Bagel slicer

A bagel slicer generally comprising a base, a flexible connector, a lid and a knife. The base has upwardly projecting bagel retention protrusions and two end walls attached to opposing ends of the base which define a bagel receiving space. Between the walls there is a first plurality of elongated side members in a parallel spaced relationship to each other, and a second plurality of elongated side members in a parallel spaced relationship to each other and to the first plurality of elongated side members. Each elongated member is engaged with the walls such that there remains slots between them to insert a knife. A flexible connector is attached to the lid and one of the walls. The flexible connector allows the lid to be shiftable angularly away from or toward the bagel receiving space to facilitate removal or insertion of the bagel into the space, and to shift directly vertically for optimum engagement with bagels of different thicknesses to contact a substantial portion of the bagel for optimum stabilization of the bagel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates generally to a device for slicing and/or skinning of
 food products, particularly bagels. A number of machines and devices for
 slicing bagels have been proposed in the prior art. These generally have a
 receptacle where the bagel is held vertically, and the bagel holder
 contains a pair of opposed slots or grooves into which a cutting
 instrument is inserted and moved back and forth in a sawing action to
 slice the bagel. In some cases the receptacle contains multiple opposed
 slots for making multiple slices. Due to the movement of the bagel back
 and forth caused by the sawing of the knife, and the resulting damage to
 the bagel, some prior art taught the use of tapered walls, moveable side
 doors, or pivotally connected sides which would be closed in efforts to
 hold the bagel stationary and prevent damage to the bagel while being
 sliced. In commercial settings, such as restaurants and delicatessens,
 speed, safety, cleanliness, uniform bagel slicing or skinning, and a
 minimum amount of space required to use the device are all desired.
 However, as far as is known, a bagel slicer having these characteristics
 as well as the capacity of being economically manufactured has not been
 available and accepted in the trade.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 Accordingly, one of the objectives of the invention is to provide a device
 which allows bagels and the like to be sliced and/or skinned uniformly,
 quickly, and safely.
 Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bagel slicer
 using a minimum of space, and which facilitates even slicing while
 preventing damage to the bagel.
 Another object of the invention is to provide a bagel slicer which only
 requires the operator to operate the inserted knife once the bagel is
 inserted into the retention area of the device and the lid is closed,
 further facilitating safety, speed, and ease of use.
 The invention comprises a base with upwardly projecting bagel retention
 protrusions and two vertical end walls attached to opposing ends of the
 base and extending upwardly from the base. There are two sets of elongated
 members, the members of each set being in a parallel spaced relationship
 to each other, and the members of one set being spaced from and parallel
 to the elongated members of the other set. Each elongated member is
 engaged at the end walls such that there remains a slot between at least
 two elongated members necessary to insert a knife. The bagel slicer has a
 flexible connector attached to a lid and one of the end walls. The
 flexible connector allows the lid to engage a substantial portion of the
 top of the bagel despite varying bagel thicknesses, to optimize bagel
 stabilization. Preferably, the lid will have downwardly projecting bagel
 retention protrusions that work in conjunction with the upwardly
 projecting protrusions on the base to provide extra stabilization of the
 bagel without damage to the bagel during cutting. For additional ease of
 use, the lid may also have a handle attached to it to facilitate opening
 and closing of the lid.
 These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention
 will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by
 reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 The relative terms vertically and horizontally are used herein for
 convenience to designate the orientation of components of the invention in
 the position in which it is preferably employed. However, it is to be
 understood that the novel slicer can be placed in alternative
 positions/orientations so that these terms should be treated accordingly.
 The preferred form of the present invention is a bagel slicing device 10
 which includes a base or bottom plate 12 connected at its opposite ends to
 two upstanding polymeric end walls 14 and 16 by self threading fasteners
 24 and 26 extending through downwardly extending end flanges on bottom 12.
