Abstract:
A device for sectioning baked products, such as bagels or donuts, so that those baked products are partitioned into bite size pieces which remain partially attached to each other so that the baked product substantially maintains its original pre-sectioned shape. The device includes a housing with a wall and a plunger-activated blade that travels within the housing interiorly of said wall. The blade slides through a slotted plate disposed inwardly of a lower edge of the housing. When the plunger is pushed toward the housing, the blade slides through the slotted plate and cuts into the baked product. The sectioning device includes a limiting mechanism which prevents the cutting edge of the blade from cutting entirely through the baked product. When the plunger is released, the slotted plate causes the sectioned baked product to release from the blade as it is withdrawn through the slot. A plurality of blades and corresponding slots in the slotted plate, may be provided to section the baked product into a plurality of segments.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field  
         [0002]     This invention generally relates to baked products. More particularly, the invention relates to a device and method for partially sectioning baked products. Specifically, the invention relates to a device for sectioning a baked product which does not cut entirely through the baked product and thereby allows the product to substantially maintain its original shape.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     It is common for people to purchase baked products such as donuts and bagels and then eat those products in a location remote from the establishment from which they purchased the product. Donuts and bagels are typically sold as a one piece product and are placed in a paper bag for the consumer to carry. These products are frequently eaten on the run, in a car, with the consumer attempting to tear off bite size pieces of the product to eat. In order to do this, the consumer must reach inside the bag and either remove the entire donut or bagel, and bite into the product or tear off a piece of the same from the whole baked product. Alternatively, they may keep the whole product inside the bag and simply tear off pieces when they are ready to eat the same. Reaching into the bag several times to tear of pieces of donuts in particular, tends to be difficult and the consumer ends up with filling or frosting all over their hand. Furthermore, the actual act of tearing off a piece of the product may be fairly difficult, especially if the consumer is attempting to eat the product in a car and is essentially using only one hand to break a piece off the whole product.  
         [0005]     There is therefore a need in the art for a device which will make it easier to remove bite size pieces from baked products such as donuts or bagels.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention is a device and method for partially sectioning baked products, such as bagels or donuts, so that those baked products are partitioned into bite size pieces which remain partially attached to each other so that the baked product substantially maintains its original pre-sectioned shape.  
         [0007]     The device includes a housing having a wall which defines an interior cavity and a plunger-activated blade that travels interiorly of the wall and within the cavity. The blade slides through a slotted plate disposed inwardly of a lower edge of the housing. When the plunger is pushed toward the housing, the blade slides through the slotted plate and cuts into the baked product. The sectioning device includes a limiting mechanism which prevents the cutting edge of the blade from reaching the lower edge of the housing. Consequently, the blade only cuts partially through the baked product. When the plunger is released, the slotted plate causes the sectioned baked product to release from the blade as it is withdrawn through the slot. A plurality of blades, and corresponding slots in the slotted plate, may be provided to section the baked product into a plurality of segments. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of sectioning device in accordance with the present invention, with the housing of the device shown in phantom;  
         [0010]      FIG. 1   a  is an enlarged perspective view of the upper portion of the housing and the handle;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of the device showing the blades partially cutting through a baked product;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4   a  is an enlarged view of a part of  FIG. 4  showing a screw mechanism for adjusting the position of contact between the plunger and the housing to change the degree of travel of the blade within the housing;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a baked product which has been cut by the sectioning device of the present invention illustrating that the baked product is partitioned, but not separated;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the sectioning device in accordance with the present invention and showing the housing of the device in phantom;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the device of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the device of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional top view through line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a baked product which has been cut by the sectioning device of  FIG. 6 , illustrating that the baked product is partitioned, but not separated; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a sectioning device in accordance with the present invention and showing the housing of the device in phantom. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5  there is shown a first embodiment of a hand-held sectioning device in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at  10 . Sectioning device  10  includes blades  12  which are manipulated via a spring-loaded plunger  14  to partially cut into a baked product  16  such as a donut or bagel. The partially cut baked product  16  substantially maintains its original shape but is easier to separate into bite sizes pieces.  
         [0023]     Sectioning device  10  comprises the plunger  14  and blades  12 , which are connected in a suitable manner to a first plate  18 , and further includes a slotted second plate  20  which is received within a housing  22 .  
