EP1647372B1 - Safety vegetable slicer - Google Patents

Abstract

The cutter has a collar-like cutting cartridge (15) longitudinally inserted between longitudinal parallel struts (3 1, 3 2) of a frame (1), where the struts are connected to each other by a cutting height adjusting plate (4). A corrugated V-shaped cutting blade (11) is mounted on an edge of the cartridge. The plate and the cartridge are inclined at 45 degrees with respect to their longitudinal axis.

Description

The present invention relates to a manual safety vegetable cutter for both domestic and professional use.

In the context of the invention, the word "vegetables" must be considered in a very broad sense and cut vegetables can not only be strictly speaking vegetables of any type but also fruits or other foods suitable for cutting.

There are currently various types of manual vegetable cutters on the market, all of which are impractical and expose their users to serious risks of manual cutting.

At the same time, there are many vegetable cutters or household electric robots or for industries or communities with a versatile nature.

These, however, are generally sophisticated devices which, in addition to their high cost, often have the disadvantage of being inconvenient and also difficult to clean.

To remedy this drawback, it has been proposed, in accordance with FR 2,825,043 a simple, practical and inexpensive manual vegetable cutter for selectively varying the cutting characteristics.

• un châssis reposant sur des pieds de préférence repliables et muni de deux montants longitudinaux parallèles définissant d'une part deux rails de guidage d'un chariot mobile en translation en va-et-vient et délimitant à sa partie interne un volume de réception des légumes à découper, et reliés d'autre part par un plateau monté mobile en translation entre ces montants, perpendiculairement à l'axe de déplacement du chariot de façon à permettre le réglage de la hauteur de coupe, et
• au moins une lame de coupe montée transversalement entre les montants longitudinaux, en regard d'un bord ou premier bord du plateau de réglage de la hauteur de coupe de façon à définir une fente de passage des légumes découpés.

This known device, called "mandolin" by specialists, comprises:

• a frame resting on preferably folding feet and provided with two parallel longitudinal uprights defining on the one hand two guide rails of a carriage movable in translation back and forth and delimiting at its inner part a receiving volume of the vegetables to be cut, and connected on the other hand by a plate mounted mobile in translation between these uprights, perpendicular to the axis of movement of the carriage so as to allow adjustment of the cutting height, and
• at least one cutting blade mounted transversely between the longitudinal uprights, opposite an edge or first edge of the cutting height adjustment plate so as to define a slit for the passage of the cut vegetables.

In such a vegetable cutter known from the prior art, the carriage is constituted firstly by a cylindrical guide chamber open at its upper part and equipped at its lower part with a substantially rectangular collar, two of which are opposite edges. are folded to define two grooves that cooperate with the rails of guidance, and secondly by a pusher interlocking on or in the guide chamber and intended to be manually gripped by the user to move the carriage along the guide rails by constantly exerting pressure on the vegetables contained in the receiving volume so as to apply against the cutting blade and allow their cutting by the blade.

This safety vegetable cutter has the advantage of allowing many different preparations (smooth or corrugated washers, embossed cuts, diced cuts, etc.) to be made effortlessly and has therefore been very well received by the users. Another vegetable cutter is also described in US-A-5,745,999 .

It also has many advantages related in particular to its small footprint during storage and in addition to its ease of maintenance, especially in the dishwasher.

However, experience has shown that the blade adjustment system may be difficult to handle and further likely to expose users to the risk of cutting.

The present invention therefore aims to improve such a known vegetable cutter according to the prior art.

For this purpose, it relates to a manual safety vegetable cutter of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it is equipped with at least one slice cutting cartridge constituted by a substantially flat removable element that can be inserted longitudinally between the uprights. of the frame and having a first edge on which is mounted the cutting blade, a second edge opposite the first and two side edges, the slice cutting cartridge being provided with gripping means cooperating with positioning means provided on the frame.

This manual safety vegetable cutter therefore differs essentially from the known vegetable cutter in that the cutting blade is mounted on a slotted cutting cartridge intended to be inserted not transversely but longitudinally between the uprights of the frame, which 'proves more convenient and less dangerous for the user.

