Patent Application
20130008034
In general, the present invention relates to manually operated kitchen utensils. In particular, the present invention relates to a combination ravioli cutter and rolling pin. Most particularly, the present invention relates to a ravioli cutter drum that is mounted between a pair of handles, where the drum rotates relative to the handles, and a sleeve that fits over the drum and may be fixed relative to the handles to operate as a rolling pin.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,362 discloses a rapid ravioli maker that includes a ravioli cutter in the form of a drum with multiple cavities formed thereon to shape pasta dough and filling and outwardly projecting edges that cut the shaped dough and filling into ravioli as the drum is rolled along the layers of pasta dough and filling. To facilitate rolling of the drum, a pair of handles are journaled on rods extended from either end of the drum.
Although the rapid ravioli maker patent issued in June of 1965, there has been little, if any, evolution in its design. The shapes of the cavities and cutting blades have varied to an extent to form more decorative ravioli, but no true functional improvements have been made. For instance, to form the ravioli shapes, multiple discreet cavities are formed on the drum of the rapid ravioli cutter that include high included angles between the drum and the cutting edges that extend from it. As a result, these surfaces are difficult to clean. Therefore, a need exists for a drum for a rapid ravioli cutter that is easier to clean.
Also, when preparing pasta dough and filling, the dough needs to be rolled out into a sheet-like layer. Typically, a large sheet is rolled out with a rolling pin before applying filling to one side of the rolled out sheet. The uncovered portion of the sheet is then folded over the filling and the sides sealed by pressing them together in preparation for rolling the rapid ravioli cutter over the dough to cut ravioli from the sheets of dough and filling material. The practical consequence is that two fairly bulky kitchen utensils are needed, namely, a rolling pin and a ravioli cutter. In most homes, kitchen space is at a premium. Therefore, a need exists for a kitchen utensil that combines the rolling pin and ravioli cutting functions.
The present invention provides a drum for a rolling ravioli cutter that has a removable longitudinally extending blade. The present invention further provides a method for cleaning the kitchen utensil by removing a longitudinally extending blade from the drum before washing the drum.
The present invention further provides a ravioli cutter and rolling pin combination including a sleeve that fits over the ravioli cutter and is fixed relative to the handles such that it may be used as a rolling pin and removed to cut ravioli.
A kitchen utensil, generally indicated by the number 10 is shown in the accompanying drawings. With reference to
Cutter 15 generally includes a body having outwardly extending cutting or embossing surfaces that are rolled over a rolled out sheet of dough to cut or emboss the dough to form a desired shape. Cutting ravioli is one practical use for a cutter 15 of this type. While the discussion herein focuses on a ravioli cutter, this discussion merely provides one example, and it will be appreciated that a rolling cutter 15 may be configured for other cutting and embossing applications.
In the example shown, cutter 15 includes a barrel or drum 16 that is rotatably mounted between a pair of handles 20. In the example shown, barrel 16 includes plural circumferential cutting edges 17 disposed along the length of barrel 16 at spaced intervals. As best shown in
Cutter 15 further includes one or more longitudinal cutting edges 18 that intersect with circumferential cutting edges 17 to define shape forms there between for the cutting or embossing of cooking materials such as dough and fillings used to make cooking products like ravioli. In the example shown, three longitudinal cutting edges 18 are provided to define three rows of cooking shape forms. With reference to
With reference to
The handle 20 may have any shape or cross-section. In the example shown, the cross-section of the handle 20 is generally circular and may include a cylindrical grip portion 32 extending outwardly from a tang 34 formed adjacent to the boss 28. Tang 34 has a larger diameter than both the boss 28 and grip portion 32 to guard the user's hands from coming in contact with cutter 15. The inwardly facing surface 36 of tang 34 that is exposed adjacent to boss 28 may contact the outer end 26 of barrel 16. It will be appreciated that the tang 34 is optional and the handle 20 may have a uniform diameter across its length. As a further option, as shown, an opening 38 may be provided in handle 20 to facilitate storage, as by hanging the handle by a loop or hook inserted through the opening 38.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a sleeve is provided to allow use of the kitchen utensil 10 as both a cutter and a rolling pin. Sleeve 40 may be cylindrical in shape defining a bore 42 sized to receive outer 15 therein. To facilitate rolling of dough or other cooking material, the outer surface 44 of Sleeve 40 may be smooth and have a circular cross-section. Sleeve 40 may be held by one or more end caps, generally indicated by the number 45, to prevent the sleeve 40 from moving axially when used as a rolling pin. End cap 45 may be any member that axially restricts movement of the sleeve 40 once it is positioned over cutter 15. It will be appreciated that a single end cap 45 may be used for this purpose, leaving the opposite end of sleeve 40 open. Alternatively, as shown, a pair of end caps 45 may be used to secure both ends of sleeve 40 from axial movement. Each end cap 45 may define a central opening 46 that allows the end cap 45 to fit over the handle 20. In the example shown, the sleeve 40 is not rotationally fixed to cutter 15 or handles 20 and is free to rotate independently of cutter 15 or handles 20. In this way, handles 20 may be held by the user and the sleeve 40 rolled over the dough or other cooking material as one would use an ordinary rolling pin. As discussed above, the attachment of end caps 45 restrict axial movement of sleeve 40 so that it covers cutter 15. In the example shown, the inner surface 48 of end cap 45 may butt against the outer end 26 of barrel 16. It will be appreciated that some gap between the end caps 45 and barrel 16 may be permitted which would allow the sleeve 40 to move a slight distance in the axial direction without disrupting use of sleeve 40 as a rolling pin.
