Abstract:
A vibrating peeler uses a vibrator in the form of a more powerful motor plus larger weight and within an inner housing. The inner housing is placed in an outer housing and a damper is placed between the outer handle and inner housing. Several embodiments are shown for blade loading. An alternative embodiment light weight eccentric which drives a heavier mass, but only back and forth rather than a circular pattern. This vibrating arrangement puts more lateral motion to the blade, and avoids other motion in directions not parallel to the blade.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an improvements in the design and operation of a vibrating peeler which facilitates the ability for users to achieve greater control in peeling, especially of food, which will result in less waste both in control of removal of a thinner section of the layer to be peeled, as well as a reduction in the amount of damage to the food. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Generally, portable vibrating peelers are known to facilitate the task of peeling skin from vegetables and fruit. One design has a blade that moves backwards and forwards in a sawing action, with the reciprocating action can be driven by a motor via a crank mechanism, or a cam mechanism of a wobble plate cam mechanism. A different arrangement uses a motor that oscillates a blade in a small arc via a gearbox and crank. Both of these arrangements suffer from a number of shortcomings. Noise generated through gear trains, cams and contact between vibrating surfaces is a significant problem. The use of small, high speed motors (necessitated due to the small dimensions of portable peelers) also generates noise at a higher pitch relative to the human ear. In addition, these arrangements require a shaft to pass from the dry, motor/gearbox area of the product into the wet area of the peeling blade. 
         [0003]    Also on the market are vibrating toothbrushes and vibrating wet razors. These use a different approach in which a small, high speed motor with an eccentric mass fitted to the shaft is used to produce vibration by small changes in mass. The motor rotation therefore creates a vibration that is transmitted through the entire product. This vibration is therefore imposed upon the hand of the user who is holding the implement. Thus the hand of the user is used to both damp the vibration as well as being somewhat irritated by it. The vibrations that are needed by a toothbrush or razor are quite small so the vibrations felt by the hand are acceptable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A vibrating peeler uses a vibrator in the form of a more powerful motor plus larger weight and within an inner housing. The inner housing is placed in an outer housing and a damper is placed between the outer handle and inner housing. Careful positioning and design of the damper then allows the inner housing to move relative to the outer handle. In this way a powerful yet quiet vibrating motor/eccentric can be comfortably held in the hand. 
         [0005]    By placing the damper at the opposite end to the vibrator, with the peeler blade near the vibrator and away from the damper, a large cutting amplitude can be attained, but with very limited vibration being transmitted to the outer handle. In a second embodiment, in lieu of a damper, a pivot is placed between the outer handle and the inner housing. This pivot transfers only approximately half of the vibrations to the outer handle with the other half of the vibrations being relatively unconstrained. 
         [0006]    In a further modification to the vibrating motor/eccentric, a lightweight eccentric cam is used to drive an oscillating weight to change the amplitude of vibrations in different directions. The peeler of the invention includes both peeler arms and blade, to enable the blade to be released by pressing the peeler arms together in one possible embodiment. An alternative lever arm design can utilize added levers are added to allow the levers to be squeezed to transmit force to the peeler arms to cause a previously restrained blade to be released. A further alternative includes a light weight eccentric which drives a heavier mass, but only back and forth rather than a circular pattern. This vibrating arrangement puts more lateral motion to the blade, and avoids other motion in directions not parallel to the blade. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the exterior overall shape of the vibrating peeler, but with the left half of the handle housing broken away to illustrate the component parts within the handle; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an expanded and detailed view of the rear of the peeler illustrating a further broken away view of the rear of the peeler handle to reveal details of the damper; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to that seen in  FIG. 1  but illustrating an alignment and securing of the rear eye remover which operates to secure the damper; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view showing some of the internals of the vibration portion of the motor housing with the battery housing shown rearwardly in exploded view and illustrating the threaded member with which the battery housing is connected to the motor housing; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a view looking into the rear of the forward housing with blade holder arms attached and illustrating the rear threads and battery contact to enable the forward housing to be connected physically and electrically to the battery housing; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view looking down upon a further embodiment of the vibrating peeler in which the blade holder arms have rearwardly extending spread levers to spread the arms apart to release the pivoting double blade; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative embodiment illustrating blade release by pressing the pivot arms together and which utilize cylindrical members inboard of expanded head members which fit within bosses on the outside of the arms; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a motor having a weight to predominantly produce vibration in a side to side motion; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a side sectional view of a third embodiment which can utilize the motor arrangement seen in  FIG. 7  and which uses a pivoting action about a vertical axis; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a perspective external view of the third embodiment and illustrating some of the features seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    The description and operation of the vibrating peeler of the invention is best begun with reference to  FIG. 1  which illustrates is a perspective view illustrating the exterior overall shape of a vibrating peeler  31 . The vibrating peeler  31  has a handle member  33  connected to a forward housing  35  at a front end of the handle member and securing an end closure  37  having a vegetable eye remover  39  structure at the rear of the handle member  33 . The vegetable eye remover  39  is shown as having a through opening  41 , which enables the vegetable eye remover  39  structure to double as an attachment structure. 
