| AU1844376A | 1978-04-13 | |||
| DE2644912A1 | 1977-05-18 | |||
| DE3820185A1 | 1989-12-21 | |||
| EP0780080A2 | 1997-06-25 | |||
| GB2313771A | 1997-12-10 | |||
| US3858815A | 1975-01-07 | |||
| US5083734A | 1992-01-28 | |||
| US5251377A | 1993-10-12 | |||
| US5312054A | 1994-05-17 |
| 1. | A fruit and vegetable preparer consisting of a hygienic noncorrosive metal body/blade formed into a contoured shape, as detailed in figures 1,2 and 3 with side covers formed from flexible plastic material. |
| 2. | A fruit and vegetable preparer of claim 1. which can be manufactured and used without the flexible plastic side covers. |
| 3. | A fruit and vegetable preparer of claim 1. which can be manufactured and used with side covers made from alternative materials. |
| 4. | A fruit and vegetable preparer consisting of claim 1. which can be manufactured and used with side covers of a varied shape or profile. |
| 5. | A fruit and vegetable preparer of claim 1. which may incorporate alternative cutting or shredding blades in the main body. |
For many people the process of preparing potatoes, carrots, apples and the like is a tedious chore which usually requires the use of several utensils before the food is fully prepared for cooking. This invention simplifies this process by only using one instrument to peel, slice, core, chop or grate.
When the preparer is used for peeling, the discarded material (e. g. the skin) is contained within the body of the preparer until after the item is finished when the preparer can be emptied. In a similar fashion the grating action of the preparer on an item such as carrot or cheese will cause the grated material to fall into the body of the preparer and thus be contained until it is emptied into another container.
The design of the preparer is different to that of previous peeling instruments in that it is held with a open hand grip which makes it much more comfortable for older people or people with arthritis to use. It is a non-mechanical in the sense that it has no moving parts and functions through the motion of hand movement. Because of it's broad open-hand grip it exerts very little pressure on individual fingers and most of the force, for it's use, is exerted by the palm of the hand or the base of the fingers.
Components from which the preparer is constructed and their functions are as follows: 1. The main body-manufactured from hygienic non-corrosive stainless steel, functions as the gripping mechanism, cutting blades and the container.
2. The side caps (2)-manufactured from a flexible plastic material function as containing sides for the body, grip assistants and body edge protectors.
One of the most important criteria, of the design, which allows the preparer to function well and makes it comfortable to use is it's unique shape and contour. Without this contour, the preparer would not be able to carry out many of its functions.
The included drawing numbered Figure 1. provides an understanding of the importance of the shape and contour to the function of the preparer. Figure 1. also shows how the preparer would be used to peel a potato.
Figure 2. shows the preparer coring an apple whilst Figure 3. allows you to see the opened preparer for discarding the waste or coring an apple.