Abstract:
A coring apparatus and method for coring produce and/or forming a beverage container from produce including a rotatable cutting core or member. The coring apparatus allows linear translation and/or rotation of constituent members to facilitate insertion of a cutting member, separation of a core from produce, and/or removal of the core from produce. A carrier is used to translate a rotatable cutting core for insertion in and removal from produce. The rotatable cutting core is rotatable in relation to the carrier and may optionally include an additional cutting member disposed therein.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is related generally to a food processing tool, and more specifically to a coring machine for removing a core from an edible plant part or produce, such as a fruit or vegetable. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Various coring machines have been proposed in the art, some of which utilize a cylindrical, or tubular, blade. There is a need however, for a coring apparatus that easily and quickly removes a core from an edible plant part or produce, such as, for example, a fruit or vegetable. Existing machines often require intense manual labor to core a fruit or vegetable, because they do not provide a sufficient lever to aid in insertion of a blade, or they do not provide an effective aid for rotating a blade to separate the core, or both. There is also a need for a simple aid for rotating a coring apparatus blade that allows for easier, more cost effective, maintenance and enhances the versatility of the coring apparatus, for example, by allowing the coring apparatus to be base-mounted or wall-mounted without needing significant modification. There is also a need for a device that can consistently and reliably control the depth to which the fruit or vegetable is cored, thereby ensuring formation of a cup, or similar structure, from the fruit after coring. 
         [0003]    Additionally, existing methods of coring are laborious. The force necessary for inserting a blade into an edible plant part, such as a fruit or vegetable, or the force necessary for coring the edible plant part, or both, are relatively high as the forces for insertion or for rotation, or both, are currently applied by hand often without the aid of a mechanical device, such as a lever. Thus, there is a need for a simple and effective method of coring an edible plant part. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present disclosure is directed towards inventive apparatus and methods for coring produce. The coring apparatus is, in various embodiments, an apparatus comprising a cutting core that is rotatably held by a carrier to allow the cutting core to rotate relative to the carrier. The carrier and cutting core are able to slideably engage a stationary guide and thus translate in a translational direction. The cutting core has rigidly affixed thereto a radially outwardly extending handle. 
         [0005]    Generally, in one aspect, a coring apparatus is provided for coring produce easily and efficiently. The coring apparatus includes a carrier that is slidingly positionable between a first and a second translational position. The coring apparatus also includes a cylindrical cutting core with a handle projecting therefrom, the cylindrical cutting core and the handle being rotatably connected to the carrier, so that the cylindrical cutting core and handle are rotatable relative to the carrier between a first and a second position in at least one of the first and second translational positions. In some embodiments, the cylindrical cutting core may include an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface, wherein a cutting member is disposed within the inner cylindrical surface. The handle may project outwardly from the outer cylindrical surface. The cutting member may include a cutting edge. The cutting member may be a plate with opposing planar surfaces facing perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical cutting core. The opposing planar surfaces of the cutting member and the inner cylindrical surface of the cylindrical cutting core may define at least two passages. The carrier may include a core bearing that rotatably connects the cylindrical cutting core and the handle to the carrier. The core bearing may include a first bearing and a second bearing disposed on opposing sides of the handle of the cutting core. 
         [0006]    Generally, in another aspect, a coring apparatus for produce is provided. The coring apparatus includes a cutting core having a body with an inner surface, the inner surface including an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end includes a cutting plate within the inner surface of the cutting core. The coring apparatus also includes a carrier having a bearing, and at least an upper position and a lower position along a longitudinal axis of the cutting core while carrying the cutting core therebetween. The cutting core is rotatable between a first position and a second position relative to the bearing of the carrier about the longitudinal axis when the carrier is in the lower position. In some embodiments, the carrier may include an upper and lower cylindrical bearing receiving the cutting core. The cutting core may include a fixed handle that is rotatable between the upper and lower cylindrical bearings. The cutting core may include a fixed handle projecting radially outwardly from the body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The cutting plate may include elongated planar surfaces between an upper edge and a lower edge of the cutting plate. The planar surfaces of the cutting plate may be cam surfaces during rotation of the cutting core between the first position and the second position. The coring apparatus may include an ejecting member wherein the carrier is translatable to a core ejecting position above the upper position and the ejecting member is received within the upper end of the cutting core inner surface when in the core ejecting position to remove the produce core. 