         [0019]    At the forward housing  35 , a pair of arms, including a right arm  43  and a left arm  45 . Arms  43  and  45  extend laterally curvingly away from the forward housing  35  and terminate after some parallel extent. At each of the ends of the arms  43  and  45  is a downwardly directed slot  47 . Roughly seen within the slot are a pair of blade pivots  49 . As can be seen the blade pivots have an expanded diameter portion at the insides or facing portions of the ends of the arms  43  and  45 , of which further details will be shown. Generally, a watertight joint is formed between the arms  43  and  45  and the forward housing  35  by integral formation, ultrasonic welding, solvent welding or a similar means. 
         [0020]    A double blade  53  having a central slot  55  has sharpened edges on either side of the central slot  55  so that peeling can be accomplished in either a forward or rearward direction. The interaction of the pair of blade pivots  49  and the arms  43  will be such as to allow the double blade  53  to pivot, but may be arranged to maintain it generally within an angular positional constraint if desired. 
         [0021]    The pivots  49  can be attached to the double blade  53  by over molding, bonded, press fit or attached in any other suitable fashion. When clipped in, there is light pressure on the face of the flanges  49  to ensure that the vibrations of the arms  43  and  45  of the vibrating peeler  31  are efficiently transmitted to the double blade  53  itself. The double blade  53  is free to pivot to suit the surface of any food or other object being peeled. To remove the double blade  53 , either end may be un-clipped first by applying downward pressure to the arms  43  and  45 . A safety cover (not shown) can be placed over the blade for further safe handling during blade removal/insertion. As will be seen, two other blade removal structures will be shown which can facilitate removal of the double blade  53  also by spreading of the arms  43  and  45  and by compression of the arms  43  and  45 . 
         [0022]    At the top of the forward housing  35  is an on/off button  61 . The on/off button  61  will preferably press to turn and leave on action and a push to turn off so that the user may be position their hands on the handle  33  for optimum comfort and view of the peeling operation. The central and upper location of the on/off button  61  will permit it actuation by thumb and enable the user to actuate the vibrating peeler  31  on and off without the necessity to bring any part of the user&#39;s hands forward of the center of the forward housing  35  and to easily avoid placing the hands anywhere near blade  53  while actuating the vibrating peeler  31  on and off. 
         [0023]    Also seen in  FIG. 1  are the main sections of the vibrating peeler sue to the broken away section of main handle section  31 , including a motor housing  65 , an “o” ring seal  69 , a battery housing flange  71 , and a battery housing  73 . The battery housing flange  71  helps create pressure on the an “o” ring seal  69  and against the motor housing  65 . Further, the “o” ring seal  69  acts as a secondary dampener to absorb any excess noise and to help eliminate vibration in the structures between which it is located. To the rear of battery housing  73  a damper  75  is partially seen. The location of the battery housing to the rear of the vibrating peeler  31  helps to leverage the bulk of the vibratory motion to the forward end of the vibrating peeler  31 . In general, damper  75  may be attached to the handle member  33  by over molding (preferred), bonding, or mechanical interlock means. The forward housing  35  and the motor housing  56  form a sealed unit as a main housing. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an expanded and detailed view of the rear portion of the peeler at and rearward of the battery housing  73  illustrates further details. As can be seen, a battery  81  is seen above a conductor strip  83  which is used to bring current up from the rear of the battery  81  in the battery housing  73  (not seen in  FIG. 2 ), or from the last battery in a line of batteries, if more than one battery  81  were present. At the rear of the battery housing  73  a number of structures are seen partially broken away. A projection  85  extends rearwardly of and may or may not be an integral part of the battery housing  73  and is used to set the radial dimension between the internal structure at the rear of the battery housing  73  and its interaction with the damper  75 . Projection  85  also carries a set of internal threads for engaging the end closure  37 . 
