DEVICE FOR CHOPPING FOOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for chopping food, having a base part which has a receptacle for a cutting part, and having an actuating part which is fixable to the base part in an articulated manner such that the actuating part is pivotable toward the cutting part in order to push through an item to be chopped. The device is distinguished in that the actuating part is pivotable toward the cutting part in order to push through an item to be chopped, characterized in that the device has at least one chopping tool in the manner of a sharpener.

Claims

1. A device for chopping food, having a base part which has a receptacle for a cutting part, and having an actuating part which is fixable to the base part in an articulated manner such that the actuating part is pivotable toward the cutting part in order to push through an item to be chopped, characterized in that the device has at least one chopping tool in the manner of a sharpener, wherein the chopping tool is insertable into the receptacle, or wherein there is a further base part which has the chopping tool and which is connectable instead of the base part to the actuating part in an articulated manner, or wherein the actuating part has the chopping tool.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a. the chopping tool is insertable instead of the cutting part into the receptacle, and/or b. the chopping tool is insertable in an accurately fitting manner into the receptacle, and/or c. the chopping tool is insertable with the frame in a latching manner into the receptacle.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a. the chopping tool has a holding plate which, in terms of shape and size, has the same outer contour as the cutting part, and/or in that b. the chopping tool has a holding plate into which at least one of a plurality of different cutting inserts is selectively fittable, and/or in that c. the chopping tool has a holding plate into which at least one of a plurality of different cutting inserts is selectively fittable, wherein each cutting insert has an, in particular conical, receiving space for the introduction of an item of food, on the wall of which receiving space a cutting blade is arranged, and/or in that d. the chopping tool has a holding plate into which at least one of a plurality of different cutting inserts is selectively fittable, wherein each cutting insert has an, in particular conical, receiving space for the introduction of an item of food, in which receiving space the item of food is rotatable.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized by an insert which is insertable, in particular in an accurately fitting and/or latching manner, into the receptacle and has both the cutting part and the chopping tool.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a. the chopping tool has an, in particular conical, receiving space for the introduction of an item of food, on the wall of which receiving space a cutting blade is arranged, and/or in that b. the chopping tool has an, in particular conical, receiving space for the introduction of an item of food, in which receiving space the item of food is rotatable.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that a cutting edge of the cutting blade projects into the receiving space, and/or in that the cutting blade is arranged in such a manner that it severs a layer from an item of food rotating in the receiving space.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the chopping tool severs a layer of a first thickness from an item of food rotating in the clockwise direction in the receiving space, and in that the chopping tool severs a layer of a second thickness, which is different from the first thickness, from an item of food rotating counterclockwise in the receiving space.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a. the chopping tool has a pendulum blade with two cutting edges, and/or in that b. the chopping tool has a pendulum blade with two cutting edges for different cutting thicknesses, and/or in that c. the chopping tool has a pendulum blade with two cutting edges, of which, in particular automatically, in each case one cuts into the item of food in a manner dependent on the direction of rotation of the item of food to be chopped.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a. the chopping tool is designed to simultaneously sever a plurality of spiral ribbons from an item of food, and/or in that b. the chopping tool has a cutting unit which splits the layer to be severed, or the layer that has already been severed, into a plurality of mutually parallel strips, and/or in that c. the chopping tool has a cutting blade which severs a layer from the item for cutting, and a cutting unit which has further cutting blades arranged perpendicular to the cutting blade.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device has at least one further chopping tool characterized in that a. the further chopping tool is insertable instead of the cutting part into the receptacle, and/or b. the further chopping tool is insertable in an accurately fitting manner into the receptacle, and/or c. the further chopping tool is insertable with the frame in a latching manner into the receptacle.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the further chopping tool has a different size than the chopping tool, and/or in that the receiving space of the further chopping tool has a different angle of taper than the receiving space of the chopping tool.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a. the device is designed as a cover for a vessel, in particular a vessel for the chopped item of food, and/or in that b. the device is designed as a cover which is placeable onto a vessel, in particular a vessel for the chopped item of food, and/or is fixable to a vessel, and/or in that c. the device is designed as a cover which is placeable onto a vessel, in particular a vessel for the chopped item of food, in a manner completely covering the vessel opening, and/or is fixable to a vessel.

15. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the base part is designed as a vessel, in particular as a vessel for the chopped item of food, and/or has a vessel, in particular a vessel for the chopped item of food.

16. A kitchen appliance having a device as claimed in claim 1, which device is designed as a cover, and having a vessel onto which the device is placed, preferably in a manner completely covering the vessel opening, and/or to which the device is fixed, preferably in a manner releasable again without a tool.

17. The kitchen appliance as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the kitchen appliance is designed and intended to be placed on a work surface for a chopping operation.

18. A chopping tool in the manner of a sharpener, in particular for food, characterized in that layers of different thickness can be severed in a manner depending on the direction of rotation.

19. The chopping tool as claimed in claim 18, characterized by a. a pendulum blade which has two cutting edges, and/or by b. a pendulum blade with two cutting edges, wherein one cutting edge serves for cutting into thin spiral ribbons, while the other cutting edge serves for cutting into thick spiral ribbons, and/or by c. a pendulum blade with two cutting edges, of which, in particular automatically, in each case one cuts into the item of food in a manner dependent on the direction of rotation of the item of food to be chopped.

20. A food chopping system comprising a device as claimed in claim 3 and comprising a holding part with a discharge opening and with a cutting insert receptacle in which one of the cutting inserts is selectively fixable, in particular in a manner releasable again without a tool.

21. The food chopping system as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that a. the holding part has a handle portion, and/or in that b. the holding part is designed to be in a hand, in particular exclusively one hand, and/or in that c. the holding part is designed to be held during its use exclusively in one hand in such a manner that the user can rotate the item for cutting relative to the cutting insert with their other hand.

22. The food chopping system as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that a. the holding part is of circular-cylindrical design, and/or in that b. the holding part is of elongate design, and/or in that c. the holding part is of tubular design, and/or in that d. the cutting insert receptacle and the discharge opening are arranged at opposite ends of the holding part.

23. The food chopping system as claimed in claim 20, characterized by a holder for the item for cutting.

24. The food chopping system as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that the holder for the item for cutting is of substantially disc-shaped, in particular circular-disc-shaped, design, and/or in that the holder for the item for cutting has holding spikes.

25. The food chopping system as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that a. the holder for the item for cutting is designed as a cover for the discharge opening, and/or in that b. the holder for the item for cutting is fixable to the holding part, in particular in a manner releasable again without a tool, by means of a latching connection or by means of a quarter turn connection or a plug-in connection, and/or in that c. the holder for the item for cutting is fixable to the holding part, in particular in a manner releasable again without a tool, by means of a latching connection or by means of a quarter turn connection or a plug-in connection, in a manner completely covering the discharge opening.

26. A cutting insert for a device as claimed in claim 3.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEWS

[0044] The drawing illustrates the subject matter of the invention by way of example and schematically and is described below with reference to the figures, wherein elements which are identical or have an identical effect are generally provided with the same reference signs. In the figures:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for chopping food,

[0046] FIG. 2 shows the device converted for cutting spiral ribbons,

[0047] FIG. 3 shows another exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for chopping food,

[0048] FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment with the actuating part open,

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for chopping food,

[0050] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for chopping food,

[0051] FIG. 7 shows the detail illustrated in FIG. 6 in an exploded illustration,

[0052] FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for chopping food,

[0053] FIG. 9 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a cutting insert,

[0054] FIG. 10 shows the first exemplary embodiment of a cutting insert in a side view,

[0055] FIG. 11 shows the first exemplary embodiment of a cutting insert in a perspective illustration,

[0056] FIG. 12 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a cutting insert in a perspective illustration,

[0057] FIG. 13 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a cutting insert in a perspective illustration,

[0058] FIG. 14 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a cutting insert in a perspective illustration,

[0059] FIG. 15 shows a detailed view of a food chopping system according to the invention, and