         [0007]    Generally, in another aspect, a coring apparatus for produce is provided. The coring apparatus includes a base and an elongated member projecting from the base. The coring apparatus also includes a carrier that is slideably connected to the elongated member so that the carrier slides in a translational direction relative to the base along the length of the elongated member. The coring apparatus also includes a cylindrical cutting core that is rotatably connected to the carrier so that the cylindrical cutting core is correspondingly movable with the carrier in the translational direction. The cylindrical cutting core includes a handle radially extending outwardly therefrom. The coring apparatus also includes a cutting member coupled to the cylindrical cutting core and radially extending inwardly therefrom. In some embodiments, the cutting member may have a thickness perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical cutting core and a height parallel to the longitudinal axis that is greater than the thickness. The coring apparatus may also include a hand press, at least a portion of which forms a lever for increasing force applied to the carrier in the translational direction. The carrier and the cylindrical cutting core may be rotatably connected by at least one bearing. The coring apparatus may also include an ejection member extending from the elongated member and projecting into the cylindrical cutting core when in an engaged position and projects out of the cylindrical cutting core when in a disengaged position. The cylindrical cutting core may rotate about its longitudinal axis. 
         [0008]    Generally, in another aspect, a method for forming a beverage container from produce is provided. The method includes providing a cylindrical cutting core and a carrier, translating the cylindrical cutting core and the carrier towards the produce in a translational direction, inserting the cylindrical cutting core into the produce, and rotating the cylindrical cutting core relative to the carrier when inserted into the produce. In some embodiments, the method may also include the step of shearing the core from the produce. The step of shearing the core from the produce may include rotating a cutting member connected to the cylindrical cutting core. The method may also include the step of limiting a translational distance the cutting core and the carrier translate. The method may also include the step of ejecting the core from the cylindrical cutting core. The step of rotating the cylindrical cutting core may include rotating a handle extending from the cutting core. 
         [0009]    Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein some embodiments of this invention are set forth by way of illustration and examples. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coring apparatus in an upper position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coring apparatus in a lower position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coring apparatus in a lower position with a handle and cylindrical blade rotated relative to the depiction in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coring apparatus in an upper position with a core partially removed from a piece of produce; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a coring apparatus in an ejecting position with a core removed from a piece of produce, and an embodiment of a produce cup; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the coring apparatus of  FIG. 2  taken along line  6 - 6 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of a coring apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,”, “attached”, “in communication with” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. 
         [0018]    Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention and that other alternative mechanical configurations are possible. 
         [0019]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 , an embodiment of a coring apparatus  10  has a base  60  for supporting fruit  70 . Base  60  has connected thereto a cylindrical shaft  30  that extends upwardly from base  60 . Shaft  30  provides a stationary guide for a carrier  20  to slideably engage, allowing carrier  20  to slide linearly in a translational direction T. Carrier  20  is translatable in translation direction T between first and second positions and rotatably holds a cylindrical cutting core  27 , allowing cylindrical cutting core  27  to rotate about an axis of rotation A R  relative to carrier  20 . Thus, cylindrical cutting core  27  can be translated in translational direction T, made to engage fruit  70 , and rotated to cut a core  72  out of fruit  70 . 