According to the invention, the positioning means preferably comprise, on the one hand, at least two pairs of longitudinal lugs situated facing each other on the inner face of each respective upright so as to define guide rails for the lateral edges of the cartridge of cut into slices, close to its first edge equipped with the cutting blade and cooperating with a pair of transverse lugs forming a stop for this first edge, and secondly holding members of the slice cutting cartridge at its second edge.

To set up the cartridge, the user just has to grab it and insert it into the guide rails and move it in longitudinal translation until it comes to a stop.

The holding members of the slice cutting cartridge at its second edge may themselves simply be constituted by one or more abutment stops provided (s) on a fixed element of the frame at its middle part, or from and other on the longitudinal uprights, and on which (which) rests the slice cutting cartridge.

The holding members of this cartridge are, however, preferably constituted by two elastically deformable tabs facing each other on the respective lateral edges thereof and each equipped with a holding stud which can be snapped into holes pierced for this purpose. in the chassis uprights.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the gripping means are constituted by two security notches located facing the respective lateral edges of the slice cutting cartridge, near the second edge of this cartridge.

These notches can advantageously cooperate with finger-pass holes provided on the longitudinal amounts of the frame to facilitate the introduction of the slice cutting cartridge.

These safety notches can also advantageously be provided at the elastically deformable tabs located opposite the respective lateral edges of the slice cutting cartridge so as to facilitate the gripping of this cartridge.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the cutting blade mounted on the first edge of the slice cutting cartridge is a V-blade.

The advantage of such a blade is to have knives that can come into contact with either side of the vegetables to be cut, which is preferable in the case of relatively soft vegetables and in particular tomatoes that can only difficult to be cut by a rectilinear blade because they have a hard skin and a soft flesh.

This cutting blade V may also advantageously be corrugated so as to allow the cutting of corrugated washers of adjustable thickness or a cutout type "wafers" if one rotate the pusher interlocking on or in the guide chamber by 180 ° with each movement of the carriage back and forth.

Such a blade makes it possible in particular to make wafer cuts of tomatoes which was until now impossible.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, the vegetable cutter is also equipped with at least one removable cutting cartridge or removable julienne cartridge insertable longitudinally between the amounts of the frame, below the cartridge of cut into slices and having an active face equipped with a series of longitudinal cutting blades transversely oriented to be positioned opposite this cartridge.

This julienne cartridge thus also inserts longitudinally between the frame uprights, as the slice cutting cartridge, but at the bottom of the cutting height adjustment plate.

For this purpose, the julienne cartridge may advantageously be equipped with a positioning tab which facilitates its installation and further protects the longitudinal cutting blades.

It should be noted that in the context of this description the terms lower and upper or below and above must be understood by taking into consideration the cutting vegetables in use position resting on a horizontal support while the term before corresponds, still in this position at the lowest end of the chassis and the back end at the highest end of it.

According to the invention, the julienne cartridge may advantageously be constituted by a substantially triangular element comprising on the one hand a first edge located opposite the first edge of the cutting height adjustment plate and intended to abut against mounted pads for this purpose between the uprights of the frame and to be locked in position by a movable slider in slots of these uprights, and secondly two side edges separated by a positioning vertex provided at its edge with a notch intended to be inserted into a medial shoulder of a transverse centering bar separating the two uprights of the frame.

Given this configuration, the julienne cartridge can be mounted on the frame, between the side uprights thereof in a way as simple and fast as the slice cutting cartridge.

According to the invention, it was found that cutting was easier if the cutting height adjustment plate and the cutting cartridges were inclined at an angle of about 45 ° to their longitudinal axis.

As a result, and according to a particularly advantageous feature of the invention, the legs of the frame of the vegetable cutter have a shape to obtain such a slope.

This form is preferably chosen so that the vegetable cutter can be operated both in the upright position and in the inclined position.

It has proven advantageous to conform the front foot symmetrically and the back foot asymmetrically.

The rear foot can also advantageously be forced into holes in the frame uprights so that it can be positioned in one direction or the other so that the vegetable cutter can be indifferently operated by a right-handed or left-handed user.

During cutting, the user can advantageously rely on an ergonomically shaped lateral handle fixed on the cutting height adjustment members.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vegetable cutter is equipped with a crank for micrometric adjustment of the cutting height.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective représentant la face supérieure du coupe-légumes,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective correspondant à la figure 1 mais sur laquelle le chariot a été démonté et est représenté en vue « éclatée »,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective représentant la face inférieure du coupe-légumes,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'une cartouche de découpe en rondelles,
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'une variante de cartouche de découpe en rondelles,
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective représentant la face active d'une cartouche de découpe julienne,
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective correspondant à la figure 6 mais représentant la face opposée de la cartouche julienne.

