BLADE DESIGN FOR CUTTING FOOD AND OTHER ITEMS

Abstract

A cutting device for slicing or chopping food or the like has a plurality of parallel cutting blades, each with a leading cutting edge that is non-linear or even curved from one end to an opposite end thereof and is non-symmetric with respect to a central point between the ends. The leading cutting edge of each blade has a different elevation in the cutting direction than the leading cutting edges of the adjacent blades. With this arrangement the cutting edges of the various blades are caused to slice progressively into the sliceable object and thereby reduce the force required to create the parallel cuts through the object.

Claims

1. In a cutting device for making a plurality of parallel cuts in a sliceable object when moved toward said object in a cutting direction, said cutting device comprising a plurality of parallel cutting blades each having a leading cutting edge, the improvement wherein leading cutting edge of each cutting blade is non-linear from one end to an opposite end thereof, and wherein the leading cutting edge of each blade has a different elevation in the cutting direction than the leading cutting edges of the blades adjacent thereto, whereby the leading cutting edges of the cutting blades are caused to slice progressively into the sliceable object thereby to reduce the force required to create the parallel cuts through the object.

2. The cutting device recited in claim 1, wherein the leading, cutting edge of each blade is convex in the cutting direction.

3. The cutting device recited in claim wherein the leading cutting edge of each blade is concave in the cutting direction.

4. The cutting device recited in claim 1, wherein the leading cutting edge of at least some of said blades is both concave and convex in the cutting direction.

5. The cutting devicerecited in claim 1, comprising two sets of parallel cutting blades, a first set and a second set, with said two sets of blades arranged transversely with respect to each other, thereby to make transverse cuts in the sliceable object.

6. The cutting device recited in claim 1, wherein said two sets of blades form a 90 angle with respect to each other.

7. The cutting device recited in claim 5, wherein the leading cutting edges of the first set of blades are convex in the cutting direction.

8. The cutting device recited in claim 7, wherein the leading cutting edges of the second set of blades are also convex in the cutting direction.

9. The cutting device recited in claim 7, wherein the leading cutting edges of the second set of blades are concave in the cutting direction.

10. The cutting device recited in claim wherein the leading cutting edges of the first set of blades are concave in the cutting direction.

11. The cutting device recited in claim 10, wherein the leading cutting edges of the second set of blades are concave in the cutting direction.

12. The cutting device recited in claim 1, wherein the leading cutting edge of each cutting blade is non-symmetric with respect to a central point between its ends.

13. The cutting device recited in claim 5, wherein the highest elevation of the leading cutting edges in the cutting direction of a first set of blades is greater than the highest elevation of the cutting edges in the cutting direction of the second set of blades, thereby allowing one set of blades to make contact with the sliceable object before contact by the other set to provide a progressive and incremental cutting process.

14. The cutting device recited in claim 1, wherein the leading cutting edge of each cutting blade is symmetric with respect to a central point between its ends.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the blade design on a cutting device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 2 is diagrammatic view of a flat item of food, showing how the blade design of FIG. 1 results in progressive cutting.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of the force applied to a cutting device with a prior art blade design.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of the force applied to a cutting device with the blade design according to the invention.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a graph showing a simplified representation of varying blade elevations for parallel blades in both the X axis and Y axis according to the present invention.

[0030] FIGS. 6A and 6B are elevation views of X and Y axis blades having various exemplary designs according to the invention.

[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates X and Y axis blades that are non-symmetric with respect to the center point, as a variation of the invention.

[0032] FIGS. 8A and 8B show further variations of blade designs according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-8 of the drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the improved blade design according to the invention, in which there is a grid of non-flat blades along two axes. The blades on the Y axis, with labels Y0 through Y10, are convex with each blade having a peak point on the vertical Z axis. As may be seen, no two Y axis blades are at the same vertical elevation, each blade being slightly higher or lower than its neighboring Y axis blade. This is what allows the incremental penetration of the target item with minimum force, namely, that no two Y axis blades start to penetrate the food item at the same time. The Y axis blades are highest in the center and decrease in the Z axis as they move away from center. Each blade on the Y axis has a single peak point at or somewhat near in the center which commences the blade's penetration into the target item. The center Y axis blade makes the first penetration from among all blades at its peak center point. This point then extends to a line as the blade is pressed into the target item. Afterwards, an adjacent Y axis blade with the next highest Z axis elevation makes its initial penetration at its center peak point which subsequently extends outward and forms a line. This process continues as the target item is urged through the blades.

