HK1065278B - Cutting device for fruits and vegetables, preferably onion - Google Patents

Description

Cutting device for cutting fruits and vegetables, in particular onions

Technical Field

The invention relates to a cutting device for cutting fruits and vegetables, in particular for onions, comprising a cutting member provided with a plurality of blades crossing each other or parallel to each other and forming a grid structure, and a counter pad (counter pad) against which the cutting member can be pushed to chop the onions to be processed.

Background

Currently, a common method of cutting onions uses a cutter while grasping the onion with the fingers of one hand and moving the cutter over the onion, thereby cutting the onion into thin pieces. The onion can then be held and moved with the fingertips. A person unfamiliar with the procedure can easily cut the fingers. There are many different mechanical devices available on the market for cutting onions, but these devices are expensive to manufacture and are cumbersome to handle and clean.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device, in particular a new cutting device for onion, which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks, while facilitating the cutting and the cutting operation.

The present invention provides a cutting device for cutting fruits and vegetables, particularly suitable for cutting onions, in a very safe and simple manner. The cutting device is excellent in its intended use and inexpensive to manufacture. Such a cutting device can be conveniently placed in a tray due to its simple structure and, in addition, it is advantageous to keep clean since it consists of only two parts pivotally connected together by a hinge. In this device, the portion adapted to support the onion is constituted by a cutting plate which can be placed on a table. In this device, the cutting member is pivotally mounted on the cutting plate so that, in use, the cutting member can be pivoted downwardly towards the cutting plate and moved to a position at which the onion is located, thereby cutting the onion into slices. In order to achieve a high quality cutting operation, the cutting plate is provided with a plurality of projections which are able to support the onions in a suitable manner and which are able to pass through a plurality of holes in the grid formed by the blades. This generally occurs during the final stages of the cutting operation, which is accomplished as the blade moves over the lower portion of the onion and into the groove extending between the lobes.

Drawings

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cutting device according to the invention, showing its cutting member in an upper position, while the onion to be cut is placed on the bearing surface of a mat constituted by a cutting plate;

fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cutting device shown in fig. 1, showing the cutting member pushed down into the onion and cutting it into small pieces, which can then be easily removed from the cutting plate;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the cutting plate showing that the cutting plate includes an area, shown as a back-up plate, that includes protrusions to place onions to be cut;

fig. 4 is a top view of a cutting member.

Detailed Description

As can be seen from the figures, the preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a cutting device 1 for cutting vegetables or fruits, in particular onions, comprising a cutting member 2 provided with blades 3, 4 which are mutually crosswise or mutually parallel so as to form a grid structure. According to another embodiment, the blades are positioned parallel to each other in only one direction. Whether the blades 3, 4 are crosswise or parallel to each other, they are adapted to cooperate with a support plate 5 when the cutting member 2 is pushed into the onion 6 for cutting it into small pieces.

The cutting device 1 has two main parts, namely a suitable cutting member 2 and the above-mentioned backing plate 5. The two parts are pivotally connected together by a hinge 7. The support plate 5 consists of a cutting plate 8, which cutting plate 8 is placed in use on a flat table top, and to which cutting member 2 is pivotably connected by means of a hinge 7, so that the cutting member 2 can be pivoted downwards towards the cutting plate 8 and the onion placed in position on the cutting plate 8.

When the cutting member 2 is pressed down completely over the cutting plate 8 and the onions supported on the cutting plate 8, the onions can be completely separated as the cutting plate 8 is provided with a plurality of projections 9, wherein the projections 9 project from the cutting plate 8 a distance substantially equal to the height of the blades 3, 4. When the cutting member 2 has passed completely through the cutting board 8, the upper parts of the blades 3, 4 will be at the same height as the upper parts of the protrusions 9 and the rest of the top surface of the cutting board, so that the cut onions can be easily removed from the cutting board 8 when cutting is performed.

The projections 9 form a pattern which is identical to the pattern of the blades 3, 4 on the cutting member 2, the cross-sectional shape of the projections 9 substantially corresponding to the shape defined by the blades 3, 4, and the blades 3, 4 further define a plurality of holes or cavities 10 on the cutting member. The height of the blades 3, 4 on the cutting member 2 is slightly less than the height of the projections 9, so that the above-mentioned plane is formed when the cutting member 2 is fully tilted down against the cutting plate 8.

The cutting member 2 consists of a plate provided with a through hole 11 in the central position thereof, in which the blades 3, 4 form a grid structure in an intersecting or parallel manner, the extension of which in the vertical direction is substantially the same as the height of the blades on the cutting plate 8.

According to the preferred embodiment, the blade grid used as blades 3, 4 has a plurality of square holes or cavities 10, the size of the holes or cavities 10 being about 4 x 4 mm to 6 x 6 mm and the height being about 4-10 mm.

According to another embodiment, the blades 3, 4 may have different heights and their edge portions may be serrated.

Claims (4)

1. A device for cutting fruits and vegetables, comprising: a cutting member (2) having interdigitated blades (3, 4) forming a lattice structure; and a backing plate (5) against which the cutting member (2) can be pushed during cutting of the onion (6), said backing plate (5) being constituted by a cutting plate (8), said cutting member (2) being pivotably connected to the cutting plate (8) by means of a hinge (7) -like connection allowing its blade grid to be turned downwards towards the cutting plate (8) and the onion placed thereon, said cutting plate (8) being provided with a plurality of protrusions (9) for supporting the onion (6) in an area substantially coinciding with the extent of the blades, characterized in that: the device comprises only two main parts, namely said support mat (5) consisting of a cutting plate (8) and said cutting member (2) pivotally connected, said two main parts being separable when the cutting tool is opened by raising the cutting member through approximately 90 °, the blade grid having square holes or cavities (10), the projections (9) projecting from the cutting plate (8) at the same time as the projections (9) form a support surface for the onions (6) on the support mat (5) that constitutes the cutting plate (8), they forming a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the blades (3, 4) on the cutting member (2) and having a cross-sectional shape that substantially corresponds to the shape defined by the blades (3, 4) in the cutting member (2), when, by a single push, the cutting member (2) is in a position lying completely inclined downwards above the cutting plate (8) and its blades (3), 4) the projections (9) are able to pass completely through the holes or cavities (10) in the blade grid when penetrating into the grooves extending between the projections (9), the onion (6) placed on the cutting plate (8) will be completely divided due to the grid of blades (3, 4) and the corresponding pattern of projections (9), the height of the blades (3, 4) being slightly less than the height of the projections (9) so that a planar surface can be formed when the cutting member (2) is in its downwardly inclined position, and the cutting tool forms a cutting plate on which the cut onion (6) is formed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the blades (3, 4) are provided with cutting edges with sawteeth.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the cutting member (2) is constituted by a plate provided, at a central portion thereof, with a through hole (11) in which a blade grid is positioned, extending vertically substantially in correspondence of the height of the cutting plate or the thickness and height of the relief (9).

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the blade lattice structure has square holes or cavities (10) having dimensions of about 4 x 4 mm to 6 x 6 mm and a height of about 4 to 10 mm.