Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Patent Application Ser. No. 62/387,855, filed Jan. 7, 2016 for “Fruit and Vegetable Coring System” by George E. Mauro and Dennis W. Davis. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Typical coring devices for apples are designed to remove the apple core by removing a plug, including the core, from a bore which extends completely through the apple. An example of such a device is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . This prior art device  11  comprises a part circular elongate blade  15  having serrated edges  13  extending for much of the length of the blade from a handle  21  to a pointed blade end  17 . The pointed end  17  is inserted, usually from the stalk end of the apple, and the device is then rotated about a longitudinal axis defined by the blade while the blade  15  is pushed into the apple so that the teeth of the serrated edges  13  cut or tear the apple about its core until the blade  15  projects from the end of the apple opposite the stalk. The device is then removed, often leaving the core plug containing the core in place for separate removal, thereby adding a separate step in the removal of the core and leaving a bore open at both ends. Some coring applications benefit from an incomplete bore which leaves a small portion of the apple at the bottom of the core intact, thereby providing a floor for the retention of inserted foodstuffs during a baking operation. 
         [0003]    In another prior art arrangement, a circular tube, having a serrated circular edge extends away from a handle to which it is connected by a part circular member. This prior art device has similar drawbacks to those described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0004]    U.S. patent application 20070101577 to Mauro discloses a coring device comprising a circular cylindrical member having the proximal end attached to a handle and the distal end having a blade edge. The cutting edge of the cylindrical member is introduced into the fruit and advanced to the desired depth in the fruit. Various embodiments of the device include planar blades in the interior of the cylindrical member for the purpose of shearing the core at the distal end of the cylindrical member when it is rotated in the fruit, thereby separating it from the fruit. What is needed is a means to ensure removal of the fruit core, once it is cut and separated from the fruit. Additionally, means to align the coring blade with the core of the fruit would be helpful. 
         [0005]    The coring system offers the option of completely coring the fruit or vegetable or leaving a closed ended bore (blind hole) to facilitate filling and retention of cooking stuffs during baking or cooking. The presently disclosed coring system can be used to core a variety of fruits and vegetables. The system is most useful for fruits and vegetables that are characterized by having a plurality of small seeds or well-defined cores (ex. apples, pears, citrus fruit, squash, onions, etc.) As an example, in the case of apples, a combination of raisins, sugar, and cinnamon can be introduced into the core to produce a well-flavored baked apple. Various spice and other food mixtures can be introduced into fruits and vegetables for cooking. Even vegetables such as potatoes without a core can be cored so as to fill them with cooking ingredients or they may be partially cored in various ways to produce decorative foods. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved coring device suitable for use in easily removing the core of a fruit or vegetable, such as an apple, in one step. 
         [0007]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a closed ended bore to provide for retention of a filling in the bore with foodstuffs during baking to produce a baked fruit or vegetable. 
         [0008]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a coring device which is economical and easy to manufacture while having a long life expectancy as well as great durability and reliability. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a fruit coring system comprising a handle and a cylindrical compression member having first and second ends and defining a longitudinal axis, the cylindrical compression member having an interior region, the first end of the cylindrical compression member being fastened with the handle and the second end defining a cylindrical cutting edge, or cylindrical blade, and at least one planar blade having a blade cutting edge, the planar blade(s) being supported within the interior region of the cylindrical compression member such that, in a preferred embodiment, the planar blade cutting edge lies substantially in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical compression member. 
         [0010]    The cylindrical cutting edge may be defined by at least one taper formed in the cylindrical compression member, alternatively converging tapers may be formed in the cylindrical compression member with each taper having an angle of about 15° with respect to the axis. The reduction in the inner diameter of the cylindrical compression member due to blade taper providing sufficient compression of the sliced fruit (or vegetable) as it enters the cylinder to permit retention of the sliced portion (core) of the fruit within the cylindrical compression member for removal from the surrounding portion of the fruit. 
