Abstract:
A hand held utensil adapted to hold a fruit or vegetable, for example, a potato for peeling, the device having a flange retaining the hand in a safe position and having an extension there beyond securely holding the fruit or vegetable in position for peeling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to the field of kitchen utensils, and more particularly relates to a fruit or vegetable holding utensil.  
           [0002]    Peeling or paring fruits and vegetables is a very common task in the preparation of food. Perhaps as common as any vegetable to be handled are potatoes to be peeled and carrots to be scraped. Perhaps paring knives and potato peelers are the most widely used utensils for these purposes.  
           [0003]    However, the problem here in each case is that the vegetable must be hand held and care must be exercised not to cut or scrape a finger.  
           [0004]    Tong like utensils are presently used, but these are awkward in attempting to hold a vegetable with them and more often than not the vegetable slips from that hold.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,794 to Ulysse discloses a hand held axially aligned utensil adapted for holding a potato. This device has an elongated hand held member having a cylindrical handle. The handle has an outer end and an inner end. The inner end of said handle has an integral circular flange. A slender slightly tapered rod-like projection axially extends forwardly of the circular flange and inner end of the handle. The projection terminates in a point adapted to penetrate a vegetable. Two pairs of triangular like projections extend from the rod like projection. The first pair of projections is in opposed relation to each other and are tapered in the direction of the point of the rod like projection and have rearward upwardly extending shoulders. The second pair of triangular like projections extend above the first pair of projections and at right angles thereto. Therefore, upon being inserted into a vegetable, these shoulders hold the vegetable onto the device. A disadvantage of this device is that since it is axially aligned, it requires substantial finger, wrist and arm strength to hold the device and vegetable thereon at the appropriate angle for peeling the vegetable. The young, elderly and those with arthritic afflictions in their hands and arms would not be able to use this device effectively and safely.  
           [0006]    Other more complicated tools and equipment for holding and peeling potatoes, for example, are available, but are primarily for large volume commercial purposes. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,234 to Cailliot.  
           [0007]    It is desirable to have an appropriate hand held utensil which will conveniently and securely hold a vegetable such as a potato while it is being peeled by being inserted thereinto and such a utensil is provided by the invention herein.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0008]    This invention relates to a hand held kitchen utensil particularly adapted to securely hold a fruit or a vegetable, for example, a potato, while the fruit or vegetable is being peeled. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows a side elevation in partial cross-section of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 shows a side elevation of a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 shows a side elevation in partial cross-section of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 shows a side elevation in partial cross-section of a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    With reference to the drawings where like numerals denote like or similar elements and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of a hand held vegetable or fruit holding utensil or device  100  according to the present invention. The utensil  100  has a T-shaped tubular member  102 , a handle portion  106  connected to the T-shaped member  100  at connection portion  104 . The utensil  100  also has an ice pick device having a rod-like member  108  and an elongated member  114 . The rod-like member  108  has one end ending in a point  110  and a connecting end  112  opposite end  110 . The elongated member  114  has a first end  118  and a second end  116 . The connecting end  112  is attached to the second end  116 . The elongated member  114  is positioned within the horizontal portion of the T-shaped tubular member  102  and the first end  118  extends beyond the end of this horizontal portion opposite the ending point  110 . In this position, the first end  118  can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the elongated member  114  thereby rotating the rod-like member  108 .  
         [0015]    In use, the rod-like member  108  point end first  110  is inserted into a fruit or vegetable, for example, a potato. Handle portion  106  is grasped by one of the hand of the user. This position places less angular stress on the wrist of this hand than that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,794, since in this embodiment the hand is positioned relatively under the axis of the rod-like member  108  and the potato thereon with the under side of the horizontal portion of the elongated member  102  resting upon the upper portion of the hand holding the handle portion  106 . This is a less strenuous and more stable position. Further, the horizontal portion of the elongated member  102  shields the hand holding the handle portion  106  from a commonly used peeling utensil, for example, a potato peeler or paring knife, (not shown) held by the user”s other hand, when using the peeler to peel the potato.  
