Method and device for removing rinds from a food item

An apparatus for removing a rind from a food item, the apparatus comprising: a compartment defining an interior area adapted to contain a food item, the compartment having at least one opening and a blade assembly; a pushing apparatus, wherein at least a portion of the pushing apparatus is movable to engage the food item; actuator means for driving the pushing apparatus to contact at least a portion of said food item in the compartment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to an apparatus for removing rinds from food items, such as fruit or like food products, for example, a melon.

BACKGROUND

It is well known that a rind, peel or an upper layer of skin (hereinafter referred to collectively as “rinds”) of fruit can be removed by a knife. Utilization of knives to remove a rind from large fruit or numerous pieces of fruit can be time consuming, physically exhausting and dangerous. Previous attempts to overcome these downfalls have resulted in devices that are large, cumbersome, and often not easily portable. Furthermore, operating the devices is often still physically exhausting and dangerous.

Accordingly, the inventors recognize that a need exists for an improved apparatus and method for removing rinds.

SUMMARY

According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided an apparatus for removing a rind of a food item, the apparatus comprising: a compartment defining an interior area adapted to receive the food item, the compartment having at least one opening; a blade assembly disposed in proximity to the at least one opening of the compartment; a pushing apparatus, wherein at least a portion of the pushing apparatus is movable to engage the food item; an actuator for driving the pushing apparatus to contact at least a portion of the food item in the compartment and to move the food item from the interior area into contact with the blade assembly such that at least a rind of the food item is removed by the blade assembly.

According to another aspect illustrated herein, there is provided a method for removing a rind from a food item, the method comprising: positioning a food item in a compartment of an apparatus, the compartment defining an interior area adapted to receive the food item, having at least one opening; actuating a pushing apparatus, to move the food item out of the interior area into contact with a blade assembly and continuing activation of the pushing apparatus such that the blade assembly removes the rind from the food item.

According to another aspect illustrated herein, there is provided an apparatus for removing a rind from a food item, the apparatus comprising: a frame having a base and a support wall, wherein the support wall is attached to the base; a compartment for holding a food item, the compartment having at least one opening and a blade assembly, wherein the compartment is mounted on the support wall; a first surface adjacent to the opening of the compartment, wherein the first surface is adapted to receive at least a portion of the food item; a second surface positioned beneath the compartment, wherein the second surface is adapted to receive a at least a portion of the food item; and a pushing apparatus and a hand crank, wherein the pushing apparatus is in rotatable cooperation with the hand crank, wherein the pushing apparatus and the hand crank are rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the pushing apparatus is positioned above an interior area of the compartment, further wherein upon rotation of the hand crank, at least a portion of the pushing apparatus is rotated whereby at least a portion of the pushing apparatus contacts at least a portion of the food item in the compartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate one embodiment of an apparatus10for removing rinds from a food item24, such as a fruit or like food product. The food item24can be any piece of food with a rind that is desired to be removed. Examples of the food item24include fruit, such as a melons including honey dew melons and cantaloupe, however it is contemplated the food item can be other items such as an apple, potato, turnip, rutabaga, kiwi, banana, orange, lemon, lime, and the like. Alternatively, food item24may be a portion of any of the foods listed above, i.e., a slice of melon, a slice of apple, and the like.

As shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the apparatus10for removing the rinds from the food item24includes a compartment20defining an interior area22adapted to contain the food item24. WhileFIGS. 1, 2 and 3illustrate the compartment20as a rectangular shaped member having a side wall25, defining the interior area22accessible through an opened upper surface25A. It is contemplated that the compartment20may be any shape necessary to facilitate the removal of rinds from the food item24. It should be appreciated that in one embodiment the side wall25may be a unitary wall and in another embodiment the side wall25may be partitioned or formed as multiple walls. For example, as shown inFIG. 3the compartment may include only two side walls or the compartment can include three or more walls.

Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, side wall25of the compartment20includes a mouth or an opening (herein after referred to as an “opening”)26, which facilitates placing at least a portion of the food item24into and removing the food item24from the compartment20. The compartment20may have more than one mouth or opening26, wherein one opening is utilized to place the food item24into the compartment and another opening allows at least a portion of the food item (e.g. the rind or portion thereof) to exit the compartment. An opening may be utilized for more than one purpose, and more than one opening may have more than one purpose, e. g., there may be two openings that allow the exit of at least a portion of the food item24from the compartment20. In one embodiment, portions of the rind removed from the food item24pass through the openings by force of gravity or are manually removed.

The compartment20may be made of any material, including, but not limited to metal, plastic, wood, ceramic, or combinations thereof. The dimensions of the compartment20, i.e., its height, length, and width, vary from apparatus to apparatus and depend on the food item24that the apparatus is utilized for as well as the dimensions of the other elements of apparatus10for removing the rinds from the food item24.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, in one embodiment the internal area22of the compartment20includes an elevated surface28. The elevated surface28receives the food item24positioned thereon. In one embodiment, the elevated surface28is manufactured from a plastic material. In one embodiment, the elevated surface28is integrally formed with or coupled to a rear wall27. The elevated surface28and rear wall27are selectively inserted in and removed from the interior area22of the compartment20to facilitate, for example, cleaning, repair or replacement. As shown inFIG. 4, a pair of curved holders29is removably coupled to opposing lateral sides28A,28B of the elevated surface28. In one embodiment, a central portion29C of each of the holders29curves inwardly towards one another forming a gap G therebetween. A distal end29E of each of the holders29curves outwardly from the central portion29C. The holders29and the elevated surface28temporarily hold the food item24prior to removal of the rinds. The holders29are manufactured from a compliant material such that when the food item24is pushed through the holders in the general direction defined by the arrow F, the holders deflect outwardly from one another as shown by the arrows marked H. In one embodiment the holders29are manufactured from a stainless steel sheet material.

While the elevated surface28is described as being concave, the present invention is not limited in this regard as other configurations may be employed, including but not limited to an inclined surface or surfaces where the highest point of the inclined surface or surfaces is adjacent to the rear wall27of the compartment20(as used herein, the term “adjacent” means close or next to, with or without touching), a convex surface, a flat surface, a horizontal surface and/or a surface that is shaped specifically to the contours of the food item to be worked on can also be employed without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. Although the elevated surface28is shown having a pair of curved holders29, the present invention is not limited in this regard as any number of holders of any configuration can also be employed or the holders may be eliminated, without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 5, the compartment20also includes two mounting portions31A,31B positioned inside the compartment approximately perpendicular to one another. The mounting portion31B is secured to the side wall25of the compartment20. A blade assembly32is adjustably positioned in the compartment20. The blade assembly32includes a plate portion32A with a branch portion32B extending therefrom. The blade assembly32includes a blade34removably secured to the branch portion32B. As shown inFIG. 6, the blade34is adapted to remove a rind from the food item24. The blade34may be of any type that is able to remove a rind from the food item24. The blade34may be curved or straight. The blade34may be interchangeable. For example, a user of the apparatus10for removing the rinds from the food item24may change the blade34from a straight edge blade to a curved edge blade. Additionally, the blade34may be removable to facilitate cleaning, sharpening, or replacement. Alternatively, the blade assembly32may be removable from the compartment20.