         [0011]    It is to be understood that the term “cylindrical”, as used hereinafter and in the appended claims, means any tubular shape that is circular or substantially circular in cross section (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular shape) such as, for example, octagonal, hexagonal, a square with rounded corners, other polygonal shapes, a ring, or a cylindrical ring, etc., regardless of whether or not the cylindrical compression member includes an air bleed passage. Generally speaking, the substantially cylindrical compression member or cylindrical cutting edge may comprise a plurality of planar surfaces interconnected with one another into a generally circular or oval configuration to form a leading cutting edge for cutting a bore in fruit. It is to be appreciated that the term “cylindrical” is also intended to cover arrangements in which the cutting edge is only partially cylindrical, e.g., the cutting edge only extends 180 degrees or greater. If desired, the member cutting edge may be serrated to facilitate cutting a bore within the fruit. 
         [0012]    The handle preferably has two opposed extensions extending away from the longitudinal axis for ease of manual use. 
         [0013]    The blade may be a single blade, a pair of opposed blades, or various configurations of multiple blades. 
         [0014]    The cylindrical compression member may have a substantially continuous side wall extending from the first to the second end or merely may have a substantially continuous leading second end which is connected to the handle by two or more legs or some other rigid support to securely attach or affix the cylindrical compression member to the handle and prevent movement of the handle relative to the cylindrical compression member. 
         [0015]    A sidewall of the cutting member or cylindrical compression member may be provided with an air passageway to allow air to bleed into the apple or fruit as the core is removed therefrom. This facilitates easier removal of the core as it substantially lessens the vacuum created within the apple or fruit during core removal. 
         [0016]    Various means for aligning the cylindrical compression member with the axis of the fruit are disclosed with include guides with pins for insertion in the fruit and caliper-like means. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art apple corer; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the fruit (vegetable) coring system of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3A  is a sequence of pictorial views of the coring process using the coring system of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3B  is a sequence of pictorial views of the coring system used to core a sequence of fruits; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3C  is an exploded pictorial view of the coring system and the cored fruit; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4A  is a pictorial view of a serrated cylindrical blade; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4B  is a pictorial view of the cylindrical blade having pronouncements to facilitate puncture of fruit or vegetable skins; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical blade having a dual taper; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical blade having an interior taper; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the cylindrical blade cutting the core of a fruit, emphasizing the region of core compression; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of a fruit cut using the cylindrical compression member of  FIG. 7C ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of a fruit cut using the cylindrical compression member of  FIG. 7D ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7C  is a pictorial view of a long version of the cylindrical compression member of the coring system; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7D  is pictorial view of a short version of the cylindrical compression member of the coring system; 
           [0032]      FIG. 7E  is a pictorial view of the handle of the coring system; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8A  is a cross-sectional view of the coring system which includes a large standoff collar; 
           [0034]      FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view of the coring system which includes a small standoff collar; 
           [0035]      FIG. 9A  is a pictorial view of a cylindrical compression member having a cross-section which square with rounded corners and planar blades attached to the interior; 
           [0036]      FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view of the cylindrical compression member of  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9C  is a cross-sectional view of an hexagonal cylindrical compression member containing planar blades attached to the interior; 
           [0038]      FIG. 9D  is a cross-sectional view of an octagonal cylindrical compression member containing planar blades attached to the interior; 
           [0039]      FIG. 9E  is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical compression member containing V-shaped blades attached to the interior; 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  is a pictorial view of the coring system which exhibits two legs for support of the cylindrical blade and a planar blade; 
           [0041]      FIG. 11A  is a pictorial view of the cylindrical compression member which includes two planar blades formed from the cylindrical compression member itself using a first cylinder cutting geometry; 
           [0042]      FIG. 11B  is a pictorial view of the cylindrical compression member which includes two planar blades formed from the cylindrical compression member itself using a second cylinder cutting geometry; 
           [0043]      FIG. 11C  is a cross-sectional view of the cylindrical compression member of either  FIG. 11A  or  FIG. 11B ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 11D  is a pictorial view of the cylindrical compression member which includes four planar blades formed from the cylindrical compression member itself; 
           [0045]      FIG. 11E  is a cross-sectional view of the cylindrical compression member of  FIG. 11D . 