The characteristics of the safety vegetable cutter which is the subject of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the upper face of the vegetable cutter,
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1 but on which the carriage has been disassembled and is represented in an "exploded" view,
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the underside of the vegetable cutter,
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a slice cutting cartridge,
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a variant of a slice cutting cartridge,
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the active face of a julienne cutting cartridge,
• Figure 7 is a perspective view corresponding to Figure 6 but showing the opposite side of the julienne cartridge.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vegetable cutter essentially consists of a chassis 1 resting on two folding legs, namely a front foot 2 ₁ and a rear foot 2 ₂ .

The frame 1 comprises two parallel longitudinal uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ and a plate 4 mounted to move in translation between these uprights so as to allow the adjustment of the cutting height.

The configuration of the cutting height adjustment plate 4 which is shown in more detail in FIG. 3 as well as that of the members allowing its displacement between the uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ correspond to those described in the document. FR 2,825,043 and will not be exhibited here for the sake of brevity.

According to Figure 3, the frame 1 is equipped with a crank 25 cooperating with the adjusting plate 4 of the cutting height so as to allow a micrometric adjustment of this height.

According to Figures 1 and 2, the two parallel uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ define at their upper two guide rails of a carriage 5 movable in translation back and forth along them.

According to Figure 2, the carriage 5 is constituted by the association of a guide chamber 6 and a pusher 7 fitting on it.

The guide chamber 6 is constituted by a cylindrical element open at its upper part so as to delimit a receiving volume of the vegetables to be cut and equipped at its lower part with a substantially rectangular collar 8 with two opposite edges 9 are folded so to define two grooves 10 which cooperate with the guide rails 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ .

The configuration of the pusher 7 also corresponds to that of the pusher equipping the vegetable cutter described in the document FR 2,825,043 .

This pusher 7 is intended to be manually gripped by the user to move the carriage 5 along the guide rails by constantly exerting pressure on the vegetables contained in the guide chamber 6 so as to apply against a cutting blade V 11.

This blade 11 is mounted transversely between the longitudinal uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ facing a first edge 12 of the cutting height adjustment plate 4 so as to define a passage slot 13 of the V-shaped cut-up vegetables as well. .

More specifically, and according to FIG. 4, the cutting blade 11 is a planar blade mounted on a first edge 14 of a substantially flat slice cutting cartridge 15 intended to be inserted longitudinally between the uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ of the frame 1 in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

According to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the slice cutting cartridge 15 is equipped with a V-shaped cutting blade 11 which is not flat but is of corrugated shape so as to obtain wavy or wafer-shaped washers.

Of course, the vegetable cutter is generally equipped not with a single but a series of slice cutting cartridges having blades of different shapes so as to obtain different types of washers.

According to FIGS. 4 and 5, the slice cutting cartridge 1 comprises a second edge 16 opposite the first edge 14 on which the cutting blade 11 is mounted, as well as two lateral edges 17 ₁ , 17 ₂ fitted near the second edge 16. resiliently deformable tabs 18 ₁ , 18 ₂ provided on the one hand with gripping notches 19 ₁ , 19 ₂ and on the other hand, at their free end with two holding studs 20 ₁ , 20 ₂ intended to snap together in holes 21 drilled for this purpose in the uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ of the frame 1 which are shown in Figures 1 and 2.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ of the frame 1 are also equipped with finger-pass holes 22 situated opposite the gripping notches 19 ₁ , 19 ₂ when the slice cutting cartridge 15 is positioned at the middle part of chassis 1.

To allow this positioning, the frame 1 is furthermore equipped with two pairs of longitudinal lugs 23, 23 'respectively located facing on the inside face of each respective upright 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ so as to define guide rails of the edges. side 17 ₁ , 17 ₂ of the slice cutting cartridge 16 near its first edge 14 equipped with the cutting blade 11.

These longitudinal positioning pins 23, 23 'respectively cooperate with a pair of transverse lugs 24 forming a stop for this first edge 14 of the slice-cutting cartridge 15.

