Abstract:
The present invention relates to a food processing device, comprising a base plate provided with a first pivot and a second pivot, a processing element provided on the base plate, and an arm assembly pivotably coupled to the base plate. The arm assembly comprises a first arm and a second arm pivotally coupled to each other, each of the two arms being pivotally coupled to the base plate, whereby the first arm and the second arm form together a compound lever mechanism. A force applied by an operator onto the second arm increases as an output by the second arm, and the increasing force is conveyed to the first arm so that the food processing device is operated faster and easier, without making the operator more fatigued.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a food preparation device, and particularly, to a hand tool for processing food items, which has an arm assembly having a lever mechanism to allow for faster and easier operation of the hand tool without making the operator fatigued. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In our daily life, preparation of food items always requires processing of the food items. One type of simple processing tools is a manually-operated food processing device, such as a garlic press, a slitter for slitting onions or mushrooms, a chopper for chopping onions or mushrooms, a fruit and vegetables juice extractor, etc. This type of manual food processing device typically comprises a base plate and an arm that are pivotally coupled to each other, with the base plate provided with a squeeze chamber, for example, and the arm provided with a squeezer. Taking the garlic press as an example, when the arm is pressed downward and pushed toward the squeeze chamber on the base plate, garlic cloves placed in the squeeze chamber would be squeezed and discharged from through holes formed on the bottom of the squeeze chamber as garlic puree. Like the garlic press, a fruit and vegetable juice extractor squeezes fruits and vegetables with an arm being pressed downward in order to achieve juice extraction. However, this type of hand tools currently available usually requires application of a substantial force onto the arm in the operation thereof, making the operation effort-demanding. 
         [0003]    Therefore, there is a need for a hand-operated food processing device that is operated faster and easier, without making the operator more fatigued. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An object of the present invention is to provide an improved food processing device that is operated manually. The food processing device has an arm assembly configured to have a compound lever mechanism through which an input force applied to the arm assembly increases. The increasing force is transmitted to a squeezer arranged on the arm assembly and acting on food items to be processed, making the operation very labor-saving and time-saving. 
         [0005]    The food processing device of the present invention comprises a food processing device. The food processing device comprises a base plate comprising a first pivot and a second pivot that are in spaced apart fashion along a length direction of the base plate; a processing element arranged on the base plate for processing food items; and an arm assembly pivotably coupled to the base plate. The arm assembly comprises a first arm and a second arm. 
         [0006]    The first arm comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion configured to be pivotally coupled to the base plate by the first pivot to allow pivotal movement of the first arm between a closed position in proximity to the base plate and an open position away from the base plate; wherein the first arm further comprises a squeezer configured to act on the food items that are placed on the processing element to be processed when the first arm is in the closed position, thereby pressing the food items against the processing element. 
         [0007]    The second arm is pivotally coupled to the distal end portion of the first arm, the second arm comprising a manipulation portion, two opposite bifurcated portions extending from the manipulation portion, and a slot formed through each of the bifurcated portions; wherein the second pivot of the base plate is arranged to pass through the slots on the two bifurcated portions in such a way that allows for slidable movement of the two bifurcated portions within the slots in a longitudinal direction of the slots, which slidable movement in turn causes the first arm to pivot between the closed position and the open position, throughout a pivotal movement process of the second arm about the second pivot relative to the base plate. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the slots formed on the respective bifurcated portions are positioned to be away from the manipulation portion. According to the present invention, a distance between the second pivot and the manipulation portion increases along with the pivotal movement of the second arm from a position in proximity to the base plate to a position away from the base plate. The second arm is able to pivot relative to the base plate by an angle of at least 90 degrees. In certain cases, the second pivot is configured to comprise two pivot branches each arranged on a lateral side of the base plate and extending through the respective slot. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the food processing device is provided as a garlic press in which the processing element is configured to be a squeeze chamber for accommodating garlic cloves, and the squeezer is positioned and configured as a press plate engageable with the squeeze chamber. The squeeze chamber may have a bottom provided with a plurality of through holes allowing for outflow of garlic granules and a fluid, or with a plurality of blades arranged in parallel for slicing the garlic cloves. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the food processing device is provided as a food cutting device in which the processing element is configured to be a cutting plate having a plurality of blades and fixed on a top face of the base plate, and the squeezer is configured as a plurality of protrusions extending from the first arm and positioned to cooperate with the plurality of blades on the cutting plate to cut the food items. The plurality of blades on the cutting plate are arranged to form a blade grille which may be composed of two groups of blades arranged relative to each other at a right angle to form a square grille, or may be composed of blades parallel to each other to form a slit grille. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the cutting plate is detachably mounted on the base plate for ease of change of different cutting plates to adapt for different cutting requirements for different food items. More preferably, the food cutting device further comprises a container detachably engageable with a periphery of a bottom face of the base plate for receiving the food items discharged from the cutting plate. 
