Abstract:
A device for extracting zest from a fruit includes a body, a carrier coupled to the body, and a blade coupled to the body. The carrier moves the fruit relative to the blade and holds the fruit as the blade separates a portion of the flavedo from the pith of the fruit&#39;s peel to extract zest from the fruit. The device also includes an arm that urges the blade against the fruit&#39;s peel to generate contact pressure as the carrier moves the fruit relative to the blade, and that allows the blade to move toward and away from the carrier to accommodate the contour of the fruit&#39;s peel, which is often curved. The blade includes a plurality of teeth, each configured to cut a portion of the fruit&#39;s flavedo from the fruit&#39;s pith without separating the pith from the berry.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/979,475 filed on Apr. 14, 2014, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present principles relate to food preparation devices. More particularly, it relates to a device for extracting zest from a fruit. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     Most fruits include one or more seeds, a berry that surrounds the one or more seeds, and a peel or rind that covers the berry. For example, a lemon and other citrus fruits, such as an orange and a lime, include a plurality of seeds surrounded by juice filled hairs that make-up the berry, and a peel that covers the juice filled hairs or berry. The peel of a citrus fruit includes an outermost layer—the flavedo—and a layer between the flavedo and the berry—the pith. The flavedo is shinny, brightly colored, textured and rich in the fruit&#39;s volatile oil, also known as the fruit&#39;s zest. The pith is a white, fibrous membrane that helps protect the berry that it surrounds. Because citrus fruits are flavorful, the berry&#39;s juice and the flavedo&#39;s volatile oil, or zest, are often used to enhance and/or modify a food&#39;s flavor. 
     The volatile oil or zest is particularly popular because it is extremely flavorful, and thus can be used to flavor a food without adding much liquid to the food. Because the pith is fibrous and not that flavorful relative to the zest, most cooks carefully remove a fruit&#39;s flavedo from the fruit&#39;s pith when extracting the zest from a fruit. Frequently, the process of extracting a fruit&#39;s zest from the fruit includes delicately rubbing the fruit&#39;s flavedo against a fine grater. Often this is done by grasping the fruit in one hand, holding the grater against a cutting board or the inside of a bowl with the other hand, and then scrapping the flavedo against the grater. 
     Unfortunately, this process has several drawbacks. It requires careful attention and a deft touch to make sure that none of the fruit&#39;s pith is extracted with the flavedo as the fruit&#39;s peel is scrapped against the grater. In a busy kitchen, a skilled cook has limited time to carefully extract the fruit&#39;s zest using this process. In addition, the process of gathering the zest in this manner is considered one of least desirable jobs in the kitchen. If rushed, a cook might extract some of the pith with the flavedo, which can adversely affect the texture of the food that will receive the zest, or the cook might scrape his knuckles or finger tips against the grater, which can adversely affect the taste and/or hygiene of the food. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to another implementation, the device for extracting zest includes a body having a post and the post having a boss. A blade arm has one end configured to be received by the post and an opposing end. The post receiving end further includes a groove for fitting over the boss, where the groove is larger than the boss. A torsion spring is positioned on the post between said body and the blade arm for biasing the blade arm in a predetermined direction toward a fruit or vegetable to be processed. A blade is coupled to an opposing end of the blade arm and is configured to separate a portion of the flavedo from the pith of a fruit or vegetable&#39;s peel while the fruit&#39;s peel contacts the blade and moves relative to the blade. A carrier is coupled to the body and configured to hold the fruit or vegetable while the blade separates a portion of the flavedo from the pith of the fruit or vegetable&#39;s peel. 
     According to another implementation of the present principles, the device for extracting zest includes a body having a post and a blade arm having one end configured to be received by the post and an opposing end. A blade is coupled to an opposing end of the blade arm and is configured to separate a portion of the flavedo from the pith of a fruit or vegetable&#39;s peel while the fruit or vegetable&#39;s peel contacts the blade and moves relative to the blade. A spring means is in communication with the body and the blade arm for biasing the blade arm in a predetermined direction toward a fruit or vegetable to be processed. A carrier is coupled to the body and includes a threaded rod having at one end, an auger for rotatably receiving and securing the fruit or vegetable and a rotation handle attached to an opposing end. 
