FOOD CUTTING DEVICE

Abstract

A food cutting assembly is described. The food cutting assembly includes a bowl that houses a food product, a food cutting device configured to fit inside of the bowl and cut the food product, and a cover unit configured to engage an opening of the bowl to form a closed container. The food cutting device includes a support structure defining an aperture therein, cutting members located within the support structure and arranged in a shape across the aperture to define sections between the cutting members, and one or more handles affixed to the support structure. The cutting members are co-planar with the support structure.

Claims

1. A food cutting device comprising: a support structure defining an aperture therein; cutting members located within the support structure and arranged in a shape across the aperture to define sections between the cutting members, wherein the cutting members are located co-planar with the support structure in a first plane; and one or more handles affixed to the support structure.

2. The food cutting device of claim 1, wherein the support structure has a shape comprising: a circular shape, a substantially circular shape, a crescent shape, a semicircular shape, a rectangular shape, a henagonal shape, a diagonal shape, a triangular shape, a quadrilateral shape, a pentagonal shape, a hexagonal shape, a heptagonal shape, an octagonal shape, a nonagonal shape, a decagonal shape, a hendecagonal shape, a dodecagonal shape, a tridecagonal shape, a tetradecagonal shape, a pentadecagonal shape, a hexadecagonal shape, a heptadecagonal shape, an octadecagonal shape, an enneadecagonal shape, and an icosagonal shape.

3. The food cutting device of claim 1, wherein the one or more handles comprise a first handle and a second handle, wherein the first handle is affixed to the support structure at a first location, wherein the second handle is affixed to the support structure at a second location, the second location being located opposite the first location, and wherein the first handle and the second handle are located in a second plane elevated from the first plane.

4. The food cutting device of claim 1, wherein the one or more handles include a singular handle extending horizontally in a second plane elevated from the first plane, and configured to contact the support structure at a first location and at a second location, and wherein the first location is disposed opposite the second location.

5. The food cutting device of claim 1, wherein the food cutting device comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: a plastic material, a metal material, a wood material, a composite material, a glass material, and a resin material, among combinations thereof.

6. The food cutting device of claim 1, wherein the shape of the cutting members across the aperture is a lattice shape formed by a first portion of the cutting members intersecting with a second portion of the cutting members, and wherein each section of the sections between the cutting members has an area of approximately 1 inch.

7. The food cutting device of claim 1, wherein each member of the cutting members comprises a blade facing in a common direction.

8. The food cutting device of claim 1, wherein an area of the support structure is in a range of approximately 6 inches to approximately 9 inches.

9. The food cutting device of claim 1, wherein an area of the support structure is in a range of approximately 3 inches to approximately 6 inches.

10. A food cutting assembly comprising: a bowl configured to house a food product; a food cutting device configured to fit inside of the bowl and cut the food product, the food cutting device comprising: a peripheral frame structure defining an aperture therein; cutting members located within the peripheral frame structure and arranged in a shape across the aperture to define sections between the cutting members, wherein the cutting members are located co-planar with the peripheral frame in a first plane; and one or more handles affixed to the peripheral frame structure; a cover unit comprising a first side disposed opposite a second side, the second side configured to engage an opening of the bowl to form a closed container.

11. The food cutting assembly of claim 10, wherein the one or more handles comprise a first handle and a second handle, wherein the first handle is affixed to the peripheral frame structure at a first location, wherein the second handle is affixed to the peripheral frame structure at a second location, the second location being located opposite the first location, and wherein the first handle and the second handle are located in a second plane elevated from the first plane.

12. The food cutting assembly of claim 10, wherein the one or more handles include a singular handle extending horizontally in a second plane elevated from the first plane, and configured to contact the peripheral frame structure at a first location and at a second location, and wherein the first location is disposed opposite the second location.

13. The food cutting assembly of claim 10, wherein a diameter of the bowl is approximately 11 inches to approximately 14 inches.

14. The food cutting assembly of claim 10, wherein a diameter of the bowl is approximately 8 inches to approximately 11 inches.

15. The food cutting assembly of claim 10, wherein the cover unit further comprises a third handle affixed to the first side, and wherein a depth of the bowl is approximately 2 inches to approximately 5 inches.

16. The food cutting assembly of claim 10, wherein the peripheral frame structure of the food cutting device has a shape selected from the group consisting of: a circular shape and a substantially circular shape.

17. The food cutting assembly of claim 10, wherein the food product is a cooked food product, and wherein the cooked food product is a cooked pasta.

18. A method to cut a food product using a food cutting device, the food cutting device comprising a peripheral frame structure defining an aperture therein, cutting members located within the peripheral frame structure and arranged in a lattice configuration across the aperture to define sections between the cutting members, one or more handles affixed to the peripheral frame structure, the cutting members being located co-planar with the peripheral frame structure in a first plane, the method comprising: placing, by a user, a food product onto a plate; and engaging, by the user, the first handle and the second handle to push the food cutting device into the food product such that the cutting members cut the food product into pieces, wherein the food product is a cooked food product.

