BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Slicing devices of diverse construction have been proposed for slicing items such as meats, breads and fruits into thin, evenly sliced portions. Some shortcoming generally in many of the devices in the current art are a requirement an electric power supply, have a short maximum range slicing length capability, are large in structure, require considerable storage space and can be cumbersome to clean. Shortcoming in the present manually operated devices appear to be in their control and stability of the device while in use, have a short maximum range slicing length capability, and only offer limited control over the angular plane of travel of the knife blade in application.
(Espacenet: GERGAUD MICHEL [FR]-FR2355623 (A1)—1978-01-20)—(https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/mosaicsj sessionid=m019JSt-xR117ufmbYP4Kr60.espacenet_levelx_prod_1? CC=FR&NR=2355623A1&KC=A1&FT=D&ND=3&date=19780120&DB=worldwide. espacenet.com&locale=en_EP)
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the presented issues with the prior art, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a means for slicing meat and other items into variable thickness slices while providing greater control, stability and safety over the cutting path of the knife blade and the slicing operation in general.
It is another object of the invention to provide a knife guide of the type described with a handle attached to the top of the knife guide which serves to provide greater control over the device during the intended use of slicing operations.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements in a manually operated knife guide which is uncomplicated in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight, dependable in use, simple to clean and maintain, requiring little storage space, requiring no electrical power source, offering enhanced safety during use and otherwise well adapted in accomplishing its intended objectives.
Briefly, a knife guide in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objectives in one embodiment by featuring a handle attached to a rectangular plate with the two flanged sides having identical elongated slots for adjusting slice thickness and guiding a knife blade along a planar path while being held against an item to be sliced to produce a single or multiple equivalent thickness slices.
The foregoing and other objects features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The present invention may be more readily described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1—The preferred embodiment of the invention—comprising two pieces
- 1. Control Handle (8), Planar Main Body Frame Section (1) with incorporated perpandicularly attached planar knife guide control sections (2)
- 3. Separate Slip Resistant Contact Surface Plate (3) (shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3)
- 4. Knife Guide Slot for guiding a knife blade along a linear plane
- 5. Slice Thickness Adjustment Slot
- 6. Slice Thickness Adjustment Slot Studs attached to the Contact Surface Plate
- 7. Slice Thickness Adjustment Stud Fastener
FIG. 2
1. Top view of separate slip resistant contact surface from FIG. 1
2. Thickness Adjustment Stud Support Flange Sections
3. Thickness Adjustment Stud Screws
FIG. 3
1. Bottom (Contact Side) View of Slice Item Contact Surface from FIG. 1
2. Thickness Adjustment Stud Screws and Stud Flange Sections
3. Slip Resistant Surface Treatment
4. Flanged sections bent 90 degrees opposite the texture surface
FIG. 4—An alternate embodiment of the invention—comprising three pieces
- 8-14. One piece Control Handle (11), Planar Main Body Frame Section (8) with incorporated Slip Resistant Surface Treatment (FIG. 5)
- 8. Separate Slip Resistant Contact Surface Plate (3) (shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3)
- 9. Slice Thickness Adjustment Slot Studs attached to the Contact Surface Plate
- 10. Slice Thickness Adjustment Studs
- 11. Slice Thickness Adjustment Stud Fasteners
- 12. Two Perpandicularly Attached Planar Knife Guide Control Sections
- 13. Knife Guide Slot for guiding a knife blade along a linear plane
- 14. Slice Thickness Adjustment Slots
FIG. 5—Bottom View of Slice Item Contact Surface from FIG. 4
- 1. One piece Control Handle (11), Planar Main Body Frame Section (8) with incorporated Slip Resistant Surface Treatment on surface opposite the handle surface
- 2. Thickness Adjustment Stud Fasteners
- 3. Slip Resistant Surface Treatment
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is the preferred embodiment of the invention. The invention is proposed for evenly slicing food stuffs. This said embodiment essentially has two component part pieces comprising (part 1) the handle, body frame and flange slice control sections as an assembled unit and (part 2) the slip resistant contact plate with attached adjustment studs.
The unit can be constructed by creating a single piece unit consisting of the control handle (FIGS. 1-8), a planar main body frame section with incorporated perpandicularly attached planar knife guide control sections (FIG. 1—items 1, 2 and 8). This embodiment could be constructed from food grade stainless steel. Start with a blank 12 inches long by 9 inches wide. Cut two (2) knife guide slots (FIG. 1—item 4) 3/16 inch wide slots through the blank material to within ⅛ inch from the length and width edges along both 12 inch edges. Cut four (4) 3/16 inch wide thickness adjustment slots 1 and ⅝ inches long through the material beginning 1 inch from each 9 inch edge and ⅛ inch from the knife guide slot or 5/16 inch from the 12 inch blank edge, cutting toward the center of the blank. Cut the adjustment slots (FIG. 1—item 5) along a path from the start point and parallel to the 9 inch edge of the blank extending 1 and ⅝ inches. Securely attach a handle (FIG. 1—item 8) centered on the main body frame blank. Bend two (2) (FIG. 1—item 2) 2.5 inches wide flange sections 90 degrees, in opposite direction from the handle and parallel to each 12 inch edge. Each of the two flange sections should match each other containing a knife guide slot and two (2) thickness adjustment slots. Next create the slip resistant contact plate (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). Start with a blank 12 inches by 4.5 inches. Create a slip resistant surface by making cross hash cuts 0.25 inch apart (FIG. 1—item 3), but ensuring to not cut through the material, to create a textured, limited slip surface defined to be 1 inch wide extending 0.5 inch of either side of center for the entire length of and parallel to each 12 inch edge. Bend two (2) flanges 90 degrees (FIG. 3—item 4), in the direction opposite the slip resistant surface, ¼ inch wide or 0.25 inch from and parallel to each 12 inch contact surface blank edge. Attach two (2) (FIG. 3—item 2) 8/32 stud bolts on each contact surface blank flange section centered approximately at 15/16 inch from the 0.25 inch edge and 2/16 inch from or between each 12 inch edge. The contact plate studs must align with the thickness adjustment slots in the main assembly (FIG. 1—items 5 and 6). Assemble the completed component parts into a completed unit (FIG. 1) by inserting the contact surface plate with the slip resistant surface showing when viewed from the bottom (FIG. 1—item 3) and the 0.25 inch flange sections of the contact plate facing upward toward the main body section. Insert the contact plate between the two flange sections of the main body section unit ensuring the thickness adjustment studs are properly aligned and extend freely through the thickness adjustment slots. Attach the adjustment stud tightening fasteners (FIG. 1—item 7).
To use the defined invention, set the slice thickness by loosening the adjustment fasteners, adjust the contact plate to the desired slice thickness and tighten the adjustment fasteners. Insert a long bladed knife through each of the knife guide slots. Draw the dull knife edge back against the end of the knife guide slot. Place the knife guide invention with inserted knife over and in contact with the item to be sliced, such as a loaf of bread. Then moving the knife in a reciprocating motion while ensuring to not use too broad of a stroke causing the knife to disengage from either of the knife guide slots, begin the slicing operation by moving the knife blade along the knife guide slot and through the item to be sliced. Once the knife reaches the other end of the knife guide slot, withdraw and remove the knife, lift the and remove the invention and remove your slice.
Patent Application
20180085960
