Abstract:
The present invention discloses a mandolin slicer comprising: a main body having two opposite side panels; a cutting blade mounted on the main body; a slicing plate carrier mounted between the two side panels of the main body; a plurality of slicing plates of different types, each of the slicing plates having a plurality of slicing teeth mounted on a top surface thereof and at least one recess formed on a bottom surface thereof; and an adapter plate having a leading portion, wherein said leading portion has at least one elastic rib for detachable engagement with the at least one recess of the slicing plate to form a slicing plate assembly, and said assembly detachably is mounted on the slicing plate carrier.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of kitchen utensils, and more specifically relates to a mandolin slicer for slicing a food item, which allows for interchange of slicing plates of variable slicing teeth to achieve variable slicing patterns without the need of direct contact between a user and the slicing plates thereby preventing hands of the user from getting hurted. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is well known that mandolin slicers are generally used to slice food items like potatoes and cucumbers etc. A chef may require variable slicing patterns when preparing food slices. For this purpose, mandolin slicers available in the prior art usually comprises different types of slicing plates for realizing different slicing patterns. However, the slicing plates may hurt the hands of the user as he has to directly contact with the slicing plates to achieve the interchange of the slicing plates. 
         [0003]    For example, U.S. application No. US2007/0089577 discloses a mandolin slicer for slicing food items in variable thicknesses, which comprises a frame structure with two opposite side rails, a cutting blade mounted on a lower glide portion of the frame structure, and a slicing plate removably mounted on an upper glide portion of the frame structure between the two side rails. The removable slicing plate has a male portion to engage with a female portion such as an open hole arranged in a non-removable portion mounted on the frame structure, allowing for the interchange of the slicing plate with other types of removable slicing plates. But when it is needed to effect the interchange to provide different slicing patterns, the slicing plates may hurt the hands of the user because the user has to directly hold the slicing plates for interchange. 
         [0004]    To avoid the direct contact with the slicing plates, U.S. application No. US2009/0255391 proposes a mandolin slicer comprising a frame structure with two opposite side rails, a cutting blade mounted on a lower glide portion of the frame structure, a slicing plate mounted on an upper glide portion of the frame structure between the two opposite side rails, and two arrays of slicing blades mounted on a selector slide which is movably mounted on the frame structure and below the slicing plate. The slicing plate has two sets of offset slots which are arranged in a front portion of the slicing plate. The user can manually adjust the selector slide to selectively pivot up the two arrays of slicing blades to protrude through the two sets of offset slots and above the surface of the slicing plate, so as to provide different patterns of arrangement of the slicing blades on the slicing plate. This thus enables different slicing patterns for food items, without the need to directly contact with the slicing blades so as to avoid the slicing blades to hurt the hands of the user. However, this mandolin slicer cannot provide variable slicing patterns for food items, due to the limitation of the arrangement of the only two arrays of slicing blades. Moreover, the structure of this mandolin slicer is very complicated and difficult to manufacture. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is a need for a mandolin slicer allowing for interchange of variable types of slicing plates without the need of direct contact between the hands of the user and the slicing plates. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An object of the present invention is to provide a mandolin slicer for slicing an item which is flexible to change slicing plates to create variable slicing patterns of the item, and enables the user to implement the interchange without the need of directly contacting with the slicing plates, thereby avoiding the slicing plates to hurt the hands of the user. 
         [0007]    The object of the present invention is achieved by providing a mandolin slicer comprising:
       a main body having two opposite side panels;   a cutting blade mounted on the main body;   a slicing plate carrier mounted between the two side panels of the main body;   a plurality of slicing plates of different types, each of the slicing plates having a plurality of slicing teeth mounted on a top surface thereof and at least one recess formed on a bottom surface thereof;   an adapter plate having a leading portion, wherein said leading portion has at least one elastic rib for detachable engagement with the at least one recess of the slicing plate to form a slicing plate assembly, and said assembly detachably is mounted on the slicing plate carrier;   a slicing plate holder separate from the main body, said slicing plate holder having a plurality of receiving spaces for accommodating the plurality of slicing plates when they are detached from the adapter plate; and   a mechanism provided in the slicing plate holder for releasing one of the slicing plates from the respective receiving space into the adapter plate for the engagement so as to form the slicing plate assembly to be mounted on the slicing plate carrier.       
 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the slicing plate carrier has a V-shaped front portion corresponding to the cutting blade in V-shape. Preferably, each of the slicing plates has a front portion which is sized and shaped such that at least one part of the front portion of the slicing plate is inserted into a space defined by angular sides of the V-shaped cutting blade. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the slicing plate carrier is adjustable vertically to provide variable slice thickness for an item to be sliced. 
