Bagel slicing appliance

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6244153
  • Patent Number
    6,244,153
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 13, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 12, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
An improved appliance for slicing food articles, particularly baked goods and bagels in a uniform, quick and safe manner. The appliance includes a food receptacle which is slidably inserted into one end of a main housing and into which a food item such as a bagel is placed. A motorized cutting carriage is pivotally mounted to the main housing and extends a serrated dual-bladed slicing assembly over the food item. When power is applied, the blades of the slicing assembly begin reciprocating, and the entire cutting carriage is pivoted with respect to the main housing in order to move the reciprocating blades of the slicing assembly through the food item. Once the food item is cut, the cutting carriage is returned to its home position, the food receptacle is slidably withdrawn, and the sliced food item is removed and consumed. The appliance requires a minimum of space and facilitates the slicing operation without damage to the bagel. The appliance is efficient, quick, easy to clean, and above all, completely safe.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to kitchen appliances and, more particularly, to a motorized food slicing appliance to simplify the cutting of bagels and other baked goods, and to increase safety.




2. Description of the Background




The conventional means for slicing food articles, particularly baked goods such as bagels, doughnuts and the like, entails a simple carving knife and cutting board. However, this engenders a significant safety hazard. Safety is especially compromised in the cutting of bagels, which are hard and round and thereby difficult to stabilize. It is recognized that bagel slicing is one of the foremost causes of household injury. Hospitals routinely treat an inordinate number of lacerated fingers caused thereby.




A number of machines and jigs for slicing bagels already exist in the prior art. These generally fall into two categories: 1) manual holding jigs or receptacles into which the bagel is placed to hold it during a conventional knife cutting operation; and 2) industrialized slicing machines designed to slice a large number of bagels or baked goods in an assembly-line manner.




Many of the former manually-operated devices include a receptacle having a pair of opposed slots into which is inserted a cutting instrument, which is then moved back and forth in a sawing action to slice the bagel while it is held by the receptacle. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,989 to Baillie shows a mechanical bagel press for securing bagels whilst cutting with a knife, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,505 to Campbell et al. shows a miter-box type manual bagel slicer for securing a bagel and guiding a knife. In these and other cases, the use of a separate knife to slice the bagel is not always convenient and leaves the risk of injury from the knife blade. Other variations attach the knife blade to the housing to facilitate the sawing action. Still others employ a special guided blade or make provision for rotating the bagel to facilitate slicing. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,331 to Policella, which shows a mechanical bagel press for securing bagels whilst cutting with a pivotally mounted knife, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,078 to Ricard et al. which shows a manual guillotine-type bagel slicing jig. These and like devices still result in a labor intensive process and user interaction with a free-swinging blade. Injuries are still prevalent.




There are heavy commercial devices used by restaurants and the like. These industrialized devices entail automatically feeding bagels past rotating blades. They are designed for use where ample counter space and a high price tag are not obstacles. For example, U.S Pat. No. 5,404,782 to Ryan et al. shows an automated slicer in which bagels or other baked goods are carried on a conveyer past two opposing horizontal blades. The baked goods are sliced by the blades and continue onward until they are ejected from the conveyer into a hopper. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,252 to Herlitzius shows an automated slicer in which bagels are carried on a conveyer to a rotary slicer. The bagels are sliced by adjustable blades and continue onward until they fall off the conveyer into a hopper.




It would be greatly advantageous to provide a compact motorized bagel slicing device adapted for home or light commercial use, thereby simplifying the slicing process and improving the safety thereof. While there have been efforts to achieve a balance between automation, safety, and simplicity, none as yet have yielded a satisfactory design. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,686 to Losiowski shows a bagel slicing jig in which a bagel is inserted through an entrance door in advance of a pushing mechanism. The handle operated pushing mechanism urges the bun past a diagonal blade. After slicing, the bun is ejected from the side of the jig. U.S. Pat. No. 2,685,901 to Putzer shows a bun slicing machine in which a round bun is inserted in a slidable carriage. The carriage and bun are shifted via a handle such that the bun encounters a diagonal blade. After slicing, the bun falls into an exit hopper for removal. These devices remain bulky, difficult to use and clean, and expensive to manufacture. They could be better designed for simplicity, compactness, ease of operation, more economical manufacturing, and ease of cleaning. It is believed that a well-designed modular unit striking a better balance between manual and motorized operation would find a significant market.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In accordance with the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for slicing food articles, particularly baked goods and bagels in a uniform, quick and safe manner.




