ADJUSTABLE SLICER

Abstract

An adjustable cutting device includes a base including a base support component for supporting an object for slicing a cutter support for supporting and guiding a cutter tool such as a knife and a base for supporting an object for slicing or cutting and an upper component including a cover. The base includes a threaded base cylinder, fixed to the base support component. The threaded base cylinder having an external thread. The cutter support is movable relative to the base; the cutter support comprising first and second frame like elements separated by a fixed region, surfaces of the first and second elements adjacent the region formed for supporting and guiding a cutter tool such as a knife. The cutter support also includes an internally threaded cutter cylinder fixed to the cutter support. The upper component includes a cover hinged for overlying said cutter support and including a threaded cover cylinder rotatable relative to the cover, said cover cylinder having both internal and external threads, the external thread of the cover cylinder with a pitch matching the pitch of the cutter cylinder's internal thread, the internal threads of the cover cylinder having a pitch matching the pitch of the base cylinder. The pitch of the internal and external threads of the cover cylinder are different.

Claims

1. An adjustable cutting device comprising: a base including a base support component for supporting an object for slicing, said base including a threaded base cylinder, fixed to the base support component, said threaded base cylinder having an external thread, a cutter support, movable relative to said base, said cutter support comprising first and second elements separated by a fixed region, surfaces of the first and second elements adjacent the region formed for supporting and guiding a cutter tool, an internally threaded cutter cylinder fixed to said cutter support, and an upper component including a cover for overlying said cutter support and including a threaded cover cylinder rotatable relative to the cover, said cover cylinder having both internal and external threads, the external thread of the cover cylinder with a pitch matching the pitch of the cutter cylinder's internal thread, the internal threads of the cover cylinder having a pitch matching the pitch of the base cylinder, wherein the pitch of the internal and external threads of the cover cylinder are different.

2. The cutting device of claim 1 wherein the pitch of the external threads and internal threads of the cover cylinder have a ratio greater than 2:1 but less than 10:1.

3. The cutting device of claim 1 wherein the pitch of the external threads and internal threads of the cover cylinder have a ratio of 2.

4. The cutting device of claim 1 wherein the pitch of the external threads and internal threads of the cover cylinder have a ratio less than 2:1 and greater than 1:1.

5. The cutting device of claim 1 wherein the threaded base cylinder has an axis which is perpendicular to a plane of the support component.

6. The cutting device of claim 5 wherein the threaded cutter cylinder is located between the first and second elements with an axis perpendicular to a plane of at least one of the elements.

7. The cutting device of claim 6 wherein threaded cover cylinder has an axis perpendicular to a major plane of the cover.

8. The cutting device of claim 3 in which the upper component includes a rotatable shaft along which is spaced food engaging spikes. The cutting device of claim 8 wherein the shaft has a position in which the spike are not engagable and another position in which the spikes are engagable with an object for slicing.

10. The cutting device of claim 1 wherein the cover component of the upper component is hinged allowing the cover to be rotated to lie non-parallel to said base component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIGS. 1 and 2 are cross-sections showing the interaction among the threaded cylinders which are components of the base, cutter support and the upper component;

[0008] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the interaction of the components

[0009] FIG. 4 is a detail plan view showing the interaction among the components of the cutter support;

[0010] FIGS. 5-7 are plan views of components of the cover element of the upper component;

[0011] FIGS. 8-9 are isometric views of the adjustable cutting device in closed and open conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 3 shows the base component 32 which includes a generally planar food support 33 and spaced legs 35. A base cylinder 31 is fixed, through a collar (see FIG. 4) to the base 32. The base cylinder 31 has external threads. An axis of the base cylinder is perpendicular to a major plane of the food support 33. A cutter support 20 includes elements 20a and 20b, which are spaced apart to define a fixed region 20c therebetween. As seen in FIG. 3 the elements 20a and 20b are open frames which are maintained in a fixed spaced relation to each other. The facing edges of the elements 20a and 20b are designed and spaced apart to support a cutting tool, such as a knife, as it is moved from one end of the cutter support 20 to the other. The cutter support elements 20a and 20b illustrated in FIG. 3 each have the form of an open frame allowing the food to be cut to extend from the base component upwards past the cutter support 20. Fixed to the elements 20a and 20b is a cutter cylinder 25. The cutter cylinder has an axis which is generally perpendicular to a major plane of the elements 20a and 20b. The third major component is the upper component including a cover 30, a rotatable threaded cover cylinder 10 and a support 11 to support the cover cylinder. The cover cylinder 10 has an axis which is generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the edges of the cover 34.

