Patent Publication Number: US-2005115084-A1

Title: Cutter

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an improved shape for the edge of a cutter including a plurality of recesses and a plurality of projections, which are alternately arranged along the edge extending from a cutter body.  
     BACKGROND OF THE INVENTION  
      Conventionally, a plurality of recesses and a plurality of projections are formed alternately along the edge of a cutter, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2949645. Each of the recesses includes an edge section that is a mirror image in shape with respect to a line that extends perpendicular to a line connecting the tips of the projections and passes the bottoms of the recesses. Each of the projections includes an edge section that is a mirror image in shape with respect to a line that extends perpendicular to the line connecting the tips of the projections and passes the tips of the projections.  
      In the aforementioned conventional art, the edge sections, each of which is a mirror image in shape in the corresponding recess or projection, are formed continuously in a wave-like shape. Therefore, when the cutter is moved in a reciprocating manner for cutting an object, the cutting characteristics of the cutter cannot be changed with respect to the object. That is, the cutting characteristics of the cutter are limited. However, for example, the optimal shape of the edge for cutting an object with a smooth surface layer is different from that for an object with an unsmooth surface layer. Therefore, if the edge is shaped uniformly, the edge may slip on the smooth surface layer or be caught by the unsmooth surface layer. The cutting performance of the cutter is thus hampered.  
      Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to improve the cutting performance of a cutter by changing the cutting characteristics of the cutter with respect to an object to be cut.  
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
      A cutter according to the present invention, which is a cooking tool such as a bread cutter, is configured as follows.  
      One aspect of the present invention is a cutter including an edge extending from a body. The edge includes a plurality of recesses and a plurality of projections, which are alternately formed in a continuous manner. The edge also includes a plurality of projecting edge sections. Each of the projecting edge sections extends at distal and basal sides with respect to a tip of a corresponding one of the projections. Each projecting edge section has a distal slanted edge section and a basal slanted edge section, which are connected to each other at the tip of the corresponding projection. The shape of each distal slanted edge section is different from the shape of each basal slanted edge section.  
      If “the shape of each distal slanted edge section is different from the shape of each basal slanted edge section”, each of the distal and basal slanted edge sections does not form a mirror image, with respect to a predetermined line that extends perpendicular to a line connecting the tips of the projections and passes the tips, with reference to, for example,  FIG. 2 . Since each of the projecting edge sections has the differently shaped, distal and basal slanted edge sections, the cutting characteristics of the cutter can be changed with respect to an object to be cut, when the cutter is moved in a reciprocating manner. That is, the cutting characteristics of the cutter edge are not limited. By changing the cutting characteristics as needed, the cutting performance of the cutter is improved.  
      Another aspect of the present invention is a cutter including an edge extending from a body. The edge includes a plurality of recesses and a plurality of projections, which are alternately formed in a continuous manner. The edge also includes a plurality of projecting edge sections. Each of the projecting edge sections extends at distal and basal sides with respect to a tip of a corresponding one of the projections. Each projecting edge section has a distal slanted edge section and a basal slanted edge section, which are connected to each other at the tip of the corresponding projection. A plurality of zones having the projecting edge sections of different shapes are aligned along a line connecting the tips of the projections.  
      By providing the zones having the projecting edge sections of different shapes, the cutting characteristics of the cutter may be changed with respect to an object to be cut. That is, the cutting characteristics of the cutter edge are not limited. By changing the cutting characteristics as needed, the cutting performance of the cutter is improved.  
      Another aspect of the present invention is a cutter including an edge extending from a body. The edge includes a plurality of recesses and a plurality of projections, which are alternately formed in a continuous manner. The edge also includes a plurality of projecting edge sections. Each of the projecting edge sections extends at distal and basal sides with respect to a tip of a corresponding one of the projections. Each projecting edge section has a distal slanted edge section and a basal slanted edge section, which are connected to each other at the tip of the corresponding projection. The edge includes a first zone and a second zone, which are aligned along a line connecting the tips of the projections. In the first zone, the slanting angle of each basal slanted edge section with respect to the line is larger than the slanting angle of each distal slanted edge section with respect to the line. In the second zone, the slanting angle of each distal slanted edge section with respect to the line is larger than the slanting angle of each basal slanted edge section with respect to the line.  