         [0012]    The food cutting device may be selected from a group consisting of an onion chopper, an onion slitter, a mushroom chopper, a mushroom slitter and a potato slitter. 
         [0013]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the food processing device is provided as a juice extractor in which the processing element is configured to be a squeeze chamber for accommodating fruits and vegetables and to comprise a concave squeeze face allowing for outflow of a fluid, and the squeezer is configured to be a convex squeeze face having a plurality of teeth and positioned to cooperate with the concave squeeze face for juice extraction. The concave squeeze face has a plurality of guiding holes allowing for the outflow of the fluid. Preferably, the juice extractor further comprises a container detachably engageable with a periphery of a bottom face of the base plate for receiving juice of the fruits and vegetables. 
         [0014]    In comparison with the prior art food processing devices, the device of present invention is characterized by the arm assembly which comprises the first arm and the second arm that are pivotally coupled to each other, wherein the first and second arms are also pivotally coupled to the base plate, respectively, to form two levers, in such a way that the first arm and the second arm together form a compound lever mechanism. If an operator applies a force to the manipulation portion of the second arm (i.e. the first lever), the second arm would output an increasing force which immediately serves as an input force applied by the second lever onto the first arm (i.e. the second lever), and the increasing force applied on the first arm would then be transmitted to the squeezer arranged on the arm assembly and acting on the food items, i.e. the force acting on the food items increases accordingly. In this way, the food processing device of the invention is operated faster and with an ease. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a structure of a garlic press constructed according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the garlic press shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C  are schematic views of the garlic press shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating the movement of the garlic press from an open position to a closed position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of a structure of an onion chopper constructed according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C  are schematic views of the onion chopper shown in  FIG. 4  illustrating the movement of the onion chopper from an open position to a closed position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6C  are schematic views of a juice extractor constructed according to a third embodiment of the present invention and show the movement of the juice extractor from an open position to a closed position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a schematic perspective view of a structure of a garlic press constructed according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the garlic press shown in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of the first arm and the press plate shown in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 10A  to  FIG. 10C  are schematic views of the garlic press shown in  FIG. 7  illustrating the movement of the garlic press from an open position to a closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C  show in a schematic manner a garlic press  10  constructed according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The garlic press  10  comprises a base plate  12 , an arm assembly  14  and a squeeze chamber  16 . The base plate  12  comprises a pivot end  121  and a handle end  122 . The squeeze chamber  16  is provided at a position in proximity to the pivot end  121  of the base plate  12 , and is shaped or sized to accommodate garlic cloves or the like to be processed. The squeeze chamber  16  has a bottom provided with a plurality of through holes allowing for outflow of garlic granules and a fluid. Optionally, the bottom of the squeeze chamber may be provided with a plurality of parallel blades for slicing garlic cloves or the like to satisfy various food processing needs. 
