The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 25, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 17, 2000
John J. Romano, Conshohocken, PA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A food processor device arranged to be held in a user's hand for slicing or grating a foodstuff, e.g., garlic, is provided. The device basically comprises a receptacle member having a “handle-like” portion with a hollow cavity at one end for receipt of the foodstuff. An elongated, “handle-like” pusher member is pivotably connected to the opposite end of the receptacle member and is arranged to be pressed down by the user squeezing on the device for pushing the foodstuff toward an outlet of the cavity. A cutting member is provided for slicing or grating the foodstuff and is releasably mounted immediately adjacent the receptacle's outlet. The cutting member is arranged to be pulled across the receptacle's out by an actuator lever mounted on the handle-like portion of the receptacle member. The cutting member is a planar panel having at least one a slicing blade offset parallel slightly therefrom on one side of the planar panel, and at least one grating blade offset at angle to the panel on the opposite side as the slicing blade. The cutting member is arranged to be releasably mounted on the device adjacent the cavity's outlet with either the slicing blade(s) or grating blades(s) oriented toward the outlet to slice or grate the foodstuff, as the case may be. The cutter member cuts or grates the portion of the foodstuff forced out of the outlet as the blade is drawn across the outlet by squeezing the actuator lever. The actuator lever is spring-biased to enable the cutter blade to automatically return to a neutral or extended position with respect to the outlet upon release of the actuator lever. The pusher member includes an offset end arranged to enter into the cavity and that end has a textured surface to engage the foodstuff and prevent it from slipping on its way to the outlet.