Another object of the invention is to provide an improved semi-automatic bagel slicer that requires a minimum of space and which facilitates the slicing operation without damage to the bagel.




Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bagel slicer which is efficient, quick, easy to clean, and above all, completely safe.




These and other objects are provided by an improved appliance for slicing food articles, particularly baked goods and bagels, in a uniform, quick and safe manner.




The appliance of the instant invention includes a food receptacle which is slidably inserted into one end of a main housing and into which a food item such as a bagel may be placed. A motorized cutting carriage is pivotally mounted to the main housing and extends a serrated dual-bladed slicing assembly over the food item. When power is applied, the blades of the slicing assembly begin reciprocating, and the cutting carriage is pivoted with respect to the main housing in order to move the reciprocating blades through the food item. Once the food item is cut, the cutting carriage is returned to its home position, the food receptacle can be slidably withdrawn, and the sliced food item is removed. The appliance requires a minimum of space and facilitates the slicing operation without damage to the bagel. The appliance is efficient, quick, easy to clean, and above all, completely safe.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:





FIG. 1

is a front perspective view of a bagel slicing appliance in accordance with the present invention.





FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of the bagel slicing appliance of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a side view of the bagel slicing appliance of

FIGS. 1 and 2

.





FIG. 4

is a side cut-away view of the bagel slicing appliance as in FIG.


3


.





FIG. 5

is a top cut-away view of the bagel slicing appliance of

FIGS. 1-4

along section line A—A of FIG.


4


.





FIGS. 6-8

are an enlarged side view, front view, and top view, respectively, of the food receptacle


40


as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

.





FIGS. 9-11

are an enlarged top view, front view, and side view, respectively, of the main housing


20


as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

.





FIG. 12

is an exploded perspective view of the cutting carriage


10


as shown in FIGS.


1


and


2


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS





FIG. 1

is a side view of a bagel slicing appliance in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The device generally includes a clear main housing


20


formed as a somewhat triangularly shaped enclosure. While main housing


20


as described and shown herein is clear, it may optionally be provided with any opaque or colored appearance. A bagel


4


or other food item is seated in a food receptacle drawer


40


, which in turn is slidably inserted into one end of the main housing


20


. A motorized cutting carriage


10


is pivotally mounted to one end of the main housing


20


and is adapted for pivoting a serrated dual bladed slicing assembly


12


downward towards the bottom of main housing


20


for guided slidable depression into said receptacle drawer


40


. Serrated dual-bladed slicing assembly


12


extends outwardly from the cutting carriage


10


within the confines of main housing


20


. Dual-bladed slicing assembly


12


is actuated by a drive mechanism internal to the cutting carriage


10


(to be described) and is driven to reciprocate for slicing through the food item


4


. In operation, the entire cutting carriage is pivoted about pivot pin


10




a


towards the bottom floors of main housing


20


and food receptacle drawer


40


in order to move the reciprocating blades of slicing assembly


12


through the food item


4


. An on/off switch


115


is provided at the top of cutting carriage


10


which, when activated, applies power to the internal drive mechanism to begin reciprocation of the slicing assembly


12


. A secondary safety switch


115




a


is also provided at the bottom portion of cutting carriage


10


and positioned for engagement with a vertically-extending finger


200


on receptacle drawer


40


when drawer


40


is properly seated within main housing


20


. Secondary safety switch


115




a


interrupts the circuit between on/off switch


115




a


and a power source such that the device is rendered unoperational unless receptacle drawer


40


is properly seated within main housing


20


.




Once the food item is cut, on off switch


115


is released and cutting carriage


10


is pivoted about pivot point


10




a


to withdraw slicing assembly


12


from receptacle drawer


40


, releasing finger


200


to enable food receptacle drawer


40


to be slidably withdrawn from main housing


20


, and the sliced food item


4


can be removed and consumed. The serrated dual-bladed slicing assembly


12


makes short work of the slicing and results in a clean uniform cut through the food item


4


. The main housing


20


completely shields the user from the serrated dual-bladed slicing assembly


12


, and no injury is possible.





FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of the bagel slicing appliance of

FIG. 1

that better shows the cooperation of the food receptacle drawer


40


as it is adapted for slidable insertion into one end of the main housing


20


. Main housing


20


is here shown with a top wall


23


for added safety. Top wall


23


covers nearly the entirety of the uppermost portion of main housing


20


, leaving only a window


27


at the rear, bottom portion of top wall


23


for the upper extent of cutting carriage


10


to extend through. When assembled, the motorized cutting carriage


10


is positioned with its lower portion permanently retained within housing


20


, and pivotally attached thereto through bore hole


10




b


via pivot pin


10




a.