As shown inFIG. 5, the plate portion32A is adjustably secured to the mounting portion31A by suitable fasteners such as, for example, screws and wing-nuts33. It should be appreciated that the blade assembly32is adjustable in a direction parallel to the mounting portion31A, toward and away from the opening26of the compartment20as shown by the arrows J. In addition, the mounting portion31B of the compartment20is adjustably secured to a frame60, described below, by a suitable fastener such as, for example, a screw and a wing-nut35. The above described configuration allows the blade34to be positioned adjacent to the elevated surface28so that when the food item24traverses the elevated surface28in the direction of arrow F (FIG. 4) the food item24passes over the blade34. In one embodiment the apparatus10for removing the rinds from the food item24includes a position indicator41including a pointer41A which moves over a set of reference lines41B. The position indicator41provides a measurement of the position R of the blade34relative to a forward edge28E of the elevated surface28to, in effect, assist adjustment of a depth of cut within the rind to ensure substantially all the rind is removed from the food item24.

Referring back toFIG. 1, in one embodiment the apparatus10for removing the rinds from the food item24includes a pushing apparatus40. At least a portion of the pushing apparatus40is movable to selectively engage the food item24.

As shown inFIG. 5, in one embodiment, the pushing apparatus40includes an elongated portion42with a pushing mechanism or finger44(hereinafter “pushing mechanism”) attached to opposing ends thereof. In this embodiment, the pushing apparatus40, via the pushing mechanism44, is adapted to contact at least a portion of the food item24and push, or otherwise move, the food item24to assist traversal along the elevated surface28.

While the pushing apparatus40is shown with two pushing mechanisms or fingers44attached to the elongated portion42, the present invention is not limited in this regard, as the pushing apparatus can employ only one pushing mechanism, more than two pushing mechanisms and/or pushing mechanisms of different sizes and pushing mechanisms offset from one another, without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. In addition, the pushing mechanism44may be of any shape that is adapted to contact at least a portion of the food item24. For example, the pushing mechanism44may be a square shaped block, a rectangular shaped block, a triangular shaped segment, or the like. The surfaces of pushing mechanism44may be straight or contoured.

In one embodiment, the pushing apparatus40is driven or moved by an actuator48. Actuator48may be any device that when activated rotates the pushing mechanism40about an axis of rotation A. Actuator48may be, for example, a handle, a pneumatic actuator, an electric actuator, or a hand crank actuator48.

While the hand crank48is described for driving the pushing apparatus40, the present invention is not limited in this regard as any actuator means may be employed including but not limited to a motorized pneumatic actuator, a motorized electric actuator, and the like.

In one embodiment, the pushing apparatus40may be manufactured from more than one material. For example, the pushing mechanism44may be made of one material while elongated portion42may be made of an entirely different material. Materials including, but not limited to plastic, wood and ceramic can be utilized to manufacture one or more components of the pushing apparatus40. The hand crank48may be made of one or more materials. For example, the hand crank48may be made of a metal and covered with a rubber or plastic casing.

The pushing apparatus40is positioned so at least a portion of the pushing apparatus is capable of entering the interior area22of the compartment20and contacting the food item24that is positioned in the interior area of the compartment. Typically, at least a portion of the pushing apparatus40contacts at least a portion of the food item24in the compartment20. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 5, in one embodiment, the pushing apparatus40is positioned above the interior area22of the compartment20. However, it is contemplated that the pushing apparatus can be located at any position with respect to the compartment20, i.e., under the compartment, behind the compartment, or next to the compartment.

As shown inFIG. 2, the hand crank48and the pushing apparatus40are rotatably engaged with a rotation mechanism50, secured to or contained by the frame60by suitable fasteners. In one embodiment, the rotation mechanism50includes ball bearings therein to facilitate the smooth assisted rotation of the hand crank. As the hand crank48is rotated about the axis A, at least a portion of the pushing apparatus40contacts at least a portion of the food item24present in the interior area22of the compartment20to assist traversal along the elevated surface28toward the blade34.

As the food item24is pushed toward the blade assembly32by at least a portion of the pushing apparatus40, the blade34contacts the food item24and separates the food item into two or more parts. For example, the rind can be separated from the remainder of the food item. After separation of the food item24into two or more parts, at least a portion of the food item24is received by a first surface52and another portion of the food item is received by a second surface54. As shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the first surface52is adjacent to the opening26of the compartment20while the second surface54is beneath the compartment.

