Patent Publication Number: US-2018050459-A1

Title: Prepping tool

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     Crusts for pies, for example, are usually formed by rolling dough to a prescribed thickness, and then trimmed to a prescribed circumference. The circumference may be measured on a pastry mat having measurements or a pastry pan. Once the correct circumference is measured out, excess dough is cut away. However, use of a pastry mat requires the user to cut neatly around the circumference. Further, a pan, which may be used to both scribe and cut the dough, creates a circumference that is larger than the interior circumference of the pan. The top edge of the dough will burn, if not pressed below the pan causing the prescribed thickness to be altered. Alternatively, a round cutter of the correct circumference may be used. However, a user will need round cutters of various circumferences. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of this invention is to provide an apparatus that allows the user to easily measure and circumferentially cut dough, or other food or non-foodstuff having the same or similar qualities as dough. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the claimed invention will become apparent in the following detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a prepping tool according to one embodiment of the claimed invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of a prepping tool according to one embodiment of the claimed invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of a slide according to one embodiment of the claimed invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of an upper grip according to one embodiment of the claimed invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, the use of similar or the same symbols in different drawings typically indicate similar or identical items, unless context dictates otherwise. 
     The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described components (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specific components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be taken as limiting. 
     The present application may use formal outline headings for clarity of presentation. However, it is to be understood that the outline headings are for presentation purposes, and that different types of subject matter may be discussed throughout the application (e.g., device(s)/structure(s) may be described under process(es)/operations heading(s) and/or process(es)/operations may be discussed under structure(s)/process(es) headings; and/or descriptions of single topics may span two or more topic headings). Hence, the use of the formal outline headings is not intended to be in any way limiting. Referring to  FIG. 1 , provided herein are embodiments of a prepping tool ( 100 ) that allows the user to easily measure and circumferentially cut dough, or other food or non-foodstuff having the same or similar qualities as dough. 
     In one embodiment, the prepping tool ( 100 ) is comprised of an arm assembly ( 10 ) having a first end ( 11 ) and second end ( 12 ) where, the first end ( 11 ) and the second end ( 12 ) lie on a longitudinal axis. The first end ( 11 ) of the arm assembly ( 10 ) is rotationally attached to a handle base ( 20 ). According to an embodiment, the handle base ( 20 ) allows the arm assembly to rotate 360°. The second end ( 12 ) of the arm assembly ( 10 ) is operably attached to a cutting device ( 30 ). According to an embodiment, the prepping tool ( 100 ) is used to make a circumferential cut. According to an embodiment, a user holds the handle base ( 20 ) at a defined location, on a flattened piece of dough, for instance, while rotating the cutting device ( 30 ) 360° around the handle base ( 20 ), in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. 
     In one embodiment, the prepping tool ( 100 ) is comprised of an arm assembly ( 10 ) having a first end ( 11 ) and a second end ( 12 ). The arm assembly ( 10 ) is further comprised of an upper surface ( 13 ) and a bottom surface. The first end ( 11 ) of the arm assembly ( 10 ) is rotationally attached to a handle base ( 20 ). A cutting device ( 30 ) is movingly attached to the second end ( 12 ) of the arm assembly ( 10 ). The arm assembly ( 10 ) is periodically marked ( 14 ) on the upper surface ( 13 ) in the longitudinal direction. Here, the cutting device ( 30 ) may be moved to any of the periodic marks ( 14 ). As such, one may create a circumferential cut of a desired length by positioning the handle base ( 20 ), moving the cutting device to a desired periodic mark ( 14 ) and then rotating the cutting device around the handle base ( 20 ) of the prepping tool ( 100 ) in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. 
     In an embodiment, the prepping tool ( 100 ) is comprised of arm assembly ( 10 ) which defines at least one longitudinal slit ( 16 ) that is periodically marked ( 14 ) along the longitudinal direction of the upper surface ( 13 ) of the arm assembly ( 10 ). The marks ( 14 ) may be regularly positioned along the longitudinal direction to indicate a unit of length, such as, inches. According to one embodiment, the marks ( 14 ) may be indicated in centimeters. In still another embodiment, the marks ( 14 ) may be indicated in multiple units of length. According to one embodiment, the slit ( 16 ) may be indented regularly at its intersection with the upper surface ( 13 ) to comprise at least one notch ( 18 ) along the longitudinal direction of the arm assembly ( 10 ). Here, the number of notches ( 18 ) may at least correspond to the number of marks ( 14 ) specified on the upper surface ( 13 ) of the arm assembly ( 10 ). The cutting device ( 30 ) may thus be moved along the length of the arm assembly ( 10 ) to any of the periodic marks ( 14 ) and be held in position By the notches ( 18 ). The handle base ( 20 ) of the prepping tool ( 100 ) is positioned as previously described and the cutting device ( 30 ) is rotated 360° around the handle base ( 20 ) either clock-wise or counter-clockwise to create a circumferential cut of a desired length. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , provided is an exploded view of an embodiment of the prepping tool ( 100 ). In this embodiment the cutting device ( 30 ) is comprised of a control means ( 40 ) and a cutting means ( 32 ). Here, the cutting means ( 32 ) may be operably attached to a control means ( 40 ). The control means ( 40 ), in turn, may be movably attached to the arm assembly ( 10 ). 