FIG. 3

is a side view of the bagel slicing appliance of

FIGS. 1 and 2

, and

FIG. 4

is a side cut-away view of the bagel slicing apparatus as in FIG.


3


. Once seated in food receptacle


40


and inserted into the main housing


20


, the bagel


4


or other food item becomes positioned below and within the path of travel of the blades of serrated dual-bladed slicing assembly


12


. The motorized cutting carriage


10


comprises a cutting carriage handle housing


112


, and is provided with pivot pin


10




a


at its lower rear section for pivotal attachment to main housing


20


. A push contact on/off switch


115


is provided at the uppermost portion of handle housing


112


, and is connected between the power source and the motorized internal drive assembly (to be described) to apply power thereto. A secondary push contact switch


115




a


is also provided at the bottom extent of handle housing


112


and positioned within its hollow interior. Secondary push contact switch


115




a


is a safety switch that interrupts the circuit running from the power source to the motorized internal drive assembly. When food receptacle


40


is fully inserted into main housing


20


, vertical extension finger


200


on food receptacle


40


comes into contact with and depresses mechanical push contact switch


115




a


. When secondary push contact switch


115




a


is depressed, the user may in turn depress switch


115


on the top of cutting carriage


10


to power the internal drive mechanism to begin reciprocation of the slicing assembly


12


. As the cutting carriage


10


is depressed further downward, the secondary push contact switch


115




a


remains depressed and the reciprocating blades of slicing assembly


12


pass through the food item


4


.





FIG. 5

is a top cut-away view of the bagel slicing appliance of

FIGS. 1-4

. It can be seen that food receptacle


40


is provided two, facing, generally unshaped concave sections


210


which serve to hold a bagel


4


or other food item in place while the apparatus is in use. The bottom of each section


210


is supported above horizontal plate


212


using a series of vertical ribs


211


(FIG.


3


). However, the sides of each section


210


are surrounded by slots


213


defined by the open space between each section


210


, a rear slotted blade guide


214


, and a front slotted blade guide


215


. The fact that the side walls of each section


210


are surrounded by open slots


213


enables the sidewalls of each section


210


to freely expand radially outwardly, such that food items of various dimensions may be readily received in food receptacle


40


. Further, the interior of each section


210


is provided with a rounded flange which serves to frictionally engage a sidewall of the food product, thus preventing the bagel or other item from rotating or otherwise shifting during the cutting operation.





FIGS. 6-8

are an enlarged side view, front view, and top view, respectively, of the food receptacle


40


as shown in

FIGS. 1-5

. The food receptacle


40


is preferably molded of impact and heat-resistant plastic but may otherwise be formed of any suitable material. The food receptacle is an open enclosure having an integrally formed base


300


and rear handle


310


. Base


300


is formed with a small step near its midsection which engages a similarly configured step on the bottom floor of main housing


20


. This step serves as a stop to prevent insertion of food tray


40


into main housing


20


beyond that point necessary to engage secondary switch


115




a


with extended finger


200


. Likewise, handle


310


is curved to match the contour of the outer, open end of main housing


20


. Handle


310


is provided at its lower extent with a laterally raised extension which defines a crumb deflection section


320


. Section


320


is configured to forwardly direct any crumbs that fall from the food product as it is being cut, thus preventing the crumbs from collecting in the rear portion of food receptacle


40


.




Horizontal support plate


212


is positioned atop stepped base


300


a sufficient distance to create a gap


212




a


between support plate


212


and stepped base


300


, which gap is sized to receive ribs


330


(

FIG. 2

) on the sidewalls of main housing


20


. A series of vertical ribs extend upwardly from horizontal support plate


212


and, in turn, support each of the two food item holding sections


210


. As mentioned above, a rear knife guide


214


is integrally formed with the food receptacle


40


on the front side of handle section


310


, and a front knife guide


215


is integrally formed with the food receptacle


40


near the front portion thereof. Each of knife guides


214


and


215


comprise generally vertically-extending facing panels which define channels therebetween. These channels serve to guide the knife in a straight, downward direction as cutting carriage


10


is pivoted about pivot pin


10




a.






