Abstract:
A mandoline slicer having a blade, a pivotable platform and a compact, low profile suction device in a housing that is hinged to the front of the slicer so that the suction device may be rotated under the slicer for storage and rotated at least partially outward from the front of the slicer for use. The height of a front edge of the platform is changed in relation of the height of the blade by moving a lever horizontally in a slot in a side of the slicer. The lever is geared so that the changes in the height of the front edge of the platform are incremental. Thus, the thickness of food slices moved over the platform and into the blade may be varied by know incremental amounts. Rear legs, which are foldable under the slicer for storage, contain compartments or slots for convenient, compact storage of slicer attachments.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,222, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,229, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,215, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,220, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,225, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,321, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,217, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,271, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,218, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,248, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,226, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,228, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,921, filed Sep. 30, 2005; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/241,332, filed Sep. 30, 2005. The aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to kitchenware and, in particular, to a mandoline slicer for use is slicing fruits, vegetables, and other foods.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     The mandoline slicer is well known in the prior art. The device is set on a work surface. It has a flat upper surface, which may be angled with respect to the work surface. A blade is positioned near the center of the device. A food article is pushed, in sliding fashion, over the upper surface of the slicer, and, as the food article is moved over the blade, it is sliced in uniform slices. The uniform slices of food may then be eaten, served, or mixed or combined with other foods. The slicer, of course, is a very useful kitchen implement, because it yields uniform slices and it is easy to use and relatively stable when used.  
         [0004]     Nevertheless, mandoline slicers are relatively large and take up considerable space when stored. The slicer may have multiple blades or attachments for different types of cuts or slices; these, too, must be specially handled for storage. Mandoline slicers also have a tendency to move about on the counter when bulky, sticky, or relatively hard foods are being sliced, in which case the user must keep a solid grip on the slicer so that it does not move about during slicing. If the slicer were to move about during slicing, it could affect the uniformity of the slices, or cause the slicer to tip or fall off the work surface or kitchen counter and, potentially, cause injury.  
         [0005]     Many such slicers also are equipped with means to adjust the relative angle or height of the blade and upper surface so that the thickness of slices may be varied. Such adjustments may be made with a knob, ledges, or other types of structures that are suitable to adjust the angle of either the blade, the upper surface of the slicer, or both. Such structures can be difficult to operate or require the user to engage in considerable manipulation of the knob or the parts of the slicer.  
         [0006]     It is therefore be desirable to have a mandoline slicer that could be made smaller or more compact for storage, include a convenient structure to store the blades and other cutting attachments, be securable to a counter or work surface during the slicing operation, and have an easy means for adjusting the relative heights of the blade and upper surface of the slicer in a known incremental manner so that the thickness of food slices can be easily and dependably regulated.  
         [0007]     It is also desirable to have a low profile, compact device for securing the slicer to the work surface so that the slicer assembly itself does not become bulky or unnecessarily or uncomfortably high for the user when it is secured to the work surface. Further, it is desirable to have such a device which could be moved to a storage position under the slicer, thus reducing the space necessary to store the slicer.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0008]     The mandoline slicer of the invention has a compact, low profile suction device in a housing that is hinged to the front of the slicer. The suction device is engaged and disengaged by moving a lever horizontally in a slot in the housing to very firmly secure the front of the slicer to the work surface for use. The housing may be rotated on its hinges to be positioned outside the front of the slicer during use or to be positioned under the slicer for storage.  
         [0009]     Food is sliced on the slicer by moving the food from the rear to the front of the slicer. The food is placed on the surface of a rear platform of the slicer and then moved slidingly forward onto a front platform of the slicer. A blade is located in a central portion of the slicer between the rear and front platforms such that, when the food slides from the rear platform to the front platform, the food intersects the blade and is sliced.  
         [0010]     The relative heights of the blade and the front of the rear platform determine the thickness of slices that are cut on the slicer. The greater the difference in the heights of the blade and the front of the rear platform, the thicker a slice of food is cut. Thinner slices of food are cut when the difference in the heights of the blade and the front of the rear platform are smaller.  