           [0046]      FIG. 12  is a pictorial view of a coring system exhibiting a single, planar cutting blade interior to the cylindrical compression member; 
           [0047]      FIG. 13  is a pictorial view of a coring system exhibiting a wire cutting means interior to the cylindrical compression member; 
           [0048]      FIG. 14A  is a pictorial view of a coring system exhibiting four planar cutting blades interior to the cylindrical compression member; 
           [0049]      FIG. 14B  is a plurality of cross-sectional views of a cylindrical compression member containing various geometries of multiple blades interior to the cylindrical compression member; 
           [0050]      FIG. 15A  is a cross-sectional view of an alternate polygonal shape of planar blades interior to the cylindrical compression member; 
           [0051]      FIG. 15B  is a cross-sectional view of planar blades interior to the cylindrical compression member that exhibit curvilinear edges; 
           [0052]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of a coring system in which planar blades are attached interior to the cylindrical compression member at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical compression member; 
           [0053]      FIG. 17  is a pictorial view of a coring system in which planar blades interior to the cylindrical compression member extend the full length of the cylindrical compression member; 
           [0054]      FIG. 18  is a pictorial view of a coring system which includes planar blades interior to the cylindrical compression member that intersect at right angles; 
           [0055]      FIG. 19A  is a pictorial view of a cylindrical compression member exhibiting a longitudinal slit; 
           [0056]      FIG. 19B  is a pictorial view of a cylindrical compression member exhibiting a longitudinal trough; 
           [0057]      FIG. 20A  is a pictorial view of a coring system which includes a first pin-based core alignment means; 
           [0058]      FIG. 20B  is a pictorial view of a coring system which includes a second pin-based core alignment means; 
           [0059]      FIG. 20C  is a pictorial view of a coring system which includes a third pin-based core alignment means; 
           [0060]      FIG. 21A  is a sequence of pictorial views of the coring process using the coring system of  FIG. 20A ; 
           [0061]      FIG. 21B  is an exploded pictorial view of the coring system of  FIG. 20A  with the cored fruit; 
           [0062]      FIG. 22A  is a pictorial view of a coring system which includes a fourth pin-based core alignment means; 
           [0063]      FIG. 22B  is a cross-sectional view of the cap and pin portion of the coring system of  FIG. 22A ; 
           [0064]      FIG. 23  is a pictorial view of a coring system which includes a fifth pin-based core alignment means; 
           [0065]      FIG. 24  is a pictorial view of a coring system which includes a “caliper-like” core alignment means; 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0066]    Referring first to  FIG. 2  a fruit coring system  31  comprises a cylindrical member  33  extending from a first end  37 , attached to a handle  35 , to an opposite second end  51  which forms a leading cutting edge or cylindrical blade  43 . The taper  41  of this blade  43  is depicted in exaggerated fashion. Planar blade surfaces  45 , which are largely parallel to the longitudinal axis  47  of cylindrical compression member  33 , are formed by cuts  39  made in the sides of the cylindrical compression member  33  and folding the cut portions inward. The cylindrical blade  43  is used to slice a cylindrical volume enclosing the core of a fruit. If it is desired to retain a floor of fruit below an extracted fruit core, then the cylindrical compression member is inserted so as to avoid penetrating the bottom of the fruit. When the cylindrical compression member  33  is inserted to the desired depth in the fruit, it is rotated so that the planar blade surfaces  45  will shear the sliced core from the fruit. The handle  35  may be integral with the first end  37  or made fast with the first end  37  by the use of a conventional attachment mechanism. e.g., a press-fit, an adhesive, rivets, welding, etc. and defines a pair of opposed projections  49  which permit ease of manual use. Also depicted is a thumb hole, or perforation  51  for hanging the coring system on a hook when not in use. 
         [0067]    The appropriate use of the coring system  31  for removal of a fruit core is illustrated with reference to  FIG. 3A , showing a sequence of steps associated with the coring process. First, the coring system  31  is oriented in axial alignment with the core of the fruit. Subsequently, it is inserted downward into the fruit to a desired depth, thereby slicing a cylindrical surface interior to the fruit. It is then rotated so that the fruit core is sheared from the fruit. As will be described below, the cylindrical compression member  33  is designed so that as the cylindrical compression member is withdrawn from the fruit, the core will be retained therein. The coring system  31  can be immediately used to core another fruit and the previously retained core will be ejected from cylindrical compression member  33  by the subsequent core as depicted in  FIG. 3B .  FIG. 3C  is an exploded diagram of the results of the coring process. A fruit  77 , such as an apple for example, is shown with a cored volume  75 . The extracted core  79  exhibits slits  73  resulting from incisions by the planar blades  81  of the coring system  71 . 
