Abstract:
A melon cutter includes a cutting basket which has a plurality of arched wire cutters which extend to a central member. The cutter includes a melon holder which can be forced down towards the cutting head. A melon half placed on the cutting head is then forced by the holder down against the cutting elements. The cutting basket is then rotated about 30°-45° to effectively separate melon meat from the melon rind. The melon pieces then fall into a bowl below the cutting basket.

Description:
This application claim the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/348,331, filed Oct. 26, 2001 entitled “Melon Cutter” which is now pending. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Melons such as cantaloupes and honey dew melons and the like can be served in portions with the rind still attached or can be separated from the rind. In separating the melon meat from the rind one generally cuts the melon in half removing the seed and pulp. The melon is then cut into wedges. The meat is then cut from the wedges and can be further cut into small cubes. This is relatively time-consuming particularly for restaurants grocery delis and the like which require a large amount of fresh melon. 
     Accordingly it is the object of the present invention to provide a device adapted to quickly and simply separate the melon meat from its rind. More particularly it is the object of the present invention to do this with minimal effort and preferably at the same time separate the meat into smaller pieces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is premised on the realization that a melon cutter which utilizes a cutting basket having a melon holder wherein the basket penetrates the meat of the melon and rotates relative to the melon, separates the melon meat from the rind quickly and efficiently. In a preferred embodiment, the cutter basket has an opening at the bottom to allow the melon meat to fall directly into a bowl supported beneath the basket. This requires minimal labor and allows the meat to be separated from the melon without being touched further improving sanitation. 
     The present invention will be further appreciated in light of the following detailed description and drawings in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially broken away of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front plan view partially broken away of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an overhead plan view partially broken away of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIGS. 6A-6C is a plan view, partially broken away, of a mechanism used to hold the handle in position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is a melon cutter  11  which includes a cutting basket  12  and a melon holder  14 . The melon holder  14  is supported by a lever mechanism  16  which forces the melon holder  14  and any melon  18  down upon blades or cutting wires  22  of the cutting basket. The blades  22  are supported on a ring  24  having a handle  26 . The blades  22  make a vertical cut into the melon. Rotating the basket makes horizontal cuts into the melon which separates the melon meat from the rind. This falls through opening  28  into a bowl  32 . 
     More particularly the melon cutter  11  includes a left and right inverted t-shape frame members  34  and  36 . The bottom elements  38  and  42  of t-frame members  34  and  36  include suction cup feet  44 . Extending up from the base members  38  and  42  are vertical frame members  46  and  48 . Supported between the vertical frame members  46  and  48  is a base plate  52  having central opening  28 . Base plate  52  is preferably formed from high density polyethylene. 
     The vertical frame members each include a slot  54  and  56 . A central beam  58  extends between members  46  and  48  and includes posts  62  and  64  extending through slots  54  and  56  respectively. The lever mechanism  16  acts to move the beam  58  up and down along slots  54  and  56  of vertical frame members  46  and  48 . 
     The lever mechanism  16  includes left and right vertical links  66  and  68  which are pivotally connected at their bottom ends to frame members  38  and  42 . The upper portion  72  and  74  of vertical links  66  and  68  attach to the left and right handle linkages  76  and  78 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, these handle linkages extend from the ends of the vertical linkage  72  and  74  and pivotally connect to posts  62  and  64  which extend into beam  58  through slots  54  and  56  respectively. The linkages are then bent towards each other and are welded together and form handle  86 . Thus as handle  86  is moved up and down, it forces the beam  58  up and down riding in the two slots  54  and  56 . 
     The cutting basket  12  is supported on base  52 . More particularly the cutting basket includes ring  24  having a central support member  92  which extends across the ring  24 . This leaves two open areas  94  and  96  on either side of the central support  92 . The ring  24  rests on the base  52  in an annular groove  98  opening. Attached to the ring  24  is handle  26 . 
     Extending from the ring  24  are the plurality of arched stainless steel cutting wires  22  which are welded at one end to the ring  24  and at the opposite end to a central ring  106  attached to a post  108  extended up from the central support  92 . The cutting basket  12  may include one or more circular horizontal cutting elements  110  welded to the arched cutting wires  22 . The three lower horizontal cutting elements provide strength to the basket  12 . 
     The melon holder  14  which is immediately above the cutting basket includes a central plate  112  which is bolted to beam  58 . The plate  112  holds a plurality of radially extended curved members  114 . Extending down from the curved surface  116  of curved member  114  are a plurality of pointed posts  118 . These are adapted to partially penetrate the melon rind, when the holder is forced down on the melon. 
     In operation, a melon is cut in half and the seeds and pulp removed. The melon half  18  is placed on the top of the cutting basket  12 . The linkage handle is pressed downwardly as indicated by arrow  122  which will force the beam downwardly riding in slots  54  and  56 . The pointed posts  118  will penetrate the melon rind and the curved members  114  of the melon holder will then force the melon half down against the arched cutting wires  22  of the cutting basket thereby cutting the melon meat. The handle  26  of the cutting basket is then rotated as shown by arrow  124  in FIG.  4 . The rotating cutting elements separate the melon meat from the rind. 
     The melon segments thus separated from the melon rind will fall through the openings into a bowl located immediately below the base and between the t-frame members. 
     FIGS. 6A-6C show an optional mechanism to hold the handle in an upright position when not in use. In this embodiment, the vertical frame member has been modified so that slot  56  has an uppermost turned portion  126 . Attached to handle linkage  78  is a linkage  128  which has a first  130  which includes a post  132  which rides in slot  56 . The second end of linkage is hingedly attached to the handle linkage  78  so that as shown in FIG. 6A, the handle is held in an upright position. In order to utilize the melon cutter, the handle  86  and handle linkage  78  is pushed upwardly in the direction of arrow  134  which causes the post to move from the turned in portion in slot  56  and allows it to ride down slot  56 . The handle is then pushed in the direction of arrow  138  to cut the melon. This simply provides the ability to hold the handle in an upright position when not in use. 
     As shown, this permits the melon to be separated from the rind without touching the melon meat. Further, it is extremely quick and efficient thereby significantly reducing labor costs. 
     This has been a brief description of the present invention along with the preferred method of practicing the present invention. However, the invention itself should be defined by the appended claims.