[0060] FIG. 16 shows a further detailed view of a food chopping system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0061] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for chopping food, during a chopping operation. The device has a base part 1 which has a receptacle 2 for a cutting part 3. The base part 1 is connected in an articulated manner to an actuating part 4 by means of a hinge connection 5 such that the actuating part 4 can be pivoted toward the cutting part 3 in order to push through an item 6 to be chopped. The cutting part 3 has a plurality of cutting part blades 7, between which the pressing plungers 8 of the actuating part 4 protrude during the chopping operation. A handle 10 is arranged at the free end of the actuating part 4. The base part 1 is placed onto a vessel 9, in a manner completely covering the vessel opening, and is fixed there, in a manner releasable again without a tool.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows the device converted for cutting spiral ribbons. For the conversion, the cutting part 3 has been removed from the receptacle 2 and instead a chopping tool 11 in the manner of a sharpener has been fitted into the receptacle 2. The chopping tool 11 has a holding plate 12 which, in terms of shape and size, has the same outer contour as the cutting part 3. This makes it possible to temporarily fix the chopping tool instead of the cutting part 3 in the receptacle 2 of the base part 1 without additional fixing components being required. In addition, a further chopping tool 13 is also held in the holding plate 12 of the chopping tool 11.

[0063] The chopping tool 11 has a conical receiving space 14 for the introduction of an item of food, such as, for example, a carrot, a radish or a cucumber, on the wall of which receiving space a cutting blade 15 is arranged. By rotation of the item of food introduced into the receiving space 14, the tip of said item of food enters into operative connection with the cutting blade 15, as a result of which a spiral ribbon (not illustrated) is severed by cutting. In addition, the wall of the receiving space 14 has an opening (not illustrated) through which the spiral ribbon can pass out of the receiving space 14. The spiral ribbon is automatically collected in the vessel 9.

[0064] The further chopping tool 13 in the manner of a sharpener has a different size than the chopping tool 11. In addition, the further receiving space 16 of the further chopping tool 13 has a different wedge angle than the receiving space 14 of the chopping tool 11. A further cutting blade 17 is arranged on the wall of the further receiving space 16, said cutting blade projecting into the further receiving space 16 and severing a spiral ribbon (not illustrated) from an item of food which is rotated in the further receiving space about the center axis of rotation of the further receiving space 16. The wall of the further receiving space 16 also has an opening through which the spiral ribbon severed there can pass out of the further receiving space 16 and thus enter the vessel 9.

[0065] FIGS. 3 and 4 show another exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for chopping food. In this embodiment, the chopping tool 11 in the manner of a sharpener is arranged in the actuating part 4.

[0066] The actuating part 4 has a first portion with pressing plungers 8 which serve for pushing an item of food to be chopped through a cutting part 3, which is provided with cutting part blades 7, by the actuating part 4 being pivoted toward the cutting part 3. The chopping tool 11 is arranged in a second portion of the actuating part 4.

[0067] In this exemplary embodiment, the cutting part 3 has a passage opening 18 which is free from cutting part blades. When the actuating part 4 is closed, a part of the chopping tool 11 projects through the passage opening 18. In addition, the spiral ribbon which has been severed (not illustrated) can pass through the passage opening 18 into the vessel 9.

[0068] The chopping tool 11 has a conical receiving space 14 for the introduction of an item of food, such as, for example, a carrot, a radish or a cucumber, on the wall of which receiving space a cutting blade 15 is arranged. By rotation of the item of food which has been introduced into the receiving space, the tip of said item of food enters into operative connection with the cutting blade 15, as a result of which the spiral ribbon (not illustrated) is severed by cutting. In addition, the wall of the receiving space 14 has an opening (not illustrated) through which the spiral ribbon can pass out of the receiving space 14.

[0069] FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the chopping tool 11 has a holding plate 12 into which at least one of a plurality of different cutting inserts 19 is selectively fittable. The cutting inserts 19 each have a conical receiving space 14 for the introduction of an item of food, on the wall of which receiving space a cutting blade 15 is in each case arranged and in which receiving space the item of food is rotatable. The cutting inserts 19 can differ in particular in terms of their shape and/or size and/or in terms of the thickness and/or width of the spiral ribbons cuttable therewith and/or in terms of the number of spiral ribbons produced simultaneously during a cutting operation.

