Abstract:
A hand-held slicing device having a handle connected to a slicing tray. The slicing tray includes a ramp leading to a fixed blade. The ramp is readily adjustable such that the height of the edge of the ramp most closely adjacent the blade can be raised or lowered. In one version, the ramp can be raised or lowered by sliding a support structure connected to a knob that can be slideably adjusted by the user&#39;s thumb. The device may include a series of julienne blades that are selectively extendable above the slicing ramp or retractable below the ramp.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/872,924, filed Apr. 29, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/544,103 filed Aug. 19, 2009, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/116,099 filed Nov. 19, 2008, the contents of each of the foregoing are incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to slicing devices, particularly including hand-held mandoline-type slicing devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There are a variety of slicing devices currently available, including slicers of the mandoline type. Many of the hand-held slicers have no ability to adjust the thickness of the slices that can be made, while those that are adjustable have adjustment mechanisms that are awkward or inconvenient to use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In a preferred version, the invention comprises a hand-held slicing device having a handle connected to a slicing tray. The slicing tray includes a ramp leading to a fixed blade. The ramp is readily adjustable such that the height of the edge of the ramp most closely adjacent the blade can be raised or lowered. In one version, the ramp can be raised or lowered by sliding a support structure connected to a knob. Most preferably, the knob is positioned adjacent the handle so that it can be slideably adjusted by the user&#39;s thumb. 
         [0005]    An alternate version includes a series of julienne blades that are selectively extendable above the slicing ramp or retractable below the ramp. In the extended position, a food item is separated into strips as it is sliced, thereby producing individual strips while slicing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred hand-held slicer. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the hand-held slicer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the hand-held slicer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an alternate slicer which incorporates julienne blades. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the slicer of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the slicer of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the slicer of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]    The preferred version of the slicer includes a slicing tray  10  having a handle  20  at one end. The slicing tray has a distal end  12  opposite the handle and a proximal end  14  adjacent the handle. A blade  16  is secured to the distal end of the tray and, in the preferred version as shown extends angularly across the tray. The blade as shown includes a series of holes for receiving pegs extending upward from the tray to affix the blade to the tray. 
         [0015]    The two opposing sides of the tray each include an upwardly extending flange forming a guide  17 ,  18  for retaining a hand guard or the food item to be sliced. The guide extends above the top, or upper, surface  130  of the tray (see  FIG. 2 ) on either side of the tray, and may extend below the lower surface  132  of the tray (see  FIG. 3 ) and forms a frame for carrying the brace, julienne blade bar, and cam as further described below. The tray may optionally include a plurality of longitudinal ribs substantially parallel with the guides and spaced apart along the tray to facilitate sliding motion of a food item along the tray. In an exemplary version the tray is formed integrally from clear plastic, though metals or other materials may also be used. 
         [0016]    A ramp  30  is formed in the proximal end  14  of the tray  10 . The ramp is created by a channel formed in the tray that provides a gap between the ramp and each of the opposing guides and the distal end of the tray. Thus, the channel has three sections, including a first section  31  running along one of the guides, a second section  32  adjacent the length of the blade, and a third section  33  running along the other of the two guides. In the version as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the tray, including the ramp, is integrally formed with the channel being created as part of the molding process. In other versions, such as shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the ramp may be created separately and secured to one or more of the guides, handle, and distal end of the tray. 
         [0017]    The ramp is further formed during the molding process (or otherwise affixed as described below) such that the distal end of the ramp (that is, the end most closely adjacent the blade) is naturally biased in a position below the blade. Accordingly, at its lowest position with respect to the blade, the position of the ramp provides a gap (corresponding to the second section channel  32 ) defining the largest slices expected to be created with the slicer. As discussed further below, the ramp is adjustable to move the distal end of the ramp upward to a position closer to the plane of the distal end of the tray. 
         [0018]    In versions in which the ramp is integrally formed with the tray, a groove  35  is formed on the bottom surface of the ramp to decrease the strength of the ramp along the groove. Accordingly, the groove acts as a living hinge, thereby allowing the ramp to more readily bend along the groove. Preferably the groove follows a path that is parallel to lines defined by the end of the ramp and the cutting edge of the blade so that the ramp will be raised or lowered uniformly with respect to the blade. 
         [0019]    An adjustment knob  40  is provided in a position adjacent the handle, and preferably close enough to the handle such that a user can trigger the adjustment knob while holding the slicer by the handle. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , for example, the knob  40  is located at a proximal end  14  of the tray  10 , at a location that forms a juncture where the handle  20  meets the proximal end  14  of the tray  10 . The adjustment knob as shown is positioned on the tray  10  and recessed in a trough  41  below the top surface of the proximal end  14  of the tray  10  so that it is less likely to be inadvertently moved. As seen in the sectional view of  FIG. 7 , the top of the knob  40  extends to a height that does not extend above the plane defined by the top of the tray  10  (which is coplanar with the proximal end  14  and distal end  12  of the tray). As shown, the knob  40  is in an elongated form having a central raised portion so that it can be readily moved in a sliding fashion in a first direction by pushing against the raised portion and then moved in an opposite second direction by pulling against the raised portion. 
