Rotary grater with storage device

A rotary grater having a removable storage device is disclosed. The rotary grater has interchangeable cylindrical blades for various grating purposes. A removable handle provides for rotational motion for the cylindrical blade to operate. The housing of the rotary grater has a movable press with a lever for applying the material to be grated to the cylindrical blade. The grated material is then dispensed from an exit opening in the housing and retained by a removable storage device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to food processing devices, and more specifically to a rotary grater having a storage device.

2. Description of Related Art

Grating various materials such as food products has proven very useful in the preparation of many culinary dishes. Graters such as box graters and planar graters have existed for many years. In fact, the first cheese grater was invented by Francois Boullier, who developed a grater in the 1540's so that hard cheeses could still be used. In the 16thcentury, there was a cheese surplus because many farmers had converted their cattle herds to dairy production in response to the current thinking of the time to avoid meat consumption. This resulted in a surplus of dairy, and the market became flooded with cheese. There was more cheese than buyers, and much of it became hard. Thus, Francois Boullier invented the cheese grater to put to use hard cheese that would otherwise be discarded. His invention became very popular in Paris in the 1540's. Unfortunately, in 1555 a drought hit Europe, drastically reducing dairy production, ending the surplus of cheese and also ending the popularity of his invention. It was not until the 1920's that an entrepreneur in Philadelphia by the name of Jeffrey Taylor once again made cheese graters popular during the great depression by allowing one to stretch the amount of cheese in a recipe. Taylor owned a cheese shop, and made his first units from shower drains with sharpened openings after reading about Boullier's invention. It was sold as the “greater”, as it made small portions of cheese appear greater.

Graters are commonly made of a metal such as stainless steel, and have perforations throughout. These perforations are commonly round or oval, and have a raised side to facilitate grating of the food product. These perforations may vary in size and number depending on the particular application. For example, cheese may be grated course or fine, and the size of the perforations will dictate the size of the grated pieces. Very small perforations may be desirable in applications such as the grating of spices such as, for example, nutmeg. The grating of other materials, such as citrus rind, may require medium to fine perforations. Typically, a well equipped kitchen will have several size graters to accommodate various culinary applications. While box and planar graters are useful, they are also labor intensive and represent a risk of skinned knuckles or fingers. Rotating graters that employ, for example, a rotating disk either driven manually or by a small electric motor, speed up the process of grating food products and reduce the risk of injury to the user.

What is needed is a rotary grater that has interchangeable blades to accommodate various grating applications and a removable handle to facilitate blade interchange.

What is also needed is a rotary grater that has a removable storage device configured so that the grated material is deposited into the removable storage device. A lid that is stored on the removable storage device when not in use is also desirable.

What is also needed is a press to apply uniform pressure to the food product while being grated and to maintain a fixed and uniform force of the food product on the cylindrical blade as the food product becomes smaller during grating operations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rotary grater comprising a housing formed generally as an elliptical cylinder, a cylindrical blade disposed within the housing, a handle connected to the cylindrical blade, an entry opening in the housing for receiving a material to be grated, an exit opening in the housing located below the cylindrical blade for dispensing grated material, a handle opening in the housing to facilitate connection of the handle to the cylindrical blade, a press movably connected to the housing, a lever connected to the press, and a storage device formed generally as an elliptical cylinder and removably connected to the housing for receiving and storing grated material.

The foregoing paragraph has been provided by way of introduction, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as described in this specification, claims and the attached drawings.

The attached figures depict various views of the rotary grater with storage device in sufficient detail to allow one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. These figures are exemplary, and depict a preferred embodiment; however, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment depicted herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by this specification, claims and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A Rotary Grater With Storage Device is described and depicted by way of this specification and the attached drawings.

For a general understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements.

