Abstract:
A double sided peeler is disclosed. The double sided peeler has two peeler blades and a slide cover for protecting the user from the peeler blade that is not in use. Each peeler blade may have a different attribute to accommodate a wide range of fruits and vegetables. The double sided peeler has a spot tool and retainer for both removing unwanted spots from a fruit or vegetable and also for retaining the slide cover in a given position. A retention web on the slide cover cooperates with the spot tool and retainer to retain the slide cover in a given position that protects both the unused peeler blade and the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to food processing devices, and more specifically to a double sided peeler. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Processing and preparation of food takes many forms, with tools to assist with the preparation and processing of food ranging from simplistic to complex. Peelers have been to used for many years in various forms to remove the skin of fruits and vegetables. Many peelers have a single blade with a narrow opening that not only easily clogs, but is not suited for a variety of fruits and vegetables that may have a wide range of skin characteristics. The ability to provide the user with a choice of blades to take on a variety of peeling jobs would greatly improve this aspect of food processing. In addition, a cover to protect the user from the unused blade where this cover may also become part of the handle would be useful. 
         [0005]    In addition, while peeling a fruit or vegetable, it is fairly common to encounter a spot such as a mark left by an insect, an abrasion, a bruise, or the like. This spot is undesirable, and is commonly removed during peeling. This typically involves setting the peeler down, retrieving a knife or other suitable device, removing the spot, and then resuming the process of peeling. What is needed is a peeler that has a spot removal tool incorporated therein. This would make the process of peeling and removing spots quicker and more efficient. 
         [0006]    While peelers in their basic form are known in the art, a peeler with the attributes described herein has not heretofore been and represents an unmet need that has been fulfilled by the present invention and the various embodiments described and envisioned herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a double sided peeler comprising a body having a first rail, a second rail, and a spot tool and retainer; a slide cover comprising a first rail guide and a second rail guide where the first rail guide cooperatively slides along the first rail of the body and the second rail guide cooperatively slides along the second rail of the body; a slide cover retention web integral with the slide cover and capable of retaining the slide cover through interaction with the spot tool and retainer; a first peeler to blade hingably connected to the body; and a second peeler blade hingably connected to the body; whereas the slide cover protects the user from a peeler blade that is not in use. 
         [0008]    The foregoing paragraph has been provided by way of introduction, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as described in this specification, claims and the attached drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention will be described by reference to the following drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the double sided peeler; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the double sided peeler with the second blade exposed; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the double sided peeler; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the double sided peeler with the first peeler blade exposed; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side plan view of the double sided peeler with the first peeler blade exposed; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the double sided peeler; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an end plan view of the double sided peeler; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side plan view of the double sided peeler with the slide cover partially exposing both blades; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a close up perspective view of the slide cover retention arrangement; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the double sided peeler with the second peeler blade exposed; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a side plan view of the double sided peeler with the second peeler blade to exposed; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a bottom plan view of the double sided peeler with the second peeler blade exposed. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    The attached figures depict various views of the double sided peeler in sufficient detail to allow one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. These figures are exemplary, and depict a preferred embodiment; however, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the embodiment depicted herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by this specification, claims and drawings. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    A double sided peeler is described and depicted by way of this specification and the attached drawings. 
         [0024]    For a general understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the double sided peeler  100  is depicted. The body  101  may be made from a plastic such as, for example, Acrylonitrile Butadiene in Styrene (ABS) plastic. The body  101  may also be made from a metal such as, for example, a stainless steel. The body  101  may be made by injection molding, machining, casting, or the like. In some embodiments of the present invention, the body  101  may be made in several parts and assembled together using adhesives, welding, bonding, or the like. The shape of the double sided peeler  100  is such as to accommodate two peeler blades. In addition, the double sided peeler  100  may in some embodiments have a spot tool and retainer. In the embodiment depicted, a first spot tool and retainer  109  and a second spot tool and retainer  111  are depicted. Each spot tool and retainer can be used to remove a spot such as an insect mark, an abrasion, a bruise, or other undesirable marks on a fruit or vegetable. The spot tool and retainer has a generally thin functional end to facilitate easy removal of a spot. The functional end is also generally narrower than the double sided peeler body  101 . Each spot tool and retainer also serves to retain the slide cover  103  in a position that covers one of the peeler blades. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a slide cover  103  that has a first rail guide  119  and a second rail guide  121  is attached to the body  101 . The slide cover  103  may, in some embodiments of the present invention, be made from a softer durometer material to provide a comfortable grip and also to facilitate easy removal from the body  101  when cleaning the double sided peeler. An example of a material that can be used to make the slide cover  103  is Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA). The slide cover  103  may be made by injection molding, casting, machining, or the like. The slide cover  103  in one embodiment has two upturned ends to adequately cover one of the two peeler blades and also to provide a surface by which the user can slide the slide cover  103  into position. Also depicted in  FIG. 1  is a slide cover retention web  107  that is integral with the slide cover  103 . The slide cover retention web  107  engages with the first spot tool and retainer to retain the slide cover  103  in a position that covers the second peeler blade. The opposite end of the double sided peeler  100  has a similar arrangement for covering the first peeler blade  105 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the slide cover retention web  107  comprises the same material as the slide cover  103 , but is thinner than the slide cover  103  to allow the slide cover retention web  107  to pass over the first spot tool and retainer  109  