The hand tool has a pair of hand tool elements pivotally joined at one distal end thereof. Each hand tool element has an elongated configuration having a handle portion, a tool portion extending distally away from the handle portion, and a concave blade extending sidewardly and oppositely inwardly relative to one another along each tool portion. Furthermore, each hand tool element has a cutting edge along at least one portion of each concave blade, and at least one avocado seed engaging portion located along, and protruding substantially radially distally away from, each concave blade.

An apparatus for preparing fruit includes a main housing with a cutting area containing a cutting assembly and a drive assembly, a removable cup assembly for inserting the fruit into the apparatus, and a removable drawer and tray for removing cut pieces of fruit from the apparatus after a cutting operation. The apparatus includes a rinsing assembly for cleaning the fruit and the cutting assembly, and a deflector configured to route cut pieces of fruit into the tray and waste material through a disposal outlet. The cutting assembly is configured to perform one or more cutting operations depending on the type of fruit detected in the cup assembly: wedging for apples, lemons, limes, and pears, and cutting/peeling for oranges and grapefruits. The apparatus quickly prepares various fruits for consumption without requiring an operator to touch the cut pieces of fruit.

An apparatus for preparing fruit includes a main housing with a cutting area containing a cutting assembly and a drive assembly, a removable cup assembly for inserting the fruit into the apparatus, and a removable drawer and tray for removing cut pieces of fruit from the apparatus after a cutting operation. The apparatus includes a rinsing assembly for cleaning the fruit and the cutting assembly, and a deflector configured to route cut pieces of fruit into the tray and waste material through a disposal outlet. The cutting assembly is configured to perform one or more cutting operations depending on the type of fruit detected in the cup assembly: wedging for apples, lemons, limes, and pears, and cutting/peeling for oranges and grapefruits. The apparatus quickly prepares various fruits for consumption without requiring an operator to touch the cut pieces of fruit.

A hand-operated lettuce-cutting appliance with a chassis has a cutter grid and positioning device for positioning the chassis on at least one support. The appliance further includes a guide well having a bottom end extending adjacent to and facing said cutter grid and a vegetable-pusher device mounted to slide along at least one column fastened to the chassis so as to extend parallel to the well. The vegetable-pusher device has a body shaped so as to engage in the well in order to push the vegetable through the cutter grid.

A hand-operated lettuce-cutting appliance with a chassis has a cutter grid and positioning device for positioning the chassis on at least one support. The appliance further includes a guide well having a bottom end extending adjacent to and facing said cutter grid and a vegetable-pusher device mounted to slide along at least one column fastened to the chassis so as to extend parallel to the well. The vegetable-pusher device has a body shaped so as to engage in the well in order to push the vegetable through the cutter grid.

A knife attachment device, for slicing a fruit or vegetable into a long strip, includes a body, first and second arms, and first and second bottom plates. The first arm and the first bottom plate are attached to each other on one end and separated and open toward the other end at or around the body such that the first arm and the first bottom plate are elastically open to receive a knife blade therein. When the knife blade is inserted, the cutting edge of the knife blade should face the attached end of the first arm and the first bottom plate. The first and second bottom plates slide on a flat surface such that the cutting edge of the knife blade slices produce and the sliced produce comes out of a space between the knife blade and the flat surface in a long strip.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for peeling and cutting vegetables and other foods is provided. A plurality of blades form an aperture within a frame. This aperture expands as the vegetable passes through it. This method of food surface removal expedites the process by removing all sides of the vegetable surface at the same time, providing heightened safety features for users, allowing users to easily clean the apparatus, and allowing users to easily remove and replace broken blades or change blade types for a variety of culinary purposes.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for peeling and cutting vegetables and other foods is provided. A plurality of blades form an aperture within a frame. This aperture expands as the vegetable passes through it. This method of food surface removal expedites the process by removing all sides of the vegetable surface at the same time, providing heightened safety features for users, allowing users to easily clean the apparatus, and allowing users to easily remove and replace broken blades or change blade types for a variety of culinary purposes.

Knife assemblies and methods therefor that are adapted to be used with a cutting apparatus capable of producing a variety of shaped food products having large amplitudes, for example, sliced, shredded, and strip-cut food products. The knife assembly includes a primary blade having a corrugated shape to produce a large-amplitude food product slice having a periodic shape, and at least one tab blade assembled with or formed from the primary blade to cut a food product slice into strips.

Knife assemblies and methods therefor that are adapted to be used with a cutting apparatus capable of producing a variety of shaped food products having large amplitudes, for example, sliced, shredded, and strip-cut food products. The knife assembly includes a primary blade having a corrugated shape to produce a large-amplitude food product slice having a periodic shape, and at least one tab blade assembled with or formed from the primary blade to cut a food product slice into strips.