Referring toFIG. 1, a perspective view of the rotary grater with storage device100is depicted. The rotary grater comprises a housing101formed generally as an elliptical cylinder. The housing101may be made from a material such as a plastic that is injection molded and contains features that will be further described and depicted herein. A suitable plastic is, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). While the housing101is formed generally as an elliptical cylinder (also known as an elliptic cylinder), other geometries such as a cylinder, a parabolic cylinder, a hyperbolic cylinder, and the like, are considered within the spirit and broad scope of the present invention. A cylindrical blade103is disposed within the housing. The cylindrical blade103is made from a metal, such as a stainless steel, and has perforations as can be seen in the drawings. The perforations may, in some embodiments of the present invention, have a raised area around one side of each perforation to facilitate grating. The cylindrical blade103may be stamped from a sheet of metal to provide perforations and a raised area, and then rolled into a cylinder with the ends joined together by way of welding, crimping, or the like. The cylindrical blade103has a hub arrangement (not shown inFIG. 1) to facilitate removable connection of a handle105to the cylindrical blade. A handle opening (not shown inFIG. 1, seeFIG. 2) provides for the connection of the handle105to the cylindrical blade103. The handle105may be made from a plastic and may have, in some embodiments of the present invention, a knob107. A suitable plastic for the handle105and the knob107being, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). There is also an entry opening113in the housing101for receiving material to be grated. The entry opening may be a variety of sizes and geometries. There is also an exit opening (not depicted inFIG. 1, seeFIG. 11) in the housing101located below the cylindrical blade103for dispensing grated material. Further depicted is a press115movably connected to the housing101. The press115pushes a material to be grated into the cylindrical blade103by way of force from a user's hand or fingers. The press115is movably connected to the housing101by way of a hinge or similar apparatus. As the material to be grated gets smaller, the press115moves the material to be grated closer to the cylindrical blade while protecting the user's fingers from injury. In some embodiments of the present invention there is a lever1403(not shown inFIG. 1, seeFIG. 14) connected to the press115to allow a user to move the press115either into or out of the cylindrical housing envelope. The press115and lever1403may be made from a plastic, and will be further described and depicted herein. A storage device109is formed generally as an elliptical cylinder, or with a geometry similar to that of the housing101. The storate device109is removably connected to the housing101for receiving and storing grated material. The storage device109may be made from a plastic and further may have a flange117that circumscribes the storage device109such that it may be retained by a flange receiver119that is formed into the housing101. A lid111may also be retained by the storage device109by way of a lid retainer227(depicted inFIG. 2) for subsequent covering of grated material that may be contained in the storage device109.

FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of the rotary grater with storage device. The lid retainer227can be seen as a reduced size area of the storage device109. Further, knurls223can be seen within an inner edge for retaining the lid111to the storage device109at either the top of the storage device109or the lid retainer227. The knurls223are features such as bumps, ridges, grooves, or the like and serve to increase the friction and binding force between the lid111and the storage device109.

Also depicted inFIG. 2is a handle opening221that allows the handle105to couple with the cylindrical blade103so that the cylindrical blade can be rotated by movement of the handle105. The cylindrical blade103can also be seen with a bowtie connector receiver hub225that may be made of a material such as a plastic.

FIG. 3is a top plan view of the rotary grater with storage device andFIG. 4is a long side plan view of the rotary grater with storage device.FIG. 5is a bottom plan view of the rotary grater with storage device where the lid111can be seen retained by the lid retainer227as further depicted inFIG. 18. The handle105can be seen with the knob107where the knob107is free to rotate with respect to the handle105by way of a joint, socket, pin, or similar arrangement, thus allowing a user to grasp the knob107and rotate the handle105, imparting rotary motion to the cylindrical blade103.

FIG. 6is a short side view of the rotary grater with storage device. The flange117and flange receiver119can be seen in cooperation to retain the storage device109to the housing101.

FIG. 7is an opposing short side view of the rotary grater with storage device.

FIGS. 8-10depict various views of the handle105and related structures.

FIG. 8is a top plan view of the handle of the rotary grater with storage device where the knob107can be seen movably connected to the handle105.

FIG. 9is a side plan view of the handle of the rotary grater with storage device. A bowtie connector901can be seen protruding from the lower part of the handle105. The bowtie connector provides a releasable connection from the handle105to the cylindrical blade103(not shown inFIG. 9). This releasable connection allows a user to easily disassemble and clean the rotary grater, and to easily and quickly change cylindrical blades.

FIG. 10is an underside plan view of the handle of the rotary grater with storage device showing clearly the bowtie connector901. The bowtie connector901mates with the bowtie connector receiver hub225that is attached to the cylindrical blade103, as seen inFIG. 2and subsequently inFIGS. 20-25. The bowtie connector901may be made from a plastic similar to that of the handle105, or may be molded with the handle105.

The housing101, as depicted inFIGS. 1 and 2, may be made from a material such as a plastic or a metal. In some embodiments of the present invention, the housing101comprises a lower part and an upper part that are attached together by way of an adhesive, a weld, snap fittings, screws, or the like.

FIG. 11is a bottom plan view of the lower part of the housing of the rotary grater. An exit opening1101is depicted that is situated below the cylindrical blade when in use, and serves to dispense grated material to be received by the storage device109(seeFIG. 1). Further, retention tabs1103can be seen on the bottom of the lower part of the housing that comprise bumps, ridges, grooves, or the like, and serve to retain the storage device109(seeFIG. 1) by directing force to a rim or edge of the storage device109.

FIG. 12is a perspective view of the lower part of the housing of the rotary grater. A lower hinge receiver1201can be seen for coupling to the press115(seeFIG. 1). The lower hinge receiver1201may be, for example, molded with the lower part of the housing of the rotary grater using standard plastic injection molding techniques.

FIG. 13is a perspective view of the upper part of the housing of the rotary grater. An upper hinge receiver1301can be seen for coupling to the press115(seeFIG. 1). The upper hinge receiver1301may be, for example, molded with the upper part of the housing of the rotary grater using standard plastic injection molding techniques.

