Abstract:
A food grater having a housing, a food hopper, a reversible grating barrel removably carried by the housing and disposed at an open end of the hopper for grating food, such as cheese, contained therein, and a detachable end cap covering an open end of the grating barrel for allowing controlled dispensing of the grated food, is disclosed. A press plate configured to fit within the hopper at an open end opposite the grating barrel engages food disposed therein and moves the same into contact with the grating barrel. The detachable end cap includes concentric first and second parts, the first part including a passage defined thereon through which grated food may pass and the second part including at least two distinct areas each having an opening defined thereon, at least one of the first and second parts being movable relative to the other such that the two distinct areas of the second part may be aligned with the passage on the first part.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present device relates to a food grater. Particularly, the present device relates to a food grater which provides means for controlling the dispense of grated food. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Graters for grating food items such as cheese and chocolate are well-known and are a commonly used item in kitchens everywhere. Such devices typically have a removable grater blade attached to a housing, such that a food item in the housing is pressed to and grated by the rotatable grater blade. The resulting grated food is then usually captured in either a housing cylinder open at one or both ends or in a separate detached container. 
         [0003]    Where one end of the cylinder is open, the grater can be positioned over a container to allow the flow of grated food to tumble into the container. Where the housing cylinder itself is used, a hand crank typically covers one end of the cylinder, while a detachable end cap covers the other open end. Eventually, the grated food is usually then transferred en masse to a container. In either case, the process can be quite messy and grated food product can be lost in the process. 
         [0004]    Some food graters, the housing cylinder can be used as a temporary collection and storage receptacle for grated food. In such cases, the graters may include housings that enable measurement of the grated product. The grinding and storage cylinder may even be removable from the rest of the housing. However, dispensing of the grated food has been largely ignored. 
         [0005]    Other food grating devices are known to include additional components attached to the housing that form a handle or other means of grasping the grater. The addition of multiple components, such as a separate handle, adds to the cost and assembly time of such devices. Graters are also known to have gripping pads attached in order to aid in gripping the grating device. However, there is desired a grater which includes a housing that provides for easy gripping, grating, storing and pouring of the grated material. 
         [0006]    The invention of this application solves these and other problems associated with prior art food graters. A food grater which is a two-in-one grater and shaker and which can be readily assembled, cleaned, and alternated between uses, is disclosed herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    There is disclosed herein an improved food grater which avoids the disadvantages of prior devices while affording additional structural and operating advantages. 
         [0008]    Generally speaking, a food grater is disclosed which comprises a housing, a grating barrel, a press plate, and an material dispensing end cap for the grating barrel. The housing includes a food hopper having a peripheral wall structure, while the grating barrel is carried by the housing and disposed for grating food placed in the hopper. Preferably, the barrel is closed on both ends, but at least one end is to be selectively open-able for discharge of the grated food material. The press plate is preferably configured to fit within the hopper for engagement with the food disposed therein. Finally, the end cap detachably covers an open end of the grating barrel. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the claimed food grater, the detachable end cap has a first inner disc including a passage defined thereon through which grated food may pass and a second outer disc, concentric with the first disc, including at least two distinct areas each having an opening defined thereon. At least one of the first and second discs is preferably movable relative to the other such that the two distinct areas of the second disc may be aligned with the passage on the first disc. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment of the grater, the second disc of the end cap further comprises an area which completely blocks the opening of the first disc when the two are aligned. Preferably, the opening of one of the at least two distinct areas comprise a plurality of holes defined thereon to allow discharge of the grated food material. 
         [0011]    These and other aspects of the invention may be understood more readily from the following description and the appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present food grater; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the food grater shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is another side view of the food grater of  FIG. 2 , illustrating the open arm and press plate; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is still another side view of the food grater of  FIG. 3 , illustrating the opening of the housing; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the food grater shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top view of an embodiment of the food grater illustrating the reversibility of the grating barrel within the housing. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , there is illustrated a food grater, generally designated by the numeral  10 . Generally speaking, the food grater  10  includes a housing  12  with a food hopper  14 , a grating barrel  16  carried by the housing  12 , a press plate  18  which fits within the hopper  14 , and an end cap  20  for detachably covering an open end of the grating barrel  16 . 