         [0020]    Coring apparatus  10  may include any or all of carrier  20 , cylindrical cutting core  27 , a handle  29 , shaft  30 , an ejecting member  40 , a hand press  50 , base  60 , and fruit or produce  70 . Carrier  20  may be translatable in translation direction T and rotably hold cylindrical cutting core  27  by virtue of a first sleeve  21   a,  a second sleeve  21   b,  a sleeve bracket  22 , a first arm  23   a,  a second arm  23   b,  a plurality of nuts  24 , a first bushing  25   a,  and a second bushing  25   b.  Hand press  50  is interconnected to carrier  20  and to base  60 . Carrier  20  is translationally connected to shaft  30  and receives cylindrical cutting core  27 . Shaft  30  is also connected to ejecting member  40  and to base  60 . In some embodiments, shaft  30  may be connected, attached, or integral with base  60  in such a way as to prevent rotation and/or translation of shaft  30  relative to base  60 , if base  60  is included in coring apparatus  10 . Thus, shaft  30  may provide a guide for carrier  20 . 
         [0021]    First and second sleeves  21   a,    21   b  each include an aperture, although only the second sleeve aperture  21   b ′ can be seen, extending therethrough that is sized and shaped to accept shaft  30  such that sleeves  21   a,    21   b  may slide in a translational direction T along shaft  30 . Also, in this embodiment, hand press  50  includes a pair of first press arms  54  and a pair of second press arms  56 , and hand press  50  is connected to carrier  20  by a carrier rod  58  that is inserted through first press arms  54  and carrier  20 . In some embodiments, it may be desirable to have carrier rod  58  be cylindrical, or near cylindrical, in shape so that it may act as a hinge and/or otherwise not impede rotation of hand press  50  relative to carrier  20 . Second press arms  56  are connected to base  60  in base slots  62  in such a way as to allow relatively slight rotation lengthwise within base slots  62 , or toward or away from shaft  30 , but not in a direction perpendicular thereto, such as transverse across base slots  62 . Force may be applied to hand press  50 , or more specifically, to a grip  52 , to cause translation of carrier rod  58  in translational direction T. 
         [0022]    By way of connection to carrier rod  58 , translation of carrier  20  may be caused in translation direction T along shaft  30 . In this way, as is understood in the art, hand press  50 , or a portion thereof, may act as a lever to increase the force applied by cylindrical cutting core  27  on fruit  70  as compared to the force applied to grip  52 , or elsewhere on hand press  50 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5 , shaft  30  includes a shaft cap  32  at or near the top of shaft  30 . Shaft cap  32  may prevent carrier  20  from coming off of shaft  30  and also may connect ejecting member  40  to shaft  30 . Shaft  30  includes pin holes  34  that may be located at one or more pin hole heights h 1 , h 2  measured upwardly in translational direction T from base  60 . A pin  36  may be inserted into one or both of pin holes  34 , thus forming a mechanical stop that may be contacted by carrier  20  preventing carrier  20  from translating beyond pin  36 . Thus, pin holes  34  may be used for controlling the cutting depth of cylindrical cutting core  27  within a variety of fruit  70  and as a result controlling the thickness of cup bottom  74 . In this way, one or more pin hole heights h 1 , h 2  may be utilized to import vertical adjustability into coring apparatus  10  and allow customization and/or variation of the thickness of cup bottom  74  by varying or altering pin hole heights h 1 , h 2 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , ejecting member  40  includes an outwardly extending arm  42 , a downwardly extending arm  44 , and an ejecting disk  46 . Extending arms  42 ,  44  provide a structure for holding ejecting disk  46  in a desired location, which, in some embodiments, may be substantially concentric with cylindrical cutting core  27  and/or at a desirable height for ejecting, or partially dislodging, a core  72  from cylindrical core  27 .  FIGS. 1-4  show coring apparatus  10  in a lower position, as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , and an upper position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , either of the lower position and the upper position being a disengaged position in which ejecting member  40  is not penetrating sufficiently deep into cylindrical cutting core  27  to contact the core  72 , as intended.  