CHEESE SLICER (PLANE)

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hand tool for slicing of foodstuff products. More ' specifically the invention relates to a hand tool of the type used for slicing cheese, which is designed to make it considerably easier to slice for example cheese by persons with reduced mobility and muscular strength in their hands, in accordance with the claims.

Technical Background To slice foodstuff products such as cheese with existing cheese slicers (planes) is, for a person with reduced mobility and/or strength in their hands, a considerable problem. This problem is especially problematic for persons with joint diseases such as rheumatism. Rheumatics often have such a greatly reduced mobility in their hands that the use of conventional cheese slicers (planes) is for all intents and purposes not possible.

The problem has its origin in the tools', the cheese slicers', (planes'), design. Tools of this type which are usually called cheese slicers (planes) even if they are not exclusively used for cheese slicing but also for the slicing of vegetables, root vegetables and the like. The cheese sheer (plane) usually consists of a thin plate of metal (the blade), preferably of stainless steel, with one cutting edge bent out of the plate. The bent cutting edge usually consists of a long stretched slit which along at least one long side of the slit is provided with a long stretched edge. The plate (the blade) with one upper side and one under side is designed to steer the cheese slicer (plane) and for holding pieces of sliced cheese. An essentially straight handle is connected to the plate (blade) in line with the plate (blade). While using the cheese slicer (plane) the handle must be held firmly with a hand with a powerful enough grip so that the handle will not glide in the hand. If the handle glides in the hand the power that is needed for slicing can not be transferred to the cheese slicer (plane). These types of cheese slicers (planes) are more or less impossible for rheumatics with reduced muscular strength and mobility in joints to use.

Another problem with existing designs of hand tools such as cheese slicers (planes) is that existing designs do not allow different gripping positions when using these tools.

A handle which can be of an excellent form for one rheumatic, or another person with reduced strength and mobility in the hands, can be difficult or impossible to use for another rheumatic or another person. With reference to the problems above it is obvious that there exists a need for an essentially improved hand tool for slicing of for example cheese.

Prior Art

In order to solve the above mentioned problems many cheese slicer (plane) designs have been developed. One of these cheese slicer (plane) types is a cheese slicer whose handle is placed at a right angle or near a right angle in relation to the blade. This type of slicer (plane) enables for the user, to hold her wrist essentially straight in relation to the under arm. This design has a clear disadvantage because it does not allow for variations in grip along the handles form in accordance with the present invention. Furthermore the design does not include a cutting edge, placed on the under side of the handles lengthwise direction, which renders it possible for a person with reduced mobility and muscular strength to slice the cheese in an effective way.

Another type of cheese slicer (plane), which out of an ergonomic point of view should be favourable to use, is described in the international patent application WO9928098 by the inventor Jorgensen. This cheese slicer (plane) according to the patent document is essentially of a conventional type which is gripped with one hand. Distinguishing for the design is that the cheese sheer's (plane's) handles have a relative large width in relation to their length. In the patent document it is presented that the design should be especially favourable to use from an ergonomic point of view. Nevertheless the design is essentially different from the present invention because it does not in an easy manner, with aid of the design, allow a rheumatic to slice cheese.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention described in the following text, with reference to the enclosed drawings, which have an exemplifying purpose, show the presently preferred forms of the invention in more detail.

Figure 1 shows the invention in perspective according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows a side view of the invention according to the present invention.

With reference to figures 1 and 2 a first preferred form of the present invention is shown. The invention consists of a hand tool 1 for slicing foodstuff products, preferably cheese. The hand tool 1 consists of a handle 2 attached to at least one slicing plate (blade) 3. The slicing plate (blade) 3, which has a top side and a bottom side, is equipped with at least one elongated slit 4, preferably at, but not limited to, a 90 degree angle in relation to the handle's 2 longitudinal direction. Many different angles are conceivable within the scope of the invention. The slicing plate (blade) 3 is along one of its long sides towards the slit fitted with at least one cutting edge 5. The slicing plate (blade) 3 converts into a fastener 6 which fastens or joins with the handle 2. In the figures this fastening is exemplified by the fastener 6 being fastened with the handle 2 with the aid of screws. The form of the fastener (6) and the fastening method is not a limitation for the present invention. Within the scope of the invention other known fastening (joining) methods, suitable for the purpose, can be used for fastening

(joining) of the fastener 6 with the accompanying slicing plate (blade) 3 with the handle 2. If the handle is made of a plastic material the fastener can be moulded into the handle.

It has unexpectedly been show to be very advantageous for a person with reduced muscular strength and mobility, such as rheumatism, to use the cheese sheer (plane) if the slicing edge during slicing of cheese is placed between the handle and the cheese. Preferably the slicing plate (blade) should, in its full length, be placed within the handle's length in its longitudinal direction. It has further been shown to be favourable for a rheumatic for the slicing plate (blade) to have an essentially narrow length, in longitudinal direction of the handle, in relation to its width. It has been shown to be especially favourable if the edges 5 length is at least twice as long as the slicing plate's (blade's) length, in the handle's longitudinal direction.

To enable an optional placement of the hand along the handle (2), the handle has an enclosed form. Preferably the handle's upper part 7 is curve-shaped or has an elliptic shape. The enclosed form together with a curve-shaped, or elliptic-shaped, upper part enables the muscularly weak or someone with reduced mobility to choose a suitable grip for the handle.

Even if some of the most preferred forms have been described in detail, different variations and modifications within the scope of the invention can become apparent for a professional within the field and all such variations should be considered to fall within the scope of the following claims. In alternative embodiments, the handle may for example have an open form and not have the enclosed form shown in the figures.