Egg Slicer

• US 20100175569A1
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Original Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Inventors: Kaneko, Eugene Ryu, Aby-Eva, Grégoire Bernard, Laskowski, Michael John
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/537
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 9/003 by slicing slabs or prints into pats
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/30 with limited pivotal movement to effect cut
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/553 with a plurality of wire-like cutting members
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/185 Grid like cutters
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/26 specially adapted for cutting fruit or vegetables, e.g. for onions
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/00 Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting cutters B26D1/00; arrangements for guiding hand cutting tools B26B29/06; punching tools or dies, cutting-out knives or dies B26F
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/01 Means for holding or positioning work
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/02 with clamping means B26D7/018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/1818 by pushing out
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/242 With means to clean work or tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9457 Joint or connection

Abstract

An apparatus for partitioning a food mass, such as a solidified egg, is disclosed including a base, a holder for supporting the food mass, and a plurality of cutting members for partitioning the food mass, wherein the holder is rotatable to permit the cutting members to partition the food mass in a first orientation and in a second orientation. The apparatus further includes a retainer positionable on a top surface of the food mass having passageways permitting the cutting members to pass through a portion thereof. The apparatus may include a cleaning plate receivable by portions of the holder in a position below the food mass, the cleaning plate being removable from the holder to remove food matter from between the support portions. The apparatus may include a lock for securing apparatus in a closed or lowest position for storage.

Claims

1. An apparatus for partitioning a food mass, the apparatus comprising:

a base;

a holder for supporting the food mass on the base, the holder being connected to the base; and

a plurality of cutting members movable relative to the holder for partitioning the food mass, wherein the holder is rotatable to and between at least a first position and a second position relative to the cutting members, the first position permitting the cutting members to partition the food mass in a first orientation and the second position permitting the cutting members to partition the food mass in a second orientation different from the first orientation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cutting frame pivotally connected to the base, wherein the cutting members are substantially elongated in a parallel relationship and supported by the cutting frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first position is a predetermined position, and the second position is a predetermined position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the holder includes a first set of recesses permitting the cutting members to be received therein with the holder in the first position, and a second set of recess permitting the cutting members to be received therein with the holder in the second position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the holder has a top surface contoured for receiving the food mass, and the top surface provides a specific orientation for the food mass relative to the holder.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a cleaning member, wherein the holder includes a plurality of support portions extending upwardly to support the food mass thereon, the cleaning member being receivable between the support portions in a position below the food mass, and the cleaning member being removable from the holder to remove food matter from between the support portions.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. An apparatus for partitioning a food mass, the apparatus comprising:

a base;

a holder for supporting the food mass on the base, the holder being connected to the base;

a plurality of cutting members movable relative to the holder for partitioning the food mass; and

a cleaning member, wherein the holder includes a plurality of support portions extending upwardly to support the food mass thereon, the cleaning member being receivable between the support portions in a position below the food mass, and the cleaning member being removable from the holder to remove food matter from between the support portions.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the cleaning member is plate-like and includes openings for receiving the support portions.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the holder includes first and second sets of recesses between the support portions permitting the cutting members to be received therein, the cleaning member being received in the holder recesses.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first set of holder recesses are oriented substantially orthogonal to the second set of holder recesses, first cutting members are receivable within the first set of holder recesses and second cutting members are receivable within the second set of holder recesses, and the cleaning member includes openings for receiving the support portions.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the cleaning member includes openings for receiving the support portions, the openings are sized for closely receiving the support portions.