Abstract:
A hand operated slicer incorporates a housing, a base, and a reciprocating blade assembly. The housing has a top, opposing lateral sides, a food retaining chamber, and a passageway extending therethrough between the lateral sides and aligned with a cutting plane. The base is coupled to the housing and configured to prevent the housing from moving during typical operation. The reciprocating blade assembly is slidably engaged with the passageway on the housing, and carries a blade that moves through or adjacent the food retaining chamber as the assembly reciprocates, to slice a food item in the chamber. The blade assembly can be adjustable to change the thickness of the slice, and can be convertible to create French fries, make julienne cuts or the like.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/433,102 filed Jan. 14, 2011; where this provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure generally is related to kitchen tools, and more particularly, to tools for slicing food, making julienne cuts and the like. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A wide variety of tools exist for cutting food, slicing food, cutting potatoes into French fries, making julienne cuts, and the like. Because a cook typically does all of the above at one time or another, a device that combines some or all of these functions has advantages. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one embodiment, hand-operated device, for use in slicing a food item, incorporates a housing, a base, and a blade assembly. The housing has a top, opposing lateral sides, a food receiving chamber, and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough between the opposing lateral sides. The passageway is aligned with a slicing plane. The food receiving chamber is accessible through the top of the housing, and is configured to at least substantially encircle the food item in the slicing plane. The base is fixedly coupled with respect to the housing to support the housing on a countertop or other surface such that the housing does not move during normal use. The blade assembly has a proximal portion, an opposing distal portion, and an upper surface with a blade thereon. The proximal portion of the blade assembly has a handle. The distal portion of the blade assembly is reciprocally engaged with the passageway in the housing, and the blade assembly is configured to reciprocate with respect to the housing along a slicing stroke oriented longitudinally along the passageway. The blade is located on the upper surface of the blade assembly in a location that passes through or adjacent the food receiving chamber with each stroke of the blade assembly, such that food located in the food receiving chamber is sliced by the blade with each stroke. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a hand-operated device, for use in slicing a food item, incorporates a housing, a base and a blade assembly. The housing has a top, opposing lateral sides, a food receiving chamber, and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough between the opposing lateral sides. The passageway is aligned with a slicing plane. The food receiving chamber is accessible through the top of the housing, and is configured to at least substantially encircle the food item in the slicing plane. The base is fixedly coupled with respect to the housing to support the housing on a countertop or other surface such that the housing does not move during normal use. The blade assembly has a proximal portion, an opposing distal portion, a fixed upper surface with a blade thereon, and a movable upper surface. The proximal portion of the blade assembly has a handle. The distal portion of the blade assembly is reciprocally engaged with the passageway, and the blade assembly is configured to reciprocate with respect to the housing along a slicing stroke longitudinally along the passageway. The blade is located on the fixed upper surface of the blade assembly in a location that passes through or adjacent the food receiving chamber with each stroke of the blade assembly. The movable upper surface is movable vertically with respect to the blade assembly to change a vertical distance between the movable upper surface and the blade and, as such, the thickness of the slice of food item cut by the device. 
         [0008]    In still other embodiments, a hand-operated device, for use in slicing a food item, incorporates a housing, a base and a reciprocating blade assembly. The housing has a top, opposing lateral sides, a food receiving chamber, and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough between the opposing lateral sides. The passageway is aligned with a slicing plane. The food receiving chamber is accessible through the top of the housing, and is configured to at least substantially encircle the food item in the slicing plane. The base is fixedly coupled with respect to the housing to support the housing on a countertop or other surface such that the housing does not move during normal use. The blade assembly has a proximal portion, an opposing distal portion, and an upper surface with a blade thereon. The proximal portion of the blade assembly has a handle. The distal portion of the blade assembly is reciprocally engaged with the passageway, configured to reciprocate with respect to the housing along a slicing stroke oriented longitudinally along the passageway. The blade is located on the upper surface of the blade assembly in a location that passes through or adjacent the food receiving chamber with each stroke of the blade assembly. At least a portion of the upper surface is removable and invertable with respect to the blade assembly. The opposing face of the removable and invertable portion of the upper surface has a plurality of blades thereon such that, when it is inverted, the device can make French fry cuts, julienne cuts or the like. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0009]      FIGS. 1A through 1C  are perspective views of a hand-operated, reciprocating slicer, according to one embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the slicer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the slicer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the slicer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the slicer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the slicer of  FIG. 1 , viewed along Section  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a reciprocating blade assembly from the slicer of  FIG. 1 , depicted in a storage configuration. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an end view of the assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 7 , viewed along Section  11 - 11  of  FIG. 5 , depicted with an inverted blade insert. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of an actuator on the assembly of  FIG. 7 , the actuator being in an unlocked configuration and the assembly being in the storage configuration. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of the actuator of  FIG. 12 , the actuator being in a locked configuration and the assembly being in the storage configuration. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 7 , depicted in an operational configuration. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 7 , viewed along Section  15 - 15  of  FIG. 5 , depicted in the operational configuration. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged view of the actuator of  FIG. 12 , the actuator being in an unlocked configuration and the assembly being in the operational configuration. 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged view of the actuator of  FIG. 12 , the actuator being in a locked configuration and the assembly being in the operational configuration. 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 7 , depicted in an exchange configuration. 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 7 , depicted in an exchange configuration, with two blade inserts removed therefrom. 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 19 , viewed along Section  20 - 20  of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  is a side perspective view of a housing from the slicer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  is an end perspective end view of the housing of  FIG. 21 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view of the housing of  FIG. 1 , viewed along Section  23 - 23  of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 24  is an elevation view of a depressor from the slicer of  FIG. 1 , depicted in an extended configuration. 