         [0068]    Variations in the geometry of the cylindrical blade  43  of  FIG. 2  are shown in  FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B . In  FIG. 4A , the blade  95  at the end of cylindrical compression member  97  shows serrations  93  that are an alternative to a uniform, flat-edged cylindrical blade.  FIG. 4B  is a pictorial view of a cylindrical compression member  101  exhibiting a cylindrical blade  103  that has two scalloped edges  107  and  109  that form pronouncements  105  along the edges for the purpose of readily puncturing the skin of a fruit or vegetable. Other blade contours, besides scallops, may be used to achieve the pronouncements and are within the scope of this disclosure. The cross-sectional view of a portion of cylindrical compression member  33  of  FIG. 2 , depicting various taper geometries for the cylindrical blade is provided in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . In  FIG. 5A , a section  117  of the cylindrical compression member adjacent the cylindrical blade  111  is shown with both exterior and interior tapered surfaces,  115  and  113 , respectively. In the cross section, the exterior tapered surface  113  originates at point  118  and terminates at point  119 . The interior tapered surface  115  originates at point  116  and terminates at point  114 . The flat-edged cylindrical blade is formed by surfaces  113 ,  115 , and flat end surface  112 . In  FIG. 5B , a section  137  of the cylindrical blade is shown with a tapered interior surface  133  and an untapered exterior surface  135 . In cross-section, surface  133  is inclined relative to surface  135  by an angle that is preferably about 15 degrees. The interior tapered surface originates at point  136  and terminates at point  134 . In this case, the flat-edged cylindrical blade is formed by surfaces  133 ,  135 , and flat end surface  138 . 
         [0069]    Once the fruit core is sliced and sheared from the fruit, it remains to extract it from the fruit; the core must be retained in the cylindrical compression member  33  of  FIG. 2  when the coring device is removed from the fruit. In order for this to happen, the sliced core must undergo adequate compression to facilitate its retention in cylindrical compression member  33 . This is achieved by proper design of the coring device as depicted in  FIG. 6 . The cross-sectional diagram depicts the cylindrical compression member  163  and the tapered circular blade  169 . The difference between the inner diameter  167  of the cylindrical compression member  163  at the edge of the blade  169  and the inner diameter  170  of the cylindrical compression member  163  at the origin  168  of the taper causes the fruit core  161  in the region  165  to be compressed as the cylindrical compression member  163  is advanced into the fruit. The reduction in the inner diameter of the cylindrical compression member  163  will lead to a pressure increase of the fruit against the inner wall of the cylindrical compression member as the fruit is compressed in accordance with the bulk modulus of the apple tissue. Once the apple core is sheared free of the apple and the cylindrical compression member is retracted from the fruit, the core tends to remain in place in the apple given atmospheric pressure operating against the partial vacuum associated with retraction of the core. Counteracting this atmospheric force is the friction force of the apple core against the inner wall of the cylindrical compression member  163 . This friction force is proportional to the interior surface area of the cylindrical compression member  163 , which in turn is proportional to the length of the cylindrical compression member  163 . Hence, for a given length of cylindrical compression member  163 , there is a threshold change in the inner diameter of the cylindrical compression member  163  that will permit the friction force to overcome the atmospheric force and allow the core to be removed from the apple upon retraction of the cylindrical compression  163  member from the fruit. Also, for a given length of the cylindrical compression member  163 , there is an upper bound on the change in inner diameter of the cylindrical compression member  163  that will permit ease of removal of the core from the cylindrical compression member  163  once fully retracted from the fruit. In summary, the change in the inner diameter of the cylindrical compression member  163  must be great enough to extract the core from the fruit, but not so great as to make it difficult to extract the core from the coring device. 
