Cutter combination device for foodstuffs

The present invention relates to a multi-functional cutting device for foodstuffs, especially for pizzas and herbs, which is easily transformable between a configuration adapted for cutting pizzas and a configuration adapted for cutting herbs. The cutting device of the present invention comprises covering members which, when detached from a main body, allow respective cutting means to be exposed to enable the cutting of foodstuffs. A locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the covering members is provided to ensure the attached one of the cutting means. The cutting device of the present invention can be disassembled effortlessly with easy access to the interior thereof.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a multi-functional cutter for foodstuff, particularly a cutter that is transformable between a configuration adapted for cutting pizzas and a configuration adapted for cutting herbs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pizza cutters are currently available. A typical pizza cutter comprises a disk-shaped blade rotatably mounted on a handle. The user holds the handle and rolls the disk-shaped blade over a pizza in order to cut the pizza into pieces/slices. Also available are herb cutters, which have some similarity in structure to pizza cutters, in that they also have a handle with blades rotatably mounted thereon. What is different is that a typical herb cutter usually comprises a plurality of blades arranged in parallel, so as to facilitate the cutting of herbs. This difference is due to the fact that pizzas are usually cut into relatively larger pieces/slices while herbs are cut into smaller chips. As these two types of cutters are both frequently used in many occasions and often are used in combination when the pizza is consumed, it would be desirable if they can be combined into one device, which can be easily switched between a configuration adapted for cutting pizzas and a configuration adapted for cutting herbs.

In addition, one disadvantage of currently available pizza cutters and herb cutters is that, as there is usually a covering member protecting the hand of the user from being hurt by the blade(s), it is difficult to access and clean the interior of the cutter. Therefore, it would be desirable if there is a foodstuff cutter that allows effortless disassembling of the components enabling easy access to the interior of the cutter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has a principle object of providing a multi-functional cutter for foodstuff, especially for pizzas and herbs, which is easily transformable between a configuration adapted for cutting pizzas and a configuration adapted for cutting herbs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a foodstuff cutter that can be disassembled effortlessly with easy access to the interior thereof.

This and other objects are satisfied by the present invention, which provides a cutting device for foodstuffs, comprising: at least one first cutting means and at least one second cutting means, both rotatably mounted on the main body portion and adapted for cutting respective target foodstuffs, and a cover detachably connected to the main body portion to define an interior space for accommodating the first cutting means and the second cutting means. The cover comprises a first covering member detachably attached to the main body portion and configured in such a manner that the attachment of the first covering member from the main body allows for exposure of at least part of the first cutting means to enable the cutting of foodstuffs; and a second covering member detachably attached to the main body portion and configured in such a manner that the detachment of the second covering member from the main body allows for exposure of at least part of the second cutting means to enable the cutting of foodstuffs. The first covering member and the second covering member are mounted on the main body portion in a way which permits the detachment of one or both of the first and second covering members from the main body portion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cutting device further comprises a locking mechanism arranged on the main body portion, the locking mechanism being displaceable among a first position, wherein the first covering member is allowed to be detached from the main body portion and the second covering member is prevented from being detached from the main body portion; a second position, wherein the second covering member is allowed to be detached from the main body portion and the first covering member is prevented from being detached from the main body portion; and a third position, wherein both the first covering member and the second covering member are allowed to be detached from the main body portion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the main body portion comprises an annular frame having a top plate, a bottom plate and two opposite side plates connecting the top plate and the bottom plate, and the first cutting means and the second cutting means are arranged between the top plate and the bottom plate, wherein the first cutting means extends transversely beyond edges of the top and bottom plates at two opposite sides of the frame.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first cutting means comprises a main cutting member rotatably mounted on a main axle extending upwardly from the bottom plate to protrude beyond the top plate, and the cutting of the foodstuffs is implemented by rotation of the main cutting member.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second cutting means comprises a first auxiliary cutting member rotatably mounted on a first mounting plate extending outwardly from below an inner surface of the top plate, and the cutting of the foodstuffs is implemented by rotation of the first auxiliary cutting member. Preferably, the main cutting member is sized and configured to serve as a part of the second cutting means.