         [0017]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the slicing plate carrier has at least one raised lip formed along a front edge of the top surface thereof, each of the slicing plates has at least one cut-away area along a bottom edge thereof which is positioned to correspond to the raised lip of the slicing plate carrier, and engagement of the raised lip with the cut-away area prevents the slicing plate from sliding forward on the slicing plate carrier. 
         [0018]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the detachable mounting of the slicing plate assembly on the slicing plate carrier is implemented by a locking means comprising:
       an actuator running through a window formed on the slicer plate carrier and having a receptacle and a compression spring, wherein the receptacle is secured on a bottom surface of the slicing plate carrier, and the compression spring has one end fixed on a bottom of the receptacle; and   a block element arranged in the receptacle and having a bottom surface fixed to the other end of the compression spring for allowing the block element to move up and down through the window, wherein the block element has a cam formed on one end thereof, and the cam is sized such that it protrudes beyond a top surface of the slicing plate carrier, thereby serving as a stop to prevent movement of the slicing plate assembly; downward movement of the block element enables the cam move down below the top surface of the slicing plate carrier to unlock the slicing plate assembly from the slicing plate carrier.       
 
         [0021]    Preferably, the block element further comprises two legs extending from the other end thereof, and the cam abuts against an inner wall of the window of the slicing plate carrier, wherein the two legs are pivotally mounted on the bottom surface of the slicing plate carrier to enable pivotal movement of the block element, so that downward movement of the block allows the cam to disengage from the window and move down below the top surface of the slicing plate carrier to unlock the slicing plate assembly from the slicing plate carrier. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the slicing plate assembly further comprises a button running through a window formed on the slicing plate assembly, and at least two elastic arms fixed to the button and secured on a bottom of the slicing plate assembly to provide elasticity of the button to move up and down; wherein downward movement of the button enables the downward movement of the block element to unlock the slicing plate assembly from the slicing plate carrier. 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the slicing plate holder is provided as a multilayer structure. In this embodiment, the releasing mechanism in the slicing plate holder comprises:
       a spring means with one end fixed to a bottom of the multilayer structure;   a post extending through all layers of the multilayer structure and having an end portion fixed to the other end of the spring means; and   a plurality of hook members extending laterally from the post each engagable with a slot formed on a bottom surface of the respective slicing plate;   wherein application of a pressure to the other end of the post enables the hook members to move downward so as to disengage the hook members from the slicing plates to release the slicing plates.       
 
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adapter plate and the slicing plates are engaged such that the slicing plate assembly has a flat top surface. 
         [0029]    Unlike the mandolin slicers available in the prior art, the mandolin slicer according to the invention allows the user to change the desirable slicing plate by holding the adapter plate rather than the slicing plate per se, as the adapter plate is devised to removably engage with the slicing plate. Another feature of the invention is the slicing plate holder which is configured to provide the mechanism for locking the slicing plates in place and releasing the slicing plates into the adapter plate. This prevents the hands of the user from direct contact with the slicing teeth to effect the interchange of different slicing plates. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    To have a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description of the invention and embodiments thereof in conjunction with the following accompanying drawings: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a mandolin splicer of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the mandolin slicer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  shows a bottom view of the mandolin slicer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the mandolin slicer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of a slicing plate carrier of the mandolin slicer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  shows an exemplary slicing plate of the mandolin slicer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  shows a bottom view of the slicing plate of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of an adapter plate of the mandolin slicer of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a slicing plate assembly formed by the slicing plate and the adapter plate together and mounted on the slicing plate carrier of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of the slicing plate assembly at a different angle with a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 11  shows the slicing plate assembly of  FIG. 9  being released from the slicing plate carrier; 
           [0042]      FIG. 12  shows a bottom view of the slicing plate assembly of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 13  shows a cross-sectional partial view of the slicing plate assembly taken along line B-B of  FIG. 10  in locked position; 
           [0044]      FIG. 14  shows a cross-sectional partial view of the slicing plate assembly taken along line B-B of  FIG. 10  in unlocked position; 
           [0045]      FIG. 15  shows an exploded view of a locking means of the mandolin slicer according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 16  shows a bottom view of the adapter plate of the slicing plate assembly; 
           [0047]      FIG. 17  shows a part of an exemplary actuator of the locking means; 
           [0048]      FIG. 18  shows a bottom view of the slicing plate carrier of  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 19  shows a perspective view of a slicing plate holder of the mandolin slicer according to a preferred embodiment of the invention with the slicing plate assembly being ready to be inserted into the slicing plate holder; 
           [0050]      FIG. 20  shows a perspective view of the slicing plate holder of  FIG. 19  with the slicing plate in place and the adapter plate still being engagable therewith; 
           [0051]      FIG. 21  shows a perspective view of the slicing plate holder of  FIG. 20  with the adapter plate disengagable from the slicing plate; 
           [0052]      FIG. 22  shows a cross-sectional view of the slicing plate which is secured in the slicing plate holder in perspective view; and 
           [0053]      FIG. 23  shows a cross-sectional view of the slicing plate of Fig . 22  released from the slicing plate holder in perspective view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]    While this invention is illustrated and described in preferred embodiments, the mandolin slicer may be produced in many different configurations, sizes, forms and materials. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 1 to 4  illustrate a mandolin slicer for slicing an item such as a food item (not shown) advanced in a slicing direction according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the mandolin slicer comprises a main body  100  having two opposite and parallel side panels  102   a  and  102   b  and a cutting blade  200  mounted on the main body  100 . 