         [0024]     Plunger  14  comprises a handle  26  and a shaft  28 . Shaft  28  is inserted through an aperture  30  in a boss  32  which extends from the top wall  34  of housing  22 . The lower end  28   a  of shaft  28  is inserted through a bore  36  in first plate  18  and is fixedly connected to first plate  18  by any suitable means such as by an adhesive. A spring  38  is disposed around shaft  28  and boss  32  and lays between the underside  26   a  of handle  26  and top wall  34  of housing  22 .  
         [0025]     First plate  18  is disposed beneath the top wall  34  of housing  22  and comprises a circular disc  40  with a plurality of strengthening flanges  42  disposed around a central core  44 . Bore  36  extends through core  44 . First plate  18  moves with shaft  28  of plunger  14  because the lower end  28   a  of shaft  28  is secured to first plate  18 . First plate  18  is provided to secure blades  12  to plunger  14  and to limit the upward travel of blades  12  within housing  22 .  
         [0026]     Blades  12  are secured to and extend outwardly away from the lower surface  18   a  of first plate  18 . Blades  12  include a central core  46  from which a plurality of partitioning blades  48  radiate. Partitioning blades  48  include a cutting edge  50 . Blades  12  move up and down with first plate  18  inside housing in response to movements of plunger  14 .  
         [0027]     Second plate  20  comprises a circular disc having a plurality of slots  52  radiating outwardly from a central aperture  54 . Slots  52  are complementary sized and spaced to receive the partitioning blades  48  of blades  12  therethrough. Second plate  20  preferably is frictionally secured within the interior of housing  22 . As the partitioning blades  48  of blades  12  are moved with first plate  18  in response to movements in plunger  14 , partitioning blades  48  move into and out of slots  52  of second plate  20 . Second plate  20  is provided to protect the cutting edges  50  of blades  12  from damage and to prevent users from accidentally cutting themselves on cutting edges  50  of blades  12 . Second plate  20  is also provided to limit the upward travel of the baked product  16  as blades  12  is withdrawn therefrom.  
         [0028]     Housing  22  is generally cylindrical in shape having a wall that forms an interior cavity  23  ( FIG. 4 ) for receiving blades  12  and first and second plates  18 ,  20  therein. Housing  22  preferably is manufactured from a transparent material so that baked product  16  can be viewed therethrough. Housing  22  includes a lower edge  22   a  which lies a distance from the interior  34   a  of top wall  34 . First and second plates  18 ,  20  and blades  12  move within the interior cavity  23  of housing  22 . Cutting edges  50  of blades  12  do not extend below lower edge  22   a  of housing  22  and are spaced inwardly a distance “C” from lower edge  22   a  of housing  22  when first plate  18  is in the second or down position. Housing  22  thereby substantially prevents easy access to blades  12  when sectioning device is not in use, as blades  12  lie above the second plate  20  when device  10  is not in use. This reduces the risk of the user cutting themselves on the sides of partitioning blades  48  or from damaging the blades accidentally. It may be seen from  FIG. 4   a  that boss  32  on housing  22  may include a mechanism for adjusting the point at which the underside  26   a  of handle  26  engages boss  32  to adjust the position at which the downward travel of the plunger  14  is halted. The mechanism may take the form of a screw  70  which can be screwed upwardly or downwardly to raise or lower the contact point at which the underside  26   a  of handle  26  engages the boss  32  and thereby halts downward travel of plunger  14 . Any other suitable mechanism may be provided to accomplish this end.  
