Abstract:
A specialty food-processing knife includes a rigid handle, a circular blade axis, a blade axis holder, a blade axis holder lock, and a blade axis safety cover. The handle provides a blade axis upper housing to cut protect the user&#39;s hand and is configured with guide grooves, coupling pivot holes, and a guide tunnel. The guide grooves restrict the blade axis movement to a circular motion, the pivot holes allow swiveling of the blade axis holder, and the guide tunnel provides unidirectional motion to the blade axis holder lock. The blade axis is composed of several parallel circular blades, which are held in position by spacer bushings and lock nuts that encapsulate a stiffener rod. The blade axis holder presents a parallel slotted array to prevent food fragments from entering the blade axis housing and allow the axis blades to be partially exposed and rotate freely. The blade axis holder lock includes barriers, which limit the lock to an open or closed position. The blade axis cover has a locating lip that allows coupling with the knife handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to food processing knifes, and more particularly to a food processing knife with parallel rotating circular blades. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    When cooking courses, there are some meals that are served on the spot and require hot of the grill meat which must be slit or chopped for course preparation therefore, the cutting operation must be performed at a fast pace to prevent the grilled meat from getting cold and be able to serve several meals simultaneously. Generally, this cutting action is carried out by employing single bladed knives which require great effort to continuously process large meat quantities in a short time period thus quickly fatiguing the user and presenting an unnecessary burden that is tiring, unpleasant and time consuming. 
         [0005]    Fixed blade knives with a single straight blade attached to a wood or plastic handle by means of glue or rivets are commonly used to slit or chop grilled meats, vegetables, and other types of foodstuffs. Diverse inventions have been developed to alleviate special cutting inconveniences including U.S. Pat. No. 247,603, U.S. Pat. No. D450,224, U.S. Pat. No. 342,000 and U.S. Pat No. 362,006. 
         [0006]    A typical approach is illustrated by the invention of U.S. Pat. No. D450,224 which discloses a rectangular chopping board and knife combination in which the knife blade end opposite to the knife handle is permanently attached by a swivel joint to the chopping board. Another design can be found on U.S. Pat. No. 247,603 which discloses a combined circular chopping block and knife. These knife combinations present a single straight blade knife, which precludes the user from performing two or more cuts with a single stroke. Therefore, in the case of a user who must slit or chop large quantities of hot of the grill meat in a short time period, the use of such knife and chop board combination presents an inconvenience. 
         [0007]    The invention of U.S. Pat. No. 342,000 includes a multi bladed knife design in which three straight parallel blades are permanently attached at one of their ends to a single handle. This multi bladed knife has the advantage of performing three simultaneous cuts with a single stroke. This same artifact presents an inefficient cutting force transfer due to the handle position with respect to the blades thus increasing the required force magnitude the user must supply to the knife to achieve a successful operation. This excessive required operating force prematurely fatigues and strains the user&#39;s wrist and precludes him from performing a continuous fast operation. Further more, this multi bladed knife requires use of another utensil such as a fork to get hold of the grilled meat to be slit or chopped and permit the cutting action. 
         [0008]    Another approach to alleviate special cutting inconveniences can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 362,006 which discloses a combined circular knife and guard. The guard is fastened to a rectangular handle by means of a socket head cap screw, which serves as a pivot point to swivel the guard and expose or protect the circular blade. The circular blade is located at one of the handle ends and is fastened at its center with a socket head cap screw, which allows it to rotate freely on an axis perpendicular to the handle orientation. This design has the advantage of having a circular blade thus facilitating the cutting action in comparison to a single straight blade knife. This circular knife also portrays the disadvantages of limiting the user to perform a single cut per stroke and an inefficient cutting force transfer from the user&#39;s hand to the blade due to the blade position with respect to the handle which is a common characteristic of food processing knifes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Considering the above problems of existing designs, the object of the present invention is to provide a food processing knife with the capability to slit or chop large amounts of hot of the grill meat and other food stuffs in a rapid and effortless manner. This artifact must enable the user to perform simultaneous cuts per stroke, eliminate the need for an extra utensil such as a fork to hold the meat when processing and maximize force transfer to decrease premature user fatigue and unnecessary burden. 