         [0016]    Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown another embodiment of a hand held vegetable or fruit holding utensil or device  200  according to the present invention. The utensil  200  is similar to utensil  100 , except that utensil  200  has an inverted L-shaped tubular member  202  rather than a T-shaped tubular member  102 . Utensil  200  also differs from utensil  100  in that rod-like member  208  has triangular shaped projections  220  and  222 , whereas rod-like member  108  does not have these triangular shaped projections. The triangular shaped projections  220  and  222  are similar to those in U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,794, incorporated herein by reference, and secure the potato, for example, once the rod-like member  208  is inserted therein, preventing unintentional withdrawal of the rod-like member  208  from the potato. As with utensil  100 , the connecting end  112  is attached to the second end  116 . In this case, the elongated member  114  is positioned within the horizontal portion of the inverted L-shaped tubular member  202  and the first end  118  extends beyond the end of this horizontal portion opposite the ending point  110 .  
         [0017]    Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown another embodiment of a hand held vegetable or fruit holding utensil or device  300  according to the present invention. The utensil  300  is similar to utensil  100 , except that the straight portion of rod-like member  108  between the point end  110  and the connecting end  112  is replaced by a helical portion and is called a cork screw member  308 . In use, the potato, for example, is is rotated while inserting the corkscrew member  308 . This secures the potato in position while peeling it. The end portion of the horizontal portion of the T-shaped member  102  has a series of axially spaced holes  326  about the perimeter thereof. The elongated member  114  has a hole (not shown) extending therethrough whose axis intersects the longitudinal axis of the elongated member  114 . A locking pin  324  is inserted through a corresponding pair of holes  326  aligned with the hole in the elongated member  114 . The locking pin serves two purposes. The first is to secure the elongated member  114  within the horizontal portion of member  102  such that it is not accidentally withdrawn when peeling a potato, for example. The second is to allow rotation of the elongated member  114  to a particular position about its longitudinal axis to expose an unpeeled portion of the potato and maintain such position until it is desired to further rotate the elongated member  114  or the potato is completely peeled.  
         [0018]    Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown another embodiment of a hand held vegetable or fruit holding utensil or device  400  according to the present invention. The utensil  400  is similar to utensil  300 , except that the elongated member  414  is a rod-like member connected on one end  416  to the connecting end  112  and the other end  418  is connected to a knurled hand wheel  428  to effect rotation of elongated member  416 . The horizontal portion of member  402  has a first face plug  460  and a second face plug  462 , each having a hole therethrough to allow ends  416  and  418  to be exposed. Face plug  462  has a second hole  468  therethrough. The knurled hand wheel  428  has a plurality of locking holes  466  at a certain radius from the center of the knurled hand wheel  428 . A locking pin  464  can be inserted in to one of the locking holes  466  aligned with the hole  468  to prevent inadvertent rotation of the elongated member  414  and potato (not shown).  
         [0019]    Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown another embodiment of a hand held vegetable or fruit holding utensil or device  500  according to the present invention. The utensil  500  is similar to utensil  200 , except that the elongated member  514  is a rod-like member connected on one end  516  to the connecting end  112  and the other end  518  is connected to a gear wheel  536 . Utensil  500  also differs from utensil  200  in that rod-like member  108  has an L-shaped rod-like member  530 , whereas rod-like member  208  has triangular shaped projections  220  and  222 . Additionally, connection portion  104  and member  106  are combined into one unit as member  506 . The horizontal portion of L-shaped member  502  has a first plug  532  and a second plug  534  each having a hole centrally located therethrough to allow the ends  516  and  518  to extend therethrough. Hand held member  506  has a first plug  538  and a second plug  540  with a hole in each. The device  500  also has a rod-like member  542  with ends  544  and  546 , and a gear wheel  544 . Ends  544  and  546  extend through holes in plugs  540  and  538 , respectively. Gear wheel  548  is on end  544  and a knurled hand wheel  550  is on end  546 . When the knurled hand wheel  550  is rotated, gear wheel  548  is rotated which in turn rotates gear wheel  536  and rod-like member  108 , thereby rotating the potato, for example.  
         [0020]    It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the device without departing from the scope of the invention, for example, mixing and matching the various components of the foregoing embodiments, such as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.