         [0011]     The relative heights of the front of the rear platform and the blade are changed by moving a lever horizontally in a slot in the side of the slicer. The lever easily slides along a sloped flange on the rear platform of the slicer, thus raising and lowering the front of the rear platform. The lever is geared so that the changes in the relative heights of the blade and the front of the rear platform are incremental. As a result, the thickness of food slices may be varied by known incremental amounts.  
         [0012]     Rear legs or a rear support of the slicer contain compartments or slots for convenient, compact storage of the blades or attachments, such as a Julienne-style cutter. The rear legs fold under the slicer to provide a compact assembly for storage. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a slicer of the invention in position for use;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the slicer folded for storage;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a rear portion of the slicer with a front of a rear platform raised;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the rear portion of the slicer with the front of the rear platform lowered;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional side view of the slicer;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the slicer with a blade removed;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the slicer with a blade accessory removed from a storage slot between rear legs of the slicer;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the rear portion of the slicer with the rear platform removed;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the rear portion of the slicer with the rear platform removed, the front platform removed, and the handle removed;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the rear portion of the slicer with the rear platform removed and the handle positioned to show that the front of the rear platform (shown in dashed lines), is raised;  
         [0023]      FIG. 1   1  is a top perspective view of the rear portion of the slicer with the rear platform removed and the handle positioned to show that the front of the rear platform (shown in dashed lines) is lowered;  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the rear platform;  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is a right side view of the rear platform; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 14  is a left side view of the rear platform. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]     Certain terminology will be used in the following description. Words such as “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “upward”, “downward”, “rightward”, “leftward”, “above”, “below”, and the like, refer to those same directions in the properly oriented drawings. Words such as “inward”, “outward”, “inner”, “outer”, and “central”, refer to the same directions or locations at, toward, or away from the geometric center of the object shown or referenced in the properly oriented drawings. This use of such terminology is for convenient reference, is not intended to be limiting (as, for example, if an embodiment of the invention is inverted or reversed), and includes the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of a similar nature or import.  
         [0000]     Slicer Assembly  
         [0028]      FIGS. 1, 5 , and  8  show a slicer  1  of the invention. The slicer  1  has a suction device housing  2 , a frame  3 , a front platform  4 , a blade  5 , a rear movable platform  6 , rear legs  7 , a pivot  8 , and a platform handle  9 .  
         [0000]     Frame  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 9 , the frame  3  has a hinge slot  10 , a front platform support bar  11 , a blade slot  12 , a handle slot  13 , a leg support bar  14 , a pivot support strip  15 , a pair of handle supports  16   a  and  16   b,  a rear platform support bar  17 , and a holder  24  for a Julienne attachment  26 . (See  FIGS. 5 and 7 )  
         [0000]     Front Platform  
         [0030]     As best shown in  FIG. 5 , the front platform  4  has a front curled section  18  at a front end  19  thereof, which fits over and around the front platform support bar  11  to secure the front platform  4  to the frame  3 . A rear end  20  of the front platform  4  is secured to the frame. The rear end  20  of the platform  4  may be so secured by any conventional means such as tab in a slot in the frame  3 , screws or glue on a downward extending flap, or the like.  
         [0000]     Blade  
         [0031]     The blade  5  is inserted into and removed from the blade slot  12  via use of a blade handle  21 . A frontward portion  22  of the blade  5  fits under the front platform  4 ; a rearward portion or edge  23  of the blade  5  is exposed to slice food that is moved over the rear platform  6  of the slicer  1 . (See  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) The blade handle  21  extends out of the blade slot  12  when the blade  5  is inserted in the slicer  1  so that the handle  21  may be used to remove the blade  5  from the slot  12  when desired. The slicer  1  may be supplied with different types of blades  5  to make different shaped cuts or slices of food. The blade  5  may also have different cutting edges on each side and be reversed in the slot to provide a different type of cutting edge  23 .  
