Patent Application
20060157599
The invention relates to a food holder, having at least one placement element that defines a base plane and that is suitable for establishing a mechanical connection—preferably a sliding connection—to a device for mincing food—especially a grater or a slicer—and having a shaft element into which food that is to be minced can be placed and conveyed to a device for mincing food that can be connected to the holder.
DE 28 16 929 discloses a device for mincing food consisting of an elongated baseplate provided with a handle, over whose surface the food product to be minced can be moved back and forth by hand. In the middle section, the device has a replaceable mincing insert. DE 28 16 929 also discloses a food remnant holder that, while holding the food product to be minced, can be moved back and forth on the baseplate.
DE 28 57 743 discloses a food remnant holder for a device for mincing food. The food remnant holder has a tubular receptacle for the food product to be minced and a pusher with a hood that can be placed over the tubular receptacle.
The known holders have the drawback that the food product to be cut is not adequately guided during the cutting procedure, thus having a negative effect on the cutting results.
Therefore, the invention is based on the objective of providing a holder with which the food product to be cut can be moved easily and precisely over a device for mincing food.
This objective is achieved by a holder that is characterized in that the shaft element has an elongated cross section.
The holder according to the invention has the advantage that especially elongated food products to be cut such as, for example, carrots, can be moved easily and precisely over a device for mincing food such as a grater or a slicer. Here, in an advantageous manner, elongated food products that are to be cut can be inserted obliquely into the shaft element along the elongated cross section, as a result of which said food product is especially securely held during the cutting procedure. Hence, it is also made possible to cut elongated food products obliquely—that is to say, at an angle that diverges sharply from 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the food product that is to be cut—for example, so as to create elongated slices.
In a special embodiment, the shaft element has an oval cross section. In another variant, the shaft element has an elliptical cross section. The shaft element can advantageously also have a rectangular, triangular, rhombic or trapezoidal cross section. The shaft element can especially have a regular or else irregular polygonal cross section. Preferably, the shaft element has at least one long opening width and one short opening width. Special preference is given to a shaft element with a triangular cross section. The triangle can advantageously be configured with unequal sides, as a result of which the food product to be cut is guided especially well in the holder.
Advantageously, the shaft element has rounded-off corners in the inner area and/or in the outer area. This avoids tilting and jamming of the food product that is to be minced and simple cleaning of the holder is assured.
Preferably, the holder can be mechanically coupled to a device for mincing food—especially a grater or a slicer—and at least one guide element is provided that defines a travel axis. In a very especially preferred embodiment, the direction of the long opening width is at an angle relative to the travel axis that differs from zero degrees. This embodiment ensures that, during the cutting movement, the food product that is to be cut, in addition to making a movement on the cutting blade of a slicer, also makes a movement perpendicular to the blade of the cutting blade, as a result of which the cutting procedure is more comparable to cutting with a knife than to chopping with an ax. Last but not least, the shaft element that is positioned obliquely to the direction of movement accounts for a neater, more precise and smoother mincing procedure.
Preferably, the direction of the long opening width is at an angle relative to the travel axis that differs from 90 degrees. In one embodiment, the shaft element has an oval and/or elliptical cross section. Preferably, in the projection on the base plane, the large longitudinal axis of the oval and/or elliptical cross section of the shaft element is at an angle relative to the travel axis of the mincing movement that differs from zero degrees. Due to this oblique position, the food product to be cut is guided especially neatly and securely over the cutting blade of a device for mincing food—especially a grater and/or a slicer.
In a special embodiment, the shaft element is mounted so that it can rotate relative to the placement elements. In this manner, the holder can be adapted to the shape of the food product to be cut. This embodiment can be adapted especially well to different requirements when the type of food product to be minced is changed. Preferably, a means for fixing a selected rotational position is provided.
The holder preferably has a placement element that defines a base plane and that is suitable for establishing a mechanical connection—preferably a sliding connection—to a device for mincing food—especially a grater or a slicer.