     According to another implementation, the device for extracting zest includes a body having a post, and a blade arm having one end configured to be received by the post and opposing end. A blade is coupled to the opposing end of the blade arm and is configured to separate a portion of the flavedo from the pith of a fruit or vegetable&#39;s peel while the fruit&#39;s peel contacts the blade and moves relative to the blade. A spring is in communication with the blade arm and configured to bias the same in a predetermined direction toward a fruit or vegetable to be processed. A carrier is coupled to the body and configured to hold the fruit or vegetable while the blade separates a portion of the flavedo from the pith of the fruit or vegetable&#39;s peel. A reversing mechanism is positioned on the post and is in communication with the carrier. The reversing mechanism is configured to automatically reverse a rotation direction of the carrier without requiring the user to change the rotation direction of the handle. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present principles may be better understood in accordance with the following exemplary figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the device for extracting zest according to an implementation of the present principles; 
         FIG. 2  shows a bottom view of the device for extracting zest according to an implementation of the present principles; 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of the device for extracting zest according to an implementation of the present principles; 
         FIG. 4  shows a worm&#39;s eye exploded perspective view of the device for extracting zest according to an implementation of the present principles; 
         FIG. 5  shows a bird&#39;s eye perspective view of the device for extracting zest according to an implementation of the present principles; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the blade arm as used by the device for extracting zest according to an implementation of the present principles; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the blade arm as used by the device for extracting zest according to an implementation of the present principles; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9 , each show an exploded view of a system, according to another implementation of the present principles; 
         FIG. 10  shows an example of a mount that may be used to releasably secure a device for extracting zest to the top of a table or workbench while one uses the same to prepare food; 
         FIG. 11  shows a top view of an alternative implementation of the carrier as used by the device for extracting zest according to an implementation of the present principles; and 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view of the alternative implementation of the carrier shown in  FIG. 11  as used by the device for extracting zest according to an implementation of the present principles 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present principles are directed to food preparations devices that are used to extract zest from a fruit or vegetable. 
     The present description illustrates the present principles. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the present principles and are included within its spirit and scope. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the present principles and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. 
     Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present principles, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure. 
     In an aspect of the present principles, the system includes a screw to hold and move food, such as a fruit, vegetable, nut and candy, an arm releasably attached to a post, a spring disposed between the arm and the post to urge the arm toward a first position, and a blade releasably attachable to the arm and designed to perform a specific function, such as zesting, coring, slicing, peeling, and grating food. The system is similar to the system shown and discussed in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/002,664 filed Aug. 30, 2013 and entitled “Device For Extracting Zest From A Fruit, And Related Extraction Methods”, which is incorporated herein by reference. When a blade is attached to the arm and an item of food is held by the screw, the first position includes the blade contacting the item of food, so that as the screw moves the food across the blade, the blade zests, cores, slices, peels, and/or grates the food. 
     The system is configured to be easily and inexpensively manufactured, and easily and quickly assembled/disassembled. By making the system easy and inexpensive to manufacture, the total cost to manufacture the system can be kept low. And by making the system easy to assemble and disassemble, one can easily and quickly clean the system after each use. The system is also configured to be a modular manufacturing system (e.g.—handle held, suction or table-clamp component for anchoring the system in one&#39;s hand or on a table or workbench), which allows for reduced SKU&#39;s, inventory, manufacturing molds, and overall cost associated with expanding this technology. 
     Each of  FIGS. 1-3  shows a view of a system  30  according to an embodiment of the present principles. The system  30  includes a screw or carrier  32 , an arm  34 , a post  36 , a base  37 , and a blade  38 . The arm  34 , the post  36  and base  37  are each made of any desired plastic that can be injection molded into the respective configurations of each, and that can handle one&#39;s use and subsequent cleaning. The arm  34  is connected at one end to the post  36  and has an opposing end configured to carry or hold the blade  38 . All molded components do not require slides in the tools, for simple molding design and multi-cavity functionality. In this embodiment, the system weighs approximately 0.6 pounds. The screw or carrier  32  may be made of any desired material, such as a metal and/or a plastic and includes a food engaging end  20  which is generally a plurality of spikes. The system  30  zests, cores, slices, peels, and grates food in manner very similar to the system shown and discussed in the above-referenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/002,664. 