         [0000]     Rear Legs  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 9 , the rear legs  7  of the slicer  1  are rotatably secured to the leg support bar  14  in any conventional manner so that the rear legs  7  may be rotated to an upright position as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3  and  4 , for example, or rotated to a folded position under the frame  3 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . In order to accomplish this pivoting motion of the rear legs  7 , the legs  7  may have slots or openings that fit around the leg support bar  14 , the legs  7  may have an axel that fits within a hole in the support bar  14 , or the legs  7  may be hinged in some other suitable manner so that they fold under the frame  3  when the slicer  1  is to be stored. Of course, when the legs  7  are folded under the frame  3 , the slicer  1  is in a more compact configuration and takes up less space when it is placed in a storage cupboard or other storage location.  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the rear legs  7  also form slots or compartments  25  to store different types of blades  5  or Julienne cutting attachments  26  when they are not in the blade slot  12  or the Julienne holder  24 , respectively, of the slicer  1 .  
         [0000]     Pivot Base  
         [0034]     A pivot base  27  is formed on or attached to the pivot support strip  15  of the frame  3  of the slicer. The pivot base  27  has triangular section, radial teeth  28 . (See  FIGS. 8 and 9 )  
         [0000]     Pivot  
         [0035]     The pivot  8  has triangular section, radial teeth  29  that cooperate with the triangular section, radial teeth  28  of the pivot base  27  so that they movably fit together as shown in  FIGS. 8, 10 , and  11 . Thus, as pivot  8  is rotated, its teeth  29  slide over, or up and down over, the teeth  28  of the pivot base  27  such that the pivot  8  may be rotated or pivoted in increments over the pivot base  27 . This construction allows the pivot  8  to be rotated or pivoted in specific known stages, increments, or distances over pivot base  27 .  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIG. 8 , tubes or cylinders  30 a and  30 b are formed on an upper side of pivot  8 . The tubes  30 a and  30 b form holes  3  la and  3  lb. Alternatively, the cylinders  30 a and  30 b may be formed as a single cylinder with a single hole.  
         [0000]     Handle and Bar  
         [0037]     The handle  9  is inserted into and through hole  31  a as shown in  FIG. 8 . A bar  32  is inserted in the hole  31   b  of tube  30   b.  An inward portion  33  of the handle  9  rests slidingly on one of the handle supports  16   a.  An end  34  of the handle  9  extends through and outward from the handle slot  13  of the frame  3  and ends in a grip  35 . An end  36  of bar  32  rests slidingly on handle support  16 b. (See  FIGS. 8, 10 , and  11 )  
         [0038]     So constructed, the handle  9  may be moved sideways (approximately horizontally) via grip  35  in handle slot  13 . As the handle  9  is moved sideways in the handle slot  13 , the pivot  8  rotates or pivots with the handle  9  and moves incrementally over the pivot base  27 . The handle  9  may be so moved, in specific increments, from one side of the handle slot  13  to the other and back again. As the handle  9  moves, the inward portion  33  of handle  9  slides along the surface of the handle support  16   a,  and the end  36  of bar  32  slides along the surface of handle support  16   b,  as shown in  FIGS. 10, 11 , and  12 - 14 .  
         [0000]     Rear Movable Platform  
         [0039]     As shown in  FIGS. 5 , and  12 - 14 , the rear movable platform  6  has a rear curled section  37  which fits over and around the rear platform support bar  17  of the frame  3  to rotatably or pivotably secure the rear platform  6  to the rear platform support bar  17  of the frame  3 .  