         [0025]    The rear projection  85  may have a series of radially extending locating ribs  87 . Locating ribs  87  may interfit and be located within grooves or other accommodating structure within the damper  75 , as will be shown. Also seen is a damper washer  91  which has a series of projections  93  which may penetrate the damper  75  through pre-formed bores. The damper washer helps to form a good seal between end closure  37  and end closure&#39;s attachment into the projection  85 . The projections help to control the movement and relationship of the damper washer  91 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a view similar to that seen in  FIG. 1  but from a less expanded perspective illustrates the removability of the motor housing  65  and battery housing  73  as a unit from the handle member  33  upon removal of the end closure  37 . The end closure  37  is seen to have a forward facing wall  95  surrounding a plug projection  97  carrying one or more threads  99  for engaging a matching thread set inside the projection  85 . 
         [0027]    Ideally, damper  75  may be attached to the inside surface of handle member  33 , welding, adhesive and more. End closure  37  screws into the end projection  85  which may preferably be formed with and an integral part of the battery housing  73 . Damper  75 , with damper washer  91  in place, becomes trapped between the battery housing  73  and the end closure  37 . Tightening the end closure  37  into the projection  85  makes the damper  75  compress a bit and can adjust the damping. Damper washer  91  allows end closure  37  to turn easily without friction dragging directly onto the rubber damper. 
         [0028]    Damper  75 , in this exploded view, is seen to have a number of slots or grooves  101  (of which three are seen) for interfitting with the series of radially extending locating ribs  87  on the projection  85 . Projection  85  slides into the damper  75  aligned by ribs  87  and slots or grooves  101 . Damper washer  91  is placed adjacent the damper  75  with pins or projections  93  either into matching bores or if the projections  93  are small enough, simply pressed into the damper  75  form the stabilizing barrier against the turning of the end projection  37 . 
         [0029]    As can be seen at the front of the vibrating peeler  31 , the end closure  37  holds the motor housing  65  and battery housing  73  and all structures forward of the motor housing  65  as a unitary assembly within the handle member  33 . Removal of the end closure  37  allows the handle member  33  to be removed and the vibrating peeler  31  disassembled. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a front view showing some of the internals of the vibration portion of the motor housing  65  is seen, with the battery housing  73  shown rearwardly in exploded view with the battery  83  shown in place. Beginning with the battery housing, just forward of the “o” ring seal  69  a threaded section  105  is seen. Threaded section  105  is on the outside surface of a wall  107  which forms an entrance to the hollow inside of the battery housing  73 . The threaded section  105  will be seen to form the structure with which the battery housing  73  is attached to the motor housing  65 . 
         [0031]    The enclosing wall of the forward housing  35  is partially broken away to reveal details of the components located there. A front wall  111  has an opening through which a motor  113  is partially seen as being located behind the front wall  111 . However forward housing  35  and motor housing  65  together form a waterproof enclosure which isolates all of the internal components seen in  FIG. 4  from water entry. A shaft  115  of the motor can be seen within an eccentric weight  117 , such the eccentric arrangement is a rotary moving mass. The vibration for the vibrating peeler  31  occurs because of the weight of the eccentric weight  117  turning on the shaft  115 . Because the center of weight of the eccentric located away from the shaft  115 , turning of the shaft with its off balance eccentric weight  117  causes a circular vibration in the vicinity of the double blade  53  at the ends of the arms  43  and  45  seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
         [0032]    As can be particularly seen in  FIG. 4 , the center of gravity of the vibrating peeler  31 , given the presence of the battery  81  and motor (not shown) within motor housing  5 , will probably lie somewhere along the length of the battery  81 , but very likely to be located at the rear of the motor housing  65 . Thus, even without damping, the handle member  33  will vibratably orbit about a center of gravity pivot within the handle member  33 . 
