HAM CARVING STAND FOR HAM AND BONELESS MEATS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new device that holds a portion of ham securely, before deboning, and provides a guide for the knife to enable an inexperienced person to carve thin slices by hand. The invention can also be used for carving other meat. products into slices, for example cecina (cured dried meat).

Claims

1. Clamping and guide device (1) for cutting ham, characterized in that it comprises: first and second parallel vertical plates (2a, 2b) slidingly connected through horizontal guides (3), said first and second plates (2a, 2b) comprising a straight and smooth upper edge to allow the guidance of a knife; clamping means (4) that pushes the second vertical plate (2b) against the first vertical plate (2a) to hold a piece of ham (100) arranged between them; a vertically arranged horizontal platform (5) movable between the first plate (2a) and the second plate (2b) to provide lower support for the piece of ham (100) so that it protrudes above the upper edge of the plates (2a, 2b), where the horizontal platform (5) is connected to a vertically sliding frame (6) that is engaged with a threaded vertical rod (7); and a vertical threaded rod (7) rotation means (8), so that the rotation of said vertical threaded rod (7) causes the elevation of the horizontal platform (5) and the piece of ham (100) as it is cut.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the clamping means (4) comprises a spring (41) having a first end (41a) fixed to a lever arm (42) rotating around an axis (43) horizontally fixed to the first plate (2a), and a second end (41b) fixed to the second plate (2b) so that in a close position of the clamping means (4), where the lever arm (42) has a closing orientation, the spring (41) exerts a force tending to bring the first plate (2a) and the second plate (2b) closer together, compressing the piece of ham (100) between them, while in an opening position of the clamping means (4) where the lever arm (42) has an opening orientation, the spring (41) does not exert any force on the first plate (2a) or the second plate (2b), allowing their separation.

3. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the second end (41b) of the spring (41) is fixed to the second plate (2b) through a threaded rod (44) to said second plate (2b) that allows the spring (41) to be tensioned and released.

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the frame (6) slides along two vertical guides (61) and is connected to the horizontal platform (5) through horizontal arms (62) that pass through vertical slots (63) of the first vertical plate (2a).

5. The device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the vertical threaded rod (7) rotating means (8) comprises an electrical mechanism (8a) that causes the automatic rotation of said vertical threaded rod (7) when a button is operated.

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the vertical threaded rod (7) rotating means (8) further comprises a manual mechanism (8b) comprising a lever fixed to a ratchet mechanism, so that when the lever is operated in a certain direction, a threaded vertical rod ratchet wheel is meshed in such a way that it causes the rotation of said threaded vertical rod in a direction that causes the horizontal platform to rise, thus raising said platform a small distance, then returning the lever to its original position when moving in the opposite direction, although in this case without engaging the ratchet of the threaded vertical rod and, therefore, without causing the horizontal platform to rise or fall.

7. The device (1) according to claim 6, further comprising a distance limiting system (10) that establishes a minimum approach distance between the first plate (2a) and the second plate (2b).

8. The device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the distance limiting system (10) comprises a rotating arm (10a) provided with several parallel projections (10b) arranged at its free end that is fixed to the first plate (2a) and a rod (10c) protruding from the second plate (2b), so that to adjust the distance between the first plate (2a) and the second plate (2b) the rod (10c) is inserted into a separation cavity between a determined pair of parallel projections (10b) of the arm (10a).

9. The device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the threaded vertical rotation means (8) (7) can be replicated in the same part of the device, defining two or more synchronized rotation means.

10. The device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the first or second plate (2a, 2b), or both, are configured in a semi-rigid grid, mesh, or network structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of the device of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the device of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a profile view of the device of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the device the present invention with the lever arm in an open orientation.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the device of the present invention with the lever arm in a close orientation.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0030] An example of the device 1 according to the present invention is described below with reference to the attached figures.

[0031] The device 1 comprises a first vertical plate 2a and a second vertical plate 2b parallel to each other. These plates 2a, 2b have respective lateral edges to prevent accidental release of the piece of ham 100. The plates 2a, 2b are attached through a pair of horizontal guides 3 essentially formed by a horizontal pin 31 perpendicularly connected to the first plate 2a and which is inserted in a cylindrical hole 32 perpendicularly connected to the second plate 2b. In this way, plates 2a, 2b can move horizontally one perpendicular to the other so that they approach and move away.