         [0040]     The rear movable platform  6  also has downward extending flanges  38  and  39  that extend downward at right angles from the platform  6 . (See  FIGS. 5, 10 ,  11 , and  12 - 14 ) Flange  39  is sloped from the rear toward the front of the slicer  1  such that the flange  39  is shorter at a front  40  thereof than at a rear  41  thereof. (See  FIG. 12 ) As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , when the handle  9  is at the frontward part  42  of the handle slot  13 , the flange  38  rests on handle  9 , and the longer, rear part  41  of the flange  39  rests on the bar  32 . When the handle  9  is at a rearward part  43  of the handle slot  13 , the shorter, front part  40  of the sloped flange  39  rests on the bar  32 , and the flange  38  rests on the handle  9 . The flange  38  may be angled downward, or shaved to taper it downward, toward the rear curled end  37  of the platform  6 . When the handle  9  is midway between the frontward part  42  and the rearward part  43  of the handle slot  13 , the flange  38  rests on the handle  9 , and a sloped portion  44  of flange  39  rests on the bar  32 . (See  FIGS. 10, 11 , and  12 - 14 )  
         [0000]     Incremental Adjustment of Angle or Slope of Rear Movable Platform  
         [0041]     Thus, when the handle  9  is at the frontward part  42  of the handle slot  13 , the flange  38  rests on handle  9 , the longer, rear part  41  of flange  39  rests on bar  32 , and a front edge  45  of the rear platform  6  is nearly even with the rearward portion or edge  23  of the blade  5 . If food is then moved on the surface of platform  6  from the rear toward the front of the slicer  1 , the food cut is very thin, because the platform  6  is nearly even with the rear edge  23  of the blade  5 . (See  FIGS. 10-12 )  
         [0042]     When the handle  9  is at the rearward part  43  of the handle slot  13 , the flange  38  rests on handle  9 , the shorter, front part  40  of the sloped flange  39  rests on bar  32 , and the front edge  45  of the rear platform is lower than the rearward portion or edge  23  of the blade  5 . (The platform  6  is also lower at its front edge  45  that at its rear curled portion  37  and, thus, slopes from the rear of the slicer down toward the front of the slicer.) If, with the platform  6  in this position, food is moved on the surface of the platform  6  from the rear toward the front of the slicer  1 , a relatively thick cut is made in the food, and a thick slice of food is produced, because the front edge  45  of the platform is lower than the rearward portion or edge  23  of the blade  5 .  
         [0043]     When the handle  9  is midway between the frontward part  42  and the rearward part  43  of the handle slot  13 , the flange  38  rests on the handle  9 , and the sloped portion  44  of flange  39  rests on the bar  32 . With the handle  9  in this position, the front edge  45  of the rear platform  6  is somewhat lower than the rearward portion or edge  23  of blade  5 , but not as much lower as when the handle  9  is at the rearward part  43  of the handle slot  13 . (In other words, the platform  6  is lower at its front edge  45  that at its curled portion  37  and slopes from the rear of the slicer  1  down toward the front of the slicer  1 , but does not slope as much as when the handle  9  is at the rearward part  43  of the handle slot  13 .) If, with the platform  6  in this position, food is moved on the surface of the platform  6  from the rear toward the front of the slicer  1 , the food slice is cut, but the slice that is cut is not a thick as when the handle  9  is at the rearward part  43  of the handle slot  13 .  
         [0044]     More specifically, as the handle  9  is moved from the frontward part  42  and the rearward part  43  of the handle slot  13 , the front edge  45  of the rear platform  6  is lowered—i.e., the angle or degree of slope of the rear platform  6  is increased. As the angle or degree of slope of the rear platform  6  is increased, the front edge  45  of the rear platform  6  becomes increasingly lower than the rearward portion or edge  23  of the blade  5 , thus producing thicker slices of food when food is moved from the rear to the front of the slicer over the rear and front platforms  6  and  4 , respectively. Thus, by moving the handle  9  different distances in the handle slot  13 , the thickness of the slice of food cut on the slicer can be determined and regulated. When the handle  9  is moved toward the frontward part  42  of the handle slot  13 , the slices produced are thin; when the handle  9  is moved toward the rearward part  43  of the handle slot  13 , the slices produced are thicker.  
         [0045]     Moreover, since the handle  9  and the bar  32  are connected to the pivot  8 , and pivot  8  has the teeth  29  that cooperate with and slide over the teeth  28  of the pivot base  27  as the handle  9  is moved in the handle slot  13 , the movement of the handle  9  in the handle slot  13  is incremental—i.e., it moves in discrete steps from one end of the handle slot  13  to the other. And, since the movement of the handle  9  in the slot  13  is in discrete, incremental steps, the angle or slope of the rear platform  6  is also changed in discrete, incremental steps, because the movement of the handle  9  changes the slope or angle of the rear platform  6 . Thus, the thickness of the slices of food moved over the slicer  1  can be determined, changed, and regulated in discrete, incremental steps by moving the handle  9  to different positions in the handle slot  13 .  