To secure the sleeve 40 to each end cap 45, a fastener, generally indicated by the number 50 may be provided. Any fastener that allows the sleeve 40 to selectively be attached and removed from end cap 45 is suitable. For example, pins, screws, and other traditional mechanical fasteners could be used. In the example shown, fastener 50 includes a threaded flange 51 extending inward from end cap 45 received within an internally threaded portion 52 of sleeve 40. Flange 51 extends inwardly from end cap 45 may be formed integrally with end cap 45, as shown, or as a separate member that is attached to end cap 45. Similarly, the internally threaded portion 52 may, as shown, be formed integrally with sleeve 40, but it will be appreciated that an internally threaded receiver may be attached to the sleeve 40 to serve the same purpose.
Returning to the example shown in
As discussed, the outer surface of flange 51 carries threads 55 that are received within the internal threads 56 formed on sleeve 40. In terms of assembly, to use utensil 10 as a rolling pin, at least one end cap 45 must be removed from sleeve 40 to allow it to slide over a handle 20 and cutter 15. Then, to secure sleeve 40 relative to cutter 15, the second end cap 45 is slid over the opposite handle 20 and attached to sleeve 40 with fastener 50. Therefore, it will be appreciated that one end cap 45 may be permanently affixed to sleeve 40. In the example shown, however, both end caps 45 are removable from sleeve 40 by a releasable fastener 50. This optional assembly may facilitate cleaning of the interior of the sleeve 40.
Once the sleeve 40 is attached, kitchen utensil 10 may be operated as a traditional rolling pin by holding the handles 20 and rolling the sleeve 40 over the dough or other cooking material. Once the dough is rolled out, sleeve 40 may be removed by unfastening one of the end caps 45 and sliding sleeve 40 over handle 20 to expose cutter 15. At this point, cutter 15 may be rolled over the dough to emboss or cut the dough in a desired fashion. For example, in the embodiment shown, cutter 15 is configured to form ravioli. Therefore, cutter 15 may be rolled over a layer of filling sandwiched between two layers of rolled out pasta dough to form multiple ravioli defined by the cavities between the circumferential and longitudinal cutting edges 17, 18.
As noted above, the blades 23 forming longitudinal cutting edges 18 may be removed for cleaning. Alternatively, alternate blades 23 having a different configuration or surface may be substituted to create a different cutting effect. For example, blades 23 may have stepped surfaces between the circumferential cutting edges 17 to form a jagged edge on each ravioli. Similar variations in the circumferential edges 17 may be used as well. The removable nature of blades 23 is believed to improve upon existing ravioli cutters in that it provides greater flexibility to the user in terms of ornamenting the ravioli cut by cutters 15 without the need to replace the entire barrel 16.
The components of kitchen utensil 10 may be constructed of any suitable material, commonly found in kitchen utensils including, but not limited to, wood, plastic, ceramics, metals and combinations thereof. In the example shown, the components are constructed of plastic.
It will be understood that although specific embodiments have been presently disclosed herein, various modifications and substitutions may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, for an appreciation of the scope of the invention, reference should be made to the following claims.