         [0020]    A lower portion of the knob includes a stem that is received within a longitudinal slot  140  positioned within the trough  41 , thereby allowing the knob to move longitudinally back and forth within the slot. The longitudinal slot  140  and trough  41  are generally axially aligned with and adjacent to the handle when viewed from the top (see, e.g.,  FIG. 6 , illustrating the slot  140 , trough  41 , and handle  20  extending along line A-A), and therefore in the illustrated version the handle and the slot are formed along a common axis that extends through the center of the tray between the first guide and the second guide, and transverse to the blade. The stem connects to a brace  50  provided on the opposite side of the ramp, such that longitudinal movement of the knob causes corresponding longitudinal movement of the brace. 
         [0021]    The brace is formed as an uneven U shape in which one side upright  54  of the U is longer than the other  52 , with a cross-member  56  extending between the uprights. The cross-member is substantially straight and parallel to both the end of the ramp and the blade, though in other versions it may be otherwise configured. Each side of the upright includes a lateral tab that is received within a corresponding slot formed in the guides  17 ,  18  to retain the cross-member (and therefore the brace) against the bottom of the proximal end of the tray. 
         [0022]    The bottom surface of the distal end of the ramp includes an incline, which in this case is formed with one or more steps  60 . The steps are formed in a wall extending downwardly and generally orthogonal to the plane defined by the ramp. The height of the wall at a first step is relatively short and preferably about 1/16 to ⅛ inches in height. Additional steps may be provided as the wall moves in a direction from the proximal end toward the distal end of the ramp, with the steps defining progressive increases in wall height. Preferably the steps include increments of about 1/16 of an inch from one step to the next, and preferably there are four or more steps. Though one wall having a series of steps is described, the slicer may have multiple walls arranged parallel to one another for greater support. In an example version, the lower surface includes four walls having four steps each, with the four walls being uniformly spaced along the cross-member and angularly offset in a manner parallel with the cross-member. Though the incline is formed with steps in the version as illustrated, in other versions the incline may have a smooth surface with no steps. Likewise, though the incline is formed on the bottom of the ramp in the version as shown, in other versions the incline may be formed on the support and mate with a corresponding engagement surface formed on the bottom of the ramp. 
         [0023]    The cross-member  56  is configured to engage the steps  60  formed in the wall. As the knob is urged from the proximal end of the ramp toward the distal end of the ramp, it causes the brace to travel in the same direction and therefore the cross-member to encounter steps of increasing height. Because the brace is held at a fixed vertical position by virtue of the tabs and corresponding slots in the guides, when the brace engages a step of increased height it causes the ramp to move farther away from the brace. This stepwise movement of the ramp causes the ramp to move into a plane that is increasingly closer to the same plane as that of the distal end of the tray. 
         [0024]    When the knob  40  is at a first position most closely adjacent the handle, the ramp is at its lowest position with respect to the tray and therefore an item that is sliced will be relatively thick. The actual thickness will be defined by the design process, as a function of the bend in the ramp, the construction of the brace and steps, and the plane of the tray. Each successive movement of the knob that forces the cross-member onto a higher step causes the ramp to move higher, thereby reducing the size of the gap between the ramp and the blade and forming thinner slices. In the version as shown, the most distant position of the knob pushes the cross-member into engagement with a step that raises the ramp to a position that is even with or slightly higher than the plane defined by the blade. This final position is useful for storage or for locking the device into a safe position in which the user is unlikely to be accidentally cut by an exposed blade. 
         [0025]    Along the sides of the trough  41  retaining the knob, one or more markings  70  is provided to indicate to the user the corresponding step or height of the ramp. The markings may indicate different step numbers in an incremental fashion (e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.), or may indicate actual thicknesses of the gap between the ramp and the blade, and therefore the thickness of the corresponding slice (e.g., 1/16″, ⅛″, etc.). A final marking may include an icon such as a padlock or other symbol to indicate the position to be used for storage or safety. 
         [0026]    The lower side of the distal end of the tray preferably includes a non-skid surface. As shown, the lower surface includes one or more scallops or undulating surfaces  136 ,  137 ,  138  that allows the slicer to be readily secured to the rim of a bowl or the like in order to slice food items into a bowl. In a preferred example, the lower perimeter of the distal end of the ramp is formed from an elastomeric or other non-skid material. 
