Manually Activated Fruit Press

Abstract

A manual fruit press has first and second lever arms and a joint connecting first ends of the lever arms to each other. The second ends of the lever arms opposite the joint have handgrip pieces. The first lever arm has a cup-shaped depression forming a strainer with support block and arranged between handgrip piece and joint. The second lever arm has a press element as an integrated molded component thereof. The press element is a cup-shaped depression projecting downward beyond the handgrip piece of the second lever arm. The press element, when the first and second lever arms are moved toward each other, is lowered toward the support block of the strainer and exerts pressure on a piece of fruit inserted into the pressing chamber between strainer and press element. A collection cup is releasably connected below the strainer to the first lever arm or the strainer.

Claims

1. A manually activated fruit press (2), comprising: a first lever arm (4) comprising a first end and an opposed second end; a second lever arm (6) comprising a first end and an opposed second end; a joint (8) connecting the first end of the first lever arm (4) and the first end of the second lever arm (6) to each other; the second end of the first lever arm (4) comprising a first handgrip piece (10) and the second end of the second lever arm (6) comprising a second handgrip piece (10); the first lever arm (4) comprising a cup-shaped depression (24) and the cup-shaped depression forms a strainer (20) comprising a support block (22), wherein the cup-shaped depression (24) is arranged between the first handgrip piece (10) and the joint (8); the second lever arm (6) comprising a press element (14) as an integrated component part of an integral molded body of the second lever arm (6), wherein the press element (14) is a cup-shaped depression (16) formed in the second lever arm (6), wherein the depression (16) projects downward beyond a lower side of the second handgrip piece (10) of the second lever arm (6), wherein the press element (14), when the first and second lever arms (4, 6) are moved toward each other by a mutual closing movement, is lowered toward the support block (22) of the strainer (20) and is configured to exert a pressure on a piece of fruit inserted into a pressing chamber (24) formed by the strainer (20) and the press element (14); a collection cup (12) disposed below the strainer (20) and releasably connected to the first lever arm (4) or the strainer (20)

2. The fruit press (2) according to claim 1, wherein the strainer (20) with the support block (22) forms an integrated component part of an integral molded body of the first lever arm (4).

3. The fruit press (2) according to claim 1, wherein the press element (14) comprises a pressing face facing the strainer (20) and further comprises an external circumference, wherein at least a part of the external circumference comprises one or a plurality of support elements (30) that project downward beyond the pressing face (28).

4. The fruit press (2) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second handgrip pieces (10) have mutual neighboring edge regions provided with a chamfer (18), respectively.

5. The fruit press (2) according to claim 1, wherein the collection cup comprise a pouring lip (32).

6. The fruit press (2) according to claim 5, wherein the collection cup (12) is configured such that a contents collected therein is dischargeable via the pouring lip (32) when the collecting cup (12) is connected to the first lever arm (4) or the strainer (20).

7. The fruit press (2) according to claim 1, wherein the collecting cup comprises a removal tab (34) that projects laterally beyond an upper periphery of the collection cup (12).

8. The fruit press (2) according to claim 1, wherein the collection cup comprises a lower side with a placing face configured to support the fruit press when not in use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention is now to be described in more detail by means of an exemplary embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a view from obliquely above onto a fruit press.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a view from obliquely below onto a fruit press having a collection cup received thereon.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a closed fruit press.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of an opened fruit press having a lemon placed therein.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] A fruit press 2 is shown in a view from obliquely above in FIG. 1. The fruit press 2 has a first lever arm 4 and a second lever arm 6. Both lever arms 4, 6 at a respective end are interconnected by way of a joint 8. The two lever arms 4, 6 at ends that face away from the joint 8 have in each case one handgrip piece 10 by way of which the fruit press 2 can be held. The fruit press 2 is shown in a closed position in FIG. 1. When the fruit press 2 is to be opened in order for a piece of fruit to be placed therein, only the second lever arm 6, or only the first lever arm 4, or both lever arms 4, 6 simultaneously, is/are pivoted so as to open about the joint 8.

[0031] A collection cup 12 is located on the lower side on the first lever arm 4. The collection cup 12 is releasable from the first lever arm 4. Releasing can be performed, for example, in that the removal tab 34 is pulled.

[0032] A cup-type depression 16 can be seen in the second lever arm 6, the base of the depression 16 configuring the press element 14. In a pivoting movement of the second lever arm 6 about the joint 8 toward the first lever arm 4, the press element 14 is also moved downward. A piece of fruit that is located below the press element 14 herein is compressed such that fruit juice exits from the piece of fruit placed therein. Of course, the first lever arm 4 can also be moved toward the second lever arm 6, or both lever arms are simultaneously moved toward one another, the same effect being achieved thereby.

