Spiral slicer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10569438-B2
Application number	US-201615396176-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2016
Priority date	Nov 18, 2015
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

A spiral slicer for producing spiral-cut fruits and vegetables, includes a main body supporting a shaft operated by a crank handle. Rotation of the crank handle selectively moves a pusher, which attaches to a fruit or vegetable toward a set of julienne blades and a main slicing blade. The fruit or vegetable is cut by the julienne blades and then by the main blade, with the sliced portion passing through a gap positioned between the julienne blades and the main blade.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A spiral slicer, comprising:
a main body having a central body portion connecting a crank end to an opposing slicing end, the crank end and the slicing end each extending upwardly from the central body portion and defining an upper open region between the crank end and the slicing end;
a stand supporting the crank end of the main body, the stand comprising a first leg and a second leg, each of the first leg and the second leg being pivotally moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, the stand extending downwardly from the main body in the extended position;
one or more feet positioned at the slicing end of the main body and extending downwardly from the main body to support the slicing end, wherein when the first leg and the second leg are in the extended position the crank end is elevated with respect to the slicing end when the spiral slicer is resting on a horizontal surface;
a crank handle and a pusher mounted on the crank end, the pusher having one or more fins for engaging a food item, the crank handle being operable to rotate the pusher and the food item when the pusher engages the food item;
a main slicing blade attached to the slicing end of the main body and having a sharp edge extending upwardly with respect to the central portion of the main body; and
a julienne blade holder mounted on the slicing end of the main body and a gap between the sharp edge of the main slicing blade and the julienne slicer, the julienne blade holder further having an upper mount positioned at a top end of the slicing end of the main body;
the julienne blade holder further having an upper post mounted to the slicing end of the main body and defining an axis of rotation for the julienne blade holder within the slicing end of the main body, the axis of rotation extending upwardly and transverse to the horizontal surface when the spiral slicer is resting on the horizontal surface, the upper post extending through the upper mount, and a knob being secured to the upper post of the julienne blade holder and positioned at the top end of the slicing end of the main body, the julienne blade holder further being axially moveable along the axis of rotation in an upward direction to enable rotation of the julienne blade holder, wherein rotation of the knob causes rotation of the julienne blade holder about the axis of rotation, the julienne blade holder having a first plurality of julienne slicing blades and a second plurality of julienne slicing blades;
the julienne blade holder further being selectively rotatable into at least a first rotational position and a second rotational position about the axis of rotation, wherein in the first rotational position the first plurality of julienne blades extends toward the crank end of the main body to encounter the food item rotated toward the main blade by the pusher, and in the second rotational position the second plurality of julienne blades extends toward the crank end of the main body to encounter the food item rotated toward the main blade by the pusher.

2. The spiral slicer of claim 1 , wherein the julienne blade holder further comprises a third rotational position.

3. The spiral slicer of claim 1 , wherein the julienne blade holder and the slicing end of the main body comprise complementary mating surfaces which interact to resist rotation of the julienne blade holder about the axis of rotation.

4. The spiral slicer of claim 3 , wherein the julienne blade holder further comprises a first face, a second face, and a third face, the first set of julienne blades being positioned on the first face, the second set of julienne blades being positioned on the second face, and the third face being devoid of blades, and further wherein the julienne blade holder is selectively moveable to a third rotational position in which the third face is directed toward the crank end of the main body.

5. The spiral slicer of claim 4 , further comprising an alignment spindle carried on the slicing end of main body adjacent the main slicing blade and adjacent the julienne blade holder.

6. The spiral slicer of claim 4 , further comprising a blade guard positioned over the julienne blade holder, the julienne blade holder being positioned between the blade guard and the crank end.

7. A spiral slicer, comprising:
a main body having a central body portion connecting a crank end to an opposing slicing end, the crank end and the slicing end each extending upwardly from the central body portion;
a stand supporting the crank end of the main body, the stand being pivotally moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, the stand extending downwardly from the main body in the extended position, wherein when the stand is in the extended position the crank end is elevated with respect to the slicing end when the spiral slicer is resting on a horizontal surface;
a crank handle and a pusher mounted on the crank end, the pusher having a surface facing the slicing end of the main body for engaging a food item, the crank handle being operable to rotate the pusher and the food item when the pusher engages the food item;
a main slicing blade attached to the slicing end of the main body and having a sharp edge extending upwardly with respect to the central portion of the main body; and
a julienne blade holder mounted on the slicing end of the main body and defining a gap between the sharp edge of the main slicing blade and the julienne slicer;
the julienne blade holder further having a post, the post being mounted to the slicing end of the main body and defining an axis of rotation for the julienne blade holder on the slicing end of the main body, the axis of rotation extending upwardly when the spiral slicer is resting on a horizontal surface, the post and the slicing end of the main body having complementary mating surfaces which interact to resist rotation of the julienne blade holder about the axis of rotation;
a spring being trapped between the post and the main body, wherein the spring urges the complementary mating surfaces to interact and resist rotation of the julienne blade holder about the axis of rotation, and further wherein movement of the julienne blade holder together with the post in an axial direction will disengage the complementary mating surfaces and allow rotation of the julienne blade holder about the axis of rotation;
a knob being secured to the post and extending upwardly at the slicing end, the knob being operable by a user to cause rotation of the knob and corresponding rotation of the julienne blade holder about the axis of rotation, the julienne blade holder having a first plurality of julienne slicing blades and a second plurality of julienne slicing blades;
the julienne blade holder further being selectively rotatable into at least a first rotational position and a second rotational position about the axis of rotation, wherein in the first rotational position the first plurality of julienne blades extends toward the crank end of the main body to encounter the food item rotated toward the main blade by the pusher, and in the second rotational position the second plurality of julienne blades extends toward the crank end of the main body to encounter the food item rotated toward the main blade by the pusher.

8. The spiral slicer of claim 7 , wherein the pusher comprises a plurality of fins.

9. The spiral slicer of claim 7 , wherein the julienne blade holder further comprises a first face, a second face, and a third face, the first set of julienne blades being positioned on the first face, the second set of julienne blades being positioned on the second face, and the third face

Assignees

• Progressive Int Corp

Inventors

• Bagley Justin
• Cotter Jennifer K

Classifications

• B26D2003/288

  making several incisions and cutting cubes or the like, e.g. so-called "julienne-cutter" · CPC title

• B26D2210/02

  for cutting food products, e.g. food slicers · CPC title

• Y10T83/6667

  Work carrier rotates about axis fixed relative to tool station · CPC title

• Y10T83/9493

  Stationary cutter · CPC title

• B26D7/26

  Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting member; Means for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member · CPC title