Food cutting device with detachable cutting wheel

A food cutting device with a handle adapted to be held in a user's hand and a detachable cutting wheel for cutting a food item, the detachable cutting wheel has a circular blade and an axle projecting therefrom, the handle has a retaining pincer adapted to grasp the axle, allowing the detachable cutting wheel to freely rotate therein, and has a pincer gap which allows the axle to be alternatively inserted or removed. The axle has a retaining flange positioned parallel to the circular blade, preventing lateral shifting of the detachable cutting wheel by abutment between the circular blade, the retaining flange, and the retaining pincer positioned therebetween. The handle further has an upper blade guard and a lower blade guard adapted to protect the user's hand from the circular blade.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a device for cutting food. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a food cutting device having a detachable cutting wheel.

BACKGROUND

Rolling food slicers, such as pizza cutters, are convenient to use and are less hazardous to handle than knives. Pizza cutters utilize circular blades attached to handles, which are rolled across pizza to make long cuts using a combination of the sharp edge and downward pressure. The circular blades of conventional pizza cutters are permanently attached to the handles using various hinge mechanisms, therefore making it difficult to remove food residue such as pieces of crust, sauce, and cheese, which accumulates around the hinges and between the blade and handle in areas which a user cannot directly access.

Examples of food slicers with removable blades may be found within the prior art. However, these devices either employ hinges with removable locking pins which are difficult to remove and reassemble, or secure the blade between forked hinge assemblies which can hide food residue even after the blade is detached. A need therefore exists for a food cutting device which has a detachable cutting wheel which can be quickly disassembled to allow access to all accumulated food residue, and then easily reassembled for further use or storage.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a device for cutting food items which is capable of being disassembled and reassembled to facilitate cleaning of accumulated food residue. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a food cutting device comprising a handle and a detachable cutting wheel, the detachable cutting wheel having a circular blade and an axle, the handle having a retaining pincer adapted to grasp the axle and rotatably retain the detachable cutting wheel, the retaining pincer having a pincer gap which allows the axle of the detachable cutting wheel to be alternatively inserted into or removed from the retaining pincer. Removal of the detachable cutting wheel exposes the accumulated food residue on the retaining pincer and the axle of the detachable cutting wheel.

It is another aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure to provide a device for cutting food items with snap-fit assembly and disassembly. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a retaining pincer having a pair of curved prongs adapted to close around the axle of the detachable cutting wheel and exert an inward biasing force, thus preventing the detachable cutting wheel from being dislodged through the pincer gap without overcoming the inward biasing force.

It is yet another aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure to provide a device for cutting food items which protects the hand of a user while the device is in use. Accordingly, the handle has an upper blade guard and a lower blade guard which protect the user's thumb and fingers from the circular blade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-2illustrate a food cutting device10comprising a handle12and a detachable cutting wheel40. The handle12has a first end12A, a distally oriented second end12B, and a gripping region13formed therebetween. Referring toFIG. 2, the handle12further has a support arm30which is attached to, and projects forwardly from, the first end12A of the handle. The support arm30may be continuous with the handle12, or may constitute a separate part. The support arm30has a retaining pincer32which is oriented distally from the first end12A of the handle12, which is adapted to detachably and rotatably retain the detachable cutting wheel40. Referring toFIG. 4, the handle12allows the food cutting device10to be grasped by a user's hand90. The food cutting device10is positioned above a food item80, such as a pizza, so that the detachable cutting wheel40and the first end12A of the handle12are pointed downwardly towards the food item80while the second end12B of the handle12is directed away from the food item80. The food cutting device10is used to cut a food item80by rolling the detachable cutting wheel40over the food item80. By separating the detachable cutting wheel40from the handle12, any accumulation of food residue between the handle12and the detachable cutting wheel40may be easily removed.

Referring toFIG. 3while also referring toFIGS. 1-2, the detachable cutting wheel has a circular blade42with a circumference, and a cutting edge46formed around the circumference of the circular blade42. The circular blade42further has an inner face44A, an outer face44B disposed opposite the inner face44A, and a centrally positioned cylindrical axle48which projects perpendicularly away from the inner face44A. The axle48has an axle end48E positioned distally from the inner face44A of the circular blade42, and an axle surface48S disposed between the axle end48E and the inner face44A of the circular blade42. The axle48also has a retention flange52which extends outwardly from the axle end48E and is parallel with the circular blade42.

The retaining pincer32of the support arm30has a pair of curved prongs comprising a first prong34A and a second prong34B. The first and second prongs34A,34B have a first tip38A and a second tip respectively38B, the first and second prongs34A,34B initially project outwardly away from the support arm and then curve inwardly towards each other to form a retaining arc32C between the first and second prongs34A,34B. The first tip38A and the second tip38B are separated by a pincer gap36which provides access to the retaining arc32C. The first and second tips38A,38B and the pincer gap36are oriented downwardly. In certain embodiments, the first and second tip38A,38B curve outwardly at the pincer gap36to facilitate the deflection of the first and second prongs34A,34B during the insertion of the axle48through the pincer gap36.