         [0029]     Sectioning device  10  is used in the following manner. A baked product  16  is placed on a flat surface  56  such as a kitchen counter. Housing  22  is positioned over baked product  16  so that lower edge  22   a  of housing  22  rests on surface  56  and baked product  16  lies within the perimeter created by lower edge  22   a . The user then pushes handle  26  of plunger  14  downwardly in the direction of arrow “A” ( FIG. 3 ). This downward movement compresses spring  38  against top wall  34  of housing  22 . At the same time, the downward movement causes first plate  18  and blades  12  to move downwardly within housing  22 , as can be seen in  FIG. 4  where upper edges  58  of flanges  42  have moved a distance “B” downwardly from interior surface  34   a  of top wall  34 . The downward movement causes partitioning blades  48  of blades  12  to move through slots  52  in second plate  20  and into the body of baked product  16 . When the underside  26   a  ( FIG. 4 ) of handle  26  engages boss  32 , the downward movement of plunger  14  is arrested. At this point, cutting edges  50  of partitioning blades  48  have not cut entirely through to the underside  16   a  of baked product  16 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , a layer of baked product  16  having a depth “D” remains uncut. Depth “D” is equal in size to distance “C” ( FIG. 4 ) which is the distance between the bottom of cutting edge  50  and lower edge  22   a  of housing  22 . Preferably, approximately 10%-95% and preferably about 80% of the depth of baked product  16  is cut through by blades  12 . This means that segments  24  of baked product  16  remain attached to each other and baked product  16  substantially maintains its original shape. Baked product  16  is therefore divided into segments  24 , but segments  24  are not completely separated from each other. The user then releases handle  26  and spring  38  urges plunger  14  upwardly in a direction opposite to arrow “A” ( FIG. 3 ). This in turn causes upward movement of first plate  18  and blades  12 . Baked product  16  may be drawn upwardly by blades  12  as plunger  14  returns to its original position, but when upper surface  16   b  of baked product  16  contacts lower surface  20   b  of second plate  20 , the product&#39;s upward movement is arrested and it drops back onto surface  56 . Partitioning blades  48  are withdrawn upwardly through slots  52  so that cutting edges  50  once again lie above upper surface  20   a  of second plate  20 . It will be seen from  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4  that the cutting edges  50  of blades  12  always lie inwardly of lower edge  22   a  of housing  22 . When the consumer desires to break a segment  24  from baked product  16 , they simply pull on the desired segment  24  and, because there is less baked material to tear, the desired segment easily separates from baked product  16 . It is contemplated that sectioning device  10  would be used by an employee of a bakery or fast food restaurant. It is also contemplated that this type of device could be mechanized to rapidly partition a plurality of baked products.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIGS. 6-9 , there is shown a second embodiment of a sectioning device in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at  110 . Sectioning device  110  is adapted to partition a substantially rectangular baked product  116 . As with the first embodiment, sectioning device  110  includes a housing  122 , a spring-biased plunger  114 , a reinforced first plate  118  with a plurality of blades  112  extending outwardly therefrom and a slotted second plate  120  through which blades  112  can travel. Housing  122  and first and second plates  118 ,  120  are substantially rectangular in shape. Blades  112  are arranged spaced apart and parallel to each other along the length of the underside of first plate  118 . Slots  152  in second plate  120  are spaced and sized to be complementary to blades  112 . When plunger  114  moves first plate  118  and therefore blades  112  downwardly in the direction of arrow “E” ( FIG. 8 ), the cutting edges  150  of blades  112  cut into the body of baked product  116 . The downward travel of blades  112  is arrested when the underside (not shown) of handle  126  engages boss  132  extending outwardly from top wall  134  of housing  122 . Blades  112  are prevented from cutting completely through baked product  116  because cutting edges  150  of blades  112  reach their lowermost point inside housing  122  when they lie a spaced distance inwardly from lower edge  122   a  of housing  122 . Baked product  116  is partitioned into a plurality of rectangular segments  164  ( FIG. 10 ). Segments  164  remain connected together and baked product  116  substantially retains its original shape, but segments  164  are easily separable because only a small piece  166  of baked material exists below each cut  168  in baked product  116 .  
         [0031]     A third embodiment of sectioning device is shown in  FIG. 11  and generally indicated at  210 . Sectioning device  210  is substantially identical to sectioning device  110 , except that blades  212  are notched at their lowermost ends. Consequently, when blades  212  cut into baked product  216 , the notched sections  270  cut into baked product  216  to shallower depths than do the extended sections  272 . Cutting edges  250  of blades  212  may travel all the way to the lower edge  222   a  of housing  222 . Sections  272  would then cut completely through baked product  216 , but notched sections  270  would not. Blades  212  may thereby form alternating thicker and thinner portions of material within the cuts made by blades  212  in baked product  216 , thereby allowing for segments of baked product to be more easily detached from the whole.  
         [0032]     It will be understood that while the present device has been disclosed as having a housing  22  with a wall which defines an interior cavity in which the plunger  14  reciprocates, the device may, alternatively comprises a frame-type housing that supports the plunger and allows the cutter blades to move up and down within the frame.  
         [0033]     While the above disclosure relates to a hand-held device, it will be understood that for commercial purposes, the device can be powered.  
         [0034]     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.  
         [0035]     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.