Abstract:
A method and apparatus for providing protection in connection with the cutting edge of a blade of a generally Y-shaped conventional kitchen peeler or cutter comprising a guard pivotally attached to the extension arms extending from the handle of the peeler, whereby the guard is pivotal between a guarding position immediately adjacent the cutting edge of the peeler blade and a non-guarding position exposing the cutting edge of the peeler blade for use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present application relates generally to hand-held kitchen tools and more particularly to a generally Y-shaped hand-held peeler with a pivotal protecting guard which safeguards the peeler blade(s) when not in use. 
   It is well-known that conventional kitchen peelers, such as julienne or vegetable/fruit peelers, must contain at least one cutting blade in order to perform their intended functions. These blades may contain sharpened, protruding teeth and/or a cutting edge to maximize their effectiveness. However, due to a lack of effective protection, the exposed blades are quickly dulled and damaged during non-use due to ordinary handling and storage. Furthermore, users are exposed to the risk of accidentally cutting themselves during the handling of such peelers because of the exposed blade. 
   It is known that a removable plastic cover can temporarily cover a peeler blade during non-use. In order to expose the blade, the cover is manually removed from the peeler and placed aside until use of the peeler is complete, whereupon the cover is aligned with the blade and manually replaced. However, a limitation of this cover exists in that it is often misplaced, is cumbersome to manually remove and replace, and generally exposes the user to accidental cutting of the user&#39;s fingers by necessitating the close proximity of the blade to the user&#39;s fingers during replacement. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present application discloses an improved method and apparatus for guarding the cutting edge of the blade of a generally Y-shaped conventional kitchen peeler during non-use and/or storage. The present application provides a protective guard pivotally attached to the peeler head of a peeler and located adjacent to the blade. During non-use, the protective guard is urged into a first retained position adjacent to the cutting edge of the blade to afford appropriate protection. When use of the peeler is desired, the protective guard is pivoted to a second retained position wherein the cutting edge of the blade is exposed. Since the protective cover is pivotally attached to the peeler head, the possibility of misplacing the protective cover during use is eliminated and the ease of protecting the blade during non-use is maximized due to the permanent alignment of the protective cover relative to the blade and ease of pivotability. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings an embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages, should be readily understood and appreciated. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a head portion of a conventional generally Y-shaped peeler incorporating the protective guard cover of the present application; 
       FIG. 2  is a reduced, front elevation view of a conventional generally Y-shaped peeler incorporating the head and cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the peeler of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged, fragmentary side view of the portion of the peeler defined by circle  4  in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top, plan view of the peeler of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along line  6 — 6  in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged, top, plan view of the peeler of  FIG. 2  depicting the protective cover guard of the present application in an retracted position exposing the cutting edge of the blade; and 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged, top, plan view of the peeler of  FIG. 2  depicting the protective cover guard of the present application in a protective position protecting the cutting edge of the blade. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Disclosed herein is an improved method and apparatus for protecting the cutting edge of a blade of a conventional generally Y-shaped kitchen peeler or cutter with a pivotal protective guard cover. Referring to the figures, a conventional generally Y-shaped kitchen peeler  10  is illustrated having a handle portion  11  and a head portion  20  attached to one end thereof. The head portion  20  has first and second arms  22 ,  23  supporting a blade  21  having at least one cutting edge  50  or cutting teeth and disposed and oriented in a well-known manner to facilitate peeling and/or cutting by the cutting edge  50  of the blade  21 . The blade  21  may be pivotally attached to the first and second arms  22 ,  23  to facilitate rotation and extensibility of use. Such a peeler  10  is well-known in the art. 
   There will now be described the improved method and apparatus of protecting the cutting edge  50  of the blade  21  with a pivotal protective guard  30 . Each of the first and second arms  22 ,  23  comprise a first pivoting structure  24 . The first pivoting structure  24  may comprise pivot pins adjacently located to the respective distal ends of the first and second arms  22 ,  23 . 