In one embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the first surface52and the second surface54may both be ramps or chutes that catch and carry portions of this food item24away from the blade assembly32. However, the first surface52and the second surface54may be any type of surface that is able to receive a portion of the food item24. For example, the first surface52and/or the second surface54include, but are not limited to, a ramp, a chute, a plate, a bowl, a pail, a tray, a conveyor belt, or the like. Moreover, it is contemplated that the first surface52may be different in type or size from the second surface54.

Typically the desired portion of the food item24is received by the first surface52and the rind of the food item24is received by the second surface54. However, since the compartment20may be configured in any manner that is adaptable for the purpose of the apparatus10for removing the rinds from the food item24, in some configurations of the apparatus for removing the rinds from the food item, the desired portion of the food item24could be received by the second surface54while the rind of the food item would be received by the first surface52.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, in one embodiment, the first surface52may be supported by a first surface support56and the second surface54may be supported by a second surface support58. As will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art, certain types of surfaces52and54will not require the surface supports56and58.

In one embodiment of the apparatus10for removing the rinds from the food item24as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the frame60includes, among other things, a base62and a support wall64. WhileFIGS. 1 and 2illustrate the support wall64attached perpendicularly to the base62, it is contemplated that the relationship between the support wall and the base may be different in various configurations of the apparatus for removing the rinds from the food item10. For example, the support wall64may be diagonally attached to the base62. In one embodiment, the base62is of a pan shaped configuration.

The dimensions of the base62and the support wall64are dependent on various criteria, including, but not limited to, the overall size of the apparatus10for removing the rinds from the food item24, the desired use of the apparatus10, where the apparatus will be utilized, and the dimensions of the other elements of the apparatus. The base62and the support wall64may be made of any material, including, but not limited to metal, plastic, ceramic, wood, and combinations thereof.

The support wall64can be stabilized by one or more support braces66. The support brace66is typically adjacent to the support wall64, and as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the support brace is attached to the base62and is adjacent to the support wall to stabilize the support wall.

WhileFIGS. 1 and 2illustrate the compartment20and the pushing apparatus40mounted on the support wall24, it is noted that neither the compartment nor the pushing apparatus is required to be mounted on, or adjacent to, the support wall. For example, the compartment20may be mounted on the support wall64, while the pushing apparatus40may be attached to or mounted on the compartment20. In another example, the compartment20may be mounted on the support wall64, while the pushing apparatus40may be attached or mounted to an independent and/or separate apparatus that can be brought close to the compartment. In yet another example, the pushing apparatus40may be mounted on the support wall64while the compartment20is independent or separate from the support wall. While not explicitly illustrated, other configurations are possible given the disclosure and explanation herein.

Still referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the frame60includes two clamps68attached to the base62for selectively securing the apparatus to a work surface. The clamps68allow a user to selectively position apparatus10on any work space of his or her choosing, and also allow the user to move the apparatus to another work space or area. While the apparatus10is illustrated with the two clamps68attached to the base62, it is contemplated that only one clamp may be used, or more than two clamps can be used. Additionally, it is contemplated that the apparatus10may be manufactured and/or utilized without the clamps68.

In use, after the apparatus10is secured to the work surface, the food item24is positioned in the compartment20. Typically, the food item24is positioned on the elevated surface28in the interior area22. The pushing apparatus40is moved by the actuator48which causes a portion of the pushing apparatus40to contact at least a portion of the food item24, thereby pushing or moving the food item along the elevated surface28toward the blade assembly32. While being pushed, at least a portion of the food item24e.g., the rind, comes into contact with the blade34, and is removed from the food item.

It is envisioned that the size of any or all of the elements may be altered to fit certain fruits or other food products.

Although the present invention has been disclosed and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it should be noted that other variations and modifications may be made within the true scope of the invention.