[0070] The cutting insert inserted in each case into the holding plate 12 can be fixed in a manner releasable again, in particular without a tool, for example by means of a latching unit or a quarter turn fastening.

[0071] The holding plate 12 has, in terms of shape and size, the same outer contour as a cutting part 3 which is insertable into the receptacle. This makes it possible for the chopping tool 11 to be temporarily fixed, instead of a cutting part 3, in the receptacle 2 of the base part 1 without additional fixing components being required. Furthermore, the holding plate has a cylindrical projection 32 into which one cutting insert 33 is in each case fittable.

[0072] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention. Since the actuating part 4 is not required for cutting the item of food into spiral ribbons, said actuating part has been temporarily removed from the base part 1. The articulated connection is designed to be releasable so that the actuating part 4 can be removed. Of the articulated connection 5, only the bearing pins 20 can be seen in FIG. 6, said bearing pins being pushed radially into joint receptacles of the actuating part 4 in order to produce the articulated connection 5 to the actuating part 4.

[0073] The base part 1 has a receptacle 2 into which a holding plate 1 is inserted. The holding plate 12 has a cylinder-tube-shaped projection 21 into which a cutting insert 19 is inserted. As is also explained further below in detail, it is possible to selectively fit one of a plurality of different cutting inserts 19 into the holding plate 12. The user therefore has the possibility of cutting spiral ribbons of different widths and/or different thicknesses and/or of selecting the cutting insert in accordance with the size or the composition of the item of food to be cut.

[0074] It is also possible in this embodiment to remove the holding plate 12 from the receptacle 2 and instead to insert a cutting part 3 in order to be able to push an item of food to be chopped through the cutting part 3 with the aid of the actuating part 4.

[0075] FIG. 7 shows the detail, which is illustrated in FIG. 6, of the device according to the invention in an exploded illustration. It can be seen that the holding plate 12 has a plurality of latching lugs 22 which securely fix the holding plate 12 in the receptacle 2 and which are nevertheless designed in such a manner that the holding plate 12 can be removed again from the receptacle 2 without a tool.

[0076] The cylindrical projection 21 has a quarter-turn-like external thread 23 which is intended to interact with an internal thread 24 of the cutting insert 19. This makes it possible to be able to fix the cutting insert 19 rapidly and securely to the holding plate 12 and, after use, to be able to remove it again simply and without a tool.

[0077] FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention. This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in particular in that the bearing pins 20 of the pivot mounting 5 are arranged in the opening of the base part 1.

[0078] FIG. 9 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a cutting insert 9 in top view in the axial direction. The cutting insert 19 has a conical receiving space 14 into which an item of food, such as, for example, the tip of a cucumber, a carrot or a radish, can be introduced. A cutting blade 15 projects into the receiving space 14, said cutting blade simultaneously severing a plurality of spiral ribbons in a cutting manner from the item of food rotating in the receiving space 14. The simultaneous severing of a plurality of spiral ribbons is achieved by the fact that the cutting insert 19 has further cutting blades 25 which likewise project into the receiving space 14 and which are arranged perpendicular to the cutting blade 15. Said further cutting blades 25 act as a julienne cutter which cuts the layer to be severed by means of the cutting blade 15 into a plurality of strips.

[0079] FIG. 10 shows the cutting insert 19, which has already been illustrated in FIG. 9, in a side view. It can be seen that the cutting insert 19 has a handle portion 26 at which the cutting insert 19 can be held for insertion into the holding plate 12 or into a cutting part receptacle of a holding part and rotated (if required for fastening). After the cutting part is inserted, the latter is held in the holding part preferably for conjoint rotation. The cutting insert 19 has, in the region of the cutting blade 15 and the further cutting blades 25, a slot opening 27 through which the spiral ribbons can pass out of the receiving space 14.