Open slots


213


are defined by the space between food article carrying sections


210


and each of knife guides


214


and


215


. Slots


213


allow the side walls of sections


210


to freely expand outwardly from the center when an oversize food item is inserted into the food receptacle section. Thus, it may readily be seen that sections


210


may receive food products of a variety of sizes.




Extended finger


200


is integrally formed with food receptacle


40


and is positioned at the front most portion. Finger


200


comprises a vertically extending panel which, as explained above, is of sufficient height to engage secondary safety switch


115




a


positioned within cutting carriage


10


.




As best seen in

FIG. 7

, both sides of food receptacle


40


define transverse notches


212




a


running the entire length thereof and adapted to receive and guide insertion via interfitting rails or ribs


330


(

FIG. 2

) in the main housing


20


.




As seen in

FIG. 8

, the interior of each food article carrying section


210


is provided with raised sections or bosses


216


which help to hold the food item in place when the cutting operation is underway.





FIGS. 9-11

are an enlarged top view, front view, and side view, respectively, of the main housing


20


as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. The main housing


20


is preferably likewise molded of heat and impact resistant plastic, but may otherwise be formed of any suitable material. The main housing


20


is an enclosure defined by surrounding walls and an integral bottom panel. The front face of main housing


20


is open and adapted for slidable insertion of food receptacle


40


(with bagel


4


or other food product). Main housing


20


is preferably fitted with top wall


23


for added safety. Top wall


23


covers the entirety of the serrated reciprocating knifes


12


to ensure that a user's fingers cannot come into contact with the cutting instrument. Top wall


23


is provided with a window


27


at its back end such that the handle portion of cutting carriage


10


may extend therethrough. Lateral side rails or ribs


330


are formed on opposing side walls of the interior of main housing


20


and extend lengthwise throughout main housing


20


. Side rails


330


are adapted to fit within the transverse notches


212




a


of food receptacle


40


in order to receive and guide insertion of food receptacle


40


into main housing


20


. Likewise, the bottom wall of main housing


20


is provided with a stepped configuration which mates with the bottom contour of food receptacle


40


to serve as an abutment for limiting insertion of the food receptacle in main housing


20


.




A pivot pin


10




a


spans the width of main housing


20


and is positioned towards the closed end of main housing


20


. Pivot pin


10




a


pivotally mounts cutting carriage


10


to main housing


20


, with the uppermost portion of cutting carriage


10


extending upward through window


27


in top wall


23


. During operation, a user may thus grasp the upper extent of cutting carriage


10


to pivot cutting carriage


10


about pivot pin


10




a


, in turn directing the serrated reciprocating blades


12


downward and through the bagel


4


or other food item, all without the risk of inadvertently coming in contact with blades


12


.





FIG. 12

is an exploded view of the cutting carriage


10


as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. Cutting carriage


10


includes a cutting carriage housing


112


, dual serrated reciprocating blade assembly


1312


anchored in the cutting carriage housing


112


and protruding therefrom, and a drive assembly mounted within the cutting carriage housing


112


. The drive assembly and dual-serrated blade assembly


12


are commercially available components typically made and sold for powering electric knives. In the present case, UL listed part no. 425C E42169 (available in a unit sold as J. C. Penny Cat. No. 784-4632) is well-suited. As seen in

FIG. 12

, this drive assembly generally includes a standard 100 Watt Johnson electric motor


120


with an extending drive shaft


140


turning a worm gear


142


. Worm gear


142


turns an orthogonally-mounted radial gear


150


having offset drive bits


155


protruding from each face. Drive bits


155


are preferably offset in diametric directions from the center axis of gear


150


. Two opposing yoke brackets


130


each have a slot at one end and thereby engage one of the drive bits


155


. The other ends of yoke brackets


130


extend outward and are secured to a corresponding blade of the dual-serrated reciprocating blade assembly


12


. When activated, the electric motor


120


turns drive shaft


140


, which turns worm gear


142


, and this turns orthogonally-mounted radial gear


150


. Rotation of orthogonally-mounted radial gear


150


causes the offset drive bits


155


to rotate in a circular motion. The rotation of drive bits


155


urges the opposing yoke brackets


130


forward and backward in a reciprocating manner, and since drive bits


155


are offset in diametric directions, the movement of yoke brackets


130


is out of phase. In this manner, the yoke brackets


130


each drive one of the blades of the dual-serrated reciprocating blade assembly


12


.




