Patent Publication Number: US-2004040428-A1

Title: Garlic bread slicer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] The present invention claims priority to Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/389,792, filed on Jun. 19, 2002 entitled GARLIC BREAD SLICER. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to food slicers, and in particular to a garlic bread slicer.  
       [0003] Food slicers are used to slice food. Examples of food slicers are those used to slice bread, slice bagels, slice buns and slice garlic bread. The food slicers can cut all the way through the food or only partially through the food to leave the food with a hinge. The food slicers at least partially divide the food to allow meats, spreads, garlic and other edible items to be placed on the sliced food.  
       [0004] Heretofore, food slicers have included the Gourmet Bun Slicer Models 704N, 700, 702 and 702N sold by Oliver Products Company of Grand Rapids, Mich. The Gourmet Bun Slicer Models 704N, 700, 702 and 702N included a frame having a chute with a blade extending into the chute. Food is sliced by placing the food in the chute, whereby gravity pulls the food through the chute and the blade slices the food as the food goes through the chute. The Gourmet Bun Slicer Models 704N, 700, 702 and 702N included several guides for the chute, thereby allowing a user of the Gourmet Bun Slicer Models 704N, 700, 702 and 702N to change all of the dimensions of the chute to accommodate food of various dimensions. However, the versatility of the Gourmet Bun Slicer Models 704N, 700, 702 and 702N required many parts and a corresponding price. Furthermore, the Gourmet Bun Slicer Models 704N, 700, 702 and 702N typically had to be set in position or carried from a storage position to a use position. At approximately 160 pounds, moving the Gourmet Bun Slicer Models 704N, 700, 702 and 702N could become difficult.  
       [0005] Accordingly, an inexpensive and mobile food slicer solving the aforementioned disadvantages and having the aforementioned advantages is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a food slicer comprising a base having a slanted chute and a cutting blade housing. The slanted chute comprises a first panel and a second panel, with the first panel including a first wall and the second panel including a second wall. The first wall faces the second wall. The cutting blade housing includes a cutting blade extending into the chute. Food can be placed into a top of the slanted chute and be forced to slide to a bottom of the chute by gravity, whereby the food placed into the slanted chute is sliced by the cutting blade as the food slides through the slanted chute. The first panel and the second panel of the slanted chute define a cavity for receiving food therein. The first panel is adjustably positioned relative to the second panel whereby the first wall of the first panel can be towards and away from the second wall of the second panel, thereby altering the size of the cavity in the slanted chute. The cavity has a uniform cross section from the top of the chute to the bottom of the chute.  
       [0007] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a mobile food slicer assembly comprising a base having a slanted chute and a cutting blade housing. The cutting blade housing includes a cutting blade extending into the chute. The base further includes apertures in a bottom thereof. The mobile food slicer also includes a mobile cart having wheels on a bottom thereof and a top frame member, with the top frame member including a plurality of openings. The openings and the apertures are configured to accept fasteners therethrough to connect the base to the mobile cart to thereby allow easy transportation of the base on the mobile cart and to steady the base during use of the cutting blade. Food can be placed into a top of the slanted chute and be forced to slide to a bottom of the chute by gravity, whereby the food placed into the slanted chute is sliced by the cutting blade as the food slides through the slanted chute.  
       [0008] Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a mobile food slicer assembly including a base comprising a slanted chute and a cutting blade housing, with the base including apertures in a bottom thereof. The slanted chute comprises a first panel and a second panel, with the first panel including a first wall and the second panel including a second wall. The first wall faces the second wall. The cutting blade housing includes a cutting blade extending into the chute. The mobile food slicer assembly also includes a mobile cart having wheels on a bottom thereof and a top frame member, with the top frame member including a plurality of openings. The openings and the apertures are configured to accept fasteners therethrough to connect the base to the mobile cart to thereby allow easy transportation of the base on the mobile cart and to steady the base during use of the cutting blade. Food can be placed into a top of the slanted chute and be forced to slide to a bottom of the chute by gravity, whereby the food placed into the slanted chute is sliced by the cutting blade as the food slides through the slanted chute. The first panel and the second panel of the slanted chute define a cavity for receiving food therein. The first panel is adjustably positioned relative to the second panel whereby the first wall of the first panel can be towards and away from the second wall of the second panel, thereby altering the size of the cavity in the slanted chute. The cavity has a uniform cross section from the top of the chute to the bottom of the chute.  
