Abstract:
A slicing assembly slices food into a plurality of slices of a selectable thickness in one motion. The assembly includes a base configured to be positioned on a support surface such that a food item is positionable on a top of the base. A selectable one of a plurality of cutting members is interchangeably coupled to the base such that the selected one of the cutting members is movably coupled to the top of the base. Each cutting member has a respective plurality of slicers. The slicers of each cutting member are uniquely spaced relative to each other cutting member wherein each cutting member is configured for slicing food in an associated thickness when a selected one of the cutting members is moved downwardly toward the base.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0002]    The disclosure relates to slicing devices and more particularly pertains to a new slicing device for slicing food into a plurality of slices in one motion. 
         [0003]    2. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
         [0004]    An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base configured to be positioned on a support surface such that a food item is positionable on a top of the base. A selectable one of a plurality of cutting members is interchangeably coupled to the base such that the selected one of the cutting members is movably coupled to the top of the base. Each cutting member has a respective plurality of slicers. The slicers of each cutting member are uniquely spaced relative to each other cutting member wherein each cutting member is configured for slicing food in an associated thickness when a selected one of the cutting members is moved downwardly toward the base. 
         [0005]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0006]    The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a slicing assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new slicing device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
         [0014]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the slicing assembly  10  generally comprises a base  12  comprising a slicing portion  14  of the base  12  coupled to and extending upwardly from a top  16  of a basal portion  18  of the base  12 . The basal portion  18  of the base  12  may have a width and a length between 18 cm and 23 cm. Additionally, the basal portion  18  of the base  12  may have a height between 1 cm and 2.5 cm. The base  12  may be comprised of a rigid and food grade material. 
         [0015]    A top surface  20  of the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  angles downwardly from a front  22  of the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  toward a rear  24  of the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  so the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  is wedge shaped. The front  22  of the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  may have a height between 2.5 cm and 5 cm. Additionally, the height of the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  proximate the rear  24  of the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  may decrease to a height between 13 mm and 19 mm. The slicing portion  14  of the base  12  may have a length between 10 cm and 185 cm. Further, the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  may have a width between 16 cm and 21 cm. 
         [0016]    The rear  24  of the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  extends upwardly from the top surface  20  of the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  so the rear  24  of the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  forms a stop  26 . The top surface  20  of the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  may support a food item  28 . The food item  28  is positionable on the top surface  20  of the slicing portion  20  of the base  12  so the food item  28  abuts a front  25  of the stop  26 . Additionally, the stop  26  retains the food item  28  on the top surface  20  of the slicing portion  20  of the base  12 . The food item  28  may comprise a block of cheese  29  or the like. 
         [0017]    A plurality of grooves  30  extends downwardly into the top surface  20  of the slicing portion  20  of the base  12 . The grooves  30  are parallel and each of the grooves  30  extends between the front  22  and the rear  24  of the slicing portion  20  of the base  12 . The grooves  30  are evenly distributed between a first lateral side  32  and a second lateral side  34  of the slicing portion  20  of the base  12 . Each of the plurality of grooves  30  may have a depth between 2 cm and 4.5 cm. Additionally, each the grooves  30  may have a width between 3 mm and 5 mm such that the plurality of grooves  30  is spaced apart a distance between 3 mm and 5 mm. 
         [0018]    A pair of cutting members  36 , 66  is provided. Each cutting member  36 , 66  comprises a frame  68  having respective first lateral sections  38  and second lateral sections  40  that are each coupled to and extend between each of a respective rear section  42  and a front section  44  of the cutting member  36 , 66 . Each cutting member  36 , 66  has a rectangular shape that may have a width and a length between 18 cm and 23 cm. Each of the first lateral  38 , second lateral  40 , front  44  and rear  42  sections of each cutting member  36 , 66  has a tubular shape with a radius that may be between 8 mm and 10 mm. 
         [0019]    A pair of spaced retainers  48  is coupled to the top  16  of the basal portion  18  of the base  12  proximate a rear  50  of the basal portion  18  of the base  12 . The rear section  42  of each cutting member  36 , 66  is removably and hingedly coupled to each of the spaced retainers  48 . As can be seen in the drawings, each retainer  48  includes an arm and a gap such that the rear section  42  of each cutting member  36 , 66  is insertable through the gap such that the arm retains the cutting member  36 , 66  allowing the cutting member  36 , 66  to be pivoted as needed. Each cutting member  36 , 66  is removable by pulling the rear section  42  back out of the retainer  48  through the gap. Thus, the cutting members  36 , 66  are interchangeably couplable to the base  12 . The cutting member  36  is positionable in an extended position such that the cutting member  36  extends upwardly from the base  12 . The cutting member  36  is positionable in a cutting position so the front section  44  of the cutting member  36  abuts the top  16  of the basal portion  18  of the base  12  proximate a front  52  of the basal portion  18  of the base  12 . 
         [0020]    A front one  54  and a rear one  56  of couplers is each coextensively coupled to an associated one of the front  44  and rear  42  sections of the cutting member  36 . Each cutting member  36 , 66  has a respective one of a first plurality of spaced slicers  58  and a second plurality of spaced slicers  78  that are evenly distributed between the first lateral section  38  and the second lateral section  40  of the respective cutting member  36 , 66 . Each slicer  58  may comprise a wire between 28 AWG and 32 AWG. The slicers  58 , 78  of each cutting member  36 , 66  are spaced to correspond to and be received into an associated one of the grooves  30  when each cutting member  36 , 66  is coupled to the base  12 . The slicers  58  may be spaced apart a distance between 5 mm and 7.5 mm on a first one of the cutting members  36  while the slicers  58  may be spaced apart a distance between 11.5 mm and 14 mm on a second one of the cutting members  66 . The spacing of the slicers  58  on the second one of the cutting members  66  may be a whole unit multiple of the spacing of the slicers  58  on the first one of the cutting members  36 . Each of the slicers  58  of the cutting member  36 , 66  coupled to the base  12  passes through the food item  28  as the cutting member  36 , 66  coupled to the base  12  is pivoted wherein each slicer  58  extends downwardly into the associated one of the grooves  30  when the cutting member  36 , 66  is positioned in the cutting position. Thusly, the food item  28  is sliced into a plurality of slices sized according to which cutting member  36 , 66  is employed. 
         [0021]    In use, a selected one of the cutting members  36 , 66  is removably and hingedly coupled to the pair of spaced retainers  48 . The cutting member  36 , 66  is selected based on the desired width of slices for the food item  28 . The food item  28  is positioned on the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  so the food item  28  extends laterally across the slicing portion  14  of the base  12  and abuts the front  25  of the stop  26 . The selected cutting member  36 , 66  is pivoted into the cutting position to slice the food item  28 . 
         [0022]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         [0023]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.