         [0010]    In order to achieve the stated design objective the present invention has a closed loop rigid handle with integrated blade axis housing, protective guards, and assembly provisions for a rotating multi circular blade axis, a swiveling blade axis holder, a blade axis holder lock and a blade axis safety cover. The handle is geometrically fitted such that the user&#39;s hand grip point is located right over the blade rotating axis thus forming a full vertical force transfer plane between the user&#39;s hand and blade axis. This configuration maximizes force transfer efficiency and consequently decreases the required down force (vertical component) to cut into the meat thus diminishing premature user fatigue. 
         [0011]    The blade axis is composed of equidistant circular blades configured in a parallel array along a symmetry axis. The blades are held in place by spacer bushings that are compressed by locking nuts located at opposite ends. The locking nuts and spacer bushings encapsulate a stiffener rod which prevents the blade axis assembly to flex beyond a given design distance when a maximum operating force is applied to it. This multi bladed configuration enables the user to perform simultaneous cuts per stroke thus decreasing processing time. 
         [0012]    When the blade axis is locked in place it is allowed to freely rotate clockwise or counterclockwise on an axis perpendicular to the cut direction. This particular characteristic permits the user to cut into the meat with a forward and backward motion and since the blade shape is circular the contact section per blade is smaller than conventional straight blades therefore permitting easier blade penetration and eliminating the need for a utensil to prevent grilled meat sliding over the chopping board. 
         [0013]    When slit meat is desired the knife is rolled back and forth with a small increase in the motion direction angle. If chopped meat is preferred the same forward and backward motion is employed with greater angle change in motion direction. This generates multidirectional simultaneous cuts thus chopping the grilled meat rapidly. 
         [0014]    The combination of the above characteristics allows the user to easily process hot of the grill meat in and effortless and rapid manner without suffering from premature fatigue. This allows for several warm meal preparations in a short time period and permits the user to process large meat quantities without the tiring and unpleasant burden associated with such activity when other artifacts are employed. 
         [0015]    Additional aspects of the invention, together with the advantages and novel features appurtenant thereto, will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention in a first disposition; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a second disposition; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a third disposition; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a fourth disposition; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a fifth disposition; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a first disposition; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a second disposition; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a third disposition; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a fourth disposition; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a first disposition; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a second disposition; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 11  in a first disposition; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a left side view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a first disposition; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a plant view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a first disposition; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a first disposition; 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a second disposition; 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a third disposition; 
           [0033]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a fourth disposition; 
           [0034]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a portion of the preferred embodiment of a rotary food processing knife in accordance with the invention shown in  FIG. 1  in a fifth disposition. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    A rotary food processing knife according to a first embodiment of the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 19 . While the invention will be described in detail herein below with reference to this embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific constructions or configurations shown in the embodiment. Rather, one skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of configurations may be implemented in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0036]    Looking first to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  9  and  10 , a rotary circular knife with detachable multi blade axis in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is depicted generally by the designation  10 . Rotary knife  10  includes a rigid trolley  12  defining a cavity  14  configured to partially cover and house a multi circular blade axis  16  thus protecting the user&#39;s hand from accidental cuts during operation, and further defining a rectangular passage  18  allocating a blade axis holder safety lock  20  which maintains a swiveling blade axis holder  22  in open or closed position for blade axis  16  insertion or retrieval. A safety cover  24  attaches to closed loop rigid handle  12  by means of built in interference tabs  26  and  96  protecting the user from accidental cuts during storage and preventing axis blade  28  damage. 
