FRUIT PIT REMOVAL DEVICE

Abstract

A fruit pit removal device for removing a pit from a fruit having a peripheral surface can include a shaft to eject the pit from the fruit; opposing top and bottom parts, of which each comprise top and bottom surfaces and a peripheral surface extending therebetween. The peripheral surfaces can comprise front and rear surfaces and at least two opposing side surfaces extending therebetween. The fruit pit removal device can be in an open or closed position; and when the fruit pit removal device is in a closed position, the bottom surface and the side surfaces of the top part and the top surface and the side surfaces of the bottom part cover

Claims

1. Fruit pit removal device (10) for removing a pit (50) from a fruit (48) having a peripheral surface (56), comprising: a shaft (64) to eject the pit (50) from the fruit (48); opposing top and bottom parts (12, 14), of which each comprises top and bottom surfaces (16, 18, 22, 24) and a peripheral surface (20, 26) extending therebetween; each of the peripheral surface (20, 26) comprises front and rear surfaces (28, 30, 36, 38) and at least two opposing side surfaces (32, 34, 40, 42) extending therebetween; wherein the fruit pit removal device (10) can be in an open or closed position; and when the fruit pit removal device (10) is in a closed position, the bottom surface (18) and the side surfaces (32, 34) of the top part (12) and the top surface (22) and the side surfaces (40, 42) of the bottom part (14) cover the fruit peripheral surface (56); and wherein the fruit pit removal device (10) is moved from an open to closed position by a machine.

2. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface (18) of the top part (12) and the top surface (22) of the bottom part (14) have each a recess (44, 46) to accommodate the fruit (48).

3. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the bottom surface (18) of the top part (12) and the top surface (22) of the bottom part (14) have an elliptical recess (44, 46).

4. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 1, wherein when the fruit pit removal device (10) is in a closed position, the bottom surface (18) of the top part (12) abuts the top surface (22) of the bottom part (14).

5. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 3, wherein when the fruit pit removal device (10) is in a closed position, the front surfaces (28, 36) of the top and bottom parts (12, 14) create a hole (60) together.

6. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 5, wherein when the fruit pit removal device (10) is in a closed position, the rear surfaces (30, 38) of the top and bottom parts (12, 14) create a hole (62) together.

7. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 6, wherein the fruit (48) comprises a front surface (52); wherein when the fruit pit removal device (10) is in a closed position, the front surfaces (28, 36) of the top and bottom parts (12, 14) with the created hole (60) cover partially the front surface (52) of the fruit (48).

8. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the fruit (48) comprises a rear surface (54); wherein when the fruit pit removal device (10) is in a closed position, the rear surfaces (30, 38) of the top and bottom parts (12, 14) with the created hole (62) cover partially the rear surface (54) of the fruit (48).

9. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fruit (48) is a date.

10. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 8, wherein when the fruit pit removal device (10) is in a closed position, the shaft (64) is inserted into the hole (62) of the rear surfaces (30, 38) of the top and bottom parts (12, 14).

11. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 10, wherein when the fruit pit removal device (10) is in a closed position, the shaft (64) is inserted into the center of the fruit (48) and ejects the pit (50) out of the fruit (48).

12. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 11, wherein when the fruit pit removal device (10) is in a closed position, the shaft (64) pushes the pit (50) towards the hole (60) of the front surfaces (28, 36) of the top and bottom parts (12, 14) and out of the device (10).

13. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fruit (48) is manually placed the on the recess (44) and the fruit pit removal device (10) is manually moved from an open to closed position.

14. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the fruit (48) is placed the on the recess (44) by a machine.

15. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the rear surfaces (30, 38) of the top and bottom parts (12, 14) are attached via springs (58).

16. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 14, wherein the rear surfaces (30, 38) of the top and bottom parts (12, 14) are attached separately to the machine which places the top part (12) on the bottom part (14).

17. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the recesses (44, 46) have the same size.

18. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the recesses (44, 46) have the same shape.

19. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the recesses (44, 46) are located in an identical opposing location on the bottom surface (18) of the top part (12) and the top surface (22) of the bottom part (14).

20. The fruit pit removal device (10) according to claim 1 is multiplied to multiple fruit pit removal devices (10) in order to simultaneously remove multiple pits (50) from multiple fruits (48).

21. A method of removing a pit (50) from a fruit (48), comprising the steps of: (i) providing a fruit pit removal device (10) for removing the pit (50) from the fruit (48) having a front surface (52), a rear surface (54) and a peripheral surface (56), comprising: opposing top and bottom parts (12, 14), of which each comprises a recess (44, 46) and top and bottom surfaces (16, 18, 22, 24) and a peripheral surface (20, 26) extending therebetween; each of the peripheral surface (20, 26) comprises front and rear surfaces (28, 30, 36, 38) and at least two opposing side surfaces (32, 34, 40, 42) extending therebetween; and a shaft (64) to eject the pit (50) from the fruit (48); (ii) placing a fruit (48) on the recess (44) of the bottom part (14); (iii) moving the fruit pit removal device (10) from an open to closed position by a machine, by placing the top part (12) on the bottom part (14), a hole (60, 62) is created at the front and rear surfaces (28, 30, 36, 38) by the recess (44, 46) of each part (12,14), the bottom surface (18) and the side surfaces (32, 34) of the top part (12) and the top surface (22) and the side surfaces (40,42) of the bottom part (14) cover the fruit peripheral surface (56), the front surfaces (28, 36) of the top and bottom parts (12, 14) with the created hole (60) cover partially the front surface (52) of the fruit (48), and the rear surfaces (30, 38) of the top and bottom parts (12, 14) with the created hole (62) cover partially the rear surface (54) of the fruit (48); and (iv) inserting the shaft (64) into the hole (62) of the rear surfaces (30, 38) of the top and bottom parts (12, 14) and the fruit (48), resulting in pushing the pit (50) out of the fruit (48) towards the hole (60) of the front surfaces (28, 36) and out of the device (10).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried out in practice, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fruit pit removal device in an open position according to the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fruit pit removal device shown in FIG. 1 in a nearly closed position;

[0045] FIG. 3 is a front view of the fruit pit removal device shown in FIG. 1 in a closed position during the pit removal process;

[0046] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fruit pit removal device shown in FIG. 1 in a closed position with a pit removed; and

[0047] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the fruit pit removal device shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0048] Attention is drawn to FIG. 1, showing a fruit pit removal device 10 in accordance with the present invention. The fruit pit removal device 10 has opposing top and bottom parts 12, 14. The top part 12 has top and bottom surfaces 16, 18 and a peripheral surface 20 extending therebetween. The bottom part 14 has top and bottom surfaces 22, 24 and a peripheral surface 26 extending therebetween. The peripheral surface 20 of top part 12 has front and rear surfaces 28, 30 and at least two opposing side surfaces 32, 34 extending therebetween. The peripheral surface 26 of bottom part 14 has front and rear surfaces 36, 38 and at least two opposing side surfaces 40, 42 extending therebetween. The bottom surface 18 of the top part 12 and the top surface 22 of the bottom part 14 have each a recess 44, 46 to accommodate a fruit 48 having a pit 50. The recesses 44, 46 may have the same size and the shape, if desired. Furthermore, the recesses 44, 46 may be located in an identical opposing location on each of the two opposing surfaces 18, 22, i.e., on the bottom surface 18 of the top part 12 and the top surface 22 of the bottom part 14, if desired, in accordance with the shape, type and size of the fruit 48.

[0049] The fruit 48 has a front surface 52, a rear surface 54 and a peripheral surface 56 extending therebetween. Despite the reference here for the fruit 48 to be a date, the fruit 48 may be of any kind. If the fruit 48 is a date, the recesses 44, 46 are elliptical, in order to accommodate the date 48 perfectly according to the shape and size of the date 48.

[0050] The fruit pit removal device 10 can be in an open position, as can be seen in FIG. 1. In this open position, the fruit 48 may be placed, manually or by a machine. FIG. 2 shows an intermediate position in order to show how the surfaces of the fruit pit removal device 10 cover the fruit 48. The fruit pit removal device 10 can be in a closed position, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, by placing the top part 12 on the bottom part 14, manually or by a machine. In this position, the bottom surface 18 of the top part 12 may abut the top surface 22 of the bottom part 14. Furthermore, in this position, the bottom surface 18 and the side surfaces 32, 34 of the top part 12 and the top surface 22 and the side surfaces 40, 42 of the bottom part 14 cover the fruit peripheral surface 56, the front surfaces 28, 36 of the top and bottom parts 12, 14 cover the front surface 52 of the fruit 48, the rear surfaces 30, 38 of the top and bottom parts 12, 14 cover the rear surface 54 of the fruit 48.

[0051] Attention is now drawn to FIG. 5. The rear surfaces 30, 38 of the top and bottom parts 12, 14 are attached via springs 58. Another technique to attach the two surfaces can be applied, such as screws, glue, brackets or any other technique known in the art, such as connecting each part directly and separately to a machine which places the top part 12 on the bottom part 14 without the need to connect them directly. The front surfaces 28, 36 of the top and bottom parts 12, 14 create a hole 60 together by the recesses 44, 46 of each part 12, 14. The rear surfaces 30, 38 of the top and bottom parts 12, 14 create a hole 62 together by the recesses 44, 46 of each part 12, 14.

[0052] Attention is back to FIG. 3. The fruit pit removal device 10 has a shaft 64 to be inserted into the fruit 48 in order to remove the fruit pit 50 by pushing it out. When the fruit pit removal device 10 is in a closed position, the pit removal process occurs, manually or by a machine. When the fruit pit removal device 10 is in a closed position, the shaft 64 is inserted into the hole 62 of the rear surfaces 30, 38 of the top and bottom parts 12, 14. Then, the shaft 64 is inserted into the center of the fruit 48 and ejects the pit 50 out of the fruit 48. Finally, the shaft 64 pushes the pit 50 towards the hole 62 of the front surfaces 28, 36 of the top and bottom parts 12, 14 and out of the device, as can be seen in FIG. 4.

[0053] The fruit pit removal device 10 can be multiplied to multiple devices together treated by a machine for a commercial use in order to simultaneously remove multiple pits 50 from multiple fruits 48, or be an individual device for a self-use. Either way, the fruit 48 is kept in a fixed position in the center, therefore the shaft 64 is inserted always to the center of the fruit 48 and does not damage the shell or the shape of the fruit 48, even if it is a soft shell which can be damaged easily.

[0054] It will be appreciated that the present invention not only provides a fruit pit removal device and method which keeps the fruit fixed and in the center of the machine, keeps the fruit shell and shape complete with no damage, but at the same time is easy, simple to use, without consuming a lot of funds or time for its operation. Furthermore, it can be used manually or by a machine, making it available for any necessary use.

[0055] Although the present invention has been described to a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that various alterations and modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.