Abstract:
The present invention provides for an apparatus for coring and slicing a food item comprising: a) a peripheral member; b) a coring element; and c) a plurality of blades extending radially of the coring element to the peripheral member, in spaced relation about the coring element. The apparatus may be combined with a base for securing the food item. Methods of constructing the apparatus are also encompassed by the present invention.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for coring into and cutting food items, in particular an apparatus for coring into and cutting fruits and vegetables, and more particularly, to an apparatus for coring into and cutting an onion. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There are a number of different utensils available that allow a user to cut into a food item so as to divide the food item into smaller-sized portions, and wherein each portion has a similar or nearly-identical size and shape. Most commonly, a paring or a highly-sharpened, general purpose kitchen knife is used to core into and cut food items, for example various fruits and vegetables such as an apple or an onion. Inherent with the use of such a utensil is that the user can be severely injured if the knife and/or the food item were to slip. As well, there is the inconvenience that the user must manipulate the knife and/or food item through several steps while coring into and cutting the food item in order to complete the division of the food item into the smaller portions. As well, if the food item is cored throughout, and it is desired that the portions be arranged in a configuration representative of the food item in a pre-cut state, it is typically necessary to re-handle the cut portions. Furthermore, if a user employs a knife as the coring and cutting utensil, it is difficult to assure that all of the cut portions of the food item are of nearly equal size and shape. Lastly, often the food item itself may be damaged during the coring and/or slicing steps, for example due to excess pressure being applied by the user when trying to firmly grasp the food item. 
   As an alternative to the use of a hand held knife, it may be advantageous to provide an apparatus for coring into and cutting a food item whereby a desired food item could be cored into and cut into a plurality of sections of nearly-equal size and shape, and wherein the apparatus requires a user to perform few procedural steps. As well, it would be desirable to provide for an apparatus for coring into and cutting a food item that could accomplish both operational tasks as part of single overall, procedural step. Such an apparatus would offer a considerable time and safety advantage to a user thereof, as the food item would be subjected to lesser handling. 
   It would be further advantageous to provide, in conjunction with an apparatus for coring into and cutting a food item, a means for securing the food item while the user cores into and cuts the food item. Provision of such means would assist in preventing the food item from becoming damaged, for example by being squashed, due to the exertion of excessive and/or uneven pressure upon the food item during the cutting process. Such means would also function as a convenient platform the subsequent serving to a consumer or consumers thereof of the food item that has been so cored into and cut by the user. 
   Thus, there is a need to provide for an apparatus for coring into and cutting food items that addresses at least some these shortcomings. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides for an apparatus for coring into and cutting a food item. In one embodiment, there is provided an apparatus for coring into and cutting a food item comprising:
         a) a peripheral member;   b) a coring element; and   c) a plurality of blades extending radially of the coring element to the peripheral member, in spaced relation about the coring element.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will now be described in greater in reference to the figures referred to below wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an apparatus for coring into and cutting food items according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the apparatus as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the apparatus as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a coring element together with a plurality of blades extending radially from and spaced about the coring element; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the apparatus as shown in  FIG. 3 , taken along the section line B—B; 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a base for securing a food item; 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a combination of an apparatus for coring into and cutting a food item, wherein the apparatus has been equipped with handles, and a base for securing a food item; and 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the combination shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described with reference to an embodiment provided in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , there is an apparatus  10  for coring into and cutting a food item comprising a peripheral member  12 , a coring element  14 , and a plurality of blades  16  that extend radially of coring element  14  to peripheral member  12 , in spaced relation about the coring element  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the present example of the invention the plurality of blades  16  are arranged in an inclined manner between the peripheral member  12  and the coring element  14 . Peripheral member  12  is provided with extensions  18  each of which has an flange  20  and an aperture  22  for fitting and fastening a handle  24  (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). Fastening of the handle  24  to the extension  18  can be accomplished by any number of ways that would be familiar to a person of skill in the art, for example, by screwing the handle  24  to the extension  18 . 
   As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4 , the plurality of blades  16  are arranged as an upper tier  26  and a lower tier  28 , wherein the upper tier  26  comprises a series of separate blades  30  and the lower tier comprises a series of adjacent, separate blades  32  and  34 . The plurality of blades  16  and the coring element  14  can be manufactured from a number of different materials, for example a metal such as stainless steel or aluminium, or even a plastic or a ceramic material. For ease of manufacture, it is advantageous that the plurality of blades  16  and the coring element  14  be manufactured from the same material, which in the present example of the invention is stainless steel. As well, to enhance the slicing efficiency of the apparatus, each blade is provided with a cutting edge  36  that is serrated, and that is also chamfered from both sides to thereby provide a central point along the edge of the blade. Furthermore, while the plurality of blades  16  can be provided in a number of configurations, in the present example of the invention each blade  30 ,  32  and  34  is configured as a double-blade having a radially-terminus portion  38  shaped in conformity to the peripheral member  12 , and wherein each blade  30  of the upper tier  26  overlaps each adjacent blade  32  and  34  of the lower tier  28 . 
