Abstract:
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for peeling and cutting vegetables and other foods is provided. A plurality of blades form an aperture within a frame. This aperture expands as the vegetable passes through it. This method of food surface removal expedites the process by removing all sides of the vegetable surface at the same time, providing heightened safety features for users, allowing users to easily clean the apparatus, and allowing users to easily remove and replace broken blades or change blade types for a variety of culinary purposes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for peeling a food having a peel. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An apparatus for peeling a food having a peel is described herein. 
         [0003]    In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus consisting of a circular frame and five interlocking blades may be held in a user&#39;s hand. The five blades interlock near the center of the device and form an aperture. A food having a peel or rind is passed through the aperture formed by the interlocking blades, which blades remove the peel or rind from the food. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment of the invention the frame of the apparatus can be of any geometric shape. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, any number of blades may be used. 
         [0006]    In yet another embodiment, the blades may be removable from the frame by the user of the apparatus to facilitate changing blades, cleaning the apparatus, and as a safety mechanism. 
         [0007]    In still another embodiment, the blades me be of different types, such as straight, French, julienne, serrated, or corn dekerneler. 
         [0008]    Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a top view of one embodiment of the apparatus. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an orthogonal view of one embodiment of the apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of one embodiment of the apparatus. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top view of another embodiment of the apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an orthogonal view of one embodiment of a blade element of the apparatus. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a blade element of the apparatus. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is another perspective view of another embodiment of a blade element of the apparatus. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a blade element of the apparatus. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is another perspective view of yet another embodiment of a blade element of the apparatus. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of yet another embodiment of a blade element of the apparatus together with an embodiment of a frame of the apparatus. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is an orthogonal view of yet another embodiment of the apparatus. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the apparatus. 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a top view of yet another embodiment of the apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a top view of yet another embodiment of the apparatus. 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus in use peeling a carrot. 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is another perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus in use peeling a carrot. 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a side view of an embodiment of the apparatus in use peeling a carrot. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    The apparatus [ 100 ] may be embodied in any number of ways. With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of the invention, comprises a frame [ 102 ] having a top side [ 200 ], a bottom side [ 202 ], an inner surface [ 104 ], an outer surface [ 106 ], and a thickness, the thickness being defined as the distance between the outer surface [ 106 ] and the inner surface [ 104 ] on a line parallel with the top side [ 200 ] and bottom side [ 202 ] of the frame [ 102 ]. The frame [ 102 ] also comprises a plurality of holes [ 120 ] traversing the thickness of the frame passing through both the inner surface [ 104 ] and the outer surface [ 106 ] of the frame [ 102 ]. The apparatus [ 100 ] further comprises a plurality of interlocking blade elements [ 108 ] located generally within the inner surface [ 104 ] of the frame [ 102 ]. The frame [ 102 ] may also comprise ergonomic indentations [ 122 ] on the outer surface [ 106 ], which indentations [ 122 ] make it easier and more comfortable for the user to grip the frame [ 102 ] and use the apparatus [ 100 ]. The indentations [ 122 ] may also contain information directing the user on how to hold the apparatus, how to use the apparatus, safety information, or any other information that may be desirable to communicate to the user of the apparatus [ 100 ]. Alternatively, instead of or in conjunction with the indentations [ 122 ] there may be protrusions or a covering applied or attached to the outer surface [ 106 ] of the frame [ 102 ]. With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  11 ,  13 , and  14 , the frame [ 102 ] of the apparatus [ 100 ] may be of variable geometry, including circular, oval, pentagonal, square, triangular, and others, and may have a varying number of blade elements [ 108 ] with a minimum of three blade elements. 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 , and  6 , contained within the frame [ 102 ] is a plurality of interlocking blade elements [ 108 ]. Each blade element [ 108 ] further comprises an inner end [ 110 ], an outer end [ 112 ], a vertical plane [ 203 ], and a blade surface [ 204 ] having a height generally parallel to the vertical plane [ 203 ]. The outer end [ 112 ] of each blade element [ 108 ] comprises an attachment mechanism, which moveably connects the blade element [ 108 ] to the frame [ 102 ] through one of the plurality of holes [ 120 ] traversing the thickness of the frame [ 102 ]. Additionally, the inner end [ 110 ] of each blade element [ 108 ] comprises at least one guide [ 116 ], the guide [ 116 ] slidably interlocks with a second blade located generally within the space formed within the inner surface [ 104 ] of the frame [ 102 ]. The plurality of blade elements [ 108 ] may be slidably interconnected with each other generally in the center of the space formed within the inner surface [ 104 ] of the frame [ 102 ] to form an aperture [ 118 ]. The blade elements [ 108 ] may be curved or straight. 
