Kitchen tool

The kitchen tool is composed of: a handle, a support yoke, and a crushing plate. The handle is connected to the support yoke. The support yoke is shaped to form a parabolic arch with arms that are biased to spring inward or outward in an alternative embodiment. The end of each arm has a mounting hole along with three locking holes. These pivot axles are connected to the mounting holes on the support yoke arms. The holes and posts are arranged such that they for two positions for the device. In a first position the crushing plate is place is a position perpendicular to the support yoke arms. In a second position the crushing plate is place is a position parallel to the support yoke which makes the device's profile much thinner and easier to fit into a standard kitchen drawer.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cooking and kitchen devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cooking and kitchen device for mashing potatoes or other food items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problem with most crushing devices of this nature found on the market now and known in the prior art is that they are bulky and difficult to store. To that end, the present invention describes a crushing and/or mashing device which folds flat for easy storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for a device for crushing and mixing potatoes and other food items prior to consumption. The masher is composed of: a handle, molded from plastic of other suitably strong material; a support yoke, made from steel or other suitably strong material; and a crushing plate made from steel or other suitably strong material.

The handle is connected to the support yoke. The support yoke is shaped to form a parabolic arch with arms that are biased to spring outward or inward depending on the configuration. The end of each arm has a mounting hole along with four locking holes. The crushing plate is composed of a domed perforated plate with a tab extended to the right and left sides. The domed surface allows for a rocking motion to be used during mashing and makes mashing more effective. The tabs on the crushing plate are folded ninety degrees up to form two symmetric vertical surfaces. On both of these surfaces there is a pivot axle and four locking posts welded, stamped or otherwise formed in place.

These pivot axles are connected to the mounting holes on the support yoke arms. Once connected the two flaps on the crushing plate restrain the support yoke arms from returning to their rest position. This causes a constant outwardly biased force to push the arms of the support yoke against the crushing plate. Because the pivot axles and mounting holes are concentric these parts can rotate freely relative to each other. As these parts rotate the locking posts on the crush plate engage the locking holes on the support arms fixing the arms and crushing plate in place relative to each other.

If the support arms are flexed inward the locking posts will disengage from the locking holes and the crushing plate and arms will rotate freely again. If the support arms are released the support arms will lock again once the locking posts and holes realign. The locking action is strong enough that unless the support arms of the yoke are squeezed to release the lock, the device will not move and will support a large force on the crushing plate.

The holes and posts are arranged such that they allow for two positions for the device. In a first position, shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the crushing plate is place is a position perpendicular to the support yoke arms. In this position the crushing plate can be used very effectively to crush and process many food items. In a second position, shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the crushing plate is place is a position parallel to the support yoke. This orientation makes the device's profile much thinner and easier to fit into a standard kitchen drawer.

Therefore is it an objective of the present invention to teach a crushing device which folds flat for easy storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention.

Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the apparatus of the present invention. Now referring to the Figures, the embodiment of the masher device is illustrated. The masher is composed of: a handle100, from plastic or other suitably strong material; a support yoke101, made from steel or other suitably strong material; and a crushing plate102made from steel or other suitably strong material.

The handle100is connected to the support yoke101. The support yoke101is shaped to form a parabolic arch with arms103and104that are biased to spring outward. The steel material allows these arms103and104to flex inward and spring back to their resting position. The end of each arm105and106has a mounting hole107and120along with four locking holes108,109,110, and111.

The crushing plate102is composed of a domed perforated plate124with a tab112extended from a first side and an tab113extended from the opposite side of the domed perforated plate124. These tabs112and113are folded ninety degrees up to form two symmetric vertical surfaces123and122. On both of these surfaces121and122there is a pivot axle114and115and four locking posts116,117,118, and119welded in place.

These pivot axles114and115are connected to the mounting holes107and120on the support yoke arms103and104. Once connected the two tabs112and113on the crushing plate102restrain the support yoke arms103and104from returning to their rest position. This causes a constant outwardly biased force to push the support yoke arms103and104against the crushing plate102. Because the pivot axles114and115and mounting holes107and120are concentric these parts can rotate freely relative to each other. As these parts rotate the four locking posts116,117,118, and119on the crush plate102engage the four locking holes108,109,110, and111on the support arms103and104fixing the support arms103and104and crushing plate102in place relative to each other.

If the support arms103and104are flexed inward the locking posts116,117,118, and119will disengage from the locking holes108,109,110, and111and the crushing plate102and support arms103and104will rotate freely again. If the support arms103and104are released the support arms103and104will lock again once the locking posts116,117,118, and119and holes realign. The locking action is strong enough that unless the support arms103and104of the support yoke101are squeezed in and inward direction toward each other to release the lock, the device will not move and will support a large force on the crushing plate102.

The four locking holes108,109,110, and111and four locking posts116,117,118, and119are arranged such that they allow two positions for the device. In a first position, shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the crushing plate102is place is a position perpendicular to the support yoke arms103and104. In this position the crushing plate102can be used very effectively to crush and process many food items. In a second position, shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the crushing plate102is placed in a position parallel to the support yoke101. This orientation makes the device's profile much thinner and easier to fit into a standard kitchen drawer.

Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.