   The protective guard  30  comprises a longitudinally oriented guard portion  31  of a length and width to appropriately cover the blade  21  when disposed adjacent thereto. The protective guard  30  may have first and second extensions  32 ,  33  extending therefrom respectively at the opposite ends of the guard portion  31  in a generally perpendicular manner. Each of the first and second extensions  32 ,  33  has a second pivoting structure  34  complimentary to and for pivotal engagement with the first pivoting structure  24  disposed on the first and second arms  22 ,  23 . As illustrated in the figures, the second pivoting structure  34  may comprise apertures adjacently located to the respective distal ends of the first and second extensions  32 ,  33  respectively receiving the pivot pins disposed on the first and second arms  22 ,  23  for pivotal engagement therewith. It will be appreciated that, while the figures illustrate pivot pins disposed on the first and second arms  22 ,  23  and apertures disposed within the first and second extensions  32 ,  33  for pivotal engagement with the pivot pins, the pivot pins and apertures may be interchangeable wherein the pivot pins can be disposed on the first and second extensions  32 ,  33  and the aperture can be disposed within the first and second arms  22 ,  23 . It will further be appreciated that the pivoting structures  24 ,  34  described herein can take the form of many different pivotal connections that will achieve a pivoting feature while not departing from the true scope and spirit of the embodiments described herein. 
   The first and second arms  22 ,  23 , may also have an arm retaining mechanism  25  for retainable engagement with a complementary retaining mechanism  35  disposed on the first and second extensions  32 ,  33 . A plurality of complementary retaining mechanisms  35  disposed on the extensions  32 ,  33 , may be arranged approximately 180 degrees offset relative to each other and in a generally straight line relative to the pivoting structure  34  with the pivoting structure  34  being in the approximate middle and the retaining mechanisms  35  being the distal ends of the generally straight line. In another embodiment, at least two arm retaining mechanisms  25  are provided for retainable engagement with one complementary retaining mechanism  35  respectively disposed on the first and second extensions  32 ,  33 . In yet another embodiment, one arm retaining mechanism  25  is provided on each arm  22 ,  23  for retainable engagement with two complementary retaining mechanisms  35  disposed on each extension  32 ,  33 . Upon appropriate pivotal alignment, the retaining mechanisms  25 ,  35  position and hold the protective guard  30  in either a protective position  40  protecting the cutting edge  50  of the blade  21 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , or a retracted position  41  thereby exposing the cutting edge  50  of the blade  21 , as illustrated in FIG.  7 . 
   The retaining mechanisms  25 ,  35  may be detent structures. In this regard, each arm retaining mechanism  25  may comprise an extension stub and each extension retaining mechanism  35  may-comprise a complementary recess for detentably receiving the extension stub. The retaining mechanisms  25 ,  35  are configured and designed to allow either deflection of the protective guard  30  or manual pivotal force exertion on the protective guard  30  to disengage the respectively retained positions. As such, when the protective guard  30  is placed in either a protective position  40  or a retracted position  41 , the protective guard  30  will be held in that position until released. 
   Operation of the protective guard  30  occurs by manually pivoting the guard  30  about the pivoting structure  24 ,  34  in a well-known manner to a desired position until the retaining mechanisms  25 ,  35  are engaged. As such, it is anticipated that when a user desires to use the peeler  10 , the protective guard  30  will be pivoted to a retracted position  41 , thereby exposing the cutting edge  50  of the blade  21 , and held in place with the retaining mechanisms  25 ,  35 . It is also anticipated that when use of the peeler  10  is complete and protection of the cutting edge  50  of the blade  21  is desired, the user can simply disengage the retaining mechanisms  25 ,  35  with slight pivotal force, pivot the protective guard  30  into the protective position  40  thereby disposing the protective guard  30  adjacent to the cutting edge  50  of the blade  21 , and re-engaging the retaining mechanisms  25 ,  35  to secure the protective guard  30 . In such a position, the cutting edge  50  of the blade  21  will be protected from unwarranted dulling and damage and the user will be protected from accidental cutting. 
   The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.