center pin  31  and pusher  16 , the rotation of crank  26  will cause the food item  60  rotate against the dual comb blade  38  first, and then against cutting surface  37  of slicing blade  36 , thereby creating narrow spirals of food which are discharged through exit channel  55 . To prevent the spiraled food from collecting below lower body  14 , discharge chute  70  may be provided to assist in discharging the food to the working surface such as a cutting board. 
         [0029]    Additional safety features are provided by the present design. For example, blade guard  50  s used to protect the use from the slicing blade  36  when the food processing apparatus  10  is not in use and also assists in separating the pusher  16  from rod  24 . Blade guard  50  is preferably composed of a stiff plastic such as ABS and consists of a main body  56 , a front guard leg  52  at a front end thereof for gripping and holding the blade guard  50  and a rear guard leg  53  that engages plate  30 . A pin engagement structure  54  is also formed on the top surface of the main body  56  of blade guard  50 , and is shaped to receive the pins  48  on pusher  16 , as will be described in more detail below. 
         [0030]    Blade guard  50  may be installed by inserting it through front opening  28  until rear guard leg  53  extends out the rear opening  29  and over catch  30   a , which is formed as part of plate  30 , and slot  53   a  lines up with notch  30   b.  A small rib or similar structure (not shown may be formed on the inner surface of second guard leg  53  to lock into a small slot formed between plate  30  and lower body  14 . Front guard leg  52  then connects to lower body  14  by means of a similar rib  52   a  connecting to surface  41   a  between a pair of legs  41 . Thus, when blade guard  50  is in place, cutting surface  37  of blade  36  is fully covered, as is comb blade  38  if installed in its operative position. As noted above, comb blade  38  may be removed from its storage slot  57  when blade guard  50  is in place, such as is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , and then placed into its operative channel  44 , before blade guard  50  is removed. The interaction of either comb blade  38   a  or  38   b  with an inner surface of rear guard leg  53  will help to ensure that the comb blade  38   a  or  38   b  is in the proper operative position i.e., not askew with respect to operative surface  32 ). 
         [0031]    The use of blade guard  50  to assist in removal of pusher  16  can be seen most clearly in  FIGS. 9 through 11 , where there is no food item in holding chamber  20 , and blade guard  50  has been installed, e.g., after food processing apparatus  10  has been used and is in need of cleaning. In  FIG. 9 , crank  26  and rod  24  are pushed downwardly, until pins  48  on pusher  16  engage the pin engagement structure  54  and thereby prevent further clockwise rotation of rod  24  and pusher  16 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Since pusher  16  is threaded onto rod  24  in a clockwise direction, a turn of the crank  26  in the counter-clockwise direction will unscrew the rod  24  from pusher  16  as rod  24  continues to rotate. Once the rod  24  and pusher  16  are disassembled, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the user may remove blade guard  50 , with pusher  16  mounted thereon, from the assembly for cleaning without having to reach inside the housing where the blades are located, increasing the overall safety of the unit. 
         [0032]    It will be understood that the rotating nature of food processing apparatus  10  requires that the food item  60  being sliced is centered on center pin  31 . Operative surface  32  may optionally include one or more centering rings  46  to assist the user in ensuring that the food item  60  is properly centered. These centering rings  46  can be seen most clearly in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0033]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalent thereof.