[0032] A clamping means 4 is configured to bring the plates 2a, 2b closer to each other to hold the piece of ham 100 between them by compression. For this, the clamping means 4 is formed by a spring 41 having a first end 41a and a second end 41b. The first end 41 a is fixed to a movable part of a lever arm 42 that rotates around a horizontal axis 43 of the first plate 2a, so that said lever arm 42 can toggle between an open orientation and a close orientation. The second end 41b is fixed to a projection of the second plate 2b. When the lever arm 42 is in the open orientation, as shown in FIG. 4a, the distance between the point to which the first end 41 a of the spring 41 is attached and the projection of the second plate 2b to which the second end 41b of the spring 41 is attached is minimal. In this situation, the spring 41 is not pulled relative to its rest configuration, and therefore does not exert substantially any force on the plates 2a, 2b. When the lever arm 42 moves to the closing orientation, as shown in FIG. 4a, an increase in the distance is caused between the point to which the first end 41 a of the spring 41 is attached and the projection of the second plate 2b to which the second end 41b of the spring 41 is attached. As a consequence, the spring 41 is pulled, and a contraction force is generated that tends to bring the plates 2a, 2b closer to each other.

[0033] The device 1 also comprises a horizontal platform 5 on which the piece of ham 100 rests. This platform 5 is connected to a frame 6 through three horizontal arms 62 that pass through respective vertical slots 63 made in the first vertical plate 2a. The frame 6, in turn, is vertically sliding along a pair of vertical guides 61 rigidly fixed to said first plate 2a. Furthermore, the frame 6 is engaged to a rotatable vertical threaded rod 7 fixed to the first plate 2a.

[0034] The rotation of the threaded rod 7 in a controlled manner to thereby transmit a corresponding vertical displacement to the horizontal platform 5 is performed using one of an automatic rotation means 8a and a manual rotation means 8b.

[0035] The automatic rotation means 8a may comprise an electric motor that drives a toothed wheel that meshes with the vertical threaded rod 7. In this way, when the user presses a button of the automatic rotation means 8a, the motor is activated a certain number of turns that, causes a small rotation of the rod 7 and, consequently, a certain rising distance of the horizontal platform 5.

[0036] The manual rotation means 8b comprises a lever fixed to a ratchet mechanism, so that when the lever is actuated in a certain direction it meshes with a ratchet wheel of the threaded vertical rod 7 in such a way as to cause the rotation of said threaded vertical rod 7 in a direction that causes the horizontal platform 5 to rise a small distance. The lever then returns to its original position when moving in the opposite direction, for example, thanks to the action of a spring, although in this case without engaging the ratchet wheel of the threaded vertical rod 7 and, therefore, without causing the horizontal platform 5 to rise or descent. Each complete stroke of the lever corresponds to a certain rising distance of the horizontal platform 5.

[0037] Thanks to this configuration, when the threaded rod 7 is rotated, either by the automatic rotation means 8a or the manual rotation means 8b, causes a vertical displacement of the frame 6, moving the platform 5 vertically upwards to raise the piece of ham 100 resting on the platform 5 to the desired position. The horizontal platform 5 vertical displacement distance will correspond to the thickness of the ham slice to be cut.

[0038] The device 1 further comprises a distance limiting system 10 between the first plate 2a and the second plate 2b. This system 10 allows adjusting the distance between the first plate 2a and the second plate 2b in order to adjust the device 1 to pieces of ham of different thicknesses. The distance limiting system 10 basically comprises a lever arm 10a and a fixing rod 10c. The lever arm 10a has one end hingedly fixed to the first plate 2a and an opposite end having parallel projections 10b, for example, projections similar to the teeth of a comb. The fixing rod 10c is rigidly fixed to the second plate 2b. In this way, a certain spacing distance between the first plate 2a and the second plate 2b can be set and then the lever arm 10a is rotated around the first end until the fixing rod 10c is engaged between two adjacent parallel projections 10b. The fixing rod 10c can be screwed to the second plate 2b, so that it can be pressed against said plate 2b until firmly immobilizing the two adjacent parallel projections 10b between which it is located.

[0039] In another preferred embodiment of the device 1, the threaded vertical rotation means 8 can be replicated in the same part of the device, forming two or more synchronized rotation means, if it is required more than one means of rotation due to a greater dimension of the device for example, for cutting large pieces of ham.