   In the present example of the invention, the plurality of blades  16  are welded to the coring element  14 , although other means such as screws, rivets or adhesive could be used to secure the blades to the coring element  14 . Fastening of the plurality of blades  16  to the peripheral member  12  can also be accomplished in a similar fashion. In the present example of the invention, the peripheral member  12  is manufactured from a plastic material and is circular. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the plurality of blades  16  co-operate with the peripheral member  12  by having at least the radially-terminus portion  38  integrated therein. 
   The coring element  14  can be configured in any number of sizes and shapes. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the coring element  14  is a tube that is centrally-located within the apparatus. Cutting teeth  40  are provided at the end of the tube to aid in the coring of the food item. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , a base  42  can be provided in combination with the apparatus, whereby the food item is secured to the base  42  while the user cores into and cuts the food item. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the base  42  can be provided as a disc having a cambered portion  44  that begins at a lip  46  and a central depression  48  for accommodating the food item and for retaining any fluid that may be released from the food item during the coring and slicing procedure. As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 6 , the base can be provided with a number of protruding elements  50  upon which the food item is impaled and therefore secured. While a person of skill in the art would recognize that protruding elements  50  could be provided in any number and combination of configurations, in the present example of the invention, the protruding elements  48  are configured as cone-shaped spikes. Advantageously, the central depression  48  of the base  42  may be provided with means to allow for a root or roots of the food item to be positioned in a manner so as to not interfere with the securing of the food item to the base  42 . In the present example of the invention, the means comprise an aperture  52  at or near the center of the central depression  48 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the peripheral member  12  of the apparatus rests on the lip  46  of the base  42 , while the extensions  18  having an attached handle  24  extend the base  42  so as to be easily accessible to a user. The central depression  48  has a depth sufficient to accommodate the coring element without having the coring element  14  coming into contact the base  42 . Thus, even when the peripheral member  12  rests upon the lip  46  of the base  42 , the cutting teeth  40  of the coring element  14  are free of contacting the central depression  48  of the base  42 . In operation, the user first removes an end of the food item, such as a top of an onion, and leaves the opposite end of the food item intact. Where necessary, the user also peels off the outer skin of the food item. The food item is then placed on the base  42  and secured thereupon by firmly pushing the food item onto the protruding elements  50 . Grasping the apparatus by the handles  24 , the food item is contacted at its center by the coring element  14 , wherein the cutting teeth  40  provided on the coring element  14  begin to dig into the food item. At this stage, to aid in initiating the coring process, the user can also begin to rotate the apparatus without causing the food item to detach from the base  42  due to the food element being held in position by the protruding elements  50 . After the coring element  14  partially enters the food item, downward pressure is continued to be applied by the user and the plurality of blades  16  on the lower tier  28  contact and begin to cut into the food item. Entry of the blades on the lower tier  28  is followed by entry of the blades of the upper tier  26 . Movement of the blades through the food item is facilitated by providing blades having a minimal thickness. As well, movement of the blades  16  through the food item can be assisted by the user firmly holding each handle  24  and engaging in a slight rocking motion. Given that the plurality of blades  16  are, in the present example of the invention, welded to the coring element  14  and integrated into the peripheral member  12 , little upward bowing of the blades occurs during the coring and slicing procedure. 
   On contact of the peripheral member  12  with the lip  46  of the base  42 , the user continues to grasp each handle  24  and at the same time places one or both thumbs on the center portion of the food item. The apparatus  10  is then withdrawn from the food item that has been cored into and cut by the user. As the cutting teeth  40  do not contact the central depression  48 , the food item is left intact as the center portion that has been cored into remains connected to the cut portions of the food item. Thus, after the user withdraws the apparatus, and optionally removes the center portion, the food item is free to form a shape similar to that of a flower blossom. Advantageously, the user can thereafter subject the food item to further preparative steps, such as battering and deep-frying, while the food item remains intact. The food item so prepared could then be served while maintaining its flower blossom shape. As well, on withdrawing the apparatus from the food item, the user has an option of completely separating one or more of the cut portions of the food item prior to any further processing or the serving of the food item. Conveniently, the base  40  may be thereafter used to present or serve the prepared food item. 
   Advantageously, the apparatus of the present invention has no moving internal parts, for example, a spring-biased cutting mechanism. As such, the apparatus may have a greater functional life-span as compared to one having moving parts, given that moving parts would be subjected to greater where-and-tear over time with repeated use of the apparatus. As well, an apparatus of the present invention may offer a more sanitary environment for food preparation as there would be lesser opportunity for the entrapment food particles within the apparatus. 
   The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be examples of the present invention, and alterations and modifications may be affected thereto, by a person of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.