Patent ID: 7568414

Claim:
A device for slicing food and non-food items, said device comprising: a base having a plurality of substantially vertical and independent legs, each said leg having a vertical portion with an upper portion and a lower portion; each said lower portion providing a separate foot for standing on a fixed surface; each said upper portion terminating on a centrally located fixed sleeve; a removable blade assembly having a plurality of vertically orientated blades creating a plurality of vertically orientated voids therebetween, wherein disposed on each of said legs is a projection, and further wherein disposed on said blade assembly are a plurality of U-shaped elements that correspond in size, shape, orientation and location to said projections such that said blade assembly may be removably attached to said base at said projections; and a press mechanism including a removable contoured press complementary to said removable blade assembly, wherein said contoured press includes slidable attachment means for removably attaching said contoured press to said press mechanism, said slidable attachment means including an upper element having a planar edge and said press mechanism including a channel therein for slidably receiving said planar edge of said contoured press; said contoured press having a plurality of punch elements corresponding in size and shape to said plurality of voids in said removable blade assembly such that said punch elements may be inserted into said voids during operation of said device; said press mechanism being attached to said base by guides, said guides engaging said vertical portion of said legs thereby enabling said press mechanism to slide up and down said legs; and a moveable lever handle assembly attached to at least two said upper portions of said legs and to said press mechanism for forcing said food and non-food items against said blade assembly to thereby slice said food and non-food items; wherein said movable lever assembly includes a push rod and wherein said fixed sleeve guides said push rod up and down to thereby raise and lower said press mechanism; wherein said legs provide structural support to said blade assembly and said press mechanism.