      The cutter is used for pull cutting and push cutting, which may be performed independently in a repeated manner or in combination in a repeated alternating manner. Further, in each mode of cutting, the second zone (a push cut zone) and the first zone (a pull cut zone) of the edge may be used independently or in combination. For example, if the push cutting is performed on an object, a surface layer of the object may be cut with the distal slanted edge sections of the push cut zone, the slanting angles of which are relatively large, depending on certain conditions for cutting the object. If the pull cutting is performed on the object, the surface layer of the object may be cut with the basal slanted edge sections of the pull cut zone, the slanting angles of which are relatively large, depending on the conditions for cutting the object.  
      Further, even if the push cutting is performed on the object, the surface layer of the object may be cut with the distal slanted edge sections of the pull cut zone, the slanting angles of which are relatively small, depending on the conditions for cutting the object. In the same manner, even if the pull cutting is performed on the object, the surface layer of the object may be cut with the basal slanted edge sections of the push cut zone, the slanting angles of which are relatively small, depending on the conditions for cutting the object. In other words, the cutting modes and zones of the cutter are applied selectively depending on the conditions regarding the object to be cut. The cutting performance of the cutter is thus improved with respect to the object. 
    
    
     BRIEF DISCRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1 ( a ) is a front view showing a bread cutter according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 1 ( b ) is a rear view showing the cutter;  
       FIG. 1 ( c ) is a cross-sectional view showing a body of the cutter;  
       FIG. 2 ( a ) is an enlarged front view showing a portion of an edge of the cutter illustrated in  FIG. 1 ( a );  
       FIG. 2 ( b ) is an enlarged front view showing a portion of an edge of a bread cutter of a modification of the first embodiment;  
      FIGS.  3 ( a ) to  3 ( d ) are views explaining the cutting operation of the bread cutter of the first embodiment;  
       FIG. 4 ( a ) is a front view showing a bread cutter according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 4 ( b ) is a front view showing a bread cutter according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
      With reference to FIGS.  1 ( a ) to  1 ( c ),  2 ( a ) and  3 , a bread cutter as a cutter according to a first embodiment of the present invention will hereafter be described. As illustrated in FIGS.  1 ( a ),  1 ( b ), and  2 ( a ), a body  2  is secured to a handle  1 . A wave form edge  3  extends along a bottom side of the body  2 . A plurality of recesses  4  and a plurality of projections  5  are arranged alternately and continuously along the edge  3 . Each of the projections  5  has a projecting edge section  6 . Each of the projecting edge sections  6  extends at distal and basal sides with respect to the tip  5   a  of a corresponding one of the projections  5 . Each projecting edge section  6  has a distal slanted edge section  7  and a basal slanted edge section  8 , which are connected to each other at the tip  5   a  of the corresponding projection  5 . Each of the recesses  4  has a recessed edge section  9 . Each of the recessed edge sections  9  extends at distal and basal sides with respect to the bottom  4   a  of a corresponding one of the recesses  4 . Each recessed edge section  9  includes the distal slanted edge section  7  and the basal slanted edge section  8 , which are connected to each other at the bottom  4   a  of the corresponding recess  4 .  
      With reference to FIGS.  1 ( a ),  1 ( b ), and  2 ( a ), the edge  3  includes a plurality of zones that have the projecting edge section  6  and the recessed edge section  9  of different shapes. The zones are arranged along an edge line L connecting the tips  5   a  of the projections  5 . The zones include a pull cut zone A serving as a first zone, a push cut zone B serving as a second zone, and an intermediate zone C serving as a third zone, which is disposed between the zones A, B.  
      The pull cut zone A is arranged at a basal portion of the body  2 . The push cut zone B is arranged at a distal portion of the body  2 . The intermediate zone C is formed by the single projection  5  located between the pull cut zone A and the push cut zone B. In the pull cut zone A, the tips  5   a  of adjacent ones of the projections  5  are spaced from each other at an interval WAS defined along the edge line L. In the push cut zone B, the tips  5   a  of adjacent ones of the projections  5  are spaced from each other at an interval WB 5  defined along the edge line L. The interval WAS is equal to the interval WB 5 . Likewise, in the pull cut zone A, the bottoms  4   a  of adjacent ones of the recesses  4  are spaced from each other at an interval WA 4  defined along the edge line L. In the push cut zone B, the bottoms  4   a  of adjacent ones of the recesses  4  are spaced from each other at an interval WB 4  defined along the edge line L. The interval WA 4  is equal to the interval WB 4 . Further, the intervals WA 4 , WB 4  are equal to the intervals WAS, WB 5 .  