FIGS. 14-17depict the press of the rotary cheese grater. The press115is made from a plastic such as, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The press may also be referred to as a door. The press115generally conforms to the shape of the housing101.

FIG. 14is a top plan view of the press of the rotary grater. A hinge1401may be connected to, or integrated or molded with, the press115. A lever1403can be seen that allows a user to move the press towards or away from the cylindrical blade103. A retaining edge1405can also be seen that acts to stop the press115from traveling too far outward, essentially retaining the press115within the confines of the housing envelope such that the material to be grated does not fall out of the rotary grater. The retaining edge1405may be integrated or molded with the press115. The retaining edge1405further engages with a similar retaining edge or stop on the housing to prevent unwanted travel of the press. A small bump or extension may also be present on the housing101to engage with retaining edge1405of the press115.

FIG. 15is a perspective view of the press of the rotary grater showing a hinge rod1501. The hinge rod1501may be made from a metal such as stainless steel and serves to couple the hinge1401on the press115with the lower hinge receiver1201(seeFIG. 12) and the upper hinge receiver1301(seeFIG. 13). The hinge rod1501inFIG. 15is shown in exploded perspective for clarity. For a complete understanding of the press115and related hardware and features,FIG. 16is a plan view of the outside of the press of the rotary grater andFIG. 17is a plan view of the inside of the press of the rotary grater.

The storage device109and lid111can be seen detached from the housing101inFIGS. 18 and 19.FIG. 18is an exploded view of the storage device109with lid111. The storage device109may be made from a plastic such as, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The lid111may be made from a softer durometer plastic to allow for easy placement of the lid111on the storage device109. An example of such a plastic is ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). The lid111may, in some embodiments of the present invention, have knurls223that can be seen within an inner edge for retaining the lid111to the storage device109at either the top of the storage device109or the lid retainer227. The knurls are features such as bumps, ridges, grooves, or the like and serve to increase the friction and binding force between the lid111and the storage device109.

FIG. 19is a side plan view of the storage device with lid that shows how the lid retainer227serves to retain the lid111when not in use.

FIGS. 20-23depict various cylindrical blades with various size perforations. Smaller perforations generally produce smaller gratings, and perforation size and spacing is often times dependent on the application. For example, cheese may be grated course or fine. Chocolate may be grated in various sizes depending on the culinary application. Spices such as nutmeg are almost always grated with extremely small perforations to produce small particles of the spice so as not to overpower the food being prepared. The cylindrical blade103is made from a metal, such as a stainless steel, and has perforations as can be seen in the drawings. The perforations may, in some embodiments of the present invention, have a raised area around one side of each perforation to facilitate grating. The cylindrical blade103may be stamped from a sheet of metal to provide perforations and a raised area, and then rolled into a cylinder with the ends joined together by way of welding, crimping, or the like. The cylindrical blade103has a bowtie connector receiver hub225to facilitate removable connection of a handle105to the cylindrical blade. This hub arrangement will be further described by way ofFIGS. 24 and 25.

FIG. 24is a top plan view of the bowtie connector receiver hub225. A hub2401encompasses the end of a cylindrical blade103and rotates within the handle opening221(seeFIG. 2) when the handle105turns the cylindrical blade103. A first receiver part2405and a second receiver part2407make up a bowtie connector receiver2403that comprises an opening that is similar in shape to a bowtie. This bowtie connector receiver mates with the bowtie connector901that is attached to the handle105(seeFIGS. 9 and 10). The mating of the bowtie connector901with the bowtie connector receiver2403provides for removable connection of the handle105to the cylindrical blade103.

FIG. 25is an inside plan view of the bowtie connector receiver hub looking up through the cylindrical blade103. A first receiver part stop2501and a second receiver part stop2503can be seen. These stops provide a fixed point such that the handle turns the cylindrical blade103, and does not merely spin freely through the bowtie connector arrangement. The bowtie connector receiver hub225is made from a plastic such as, for example, polypropylene. A secondary hub, depicted at the opposite end of the cylindrical blade103from the bowtie connector receiver hub225, as seen inFIGS. 20-23for example, serves to rotate within the exit opening as the handle105turns the cylindrical blade103, serving as a bearing or bushing of sorts. This secondary hub may also be made from a plastic such as, for example, polypropylene. Both hubs are attached to the cylindrical blade by an adhesive, locking tabs, crimps, or the like.

To use the Rotary Grater With Storage Device, a piece of material to be grated is placed through the entry opening113and the press115is moved inward by way of the lever1403so that the material to be grated makes contact with the cylindrical blade103. The handle105is rotated such that the cylindrical blade103in turn rotates, and grated material exits the rotary grater and enters the storage device109. Once a suitable amount of material is grated, the storage device109is removed from the housing101. Additional grated material may be stored in the storage device109and sealed with the lid111.

It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the various objects of the present invention, a rotary grater with storage device. While the various objects of this invention have been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of this specification, claims and the attached drawings.