         [0037]    As best seen in FIGS.  5 , 7 , 8 ,  9  and  11 , rigid trolley  12  has a closed loop handle  30  allocated right on the knife&#39;s vertical symmetry plane and over the circular blade axis  16 . This design attributes permit an ergonomic fit for a left or right handed user and maximize cutting force transfer over a vertical plane from the user&#39;s hand to the knife blades  28 . A curved horizontal surface  32  perpendicular to the symmetry plane extends out from the closed loop handle  30  forming a top portion of cavity  14 . Vertical guards  34  are located at the ends of curved surface  32  defining side portions of cavity  14  which partially covers and houses a milti-cicular blade axis  16 . Vertical guards  34  are provided with circular seat notches  36  which couple with and restrict a multi-circular blade axis  16  to a rotary motion. These same vertical guards  34  are provided with through holes  38  which mate with the blade axis holder  22  by means of interference spheres  40  thus permitting swiveling of the blade axis holder  22 . Strip blocks  42  are built into vertical guards  34  to preclude the blade axis holder  22  to flex into cavity  14  during operation. Trolley  12  is also fitted with guard fins  44  to impede hand contact with circular blade axis  16  and food fragments. Further more trolley  12  includes a rectangular passage  18  allocated under closed loop handle  30  which hosts a blade axis holder safety lock  20  and restricts the blade axis safety lock movement to linear motion thus when the blade axis holder  22  is in closed position the blade axis holder safety lock  20  can be pushed forward to interfere with blade axis holder  22  impeding swiveling of the blade axis holder  22  to open position during operation or storage. This same blade axis holder safety lock  20  can be pushed backward to release the interference between blade axis holder  22  and blade axis safety lock  20  allowing the user to swivel back blade axis holder  22  to open position and retrieve or insert the circular blade axis  16  as necessary for clean up purposes. Other configurations of trolley  12  will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and are with in the scope of the present invention, such as enlarged portions to accommodate increased or decreased blade  28  quantity, diameter and thickness required by custom manufacturing for special applications. 
         [0038]    Rigid trolley  12  may be constructed of any sturdy material capable of withstanding compression and flexure stresses that may result in permanent deformation or material failure. Preferable rigid trolley  12  is constructed of a rigid plastic material such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polycarbonate and ferrous or non ferrous metals. Trolley  12  may be manufactured through injection molding, blow molding, casting or machining and composed of one or more components fastened by screws, inserts, adhesive bond, ultrasonic welding, metal welding or any combination thereof. 
         [0039]    Looking to  FIGS. 5 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18 , circular blade axis  16  is comprised of equidistant circular blades  28 , spacer bushings  50 , stiffener rod  52 , male locking nut  46  and female locking nut  48 . Circular blades  28  are provided with an anti slip locating key way  54  geometrically defined by at through hole  56  with equiangular square notches  58  at the blade center and a double bevel perimeter edge  60 . The double bevel perimeter edge  60  feature facilitates blade penetration into the meat being cut and the anti slip key way  54  assures simultaneous blade  28  movement with respect to the whole circular blade axis  16  assembly. Spacer bushings  50  are designed to equally host, locate and separate blades  28  and are provided with beveled pressure dishes  62 , male anti slip locating key way  64 , female anti slip locating keyway  66 , cylindrical contact bar  86  and locating through cylindrical passage  68 . The stiffener rod  52  is provided with and external thread  70  which integrates the core fastening means for the circular blade axis assembly. Male locking nut  46  includes an oval shaped torque application point  72 , beveled pressure dish  74 , cylindrical contact bar  76 , threaded cavity  78  and male anti slip locating key way  80 . Female locking nut  48  is provided with an oval shaped torque application point  100 , beveled pressure dish  102 , cylindrical contact bar  104 , threaded cavity  106  and female anti slip locating key way  82 . 