           [0033]      FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view of the depressor of  FIG. 24  in the extended configuration, viewed along Section  25 - 25  of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 26  is an elevation view of the depressor of  FIG. 24 , depicted in a compressed configuration. 
           [0035]      FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional view of the depressor of  FIG. 24  in the compressed configuration, viewed along Section  27 - 27  of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    The following detailed description is directed toward devices for slicing food, including julienne cutters, French fry cutters and the like. The following detailed description and corresponding figures are intended to provide an individual of ordinary skill in the art with enough information to enable that individual to make and use embodiments of the invention. Such an individual, however, having read this entire detailed description and reviewed the figures, will appreciate that modifications can be made to the illustrated and described embodiments and elements removed therefrom, all without deviating from the spirit of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications fall within the scope of the invention, to the extent any such deviation is within the scope of the associated claims. 
         [0037]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosed methods and structures. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 1A-1C  and  2 - 6  illustrate one particular embodiment of a slicing device  100  according to the present invention. The slicing device  100  generally incorporates a reciprocating blade assembly  102 , a housing  104 , a food depressor  106 , and a base  108 . The device  100 , and each of its elements when assembled, extends longitudinally between a proximal end  110 , at which the operator holds a handle  112  on the reciprocating blade assembly  102 , and an opposing distal end  114 . The illustrated food depressor  106  is located on a top of the device  100  at a central point between the proximal and distal ends  110 , 114 . Generally, during operation the housing  104  and the base  108  remain stationary while the reciprocating blade assembly  102  is repeatedly moved forward and backward with respect to the housing to slice an item of food being urged by the food depressor  106  against a top surface of the blade assembly. A blade in the top surface slices the food item as the blade assembly  102  reciprocates. 
         [0039]    The base  108  is attached to the housing  104  to support the device  100  and to maintain the housing in a fixed position and orientation during use. The illustrated base  108  is configured to support the device  100  on a countertop or other surface. In this particular embodiment the base  108  incorporates a pair of front legs  116  located toward the distal end  114  of the device  100 , and a pair of rear legs  118  located toward the proximal end  110  of the device. The illustrated front legs  116  are shorter than the rear legs  118  such that the proximal end  110  of the device  100  is elevated above the distal end  114  and the device is angled downward from the rear to the front. This orientation can facilitate use of the device, and can increase comfort and efficiency. 
         [0040]    The illustrated base  108  is manufactured from an elongated metal rod bent into a complex shape to form the front legs  116  and the rear legs  118 , along with the other sections of the base. A portion of the illustrated base  108  located between the front legs  116  and the rear legs  118  is removably attached to the housing  104  by four pairs of raised fingers  120 , one pair of fingers located at the proximal and distal ends of each lateral side of the housing, i.e., one in each corner of the housing. The illustrated base  108  thus is rigidly, yet removably, attached to the housing  104 . 
         [0041]    The base  108  has a foot  122  at the bottom of each of the front legs  116  and the rear legs  118 . In the illustrated embodiment the feet  122  are elongated, with one of the feet extending between the two front legs  116  and another foot extending between the two rear legs  118 . The feet  122  are configured to support the device  100  and to prevent the device from moving relative to the support surface during operation. An individual of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this entire disclosure, will immediately appreciate that many changes could be made to the base  108 , the legs,  116 , 118  and/or the feet  122 , all without deviating from the spirit of the invention. In one particular, alternate embodiment, for example, the base is adapted to rest on the rim of a bowl, allowing the device to slice food directly into the bowl during food preparation. 