[0035] The penetration of the Y axis blades into the food item causes it to expand due to the width of the blades. This expansion is countered by a compression force caused by the X axis blades pressing on the item as they penetrate the item. Collectively, this compression facilitates the cutting of the target item.

[0036] The blades on the X axis, labeled X0 through X13, are concave with each blade having a peak high point at one end and another point at the other end which is at a lower height than the first. This ensures that only one point initiates penetration, thereby minimizing the force required. Each X axis blade dips in the center creating a concave shape.

[0037] An adjacent X axis blade has a similar design but with its peak high point at the opposite end from the high point of its neighbors' blades. This ensures a balance in the cutting as half the X axis blades initiate cuts at one end of the grid and the other half initiate cuts at the opposite end of the grid. The two X axis blades at the edges of the grid (X0, X13) are at the same Z axis height. Approaching the center, the blades lower until the center X axis blade which is at the lowest Z axis level. This creates a bowl shape which handles the target item by keeping it contained and squeezing it from the outside inward. This squeezing counters the expansion force created by the Y axis blades; the result is a more compressed target item that can more easily be cut.

[0038] FIG. 2 depicts the pattern in which the target item is cut by the blade design of the current invention. The central Y axis blade first penetrates into the target item starting at a point in the center (FIG. 2, A) which becomes a line as the item is pressed. Thereafter, neighboring Y axis blades cut into the item, each starting at a point and developing into a full line blade cut. The highest X axis blades at each end of the grid then initiate penetration at their peak points (FIG. 2, D), followed by the point at the other end of the blade (FIG. 2, E). These two penetration points then extend to a full line cut (FIG. 2, F). Subsequently, other X axis blades initiate cuts in the same manner which eventually form into full cuts. In all cases, along both axes, blade cuts are initiated at a point and develop gradually into full line cuts.

[0039] FIG. 3 presents a graph showing the force required to urge a target item through a traditional, prior art blade designe.g. the blade design shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,762,169 to Kaposias a function of the item's position as it moves through the cutting process. A target object with a flat bottom, such as a half-onion, is assumed. When the flat part of the half-cut onion is positioned on the blade grid, force is applied and increased until the blades penetrate the surface of the onion. This build up to the peak force is depicted in zone A. After initial penetration is made, the blades penetrate further into the onion. As this happens, the friction increases since more blade surface area is passing through the onion. This increase in force is represented by zone B. This friction increases until it reaches a maximum, then levels off when the blades are fully embedded in the onion. This is represented by zone C. Finally, as the onion exits the blade grid, the force decreases as amount of blade surface area in contact with the onion decreases to zero when the onion fully exits the grid. This is represented by zone D.

[0040] Other prior art cutting devices will exhibit a similar force graph. For example, blades with serrations or slight modifications to a substantially flat base, such as Westland German Utility Model No. 1,943,674, will exhibit a slightly more gradual build up to the maximum force in zone A. However, it will not be an optimal force exertion.

[0041] FIG. 4 presents a graph showing the force required to urge a target item through the blade design of the current invention, as a function of the item's position as it moves through the cutting process. A target object with a flat bottom such as a half-onion, is assumed. When the flat part of the half-cut onion is positioned on the blade grid, the first blade makes initial penetration at a single point (the center point of the center Y axis blade). This requires a minimum force. As the item is urged further, additional blades incrementally make cuts into the object. This process requires an incrementally increasing force as each blade sequentially penetrates the item. This is represented by zone A. This force increases to a maximum and levels off when all blades are completely embedded in the item. This is represented by zone B. Finally, as the onion exits the blade grid, the force decreases as the amount of blade surface area in contact with the onion decreases to zero when the onion fully exits the grid. This is represented by zone C.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a representational diagram showing the blades on each axis in side view. As may be seen, no two blades have the same elevation. This feature of the invention allows an incrementally increasing force to be applied to cut the target item. The left image of the figure represents the Y axis blades and the right image represents the X axis blades of FIG. 1.

[0043] FIG. 6A presents one variation of the X and Y axis blade design in which the edges have linear components but, overall, still possess concave and convex properties.

[0044] FIG. 6B presents another variation of the X and Y axis blades in which the edges possess both convex and concave properties.

[0045] FIG. 7 presents a blade design in which the blades are non-symmetric with respect to a center point of the cutting device.

[0046] FIG. 8A presents another preferred embodiment of the invention in which the same blade design is used on both axes. Along one axis, the blades rise in elevation as they approach the center of the grid and, along the other axis, the blades decrease in elevation as they approach the center.

[0047] FIG. 8B presents still another preferred embodiment of the invention in which blades that have both convex and concave components are used.

[0048] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.