         [0070]    The bulk modulus, K, of a solid (in the case of apple tissue, for example) is a measure of the amount of pressure ΔP required to obtain a certain fractional compression ΔV/V where V is the initial volume. 
         [0000]    
       
      
       K=VΔP/ΔV  
      
     
         [0071]    In the case of a cylinder, the fractional volume change is equal to the fractional diameter change 
         [0000]      Δ V/V=ΔD/D  
 
         [0072]    where D is the diameter and ΔD is the change in diameter of the cylinder. Hence, the associated pressure is 
         [0000]      Δ P=KΔD/D  
 
         [0073]    and the compressive force is 
         [0000]        F   c   =ΔP *(Area of cylinder wall)= KΔD/D *(π D   2 /4)* L =π( DΔDL )/4
 
         [0074]    where L is the length of the cylinder. 
         [0075]    The associated friction force is 
         [0000]        F   f =σ f   F   c =πσ f ( DΔDL )/4
 
         [0076]    where σ f  is the coefficient of friction between apple and cylinder wall. 
         [0077]    The force countering this friction force is the difference between atmospheric force on the cross-sectional area of the cylinder and the partial vacuum that forms upon retraction of the core. For the core to be removed from the apple against a perfect vacuum, the friction force associated with the core against the cylinder surface must be greater than the atmospheric force, F atm , tending to keep the core in place. 
         [0000]        F   atm   =P   atm *(cross-sectional area of cylinder)=14.7 psi*(π D   2 /4)
 
         [0078]    However, it is the case that the sliced core in the apple does not maintain a perfect vacuum when retracted with the coring tool and hence, the percentage of atmospheric force in action is considerably less than 100%. With reference to  FIG. 2 , preferred dimensions for the length of the cylindrical compression member  33  from the cutting edge  41  to the proximate surface of the handle  35  is about 1.7 inches and the inside diameter of the cylindrical compression member  33  is about 1.0 inch. There are a number of variables that affect the optimality of the amount of taper of the cylindrical compression member  33 . These include a) the anisotropy of the bulk modulus of the apple tissue, b) variation in the bulk modulus of apple tissue with type of apple and water content, c) inhomogeneity of the apple core, d) variation in the coefficient of friction between apple and cylinder surface, and e) the selected length of the cylinder. In the face of these variables, it has been determined that the appropriate change in inner diameter of the cylindrical compression member  163  (associated with blade taper) to achieve the aforementioned core extraction is in the range of 0.020 to 0.070 inches for a diameter of one inch. For larger diameter cylindrical compression members, this corresponds to between 2 and 7 percent of the diameter. As depicted in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , there are two geometry options for the cutting edge  41  of  FIG. 2 , dual or single taper. Each surface exhibits a taper angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical compression member; the associated taper angles need not be the same in the case of the dual tapered blade of  FIG. 5A . However, It must be emphasized that it is the interior tapered surface that must adequately change the inner diameter of the cylindrical compression member to achieve adequate compression of the fruit (or vegetable) core. Various blade taper angles may be used; a convenient angle for the single taper blade is about 15 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical compression member. The flat end surface ( 112  and  138  in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , respectively) of the cylindrical blade should be approximately 0.005 inches, or so, in order to limit blade sharpness and thereby prevent inadvertent cutting of the hand when the coring device is in manual use. 
