Abstract:
A grater for single-handed operation has a handle adapted to be grasped by the fingers, and a plunger adapted for engagement with the thumb. The plunger is slidingly received in an opening extending longitudinally through the handle, with a spring urging it to an extended position. A grating cutter and a cooperating holder for locating a food item adjacent the grating cutter are both disposed in a cavity within the handle. A detachable container for holding the food item encloses a resiliently-biased pusher for urging the food item toward the grating cutter, and reciprocating the plunger causes relative movement between the grating cutter and the holder.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to graters, such as kitchen graters which may be operated single-handedly. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The prior art is replete with hand-held graters and mills for dispensing freshly grated condiments such as pepper and nutmeg. However, there remains a need for an improved grater which can be readily operated single-handedly. Some of the drawbacks of old graters, in addition to manufacturing cost and complexity, include exposed blades which may pose some risk to users, an unsuitability for table-top use due to their shape, bulky design (which also makes storage problematic), poor aesthetics and non-intuitive operation. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 594,424 describes a grater for single-handed use that has a T-shape, comprising an elongate handle arranged perpendicular to an elongate blade and plunger assembly. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages or more generally to provide an improved kitchen grater. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a grater for single-handed operation, comprising: 
         [0004]    a handle adapted to be grasped by the fingers; 
         [0005]    a plunger-receiving opening extending longitudinally through the handle; 
         [0006]    a plunger slidingly received in the plunger-receiving opening, the plunger having a thumb-engaging surface adapted to be engaged by the thumb; 
         [0007]    resilient means urging the plunger to an extended position; 
         [0008]    a grating cutter; 
         [0009]    a holder for locating a food item adjacent the grating cutter; 
         [0010]    a resiliently-biased pusher for closing the holder and urging the food item toward the grating cutter; 
         [0011]    a pusher retainer for retaining and guiding movement of the pusher, and wherein the plunger is connected to one of the holder and the grating cuter, and the other of the holder and the grating cutter mounted to the handle, such that reciprocating the plunger causes relative movement between the grating cutter and the holder. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the grating cutter is recessed within the handle. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the handle has longitudinally opposing first and second ends, the grating cutter and holder are disposed proximate the first end of the handle, and in the extended position the plunger extends from the second end of the handle. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the first end includes first means defining a first plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the handle for supporting the handle upright on a horizontal surface. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the first means comprises a first transverse face. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the second end includes second means defining a second planar face transverse to a longitudinal axis of the handle for supporting the handle inverted on a horizontal surface. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the thumb-engaging surface is transverse and comprises the second means. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the handle comprises a tubular member and the first transverse face is annular. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the handle further comprises a block fixed internally to the tubular member, the plunger-receiving opening extending through the block. 
         [0020]    Preferably, the resilient means comprises a plunger spring of helical form, the plunger comprises a button on which the thumb-engaging surface is disposed, a recess in the button receiving the plunger spring, opposing ends of the plunger spring abutting the button and the handle. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the pusher retainer comprises an elongate linearly extending member. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the linearly extending member comprises a cylindrical wall. 
         [0023]    Preferably, the pusher retainer comprises a container with the cylindrical walls, opposing open and closed ends, and wherein a pusher spring is received in the container adjacent the pusher, the pusher spring urging the pusher toward the open end. 
         [0024]    Preferably, the open end is tapered inwardly toward its end to retain the pusher in the container. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the holder comprises a space disposed adjacent the grating cutter, and the container includes coupling means for connecting the guide means to the holder. 
         [0026]    Preferably, the coupling means is selected from one of: a) at least one nub for engaging a slot of a bayonet joint for providing push-and-turn connection of the container to the holder and b) a first screw thread for engaging a second complementary screw thread on the holder. 
         [0027]    Preferably, the holder is fixed to the plunger, and the grating cutter is fixed to the handle, and the container projects through a transverse aperture in the handle, the transverse aperture being elongated in the longitudinal direction. 
         [0028]    Preferably, the holder is fixed to the handle, and the grating cutter is fixed to the plunger. 