         [0033]    The arms  43  and  45  are seen to possibly be molded with the forward housing  35 . The forward housing  35  has an internal space  125  which houses, in addition to the eccentric weight  117  and shaft  115 , a number of other structures are shown. A switch  127  has an actuation button  129  which lies underneath a lever  131 . Lever  131  underlies an over molded button  133 . Lever  131  is attached at a pivot attachment  135 . Adequate spacing and clearance is provided about the eccentric weight  117  for rotational clearance. 
         [0034]    Further details of the blade pivot  49  is seen where the arm  45  has been removed for clarity. Pivot  49  has a small diameter cylindrical member  141  and an expanded head  143 . The head  143  stabilizes and spreads the force from the arms  43  and  45  which are pre-stressed to place force against the outwardly exposed surfaces of the heads  143  of the blade pivots  49 . The angle of pivot may or may not be limited by the shape and other features of the blade pivots  49 . Since the double blade  53  may easily assume a position were the central slot  53  is immediately adjacent the body to be peeled in some cases it may not be necessary to limit the degree of pivot. Limitation of pivot, for example, can be had by making the small diameter cylindrical member  141  in a shape which is not completely cylindrical or some other expedient. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a view looking into the rear of the forward housing with the battery housing  73  detached as in  FIG. 4  illustrates details for mechanical and electrical connection of the battery housing  73  both physically and electrically to the forward housing  35 . An opening  151  includes a threaded section  153  has threads which are compatible with the threaded section  105  located on the battery housing  73 . A conductive outer contact ring  155  extends around the inner periphery of the opening  151  and is for contacting the end of the conductor strip  83  when the battery housing  73  is threadably attached to the motor housing  65 . A conductive inner contact  157  is positioned to contact forward side of the battery  81  when the when the battery housing  73  is threadably attached to the motor housing  65 . Since joinder will be had by turning, the contacts  155  and  157  are arranged to facilitate contact regardless of the angular turned relationship of the battery housing onto the motor housing  65 . An abutment rim  157  is sized to compress the “o” ring seal  69  to provide a watertight seal between the motor housing  65  and the battery housing  73 . Also seen is a rear abutment surface  159  for abutting the forward end of the handle member  33 . 
         [0036]    To disassemble the vibrating peeler, the end closure  37  is unscrewed and set aside. This allows the handle member  33 , perhaps with integral damper  75  and damper washer  91  connected, to be removed away from the end of the battery housing  73  and projection  85 . Removal of the handle member  33  allows access to and the ability to separate handle member  33  from motor housing  65 , especially to change the batteries  81 . Such access is also facilitated for cleaning and washing. For reassembly, the reverse steps are performed. It should be noted that the damper washer  91  simply protects the Damper from damage which might otherwise be caused by the end closure  37 . Generally, the damper  75  functions to position the handle member  33  relative to the battery housing  73  and the damper  75  may be slightly compressed by the end closure  37 . Varying compression ratios allow the amount of damping to be adjusted. Indexation between the end closure  37  and the damper washer  91  could allow adjustable, selection of preferred damping. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a second embodiment is seen as a vibrating peeler  201  having a different forward housing  203  which includes a pair of rearwardly projected levers. Lever  213  is connected to and extends rearwardly of arm  43 . Lever  215  is connected to and extends rearwardly of arm  45 . When the lever arms  213  and  215  are pressed toward each other and toward the handle member  33 , the arms  43  and  45  open to release the double blade  53 . This technique helps isolate the user even more so from having to touch the double blade  53 . The removed position of the double blade  53  also exposes a pair of pivot apertures  221 . A shallow internal depression  223  may be present to help users approach a double blade  53  when the double blade  53  is sitting on a table or other flat surface, and facilitates manipulation of the arms  43  and  45 , whether or not the lever arms  213  and  215  are present. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 7  an alternative embodiment is seen as a peeler  249  in which the pivot arms  43  and  45  can be urged together to release the peeler blade. Arms  43  and  45  have external bosses  251  and  253  which are meant to engage a double blade  255 . The double blade  255  includes a pair of pivot fittings  261  and  263 . The pivot fittings  261  and  263 . Each of the pivot fittings  261  and  263  has cylindrical portion  265  which is inboard of an outer expanded head  267 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 8  a perspective view of a motor  301  and support frame  303  which can operate with respect to a further embodiment is shown. The embodiments of  FIGS. 1-7  have shown an eccentric weight  117  which provides a circular vibration. The optimum desired vibrating motion is in a direction parallel to the sharpened edges adjacent the central slot  55  of the double blade  53 . Motion which tends to lift and drop the double blade  55  is generally wasted. The energy used for circular vibration is more than that which would be used for vibration in one direction. 
