Kitchen Hand Tool

Abstract

The present invention is a kitchen hand tool for crushing, slicing, or juicing food products. The tool is operated by closing two handles that rotate a drive gear that engages the ratcheting tooth portion of a crush paddle resulting in the movement of the crush paddle toward a basket, crushing and discharge of the food item through the basket. A drive pawl forces the drive gear to rotate counterclockwise, which in turn forces ratcheting tooth portion and subsequently the crushing paddle down in a clockwise direction applying crushing force on the garlic or any item placed in the crushing area. As the drive gear turns until it clicks past a locking pawl. This cycle of opening and closing the handles is repeated until the crush paddle is fully advanced and can move no further and is against the basket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 is an expanded view from the front top perspective of the kitchen hand tool illustrating all physical components;

FIG. 2 is an expanded view from the rear bottom perspective of the kitchen hand tool illustrating all physical components;

FIG. 3 illustrates the maximum opening angle between the pivoting handle and the stationary handle;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the kitchen hand tool;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view that illustrates the internal ratcheting and locking mechanisms with the crushing face removed from the crushing area;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view which illustrates the internal ratcheting and locking mechanisms with the crushing face against the plate;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view which illustrates the internal ratcheting and locking mechanisms with the crushing face in the crushing area but not against the plate;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view that illustrates the internal ratcheting and locking mechanisms with the crushing face against the plate; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view that illustrates the internal ratcheting and locking mechanisms with the crushing face removed from the crushing area.

Claims

1. A kitchen hand tool comprising in combination: a pivoting handle; a drive pawl secured to the pivoting handle by a spring loaded shaft means for engaging a drive gear;a spring loaded driving latch pawl secured to the pivoting handle for engaging the drive gear to provide a means for controlling the movement of the pivoting handle and crush paddle.a drive spring and shaft as means for securing the stationary handle to the pivoting handle enabling a spring loaded pivoting handle, when attached to the stationary handle;a stationary handle; a basket and crush paddle attached to said stationary handle by spring loaded shaft means;said crush paddle further consisting of a ratcheting tooth portion;a locking pawl secured by a spring-loaded shaft as means for securing the locking pawl to the stationary handle and engaging a drive gear;said pivoting handle secured to a stationary handle by a securing shaft;a drive gear secured to the stationary handle by a shaft means allowing said pivoting handle together with the drive gear to move freely; andsaid drive gear engages the ratcheting tooth portion of the crush paddle to provide a means for controlling the movement of the pivoting handle and crush paddle.

2. The kitchen hand tool according to claim 1 wherein the basket further comprises two mounting flaps which allow it to slide off the spring-loaded shaft when the crushing face is rotated out of the crushing area.

3. The kitchen hand tool according to claim 2 wherein, the crushing face is rotated out of the crushing area 180 degrees from the crushing position for removal.

4. The kitchen hand tool according to claim 1 wherein disengagement of the spring loaded driving pawl from the ratcheting tooth portion of the crush paddle, allowing the pivoting handle to be returned to an open position, requires extension of the pivoting handle into a position furthest from the stationary handle thereby ejecting the crush paddle from the crushing area.

5. The kitchen hand tool according to claim 1 wherein the basket is secured to the stationary handle by a lip on the stationary handle which engages stop basket means on three sides located on the stationary handle and said spring loaded shaft.

6. The kitchen hand tool according to claim 1 wherein as the pivoting handle is squeezed toward the stationary handle the drive gear incrementally moves the ratcheting tooth portion and the crushing paddle toward a closed position against the basket.

7. The kitchen hand tool according to claim 1 wherein the drive pawl engages the drive gear 5, and the locking pawl prevents the drive gear 5 from rotating backwards;as the pivoting handle and stationary handle are moved together, the drive pawl forces the drive gear to rotate, which in turn forces ratcheting tooth portion and subsequently the crushing paddle to move, applying a crushing force on any item placed in the crushing area; andas the drive gear turns it clicks past the locking pawl.

8. The kitchen hand tool according to claim 1 wherein as the pivoting handle and stationary handle are released the drive pawl rotates back and clicks over the teeth of the drive gear; andthe drive pawl always returns to its engaged position relative to the drive gear.

9. The kitchen hand tool according to claim 1 wherein to release the crushing paddle the pivoting handle is opened until it hits the locking pawl;the locking pawl rotates out of the path of the drive gear and disengages its locking effects; andonce the locking pawl is moved the spring loaded shaft forces the crush paddle to rotate to an open position.

10. The kitchen hand tool according to claim 1 wherein a shaft is provided that limits the extension of the pivoting handle away from the stationary handle.

11. The kitchen hand tool according to claim 1 wherein the securing shaft also secures the drive gear within the stationary handle while allowing the pivoting handle together with said drive gear to move freely.