         [0042]    The blade assembly  102  is adapted to reciprocate longitudinally within and with respect to the housing  104 . The blade assembly  102  has a pair of side rails  124  that extend along opposing sides of the blade assembly from a point near the proximal end  110  to a point near the distal end  114 . The illustrated side rails  124  are generally smooth and straight and have a constant cross-sectional profile, such that they can slide along their lengths without excessive misalignment or binding. The side rails  124  can be coated, overlaid and/or equipped with other features, such as bearings, wheels, tracks or the like, to improve alignment, reduce friction or otherwise improve performance and/or reduce any likelihood of problems. 
         [0043]    The illustrated housing  104  has a pair of complementary guides  126  that extend along opposing lateral sides of the housing (best illustrated in  FIGS. 22 and 23 ). The side rails  124  on the blade assembly  102  are movable with respect to the housing  104  within the guides  126 , each of the side rails being at least partially enclosed, vertically, between an upper guide  128  and a lower guide  130 . 
         [0044]    The upper guide  128  on each lateral side of the housing  104  complements the size and shape of a corresponding portion of the side rail  124  on the blade assembly  102  to help maintain the vertical position and the alignment of the blade assembly with respect to the housing during use. The upper guide  128  can extend some or all of the length of the guide  126 , or can be formed only at the proximal and distal ends thereof, as desired or suitable for the particular design. 
         [0045]    The lower guide  130  on each lateral side of the housing  104  generally opposes, vertically, the associated upper guide  128 , and it supports the corresponding side of the blade assembly  102 . The lower guide  130  is shaped and adapted to allow the side rail  124  to ride thereon during use. The illustrated lower guides  130  are flat and smooth to facilitate a reciprocating sliding motion of the blade assembly  102  during use. The lower guide  130  can be treated, coated or combined with other features to decrease friction and/or misalignment, to increase performance or as otherwise suitable. An individual of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this entire disclosure, will immediately appreciate that details can be added, removed and/or changed from the side rails  124  and the guides  126  without deviating from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0046]    To reciprocate the illustrated device  100 , the operator can set the feet  122  on a countertop, place one hand on the food depressor  106  and the surrounding portion of the housing  104 , grab the handle  112  with the other hand, then alternatingly push and pull the blade assembly  102  by the handle. In embodiments where the housing  104  is angled with respect to the surface during use, the operator&#39;s hand moves the handle  112  along a line that is vertically angled with respect to the countertop. This movement can be natural and comfortable for the operator. 
         [0047]    To prevent the blade assembly  102  from unintentionally being moved out of the operating configuration if, for example, an operator were to pull on the handle  112  too long or hard, the illustrated device  100  incorporates a stop  132  near the distal end  114  of the blade assembly  102 . The stop  132  is positioned to allow the blade assembly  102  to reciprocate through its entire operating stroke (i.e. the cutting stroke), but to prevent the blade assembly from being pulled beyond the operating configuration. As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the stop  132  has a tapered front surface  134  and a substantially vertical rear surface  136 . In its natural, unstressed configuration, the stop  132  projects above a top surface  138  of the blade assembly  102 . 
         [0048]    The stop  132  is formed on a cantilever  140  of resilient material. A cantilever base  142  at a proximal-most end of the cantilever  140  is fixed to the top surface  138  of the blade assembly  102 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cantilever base  142  is formed from the same, unitary section of material as the adjacent top surface  138 , and the cantilever  140  merely extends therefrom. A tip  144  at a distal end of the cantilever is unrestricted, such that the tip  144  of the cantilever  140  is free to flex with respect to the surface  138 . In the illustrated embodiment, a button  146  on the top of the surface  138 , centrally located along the length of the cantilever  140 , is formed to identify for the operator one location where the cantilever can be depressed to cause the stop  132  to recess below the level of the top surface  138 . As described below, depressing the button  146  on the cantilever  140  can cause the cantilever  140  to bend and can de-activate the stop  132 . When the button  146  is released, the resilient material of the cantilever  140  returns to its unstressed state and the stop  132  returns to its original position. In alternate embodiments, the stop  132  can be attached to the cantilever  140  or otherwise formed, assembled or manufactured, and the cantilever can be replaced by a lever and spring combination or other suitable structure. An individual of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this entire disclosure, will immediately appreciate that these and other modifications can be made without deviating from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0049]    A lower front wall  148  of the housing  104  projects downward from the housing and obstructs movement of the stop  132  beyond a point when the blade assembly  102  reaches the end of its rearward operating stroke. The lower front wall  148  is illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 23 . To move the stop  132  beyond the lower front wall  148 , the user can depress the button  146  with a finger on one hand and pull the handle  112  with the other hand. The blade assembly  102  is now in a configuration that can be used for blade configuration changes, as all but the distal end  114  of the blade assembly projects proximally beyond the housing  104 , exposing the upper surface  138  of a substantial portion of the blade assembly. To return the blade assembly  102  to the operating configuration, the operator can merely push the handle  112 ; the stop  132  can pass under the lower front wall  148  because the sloped front surface  134  slides along the lower front wall, causing the cantilever  140  to bend and allow the stop to pass. When the stop  132  has passed the lower front wall  148 , the cantilever  140  and the stop spring back to the unstressed configuration. 