To position the cartridge 15, the user must grasp it by the gripping notches 19 ₁ , 19 ₂ and then introduce its lateral edges 17 ₁ , 17 ₂ in the rails defined by the positioning pins 23, 23 'until it abuts against the transverse lugs 24.

During this abutment, the holding nipples 20 ₁ , 20 ₂ equipping the elastically deformable tabs 18 ₁ , 18 ₂ are automatically snapped into the orifices 21 pierced in the uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ of the frame 1.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration of the folding feet 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ is chosen so as to allow the user to maneuver the vegetable cutter in a straight position but also in a position in which the height adjustment plate 4 and the slice cutting cartridge 15 are inclined at an angle of about 45 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame 1, a position that is more convenient to use.

During this maneuver the user can rely on an ergonomic handle 41 fixed to the cutting height adjustment members.

According to Figures 1 and 2, the front foot 2 ₁ has a symmetrical shape while the rear foot 2 ₂ is asymmetrical.

The rear foot 2 ₂ is forced into holes 42 provided for this purpose in the lateral uprights 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ of the frame 1 so as to allow to mount this foot in one direction or another so that the cutter vegetables can be operated indifferently by a right-handed or left-handed user.

According to FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, the vegetable cutter is furthermore equipped with a cut-off cartridge 26 or removable julienne cartridge intended to be inserted longitudinally between the uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ of the frame 1 below the slice cutting cartridge 15 in the position shown in FIG.

According to FIGS. 6 and 7, this julienne cartridge 26 is constituted by a substantially triangular element hollowed out at its median part and comprising on the one hand an active face 27 shown in FIG. 6 equipped with a series of longitudinal cutting blades 28 directed transversely and intended to be positioned facing the slice cutting cartridge 15 and secondly a gripping face 29 shown in FIG. 7, opposite to the active face 27 and equipped with a positioning tab 30.

These two faces 27, 29 are delimited by a first edge 31 having a curved indentation as well as by two lateral edges 32 ₁ , 32 ₂ separated by a positioning vertex 33.

When the julienne cartridge 26 is positioned at the middle part of the frame 1 in the position shown in FIG. 3, the first edge 31 thereof is located facing the first edge 14 of the cutting height adjustment plate 15.

The active face 27 of the julienne cartridge 26 is equipped at this first edge 31 with two shoulders 34 intended to cooperate with two abutment plates 35 mounted for this purpose between the uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ of the frame 1 as shown in FIG. figure 3.

A slider 36 movable in translation in slots 37 of the uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ makes it possible to block the julienne cartridge in this position.

According to FIGS. 6 and 7, the julienne cartridge 26 is moreover provided on its edge, at the positioning vertex 33, with a positioning notch 38.

According to FIG. 3, when the julienne cartridge 26 is positioned at the middle part of the frame 1, the notch 38 fits into a medial shoulder 39 of a transverse centering bar 40 which separates the two uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ chassis 1.

The positioning of the julienne cartridge 26 is as simple and fast as that of the slice cutting cartridge 15.

After having turned over the frame 1, the user must indeed seize this cartridge 26 by the positioning tongue 30 and then introduce the notch 38 into the shoulder 39 of the centering bar 40 and bring the shoulders 34 against the platelets 35. ; it then remains for him to move the slider 36 in translation in the slots 37 of the uprights 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ so that it comes to overlap the face 29 of the julienne cartridge 26 and block it in position.

Claims (12)

1. Safety vegetable cutter, comprising:

   - a frame (1) supported on two feet (2₁, 2₂), preferably folding, and equipped with two parallel longitudinal uprights (3₁, 3₂) defining on the one hand two rails for guiding a carriage (5) which can be moved back and forth translationally and delimiting on its inner section a loading area for the vegetables to be cut, and connected on the other hand by a plate (4) mounted so as to allow translational movement thereof between these uprights, perpendicularly to the axis of movement of the carriage (5) in such a way as to allow the cutting height to be adjusted, and

   - at least one cutting blade (11) mounted transversely between the longitudinal uprights (3₁, 3₂), facing an edge or first edge (12) of the cutting height adjustment plate in such a way as to define a slot (13) for the passage of the cut vegetables,

