Patent Publication Number: US-2015079258-A1

Title: Combination double peeler and holder device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/877,763, entitled “Combination Peeler and Holder”, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Sep. 13, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to kitchen tools for removing a peel from a fruit or vegetable, and more particularly, to a combination double peeler and holder device for securing a food item while peeling or cutting. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Traditional methods of peeling foods with soft and hard skins and peeling foods into thin strips require a user to utilize more than one tool. Specifically, one tool for peeling skins, one for removing unwanted spots, another tool for creating thin strips, and yet another tool for holding the food while peeling. Currently, there are no alternatives for kitchen tools which combine all of these functions in a compact and convenient device. 
     It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to combine multiple kitchen tools in one useful and versatile combination device for peeling and stripping a variety of foods having different skin types, all while simultaneously stabilizing the food. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a more versatile combination kitchen tool featuring a double peeler, including a straight edge blade for peeling fruits and vegetables and a julienne blade for cutting foods into thin strips. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide the double peeler with an opening having an eye removal cutting edge for removing unwanted areas of the food item. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an integrated holder within the combination device which can pierce into foods before peeling to securely engage the food and distance a user&#39;s hands from the blade as the food is more quickly peeled. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an integrated holder capable of sliding and securing within the handle of the combination device for compact and convenient storage. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, 
     In accordance with an additional embodiment, a 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a combination double peeler and holder device for securing a food item while peeling or cutting as described in detail in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combination device, showing a double peeler having a head and a hollow handle for receiving a holding tool therein in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the combination double peeler and holder device, showing the opposed blade members of the peeler head in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear plan view of the combination double peeler and holder device, showing the holding tool within the hollow handle in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side plan view of the combination double peeler and holder device, showing opposing blade members and an eye removal opening in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the combination double peeler and holder device, showing the first blade member having straight edges for peeling fruits and vegetables in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the combination double peeler and holder device, showing the second blade member having protrusions for cutting foods into thin strips in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side plan view of the holding tool of the combination double peeler and holder device, showing a handle portion and transversely connected elongated blade portion in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the combination peeler and holder device, showing the holding tool removed from the hollow handle of the double peeler in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-8  illustrate the present invention, which is directed to a combination double peeler and holder device  10 . In its broadest context, shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  8 , the combination device includes a double peeler  12  and an integrated holding tool  50  for simultaneously securing and peeling a food item. 
       FIGS. 4-6  illustrate the double peeler  12 , which includes a substantially hollow handle  14  having a forward end  16  and a rearward end  18 . The forward end  16  of the handle  14  is transversely connected to a head  20  having at least two opposed recesses  22 A,  22 B. The recesses include blade retaining means  26 , preferably opposed channels or holes. The head  20  includes a substantially tapered distal end  24  having an opening  28  including an eye removal means or cutting edge  27 . The eye removal cutting edge  28  may be used to remove unwanted or spoiled areas of the food item, for example eyes on a potato. The opening may also act as a hook to hang the device  10  after use. The hollow handle includes an exterior surface  14 A having at least one gripping means  32 , preferably a rib. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the double peeler  12 , which includes a pair of longitudinally extending blade members  30 , including a first blade member and a second blade member  30 A,  30 B. The blade members  30 A,  30 B have opposing longitudinal ends  32  each having means for connecting  34 , preferably by a pin extending outwardly therefrom. The pins  34  of the blade members  30 A,  30 B are accepted and locked within the holes  26  of the recesses  22 A,  22 B of the head  20 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The pins  34  may be fixed or moveable within the holes  26 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the first blade members  30 A, having a centrally disposed elongated opening  36  extending longitudinally therethrough. The first blade member  30 A includes a pair of sharp cutting edges  38  or regions, wherein each edge  38  forms an opposing longitudinally extending side  40  of the elongated opening  36 . The cutting edges  38  of the first blade member  30 A are ideal for peeling fruits and vegetables including hard skins of potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, beets, apples and pears, as well as softer skins of kiwis and tomatoes. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the second blade member  30 B, having a centrally disposed elongated strip  42  including a plurality of equally spaced protrusions  44  extending outwardly therefrom. The protrusions  44  of the second blade member  30 B are ideal for julienning or thinly stripping fruits, vegetables and other food items. In particular, cheese, cucumber, and carrots. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrates the integrated holding tool of the present invention, which is removably connected within the rearward end  18  of the hollow handle  14 . The holding tool  50  includes a handle portion  52  and an elongated blade portion  54  attached transversely to the handle portion  52 . The blade portion  54  includes a tapered distal end  56  for inserting into the food item. When the tapered distal end  56  is engaged within the food item, the handle portion  52  is held by the user thereby distancing the user&#39;s hands from the blade members  30  as the food is more quickly peeled. The blade portion  54  includes opposed indentations  58 , preferably semi-circular in design, proximate the tapered distal end  56 . The handle portion  52  includes an exterior surface  51  having means for securely connecting with the hollow handle  14 , preferably the connecting means is an elongated raised protrusion  53 . The hollow handle  14  includes means for securely accepting at least a portion of the holding tool  50  therein, preferably a receiving opening  55  and stopper  57 . 
     In use, a user removes the holding tool  50  from the handle  14  of the double peeler  12 . Next, the tapered distal end  56  of the holding tool  50  is inserted or pierced into a food item and the user holds the handle portion  52  to control and stabilize the food item. Using the other hand, the user grips the handle  14  of the double peeler  12  and peels, cuts, slices, or juliennes the food item using either the first or second blade member  30 A,  30 B. The user may selectively alternate between blade members  30 A,  30 B. The user may also remove unwanted spots using the eye removing cutting edge  27 . Once the item is peeled, the user removes the holding tool  50  from the food item and inserts the tapered distal end  56  back into the handle  14  of the double peeler and hangs the device  10  by the opening  28  for convenient storage. 
     It will now be appreciated that the present invention relates to a combination double peeler and holding tool. The invention is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. 
     It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention. 
     While only a limited number of preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations, which fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.