     According to an embodiment, the control means ( 40 ) is further comprised of an upper grip ( 42 ), a lower support ( 44 ) and a slide ( 46 ).  FIG. 3  shows an upper view of the slide ( 46 ) having a first end ( 46   a ) and the second end ( 46   b ) while  FIG. 4 , shows the bottom view of the upper grip ( 42 ) having tabs ( 42   a,    42   b ) that may hold the slide ( 46 ) therein-between. More specifically, the tabs ( 42   a  and  42   b ) of the upper grip ( 42 ) shown in  FIG. 4 , press on the first end ( 46   a ) and the second ends ( 46   b ) of the slide ( 46 ) shown in  FIG. 3 , respectively, seating it firmly in position. At the same time, the upper grip ( 42 ) is attached to the lower support ( 44 ) so that assembled together, the control device ( 40 ) may glide along the length of the arm assembly ( 10 ) which is disposed therein-between. The upper grip ( 42 ) may be attached to the lower support using various fastening means ( 50 ) including but not limited to a bolt and nut, a rivet, a pin, a screw, and a snap button. According to one embodiment, the upper grip ( 42 ) is attached to the lower support ( 44 ) using at least one set screw. The slide ( 46 ) may be disposed between the upper grip ( 42 ) and the lower support ( 44 ) and fittingly inserted into the slit ( 16 ) of the arm assembly ( 10 ), where it may incrementally guide the control means ( 40 ) and thus the cutting means ( 32 ) operably connected to the cutting device ( 30 ) to move along the length of the arm assembly ( 10 ) to a desired position. According to an embodiment, the slide ( 46 ) may be comprised of protrusions ( 62 ) as shown in  FIG. 3 , disposed on one or both of its opposing outer surfaces. The protrusions ( 62 ) of the slide meet the inner surfaces of the slit ( 16 ) of the arm assembly ( 10 ) and may engage the notches ( 18 ) disposed along the inner surface of the slit ( 16 ) of the arm assembly as it moves along the slit, therefore holding the control means ( 40 ) and the cutting device ( 30 ) attached thereto in a desired position. According to an embodiment, the slide ( 46 ) may further comprise an arched structure, as shown in  FIG. 3 , which may enable it to ‘give’ in an elastic manner when it is depressed while being moved from one notched position to another and then ‘release’, returning to its original form and enabling it to lock into one or more notches once moved into a desired position within the length of the slit ( 16 ) of the arm assembly ( 10 ). In one embodiment, the slide ( 46 ) may be made of a substantially robust and smooth material such as, but not limited to, polypropylene. 
     The cutting device ( 30 ) is further comprised of a connector shaft ( 48 ) connected to the lower support ( 44 ) that removably accepts the cutting means ( 32 ) and a locking cap ( 49 ) which secures the cutting means ( 32 ) on to the lower support ( 44 ) and thus to the cutting device ( 30 ). In one embodiment, the connector shaft ( 48 ) is at least partially hollow and accepts a metal washer ( 38 ). The cutting means ( 32 ) slides onto the connector shaft ( 48 ) and is operably attached to the connector shaft when a magnet ( 36 ) mates with the metal washer ( 38 ) fastening the cutting means ( 32 ) into position. Here the magnet ( 36 ) is attached to the locking cap ( 49 ). It is established that other means of fastening the cutting means ( 32 ) to the cutting device ( 30 ) may be contemplated including but not limited to a screw, a pin, a rivet, a snap button or other means known in the art. 
     According to an embodiment, the handle base ( 20 ) is comprised of an upper part ( 22 ) a middle part ( 24 ) and a base part ( 26 ). The upper part ( 22 ) is connected to the lower part ( 24 ) and the arm assembly ( 10 ) is rotationally attached therein-between. In another embodiment, the lower part ( 24 ) of the handle base may be removably attached to a base part ( 26 ), where the lower part ( 24 ) and the base part ( 26 ) are comprised of a hollow portion to hold at least one cutting means ( 32 ) for storage. 
     According to an embodiment the cutting means ( 32 ) may be a cutting wheel. The cutting wheel may have a straight cutting edge. According to one embodiment, the cutting wheel may have non straight cutting edges such as grooved edges that can produce wavy cuts. The wells of the groove of the cutting wheel may be varied so that the resulting cut may produce wave patterns of various forms and sizes.