Abstract:
A pepper corer set includes two separate pepper corers, each one of which is configured to remove a different sized core from a different sized pepper. A first pepper corer is configured to remove a stem and facilitate removal of the core from a relatively large variety of pepper such as a bell pepper, while a second pepper corer is sized to remove a stem and facilitate removal of the core from a smaller pepper, such as a jalapeno pepper.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/440,612 filed Feb. 8, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to kitchen tools, particularly including tools for removing the core of a pepper or similar fruit or vegetable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Removing the top of a pepper can be a difficult chore. Many bell peppers can be oddly shaped, making a uniform removal of the top and stem an awkward task. Cooks often use a paring knife for this purpose, and although paring knives have relatively small blades it can still be a challenge to remove the stem safely without also inadvertently cutting away more pepper than desired. 
     This task is compounded when confronted by the many different types and sizes of peppers. Removing the stem from smaller peppers such as jalapenos and the like can be especially difficult when using a knife. Once the stem is removed the challenge of removing seeds and membranes remains, and current tools are inadequate for the task. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred version of the invention includes two separate pepper corers, each one of which is configured to remove a different sized core from a different sized pepper. In general, a first pepper corer as described below will be referred to as a large pepper corer while a second one will be referred to as a small pepper corer. 
     Preferably, the large pepper corer is configured to remove a stem and facilitate removal of the core from a relatively large variety of pepper such as a bell pepper. The small pepper corer is preferably sized to remove a stem and facilitate removal of the core from a smaller pepper, such as a jalapeno pepper. 
     In the preferred example, the large corer includes interior grooves or other features for receiving a rim or flange of the smaller corer so that the small corer may be attached to and stored within the large corer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description of the invention is made with reference to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pepper corer set, shown with a small pepper corer stowed within a large pepper corer. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a large pepper corer. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a large pepper corer. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a large pepper corer. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a large pepper corer. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a small pepper corer. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a small pepper corer. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a small pepper corer. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a small pepper corer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred pepper corer set in accordance with the present invention includes a large pepper corer  100  and a small pepper corer  200 , with the large corer being sized to receive the smaller corer within it for convenient storage. The two pepper corers are shown nested with one another in  FIG. 1 . 
     The large corer includes an upper rim  101  that flares outwardly toward the top. In general, the upper rim is shaped to facilitate grasping as a handle and may be shaped differently than as shown. In the illustrated example as best seen in  FIG. 5 , the upper rim is oval in shape as defined by the perimeter of the rim, with two opposing sides  102 ,  104  opposite the minor diameter and two sides  106 ,  108  opposite the major diameter. 
     The body  130  of the larger corer forms a substantially straight cylinder terminating at its upper end at a location where the upper rim  101  begins to flare outwardly. At the lower end of the body  130 , a pair of opposing arched cutouts  140  in the cylinder define a pair of opposing blades  120 ,  122 . The blades  120 ,  122  each terminate in a point at the lowest edge of the body of the large corer and flare outwardly as they extend upwardly along the edge defined by the arched cutout, with each of the upper ends of the opposing blades meeting one another at the top of the arched cutouts. Thus, the body of the large corer is symmetrical about either of two perpendicular axes, one of which bifurcates the arched cutouts and the other of which bifurcates each of the opposing blades. 
     In the illustrated version, the length of the blade from the tip of the blade to the top of the arched cutout is about half the overall height of the body of the large corer. 
     In other versions of the invention, the large corer may be formed with a single blade or with more than two blades. 
     An inner portion of the rim  101  includes channels or grooves  110 ,  112  for receiving a rim of a small corer, as discussed further below. Most preferably, a pair of grooves is provided, with one groove placed along each of the two ends  106 ,  108  of the rim at opposite ends of the major axis. The grooves are positioned to receive and retain portions of the rim of a small corer to retain the small corer within the cavity defined by the large corer. 