         [0079]    As previously mentioned, there can be different modes of use of the coring system. In some applications, it is desirable to remove the entire core as depicted in the cross-sectional diagram of  FIG. 7A  showing the fruit  215  with an evacuated core volume  217 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 7B , a fruit  211  can have the core removed while permitting an evacuated core volume  213  that exhibits a floor within the fruit. Various embodiments of the coring system permit achieving both modes of coring. One embodiment uses cylindrical compression members of differing lengths as shown in  FIGS. 7C and 7D  that can be interchanged with the handle  201  shown in  FIG. 7E . The long cylindrical compression member  191  of  FIG. 7C  exhibits the previously disclosed cylindrical blade  193  and planar blade surfaces  195 . Cylindrical compression member  191  represents a length sufficient to completely core the fruit as shown in  FIG. 7A . The shorter cylindrical compression member  199  of  FIG. 7C  represents a length that will core the fruit while retaining a floor below the cored volume as shown in  FIG. 7B . Another embodiment that achieves the same objectives comprises the inclusion of standoff collars placed around the cylindrical compression member in proximity of the coring system handle. In  FIG. 8A , the coring system  239  is shown with a relatively tall collar  241  that results in a coring volume  243  enclosed by a floor. In contrast, the short collar  233  used with coring system  231  of  FIG. 8B  results in complete coring of the fruit with an open coring volume  235 . Alternatively, to achieve different coring depths, the handle can be made to be repositioned along the length of the cylindrical compression member by threading or other means well known in the prior art such as a spring-loaded button on the handle that can be inserted into holes 
         [0080]    The cylindrical compression member  33  of  FIG. 2  can assume different cross-sectional shapes with a variety of planar blade geometries as depicted in  FIGS. 9A through 9D . These include the compression member with rounded square cross-section  261  of  FIGS. 9A and 9B  with planar blades  263 , hexagonal cross-section  267  of  FIG. 9C  with planar blades  269 , and the octagonal cross-section  271  of  FIG. 9D  with planar blades  273 .  FIG. 9E  depicts a circular cross section  275  with a v-shaped blade  279 , the planes of which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical compression member. 
         [0081]    Resection of portions of the cylindrical compression member are anticipated as in  FIG. 10 , which shows a coring system  291  with a portion of the cylindrical compression member surface in the form of legs  295  supporting a circular blade  297  and planar blade  299  by attachment through a ring  301  to handle  293 . 
         [0082]    In a preferred embodiment of the coring system shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the wall of the cylindrical compression member  327  is cut at a plurality of locations circumferentially about the cylindrical blade  325 . These cut portions of the wall are folded inward to the cylindrical compression member  321  to form planar blade surfaces that are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical compression member  321 . In  FIG. 11A , planar blade surfaces  323  are shown that result from cuts that are anti-symmetric about the longitudinal axis of cylindrical compression member  321 . The planar blade surfaces  327  result from cuts that are symmetric about the longitudinal axis of cylindrical compression member  321 . Both approaches to forming the planar blades result in the cross-sectional geometry of  FIG. 11C . Other means of forming planar blades interior to the cylindrical compression member include attachment of preformed blades to the cylinder by methods well known in the prior art including brazing, riveting of blade flanges, etc.  FIG. 11D  depicts a cylindrical compression member  335  exhibiting four planar blade surfaces  337 ; the cross-sectional view  339  is provided in  FIG. 11E . 
         [0083]    Other interior blade formats are possible that will achieve shearing of the core from the fruit. A first example includes a planar blade  353  extending the full diameter of the cylindrical compression member in the coring system  351  of  FIG. 12 . A second example is that of a wire  359  affixed to the cylindrical compression member of the coring device  357  of  FIG. 13 . Multiple planar blade geometries exploit the use of various numbers of such blades  373  as shown in  FIGS. 14A and 14B . The actual shapes of the planar blades can be polygonal, as exemplified by the triangular blades  393  of  FIG. 15A  or have a curvilinear perimeter as in the case of the blades  397  depicted in  FIG. 15B .  FIG. 16  illustrates a coring system  421  with planar blades  423  oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical compression member. The length of the planar blades can be short as previously depicted or can run the full length of the cylindrical compression member and shown by the rectangular planar blades  443  of  FIG. 17 . An intersecting cross geometry for the planar blades is provided in  FIG. 18 . Herein, the blades  463  are shown press fit into slots  465  in the cylindrical compression member  461 , but could be attached by any number of previously discussed means. 
         [0084]    Subsequent to insertion of the coring system into a fruit and rotation of the system to shear the core, when the system is removed from the fruit, there is often a partial vacuum associated with its removal. This vacuum can be mitigated by air channels shown in either  FIG. 19A or 19B . In  FIG. 19A , an air channel is formed by a slit  493  formed in the wall of cylindrical compression member  491 . In  FIG. 19B , an alternative means of forming an air channel is a depression or groove  497  in the wall of cylindrical compression member  495 . 