[0033] It can moreover be seen in the view shown in FIG. 1 that the handgrip pieces 10 of the lever arms 4, 6 on mutually neighboring edge regions have in each case one chamfer 18.

[0034] The fruit press 2 is shown in a view from obliquely below in FIG. 2, wherein the collection cup 12 therein is removed from the fruit press. The strainer 20 can be seen in the view from obliquely below, the strainer 20 having a number of strainer openings 20a. Material webs 20b which retain the comparatively coarse fruit particles in the cup-type depression 24 are located between the strainer holes 20a.

[0035] The support block 22 as a type of hump onto which a piece of fruit can be placed rises in the central region of the strainer 20. The support block 22 in the exemplary embodiment also has strainer holes 22a. It can be seen in the view illustrated in FIG. 2 that the cup-type depression 24 projects downwards beyond the first lever arm 4.

[0036] The pouring lip 32 and the removal tab 34 can be seen on the collection cup 12.

[0037] A sectional view of a closed fruit press is shown in FIG. 3. The pressing chamber 26 can be readily seen in the sectional view. The pressing chamber 26 is upwardly delimited by the press element 14 and downwardly by the support block 22 in the central region. The pressing chamber 26 at the sides of the support block 22 extends right down to the strainer 20. The pressing chamber 26 is laterally delimited by the side wall of the cup-type depression 24.

[0038] It can be seen in the sectional drawing in FIG. 3 that a vacant space in which the remaining pulp can accumulate after a piece of fruit has been squeezed remains between the pressing face 26 of the press element 14 and the upper side of the support block 22 even in the completely closed position of the two lever arms 4, 6. The vacant space enables the two handgrip pieces 10 to be placed on top of one another in the terminal position of a pressing procedure without the remaining pulp being squashed herein and reaching the region of the strainer openings, the latter being potentially clogged on account thereof.

[0039] The support element 30 can moreover readily be seen in the sectional view in FIGS. 3 and 4, the support element 30 projecting downward beyond the neighboring pressing face 28. The support element 30 in the exemplary embodiment also ranges about the pressing face 28 of the press element 14 by a comparatively large angular range.

[0040] It can be furthermore seen in this sectional view in FIG. 3 that the collection cup 12 is held on the first lever arm 4 by way of respective latching cams. The collection cup 12 can be removed in a downward manner when the external wall of the collection cup 12 at the side of the hand grips is lifted beyond the latching cam that is configured on the external side of the side wall.

[0041] A placing face onto which the fruit press when not in use can be placed is configured on the lower side of the collection cup 12. The fruit press 2 is balanced such that the fruit press 2 can stand on the placing face without falling over.

[0042] It can moreover be seen in the sectional view in FIG. 3 that the collection space of the collection cup 12 is dimensioned sufficiently in order for a quantity of fruit juice from the pressing chamber 26 to be received. The sidewalls of the collection cup 12 are constructed so as to be so high that the sidewalls in the assembled position of the collection cup 12 in an upward manner protrude significantly beyond the strainer openings 20. Overflowing of the collection cup 12 during a pressing procedure and spilling of the fruit juice that has accumulated in the collection cup 12 after pressing and when removing the collection cup 12 from the fruit press 2 is avoided on account thereof.

[0043] The fruit press 2 that in FIG. 3 is illustrated in a sectional drawing is shown in an opened position in FIG. 4, wherein a lemon 40 has been placed in the pressing chamber 26. It can be understood that the lemon 40 in a closing movement of the second lever arm 6 in the direction indicated by the arrow is pressed by the pressing face 28 of the press element 14 onto the support block 22. Herein, the juice that is contained in the flesh of the lemon 40 can run off along the support block 22 downward into the strainer openings 20a and from there drip into the collection cup 12. It can also be seen in the semi-open position of the second lever arm 6 that the support element 30 has the effect of a good splash guard in the subsequent pressing procedure.

[0044] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment above. A person skilled in the art will have no difficulties in modifying the exemplary embodiment in a manner that appears suitable to the person skilled in the art in order for the exemplary embodiment to be adapted to a specific type of application.

[0045] The specification incorporates by reference the entire disclosure of European priority document 17 154 470.3 having a priority filing date of Feb. 2, 2017.

[0046] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.