The second cutting means may further comprise a second auxiliary cutting member rotatably mounted on a second mounting plate extending outwardly from above an inner surface of the bottom plate on the same side of the frame as the first mounting plate, and the cutting of the foodstuffs is implemented by rotation of the first and second auxiliary cutting members.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the main cutting member, the first auxiliary cutting member and the second auxiliary cutting member is provided as a circular blade, wherein the main cutting member is sized and configured to extend transversely beyond the edges of the top and bottom plates at two opposite sides of the frame, and the first and second auxiliary cutting members are sized and configured such that they only extend transversely beyond the edges of the top and bottom plates on the same side of the frame as the first and second mounting plate.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first covering member is formed to have a first cavity accommodating said at least part of the first cutting means, and the second covering member is formed to have a second cavity accommodating said at least part of the second cutting means.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a first top bulge is formed on a top inner surface of the first covering member, and a first bottom bulge is formed on a bottom inner surface of the first covering member, the first top bulge and the first bottom bulge being adapted to cooperate with the locking mechanism to prevent the first covering member from being detached from the main body portion when the locking mechanism is in the second position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a second top bulge is formed on a top inner surface of the second covering member, and a second bottom bulge is formed on a bottom inner surface of the second covering member, the second top bulge and the second bottom bulge being adapted to cooperate with the locking mechanism to prevent the second covering member from being detached from the main body portion when the locking mechanism is in the first position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism comprises a top locking member rotatably mounted on the main axle between the main cutting member and the top plate of the main body portion, the top locking member being adapted to engage with the first top bulge to prevent the first covering member from being detached from the main body portion when the locking mechanism is in the second position, and to engage with the second top bulge to prevent the second covering member from being detached from the main body portion when the locking mechanism is in the first position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism comprises a bottom locking member rotatably mounted on the main axle between the main cutting member and the bottom plate of the main body portion, the bottom locking member being adapted to engage with the first bottom bulge to prevent the first covering member from being detached from the main body portion when the locking mechanism is in the second position, and to engage with the second bottom bulge to prevent the second covering member from being detached from the main body portion when the locking mechanism is in the first position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the top locking member is configured to be disengaged from both the first top bulge and the second top bulge when the locking mechanism is in the third position, and the bottom locking member is configured to be disengaged from both the first bottom bulge and the second bottom bulge when the locking mechanism is in the third position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the top locking member and the bottom locking member is provided as a circular sector having a respective arcuated tooth formed at an outer arcuated edge thereof to cooperate with the corresponding ones of the first top bulge, the second top bulge, the first bottom bulge and the second bottom bulge.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism further comprises a handle provided on top of the top plate of the main body portion, wherein the handle is configured to be rotatable around the main axle, and the rotation of the handle causes the rotation of the top locking member and the bottom locking member.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the handle is configured to be pivotal around an axis perpendicular to the main axle between an upstanding position, wherein the handle is rotatable around the main axle, and a lying position, wherein the handle is received in a recess formed on a top surface of the top plate of the main body portion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first covering member and the second covering member are attached to the main body portion by snap-fit.

In one embodiment of the present invention, indicators are provided on a top surface of the main body portion to respectively indicate the first, second and third positions of the locking mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment, the cutting device of the present invention may be produced in many different configurations, sizes, forms and materials.

Referring now to the drawings,FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate in perspective views a cutting device1according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cutting device1comprises a main body portion2, a cover51comprising a first covering member3and a second covering member4that can be detachably attached to opposite sides of the main body portion2, respectively. The cutting device1further comprises first cutting means101and second cutting means102, and a locking mechanism5. When the first covering member3and the second covering member4are attached to the main body portion2(as shown inFIG. 1), the first cutting means101and the second cutting means102are accommodated and enclosed in a space defined by the main body portion2, the first covering member3and the second covering member4.

As can be seen inFIG. 3, the main body portion2comprises an annular frame6having a top plate7, a bottom plate8and two opposite side plates61,62connecting the top plate7and the bottom plate8. A through hole42is drilled through the top plate7. A main axle10extends from a center of the bottom plate8upwardly through the through hole42until an upper end of the main axle10is slightly above the top plate7. As will be explained in the following, the main axle10is provided for the rotatable mounting of the locking mechanism5as well as the first cutting means101. The main body portion2further comprises a first mounting plate11and a second mounting plate13, both of which extend horizontally from a same side of the top plate7and the bottom plate8. To be specific, both the first mounting plate11and the second mounting plate13extend from the side of the frame6on which the second covering member4is mounted. In other words, the first mounting plate11extends outwardly from below an inner surface of the top plate7, and the second mounting plate13extends outwardly from above an inner surface of the bottom plate8. Both the first mounting plate11and the second mounting plate13are formed to have a “C” shape, for the rotatable mounting of cutting members of the second cutting means102, which will be described in greater details hereinbelow.