         [0085]    Core Alignment Subsystem 
         [0086]    Various core alignment subsystems are illustrated in  FIGS. 20 through 24 . In  FIG. 20A , the alignment subsystem  527  comprises a solid cylinder  529  of diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the cylindrical compression member, with planar slots  531  parallel to the longitudinal axis of cylinder  529  extending the full length of cylinder  529 . Additionally, a metal pin  533  protrudes from cylinder  529  along the cylinder longitudinal axis. The pin  533  is inserted into the core axis of the fruit until the cylinder  529  rests against the fruit. Then, the cylindrical compression member  521  of the coring system is lowered onto cylinder  529  with its planar blades  523  inserted into and passing through the slots  531  of cylinder  529 . In this way, the coring system is aligned with the core of the fruit as the coring process proceeds and the rotation of the planar cutting means is unhindered by the presence of the cylinder  529 . The geometry of the core alignment subsystem depicted in  FIG. 20B  is an adaptation of that shown in  FIG. 20A  to facilitate its unibody construction and manufacture from plastic. The cylinder  541  exhibits the same planar slots  539 , but in lieu of a metal pin has a plastic pin supported by plastic fins  545  which are tapered so as to not interfere with the motion of the planar blades. 
         [0087]      FIG. 20C  depicts another alignment approach in which a hollow cylinder  553  with a cap  559  is shown with a pin  557  attached to the cap  559 ; the pin is coaxial with the cylinder  553 . The open edge of the cylinder  553  constitutes a cylindrical blade so that when the pin is inserted into the fruit along the core axis and the cylinder  553  is advanced, the cylindrical blade cuts a guide incision into the fruit. Upon removal of this alignment subsystem from the fruit, the cylindrical compression member of the coring system can be introduced along this guide incision insuring alignment of the coring system with the fruit core. 
         [0088]    The sequence of steps required to core fruit using the alignment subsystem of  FIG. 20A  is depicted in  FIG. 21A . First the pin of the alignment subsystem is inserted into the fruit along the axis of its core; the pin is advanced until the slotted cylinder rests against the fruit. Subsequently, the coring system is lowered onto the slotted cylinder with the planar blades advancing through the slots. Once the cylindrical compression member is advanced to the desired depth, it is rotated by torque on the handle in order to shear the core from the fruit.  FIG. 21B  illustrates the result of this coring process with the fruit  565  having an evacuated core volume  567 . The slotted cylinder  555  with pin  563  holds the sliced fruit core  557  showing incisions  561  produced by the planar blades of the coring system  551 . 
         [0089]    In another embodiment of the alignment subsystem shown in  FIGS. 22A and 22B  includes an alignment pin  593  that is affixed to the center of the cylindrical cap  595  and is largely coincident with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical compression member  591  when the lip  585  of cylindrical cap  595  is inserted into the cylindrical compression member  591 . When the cap  595  is attached to the cylindrical compression member  591  and the alignment pin  593  is inserted along the core axis of the fruit, this alignment subsystem permits direct alignment of the coring system with the core axis of the fruit. 
         [0090]    In yet another embodiment of an alignment subsystem,  FIG. 23  shows an alignment pin  625  that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical compression member  621  and is affixed by means  627  to crossed planar blade  623 . 
         [0091]    In a final embodiment of an alignment subsystem, a caliper-like mechanism can be used with different fruit sizes. In  FIG. 24  the mechanism is shown having two parts or arms  653  and  655  that are slidably attached. Arm  655  has a key  659  that slides into slot or keyway  661  in arm  653 ; this permits caliper-like sliding motion without rotation. The protrusion  661  at the end of arm  653  is positioned at a core indentation on one end of the fruit  663 . The cylindrical section  657  at the end of arm  655  has a radius slightly larger than that of the cylindrical compression member  665 . The cylindrical section is centered above a core indentation at the other end of the fruit and the two arms  653  and  655  are slid together so that the fruit rests between the protrusion  661  and the cylindrical section  657 . Then the cylindrical compression member  665  is brought into conformal contact with the cylindrical section  657  and advanced into the fruit.

Technology Category: a