         [0029]    Preferably, the handle comprises a tubular member with an axis; 
         [0030]    a recess is disposed in the first end of the tubular member, wherein the recess is defined by two parallel edges that intersect with a circumferential edge that is disposed in a second plane of the tubular member transverse to the axis, and the two parallel edges extend axially to a first transverse plane proximate the first end of the tubular body; 
         [0031]    the holder comprises a block received in the recess; 
         [0032]    a space is formed in the holder for receiving the food item, said space is defined by a cylindrical wall projecting from the tubular member, the cylindrical wall extending from an inner end adjacent the grating cutter to an outer end in which the pusher retainer is received into the space, the cylindrical wall having an internal screw thread adapted to couple with a complementary external screw thread on the pusher retainer; 
         [0033]    wherein the block comprises an external surface of like curvature to the tubular member, and the cylindrical wall which extends tangentially to surfaces of the tubular member adjacent the parallel edges, the block further comprises a supporting surface in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the handle for supporting the handle upright on a horizontal surface. 
         [0034]    Preferably, the pusher retainer is operable to adjust the space defined by the grating cutter, the holder and the pusher. 
         [0035]    This invention provides a grater which is effective and efficient for single-handed use, and which may be economically manufactured. The grating cutter is completely recessed for safety. The grater is adapted for table-top use as it can sit on the table in the orientation in which it is readily grasped making its operation intuitive. Moreover, it provides an aesthetically pleasing design with a slim profile for ready storage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0036]    Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0037]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a grater according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the plunger of the grater of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view through the grater of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the grater of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a grater according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 6  is a longitudinal sectional view through the grater of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the plunger of the grater of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the grater of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the grater of  FIG. 5 ; and, 
           [0046]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the grater of  FIG. 5  with the block removed. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0047]    The present invention refers to a grater for single-handed operation.  FIGS. 1-4  refer to a first embodiment of the grater. Referring to the drawings, the first embodiment includes a tubular handle  10  sized be grasped by the fingers, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and having a longitudinal axis  12 . The tubular walls of the handle have an annular transverse face  20  at a first end  21  which may support the handle upright on a horizontal surface. A transverse aperture  22  is provided in first end  21 , spaced apart from the transverse face  20 . The tubular walls of the handle  10  may be imperforate, apart from the transverse aperture  22 . The aperture  22  is obround, elongated in the direction of the long axis  12 . 
         [0048]    A block  24  is fixed internally to the tubular walls of the handle  10 , with a plunger-receiving opening  26  extending axially through the block  24 . The block  24  has a planar face  28  that bounds a cavity  30  in the first end  21 . The block  24  includes a concavity  36  at a second end  23  of the handle  10 , the recess having cylindrical inner sides coaxial with axis  12 . An annular channel  38  is disposed at one end of the concavity  36 . A ring  40  fixed to the tubular handle walls abuts one axial end of the block  24 . 
         [0049]    A grating cutter  32  recessed within in the cavity  30  is fixed to the handle  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first embodiment of the grater having one end  32   a  of the grating cutter  32  fixed in a slot in the block  24 , while the opposing end  32   b  is disposed proximate the transverse face  20 . The grating cutter  22  may be generally planar, and is aligned parallel to the axis  12 . The grating cutter  32  may comprise channels  34  as shown, with teeth  35  spaced apart along one side of each channel  34 , although of course the cutting teeth is not material to the invention. 
         [0050]    A plunger  14  is received in the handle  10 , and includes a button  16  projecting through the second end  23 . The button  16  has cylindrical walls coaxial with axis  12  and slidingly received within the concavity  36 . The button  16  has a thumb-engaging surface  18  for engaging the thumb of a user, and which can also support the grater when inverted. A recess  42  in the button  16  receives and abuts one end of a helical compression spring  44 , the opposing end being received in the annular channel  38  abutting the block  24 , such that the spring  44  urges the plunger to the extended position shown in the drawings. The plunger  14  further includes a shaft  46  that extends axially through the opening  26  in the block  24 , which thus provides a sliding bearing supporting the plunger  14 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , one end of the shaft  46  is fixed to the button  16  as by a fastener  45 , and the other end is fixed to a holder  48  disposed in the cavity  30 . The holder  48  is ring-shaped, enclosing a space  33  disposed adjacent the grating cutter  32 . 