         [0000]     Suction Device Housing  
         [0046]      FIG. 9  shows a hinge slot  10  in the front portion or leg of frame  3  of the slicer  1 . A second hinge slot (not shown) is opposite the hinge slot  10  in the other leg of frame  3  of the slicer  1 . A pair of hinge bars (not shown) are attached to, or formed as a part of, opposite sides of the suction device housing  2  in locations such that one of the hinge bars fits into, and rotates within, each of the hinge slots  10  in the front of the frame  3 . The hinge bars rotate in the hinge slots  10  so that the suction device housing  2  may be rotated from a storage position underneath the frame  3  to an engagement position out in front of the frame  3  of the slicer  1 .  
         [0047]     So constructed, the housing  2  may be rotated underneath the frame  3 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , or it may be rotated to a position out in front of the frame  3 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 5 , and  6 . When the suction device housing  2  is rotated underneath the frame  3 , the housing is compactly stored under the frame  3  of the slicer  1  so that the slicer assembly  1  is in a more compact arrangement for storage in a cupboard or other storage location. Since, as described above, the legs  7  may also be folded under the frame  3 , the slicer assembly  1  may be made even more compact for storage by folding both the suction housing  2  and the rear legs  7  under the frame  3  when the slicer  1  is to be placed in a storage location.  
         [0048]     Although the hinge slot  10  and bar arrangement are described herein, it is understood that any hinge arrangement for the suction housing  2  could be used for the stated purpose of rotating the suction housing  2  from a position out in front of the slicer frame  3  to a position underneath the slicer frame  3  or from a position underneath the frame  3  to a position out in front of the frame  3 . For example, an axle could be used for this purpose, or pins could extend from the frame  3  and be rotatingly inserted to the suction housing  2  to accommodate such rotation. Indeed, any structure that would permit the suction housing  2  to rotate under and out from under the frame  3  would be satisfactory for this purpose.  
         [0000]     Suction Device  
         [0049]     The suction device housing  2  of the slicer  1  houses a suction assembly  50 , as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0050]     The suction assembly  50  comprises a suction pad  60 , a suction pad plate  61 , a handle  62 , and a pivot  63 . The suction plate  61  has a top side  64 . Two spaced-apart bridge-like structures  65  extend away and upward from the top side  64  of the plate  61 . Each bridge-like structure  65  has an underside  66  that is ramped or sloped. The pivot  63  is situated between the bridge-like structures  65 .  
         [0051]     The suction pad  60  is larger in diameter than the suction pad plate  61 . The suction pad has a central portion  68  and an outer portion  69 . When the suction pad  60  is placed on the top side  64  of the suction pad plate  61 , the outer portion  69  of the suction pad  60  extends beyond and outward from the suction pad plate  61 . The central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  is situated on and connected to the top side  64  of the plate  61 .  
         [0052]     The handle  62  extends from the sloped underside  66  of one of the bridge-like structures  65 , through a hole  70  in the pivot  63 , along the sloped underside  66  of the other bridge-like structure  65 , and outward thorough the elongated slot  59  in the side  56  of the suction device housing  2  above the bottom opening  58  of the suction device housing  2 . The handle  62 , so situated, is in sliding contact with the sloped undersides  66  of the bridge-like structures  65 .  
         [0053]     The suction assembly  50  is oriented so that the outer portion  69  of the suction pad  60 , which extends outward from the plate  61 , makes contact with the counter or work surface through the bottom opening  58  of the suction device housing  2 .  
         [0054]     Suction device  50  is operated by moving its handle  62  from one side of its elongated slot  59  to the other.  