         [0056]    The main body  100  includes a handle  103  at a rear end thereof for ease of holding the mandolin slicer, a stand  105  which is pivotally mounted to the main body  100  such that the rear end of the main body  100  can be raised up in use, and a foot  104  at the other end of the main body  100 . A holder assembly  106  is held between the two opposite side panels  102   a  and  102   b.  The holder assembly  106  comprises a needle to be inserted into the food item, such that the user can hold the holder assembly  106  to guide the food item along the two side panels  102   a  and  102   b  towards the cutting blade  200  so as to cut slices from the food item. The cutting blade  200  is mounted on a top surface of a glide section  101  of the main body  100  and has a cutting blade edge for cutting the food item. The cutting blade edge is V-shaped to ease the entrance of the cutting blade  200  into the item. These are not the essence of the invention and would be well known in the art, therefore will not be described in detail herein. 
         [0057]    The novel feature of the invention lies in the provision of a slicing plate carrier  300  and slicing plates  600 ,  600 ′ and  600 ″. As illustrated, the slicing plate carrier  300  is mounted between the side panels  102   a  and  102   b  of the main body  100  and has a V-shaped front portion corresponding to the cutting blade  200  in V-shape. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the slicing plate carrier  300  has two raised lips  360   a  and  360   b  formed along a front edge of the top surface of the slicing plate carrier  300 . 
         [0058]    The three slicing plates  600 ,  600 ′ and  600 ″ have the same dimension and structures except for the type of slicing teeth mounted on a respective top surface of the slicing plates. For the sake of clarity and convenience, the slicing plate  600  is taken herein as one example of the various slicing plates. It would be appreciated that the following description of the slicing plate  600  is applicable to the slicing plates  600 ′ and  600 ″. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the slicing plate  600  has a front portion which is V-shaped to correspond to the V-shaped cutting blade  200 , such that the front portion of the slicing plate  600  is inserted into a space defined by angular sides of the V-shaped cutting blade  200 . The slicing plate  600  has a plurality of slicing teeth  610  on its top surface, and two recesses  666   a  and  666   b  formed on its bottom surface. The slicing plate  600  has two cut-away areas  650   a  and  650   b  along its two bottom edges. A lateral member  680  extends from the intersection of the two cut-away areas  650   a  and  650   b  (see  FIG. 7 ). In this embodiment, a bottom plate is arranged in spaced relation with the slicing plate  600  to define a channel  660  for permitting and guiding insertion of a leading portion of an adapter plate  500 , which will be described hereinafter. The bottom plate has two through holes  661   a  and  661   b  substantially positioned to correspond to the two recesses  666   a  and  666   b.    
         [0060]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , the mandolin slicer further comprises an adapter plate  500  which has a rear portion  500   a  and a leading portion  500   b  extending from the rear portion  500   a.  The leading portion  500   b  has two elastic ribs  580   a  and  580   b  for detachable engagement with the two recesses  666   a  and  666   b  formed on the slicing plate  600 , such that the adapter plate  500  and the slicing plate  600  are secured together to form a slicing plate assembly. In this embodiment, the slicing plate assembly is of flat top surface. The leading portion  500   b  is sized to be inserted into the channel  660  below the slicing plate  600 , which reinforce the engagement between the two plates  500  and  600 . As discussed above, the bottom plate defining the channel  660  has the two through holes  661   a  and  661   b  positioned to correspond to the recesses  666   a  and  666   b.  Here, the through holes  661   a  and  661   b  allow the elastic ribs  580   a  and  580   b  to pass therethrough when the adapter plate  500  is forced to disengage from the slicing plate  600 , thus providing the ease and flexibility of the disengagement of the adapter plate  500 . 