The retaining arc32C is adapted to receive the axle48of the detachable cutting wheel40through the pincer gap36. In a preferred embodiment, the pincer gap36has a width, corresponding to the distance between the first and second tips38A,38B, which is smaller than the diameter of the axle48. The first and second prongs34A,34B are formed using a material, such as plastic or metal, which is capable of flexing and deflecting, which allows the first and second tips38A,38B to deflect outwardly when the axle48is placed within the pincer gap36, thus increasing the width of the pincer gap36and allowing the detachable cutting wheel40to be inserted into the retaining arc32C. Once the axle48has passed through the pincer gap36, the first and second prongs34A,34B flex inwardly, causing the retaining arc32C to close around the axle surface48S. Once enclosed within the retaining arc32C, the axle48is oriented transversely in relation to the handle12. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second prongs34A,34B have a first prong inner surface35A and a second prong inner surface35B respectively. The first and second prong inner surfaces35A,35B face inwardly and contact the axle surface48S when the axle48is enclosed within the retaining arc32C.

The retaining arc32C allows the detachable cutting wheel40to freely rotate about the axle48while enclosed therein. In a preferred embodiment, the retaining arc32C has a diameter which is substantially equal to or less than the diameter of the axle48of the detachable cutting wheel40. When the diameter of the retaining arc32C is less than the diameter of the axle48, the presence of the axle48within the retaining arc32C may therefore cause the first and second prongs34A,34B to deflect slightly. Tension within the first and second prongs34A,34B causes the first and second prongs34A,34B to produce an inwardly directed biasing force when deflected outwardly, thereby preventing the detachable cutting wheel40being dislodged from within the retaining arc32C without first overcoming the inward biasing force. Furthermore, in order for the detachable cutting wheel40to be detached from the retaining pincer32, the first and second prongs34A,34B must be deflected outwardly to sufficiently widen the pincer gap36to allow the axle48to pass through. To facilitate the detaching of the detachable cutter wheel40, the axle48may have a hollow space50passing axially from the circular blade42to the axle end48E, which allows the user to grasp the detachable cutter wheel40without contacting the circular blade42. Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the user may remove the detachable cutter wheel40by placing a finger96within the hollow space50, and then pulling the detachable cutter wheel40through the pincer gap36with enough force to deflect the first and second prongs34A,34B.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, when the detachable cutting wheel40is rolled across the food item80, the axle48is pushed upwardly away from the pincer gap36, allowing the axle48to remain firmly retained within the retaining arc32C. Furthermore, the retention flange52positioned at the axle end48E prevents the detachable cutting wheel40from shifting laterally within the retaining arc32C as it is rolled across the food item80. In a preferred embodiment, the retaining pincer32has a pincer width32W, as measured transversely across the first and second prongs34A,34B, which is substantially equal to the distance between the retention flange52and the inner face44A of the circular cutting blade42. Any lateral shifting of the axle48within the retaining arc32C may therefore be limited by abutment between the first and second prongs34A,34B and the inner face44A of the circular cutting blade42, and/or the retention flange52.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 4, the gripping region13of the handle12further has a palm surface14extending along the gripping region13which is adapted to contact the palm94of the user's hand90, and a plurality of finger grips16, disposed opposite the palm surface14, which are adapted to engage the user's fingers96. When the food cutting device10is in use and is held over the food item80, the palm surface14is oriented upwardly. In a preferred embodiment, the handle12also has an upper blade guard18which projects away from the first end12A of the handle near the palm surface14. The upper blade guard18is curved to conform to the shape of the detachable cutting wheel40, and is adapted to prevent the user's hand90from contacting the cutting edge46. The upper blade guard18also has an upwardly oriented blade guard thumb surface18B, disposed opposite the detachable cutting wheel40, which is adapted to allow the user's thumb92to be placed thereon, further allowing the user to exert a downward force to assist in the cutting of the food item80by pressing against the guard thumb surface18B using the user's thumb92.

The handle12may further have a lower blade guard20which projects away from the first end12A of the handle near the finger grips16, in a direction opposite from the upper blade guard18. The lower blade guard20is adapted to prevent the user's fingers96from contacting the cutting edge46, and may also be curved to conform to the shape of the detachable cutting wheel40.

Referring toFIG. 5while also referring toFIG. 4, once the food cutting device10has been used to cut the food item80, food residue80R may accumulate on or around the detachable cutting wheel40and the retaining pincer32, and in particular, between the retaining arc32C and the axle surface48S of the detachable cutting wheel40. Removal of the detachable cutting wheel40directly exposes the detachable cutting wheel40, the retaining arc32C, the axle surface48S, as well as the accumulated food residue80R, thus allowing the food residue80R to be directly accessed and easily cleaned. The handle12and the retaining pincer32may be cleaned separately from the detachable cutting wheel40, thus preventing the user from accidentally contacting the cutting edge46. Once the food residue80R has been removed, the detachable cutting wheel40is reattached to the retaining pincer32.

Returning toFIG. 1, the handle12may have a hanger hole60which passes through the handle12proximate to the second end12B, which allows the food cutting device to be stored on a hook or other similar storage implement.

In conclusion, herein is presented a food cutting device with a detachable cutting wheel. The disclosure is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present disclosure.