FIG. 5  shows coring apparatus  10  in an ejection position, or engaged position, in which the ejecting member  40  is penetrating sufficiently deep into cylindrical cutting core  27  to contact the core  72 . Ejection may be desirable after core  72  is removed from fruit  70 , as core  72  may tend to stick to cylindrical cutting core  27  when it is inserted into, and/or removed from, fruit  70 . As best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , cylindrical cutting core  27  may have a taper  27   d  that is tapered or otherwise sharpened at a bottom edge  27   c  to aid in insertion of the cylindrical cutting core  27  into fruit  70 . In some embodiments, ejecting member  40  may be allowed to rotate about longitudinal axis A L  by way of, for example, rotatable affixation of shaft cap  32  to shaft  30  or shaft cap  32  having a slot in which outwardly extending arm  42  can rotate, such that ejecting member  40  may be rotated away from axis of rotation A R  allowing separation of ejecting member  40  from carrier  20  and/or cylindrical cutting core  27 . This may allow for easier inspection, cleaning, and/or maintenance of the individual parts of coring apparatus  10  or coring apparatus  10  as a whole. It is understood that a variety of structures or methods may be utilized to allow rotation of ejection member  40  relative to longitudinal axis A L  and such methods are understood in the art. It is further understood that, although it may be preferable to include shaft cap  32 , shaft cap  32  is not required. 
         [0025]    As illustrated in the Figures, elongated cylindrical cutting core  27  is cylindrical about axis of rotation A R  and has an outside surface  27   a  and an inside surface  27   b.  A handle  29  is rigidly affixed and projects radially outwardly from the outside surface  27   a.  In this way, handle  29  may be moved in a rotational direction R, such as, for example, by hand or otherwise, about axis of rotation A R , which will cause cylindrical cutting core  27  to correspondingly move in rotational direction R, about axis of rotation A R . While handle  29  may rotate most or even all of the way around axis of rotation A R , handle  29  may be effective even if only allowed to rotate a fraction of the way around axis of rotation A R . For example, a quarter turn, or 90 degree turn, may be an effective range of rotation for handle  29 . Also, more or less than a 90 degree turn may prove effective. Further, handle  29  may rotate clockwise, counterclockwise, or both about axis of rotation A R . Handle  29  may be adapted for right handed use and/or left handed use, and may be made to easily transition between a right-handed-use position and a left-handed-use position. Axis of rotation A R  is also the longitudinal axis of cylindrical cutting core  27  and, in the embodiment depicted in the Figures, is parallel to longitudinal axis A L . Thus there are two separate and/or distinct longitudinal axes, longitudinal axis A L  and the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical cutting core, which coincides with rotational axis A R . Alternatively, in some embodiments, axis of rotation A R  may be collinear with or skew to longitudinal axis A L . 
         [0026]    Although rotation of carrier  20 , as shown, is restricted about longitudinal axis A L  as described herein, cylindrical cutting core  27  is rotatably connected to carrier  20  by a first or upper bearing  26   a  and a second or lower bearing  26   b  in such a way as to allow movement in rotational direction R of cylindrical cutting core  27  about axis of rotation A R . First and second bearings  26   a,    26   b  are depicted as substantially solid journal bearings that may be made of any of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, wood, composite, or any other material or combination of materials, although it may be preferable to use a material having a low coefficient of friction so as to reduce the resistance to the movement of cylindrical cutting core  27  in rotational direction R that may be caused by first and second bearings  26   a,    26   b  within carrier  20 . It is understood that first and second bearings  26   a,    26   b  need not be journal bearings and could be any of a variety or quantity, including one, of bearings, including, but not limited to, ball bearings, roller bearings, and/or lubricated bearings; and/or any other device, such as, for example, a friction reducing or negating device. In the embodiment depicted, first bearing  26   a  has attached, connected, coupled, or integral