 Extending between and into sockets of end wall 14 and 16 are pluralities
 of metal members in the form of rods 28 on one side and 30 on the opposite
 side. Rods 28 are vertically spaced from each other and are parallel to
 each other, here shown to be four in number and forming three elongated
 slots 32 therebetween. Rods 30 are a duplicate of rods 28, to form three
 like slots 33 aligned with slots 32 between rods 28 to receive an
 elongated knife blade. The slots are located varying distances above
 bottom plate 12.
 The base 12 is preferably made of a metal plate stamped to form a plurality
 of upwardly projecting, triangular bagel retention protrusions 22 in a
 pattern over its surface and adjacent openings. End walls 14 and 16 and
 rods 28 and 30 define a bagel retention space 21 therebetween.
 At the top of the bagel receiving space is a lid 20 which extends over at
 least a majority of space 21. The lid is flexibly attached to end 14 by a
 strip 18 of flexible, elastomeric, polymeric material, preferably rubber.
 Fasteners 36 and elongated reinforcing plate 34 attach one end of strip 18
 to end wall 14. Fasteners 42 and elongated reinforcing plate 38 attach the
 other end of strip 18 to lid 20. A handle 19 located on lid 20 at the
 distal end, i.e., opposite where the lid 20 is attached to wall 14, allows
 the operator to easily shift lid 20 away from or toward space 21, enabling
 easy insertion and removal of a bagel. Lid 20 has a plurality of
 downwardly projecting triangular protrusions 46 extending into space 21
 opposite bottom protrusions 22, to retain a bagel in space 21. The
 protrusions and adjacent openings may be formed into lid plate 20 as by
 stamping. Flexible connector 18 not only enables lid 20 to be moved
 through an angle approaching 180.degree., but also enables some direct
 vertical displacement of lid 20 to accommodate bagels of different
 thicknesses. Thus, it allows lid 20 to contact a substantial portion of
 the bagel surface despite varying bagel thickness and shape, to optimize
 bagel stabilization.
 Optionally, rubber feet 44 may be provided on the lower ends of walls 14
 and 16 of the device 10. The feet 44 may be attached (FIG. 4) at the
 bottom of the walls 14, 16, as with screws.
 To use the bagel slicing device 10, the operator grasps handle 19 and
 angularly shifts the lid up and away from the bagel retention space 21 by
 flexing flexible connector 18. The operator then inserts a bagel into
 bagel retention space 21, on top of upwardly projecting bagel retention
 protrusions 22. Next, the operator closes lid 20 by shifting lid 20
 angularly back toward the bagel, the flexible connector also allowing
 direct vertical movement of the lid sufficient for maximum engagement of
 its protrusions 46 with the top of the bagel. After the bagel is secure,
 the operator can then either slice the bagel into two halves by using the
 middle slot, and/or can skin the bottom or top of the bagel by inserting
 the knife blade 52 of knife 50 into the bottom or top slots. The operator
 inserts the knife through a selected slot 32 and across space 21 through
 the opposite slot 33 aligned with slot 32. The knife blade has parallel
 side faces, with the sharp lateral edge spatially located therebetween so
 as to not contact bars 28 and 30. The operator, using the elongated bars
 as a guide, moves the knife toward wall 14 in a back-and-forth slicing
 motion to cut the bagel evenly. If the knife edge contacts the end wall,
 the edge is not dulled because the end wall is soft. Once the bagel is
 sliced and/or skinned, the operator removes the knife from slots 32 and
 33, grasps handle 19 of lid 20, shifts lid 20 away from the bagel
 retention space 21, and removes the sliced bagel.
 An alternative structure 10' (FIG. 5) is shown to include only two metal
 members in the form of rods 28 and 30 in each set, forming only one slot
 on each side of the device, for slicing the bagel in space 21'. The bottom
 plate 12, end walls 14' and 16' and lid subassembly 20 with flexible
 connector 18 are comparable to elements 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 in the first
 embodiment. The use of knife 50 and its blade 52 is the same as previously
 described.
 The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only.
 Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and
 to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that
 the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are for
 illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the
 invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted
 according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of
 equivalents.