         [0026]    The arm assembly  14  comprises a first arm  141  and a second arm  142 . The first arm  141  comprises a proximal end portion  1411  and a distal end portion  1412 . The proximal end portion  1411  is pivotally coupled to the pivot end  121  of the base plate  12  by a first pivot such as a pin  11  or a rivet, so that the first arm  141  is pivotal around the pin  11  relative to the base plate  12  between a closed position in proximity to the base plate  12  and an open position away from the base plate  12 . Between the proximal end portion  1411  and the distal end portion  1412  of the first arm  141  is provided a press plate  1413  securely attached on the first arm  141  by means of a pin  15 . The press plate  1413  is positioned to correspond to the squeeze chamber  16  in order to receive the press plate  1413  inside the squeeze chamber  16 . The surface of the press plate  1413  is sized and shaped in correspondence to a bottom  161  of the squeeze chamber  16 . When the garlic cloves or the like are placed in the squeeze chamber  16  while the first arm  141  pivots to the closed position, the garlic cloves or the like are crushed between the surface of the press plate  1413  and the bottom  161  of the squeeze chamber  16 . The crushed granules and the resultant fluid are discharged from the through holes  162  formed through the bottom  161  of the squeeze chamber  16 . 
         [0027]    The second arm  142  is pivotally coupled to the distal end portion  1412  of the first arm  141  by, for example, a pin  13  or a rivet in such a manner that the pivotal movement of the second arm  142  is able to cause the first arm  141  to pivot around the pin  11  relative to the base plate  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the second arm  142  is of a bifurcated structure, comprising a manipulation portion  1421 , two opposite bifurcated portions  1422  extending from an end of the manipulation portion, and a slot  1423  formed through each of the bifurcated portions and positioned away from the manipulation portion. In this embodiment, a second pivot  17  is provided on an upper edge of each of two opposite sides of the squeeze chamber  16 , the second pivot  17  extending through the respective slot  1423  as shown in  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3B . Each of both ends of the second pivot  17  has a stopper  18 , and the two stoppers  18  at the two ends slidably hold the respective bifurcated portion  1422  therebetween to prevent the bifurcated portion  1422  in sliding motion from detaching from the second pivot  17 . During the pivotal movement process of the second arm  142 , the slot  1423  on the bifurcated portion  1422  allows for slidable movement of the respective bifurcated portion in a longitudinal direction of the slot, which slidable movement in turn causes the first arm  141  to pivot between the closed position and the open position. Therefore, the first arm  141  and the second arm  142  respectively form two levers which constitute a compound lever mechanism. When the first arm  141  is in the closed position, the press plate  1413  engages with the squeeze chamber  16  to squeeze the food items; when the first arm  141  is in the open position, the press plate  1413  disengages from the squeeze chamber  16 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C , there is illustrated the movement of the garlic press  10  from the open position to the closed position. As illustrated, the second pivot  17  actually is a sliding pivot point, the position of which in the slot  1423  is variable in a pivoting cycle of the second press portion  142 . When the second arm  142  relative to the base plate  12  is set at a 90-degree angle ( FIG. 3A ), the sliding pivot point is at the lowest end of the slot  1423 , where the sliding pivot point is spaced away from the manipulation portion  1421  at the greatest distance; when the second arm  142  relative to the base plate  12  is set at a 45-degree angle ( FIG. 3B ), the sliding pivot point is approximately in the middle of the slot  1423 ; when the second arm  142  relative to the base plate  12  is set at a 0-degree angle ( FIG. 3C ), the sliding pivot point is at the other end of the slot  1423 , where the linear distance between the sliding pivot point and the manipulation portion  1421  is the smallest. The angle of the second arm  142  relative to the base plate  12  determines an angular size of the first arm  141  which pivots relative to the base plate  12 , this is one of various factors affecting what force is transmitted to the squeezer on the arm assembly. When a force is applied by an operator onto the manipulation portion  1421  of the second arm  142 , the second arm  142  would output an increasing force; the increasing output force is immediately applied to the first arm  141 , and then the force transmitted from the first arm  141  to the press plate  1413  increases. With such a compound lever structure, the food items would be squeezed faster and easier. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C  show in a schematic manner an onion chopper  20  constructed according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the onion chopper  20  having the same arm assembly structure as the first embodiment discussed above. Specifically, the onion chopper  20  comprises a base plate  22 , an arm assembly  24 , a cutting plate  26  and a container  28 . The base plate  22  comprises a pivot end  221  and a handle end  222 . 