         [0061]    A plurality of guiding notches  108  in parallel to the two side panels  102   a  and  102   b  of the main body  100  may be configured on a top surface of the rear portion  500   a  of the adapter plate  500  and on a top surface of the slicing plate  600  for adjusting the slicing direction of the food item towards the cutting blade  200 . 
         [0062]    Now turning to  FIGS. 9 to 18 , there is illustrated how the slicing plate assembly formed by the slicing plate  600  and the adapter plate  500  is mounted on and removed from the slicing plate carrier  300 . As discussed above, the slicing plate  600  has the two cut-away areas  650   a  and  650   b  along its two edges respectively positioned to correspond to the two raised lips  360   a  and  360   b  of the slicing plate carrier  300  such that they are engaged therebetween. The raised lips  360   a  and  360   b  also serve to prevent the slicing plate  600  from sliding forward along the slicing plate carrier  300 . 
         [0063]    On the opposite end of the raised lips  360   a  and  360   b,  there are formed two detents  310   a  and  310   b  (see  FIGS. 12 ,  15  and  18 ) at both sides of the slicing plate carrier  300 , and the adapter plate  500  has two corresponding catches inside which the detents  310   a  and  310   b  can engage. This engagement not only enables the engagement between the adapter plate  500  and the slicing plate carrier  300 , but also serves to prevent the adapter plate  500  from slicing along the slicing plate carrier  300 . 
         [0064]    The slicing plate carrier  300  is adjustable vertically to provide variable slice thicknesses of the food item to be sliced, which is well known in the art. In this embodiment, an adjustment knob  107  is secured with a cam axle  109  in order to vertically adjust the slicing plate carrier  300 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The cam axle  109  is rotatablely mounted between the two side panels  102   a  and  102   b,  and extends through a passage  390  arranged on a bottom surface of the slicing plate carrier  300 . The rotation of the adjustment knob  107  enables the cam axle  109  to vertically adjust the slicing plate carrier  300  and thus the slicing plate assembly, so as to achieve variable slice thicknesses of the food item. 
         [0065]    Referring to  FIGS. 13 to 18 , the mandolin slicer further comprises a locking means for locking the slicing plate assembly on the slicing plate carrier  300 . The locking means comprises an actuator and a block element  320 . In this embodiment, the actuator comprises a button  510  running through a window  516  formed on the adapter plate  500 , and a stub  510   a  extending from a bottom of the button  510  and in contact with the block element  320 . Two elastic arms  511   a  and  511   b  extend respectively from the two ends of the button  510  to provide elasticity for movement of the bottom  510 . The two elastic arms  511   a  and  511   b  are secured on the bottom of the adapter plate  500 . The actuator further comprises a receptacle  510   c  secured on the bottom surface of the slicing plate carrier  300 , for example, by screws, for receiving the block element  320 . A compression spring  510   b  is received in the receptacle  510   c  and has one end fixed on the bottom of the receptacle  510   c  and the other end in abutment on the block element  320 , such that the button  510  is pressed down to enable movement of the block element  320  due to the compression of the spring  510   b.    
         [0066]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , the block element  320  is configured to have a cam  320   a  formed on one end thereof and two legs  320   d  and  320   g  extending from the opposite end. 
         [0067]    As clearly shown in  FIG. 13 , the cam  320   a  is sized such that it protrudes beyond a top surface of the slicing plate carrier  300  when the slicing plate assembly is locked onto the slicing plate carrier  300 , thereby serving as a stop to prevent movement of the slicing plate assembly. The two legs  320   d  and  320   g  are pivotally mounted on the bottom surface of the slicing plate carrier  300  to enable pivotal movement of the block element  320  relative to the slicing plate carrier  300 . The block element  320  has a top surface  320   c  that comes in direct contact with the stub  510   a  when the button  510  is pressed down, which in turn presses the block element  320  to pivot about the legs  320   d  and  320   g  and move down, such that the cam  320   a  disengages from the window  321  and move down below the top surface of the slicing plate carrier  300  to unlock the adapter plate  500 , allowing the slicing plate assembly to be removed from the slicing plate carrier  300 , as clearly shown in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 11  shows that the slicing plate assembly is removed from the slicing plate carrier  300  in the arrow direction. 