         [0021]    The housing  12  is preferably formed of two parts—i.e., an upper barrel casing  22  and a lower barrel casing  24 —hinged to one another, as shown. The upper barrel casing  22  includes the food hopper  14  which is defined by a peripheral wall structure  15 . The hopper  14  is open at both ends, a first input end  17  and a second grating end  19 . The open first input end  17  is preferably wide enough to fit food items into for grating. The second grating end  19  is contoured to encase about half of the grating barrel  16 , as shown. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , it can be seen that the lower barrel casing  24  of the housing  12  is similarly contoured to encase the remaining portion of the grating barrel  16 . As mentioned, the two parts are hinged together, such that the grating barrel  16  can be easily removed from the housing  12  for purposes described below. 
         [0023]    A two-part handle  30  is preferably attached to the lower barrel casing  24 . A joining wall  32  connects the handle  30  to the lower barrel casing  24  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The joining wall  32  fits within a formed channel  33  within the hopper  14  when the two barrel casing parts are brought together, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The joining wall  32  of the housing  12  abuts a sidewall of the hopper  14  as the two barrel casing parts  22 ,  24  are locked together. 
         [0024]    The grater handle  30  is also comprised of two pivoting handle segments: a first fixed segment  34  and a second free segment  36 . The fixed segment  34  attaches to the joining wall  32  of the lower barrel casing  24  and extends in a direction opposite the hopper  14 . To secure and hold the two barrel casing parts together in a closed position for use, a latching plate  35  may be provided—or any other suitable latching mechanism—extending from the first input end  17  of the hopper  14 . As shown, clip tabs  38  are positioned on the latching plate  35  and snap about small, rounded pins  39  positioned within the body of the fixed segment  34  of the handle  30 . The clip tabs  38  engage the pins  39  to lock the latching plate  35  to the fixed handle segment  34 . 
         [0025]    The press plate  18  is attached to the second free segment  36  of the handle  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The two handle segments  34 ,  36  are pinned together at one end to allow pivoting of the segments relative to one another. The pivoting movement allows the press plate  18  to be placed within the hopper  14  when the two barrel casing parts  22 ,  24  are closed, and further allows a continuous and uniform application of pressure by the user against food stuff within the hopper  14 . 
         [0026]    The preferred press plate  18 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , is curved to follow the contour of the grating barrel  16 . A flexible silicone (or other suitable material) gasket  40  is sonic welded between two parts of the press plate  18  to scrape against the interior of the hopper sidewalls  15 . This keeps food from inadvertently exiting the hopper  14  by way of the first input end  17 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the grating barrel  16  can be more readily explained and understood. The grating barrel  16  is carried by the housing  12 , specifically by being encased within the two hinged parts barrel casings  22 ,  24 , as described above. The grating barrel  16  itself is provided with a grater blade  50  having multiple grating teeth formed thereon. In an embodiment the grater blade  50  is stainless steel and the grating teeth are stamped therein and chemically etched. Except for the following feature descriptions, the present grating barrel  16  is substantially identical to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,972 to Prommel et al. and assigned to the Assignee of this application. Accordingly, the entirety of the &#39;972 patent consistent with the present invention is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0028]    The grating barrel  16  has two end rings  52 A-B which engage the housing  12  in a manner which allows the grater blade  50  to be turned within the housing  12 . To facilitate turning of the grating barrel  16  within the housing  12 , a crank  54  is provided at one open end of the barrel  16 . The crank  54  includes an end cap  53 , an arm  55  integral to the end cap  53 , and a small rotating knob  57  extending perpendicular to the arm  55 . The end cap  53  of the crank  54  is preferably permanently affixed to the barrel end  56  as shown. Of course, the crank  54  may be made to be removable to facilitate cleaning or other operations, if desired. To be removable, the end cap  53  of the crank  54  may be, for example, reverse threaded to attach to one of the fixed end rings  52 A-B or use some other means known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0029]    In an embodiment of the present invention, an end of the grating barrel  16  opposite the crank  54  is covered by a removable end cap  20 . The removable end cap  20  preferably snap-fits into an end ring  52 A-B, but may be alternatively threaded, keyed, or the like to attach, if desired. A silicone gasket (not shown) may be used at the attachment point of the end cap  20  to form a better seal. 
         [0030]    The preferred removable end cap  20  is comprised of a first inner disc  62  and a second outer disc  64 . The inner disc  62  includes a passage  66  defined thereon through which grated food may pass. The passage  66  is preferably less than the full area of the first inner disc  62 , but sufficient to, for example, pour grated food material there through. 