         [0055]     Movement of the handle  62  in one direction causes the handle  62  to slide along the upward slopes of the underside  65  of the bridge-like structures  65 . As the handle  62  slides along the slope underside  65 , it pulls the plate  61 from which the bridge-like structures  65  extend, in turn causing the plate  61  to pull the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  away from the counter, while the outer portion  69  of the suction pad  60  remains in contact with the counter. As the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  is pulled away from the surface, the air pressure between the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  and the counter decreases, creating a partial vacuum under the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60 , which, in turn causes the outer portion  69  of the suction pad  60 , which is still in contact with the counter, to adhere to the counter.  
         [0056]     Movement of the handle  62  in the opposite direction in the slot  59  relaxes the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60 , causes the central portion of the suction pad  60  to move toward the counter, increases the pressure under the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60 , dispels the partial vacuum, and allows the suction pad  60  to be easily removed from the surface to which it is was formerly mated.  
         [0000]     Operation of the Suction Device  
         [0057]     In order to operate the suction device  50  and engage it with a work surface, the suction device housing  2  is rotated from its storage position under the frame  3  to an engagement position out in front of the slicer  1 . (The legs  7  are also unfolded from under the frame  3  of the slicer  1  so that the rear portion of the slicer  1  may stand on the work surface.)  
         [0058]     The slicer  1  is then placed in a desirable location on a work surface or counter. In this position, the outer portion  69  of the suction pad  60  is in contact with the countertop. The handle  62  of the suction device  50  is moved in the elongated slot  59 . As the handle  62  moves in the slot  59  the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  is raised upward, creating a partial vacuum under the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  while the outer portion of the  69  of the suction pad  60  remains on the countertop. The vacuum or suction so created under the central portion  68  of the suction pad causes the slicer  1  to stick or adhere to the counter in the desired location.  
         [0059]     So adhered, the slicer 1  will not be moved or tipped on the counter or work surface when the slicer  1  is in operation.  
         [0060]     If it is desired to move the slicer  1  to a different location, the handle  62  of the suction device  50  is moved in the opposite direction in the slot  59  in the side  56  of the suction device housing  2  to relieve the partial vacuum under the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60 . The slicer  1  may then be moved to a different location on the countertop, where it may again be adhered by suction in the manner stated above.  
         [0000]     Operation of Slicer  
         [0061]     The slicer  1  is removed from any location in which it might be stored. The rear legs  7  are folded out from beneath the frame  3 , and the suction device housing  2  is rotated on its hinge connections to move it from under the frame  3  of the slicer  1  until it extends outward from the front of the slicer  1 . The slicer  1  is then placed in a convenient location on a work surface. When the slicer  1  is so positioned, the lever or handle  62  of the suction assembly  50  is moved in slot  59  until the suction device  50 , and thus the slicer  1 , is secured to the work surface.  
         [0062]     A Juilenne cutting attachment  26  may removed from one of the slots  25  between the rear legs  7  of the slicer  1  and inserted into the slot  12  in the frame  3  so that Julienne style cutting is enabled. However, if a Julienne style cut is not desired, the Julienne attachment may be left in one of the storage slots  25  between the rear legs  7  of the slicer  1 .  
         [0063]     The Lever or handle  9  is then moved incrementally in slot  13  until the front  45  of the rear platform  6  is a distance below the rearward edge  23  of the blade  5  sufficient to make slices of a thickness desired by the user. An article of food is then placed on the rear platform  6  and moved from the rear of the slicer  1  toward the front of the slicer. As the food is so moved, it is intersected by the blade  5 , which slices a portion of food from the article. (A block or handle, which is not shown, may be placed on top of the food before it is moved from the rear toward the front of the slicer  1  to protect the user from being cut by the blade.)  
         [0064]     Upon completion of the slicing, the lever  62  is moved in the opposite direction in slot  59  to release the suction device  50  from the work surface. The slicer  1  may then be cleaned. Thereafter, the suction housing  2  is rotated back under the frame  3 , the blade  5  may be removed from slot  12  and stored in one of the slots  25  in the legs  7 , and the legs may be rotated back under the frame  3 . The slicer  1  is then compacted for storage and may be stored.  
         [0065]     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.