         [0050]    A lower rear wall  150  also projects downward from the housing  104  on an opposing, proximal, side of the food depressor  106 . The lower rear wall is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  22  and  23 . The lower rear wall  150  obstructs excessive proximal movement of the stop  132  when the blade assembly  102  has been partially removed from the device  100  during blade configuration changes, as discussed in detail above. To completely remove the blade assembly  102  from the device  100 , the operator can depress the button  146  and pull the handle  112 , as described in detail above. Reinserting the blade assembly  102  into the device  100  is completed as discussed above: by merely urging the sloped front surface  134  of the stop  132  against the lower rear wall  150 . 
         [0051]    The illustrated lower front wall  148  and lower rear wall  150  combine to form a lower portion of a circular wall  152  around an article of food being processed by the device  100 , and can hold the food item stationary during operation, against the force of a blade as the blade slices the food. The circular wall  152  terminates at its upper end in a mouth  154 , into which the operator can place food items to be processed by the device  100  (after removing the food depressor  106  therefrom). After the food item is placed in the mouth  154 , the food depressor  106  can be used to urge the food item against the blade assembly  102  during use. As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 23 , protuberances  155  are positioned near a lower edge of the circular wall  152 . The protuberances  155  can prevent the food depressor  106  from contacting the blade assembly  102  during operation. An individual of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this entire disclosure, will immediately appreciate that changes can be made to the circular wall  152  and associated structures without deviating from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 7-20  further illustrate the blade assembly  102 , the mechanisms for adjusting the slicing thickness of the device  100 , and the mechanisms for replacing some of the functional components of the device. Generally,  FIGS. 7 and 11  best illustrate the blade assembly  102  in a storage configuration, when the device  100  is configured to not slice at all (i.e., the thickness is close to zero, zero, or less than zero).  FIGS. 14 and 15  best illustrate the blade assembly  102  in one operational configuration, when the device  100  is configured to slice food items to a maximum thickness. 
         [0053]    The thickness of the slice corresponds to the vertical spacing between the top surface  138  and a movable surface  156 . A blade  158  is mounted to the blade assembly  102  in a fixed relationship with the top surface  138 . The illustrated blade  158  is mounted on an edge of the top surface  138  adjacent the movable surface  156 , and its sharpened, cutting edge is directed toward the movable surface, in the direction of the proximal end  110  of the blade assembly  102  and device  100 . As a result, the illustrated device  100  slices the food item when the handle  112  and blade assembly  102  are pulled. Traditional mandolin slicers, by comparison, cut by pushing the food. The illustrated device  100  holds the food stationary and the operator pulls on the blade  158  (via the handle  112 ). One of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this entire disclosure, will appreciate that this isn&#39;t the only configuration, but that the blade  158  could be oriented the opposite direction, such that the blade cuts when the handle  112  is pushed. This and other changes could be made to the illustrated embodiment without deviating from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0054]    The movable surface  156  corresponds to the upper surface of a movable module  160  mounted in the blade assembly  102  to move upwards and downwards between and relative to the side rails  124 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 15 , the movable module  160  is made up primarily of a carriage  162 , a French fry insert  164 , a set of French fry blades  166 , a cover  172  and a locking mechanism  174 . The movable module  160  rides on opposing tracks  176  on the interior surfaces of the side rails  124 . Complementary tracks or other features on the opposing sides of the movable module  160  mate with the tracks  176  and allow the movable module to slide up and down with respect to the side rails  124 . An individual of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other structures can be used to allow the movable module  124  to adjust without deviating from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0055]    An opposing pair of actuators  178  are mounted on the locking mechanism  174  and readily accessible to the operator. The operator can pinch the actuators  178  between a finger and a thumb, then can slide the actuators up and down a length of a tongue  180  on a bridge  182  between the two side rails  124 . The illustrated tongue  180  has demarcations on it, corresponding to the thickness of the slice to be made in that particular configuration.  FIGS. 12 and 13 , for example, show the actuators  178  aligned with a “0”, an indication that the device  100  is configured for not cutting.  FIGS. 16 and 17  show the actuators  178  aligned with the largest symbol, an indication that the device  100  is configured for making the thickest slice. Between the indicators of no cutting and maximum cutting are other, interim designations for making slices of varying thicknesses between the maximum and minimum thicknesses. By releasing the actuators  178 , the operator can lock the device  100  in the desired configuration. The locking mechanism  174  can be spring-loaded into a locked position with a pin/detent type lock, wherein squeezing the actuators  178  overcomes the spring force and retracts the pins from the detents. Other suitable locking mechanisms could be used without deviating from the spirit of the invention.  FIG. 16  shows the actuators  178  depressed and moved into the maximum configuration, and  FIG. 17  shows the device locked in the maximum configuration after the actuators have been released. 