by deformation of the slide cover retention web  107 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the web is within a shape that generally outlines the first spot tool and retainer  109  such as, for example, a generally u-shaped outline. The outline may be built up of additional material to impart a thickness and act as a guiding structure for the slide cover retention arrangement herein described. The slide cover retention web  107  is deformable. The slide cover  103  has a first rail guide  119  and a second rail guide  121  on each side of the slide cover  103 . The first rail guide  119  and the second rail guide  121  are channels, grooves, recesses, or similar structures that act to encompass or contain a first rail  115  and a second rail  117  that are connected to, or an integral part of, the body  101 . In use, the slide cover  103  is moveable by way of the interaction of the first rail  115  with the first rail guide  119  and the second rail  117  with the second rail guide  121 . In some embodiments of the present invention, a grip  113  may be attached to, or an integral part of, the body  101 . The grip  113  may take any of a variety of shapes, and helps to prevent the user from dropping the double sided peeler  100  while in use. Also seen in  FIG. 1  is a first peeler blade  105 . A second peeler blade can be seen in later figures, and is covered by the slide cover  103  in  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the first peeler blade  105  is serrated or otherwise sharpened. The first peeler blade  105  may be made from a metal such as a stainless steel, a ceramic, or the like. The first peeler blade  105  may be made by machining, casting, stamping, or the like. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the double sided peeler with the second peeler blade  201  exposed. In some embodiments of the present invention, the second peeler blade  201  is serrated or otherwise sharpened. The second peeler blade  201  may be made from a metal such as a stainless steel, a ceramic, or the like. The second peeler blade  201  may be made by machining, casting, stamping, or the like. One can also see the slide cover  103  moved to cover the first peeler blade  105  with respect to  FIG. 1 , which shows the second peeler blade  201  covered. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the double sided peeler that depicts the major component parts and also the interconnection of the peeler blades with the body. Depicted in  FIG. 3  by example and not limitation is a hinge arrangement that allows the peeler blade to an be fastened to the body  101  while having the ability to rotate along an axis that is generally parallel to the blade. This motion is important while using the double sided peeler to allow the blade to conform to the surface of the fruit or vegetable being peeled. The first peeler blade  105  can be seen in  FIG. 3  with a first blade hinge  305  and a second blade hinge  307 . The first blade hinge  305  and the second blade hinge  307  may be attached to the first peeler blade  105  by welding, crimping, or other mechanical fastening techniques. Preferably, however, the first blade hinge  305  and the second blade hinge  307  are formed and integral with the first peeler blade  105  by way of shaping and rolling a portion of the first peeler blade  105 . A first blade hinge receiver  313  and a second blade hinge receiver  315  can be seen as recessed openings in the body  101 . The first blade hinge  305  is placed in the first blade hinge receiver  313  and the second blade hinge  307  is placed in the second blade hinge receiver  315  during assembly of the double sided peeler. In some embodiments of the present invention, the body  101  is manufactured in two pieces and the first peeler blade  105  and the second peeler blade  201  are placed in the appropriate receivers prior to assembly and fastening. In a similar manner, a second peeler blade  201  has a first blade hinge  301  and a second blade hinge  303 . The first blade hinge  301  and the second blade hinge  303  may be attached to the second peeler blade  201  by welding, crimping, or other mechanical fastening techniques. Preferably, however, the first blade hinge  301  and the second blade hinge  303  are formed and integral with the second peeler blade  201  by way of shaping and rolling a portion of the second peeler blade  201 . A first blade hinge receiver  309  and a second blade hinge receiver  311  can be seen as recessed openings in the body  101 . The first blade hinge  301  is placed in the first blade hinge receiver  309  and the second blade hinge  303  is placed in the second blade hinge receiver  311  during assembly of the double sided peeler. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the double sided peeler with the first peeler blade exposed. The slide cover  103  can be seen covering the second peeler blade  201  (not visible in  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a side plan view of the double sided peeler with the first peeler blade exposed as in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the double sided peeler with the first peeler blade exposed as in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  is an end plan view of the double sided peeler. The cooperation between the first rail  115  and the first rail guide  119  and the second rail  117  and the second rail guide  121  can be clearly seen. In addition, the interaction between the slide cover retention web  107  and the first spot tool and retainer  109  can be seen. 
         [0032]      FIG. 8  is a side plan view of the double sided peeler with the slide cover partially exposing both blades. While not used in this position,  FIG. 8  provides a view of the slide cover  103  and its interrelationship with the body and the peeler blades. 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a close up perspective view of the slide cover retention arrangement.  FIG. 9  shows the slide cover retention web  107  in relation to the first spot tool and retainer  109 . The slide cover retention web  107  in some embodiments of the present invention comprises the same material as the slide cover  103 , but is thinner than the slide cover  103  to allow the slide cover retention web  107  to pass over the first spot tool and retainer  109  by deformation of the slide cover retention web  107 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the web is provided within a shape such as the shape that generally outlines the first spot tool and retainer  109 , such as a generally u-shaped outline. The outline may be built up of additional material to impart a thickness and act as a guiding structure for the slide cover retention arrangement herein described. The slide cover retention web  107  is deformable such that the first spot tool and retainer  109  passes by the slide cover retention web  107  but deforms to resist return travel of the slide cover  103 . In a similar manner, the second spot tool and retainer  111  interacts with a slide cover retention web (not shown in  FIG. 9 ) that is on the opposing end of the slide cover  103 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the double sided peeler with the second peeler blade exposed.  FIG. 11  is a side plan view of the double sided peeler with the second peeler blade exposed. And  FIG. 12  is a bottom plan view of the double sided peeler with the second peeler blade exposed. 
         [0035]    To use the double sided peeler, one grasps the body  101  with the selected peeler blade exposed and the unselected peeler blade covered by the slide cover  103 . The user then makes generally linear motions of the peeler blade across the surface of the fruit or vegetable to be peeled, allowing the skin of the fruit or vegetable to be removed through the cutting action of the peeler blade. 
         [0036]    It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the various objects of the present invention, a double sided peeler. While the various objects of this invention have been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of this specification, claims and the attached drawings.