19. The method to cut a food product using a food cutting device of claim 18, wherein the pieces have an area of approximately 1 inch to approximately 2 inches.

20. The method to cut a food product using a food cutting device of claim 18, wherein the food product is a cooked food product.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food cutting assembly, according to at least some embodiments described herein.

[0030] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a food cutting assembly, according to at least some embodiments described herein.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a top view of a first embodiment of a food cutting device, according to at least some embodiments described herein.

[0032] FIG. 4 is another perspective view of a food cutting assembly, according to at least some embodiments described herein.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of a food cutting device, according to at least some embodiments described herein.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a second embodiment of a food cutting device, according to at least some embodiments described herein.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a top down view of a second embodiment of a food cutting device, according to at least some embodiments described herein.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of a food cutting device, according to at least some embodiments described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

[0038] Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

[0039] A first embodiment of a food cutting device 100 is depicted in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4. In some examples, the food cutting device 100 is configured to cut a food product 30 (as depicted in FIG. 4) into pieces or portions of equal shape and size. The food product 30 may be a cooked or an uncooked food product. In preferred examples, the food product 30 is a cooked pasta food product. It should be appreciated that other food products are contemplated by the embodiments described herein and the food product 30 is not limited to the products explicitly described.

[0040] The food cutting device 100 may comprise a plastic material, a metal material, a wood material, a composite material, a glass material, and/or a resin material. The food cutting device 100 may comprise a peripheral frame structure 2 defining an aperture therein. In some examples, the peripheral frame structure 2 may have a shape that includes at least one arc. For example, the peripheral frame structure 2 may have a circular shape, a substantially circular shape, a crescent shape, or a semicircular shape. In other examples, the peripheral frame structure 2 may have a shape that does not include the at least one arc. In these examples, the shape of the peripheral frame structure 2 may be: a rectangular shape, a henagonal shape, a diagonal shape, a triangular shape, a quadrilateral shape, a pentagonal shape, a hexagonal shape, a heptagonal shape, an octagonal shape, a nonagonal shape, a decagonal shape, a hendecagonal shape, a dodecagonal shape, a tridecagonal shape, a tetradecagonal shape, a pentadecagonal shape, a hexadecagonal shape, a heptadecagonal shape, an octadecagonal shape, an enneadecagonal shape, or an icosagonal shape. It should be appreciated that the shape of the peripheral frame structure 2 is not limited to the shapes explicitly described herein and other shapes are contemplated. In other examples, an area 4 (as depicted in FIG. 4) of the peripheral frame structure 2 is in a range of approximately 6 inches to approximately 9 inches. In additional examples, the area 4 (as depicted in FIG. 4) of the peripheral frame structure 2 is in a range of approximately 3 inches to approximately 6 inches.

[0041] The food cutting device 100 may also include cutting members 10, 12, located within the peripheral frame structure 2 and arranged in a shape across the aperture to define sections 8 between the cutting members, 10, 12 (as depicted in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). The cutting member 10, 12 may comprise: a plastic material, a metal material, a wood material, a composite material, a glass material, and/or a resin material. In some examples, the shape of the cutting members 10, 12 across the aperture is a lattice shape formed by a first portion of the cutting members intersecting with a second portion of the cutting members. The cutting members 10, 12 may be located co-planar with the peripheral frame structure 2 in a first plane. In further examples, each member of the cutting members 10, 12 may comprise a blade 14 (of FIG. 4) facing in a common direction. The blade 14 may comprise a child-safe material, such as a plastic material, a metal material, a wood material, a composite material, a glass material, and/or a resin material. As such, the user who engages with the food cutting device 100 may be a child or an adult. In examples, each section of the sections 8 between the cutting members 10, 12 has an area of approximately 1 inch.

[0042] The first embodiment of the food cutting device 100 may also include a first handle 6A affixed to the peripheral frame structure 2 at a first location and a second handle 6B affixed to the peripheral frame structure 2 at a second location, where the second location is located opposite the first location (as depicted in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4). The first handle 6A and the second handle 6B are located in a second plane elevated from the first plane to provide enhanced leverage for a user to push the food cutting device 100 into the food product 30 to cut the food product 30 into pieces of equal shape and size.

[0043] It should be appreciated that the material comprising the food cutting device 100, the cutting members 10, 12, and the blade 14 are not limited to the materials explicitly described herein and other materials are contemplated.

[0044] A second embodiment of the food cutting device 100 is depicted in FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8. It should be appreciated that the second embodiment of the food cutting device 100 is substantially similar to the first embodiment of the food cutting device 100. As explained supra, the food cutting device 100 comprises a peripheral frame structure 2 defining an aperture therein. The food cutting device 100 also includes cutting members 10, 12 located within the peripheral frame structure 2 and arranged in a lattice configuration across the aperture to define sections 8 between the cutting members 10, 12. The cutting members 10, 12 may be located co-planar with the peripheral frame structure 2 in a first plane.

[0045] The food cutting device 100, as depicted in FIG. 5, may further include a first component 34A having a first side disposed opposite a second side and a second component 34B having a first side disposed opposite a second side. The first side of the first component 34A may be affixed to the peripheral frame structure 2 at a first location 36A. The first side of the second component 34B may be affixed to the peripheral frame structure 2 at a second location 36B. It should be appreciated that the first location 36A is disposed opposite the second location 36B.