thereto a first lip  26   a ′ and/or second bearing  26   b  has attached, connected, coupled, or integral thereto a second lip  26   b ′. First and second lips  26   a ′,  26   b ′ may extend beyond first and second bushings  25   a,    25   b,  respectively, in translation direction T toward handle  29  to provide a surface for handle  29  to slide on. First and second lips  26   a ′,  26   b ′ include a larger outside diameter than corresponding bearings  26   a,    26   b  and thus will contact the inwardly facing surfaces of each bushing  25   a,    25   b  as well as handle  29 . First and second lips  26   a ′,  26   b ′ are separated from each other by a gap through which handle  29  is allowed to rotate. It is understood that the gap need only be present to the extent handle  29  is allowed to rotate about axis of rotation A R . First and second lips  26   a ′,  26   b ′ may be formed of any of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, wood, composite, or any other material or combination of materials, although it may be preferable to use a material having a low coefficient of friction so as to reduce the resistance to the movement of handle  29  in rotational direction R. Extension of handle  29  outwardly from cylindrical cutting core  27  in a radial direction substantially perpendicular or transverse to axis of rotation A R  may provide a lever for increasing the force applied in rotational direction R to fruit  70  and/or core  72  by cylindrical cutting core  27  and/or a cutting member  28 . While handle  29  is depicted as substantially planar and extending radially outwardly from cylindrical cutting core  27 , it is understood that handle  29  may rotate a variety of degrees about axis A R  and may take any of a variety of shapes, configurations, quantities, sizes, and constructions, including but not limited to a rod, a shaft, a curved member, and/or a bent member. 
         [0027]    Handle  29  may be attached to cylindrical cutting core  27  in any of a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, welding, bolting, adhering, bonding, partial insertion, and/or any of a variety of other ways. Similarly, first bushing  25   a  may be attached to first arm  23   a  in any of a variety of ways, including those just mentioned, or others, and second bushing  25   b  may be attached to second arm  23   b  in any of a variety of ways, including those just mentioned, or others. First and/or second arms  23   a,    23   b  may also be attached to sleeve bracket  22  in any of a variety of ways, including those just mentioned, although it may be preferable in some embodiments to use one or more bolts that may be inserted through first and/or second arms  23   a,    23   b,  sleeve bracket  22 , and/or sleeves  21   a,    21   b,  substantially as depicted and/or described herein. Bolts, secured by nuts  24 , may allow relatively easy removal of first and second arms  23   a,    23   b,  especially if the nuts  24  are wing nuts or other nuts that may be loosened and/or tightened by hand. In some embodiments, it may be desirable that nuts  24  be wing nuts, or similar to wing nuts, especially as located on second arm  23   b,  to facilitate removal of second arm  23   b  and/or second bushing  25   b  from the rest of carrier  20 . Such facilitated removal may be desirable as these parts in particular, while in operation, may be exposed to a relatively large amount juices, pulps, and/or other plant or produce components, or the like, from fruit  70  and/or core  72 , and thus may call for extra inspection, cleansing, and/or maintenance. Further, different embodiments or styles, such as diameter, of the cylindrical cutting core  27  could be interchanged depending on the desired fruit  70 , core  72 , or application. For example, cylindrical cutting core  27  having a specific diameter, length, and/or thickness may be removed from the coring apparatus  10  and replaced with a second cutting core  27  having a different diameter, length, and/or thickness. A variety of different cutting cores could thus be provided with the coring apparatus  10 , providing a virtually limitless number of cutting core options. These varying cutting cores could be intended for use with varying types of produce and/or for varying sizes within a given type of produce. Cylindrical cutting core  27  may be replaced by, for example, removing first and/or second arms  23   a,    23   b  from sleeve bracket  22 , removing bearings  26   a,    26   b  from bushings  25   a,    25   b,  and/or removing cutting core from bearings  26   a,    26   b.    