     Each of  FIGS. 4 and 5  shows an exploded view of the system  30  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The arm  34  is releasably attached to the post  36 , and is limited in its travel about the post  36  by a boss  35  (see  FIG. 8 ) on the post  36  such that, when the arm  34  is attached to the post  36 , the boss  35  lies in a groove  40  (shown in  FIG. 7 ). Because the groove  40  is longer than the boss, the arm  34  is allowed to rotate about 20 degrees relative to the post  36 . To urge the arm  34  toward the first position, the system  30  includes a torsion spring  42  whose first end is held by the arm  34  and whose second end is held by the post  36 . The system  30  also includes a cage  44  that surrounds a portion of the screw  32  and has at least one tooth engages and slides within the thread of the screw  32  when the screw  32  is rotated by handle  46 . By mounting the cage  44  to the post  36  so that the cage&#39;s tooth or teeth won&#39;t move relative to the post when the screw  32  is rotated, the cage  44  causes the screw  32  to translate relative to the post  36  when the screw  32  rotates. To allow the blade  38  to work on the food as the food travels in both directions, toward the post  36  as well as away from the post  36 , the screw&#39;s thread is configured to allow for the reverse translation of the screw  32  relative to the post  36  when the cage&#39;s tooth reaches the end of the screw  32  closest to the handle  46 . More specifically, the screw&#39;s thread reverses its helical direction at either or both ends of the screw  34  so that one simply continues to turn the handle  46  in the same direction (clockwise or counter clockwise) as before to cause the screw  32  to translate in a direction opposite to the screw&#39;s previous direction.  FIGS. 11 and 12  show an example of a double threaded screw/carrier  132  in accordance with this concept. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  also show an alternative arrangement where a reversing mechanism or transmission  150  enables the automatic switching of rotation direction during operation of the device. The details of this embodiment will be described further below. 
     Each of  FIGS. 8 and 9  shows an exploded view of a system  70 , according to another embodiment of the present principles. This embodiment is similar to the system  30  except that the base of the system  70  has a smaller footprint than the system  30 , and is configured to be held by a receptacle mounted to a table or workbench, such as a conventional, square receptacle for holding a can opener. 
       FIG. 10  shows a mount  72 , according to an embodiment of the present principles that may be attached to a table or workbench and that is configured to releasably hold a system. The mount  72  includes holes  74  through which a respective one of four screws passes through to attach the mount to a table or workbench. The mount  72  also includes four detents  76  and a tongue  78  that hold a base of a system that is configured to slide under the detents and receive the tongue when the system is positioned for use. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show an example of the carrier  132  having a handle  134  at one end and a food engaging auger  136  at the other distal end. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the food engaging auger  136  provides a must safer and easier system for attaching and detaching food (e.g., fruits and vegetables) to the same. In the prior art versions (e.g., spikes  20  of  FIGS. 1-5 ), a user must force the food item onto the spikes along an axis of the same. This is not only difficult to perform, but seriously increases the risk of the user puncturing themselves in the event the food item breaks, or is too soft such that the spikes pass through the same. Through the use of the auger  136 , a user can gently “screw” the food item onto the end of the carrier and when finished, can simply “unscrew” the remainder of the food item from the same. The edges of the auger can be such that they are not sharp to the touch, but work with the threading of the same. 
     As further shown, a reversing mechanism or transmission  150  can be positioned on the post and includes internal thread block parts  154  which operate in conjunction with the bar  152  to automatically change the direction of the rotation of carrier  132 . As will be appreciated, at each end of the threaded portion  140  of the carrier  132 , there is a first kick disk  138 A and second kick disk  138 B having a respective portion  139 A and  139 B. When the carrier  132  is rotated to either extreme, the portion  139  of the respective kick disk engages the linear rod  152  and pushes the same linearly along its own axis. This pushing causes a respective thread block  154 L (reverse linear thread block) or  154 R (forward linear thread block), to selectively engage or connect the threads  140  of the carrier  132 . In a forward direction, thread block  154 R engages the thread  140 , and when portion  139 B of kick disk  138 B engages the linear rod  152 , thread block  154 R disengages from the thread  140  and thread block  154 L engages the thread  4140  to start the reverse or backward direction without changing the user&#39;s rotation direction on handle  134 . 
     Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an implementation” of the present principles, as well as other variations thereof, means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, and so forth described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present principles. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment”, as well any other variations, appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to 
     Although the illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present principles is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art without departing from the scope or spirit of the present principles. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present principles as set forth in the appended claims.