         [0040]    Whereas eccentric weight  117  caused an operation based upon its own mass, an eccentric cam  307  rotates with a shaft  311  within a generally vertical slot  313  within a rectangular shaped mass  315 . Thus the eccentric arrangement is one in which the predominant vibrational movement is from side to side. Rectangular shaped mass  315  moves to the left and right within a travel track made up of a lower plate  317  and a pair of upper plates  319  and  321 . Eccentric cam  307  may be standard or may be specially constructed to have very little or minimum mass. In any event, the mass of the rectangular shaped mass  315  will predominate and the majority of the vibration will occur along the planes of the plates  317 ,  319  and  321 . The amount of up and down vibration from the mass of the eccentric cam  307  will be negligible. 
         [0041]      FIG. 9  is a side sectional view of a fourth embodiment which can utilize the motor arrangement seen in  FIG. 8 . Since the predominant motion is side to side, any damping should also take account of this predominant mode. A half section of a vibrating peeler  325  illustrates dampener which operates about a vertical pivot to work with the side to side motion produced. Motor  301  fits within a sleeve  331  which threadably connects to a receiver  333 . The receiver  333  is attached to a pivot fitting including a top pivot fitting  335  and a bottom pivot fitting  337 . A switch  341  is in a position to be operated by an on/off button located at the rear of the vibrating peeler  325 . Note that a gap  345  exists between the sleeve  331  and an outer housing  349 . Note that the arm  43  is attached to the sleeve  331  and that the end of the sleeve  331  is attached to the arm  43 . In this configuration, the bulk of the side to side motion is transmitted directly to the arms  43  and  45 , and thence to the double blade  55 , while the user holds the outer housing  349 . The user essentially supports the vibrating structure from a rear pivot while holding the outer housing  349 . The gap  345  as a longitudinal space continues at it turns and becomes a gap  351  adjacent the front plate  355  of the sleeve  331 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , a perspective external view of the fourth embodiment illustrating some of the features seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . In addition, an external top pivot structure  361  is seen. An Expanded portion forms a battery cap  363 . The rearward actuation enables the switch assembly including switch  341  and on/off button  343  to be rearwardly actuated and removed along with the battery cap. The battery cap  363  is attached using an “o” ring structure  365 . Damping structures can be employed, but since the sleeve  331  operates as a pivot, no truly motion resistive structures are believed to be necessary. So long as the sleeve  331  has no vibrational source of noise with respect to the outer housing  349 . Further, without the constraint of an energy absorbing dampener a significantly greater vibrational displacement is achieved. Every feature of every one of the vibrating peeler  31 ,  201 ,  249 ,  325  can be used with every other one of the vibrating peeler  31 ,  201 ,  249 ,  325 . 
         [0043]    While the present invention has been described in terms of a structure, device and process for creating and delivering a vibrational force and motion to a peeler blade, and particularly a structure which breaks down for easy cleaning, as well as a mechanism for producing vibration predominantly in a plane parallel to the peeler blade, one skilled in the art will realize that the structure and techniques of the present invention can be applied to many structures and devices which are used in the kitchen, and particularly where motion is to be applied to an instrument for preparing and processing food in a fine manner and to enable precision peeling to enhance controllability and the fine appearance of the food product processed and treated by such device. 
         [0044]    Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.