         [0040]    Circular blade axis  16  integration is attained by first engaging stiffener rod  52  external threads  70  to male locking nut  46  at threaded cavity  78  and torqued to specification through oval shaped torque application point  72 . Integration of circular blade axis  16  is secondly followed by matching the circular blade  28  anti slip locating key way  54  to male locating key way  80  and resting circular blade  28  on beveled pressure dish  74 . Spacer bushing  50  is then inserted female anti slip locating key way  66  first to stiffener rod  52  though locating cylindrical passage  68 . A second circular blade  28  is placed in position by matching the anti slip locating key way  54  to male anti slip locating key way  64  and resting circular blade  28  on beveled pressure dish  62 . Spacer bushing  50  is then inserted female anti slip locating key way  66  first to stiffener rod  52  though locating cylindrical passage  68 . A third circular blade  28  is placed in position by matching the anti slip locating key way  54  to male anti slip locating key way  64  and resting circular blade  28  on beveled pressure dish  62 . Spacer bushing  50  is then inserted female anti slip locating key way  66  first to stiffener rod  52  though locating cylindrical passage  68 . A fourth circular blade  28  is placed in position by matching the anti slip locating key way  54  to male anti slip locating key way  64  and resting circular blade  28  on beveled pressure dish  62 . Female locking nut  48  is finally incorporated to circular blade axis  16  by engaging stiffener rod  52  external threads  70  to female locking nut  48  at threaded cavity  106  and torqued to specification through oval shaped torque application point  100 . This design features distribute circular blades  28  in a parallel array along a symmetry axis and equidistant from each other. Pressure is exerted constantly to beveled pressure dishes  62 ,  74  and  102  by means of male locking nut  46  and female locking nut  48  that tension stress stiffener rod  52 . This static compression force holds circular blades  28  in place and assures function of the anti slip locating key ways  54 ,  64 ,  66 ,  80  and  82 . Male locking nut  46 , spacer bushings  50  and female locking nut  48  encapsulate stiffener rod  52  which in turn prevents circular blade axis  16  to flex beyond a given distance when a maximum operating force is applied to it. This multi bladed configuration enables the user to perform simultaneous cuts per stroke thus decreasing processing time. 
         [0041]    Male locking nut  46 , spacer bushings  50  and female locking nut  48  may be glued or screwed to each other, or other fastening methods known in the art may be employed. Alternatively circular blade axis  16  may be formed as a unitary piece such as by casting, machining or molding. Other materials or fastening methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0042]    Preferably, circular blade  28  is made from a food grade metal such as stainless steel or titanium. Most preferably, circular blade  28  is made from 18-8, 316 or 304 24 gauge stainless steel. Stiffener rod  52  is preferably made from a rigid tubular metal such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or titanium, having a diameter of approximately 3/16 inches. Most preferably, stiffener rod  52  is made from solid tubular steel having a mayor diameter of 0.190 inches and includes a 10-24 UNC external thread  70  having a tension stress area of 0.0175 square inches. Stiffener rod  52  is designed such that it has sufficient tensile strength to withstand flexure stresses and will not flex beyond the design allowable dynamic length. Male locking nut  46 , spacer bushing  50  and female locking nut  48  are made from a rigid polymeric material, preferably a moldable plastic. More preferably, male locking nut  46 , spacer bushing  50  and female locking nut  48  are made of a thermoplastic such as nylon, having sufficient tensile strength and abrasion resistance to adequately sustain the tension, compression, flexure and torsion stresses. A suitable material for this purpose is nylon  66 , such as Dupont&#39;s Zytel® brand nylon resin. Other configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and are within the scope of the present invention, such as increased diameter stiffener rod  52  with corresponding thread provisions, metal male locking nut  46 , metal spacer bushing  50 , metal female locking nut  48  or hollow and/or solid single piece circular blade axis manufactured by metal casting or machining processes. 