     Most preferably, the grooves are formed on the rim of the large corer, at a location where the rim has flared outwardly at least somewhat from the inner diameter of the cylinder forming the body of the large corer. Accordingly, the inner diameter of the corer body is smaller than the diameter spanning from one groove to the opposite groove so that the smaller corer will fit within the space between the grooves but cannot fall all the way through the large corer. 
     The small corer  200  as best seen in  FIGS. 6-9  is shaped somewhat similarly in that it includes an upper rim  201  and a cylindrical body  230  terminating in a blade  220 . The rim  201  flares outwardly at the top and includes a pair of opposing sides  206 ,  208  defining a length that is greater than a width defined by a distance spanning the intermediate opposing sides  202 ,  204 . Thus, the perimeter of the rim is substantially oval or rounded-rectangular in shape when viewed from the top, as in  FIG. 8 . 
     When viewed from the side, the rim has a saddle shape in which the opposing long sides  202 ,  204  have a height that is above the height of the opposing short sides  206 ,  208 . As discussed further below, this configuration facilitates grasping of the small corer to remove it from its position seated within the large corer. 
     The blade  220  of the small corer is formed by a large arched cutout  240  removing the majority of the sidewall of the cylindrical body  230  to form the blade. At an intermediate height generally at its midpoint, the blade has a width of less than 90 degrees of the arc forming the sidewall of the cylinder, and preferably less than about 45 degrees. At its lower end, as it approaches the tip, the sidewall forming the blade curves inward, toward the central axis defined by the cylindrical body. Each of the edges of the blade  22  is sharpened, as is the case with the edges of the blade for the large corer. 
     As noted above, the small corer preferably includes only a single blade. In general, this is because the diameter of the small corer main body  230  is sufficiently small that a single blade provides a better cutting surface. The use of two or more blades is less than ideal, generally providing insufficient clearance between blade edges to readily remove the material being cut. Nonetheless, in other versions of the invention the small corer may be formed with more than a single blade. 
     Each of the large corer and the small corer is preferably integrally formed from plastic using techniques such as injection molding, but may also be formed from other materials or using different manufacturing techniques. 
     For storage purposes, the small corer may be placed within the large corer. Accordingly, the small corer is formed with an outer diameter of its main body that is less than the inner diameter of the main body of the large corer. The width between the edges of the rim  206 ,  208 , however, is greater than the inner diameter of the main body of the large corer so that the small corer does not fall all the way through the large corer. 
     The edges of the rim  206 ,  208  are sized so that they can be received within the grooves  110 ,  112  formed in the rim of the large corer, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Preferably the width of the rim of the small corer is somewhat greater than the width between the grooves formed in the large corer so that the small corer will be snap-fit into the large corer and will not readily fall out once it is snapped into place. 
     While the illustrated version includes grooves or channels to receive the small corer, other versions may use different means for retaining it. For example, rather than recessed grooves the large corer may include tabs extending inward toward the center of the corer, requiring the small corer to be pressed over the tabs where they may be retained in place by the tabs. Likewise, grooves may be formed on the outer sidewalls of the small corer, with complementary tabs or other surfaces formed on the inner surface of the rim of the large corer to be received within the grooves to hold the two corers together. 
     The generally elliptical shape of the large corer facilitates removal of the corers from one another. By squeezing the narrower sides of the large corer, the sides along the longer diameter will move apart from one another, thereby releasing the small corer rim from within the grooves. The raised saddle shape of the small corer likewise provides a read means for grasping the small corer in order to pull it out from within the large corer. 
     In use, with each corer, the blade is plunged into the pepper such that the stem is substantially aligned with the center of the corer. The corer is then rotated about its central axis so that the blade will cut into the pepper in a substantially circular fashion. Most preferably, the blade is formed to be sufficiently long such that it will also cut the inner membranes of the pepper while cutting the upper portion around the stem. The tapered lower edge of the small corer allows it to cut the interior membranes without cutting all the way through the opposite end of the pepper. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.