In a special embodiment, the shaft element has an angle relative to the base plane that differs from 90 degrees, preferably an angle in the range of 30 to 60 degrees, especially 45 degrees. Particularly advantageous is a holder with which the angle of the shaft element relative to the base plane is adjustable. In this manner, the angle of the shaft element relative to the base plane can be adjusted individually to the slant of the grater being used. A shaft element that is arranged obliquely relative to the base plane has the advantage that the user only has to push in one direction, preferably along the perpendicular line, and at the same time, the food product to be cut is pressed into the holder and the holder is pushed over a device for mincing food. The force exerted by the user is automatically split into the requisite two forces. The user only has to press from the top downwards and no longer has to exert horizontally oriented forces. As far as the horizontal movement is concerned, the hand of the user is guided by the holder, so to speak.
One or more sliding surfaces can serve as the placement element and they can lie, for example, on guide rails of a device for mincing food. The placement element can also have wheels and/or rollers and/or stop elements and/or guide elements. Preferably, the base plane is oriented parallel to the slide of the device for mincing food that is used together with the holder.
In one embodiment, the placement element has at least one guide element that can be mechanically coupled to guide elements of a device for mincing food—especially a grater and/or a slicer. Preferably, the holder can be latched into a guide of a device for mincing food—especially a grater and/or a slicer—perpendicular to the travel axis of the mincing movement. In this manner, the awkward procedure of inserting the holder into the ends of the grater to be used can be avoided.
Preferably, the holder and the device that is to be used for mincing food—especially a grater and/or a slicer—are coordinated with each other in terms of their angle and/or guidance.
Preferably, at least one affixing means is provided with which the holder can be releasably affixed to a device for mincing food—especially a grater and/or a slicer. The affixing means can have at least parts of a latching mechanism and/or a hook connection. In this manner, the holder can easily be stowed together with the device for mincing food—especially a grater and/or a slicer.
Advantageously, the device for mincing food with which the holder is to be used is adapted with respect to the especially advantageous features of the holder. Especially advantageously, the holder and the device for mincing food are manufactured as a complete system so as to be coordinated with each other.
The device for mincing food preferably has a slide on which a food product that is to be minced can be slid so as to carry out a mincing procedure. In an especially preferred embodiment, a stand means for setting up the device on a tabletop is provided, the slide having a set-up angle relative to the tabletop that differs from zero degrees. Preferably, the shaft element has an angle relative to the base plane and/or the slide that corresponds to the set-up angle (and/or to an angle of 90 degrees plus the set-up angle).
In an especially advantageous manner, the shaft element is arranged perpendicular to the horizontal plane since in this case, the user only has to exert a force perpendicular to the tabletop.
The subject matter of the invention is schematically depicted in the drawing and is described below with reference to the figures; elements with the same function are provided with the same reference numerals. The following is shown:
The shaft element 3 has a long opening width 5 and a short opening width (not shown here). The holder can be mechanically coupled to a device for mincing food (not shown in this figure)—especially a grater or a slicer—whereby a first guide element 7 and a second guide element 9 which define a travel axis 11 are provided. The guide elements 7, 9 are provided in order to engage into guide rails of a device for mincing food—especially a grater or a slicer—and they can be slid on the guide rail together with the holder.
The direction of the long opening width 5 is at a slanted angle relative to the travel axis (that differs from zero degrees and from 90 degrees).
A pusher 13 is provided that can be inserted into the shaft element 3. The outer shape of the pusher 13 matches the inner shape of the shaft element 3.
The device 15 for mincing food shown in
The device 15 for mincing food shown in
The invention has been described with reference to a special embodiment. However, it goes without saying that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the protective scope of the claims below.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2005 005 510.9 | Feb 2005 | DE | national |
| 10 2005 002 328.2 | Jan 2005 | DE | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60651254 | Feb 2005 | US | |
| 60646925 | Jan 2005 | US |