[0046] Moreover, the first component 34A and the second component 34B may be configured to extend vertically in a direction opposite the direction of the blade 14 and may be located in a second plane elevated from the first plane. Furthermore, the second embodiment of the food cutting device 100 may also include a handle 32 extending horizontally in a third plane elevated from the second plane. The handle 32 may be substantially circular in shape/configuration, in some examples. The handle 32 may have a first side disposed opposite a second side. The second side of the first component 34A may be affixed to the first side of the handle 32 at a first location 38A. The second side of the second component 34B may be affixed to the second side of the handle 32 at a second location 38B, where the first location 38A is disposed opposite the second location 38B.

[0047] According to some examples, the user may place the food product 30, such as a cooked pasta product (as depicted in FIG. 4) on a plate (not shown). The plate (not shown) may be located on a horizontal surface. Assuming that the food cutting device 100 is of the first embodiment, the user may place his/her hands on the first handle 6A and the second handle 6B, respectively. Assuming that the food cutting device 100 is of the second embodiment, the user may place his/her hands on the handle 32. The user may then push the food cutting device 100 into the food product 30 such that the cutting members 10, 12 cut the food product 30 into pieces. The size and shape of the pieces of the food product 30 may be defined by the size and shape of the sections 8 between the cutting members 10, 12.

[0048] In an example where each section of the sections 8 between the cutting members 10, 12 has an area of approximately 1 inch, the pieces of the food product 30 may be approximately 1 inch in area. In another example where each section of the sections 8 between the cutting members 10, 12 has an area of approximately 2 inches, the pieces of the food product 30 may be approximately 2 inches in area.

[0049] In an example, the cutting members 10, 12 located within the peripheral frame structure 2 may be arranged in a lattice configuration across the aperture to define sections 8 between the cutting members 10, 12 such that each of the sections 8 is rectangular in shape. In this example, the shape of the pieces of the food product 30 are rectangular. In another example, the cutting members 10, 12 located within the peripheral frame structure 2 may be arranged in a configuration across the aperture to define sections 8 between the cutting members 10, 12 such that each of the sections 8 are triangular in shape. In this example, the shape of the pieces of the food product 30 are triangular. In a further example, the cutting members 10, 12 located within the peripheral frame structure 2 may be arranged in a configuration across the aperture to define sections 8 between the cutting members 10, 12 such that each of the sections 8 are circular in shape. In this example, the shape of the pieces of the food product 30 are circular. It should be appreciated that the size and shape of each of the sections 8, as well as the size and shape of the pieces of the food product 30, is not limited to the examples explicitly described herein.

[0050] The first embodiment of the food cutting device 100 and/or the second embodiment of the food cutting device 100 may be used in a food cutting assembly 300, as depicted in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4, the food cutting assembly 300 may include a bowl 18, a cover unit 16, and the first embodiment or the second embodiment of the food cutting device 100. The food cutting device 100 may be housed within the bowl 18. The bowl 18 may be configured to house a food product 30, such as a cooked pasta product (as depicted in FIG. 4).

[0051] As depicted in FIG. 2, a diameter 24 of the bowl 18 is approximately 11 inches to approximately 14 inches. In other examples, the diameter 24 of the bowl 18 is approximately 8 inches to approximately 11 inches. In additional examples, a depth 26 of the bowl 18 is approximately 2 inches to approximately 5 inches.

[0052] The cover unit 16 may comprise a first side disposed opposite a second side. The second side may be configured to engage an opening of the bowl 18 to form a closed container to keep the food product 30 (housed within the bowl 18) at a warm or hot temperature. The cover unit 16 may also include a handle 20 affixed to the first side of the cover unit 16. A user may engage with the handle 20 to affix the cover unit 16 to the bowl 18 or remove the cover unit 16 from the bowl 18.

[0053] In examples, the user may place the bowl 18 on a horizontal surface. The user may then place a food product 30 into the bowl 18. Assuming that the food cutting device 100 is of the first embodiment, the user may place his/her hands on the first handle 6A and the second handle 6B, respectively. Assuming that the food cutting device 100 is of the second embodiment, the user may place his/her hands on the handle 32. The user may then push the food cutting device 100 into the food product 30 such that the cutting members 10, 12 cut the food product 30 into pieces. The size and shape of the pieces of the food product 30 may be defined by the size and shape of the sections 8 between the cutting members 10, 12.

[0054] To ensure a temperature of the food product 30 does not decrease, the user may engage the cover unit 16 with the bowl 18. Specifically, the user may engage the second side of the cover unit 16 with the opening of the bowl 18 to form the closed container to keep the food product 30 (housed within the bowl 18) at the warm or hot temperature. When the user wishes to remove the food product 30 from the closed container, the user may engage the third handle 20 affixed to the first side of the cover unit 16 to remove the cover unit 16 from the closed container.

[0055] When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiments thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective “another,” when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

[0056] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.