         [0030]    The cutting plate  26  is detachably mounted on a top face of the base plate between the pivot end  221  and the handle end  222 . The detachable arrangement of the cutting plate is provided for ease of change of different cutting plates according to the actual needs to satisfy different cutting requirements for different food items. The cutting plate  26  is shaped and sized to adapt for mounting on the base plate  22 . For example, the cutting plate  26  comprises a flange  261  extending along a periphery thereof, and the flange  261  is configured such that the cutting plate  26  is safely supported on the top face of the base plate  22 . The cutting plate  26  has a blade grille  262  to cut the food items. In this embodiment, the blade grille is composed of two groups of blades arranged relative to each other at a right angle, thereby forming a square grille. Alternatively, the blade grille is formed as a slit grille composed of blades parallel to each other. 
         [0031]    The container  28  is detachably engaged with the entire periphery of a bottom face of the base plate  22  by use of a method (for example, snap-fit) known in the art for the purpose of receiving the food items that are cut and discharged from the cutting plate. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the container  28  and the base plate  22  have the substantially same shape. In this embodiment, the container  28  is substantially rectangular and may have a variable depth to receive a desired expected volume of onions or other food items. 
         [0032]    An important feature of the onion chopper  20  is the arm assembly mechanism. As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C , the arm assembly  24  comprises a first arm  241  and a second arm  242 . The first arm  241  comprises a proximal end portion  2411  and a distal end portion  2412 . The proximal end portion  2411  is pivotally coupled to the pivot end  221  of the base plate  22  by a first pivot such as a pin or a rivet, so that the first arm  241  is pivotal relative to the base plate  22  between a closed position in proximity to the base plate  22  and an open position away from the base plate  22 . A plurality of downward protrusions  2413  extend from an inner surface of the distal end portion  2412  of the first arm  241  to form a blade grille. The protrusions  2413  are ideally arranged to push an onion to be processed through the blade grille  262 , and each of the protrusions  2413  is positioned to cooperate with a cell of the blade grille  262 . When an onion or the like is placed on the cutting plate  26  and the first arm  241  is pivoted to be in the closed position, the protrusions  2413  would be pressed against the onion or the like which are then pressed against the blade grille  262 . The onion or the like are pressed and pushed to run through the openings defined by the blades of the blade grille to allow the cutting of the onion or the like into granules. The onion granules directly fall into the container  28 . 
         [0033]    The second arm  242  is pivotally coupled to the distal end portion  2412  of the first arm  241  in such a manner that the pivotal movement of the second arm  242  causes the first arm  241  to pivot relative to the base plate  22 . Likewise, the second arm  242  comprises a manipulation portion  2421 , two opposite bifurcated portions  2422  extending from an end of the manipulation portion, and a slot  2423  formed on each of the bifurcated portions and positioned away from the manipulation portion. In this embodiment, on an upper edge of each of two opposite sides of the base plate  22  is provided a second pivot  27  positioned in proximity to the cutting plate  26 . The second pivot  27  extends through the respective slot  2423 . During the pivotal movement process of the second arm  242 , the slot  2423  on the bifurcated portion  2422  allows for slidable movement of the respective bifurcated portion in a longitudinal direction of the slot, which slidable movement in turn causes the first arm  241  to pivot between the closed position and the open position. Therefore, the first arm  241  and the second arm  242  respectively form two levers which constitute a compound lever mechanism. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C  show the movement of the onion chopper  20  from the open position to the closed position, which may be made reference to the description of  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C  and is not elaborated herein. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6C  show in a schematic manner the movement of a juice extractor  30  constructed according to a third embodiment of the present invention from the open position to the closed position. The juice extractor  30  has the same arm assembly structure as the first embodiment discussed above, comprising a base plate  32 , an arm assembly  34  and a squeeze chamber  36 . The base plate  32  comprises a pivot end  321  and a handle end  322 . The squeeze chamber  36  is provided at a position in proximity to the pivot end  321  of the base plate  32 , and is shaped or sized to accommodate fruits and vegetables or the like to be processed. The squeeze chamber  36  comprises a concave squeeze face  361  and a bottom having a plurality of guiding holes  362  to allow for outflow of fruit and vegetable juices. Like the second embodiment discussed above, the juice extractor  30  may comprise a container (not shown) engageable with a periphery of a bottom face of the base plate  32  for receiving the fruit and vegetable juices. 