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-5 , a pin  36  is inserted into a pin hole  34  located on shaft  30  to act as a mechanical stop when carrier  20  contacts pin  36 . Pin holes  34  may be located to create desired stopping locations of carrier  20  and may thereby limit the depth to which cylindrical cutting core  27  may enter fruit  70 . In this way, cutting entirely through fruit  20  may be reliably and consistently prevented, which may reduce the amount of time and effort required to ensure that the operator does not accidentally cut through fruit  20 , thus ensuring that a cup bottom  74  remains. Also, in this way, a consistent cut depth into fruit  20 , and therefore a consistent thickness of cup bottom  74 , may be provided for. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an embodiment of cutting member  28  is depicted having a planar or cam surface  28   a.  In some embodiments, cutting member  28  is a substantially planar member or a plate that spans the opening or diameter created by inside surface  27   b  of cylindrical cutting core  27 . It is understood, however, that inside and outside surfaces  27   a,    27   b  need not be cylindrical, and may be any of a variety of other shapes, including, but not limited to, ovular, triangular, rectangular, square, and/or any of a variety of other shapes. In the embodiment depicted, cutting member  28  is disposed at or near a diameter of cylindrical cutting core  27 , thus allowing cutting member  28  to substantially bisect core  72  when inserted into fruit  70 . Bisecting core  72  into two, or sectioning it into possibly more, pieces may aid in cutting, separating, and/or removing core  72  from the rest of fruit  70 . In this embodiment, cutting member  28  has at or near its bottom or free end a cutting edge  28   c  that is tapered and/or sharpened that may facilitate cutting through core  72 , although it is understood that cutting edge  28   c  of cutting member  28  need not be tapered or sharpened. Cutting member  28  may be substantially planar, having a height H in the translational direction T. Thus, cutting member  28  has planar surface  28   a  that may act as a cam surface, which, when rotated, as substantially described herein, may aid in separating core  72  from the rest of fruit  70 , and specifically from cup bottom  74 . As opposed to, or in addition to, merely cutting, cam surface  28   a  may shear and/or angularly displace core  72  from cup bottom  74 . Such shearing is often desirable over cutting, as may be the case if cutting member  28  had a substantially smaller height H. The increased surface area of planar surface  28   a  may assist in the overall force distribution applied to core  72 . In some embodiments, the combination of bisecting and shearing core  72  may especially aid in the separating and/or removing of core  72  from the rest of fruit  70 . Cutting member  28  is shown as a rectangular piece having opposed planar surfaces  28   a.  However, cutting member  28  may be a plate, or a plurality of plates, having opposed planar surfaces  28   a  that are other than rectangular. For example, planar surfaces  28   a  may be circular, semi-circular, round, triangular, square, and/or polygonal, and may or may not be symmetrical. Also, cutting member  28  is shown as a single piece having two opposed planar surfaces  28   a  and bisecting cylindrical core  27  into two symmetrical passages. However, cutting member  28  may include more than one piece or plate, may be located off-center of cylindrical cutting core  27 , and may be angled, bent, and/or curved. For example, cutting member  28  may include two pieces or plates that are substantially parallel and trisect, instead of bisecting, cylindrical core  27  into three passages; or cutting member  28  may include X number of pieces extending from inside surface  27   b  and converging at or near axis of rotation A R  to form X pie-shaped passages within cylindrical cutting core  27 , or the pieces or plates may extend partially inward and not converge. It is understood that these are merely examples and a variety of pieces or plates, arranged in a variety of orientations, may be used to form cutting member  28  and/or one or more passages within cylindrical cutting core  27 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-6 , base  60  is depicted having one or more base feet  64 . If included, base feet  64  may be located at each corner of the underside of base  60 , as depicted, although it is understood that more or less than four base feet  64  may be included with coring apparatus  10  to interface with a tabletop, countertop, and/or any other surface. Base feet  64  may be included to stabilize base  60 , especially during operation of coring apparatus  10 , as described herein. It may also be desirable to form base feet  64  of a substantially slip-resistant material, or a material having a relatively high coefficient of friction, such as for example, rubber and/or plastic. It is understood that base  60  and base feet  64  may be made of any of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, rubber, plastic, wood, metal, composite materials, and/or any other material or combination thereof. Further, in some embodiments, base feet  64  may be suctioned to form suction cups to provide additional stabilization of base  60  relative to an underlying tabletop, countertop, or other surface. It is understood that any of a variety of means of connecting, attaching, and/or stabilizing base  60  with respect to the underlying surface may be utilized, and may include, but are not limited to, suctioning, bolting, screwing, nailing, gluing, adhering, bonding, coupling, and/or otherwise connecting and/or attaching base  60  to an underlying surface. Further, it is understood that coring apparatus  10  may be made to be wall-mountable, such that coring apparatus  10  may be mounted to a wall or similar structure in lieu of, or in addition to, an underlying surface. 