         [0056]    The illustrated tongue  180  is oriented roughly parallel to the tracks  176 . Because the actuators  178  are attached to the movable module  160 , movement of the actuators along the tongue  180  results in movement of the movable module and, along with it, the movable surface  156 . 
         [0057]    When the movable surface  156  moves downwards as the movable module  160  slides along the tracks  176 , the vertical spacing between the blade  158  and the movable surface  156  increases. Slices made by the device  100  are thicker when the spacing is greater. In  FIG. 15 , where the space is greatest, the thickness “t” of the slice is at a maximum, “T”. When the movable surface  156  moves upwards as the movable module  160  slides along the tracks  176 , the vertical spacing between the blade  158  and the movable surface  156  decreases so that slices made by the device  100  are thinner. In  FIG. 11 , where the space is zero, the thickness t is 0. 
         [0058]      FIGS. 7 ,  9  and  11  illustrate the blade assembly  102  configured for slicing (without regard to thickness).  FIGS. 14 and 15 , for purposes of comparison, illustrate reconfiguration of the device  100  for cutting French fries, julienne cutting (as the “French fry blades are not necessarily drawn to scale), and the like. As indicated above, the movable surface  156  is made up of, among other things, the French fry insert  164  and the cover  172 . The French fry blades  166  project out of the French fry insert  164  from a face opposing the movable surface  156 . Accordingly, inverting the French fry insert  164  exposes the French fry blades  166 . 
         [0059]    To reconfigure the device  100  from slicing to cutting French fries, julienne cutting, or the like, the French fry insert  164  must be inverted. First, the cover  172  and the French fry insert  164  are rotated, as a unit, at a hinge  184  on the cover  172  about a pin  186  on the carriage  162 . After the cover  172  and French fry insert  164  are rotated away from the blade  158 , as illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the French fry insert  164  can be removed from the cover  172 . A tongue or ridge  188  on an edge of the cover  172  is slidably received in a complementary slit or groove  190  in a mating edge of the French fry insert  164 . Because the ridge  188  and the groove  190  can be held together through an interference fit, the French fry insert  164  can merely be pulled off the cover  172 , inverted, and slid back onto the cover. To initially rotate the French fry insert  164  and the cover  172  away from the blade  158 , the operator can insert a finger through an opening  192  in the carriage  162  and push directly on a bottom surface of the cover  172 . 
         [0060]      FIGS. 24-27  further illustrate the food depressor  106 . The food depressor  106  generally is made up of a cap  202 , a rim  204  and a spring  206 . The cap  202  is at the top of the food depressor  106 , and is the portion that is depressed by the operator during use. The rim  204  is at the bottom of the food depressor  106 . The spring  206  connects the cap  202  to the plate  204 . Prongs  208  on an interior surface  210  of the cap can urge and hold the food item against the blade assembly  102  during use. The spring  206  is designed to compress under the force of a user pressing on the cap  202 . 
         [0061]      FIGS. 24 and 25  show the food depressor  106  in an uncompressed state. The food depressor  106  is in this state when the cap  202  is not pressed.  FIGS. 26 and 27  show the food depressor  106  in a compressed state. The food depressor  106  is in this state when the operator pushes the cap  202  downward as far as possible. As the food depressor  106  moves downward, eventually the rim  204  will contact the protuberances  155  on the circular wall  152 , at which point the rim  204  will not move further. As the individual continues to put pressure on the cap  202 , the spring  204  will compress and the food item will continue to be urged against the movable blade assembly  102 . An individual of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this entire disclosure, will immediately appreciate that the structure of the food depressor  106  can be modified without deviating from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0062]    All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. 
         [0063]    From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.