GB2172494A - Bread slicing guide - Google Patents

Abstract

A slicing guide for bread or similar products includes an upstanding guide member having a slot for guiding a knife in a desired direction to cut bread placed on a base member. The guide requires no power and the slice width is simply selected by the user. The guide member may be hoop shaped and mounted so as to be adjustable along the length of the base member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Guide The present invention relates to guides and more particu larly to a guide for slicing bread or the like.

Hereinafterthe term bread will be used but is for the purposes ofthe present invention to be interpreted as inciuding similar substances such as cake etc.

A known slicing device includes a rotary disc with a stop or plate which is adjustable to give various thickness of bread. The disc is rotated by a handle or electric motor and has cutting edges on its circumference. The device is similarto that used for slicing meat or bacon.

Afirst disadvantage with the above known device is that it is relatively expensive since for cleanliness the blade preferably needs to be stainless. Afurther disadvantage is thatthe blade is sometimes very difficult to clean and a further disadvantage is that the adjustment normally provided on the guide goes not usually allow for very wide slices such as required for toast.

Itis an object of the present invention to provide a bread slicing guide which is relatively inexpensive, easyto clean and allows slices of any thickness.

The present invention therefore provides a bread slicing guide including a base member and an upstanding guide membertheguide member com prising a slotforthe guidance of a knife.

In a preferred embodiment the guide member comprises a hoop-shaped guide within which the bread to be cut is positioned the hoop-shaped guide being rigidly mounted on the base member and being provided with a slot extending round the hoop such thatthe bread may be placed within the hoop-shaped member and a knife may be guided by the slot in the hoop-shaped member to guide the cutting ofthe bread.

Preferably the base member may be made of wood and the upstanding guide member may be made from stainless steel.

The upstanding guide member may be rigidly attached to the base member or may be mounted on the base member to be adjustable along the length of the base member.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a bread slicing guide according to the present invention showing the position of the bread knife; and Figure 2 shows a bread slicing guide according to the present invention showing the position of the bread to be sliced.

With reference now to Figure 1, the bread slicing guidecomprisesa base member 10and an upright guide member 12. The guide member 12 comprises first and second base portions 14, 16 portion 16 being hidden by the base member 10 but being the same shape as portion 14. The guide member 12further comprises a hoop-shaped section 18 comprising two portions 20,22 joined to the base portions 14,16 and being separated from each other to form a slit 24 which is of a width to accept a bread knife 26.

The operation ofthe guide can be seen by reference also to Figure 2. A loaf of bread 28 is positioned on the base member 10 and is slid underthe upstanding guide member 12. The guide member 12 is made of sufficient heightto accept the largest loaf in general use. The knife 26 is inserted into the slot 24 in guide 2 and is used to cutthe loaf in the normal mamner. The loaf of bread will be cut exactly square with the base member 10. The thickness of cut is readily adjustable by merely pushing the loaffurther along the base member 10.

The guide member 12 may be rigidly attached, by for example screws 30, 32to the base member 10 or it could be adjustably mounted in a groove 34 (Figure 2) with screws 30,32 being replaced by suitable pegs.

Theadvantageofthelatterdesign isthattheguide member 12 may be detachably mounted on base 10 for ease of storage andlor packaging.

The basemember 10 is preferablywoodenandthe guide member 12 is preferably stainlesssteel. However both or either could be made of a suitably wear resistant plastics material to give a more inexpensive product.

The guide is relatively easytoclean having no mechanically moving parts andthe cutting edgeis provided by a suitable carving knife which can be changed, for examplefrom a straight knife edge to a serrated knife edge to suitthe material being cut.

1. A guide for slicing bread including a base memberand an outstanding guide member the guide member comprising a slotforthe guidance of a knife.

2. A guide as claimed in Claim 1 in which the guide membercomprisesa hoop-shaped guidewithin which the breadto be cut is positioned, the hoopshaped guide being rigidly mounted on the base member and being provided with a slot extending round the hoop such that the bread may be placed within the hoop-shaped member and a knife may be guided by the slot in the hoop-shaped memberto guide the cutting of the bread.

3. A guide as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the base member is made of wood.

4. A guide as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which the guide member is made from stainless steel.

5. A guide as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the base member and/or guide are made of a plastics material.