As shown inFIG. 4, both the first covering member3and the second covering member4have the shape of a half enclosure with an opening29and30, respectively, and are adapted for the holding by a hand of a user. The first covering member3is formed to have a first cavity15for accommodating a half of the first cutting means101when attached to the main body portion2, and the second covering member4is formed to have a second cavity16for accommodating a half of the first cutting means101and the second cutting means102when attached to the main body portion2. An indented step31is formed at the periphery of the opening29, such that when the first covering member3is attached to the main body portion2, an outer surface of the first covering member3is flush with an outer surface of the main body portion2. Four bumps33are formed on the step31to cooperate with corresponding pits35formed on an inner surface of the main body portion2(seeFIG. 5) for snap-fit attachment of the first covering member3to the main body portion2. Similarly, an indented step32is formed at the periphery of the opening30of the second covering member4, and four bumps34are formed on the step32to cooperate with corresponding pits36formed on the inner surface of the main body portion2(seeFIG. 3) for snap-fit attachment of the second covering member4to the main body portion2. As can be seen inFIGS. 3, 5 and 7, a total of eight cam faces48are provided at both sides of the frame6to facilitate and guide the first covering member3and the second covering member4to move into snap-fit attachment with the main body portion2.

As shown inFIG. 5, the first cutting means101comprises a main cutting member9rotatably mounted on the main axle10. The main cutting member9is provided as a circular blade for cutting pizza. The main axle10runs through a center of the main cutting member9. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the second cutting means102comprises a first auxiliary cutting member12rotatably mounted on the first mounting plate11, and a second auxiliary cutting member14rotatably mounted on the second mounting plate13. In this embodiment, the main cutting member9also serves as an additional cutting member of the second cutting means102. Each of the first auxiliary cutting member12and the second auxiliary cutting member14is also provided as a circular blade for cutting foodstuff. Each of the first auxiliary cutting member12and the second auxiliary cutting member14has a diameter that is about half of the diameter of the main cutting member9. As can be seen inFIG. 2, the main cutting member9extends transversely beyond the horizontal edges of the top and bottom plates7,8at two opposite sides of the frame6, while the first and second auxiliary cutting members12,14extend transversely beyond the edges of the top and bottom plates7,8on only one side of the frame6.

Now turning toFIG. 8, when the first covering member3is detached from the main body portion2and the second covering member4remains to be attached to the main body portion2, about a half of the main cutting member9is exposed, while the other half of the main cutting member9as well as the first auxiliary cutting member12and the second auxiliary cutting member14all are accommodated in the second cavity16of the second covering member4. A user can hold the cutting device1in this configuration by holding the main body portion2and the attached second covering member4to implement the cutting of foodstuffs, such as pizzas, into pieces or slices with the aid of the exposed half of the main cutting member9. In this configuration, the second covering member4provides protection to the hand of the user by enclosing half of the main cutting member9as well as the first auxiliary cutting member12and the second auxiliary cutting member14.

Likewise,FIG. 9shows that the second covering member4is detached from the main body portion2while the first covering member3remains to be attached to the main body portion2. In this case, about a half of the main cutting member9as well as the first auxiliary cutting member12and the second auxiliary cutting member14all are exposed, while the other half of the main cutting member9is accommodated in the first cavity15of the first covering member3. The user can hold the cutting device1in this configuration by holding the main body portion2and the attached first covering member3to cut the foodstuffs with the aid of the exposed first auxiliary cutting member12and the exposed second auxiliary cutting member14as well as the exposed half of the main cutting member9. In this case, three cutters are utilized at the same time, therefore the cutting device1is more suitable for cutting foodstuff such as herbs into small chips. In this configuration, the first covering member3provides protection to the hand of the user by enclosing the other half of the main cutting member9.

In addition to the protection from hurt to the user by the cutting means provided by the attached one of the covering members3and4when the cutting device1is in use as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, a locking mechanism5is further provided to ensure that the attached one of the covering members will not be accidentally detached from the main body portion2causing hurt to the hand of the user by the cutting members. As shown inFIGS. 10-12, the locking mechanism5comprises a top locking member21, a bottom locking member22, and a handle25, all mounted on the main axle10in a rotatable manner. Each of the top locking member21and the bottom locking member22is of the shape of a circular sector. An arcuated top tooth23is formed at an outer arcuated edge on a top surface of the top locking member21, and an arcuated bottom tooth24is formed on a bottom surface of the bottom locking member22.