      In the intermediate zone C, the bottoms  4   a  of the two corresponding recesses  4 , which are located at opposing sides of the tip  5   a  of the single projection  5 , are spaced from each other at an interval WC 4  defined along the edge line L. The interval WC 4  is substantially equal to the intervals WAS, WB 5 , WA 4 , and WB 4 . However, in the boundary portion between the intermediate zone C and the pull cut zone A, the tips  5   a  of the adjacent projections  5  are spaced from each other at an interval WAC 5 . Likewise, in the boundary portion between the intermediate zone C and the push cut zone B, the tips  5   a  of the adjacent projections  5  are spaced from each other at an interval WBC 5 . The intervals WAC 5 , WBC 5  are larger than the intervals WAS, WB 5 , WA 4 , and WB 4 .  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 1 ( c ), the body  2  has opposing side surfaces  15 ,  16  respectively including side surface sections  15   a ,  16   a . The side surface sections  15   a ,  16   a  extend substantially parallel with each other, from a top side of the body  2 , which is opposed to the edge  3 , toward the bottom side of the body  2 . The side surfaces  15 ,  16  also include slanted surface sections  15   b ,  16   b , respectively. The slanted surface sections  15   b ,  16   b  extend from the associated side surface sections  15   a ,  16   a  to the edge  3  in a slanted manner at a predetermined angle. At the edge  3 , only the slanted surface section  16   b  includes a slanted edge forming surface  10  formed in a slanted manner at an angle of 30 to 40 degrees. The slanted surface section  16   b  includes a boundary line  10   a  shaped correspondingly to the shapes of the projecting edge sections  6  and the recessed edge sections  9 . The boundary line  10   a  extends parallel with the outline of the projecting edge sections  6  and the recessed edge sections  9 .  
      With reference to  FIG. 2 ( a ), the shape of each distal slanted edge section  7  and the shape of each basal slanted edge section  8  are different from each other, as will be described in the following.  
      In the pull cut zone A, the slanting angle θ 8  of each basal slanted edge section  8  with respect to the edge line L is larger than the slanting angle θ 7  of each distal slanted edge section  7  with respect to the edge line L (θ 7 &lt;θ 8 ). The slanting angle θ 8  corresponds to the angle of a slanted line M 8  (a line extending substantially along the basal slanted edge section  8 ), which connects the tip  5   a  of each projection  5  and the bottom  4   a  of the associated recess  4 , with respect to the edge line L. The slanting angle θ 7  corresponds to the angle of a slanted line M 7  (a line extending substantially along the distal slanted edge section  7 ), which connects the tip  5   a  of each projection  5  and the bottom  4   a  of the associated recess  4 , with respect to the edge line L. In the push cut zone B, the slanting angle θ 7  of each distal slanted edge section  7  with respect to the edge line L is larger than the slanting angle θ 8  of each basal slanted edge section  8  with respect to the edge line L (θ 8 &lt;θ 7 ). In the intermediate zone C, the slanting angle θ 7  of each distal slanted edge section  7  with respect to the edge line L is equal to the slanting angle θ 8  of each basal slanted edge section  8  with respect to the edge line L (θ 8 =θ 7 ).  
      Each of the basal slanted edge sections  8  in the pull cut zone A includes an arched edge section  8   a  having a radius of curvature R 8  (not illustrated). Each of the distal slanted edge sections  7  in the push cut zone B includes an arched edge section  7   a  having a radius of curvature R 7  (not illustrated). The center of curvature of each of these arched edge sections  7   a ,  8   a  is located outward with respect to the corresponding recess  4  and projection  5 . Similarly, each of the distal slanted edge sections  7  in the pull cut zone A includes the arched edge section  7   a  having the radius of curvature R 7 . Each of the basal slanted edge sections  8  in the push cut zone B includes the arched edge section  8   a  having the radius of curvature R 8 . The center of curvature of each of these arched edge sections  7   a ,  8   a  is located inward with respect to the corresponding recess  4  and projection  5 . In the pull cut zone A, the radius of curvature R 8  of the arched edge section  8   a  of each basal slanted edge section  8  is smaller than the radius of curvature R 7  of the arched edge section  7   a  of each distal slanted edge section  7 . In the push cut zone B, the radius of curvature R 7  of the arched edge section  7   a  of each distal slanted edge section  7  is smaller than the radius of curvature R 8  of the arched edge section  8   a  of each basal slanted edge section  8 . In addition, in each of the projecting edge sections  6  of the pull cut zone A and the push cut zone B, the distal slanted edge section  7  and the basal slanted edge section  8  are connected to each other at an edge point  11 , or at the tip  5   a  of the corresponding projection  5 .  