       [0009] These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a front view of the garlic bread slicer of the present invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the garlic bread slicer of the present invention.  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a left side view of the garlic bread slicer of the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is a right side view of the garlic bread slicer of the present invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a bread chute of the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a support plate of a mobile cart of the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 7 is an angled bottom view of the support plate of the mobile cart of the present invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 8 is an isometric top view of the support plate of the mobile cart of the present invention.  
     [0018]FIG. 9 is a front view of the mobile cart of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0019] For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as orientated in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.  
     [0020] The reference number  10  (FIGS.  1 - 4 ) generally designates a garlic bread slicer of the present invention. The garlic bread slicer  10  includes a cutting assembly  12  and a mobile base  14  for the cutting assembly  12 . The cutting assembly  12  includes a bread chute  16  configured to cut bread placed therein into a top half, a bottom half and a hinge connecting the two halves.  
     [0021] The cutting assembly  12  includes a motor housing  18 , a blade housing  20  and the bread chute  16 . The motor housing  18  includes a rectangular bottom  22  having four brackets  24  with threaded apertures. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the motor housing  18  houses a motor  26 . The motor  26  as described in this application is commercially available from Leeson Electric located in Grafton, Wis., under the Model No. C6C17FC5F. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other similarly functioning motors may be used. The motor housing  18  includes an angled upper support plate  28 . The chute  16  and the blade housing  20  are connected to the upper plate  28 . The blade housing  20  includes a semi-circular shell  31  and a removable top lid  30 . The removable top lid  30  includes openings for accepting screws extended from the semi-circular shell  31 . Knobs  32  are screwed onto the screws to connect the top lid  30  to the semi-circular shell  31 . As illustrated in FIG. 5, the motor  26  includes an output rod  34  that extends through the upper plate  28  and into the blade housing  20 . A circular cutting blade  36  is connected to the output rod  34 . The cutting blade  36  also extends partially into the chute  16 . When the garlic bread slicer  10  is powered by turning on an “on” switch  38  on the motor housing  18 , the motor  26  will rotate the output rod  34  and the cutting blade  36  to cut bread placed into the chute  16 .  
     [0022] The chute  16  includes a bottom L-shaped plate  40  connected to the upper plate  28  of the motor housing  18  and an upper C-shaped bracket  42 . As illustrated in FIG. 2, screw clamps  51  extend from a bottom of the upper bracket  42  and through slots  53  in the upper plate  28  for allowing the width of the chute  16  to change, thereby changing the depth of the cut of the bread placed into the chute  16 . The chute  16  includes an entry port  44  for insertion of unsliced bread and an exit  46  for removal of the sliced bread. The exit  46  preferably includes a friction plate  48  connected to the upper bracket  42  for slowing the speed of bread coming from the chute  16 .  
     [0023] The mobile base  14  includes an upper plate  60 , a support bar  62  and a bottom I-shaped base  64 . A support bar  66  also extends between the bar  62  and the base  64 . As shown in FIG. 2, the I-shaped base  64  includes castors  68  connected to a bottom thereof. The wheels of castors  68  preferably can be locked into place to prevent the mobile base  14  from moving. It is contemplated that other feet, such as rubber pads, may depend from the I-shaped base  64  to prevent the base  14  from moving. The upper plate  60  includes four openings  70  therethrough (see FIGS.  6 - 8 ). Screws  72  extend through the openings  70  from underneath the openings  70  and are screwed into the threaded apertures in the bottom of the cutting assembly  12  to connect the cutting assembly  12  to the mobile base  14 . It is contemplated that the cutting assembly  12  could have pins extending from a bottom thereof that are configured to be inserted into the openings to connect the cutting assembly  12  to the mobile base  14 .  
     [0024] The mobile cart  14  is configured to be rolled adjacent a table with the bar  62  located adjacent a side edge of the table, the upper plate  60  located directly above a top of the table and the I-shaped base  64  located below the table. Therefore, the garlic bread slicer  10  can easily be used with a table to cut the garlic bread and place the garlic bread on the table after the bread has been cut. Thereafter, the garlic bread slicer  10  can be easily rolled away to be stored when not in use.  
     [0025] In the forgoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.