         [0036]    The arm assembly  34  comprises a first arm  341  and a second arm  342 . The first arm  341  comprises a proximal end portion  3411  and a distal end portion  3412 . The proximal end portion  3411  is pivotally coupled to the pivot end  321  of the base plate  32  by a first pivot such as a pin or a rivet, so that the first arm  341  is pivotal around the first pivot relative to the base plate  32  between a closed position in proximity to the base plate  32  and an open position away from the base plate  32 . Beneath the first arm  341  is provided a convex squeeze face  3413  on which a plurality of teeth  3414  are machined. The convex squeeze face  3413  cooperates with the concave squeeze face  361  to achieve a juice extraction. When the fruits or vegetables or the like are placed in the squeeze chamber  36  and the first arm  341  is in the closed position, the fruits or vegetables or the like are squeezed between the convex squeeze face  3413  having the plurality of teeth  3414  and the concave squeeze face  361 , and the fruit or vegetable juice is discharged through the guiding holes  362 . 
         [0037]    The second arm  342  and the distal end portion  3412  of the first arm  341  are pivotally coupled to each other, in such a manner that the pivotal movement of the second arm  342  is able to cause the first arm  341  to pivot relative to the base plate  32 . Likewise, the second arm  342  comprises a manipulation portion  3421 , two opposite bifurcated portions  3422  extending from an end of the manipulation portion  3421 , and a slot  3423  formed on each of the bifurcated portions and positioned away from the manipulation portion. In this embodiment, on an upper edge of each of two opposite sides of the squeeze chamber  36  is provided a second pivot  37 . The second pivot  37  extends through the respective slot  3423 . During the pivotal movement process of the second arm  342 , the slot  3423  on the bifurcated portion  3422  allows for slidable movement of the respective bifurcated portion in a longitudinal direction of the slot, which slidable movement in turn causes the first arm  341  to pivot between the closed position and the open position. Therefore, the first arm  341  and the second arm  342  respectively form two levers which constitute a compound lever mechanism. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6A  to  FIG. 6C  show the movement of the juice extractor  30  from the open position to the closed position, which may be made reference to the description of  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C  and is not elaborated herein. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 7-9  and  FIG. 10A  to  FIG. 10C  show in a schematic manner a garlic press  40  constructed according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This garlic press  40  is a variation of the garlic press  10  discussed in the above first embodiment and has a similar arm assembly structure. Specifically, the garlic press  40  comprises a base plate  42 , an arm assembly  44  and a squeeze chamber  46 . The base plate  42  comprises a pivot end  421  and a handle end  422 . The squeeze chamber  46  is provided at a position in proximity to the pivot end  421  of the base plate  42 , and is shaped or sized to accommodate garlic cloves or the like to be processed. The squeeze chamber  46  in this embodiment has a substantially rectangular cross-section and has a bottom provided with a plurality of through holes allowing for outflow of garlic granules and a fluid. 
         [0040]    The arm assembly  44  comprises a first arm  441  and a second arm  442 . The first arm  441  comprises a proximal end portion  4411  and a distal end portion  4412 . The proximal end portion  4411  is pivotally coupled to the pivot end  421  of the base plate  42  by a first pivot such as a pin  41  or a rivet, so that the first arm  441  is pivotal around the pin  41  relative to the base plate  42  between a closed position in proximity to the base plate  42  and an open position away from the base plate  42 . A tab  4414  extends from each of two opposite sides of the first arm  441  to define a channel  4415  in which two downwardly facing projections  4416  extend from a bottom surface of the first arm  441  with a gap therebetween. Each of the projections  4416  has a depression  4417  at a bottom thereof. 