[0080] FIG. 11 shows the cutting insert 19, which has already been illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, in a perspective illustration. The cutting insert 19 has, in the region of its handle portion 26, an encircling collar with a quarter-turn-like internal thread 24 which is intended to interact with the external thread 23 of the holding plate 12 or with a corresponding external thread 23 of a holding part.

[0081] FIG. 12 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a cutting insert 19 which differs from the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11 in that the spacing of the further cutting blades 25 from one another is greater, and therefore wider spiral ribbons arise when this cutting insert 3 is used. With regard to the handle part 26 and with regard to the quarter-turn-like internal thread 24, the cutting insert 3 shown in FIG. 12 is constructed identically to the cutting insert shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, which ensures that the user can fix, and release again, the different cutting inserts 19 to/from the holding plate 12 or to/from the holding part 28, which is also described in detail with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, in an identical manner.

[0082] FIG. 13 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a cutting insert 19 which does not have any further cutting blades 25. When said third exemplary embodiment of a cutting insert 19 is used, particularly wide spiral ribbons are cut.

[0083] FIG. 14 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a cutting insert 19 which has a receiving space 14 with a smaller inlet diameter and a reduced angle of taper. This cutting insert 19 can be used in particular to simultaneously sever a multiplicity of spiral ribbons from food of thin diameter.

[0084] FIG. 15 shows a detailed view of a food chopping system according to the invention. The food chopping system has a holding part 28 which provides a cutting insert receptacle 29. A cutting insert 19, as illustrated for example in FIGS. 9 to 14, can be inserted into the cutting insert receptacle 29. For this purpose, the holding part 28, which is of substantially circular-cylindrical construction, has, on the end side, an external thread 23 which can interact with an internal thread 24 of one of the cutting inserts 19. The user can freely decide which of a plurality of cutting inserts 19 he/she would like to use and therefore has the possibility of cutting spiral ribbons of different width and/or different thickness and/or of selecting the cutting insert 19 in accordance with the size or the composition of the item of food to be cut.

[0085] At the end opposite the cutting insert receptacle 29, the holding part 28 has a discharge opening which can be closed by means of a holder for the item for cutting 31, which is additionally also designed as a cover for the discharge opening.

[0086] As FIG. 16 shows, the holding part 28 also has, in the region of its discharge opening, an external thread 23 which interacts with a quarter-turn-like internal thread of the holder for the item for cutting 31 when the holder for the item for cutting 31 is placed onto the discharge opening.

[0087] The possibility of being able to fasten the holder for the item for cutting 31 at the discharge opening has the very particular advantage that the holder for the item for cutting 31 can be stored directly on the holding part 28 and cannot be inadvertently lost during storage of the food chopping system.

[0088] The holder for the item for cutting 31 has vertically protruding spikes 30 which are intended to be pierced axially into the item of food to be processed, and therefore the item of food can be rotated in a secure and reliable manner in the receiving space 14 of the cutting insert 19 with the aid of the holder for the item for cutting 31.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0089] 1 Base part [0090] 2 Receptacle [0091] 3 Cutting part [0092] 4 Actuating part [0093] 5 Hinge connection [0094] 6 Item of food to be chopped [0095] 7 Cutting part blades [0096] 8 Pressing plunger [0097] 9 Vessel [0098] 10 Handle [0099] 11 Chopping tool [0100] 12 Holding plate [0101] 13 Further chopping tool [0102] 14 Receiving space [0103] 15 Cutting blade [0104] 16 Further receiving space [0105] 17 Further cutting blade [0106] 18 Passage opening [0107] 19 Cutting insert [0108] 20 Joint head [0109] 21 Cylindrical projection [0110] 22 Latching lugs [0111] 23 External thread [0112] 24 Internal thread [0113] 25 Further cutting blades [0114] 26 Handle portion [0115] 27 Slot opening [0116] 28 Holding part [0117] 29 Cutting insert receptacle [0118] 30 Spikes [0119] 31 Holder for the item for cutting [0120] 32 Cylindrical projection