         [0051]    A helical pusher spring  56  and pusher  58  are received in a pusher retainer container  50 , which has cylindrical walls which serve to contain and guide the pusher  58 , restraining it to move linearly. The container  50  has opposing open and closed ends  52 ,  54 . The pusher spring  56  abuts the closed end  54  and urges the pusher  58  toward the open end  52 , which may be tapered inwardly to retain the pusher  58  and to assist entry of the open end  52  into the holder  48 . Teeth  60  project from the outer side of the pusher  58  to engage the food item. While the holder  48  is the primary device for storing and retaining the food item to be grated, the container  50 , in addition to holding a food item to be grated (not shown), may also serve as a secondary device for retaining food items inserted into the container by displacing the pusher  58  toward the closed end  54 . 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , on diametrically opposing sides of the holder  48  are generally L-shaped slots  62 , each with an axially extending length having an open mouth, and a circumferential length terminating in a blind end. Nubs  64  project from the outer, opposing sides of the container  50  near the open end  52 . The open end  52  is received in the complementary space in the holder  48 , the container  50  extending through the transverse opening  22 . Nubs  64  and L-shaped slots cooperate to provide a push-and-turn coupling of the bayonet type connecting the container  50  to the holder  48 . 
         [0053]    In use, the grater can be supported upright on a horizontal surface such as a table. When supported in this way it can be conveniently grasped as shown in  FIG. 1  with the fingers extending about the handle  10  and the thumb engaging the plunger  14 . Maintaining this grip, and with the grater upright, alternately pressing and releasing the plunger  14  reciprocates the food item in the container  50  relative to the grating cutter  32  to thereby dispense the grated food. To refill the container  50 , it is removed and, with the holder  48  opening upwards, food is placed in the holder  48 , before entering the end of the container  50  into the holder  48  and re-coupling the container  50  in the known manner. Alternatively, the container  50  may be held with the mouth  52  uppermost, the food placed in the open end  52  onto the pusher  58 , before pushing the holder  48  over the container and turning to make the connection. Completely recessing the grating cutter  32  within the cavity  30  allows unintentional contact with the cutter to be avoided, so a sharp blade with fine cutting edges may be used. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 5-9  refer to a second embodiment of the grater. Referring to the drawings, the second embodiment includes a plunger  114  similar to the plunger  14  of the first embodiment but instead of connecting to the holder  48 , the plunger  114  is connected to the grating cutter  132 . The holder  148  is mounted to the handle  110 . Reciprocating the plunger  114  and the attached grating cutter  132  by pressing on the thumb-engaging surface  118  of the button  116 , the user causes relative movement between the grating cutter  132  and the holder  148 , consequently allowing the food item to be grated. 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the handle  110  may comprise a tubular member  170 . The tubular member further comprises a recess  172  in the first end  174  of the tubular member  170 . The recess  172  is defined by two parallel edges  178  (only one edge of the two parallel edges is shown in  FIG. 10 ) that intersect with a circumferential edge  180  that is disposed from a second plane transverse to the axis  112  of the tubular body  170 . The two parallel edges  178  also extend axially to a first transverse plane proximate the first end  174  of the tubular body  170 . A block  124  is received in the recess  172 . 
         [0056]    The holder  148  may comprise a space  133  for receiving the food item. The space  133  is defined by a cylindrical wall  182  projecting from the tubular member  170 . The cylindrical wall  182  may further comprise an internal screw thread  183  best seen in  FIG. 6  for coupling with a complementary external screw thread  184  on the pusher retainer  150 . 
         [0057]    The pusher retainer  150  maybe operable to adjust the size of the space defined by the grating cutter  132 , the cylindrical wall  182  and the pusher  158 , that is, by screwing the pusher retainer  150  in and out of the space its size varied. This allows further space in the holder so that more food items can be enclosed and grated, without the need of frequent refilling of food items. 
         [0058]    The block  124  may be a moulded polymer component that further comprise an external surface  125  of like curvature to the tubular member  170 , an external cylindrical wall  182  which extends tangentially to surfaces of the tubular member  170  adjacent the parallel edges  178 . The block may also comprise an internal cylindrical wall bounding the space  133 . The internal cylindrical wall extends from an inner end  186  adjacent the grating cutter  132  to a mouth at an outer end  188  in which the pusher retainer  150  is received into the space  133 . 
         [0059]    The block  124  may further comprise a support surface  120  transverse to a longitudinal axis  112  of the handle  110  for supporting the handle  110  upright on a horizontal surface such as a table. 
         [0060]    Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.