The locking mechanism5comprises a sleeve37which is provided and rotatably mounted on the main axle10, and the top locking member21and the bottom locking member22are fixedly attached to a top end and a bottom end, respectively, of the sleeve37. To be specific, a pair of top slots38are formed at the top end of the sleeve37to receive a pair of projections39formed on a bottom surface of the top locking member21, such that the top locking member21is not rotatable relative to the sleeve37. Similarly, a pair of bottom slots40are formed at the bottom end of the sleeve37to receive a pair of projections41formed on a top surface of the bottom locking member22, such that the bottom locking member22is not rotatable relative to the sleeve37. The main cutting member9is also mounted on the sleeve37in such a manner that the main cutting member9is rotatable around the main axle10relative to the sleeve37.

A collar43is fixedly attached to the top locking member21and extends upwardly through the through hole42of the top plate7of the main body portion2and beyond the top plate7(seeFIG. 13). To be specific, a pair of notches44are formed on a bottom surface of the collar43to receive a pair of projections45formed on a top surface of the top locking member21, such that the collar43is not rotatable relative to the top locking member21. On top of the top plate7, the handle25is attached to the collar43in such a manner that the handle25is rotatable together with the collar43around the main axle10and also pivotal relative to the collar43about a horizontal axis46perpendicular to the main axle10(seeFIGS. 10 and 14). To be specific, the handle25comprises a pair of legs251, and a traverse hole252is drilled at an outer end of each of the legs251. A pin47passes through each of the traverse holes252and is screwed onto a respective side of the collar43, such that the handle25is pivotal relative to the collar43about the axis46between a lying position as shown inFIGS. 1, 2, 6, 8, 9 and 10, and an upstanding position as shown inFIGS. 13, 14 and 15. A recess27is formed on the top surface of the top plate7to receive the handle25in the lying position (seeFIGS. 8 and 9). Indicators28are provided on a surface of the recess27to indicate which position the locking mechanism5is in (best seen inFIG. 3).

In the upstanding position as shown inFIGS. 13 and 14, the handle25is better adapted for rotation by the user around the main axle10. The rotation of the handle25around the main axle10causes the collar43, and thus both the top locking member21and the bottom locking member22, to rotate around the main axle10as well. Put simply, the locking mechanism5as a whole is caused to rotate around the main axle10. When the locking mechanism5is rotated to a first position, the top tooth23engages with the second top bulge19, and the bottom tooth24engages with the second bottom bulge20, such that the second covering member4is prevented from being detached from the main body portion2, while the first covering member3is allowed to be detached from the main body portion2(as shown inFIG. 8).

When the locking mechanism5is rotated to a second position, which is opposite to the first position, the top tooth23engages with the first top bulge17, and the bottom tooth24engages with the first bottom bulge18, such that the first covering member3is prevented from being detached from the main body portion2, while the second covering member4is allowed to be detached from the main body portion2(as shown inFIG. 9).

When the locking mechanism5is rotated to a third position (as shown inFIG. 15) between the first position and the second position, the top tooth23is disengaged from both the first top bulge17and the second top bulge19, and the bottom tooth24is disengaged from both the first bottom bulge18and the second bottom bulge20, such that both the first covering member3and the second covering member4are allowed to be detached from the main body portion2, facilitating easy access to the interior of the cutting device1for such purposes as cleaning.

Once the locking mechanism5is in the desired position for cutting (for example, the first position or the second position), the handle25may be pivoted into the lying position to provide the cutting device1with a flat outer surface when in use to facilitate the holding of the cutting device1by a hand of the user.

Alternatively, access to the interior can also be obtained by rotating the locking mechanism5to the first position and detaching the first covering member3, and then rotating the locking mechanism5to the second position and detaching the second covering member4.

As shown inFIGS. 11 and 14, a resilient member49is provided on a top surface of the top locking member21to maintain the handle25in the upstanding position. The resilient member49is formed as a curved projection extending obliquely and upwardly from the top surface of the top locking member21with a rounded apex50proximate to a top end thereof. When the handle25is pivoted into the upstanding position, the outer end of one of the legs251abuts against the rounded apex50, and therefore an upward pressure is applied to the handle25to maintain it in the upstanding position, until a force is applied by the hand of the user to pivot the handle25into the lying position.

While the present invention is described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, and is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims. Modifications and variations in the present invention may be made without departing from the novel aspects of the invention as defined in the claims, and this application is limited only by the scope of the claims.