      In the pull cut zone A and the push cut zone B, each of the recessed edge section  9  includes an arched edge section  12 , which is formed at the bottom  4   a  of the corresponding recess  4 . Each of the arched edge sections  12  has a radius of curvature R 12  (not illustrated). The center of curvature of each arched edge section  12  is located outward with respect to the corresponding recess  4  and projection  5 . At each of the arched edge sections  12 , the corresponding distal-slanted edge section  7  is connected to the adjacent basal slanted edge section  8 . In the intermediate zone C, the projecting edge section  6  includes an arched edge section  13 , which is formed at the tip  5   a  of the projection  5 . The arched edge section  13  has a radius of curvature R 13  (not illustrated). The center of curvature of the arched edge section  13  is located inward with respect to the corresponding recess  4  and projection  5 . At the arched edge section  13 , the distal slanted edge section  7  is connected to the basal slanted edge section  8 . The recessed edge section  9  located at the boundary between the intermediate zone C and the pull cut zone A and the recessed edge section  9  located at the boundary between the intermediate zone C and the push cut zone B each include an arched edge section  14 , which is formed at the bottom  4   a  of the corresponding recess  4 . Each of the arched edge sections  14  has a radius of curvature R 14  (not illustrated). The center of curvature of each arched edge section  14  is located outward with respect to the corresponding recess  4  and projection  5 . At each of the arched edge sections  14 , the corresponding distal slanted edge section  7  is connected to the adjacent basal slanted edge section  8 .  
      When cutting an object P, the illustrated bread cutter is operated in accordance with a push cut mode and a pull cut mode. In the push cut mode, the edge  3  of the body  2  is pushed away from the operator. In the pull cut mode, the edge  3  of the body  2  is pulled toward the operator. Although the cutting modes are applied independently in some cases, the modes may be combined or repeated alternately. Further, in each of the cutting modes, the pull cut zone A and the push cut zone B may be employed independently or in combination. In other words, the cutting modes or the zones A, B may be applied selectively as needed, depending on the conditions for cutting the object P.  
      If a baguette is cut as the object P, it is preferred that the push cut zone B of the edge  3  of the body  2  is applied to the surface layer of the object P, with reference to  FIG. 3 ( a ). Alternatively, it is preferred that the pull cut zone A of the edge  3  of the body  2  is applied to the surface layer of the object P, with reference to  FIG. 3 ( b ). When push cutting is performed from the state of  FIG. 3 ( a ), the surface layer of the object P is first cut by the distal slanted edge sections  7  of the push cut zone B, the slanting angles θ 7  of which are relatively large. In contrast, when pull cutting is performed from the state of  FIG. 3 ( b ), the surface layer of the object P is first cut by the basal slanted edge sections  8  of the pull cut zone A, the slanting angles θ 8  of which are relatively large.  
      However, depending on the type of the object P, it may be preferred that the push cutting is performed by means of the distal slanted edge sections  7  of the pull cut zone A, the slanting angles  97  of which are relatively small. Further, it may be preferred that the pull cutting is performed by means of the basal slanted edge sections  8  of the push cut zone B, the slanting angles θ 8  of which are relatively small. In these cases, cutting of the object P may be continued by any one or combination of the cutting modes or the zones A, B, as selected. When finishing the cutting of the object P by the push cutting, it is preferred that the distal slanted edge sections  7  of the pull cut zone A, the slanting angles θ 7  of which are relatively small, are moved toward a cutting board Q, with reference to  FIG. 3 ( c ). In contrast, when finishing the cutting of the object P by the pull cutting, it is preferred that the basal slanted edge sections  8  of the push cut zone B, the slanting angles θ 8  of which are relatively small, are moved toward the cutting board Q, with reference to  FIG. 3 ( d ).  
       FIG. 2 ( b ) shows a modification of the first embodiment. More specifically, in the distal and basal slanted edge sections  7 ,  8  of the pull cut zone A and the push cut zone B, the center of curvature of each of the arched edge sections  7   a ,  8   a , which have the radiuses of curvature R 7 , R 8 , is located outward with respect to the corresponding recess  4  and projection  5 .  
      In a second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 4 ( a ), the entire portion of the edge  3  of the body  2  is formed uniformly by the distal edge sections  7  and the basal edge sections  8  of the push cut zone B.  
      In a third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 4 ( b ), the entire portion of the edge  3  of the body  2  is formed uniformly by the distal edge sections  7  and the basal edge sections  8  of the pull cut zone B.  
      Further, the present invention may be applied to different food cutters other than the bread cutter, and even to cutters for different purposes other than food.