[0013] FIGS. 1 shows cross sections of the cover cylinder and adjacent structures (noted as Assembly 1), the cutter support cylinder and adjacent structures (noted as Assembly 2) and the base cylinder and associated structures (noted as Assembly 3). Assembly 1 includes the cover cylinder 10 with the external threads B and internal threads A. The cover cylinder is journaled in the cover and has a knob 10a which allows a user to rotate the cylinder clockwise or counterclockwise to raise or lower the cover and cutter support relative to the base. FIG. 2 is a cross section showing the cylinders 10, 25 and 31 assembled in operative relationship. To assemble the cutter support 20, upper component and cover 30, the outer threads of the cover cylinder 10 are threaded into the inner threads of the cutter support cylinder 25. The cover cylinder 10 is rotated so the distal end of the cover cylinder 10 is rotated through the cutter support cylinder 25. As the cover cylinder 10 continues its rotation, more and more of the cover cylinder protrude past the cutter support cylinder 25 and frame 20. Eventually the distal end of the cover cylinder 10 may then be engaged with the threads of the base cylinder 31. If the cover cylinder 10 continues to be rotated the cutter support cylinder 25 (and the cutter support 20) will move down to rest on the base cylinder 31. This a storage position of the adjustable cutting device with the cutter support resting on the base 32 and the cover 30 resting on the cutter support 20. From this position the cover cylinder can be rotated by rotating the knob 10a to raise the cover and cutter support to an operating position.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a plan view of components of the upper component, cover 30 and its relation to the cover cylinder 10. FIG. 4 shows the cylinder 10 supported in a frame 37. The frame 37 includes a hollow enclosure E which extends across the frame 37. A rod G is supported within the hollow enclosure E and extends beyond the extent of the enclosure E. A cover portion 34 of the upper component is generally planar (although the shape may depart from strictly planar) and includes a pair of recesses F which are spaced from each other by a distance which is less than the length of the rod G. The ends of the rod G are journaled within the recesses F so the rod G functions as an axle. This restricts the motion of the cover portion to rotation about the axis formed by the axle G.

[0015] FIGS. 3 and 5-7 show a spike mechanism secured on the cover 34. That mechanism includes a rod H on which are secured spikes K. While FIG. 3 shows the rod H above the cover 34, that is only for the illustration. The rod H is secured in the casing T. The casing T is located on the cover 34 adjacent the transparent region 35 so that when the spiked rod H is rotated into use, the spikes K may engage the food to be cut. A lever V allows the user to rotate the spiked rod H into and out of use. The region of the cover 35 represents a transparent portion of the cover allowing the user to maintain visibility of the workpiece being cut. As is apparent from FIGS. 5 and 6, while the lever V is available to the user (i.e., above the cover 34) the spikes K lie below the cover 34 to engage the food being sliced. While FIGS. 3 and 5-7 show spikes, the form of the mechanism can vary to include a cheese grater or a pattern of blunt raised protrusions which can perform a gripping function.

[0016] FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 9 show surfaces which appear striped. This illustration represents a textured surface which assists in securing the food or other workpiece from unwanted motion during a cutting operation.

[0017] As noted there are two different thread pitches in the components of the slicer. One pitch is common among the external thread of the cover cylinder and the cutter cylinder's internal thread. The other pitch is found on the internal threads of the cover cylinder and the pitch of the base cylinder. In one preferred embodiment the ratio of these pitches is 2:1 so, from a position where the cutter support is directly contacting the base and the cover is directly contacting the cutter support, as the knob 10 is rotated the cover rises twice as fast as the cutter support. Thus at every position of the components any food located between cover and base will be sliced in half since the cutter support will remain halfway between cover and base. Obviously with a ratio less than 2:1 but more than 1:1 the cutter support will be closer to the cover than the base and with a ratio greater than 2:1 the cutter support will be closer to the base than the cover. Preferably the ratio is no smaller than 1:1 nor larger than 10:1.

[0018] Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, note that cover 34 can be rotated about the axle G so the cover 34 no longer overlies the region occupied by the object to be sliced. In this configuration the user is free to position the cutter support 20 at any height above the base. This allows the user complete freedom to direct the slice at any height from the base.

[0019] The components of the slicer can be made of a variety of different materials. The threaded parts may be molded plastic, silicone, rubber or metal such as stainless steel. The support surfaces, cutting guide and cover, as well as the feet 35, may be made of molded plastic, TPR , silicone or metal such as stainless steel. While some parts may be metal and other parts may be plastic or rubber, it is also possible to make the entire device either plastic or metal.