   - the carriage (5) being constituted on the one hand by a cylindrical guide chamber (6) which is open on its upper section and equipped on its lower section with an essentially rectangular collar (8), of which two of the opposite sides (9) are folded over in order to define two grooves (10) which cooperate with the guide rails (3₁, 3₂) and on the other hand by a push button element (7) fitting on or in the guide chamber (6) and intended to be gripped manually by the user in order to move the carriage (5) along the guide rails (3₁, 3₂), constantly exerting pressure on the vegetables contained in the loading area in such a way as to apply them against the cutting blade (11) and allow them to be cut by this blade,

   characterised in that
   it is equipped with at least one slicing cartridge (15) constituted by an essentially planar and removable element which can be inserted longitudinally between the uprights (3₁, 3₂) of the frame (1) and comprising a first edge (14) on which the cutting blade (11) is mounted, a second edge (16) opposite the first and also two lateral edges (17₁, 17₂), said slicing cartridge (15) being equipped with gripping means cooperating with longitudinal positioning means provided on the frame (1).
2. Vegetable cutter according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the positioning means comprise on the one hand at least two pairs of longitudinal lugs (23, 23') arranged facing each other on the inner face of each respective upright (3₁, 3₂) in such a way as to define guide bar elements of the lateral edges (17₁, 17₂) of the slicing cartridge (15), close to its first edge (14) equipped with the cutting blade (11), and cooperating with a pair of transverse lugs (24) forming an abutment for this first edge (14), and on the other hand holding elements for the slicing cartridge on its second edge (16).
3. Vegetable cutter according to claim 2,
   characterised in that
   the holding elements of the slicing cartridge are constituted by two elastically deformable tabs (18₁, 18₂) arranged facing each other on the respective lateral edges (17₁, 17₂) of the slicing cartridge (15) and each equipped with a holding pin (20₁, 20₂) which can be snapped into openings (21) bored for this purpose in the uprights (3₁, 3₂) of the frame (1).
4. Vegetable cutter according to any one of the claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that
   the gripping means are constituted by two safety notches (19₁, 19₂) arranged facing each other on the respective lateral edges (17₁, 17₂) of the slicing cartridge (15), close to the second edge (16) of this cartridge.
5. Vegetable cutter according to claim 4,
   characterised in that
   the safety notches (19₁, 19₂) cooperate with finger holes (22) bored in the uprights (3₁, 3₂) of the frame (1).
6. Vegetable cutter according to any one of the claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that
   the cutting blade (11) mounted on the first edge (14) of the slicing cartridge (15) is a V-shaped blade.
7. Vegetable cutter according to claim 6,
   characterised in that
   the cutting blade (11) is a corrugated blade.
8. Vegetable cutter according to any one of the claims 1 to 7,
   characterised in that
   it is equipped with at least one cartridge for cutting into batonnets or removable julienne cartridge (26) which can be inserted longitudinally between the uprights (3₁, 3₂) of the frame (1) below the slicing cartridge (15) and comprising an active face (27) equipped with a series of longitudinal cutting blades (28), directed transversely, intended to be positioned facing this cartridge (15).
9. Vegetable cutter according to claim 8,
   characterised in that
   the julienne cartridge is equipped with a positioning tab (30).
10. Vegetable cutter according to any one of the claims 8 and 9,
    characterised in that
    the julienne cartridge (26) is constituted by an essentially triangular element comprising on the one hand a first edge (31) arranged facing the first edge (12) of the cutting height adjustment plate (4) and intended to abut against small plates (35) mounted for this purpose between the uprights (3₁, 3₂) of the frame (1) and to be locked in position by a mobile slide element (36) in slots (37) of these uprights, and on the other hand two lateral edges (32₁, 32₂) separated by a positioning apex (33) equipped on its edge with a notch (38) intended to be inserted into a central shoulder (39) of a transverse centring bar (40) separating the two uprights (3₁, 3₂) of the frame (1).
11. Vegetable cutter according to any one of the claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that
    the feet (2₁, 2₂) of the frame (1) have a form which allows the cutting height adjustment plate (4) and the cutting cartridges (15, 26) to be inclined by an angle of around 45° in relation to their longitudinal axis.
12. Vegetable cutter according to any one of the claims 1 to 11,
    characterised in that it is equipped with a crank (25) for micrometric adjustment of the cutting height.

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