         [0027]    A hand guard is optionally provided to allow food items to be sliced while keeping the hand of the user safely out of the path of the blade. In the preferred version, the hand guard includes an upper grip on a top surface and a plurality of downwardly depending spikes configured to engage a food item so that it can be used to move the food item back and forth across the tray. The hand guard may include optional peripheral flanges sized and configured to be received within the sides of the guards to facilitate even, longitudinal movement of the guard along the tray. 
         [0028]    Some versions of the invention further include a julienne slicing feature, as shown in  FIGS. 4-8 . In such a version, the edge of the ramp  30  adjacent the blade  16  is formed with a series of slots  104 . As shown, the slots are evenly spaced along the entire edge of the ramp. In one version, the ramp includes sixteen slots spaced approximately inch apart and having a depth of about inch. In other versions, the slots may be spaced closer together or farther apart (to create thinner or thicker sliced strips, as discussed below), and may have a larger or smaller depth, as desired. Likewise, the slots may extend only along a portion of the edge of the ramp. 
         [0029]    A series of julienne blades  102  is provided and attached to the slicing device such that a blade is positioned beneath each of the slots  104 . The blades are secured to the device in a manner that allows them to selectively retract below the top surface of the ramp or to enable each one of the blades to extend through a corresponding one of the slots in the ramp, as desired. 
         [0030]    In a preferred implementation, the blades  102  are secured to a bar  100 , with the plurality of blades being spaced apart along the bar  100  in a manner that corresponds to the size and spacing of the slots  104 . The bar is generally rectangular in cross section. Each of the blades includes a sharpened, angled edge facing toward the handle. The bar includes a first end and a second end, with each of the first and second ends being received channels formed in opposing sidewalls of the slicer beneath the guides  17 ,  18 . A spring is provided adjacent each of the first and second ends between the bar  100  and a surface of the device adjacent an upper portion of the ramp, with the springs being configured to urge the bar  100  in a downward position, away from the ramp. In the lowest downward position the bar is sufficiently low that the blades are fully retracted beneath the ramp. 
         [0031]    The bar  100  includes an upper surface from which the blades  102  extend and an opposing lower surface. The lower surface rests against a cam  80  that is pivotally secured to the slicer. The cam includes a handle  81  pivotally attached to the cam along a central axis of the cam. The cam further includes a first outer surface  82  and a second outer surface  83 , the first outer surface being radially closer to the central axis while the second outer surface is radially farther out from the central axis. The cam is pivotally secured within the slicer such that the bar  100  rests against the cam, with the bar being pushed toward the cam by the springs. When the cam is rotated such that the bar rests against the first outer surface, the bar is relatively more distant from the ramp. When the cam is rotated such that the bar rests against the second outer surface, the bar is pushed upward, toward the ramp, because of the greater radial distance of the second outer surface. In this cam position, the bar and its accompanying blades are pushed upward so that the blades extend through the slots formed in the ramp, thereby allowing the slicer to be used to make strips of a food item being pushed through the slicer. 
         [0032]    In alternate versions of the invention, structures other than a cam may be used. Thus, for example, the bar may be movable via a dial, screws, a series of notches in the frame, or other such structures. 
         [0033]    In the version of  FIGS. 5-8 , the ramp is formed separately from the slicer and held in place by a pair of resilient leaf springs or the like. Thus, a pair of springs  90 ,  91  are secured to the slicer adjacent the handle. The ramp  30  includes a pair of pins  120 ,  121  extending laterally outward at the end of the ramp opposite the slots. The pins are received within corresponding holes formed in the sidewalls of the slicer to pivotally secure the ramp to the slicer. A pair of tabs  122 ,  123  is provided in positions extending laterally from the guides just below the ramp, with one tab located on each of the opposite sides of the ramp adjacent the grooves. The tabs provide support for the distal end of the ramp, ensuring that it does not pivot downward below the level of the blade any farther than a desired distance. 
         [0034]    The ramp is pivotally secured to the tray along a pivot axis extending through the pins  120 ,  121 . Preferably, the pivot axis and the handle are each located adjacent the proximal end of the tray, and the pivot axis is generally orthogonal to an axis defined by the handle. The blade and the distal end of the ramp each form an angle that is non-parallel with the pivot axis. 
         [0035]    In the version as shown, the springs  90 ,  91  include distal ends  92 ,  93  that are curved. The curved distal ends of the springs engage corresponding elongated and rounded bearing surfaces extending below the ramp. The bearing surfaces are shaped such that upward pivotal movement of the ramp pushes the spring downward, increasing the urging force of the spring against the ramp in order to urge the ramp back into a downward-pivoted position. 
         [0036]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims.