Fruit slicer and juicer apparatus and method

• US 9,730,466 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander R. Schmieding, Cristain Montemayor
• Original Assignee: Alexander R. Schmieding, Cristain Montemayor
• Inventors: Schmieding, Alexander R., Montemayor, Cristain
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, HONG THI
• Application Number:
  US14/467,236
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/04 Extraction of juices machines or apparatus for extracting juice A23N1/00, A47J19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A23N 1/02 combined with disintegrating or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 19/023 including a pressing cone or reamer

Abstract

A handheld device that permits slicing and juicing a fruit in two steps of slicing and juicing. The device includes a cradle portion, a squeezer portion, and a blade assembly all joined at a common hinge. A lemon or other unsliced fruit is placed in the device cradle portion, and in a first slicing step, the user grasps a blade handle to rotate a blade into the fruit. In the second juicing step, the user grasps a handle of the squeezer portion and rotates the squeezer portion into the fruit to squeeze juice from the fruit. A funnel is provided to collect the juice. It is not necessary to slice lemons or other fruit with a knife before juicing, or to touch sliced fruit.

Claims

1. A hand-held fruit juicer comprising

a blade assembly comprising

a hinged elongated blade handle having a proximal end and a distal end, and

a blade extending from the blade handle;

a juicer portion comprising

a juicer handle having a proximal end and a distal end, and

two spaced apart squeezer elements extending from the juicer handle;

a cradle portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the cradle portion comprising

a cradle handle having a proximal end and a distal end, and

a dome receptacle formed in the cradle handle, the dome receptacle comprising

a strainer, and

a plurality of fruit support ribs; and

wherein the blade handle, the juicer handle and the cradle handle are all co-extensive and

a hinge element connecting the distal ends of the blade handle, juicer handle, and cradle handle,

such that

a portion of the blade handle between the blade and the proximal end of the blade handle is configured to be operable by hand,

a portion of the cradle handle between the dome receptacle and the proximal end of the cradle handle is configured to be operable by hand,

a portion of the juicer handle between the squeezer elements and the proximal end of the juicer handle is configured to be operable by hand,

the blade is rotatable from a first position substantially nested between the spaced apart squeezer elements, and a second position substantially within the dome receptacle, and

the squeezer elements are rotatable from a first position withdrawn from the dome receptacle, and a second position substantially within the dome receptacle.

2. The fruit juicer of claim 1 wherein the dome receptacle further comprises a juice funnel.

3. The fruit juicer of claim 1 wherein

the distal ends of the blade handle, juicer handle, and cradle handle comprise hinge rings;

and

the hinge element is a bolt.

4. The fruit juicer of claim 1 wherein

the distal ends of the blade handle, juicer handle, and cradle handle comprise hinge rings;

and

the hinge element is a stop hinge.

5. The fruit juicer of claim 1 wherein the blade assembly further comprises

a cast aluminum handle;

and

a stainless steel blade riveted to the cast aluminum handle.