         [0029]    There are multiple different embodiments of the means of securing the blade elements within the frame. With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , one embodiment of the securing mechanism comprises a tab [ 114 ] on the outer end [ 112 ] of the blade element [ 108 ] complementary to a hole [ 120 ] in the frame [ 102 ]. The tab [ 114 ] fits at least partway through a complementary hole [ 120 ] in the frame [ 102 ]. The tab [ 114 ] comprises a length, a circumference, and a flange. The circumference and geometry of the tab [ 114 ] is complimentary to the circumference and geometry of a corresponding hole [ 120 ] in the frame [ 102 ], such that the tab [ 114 ] fits securely, but movably, within a hole [ 120 ] in the frame [ 102 ]. The tab [ 114 ] and hole [ 120 ] may be of any shape and dimension, however, in all cases, the flange [ 220 ] is on the inner surface [ 104 ] side of the tab [ 114 ] and is of larger dimension than the hole [ 120 ] in the frame [ 102 ] complementary to the tab [ 114 ]. 
         [0030]    The flange [ 220 ] sits against the inner surface [ 104 ] of the frame [ 102 ] and prevents the blade element [ 108 ] from passing through the corresponding hole [ 120 ] in the frame [ 102 ] from the inner surface [ 104 ] to the outer surface [ 106 ]. This configuration allows pressure to be applied to the blade element [ 108 ] from the other blade elements present and the food being peeled while maintaining the blade element&#39;s position within the frame [ 102 ] and maintaining the aperture [ 118 ]. The configuration also provides a mechanism for user safety and ease of cleaning the apparatus as the blade elements [ 108 ] can be easily moved within, or completely removed from the, frame [ 102 ], allowing a change in the aperture [ 118 ] as follows: pressure may be applied to one or more tabs [ 114 ] in a direction from the outer surface [ 106 ] towards the inner surface [ 104 ], the tab or tabs [ 114 ] may be moved partially or completely through the complimentary hole [ 120 ] in the frame [ 102 ]; once pressure is applied to the tab or tabs [ 114 ] in the direction from the outer surface [ 106 ] to the inner surface [ 104 ], tension is released from the individual blade element or elements [ 108 ] connected to the tab or tabs [ 114 ] and the aperture [ 118 ] is expanded allowing food objects, fingers, or any other item in the aperture [ 118 ] to be safely removed without further cutting of the object by the blade elements [ 118 ]. 
         [0031]    If the tab or tabs [ 114 ] are pushed completely through the corresponding hole or holes [ 120 ] in the frame [ 102 ], individual blade elements [ 108 ] may be disengaged from the other blade elements and completely removed from the apparatus [ 100 ]. Once one or more individual blade elements are removed from the apparatus [ 100 ], an item caught in the aperture [ 118 ], or other part of the apparatus [ 100 ], may be safely removed without causing any further damage. Additional features of completely removing one or more blade elements [ 108 ] from the frame [ 102 ] in the manner described hereinabove include making the blade elements [ 108 ] and frame [ 102 ] easy to be cleaned by the user, allowing broken blade elements [ 108 ] to be easily replaced by a user, and allowing a user to easily replace the blade elements [ 108 ] with different types of blade elements, such as straight, serrated, julienne, corn dekerneler, or other types of blades that are known to those skilled in the art, allowing a single frame [ 102 ] to be paired with different types of blade elements [ 108 ] and used for different purposes. All of the benefits disclosed in this paragraph are unique to the invention claimed herein and are significant improvements to the prior art. 
         [0032]    With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , another embodiment of securing the blade elements [ 108 ] within the frame [ 102 ] is depicted. In this embodiment, the means of attaching the blade to the frame comprises a removable cap [ 132 ] placed on the outer end [ 112 ] of the blade element [ 108 ]. The blade element [ 108 ], without the removable cap [ 132 ], is passed through a corresponding hole [ 120 ] in the frame [ 102 ] from the inner surface [ 104 ] to the outer surface [ 106 ]. Once the outer end [ 112 ] of the blade element [ 108 ] is passed through to the outer surface [ 106 ] of the frame [ 102 ], the removable cap [ 132 ] is secured over the outer end [ 112 ] of the blade element [ 108 ]. The removable cap [ 132 ] is larger than the corresponding hole [ 120 ], thereby preventing the outer end [ 112 ] of the blade element [ 108 ] from passing through its corresponding hole [ 120 ] from the outer surface [ 106 ] to the inner surface [ 104 ]. The removable cap [ 132 ] may be attached by a locking mechanism such as a clip, clasp, or friction device. 