6. A guide as claimed in any one of Claims 1,3,4 or 5 in which the guide member is mounted on the base memberto be adjustable along the length of the base member.

7. A guide for slicing bread substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Guide The present invention relates to guides and more particu larly to a guide for slicing bread or the like. Hereinafterthe term bread will be used but is for the purposes ofthe present invention to be interpreted as inciuding similar substances such as cake etc. A known slicing device includes a rotary disc with a stop or plate which is adjustable to give various thickness of bread. The disc is rotated by a handle or electric motor and has cutting edges on its circumference. The device is similarto that used for slicing meat or bacon. Afirst disadvantage with the above known device is that it is relatively expensive since for cleanliness the blade preferably needs to be stainless. Afurther disadvantage is thatthe blade is sometimes very difficult to clean and a further disadvantage is that the adjustment normally provided on the guide goes not usually allow for very wide slices such as required for toast. Itis an object of the present invention to provide a bread slicing guide which is relatively inexpensive, easyto clean and allows slices of any thickness. The present invention therefore provides a bread slicing guide including a base member and an upstanding guide membertheguide member com prising a slotforthe guidance of a knife. In a preferred embodiment the guide member comprises a hoop-shaped guide within which the bread to be cut is positioned the hoop-shaped guide being rigidly mounted on the base member and being provided with a slot extending round the hoop such thatthe bread may be placed within the hoop-shaped member and a knife may be guided by the slot in the hoop-shaped member to guide the cutting ofthe bread. Preferably the base member may be made of wood and the upstanding guide member may be made from stainless steel. The upstanding guide member may be rigidly attached to the base member or may be mounted on the base member to be adjustable along the length of the base member. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a bread slicing guide according to the present invention showing the position of the bread knife; and Figure 2 shows a bread slicing guide according to the present invention showing the position of the bread to be sliced. With reference now to Figure 1, the bread slicing guidecomprisesa base member 10and an upright guide member 12. The guide member 12 comprises first and second base portions 14, 16 portion 16 being hidden by the base member 10 but being the same shape as portion 14. The guide member 12further comprises a hoop-shaped section 18 comprising two portions 20,22 joined to the base portions 14,16 and being separated from each other to form a slit 24 which is of a width to accept a bread knife 26. The operation ofthe guide can be seen by reference also to Figure 2. A loaf of bread 28 is positioned on the base member 10 and is slid underthe upstanding guide member 12. The guide member 12 is made of sufficient heightto accept the largest loaf in general use. The knife 26 is inserted into the slot 24 in guide 2 and is used to cutthe loaf in the normal mamner. The loaf of bread will be cut exactly square with the base member 10. The thickness of cut is readily adjustable by merely pushing the loaffurther along the base member 10. The guide member 12 may be rigidly attached, by for example screws 30, 32to the base member 10 or it could be adjustably mounted in a groove 34 (Figure 2) with screws 30,32 being replaced by suitable pegs. Theadvantageofthelatterdesign isthattheguide member 12 may be detachably mounted on base 10 for ease of storage andlor packaging. The basemember 10 is preferablywoodenandthe guide member 12 is preferably stainlesssteel. However both or either could be made of a suitably wear resistant plastics material to give a more inexpensive product. The guide is relatively easytoclean having no mechanically moving parts andthe cutting edgeis provided by a suitable carving knife which can be changed, for examplefrom a straight knife edge to a serrated knife edge to suitthe material being cut. CLAIMS

1. A guide for slicing bread including a base memberand an outstanding guide member the guide member comprising a slotforthe guidance of a knife.

2. A guide as claimed in Claim 1 in which the guide membercomprisesa hoop-shaped guidewithin which the breadto be cut is positioned, the hoopshaped guide being rigidly mounted on the base member and being provided with a slot extending round the hoop such that the bread may be placed within the hoop-shaped member and a knife may be guided by the slot in the hoop-shaped memberto guide the cutting of the bread.

3. A guide as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the base member is made of wood.

4. A guide as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which the guide member is made from stainless steel.

5. A guide as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the base member and/or guide are made of a plastics material.

6. A guide as claimed in any one of Claims 1,3,4 or 5 in which the guide member is mounted on the base memberto be adjustable along the length of the base member.

7. A guide for slicing bread substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.