Produce slicer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10843358-B2
Application number	US-201815886507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2018
Priority date	Aug 29, 2014
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

Produce slicers for slicing produce include a frame. A blade assembly is removably and interchangeably received within the frame. A pusher head is removably and interchangeably received within the frame. The produce slicer includes a cover, at least one target ring in the cover defines a first target area. The blade assembly includes at least one blade set with a first frame bar and a second frame bar and a plurality of blades extend therebetween. The pusher head includes a pusher head body and at least one produce pusher with a plurality of fins extending in a direction away from the pusher head body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A produce slicing system comprising:
a blade assembly constructed as an interchangeable unit configured for removable attachment to a slicing frame, the blade assembly comprising:
a blade cover having a planar top portion and a plurality of sides extending away from the planar top portion, the planar top portion and the plurality of sides defining an open interior;
at least one target ring defining a target area through the planar top portion of the blade cover, the at least one target ring configured to receive a piece of produce to be sliced;
at least one blade set, the at least one blade set comprising a first frame bar and a second frame bar and a plurality of blades extending there between, the at least one blade set secured within the open interior of the blade cover;
wherein the planar top portion overlies the first frame bar and the second frame bar and further overlies a first portion of the plurality of blades extending from the first frame bar to the second frame bar; and
wherein a second portion of the plurality of blades extending from the first frame bar to the second frame bar are exposed through the at least one target ring, the at least one target ring extending away from the planar top portion in a direction away from the at least one blade set.

2. The produce slicing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pusher head constructed as an interchangable unit comprising a pusher head body and at least one produce pusher with a plurality of fins extending in a direction away from the pusher head body, the at least one produce pusher configured to be removably received through the at least one target ring and the plurality of fins to extend between the plurality of blades;
wherein a blade cartridge comprises the blade assembly and the pusher head.

3. The produce slicing system of claim 2 , wherein the blade assembly comprises a first handle portion extending away from the blade cover and the pusher head comprises a second handle portion extending away from the pusher head body, wherein the first handle portion and the second handle portion align to form a blade cartridge handle when the pusher head is engaged with the blade assembly.

4. The produce slicing system of claim 3 , wherein the blade cover comprises at least one alignment structure extending exterior of the blade cover from a side of the plurality of sides opposite the first handle portion.

5. The produce slicing system of claim 3 , wherein the blade cover further comprises a first arm and a second arm that extend laterally from opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the blade cover, wherein the first arm and the second arm each comprise an alignment structure.

6. The produce slicing system of claim 2 , further comprising:
the frame comprising:
a frame base comprising a blade assembly receiving area, configured to receive the blade assembly, wherein the blade assembly receiving area comprises alignment structures configured to matingly engage with the at least one alignment structure of the blade cover and the alignment structures of the first arm and the second arm of
the blade cover; a pusher assembly comprising a head receiver configured to receive the pusher head; and
a handle movably connected to the pusher assembly and configured to move the pusher assembly relative to the blade assembly receiving area to removably engage and disengage the pusher head with the blade assembly.

7. The produce slicing system of claim 2 , further comprising
the frame comprising:
a frame base comprising a blade assembly receiving area, configured to receive the blade assembly; and
a pusher assembly comprising a head receiver configured to receive the pusher head.

8. The produce slicing system of claim 7 , further comprising a handle movably connected to the pusher assembly and configured to move the pusher assembly relative to the blade assembly receiving area to removably engage and disengage the pusher head with the blade assembly.

9. The produce slicing system of claim 8 , wherein the blade assembly receiving area of the frame base comprises a front support, lateral supports and at least one elevated rear support, the frame base defining an aperture interior of the front support, lateral supports and at least one elevated rear support.

10. The produce slicing system of claim 9 , wherein when the blade assembly is received within the blade assembly receiving area, the at least one blade set engages the at least one elevated support and the blade cover comprises at least one support ledge that extends from the blade cover into the open interior and engages the at least one blade set and the front support.

11. The produce slicing system of claim 9 , wherein when the blade assembly is received within the blade assembly receiving area, the at least one blade set engages the lateral supports and the front support.

12. The produce slicing system of claim 9 , wherein the blade assembly receiving area is defined by lateral walls in the frame base adjacent the lateral supports and further comprising:
a first lock movably mounted to the frame base and configured to releasably retain the blade assembly in engagement with the support surface and the lateral walls;
a second lock movably mounted to the head receiver and configured to releasably retain the pusher head in engagement with the head receiver.

13. The produce slicing system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one target ring is a plurality of target rings and the at least one produce pusher is a plurality of produce pushers, wherein each of the plurality of produce pushers is aligned with one of the plurality of target rings for removable engagement between the pusher head and the blade assembly.

14. The produce slicing system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one produce pusher comprises a U-shaped frame secured to the pusher head, the plurality of fins located within the U-shaped frame and separated by a plurality of spacers and the U-shaped frame is secured to the plurality of fins and the plurality of spacers with at least one fastener there through.

15. The produce slicing system of claim 2 wherein the at least one blade set is a first blade set and the plurality of blades are a first plurality of blades and further comprising a second blade set comprising a second plurality of blades and the first blade set and the second blade set are stacked within the open interior of the blade cover and first plurality of blades are offset from the second plurality of blades.

16. The produce slicing system of claim 2 , further comprising at least one intermediate blade support that extends from the planar top portion into the open interior and extends between and engages at least one blade of the first plurality of blades and at least one blade of the second plurality of blades.

17. The produce slicing system of claim 1 , wherein the blade cover further comprises at least one support ledge and at least one finger extending into the open interior, and wherein the first frame bar engages the at least one finger and the second frame bar engages the at least one support ledge to secure the blade set within the open interior of the blade cover.

18. The produce slicing system of claim 17 wherein the at least one finger extends into the open interior from the planar top portion of the blade cover.

19. A produce slicing system comprising:
a blade cartridge comprising:
a blade assembly constructed as an interchangable unit configured for removable attachment to a slicing frame, the blade assembly c

Assignees

• Prince Castle LLC

Inventors

• Fastabend Mark
• Hammac Scott
• Kestner Kyle
• Caringella Anthony
• Graef Michael
• Padvoiskis Julia
• Larson Eric

Classifications

• B26D1/03 Primary

  with a plurality of cutting members · CPC title

• B26D7/225

  for food slicers · CPC title

• B26D3/185

  Grid like cutters · CPC title

• B26D5/10

  Hand or foot actuated means · CPC title

• B26D7/0608

  by pushers (B26D7/0616, B26D7/0625 and B26D7/0641 take precedence) · CPC title