         [0033]    Individual blade elements [ 108 ] may be removed from the frame [ 102 ] by removing the removable cap [ 132 ] and passing the individual blade element [ 108 ] through its corresponding hole [ 120 ] from the outer surface [ 106 ] to the inner surface [ 104 ]. Once one or more individual blade elements are removed from the apparatus, a finger or other item caught in the aperture [ 118 ], or other part of the apparatus [ 100 ], may be safely removed without causing any further damage. Additionally, this configuration allows the blade elements [ 108 ] to be easily cleaned by the user. Further, if a blade element [ 108 ] breaks, this configuration allows the user to easily replace the broken blade element. Finally, this configuration allows the user to easily replace the blade elements [ 108 ] with different types of blade elements, such as straight, serrated, julienne, corn dekerneler, or other types of blades that are known to those skilled in the art. All of the benefits disclosed in this paragraph are unique to the invention claimed herein and are significant improvements to the prior art. 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIGS. 8 ,  9 ,  10 , and  11 , in one embodiment of the blade elements [ 108 ], a spring [ 134 ] may be placed in the horizontal plane [ 222 ] of the blade element [ 108 ] between the removable cap [ 132 ] and the outer surface of the frame [ 106 ], which spring [ 134 ] provides tension to the blade element [ 108 ]. A spring guide [ 138 ] may be provided in the channel [ 208 ] of the blade element [ 108 ] to hold the spring [ 134 ] in a desired orientation. The spring guide [ 138 ] may be attached to the removable cap [ 132 ]. The spring [ 134 ] pushes against a spring plate [ 136 ]. The spring plate [ 136 ] is larger than a corresponding hole [ 120 ] in the frame [ 102 ] so that the spring plate [ 136 ] does not pass through the corresponding hole [ 120 ]. The spring [ 134 ] provides tension to the blade element [ 108 ] by pushing against the blade element and drawing the blade element [ 108 ] through a corresponding hole [ 120 ] from the inner surface [ 104 ] towards the outer surface [ 106 ]. The guide [ 116 ], interlocked with other blade elements [ 108 ], prevents the blade element from being pushed completely through the corresponding hole [ 120 ] by the spring [ 134 ]. This embodiment provides additional blade tension between the blade element [ 108 ] and the frame [ 102 ], which may be desirable in some applications of the apparatus [ 100 ]. 
         [0035]    Regardless of the means of securing individual blade elements to the frame, the blades elements may be straight or curved. If curved, the blade elements have a convex side [ 224 ] and a concave side [ 226 ]. Additionally, all blade elements, regardless of type, shape, dimension, and attachment mechanism, have a guide [ 116 ]. With reference to  FIG. 5 , one embodiment of the guide [ 116 ] comprises a top flange [ 124 ] and a bottom flange [ 125 ], wherein the top flange [ 124 ] and bottom flange [ 125 ] define a space [ 126 ] approximately equal to the height of the blade element [ 108 ] in the vertical plane [ 203 ]. The top flange [ 124 ] and bottom flange [ 125 ] may be in mechanical contact with the top edge [ 228 ] and bottom edge [ 230 ] of a corresponding blade element [ 108 ], which are defined by a height of a corresponding blade element [ 108 ]. 
         [0036]    With reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 , another embodiment of the guide [ 116 ] comprises a top flange [ 128 ] and a bottom flange [ 129 ], wherein the top flange [ 128 ] and bottom flange [ 129 ] define a space [ 232 ] approximately equal to the height of a channel [ 208 ] running in the horizontal plane of a corresponding blade [ 130 ], the top flange [ 128 ] and bottom flange [ 129 ] in mechanical contact with the channel top [ 210 ] and channel bottom [ 212 ] edges of a corresponding blade element [ 108 ], which edges are defined by a channel [ 208 ] running in the horizontal plane [ 206 ] of the corresponding blade surface. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 15 ,  16 , and  17 , the apparatus [ 100 ] is used by passing a food having a peel [ 140 ] through the aperture [ 118 ] of the apparatus [ 100 ]. 
         [0038]    For example, in use, a carrot [ 140 ] is forced through the aperture [ 118 ] and passes across the blade elements [ 108 ]. As the item passes in contact with the blade elements [ 108 ], the outer surface of the carrot is cut by the blade elements [ 108 ] and is thus peeled as it is pushed through the aperture [ 118 ]. This is by way of example only as many other items may be passed through the apparatus [ 100 ] and thus cut, peeled, or dekerneled. 
         [0039]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications, variations, shapes and sizes are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.