         [0031]    Although  FIG. 1-7  show coring apparatus  10  in a vertical orientation with translational direction T substantially vertical, it is understood that coring apparatus  10  may be oriented horizontally and may be used in either or both orientations, or any orientation therebetween, including those angled relative to the horizontal and/or vertical. 
         [0032]    In use, coring apparatus  10  may be manually or otherwise operated by applying force to hand press  50 , for example, by hand-gripping and pushing or pulling on grip  52  of hand press  50  in translation direction T to cause translation of the carrier  20  in translational direction T, as substantially described above or elsewhere herein. It should be understood that particular or partial steps could be automated. In this way, hand press  50  may be used to move carrier  20  and cylindrical cutting core  27  in the translational direction T downward so that cylindrical cutting core  27  cuts or otherwise enters into fruit  70 , which is resting on base  60 , while increasing the longitudinal force applied by cylindrical cutting core  27  on fruit  70 . As shown in the lower position in  FIG. 2 , downward translation in translation direction T may be halted, or stopped, when carrier  20  contacts pin  36  on shaft  30 , thus preventing cylindrical cutting core  27  from cutting through cup bottom  74 . At this lower position, while holding the fruit  70  with one hand or device (not shown) the other hand can rotate handle  29  in rotational direction R relative to the carrier  20 , either clockwise or counterclockwise, to shear or otherwise cause separation of core  72  from the rest of fruit  70 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Cutting member  28  acts in concert with cylindrical cutting core  27  to hold most or all of core  72 , so that planar surface  28   a  pushes or cams core  72 , relative to the rest of fruit  70 , causes shearing or separation of core  72  from the rest of fruit  70  during rotation of handle  29  and cylindrical cutting core  27 . Handle  29  and cylindrical cutting core  27  may be rotated back and forth, at a variety of degrees of rotation about axis A R , repeatedly to cause the desired separation. Hand press  50  may be reversed in the opposite direction to move carrier  20  and cylindrical cutting core  27  upwardly in translational direction T to an upper position. One such upper position may be illustrated in  FIG. 4 , where core  72  is removed, or partially removed, from the rest of fruit  70 . If desired, fruit  70  may be removed from base  60 . By continuing to move hand press  50  upwardly, the carrier  20  and cylindrical cutting core  27  translate upwardly in translational direction T to the ejection position, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In the ejection position, ejection member  40  has begun to partially or fully eject core  72  from cylindrical cutting core  27  by way of ejecting disk  46  contacting core  72  and thereby preventing further upward motion of core  72  in translational direction T relative to cylindrical cutting core  27  and carrier  20 , which may continue to upwardly translate in translational direction T. Upon removal of the core  72  and the fruit  70  after coring, the process may be repeated. 
         [0033]    It is understood that, while  FIGS. 1-7  depict a pineapple or similar fruit, the apparatus and methods disclosed are not so limited, and may be used on any of a variety of objects, including, but not limited to, pineapple, apple, coconut, orange, mango, or any other fruit, vegetable, produce, or other object. 
         [0034]    It is further understood that while certain forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.