Freeze Pop Package Clipper and A Method to Open Freeze Pop Packaging

Abstract

A hand-held cutting device configured to safely, easily, and reliably remove the plastic tip of the plastic packaging of a Freeze Pop is disclosed. The device includes a housing with a slot into which the tip of the unopened Freeze Pop is inserted. Inside the slot is an internal cutting mechanism which produces a curved cut to remove the tip of the Freeze Pop. The tip then falls into a collection chamber which may be opened for easy disposal of plastic scraps. The entire device is storable on a magnetic surface via a removable magnetic component.

Claims

1. A hand-held cutting device for removing a tip of a tubular plastic packaging of an alimentary product, which device comprises: a housing comprising a slot into which the tubular plastic packaging is inserted; an internal cutting mechanism comprising at least one blade; at least one lever comprising a handle; wherein the housing encloses the cutting mechanism such that no blade is exposed to the environment or a user's skin.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the internal cutting mechanism is a selectable cutting mechanism comprising a plurality of sets of blades from which a set of blades to be used in a cutting operation is selected, wherein any set of blades of the plurality of sets of blades comprises at least one non-rusting blade that produces a curved cut.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the internal cutting mechanism is an adjustable cutting mechanism comprising at least one non-rusting blade that produces a curved cut, wherein a size of an arc of the curved cut is adjustable via one of the at least one levers.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises an openable collection chamber comprising at least one air vent, wherein the openable collection chamber comprises means to allow for opening the openable collection chamber.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the means to allow for opening the openable collection chamber comprises a pressable button, a pressable tab, or a pressable indented side.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the handle of the at least one lever comprises an ergonomic grip.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the devices further comprises a removable magnetic storage component.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device, except for the magnetic storage component, is entirely made of plastic.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is made of plastic.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is dishwasher safe.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is mechanically powered.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is electronically powered.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein any plastic of the device comprises at least one additive to inhibit the growth of microbes.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein any plastic of the device is made of antimicrobial materials.

15. A method to open a tubular plastic packaging containing an alimentary product, which method comprises the steps of: retrieving the device according to claim 1, optionally detaching the device from the removable magnetic storage component; selecting or adjusting the cutting mechanism to ensure a proper cut; inserting an end of an unopened packaging into the slot; pulling a lever configured to operate the cutting mechanism; collecting scraps of plastic removed by the cutting mechanism in the collection chamber.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the tubular plastic packaging is a Freeze Pop packaging.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the Freeze Pop Package Clipper where the internal cutting mechanism is adjustable. The figure shows the housing (1), an adjustable cutting mechanism (2), cutting blade (3), cutting mechanism operation lever (4), operation lever handle (4a), cutting mechanism adjustment lever (5), cutting mechanism adjustment lever handle (5a), collection chamber (6), collection chamber opening (7), magnetic storage component (8), a slot or insertion opening (9), an opening to the collection chamber (10). An unopened Freeze Pop (20) is inserted via an insertion opening (6).

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing of another embodiment of the Freeze Pop Package Clipper where the internal cutting mechanism is selectable. The figure shows the housing (1), a selectable cutting mechanism (2a), cutting blade (3), plurality of sets of blades (3b), cutting mechanism operation lever (4), operation lever handle (4a), cutting mechanism adjustment lever (5), cutting mechanism adjustment lever handle (5a), collection chamber (6), collection chamber opening (7), magnetic storage component (8), a slot or insertion opening (9), an opening to the collection chamber (10). An unopened Freeze Pop (20) is inserted via an insertion opening (6).

[0017] FIG. 3 shows a side-by-side comparison of a linear cutting result with sharp corner (12) and the Freeze Pop Package Clipper's curved cut (14).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] One preferred embodiment of this invention comprises the plastic housing (1) made of antimicrobial materials, the adjustable cutting mechanism (2), the non-removable collection chamber (6) having a collection chamber opening (7), the removable magnetic storage component (8), wherein the device is also dishwasher safe and entirely mechanical. The collection chamber opening (7) may be openable for example by squeezing the housing. Alternatively, the collection chamber may have an intended wall which may be pressed to open the collection chamber opening.

[0019] Operation of the device, as embodied by the description above, is as follows:

[0020] A user retrieves the device, possibly from a magnetic surface used for storage purposes. Depending on the Freeze Pop size, the user moves a lever (5) configured to adjust the size of the arc to be cut to ensure a proper sized cut. According to certain embodiment the device has a plurality of sets of blades (3b) from which a set of blades may be selected to perform the cutting operation.

[0021] The user then inserts one end of a Freeze Pop into the insertion opening or slot (9) of the housing and pulls down a lever (4) configured to operate the cutting mechanism. The tip of the plastic packaging of the Freeze Pop, which may also include some of the Freeze Pop itself, is removed by the cutting mechanism and falls into the collection chamber (6) through an opening (10) on top of the collection chamber below the cutting mechanism. The user may continue to cut open multiple other Freeze Pops without emptying the collection chamber. When finished with the device, the user may then open the collection chamber opening by pressing on the indented side of the collection chamber or squeezing the housing. The collection chamber can easily be emptied once opened. Since the device is dishwasher safe, the user may insert it into a dishwasher for cleaning, but the device can alternatively be cleaned by rinsing the insides with water. The cleaned device should then be dried and reattached to the magnetic storage component so that the entire device may be stored.

ELEMENT LISTING

[0022] 1 Housing [0023] 2 Adjustable cutting mechanism [0024] 2a Selectable cutting mechanism [0025] 3 Blade [0026] 3b Set of selectable blades [0027] 4 Cutting mechanism lever [0028] 4a Cutting mechanism lever handle [0029] 5 Adjustment mechanism lever [0030] 5a Adjustment mechanism lever handle [0031] 6 Collection chamber [0032] 7 Collection chamber opening [0033] 8 Magnetic component [0034] 9 Insertion opening or slot [0035] 10 Opening to the collection chamber [0036] 12 Sharp cut [0037] 14 Curved cut [0038] 20 Unopened Freeze Pop