         [0068]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 ,  19  to  23 , another feature of the present invention is that the mandolin slicer comprises a slicing plate holder  700  separate from the main body  100  for accommodating the plurality of slicing plates when they are detached from the adapter plate  500 . As illustrated, the slicing plate holder  700  is provided as a three-layer structure defining three receiving spaces  710 ,  720  and  730  for accommodating the three slicing plates  600 ,  600 ′ and  600 ″. The slicing plate holder  700  further comprises a mechanism for releasing any one of the slicing plates from the respective receiving space in a manner that the released slicing plate is engaged with the adapter plate  500  to form the slicing plate assembly. 
         [0069]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  22  and  23 , the releasing mechanism is arranged immediately adjacent to the inner wall of the side opposite to the insertion side within the slicing plate holder  700 . For the sake of clarity and convenience,  FIGS. 22 and 23  illustrate one slicing plate  600  only as an example, which is stored in the receiving space  730 . The releasing mechanism comprises a spring means, a post  770  extending through the three receiving spaces  710 ,  720  and  730 , and three hook members  761 ,  762  and  763  extending laterally from the post  770 . The spring means is a compression spring  750  in this embodiment and has one end fixed to the bottom of the splicing plate holder  700  and the other end in abutment with the bottom of the post  770 . The other end of the post  770  extends to the top of the slicing plate holder  700  and is coupled to a button  780 . The hook members  761 ,  762  and  763  are fitted to the respective lateral members  680  formed on the bottom of the slicing plates, so that the slicing plates are secured inside the slicing plate holder  700 , as shown in  FIG. 22 . When the button  780  is pushed down, the spring  750  is compressed to drive downward movement of the post  770  along with the hook members  761 ,  762  and  763 , thereby the hook members are disengaged from the respective lateral members  680 , at this point the slicing plates may be released from the slicing plate holder  700 , as clearly shown in  FIG. 23 . 
         [0070]    Now turning back to  FIGS. 19 to 21 ,  FIG. 19  shows that the slicing plate assembly fowled by the slicing plate  600  and the adapter plate  500  is ready to be inserted into the receiving space  710 .  FIG. 20  shows that the slicing plate assembly is inserted into the receiving space  710 , with the slicing plate  600  being in place in the receiving space  710 .  FIG. 21  shows that the adapter plate  500  is detached from the slicing plate  600 . 
         [0071]    In operation, the user holds the slicing plate assembly by grasping the adapter plate  500  and inserts the slicing plate  600  into the receiving space  710 . The slicing plate  600  is positioned and secured in place after its lateral member  680  is fitted to the hook member  761 . Afterwards, the user pulls back the adapter plate  500  to disengage the two elastic ribs  580   a  and  580   b  formed on the leading portion  500   b  thereof from the two recesses  666   a  and  666   b  formed on the slicing plate  600 , at which time the adapter plate  500  and the slicing plate  600  are no longer secured together. Then the user further pulls the adapter plate  500  back to allow the leading portion  500   b  of the adapter plate  500  to come out of the channel  660  of the slicing plate  600  (see  FIG. 21 ). 
         [0072]    When it is desired to take the slicing plate  600  out of the slicing plate holder  700 , the user may grasp the adapter plate  500  and insert the leading portion  500   b  into the channel  660  of the slicing plate  600 . After the engagement of the two elastic ribs  580   a  and  580   b  formed on the leading portion  500   b  of the adapter plate  500  with the two recesses  666   a  and  666   b  formed on the slicing plate  600 , the two plates  500  and  600  are secured together to form the slicing plate assembly. Then, the user may press down the button  780  on the top of the slicing plate holder  700  to disengage the respective hook member  763  of the releasing mechanism from the lateral member  680 , at which time the slicing plate assembly is no long constrained to the slicing plate holder  700 . Now the user may grasp the adapter plate  500  to pull the whole slicing plate assembly back until the assembly comes out of the slicing plate holder  700 , and subsequently hold and mount the assembly on the slicing plate carrier  300  for slicing operation as discussed above. 
         [0073]    As can be seen, the user can implement the slicing operation, change and store the slicing plate without the need of direct contact with the slicing plate with the slicing teeth, thereby preventing the hands of the user from being hurted. The arrangement of the slicing plate holder  700  permits to store various types of slicing plates, providing the variety of the slicing patterns. 
         [0074]    The invention thus provides a mandolin slicer which allows for interchange of slicing plates of variable slicing teeth to achieve variable slicing patterns without the need of direct contact between the user and the slicing plates thereby preventing the hands of the user from getting hurted. 
         [0075]    Although the nature of the present invention has been described in detail by the above preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various amendments, modifications and alterations may be made to the invention without departing from the sprit and scope of the invention, but these amendments, modifications and alterations shall fall into the scope of the invention.