Of course, the above-described drive assembly and dual-serrated reciprocating blade assembly are commercially available components and are described purely for exemplary purposes. It is contemplated that other satisfactory drive assemblies exist, and the use of any would be considered within the spirit and scope of the invention. It is only necessary to reassemble/reorient the drive assembly and dual-serrated reciprocating blade assembly


12


within a suitable cutting carriage housing


112


as will now be described.




Referring once again to

FIGS. 1 and 2

and with particular reference to cutting carriage housing


112


, the cutting carriage housing


112


is preferably molded of heat and impact resistant plastic but may otherwise be formed of any suitable material. The cutting carriage housing


112


comprises a hollowed arm having an upper portion which extends through the window


27


in the top plate


23


of main housing


20


, enabling a user to grip the carriage housing and direct the serrated knives downward and into the bagel


4


or other food product. The bottom portion of cutting carriage housing


112


is provided a through hole


106


(

FIG. 2

) through which pivot pin


10




a


is placed to pivotally mount cutting carriage housing


112


to main housing


20


. The bottom, front portion of cutting carriage housing


112


is open to allow serrated reciprocating knives


12


to extend outward from the cutting carriage housing


112


, and to allow vertical extension finger


200


on food receptacle


40


to engage secondary safety switch


115




a


. Secondary safety switch


115




a


is a push-contact on/off switch, and is mounted on the inside of cutting carriage housing


112


to align with finger


200


when food receptacle


40


is fully seated within main housing


20


. When food receptacle


40


is so seated, finger


200


depresses switch


115




a


, thus enabling power to flow from the power source to the driving mechanism when main switch


115


is depressed by a user. As the cutting carriage housing


112


is pivoted downward to direct the serrated reciprocating knives


12


through the bagel


4


or other food product, secondary safety switch


115




a


remains depressed by finger


200


and reciprocating blades of slicing assembly


12


pass through the food item


4


. When the food item has been completely cut by slicing assembly


12


, the user pivots cutting carriage housing


112


to bring slicing assembly


12


out of contact with the food item


4


, and withdraws food receptacle


40


from main housing


20


. As food receptacle


40


is withdrawn, finger


200


releases secondary safety switch


115




a


, in turn preventing power from flowing from the power source to the driving mechanism and causing inadvertent operation of slicing assembly


12


.




It is also of note that when a user starts to downwardly pivot cutting carriage


10


to cause serrated reciprocating knives


12


to cut through the bagel


4


or other food item, the bottom, front portion of cutting carriage housing


112


blocks the retreat of vertical extension finger


200


from within cutting carriage housing


112


. Thus, vertical extension finger


200


not only serves to control the activation of switch


115




a


, but also serves as a stop preventing the inadvertent withdrawal of food receptacle


40


from main housing


20


when cutting carriage


10


is pivoted downward to engage the bagel with serrated reciprocating knives


12


.




Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein.



Claims
  • 1. A food slicing appliance for cutting bagels, baked goods and other food items, comprising:a main housing for providing support on an existing surface, said main housing defining a walled enclosure having a side aperture and a top aperture; a food receptacle providing a compartment for seating a food item, said food receptacle being adapted for slidable insertion into the side aperture of said main housing, and said food receptacle having a central channel extending downwardly therethrough, a cutting carriage pivotally attached to said main housing, said cutting carriage comprising a handle extending through the top aperture of said main housing, said cutting carriage further including, a cutting carriage housing, an electric motor mounted within said cutting carriage housing for providing rotary drive, a slicing assembly mounted within said cutting carriage housing, said slicing assembly including an elongate reciprocating blade protruding laterally from said cutting carriage, said blade being disposed over the food receptacle when said food receptacle is inserted into the side aperture of said main housing, and a drive mechanism mounted in said cutting carriage and coupled between said electric motor and reciprocating blade for translating the rotary drive into blade reciprocation to facilitate slicing through the food item; whereby a food item may be seated in said food receptacle, said food receptacle may be slidably inserted into the side aperture of said main housing, and said cutting carriage may be pivoted with respect to said main housing for driving said reciprocating blade down through said channel in said food receptacle and through the food item seated therein for slicing of the food item.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority of this application is based on provisional application Seral No.: 60/016,067, filed Apr. 25, 1996, now abandoned, and is further a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/845,595 Apr. 25, 1997 U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,163.

US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
4050370 Schmidt et al. Sep 1977
5522306 DeMars Jun 1996
5921163 McInnes et al. Jul 1999
6145427 Smith Nov 2000
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/016067 Apr 1996 US
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/845595 Apr 1997 US
Child 09/351479 US