         [0041]    A press plate  4413  is pivotally attached on the first arm  141  by a connector  4418  which extends from the press plate  4413 . As clearly illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the connector  4418  comprises a top portion  4419 , and a first lateral portion  4420 A and a second lateral portion  4420 B extending opposite one to another with respect to said top portion  4419 . The first and second lateral portions  4420 A and  4420 B of the press plate  4413  are pivotally received in the respective depressions  4417  formed at the bottom of the projections. The top portion  4419  of the press plate  4413  has a cam face  4425  which rotatably abuts against a stand  4426  arranged in the gap between the two projections  4416 . The stand  4426  extends from the bottom surface of the first arm  441 . The cam face  4425  abuts against the stand  4426  in a manner that the press plate  4413  is allowed for pivotal movement. The stand  4426  is mounted to serve as a stopper for prevention of a further rotatable movement of the top portion  4419  across the stand. Such a connection of the press plate  4413  with the first arm  441  provides the flexibility to permit the movement of the press plate  4413  while still maintaining an efficient crush of garlic cloves. 
         [0042]    The press plate  4413  is of substantially rectangular configuration and is positioned to correspond to the squeeze chamber  46  in order to receive the press plate  4413  inside the squeeze chamber  46 . The surface of the press plate  4413  is sized and shaped in correspondence to a bottom  461  of the squeeze chamber  46 . When the garlic cloves or the like are placed in the squeeze chamber  46  while the first arm  441  pivots to the closed position, the garlic cloves or the like are crushed between the surface of the press plate  4413  and the bottom  461  of the squeeze chamber  46 . The crushed granules and the resultant fluid are discharged from the through holes  462  formed through the bottom  461  of the squeeze chamber  46 . 
         [0043]    The second arm  442  is pivotally coupled to the distal end portion  4412  of the first arm  441  by, for example, a pin  43  or a rivet in such a manner that the pivotal movement of the second arm  442  around the pin  43  is able to cause the first arm  441  to pivot around the pin  41  relative to the base plate  42 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the second arm  442  comprises a manipulation portion  4421 , two opposite panels  4422  extending from an end of the manipulation portion, and a slot  4423  formed through each of the two panels and positioned away from the manipulation portion. An aperture  4424  is formed through the tab  4414  in the vicinity of the distal end portion  4412  of the first arm, and an aperture  4427  is formed through the panel  4422 . The pin pivotally passes through the aperture  4424  of the tab  4414  and the aperture  4427  of the panels  4422  for pivotally coupling the second arm  442  to the first arm  441 . In this embodiment, a second pivot  47  projects outwardly from an upper edge of each of two opposite sides of the squeeze chamber  46  to extend through the respective slot  4423  as shown in  FIG. 10A  to  FIG. 10B . The second pivot  47  is terminated by a stopper  48 , thereby holding the respective panel  4422  to prevent the panel  4422  in sliding motion from detaching from the second pivot  47 . During the pivotal movement process of the second arm  442 , the slot  4423  formed through the panel  1422  is longitudinal and allows for slidable movement of the respective panel  4422  in a longitudinal direction of the slot, which slidable movement in turn causes the first arm  441  to pivot around the pin  41  between the closed position and the open position. Therefore, the first arm  441  and the second arm  442  respectively form two levers which constitute a compound lever mechanism. When the first arm  441  is in the closed position, the press plate  4413  engages with the squeeze chamber  46  to squeeze the food items; when the first arm  441  is in the open position, the press plate  4413  disengages from the squeeze chamber  46 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 10A  to  FIG. 10C  show the movement of the garlic press  40  from the open position to the closed position, which may be made reference to the description of  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 3C  and is not elaborated herein. 
         [0045]    Having sufficiently described the nature, major features and advantages of the present invention according to some preferred embodiments, the invention, however, should not be limited to the structures and functions of the embodiments and drawings. It is stated that insofar as its basic principle is not altered, changed or modified it may be subjected to variations of detail. Numerous variations and modifications that are easily obtainable by means of the skilled person&#39;s common knowledge without departing from the scope of the invention should fall into the scope of this invention.