TENDERIZING DEVICE

Abstract

A device that facilitates the simultaneous tenderizing and flattening of meat is provided. The device uses a modified rolling pin like structure and has a meat preparation central section between two opposing handles. The meat preparation area has a greater circumference in the middle which decreases where the meat preparation area meets each handle. The meat preparation area consists of alternating bands of a tenderizing element and a flattening element arranged in a non-linear fashion. Each tenderizing element consists of an array of serrations of varying sizes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a tenderizing device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front plan view of a tenderizing device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side plan view of a tenderizing device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom plan view of a tenderizing device, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a few preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known operations have not been described in detail so not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4 an embodiment of a tenderizing device 100 is formed as one piece and comprised of a left-section portion 200, a mid-section portion 300 and a right-section portion 400. The mid-section portion 300 is comprised of a plurality of a tenderizing element 310 and a plurality of a flattening element 320. The tenderizing elements 310 and the flattening elements 320 are arranged in a non-linear fashion on the mid-section portion 300 and alternate with each other substantially as shown. The tendering elements 310 are comprised of an array of serrations 311. The serrations 311 vary in size with the largest serrations 311 positioned substantially in the central area of the mid-section portion 300 and incrementally decreasing in size as the array of serrations 311 progresses away from the central area of the mid-section portion 300. The flattening elements 320 are comprised of a flattening ridge 321. The left section portion 200 is further comprised of a hole 210, which may be used for hanging the tenderizing device 100 when not in use, or for inserting a merchandizing tag, or both. The tenderizing device 100 may be used in a horizontal position or at an angle, and the amount of pressure may be varied from light to heavy, from equal on the left section portion 200 and right section portion 400, or unequal, based on the type and degree of tenderizing and/or flattening desired for the target meat.

An embodiment of the present invention is made as follows.

• • Cut or burn a metal molding tool
  • Inject or compress a material to be molded into the metal molding tool
  • Ensure that the tool has two or more halves that create the handle portion and the surface feature portion
  • Compress or inject suitable plastic or other material into the mold
  • Cure the material
  • The device is ready to use

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, many of the features and components described above in the context of a particular tenderizing device configuration can be incorporated into other configurations in accordance with other embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for tenderizing and flattening meat comprising: a meat treating section having a plurality of meat tenderizing elements,a left handle section, anda right handle section, wherein the meat treating section tapers down to meet the left handle section and the left handle section tapers up to meet the meat treating section, and the meat treating section tapes down to meet the right handle section and the right handle section tapers up to meet the meat treating section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each meat tenderizing element is comprised of an array of serrations of varying sizes.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the left handle section is formed with a hole.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the serrations have a pyramidal shape.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the serrations are arranged in a non-linear fashion in the axial direction of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the serrations are arranged in a liter fashion in a line around the circumference of the apparatus.

7. An apparatus for tenderizing and flattening meat comprising: a meat treating section having a plurality of meat tenderizing elements, a left handle section, and a right handle section, wherein the meat treating section tapers down to meet the left handle section and the left handle section tapers up to meet the meat treating section, and the meat treating section tapes down to meet the right handle section and the right handle section tapers up to meet the meat treating section, wherein the serrations consist of a plurality of varying sized pyramid shapes and are arranged in a non-linear fashion in at least one direction over the face the apparatus.