         [0031]    Rotatably attached and concentric to the first disc  62 , as illustrated, is the second outer disc  64 . The outer disc  64  is intended to be rotatable to allow control of the passing of grated food material through the passage  66  of the inner disc  62  by restricting the opening. To accomplish this in the present embodiment, the outer disc  64  includes at least two distinct open areas  68 , each open area having a specifically sized opening (or openings) defined thereon. For example, one of the open areas may include a single large opening which approximately matches the area of the passage  66 —sufficient for pouring grated food from the grating barrel  16 —while another area on the outer disc  64  may include a plurality of smaller, circular openings—sufficient for sprinkling grated food from the grating barrel  16 . The plurality of openings may be shaped, spaced and sized evenly or varying such parameters may be considered useful in some cases. Certainly, additional areas with varied openings sizes, shapes and numbers may also be provided. 
         [0032]    It is also preferred that at least one closed area  69  on the outer disc  64  should be of sufficient size to completely cover the passage  66  of the first disc  62 , so as to entirely prevent the discharge of grated material from the grating barrel  16 . This closed area  69  setting would be useful during the grating of food material. 
         [0033]    As noted, the outer disc  64  is preferably movable relative to the first disc  62  such that the distinct areas  68  of the outer disc  64  may be aligned with the passage  66  on the first disc  62 . A perceptible finger grip  70  may also be molded into the outer disc  64  to facilitate rotation of the disc by the user. The finger grip  70 , while shown to be a slight depression in the surface, may be raised such as a rib, a textured area, or some combination of such elements. 
       Materials 
       [0034]    The majority of the present food grater  10  is molded from a strong, rigid material such as an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material. Parts such as the fixed handle segment  34 , free handle segment  36 , and crank knob  57  are preferably molded ABS plastic with a covering of thermoplastic rubber (TPR) or elastomer (TPE) material, such as SANTOPRENE®, for a softer feel. Both inner and outer discs  62 ,  64  of the removable end cap  20  are preferably molded of a more flexible polypropylene material. Other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art may be substituted, if desired. 
       Operation 
       [0035]    The described food grater  10  is simple to use. As will be described, the grater  10  can be adapted for operation by both left- and right-handed users (see  FIG. 6 ), and the grating barrel  16  can be used as a container to retain grated food material for later distribution. 
         [0036]    As shown, the grating barrel  16  is placed within the housing  12  with the crank  54  positioned to one of either the left or right side of the grater  10 . The latching plate  35  locks the hinged barrel casing  22 ,  24  closed about the grating barrel  16  by engaging the pins  39  within the fixed handle segment  34  with the clip tabs  38 . The removable end cap  20  is then attached, if not already attached, to the open end of the grating barrel  16  with the closed area  69  of the outer disc  64  covering the passage  66  of the inner disc  62 . 
         [0037]    To begin food grating, a food material such as a block of cheese is placed into the hopper  14 . The free handle segment  36  is then pivoted until the press plate  18  enters the hopper and engages the cheese. With the appropriate user&#39;s hand (not shown) placed on the knob  57  of the crank  54  and the other of the user&#39;s hands gripped about the two hinged handle segments  34 ,  36 , the crank  54  is turned in a grinding direction. A modicum of force by the user to squeeze the two handle segments  34 ,  36  together forces the press plate  18  further into the hopper  14  resulting in the cheese aggressively contacting the grating blade  50 . As the blade  50  grates, the cheese is captured and retained within the currently sealed barrel  16 . When a sufficient amount of cheese is retained, the grating may be stopped. 
         [0038]    To discharge the grated cheese, the user may turn the outer disc  64  of the end cap  20  using the finger grip  70  until a desired opening  68  is aligned with the passage  66  of the inner disc  62 . At this point, by tilting the grater  10 , the grated cheese may be appropriately dispensed. Alternatively, the grating barrel  16  may be removed from the housing  12  before opening the barrel  16  and dispensing the grated cheese. 
         [0039]    Where the grating barrel  16  is utilized for storage of the grated food, additional grating barrels  16  may be provided and used for subsequent grating. Additionally, the grating blade  50  and the dispensing end cap  20  of each barrel  16  may be specialized for specific foods. Accordingly, as the specific food is to be grated, the particular grating barrel may be switched into use. 
         [0040]    The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.