         [0043]    Looking to  FIGS. 5 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  11 ,  12 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19 , generally circular blade axis holder  22  is comprised of a rigid material, and formed to conform in shape to rigid trolley  12  in the area of curved horizontal surface  32  and vertical guards  34 . Circular blade axis holder  22  is provided with interference spheres  40  which mate with vertical guards  34  at through holes  38  which act as a hinge and permit swiveling of the blade axis holder  22  to place it on open or closed position for circular blade axis  16  insertion or retrieval. Circular blade axis holder  22  is fitted with semicircular rests  84  which provide support to the circular blade axis  16  at male locking nut  46 , spacer bushing  50  and female locking nut  48  on a section of cylindrical contact bar  76 ,  86  and cylindrical contact bar  104  outer surfaces when circular blade axis  16  is inserted and circular blade axis holder  22  is in closed position. Circular blade axis holder  22  is provided with through openings  86  that preclude large food fragments from entering cavity  14  of rigid trolley  12  during operation and include sufficient groove width such that they do not interfere with circular blade axis  16  rotary movement and sufficient length to provide clearance of circular blade  28  outer diameter periphery for circular blade axis retrieval. A built in interference tab  88  is provided to lock circular blade axis holder  22  in close position by sliding over a portion of blade axis holder safety lock  20 . 
         [0044]    Blade axis holder safety lock  20  is comprised of a rectangular shaped rigid material with round edges  90 , grip spheres  92  and displacement limit barriers  94 . Grip spheres  92  provide better user-component traction and allow easier displacement of the circular axis holder lock  20 . Displacement limit barriers  94  restrict linear movement of blade axis holder safety lock  20  to a predetermined design stroke by interfering with rectangular passage  18  on full extension and full retraction. 
         [0045]    Safety cover  24  includes a semicircular shaped rigid material with built in interference tabs  26  and  96 . Interference tab  26  snaps into rigid handle  12  at insertion gap  98  created by horizontal curved surface  32  and circular blade axis holder  22 . Interference tab  96  snaps into rigid handle  12  at rectangular passage  18 . Safety cover  24  protects the user from accidental cuts during storage and circular blade axis  16  from damage. 
         [0046]    Preferably, circular blade axis holder  22 , circular blade axis holder lock  20  and safety cover  24  are constructed of a rigid plastic material. This material must have a tensile strength capable of withstanding the flexure stresses to which the components are exposed with the provided geometry. Suitable materials for this purpose are Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polycarbonate and ferrous or non ferrous metals. Circular blade axis holder  22 , circular blade axis holder lock  20  and safety cover  24  may be manufactured through injection molding, blow molding, casting or machining. Other materials, configurations or fastening methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0047]    The knife handle provides a strong protective trolley, while also providing maximum vertical force transfer to cutting circular blade axis. The blade axis provides equidistant circular blades that rotate freely clockwise or counter clock wise. The blade axis holder precludes food fragments from entering the handle cavity. The axis holder lock provides assured positive fastening means for the blade axis holder and the safety cover ensures user and blade protection during storage. Thus, the rotating food-processing knife with detachable multi blade axis having a rigid handle, circular blade axis, circular blade axis holder, safety lock and safety cover of the present invention provides improved comfort to slit or chop large amounts of hot of the grill meat in a rapid and effortless manner, enables the user to perform simultaneous cuts per stroke, eliminates the need for an extra utensil such as a fork to hold the grilled meat when processing and maximizes force transfer to decrease premature user fatigue and unnecessary burden. 
         [0048]    From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objectives herein-above set forth, together with the advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the invention. 
         [0049]    Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0050]    The terms “substantially”, “approximately”, and “relatively” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation which could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. For example, the spacing between blades  28 , blade  28  diameter, blade  28  quantities and stiffener rod  52  diameter disclosed herein as being approximately 0.750, 2.350, 4 and 0.190 inches respectively may permissibly vary from this dimension and still be with in the scope of the invention if the variance does not materially alter the capability of the invention. Likewise, the variance from any quantitative representation, such as proximate or adjacent as used herein, is permissible if the variance does not materially alter the capability of the invention. 
         [0051]    While specific embodiments have been shown and discussed, various modifications may of course be made, and the invention is not limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts and steps describe herein, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims. Further, it will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub