TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a device useful in processing herb bulbs. The invention is more particularly related to a hand operated counter-top device for splitting, peeling or crushing garlic bulbs or cloves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Garlic is one of the most frequently used cooking herbs. As such, there exists an enormous need for devices which can quickly and easily press garlic in order to extract juices, oil or pulp from fresh garlic cloves and bulbs. Most of these devices are hand-held and commonly employ two elements hinged at one end, with a clove holder on one element and a press on the other. The clove holder has a grate or similar plate with apertures, to permit the garlic to be manually squeezed through the openings producing freshly pressed garlic pulp.

Many examples of these hand-held garlic presses exist, such as those described in United States Patent Number 6,109,170 issued to Short et al. on August 29,2000; Canadian Patent 2,155,923 issued to Laib on March 16,1996 ; and Canadian Patent Application 2,230,410 by Gibson, published on May 3,1999. These patents all describe manually operated lever-arm type garlic presses with apertured receptacles and detachable cleaning tools.

Canadian Patent 2,083,472 issued to Holcomb on October 22,1996 and the corresponding United States Patent 5,305,527 issued April 26,1994, disclose an apparatus for peeling produce such as garlic. While having a pivoting

lever arm construction similar to the above devices, this device comprises a cup having inwardly biased prongs which converge toward the open end of the cup, and a plunger on the opposing lever arm which pushes the meat of the garlic clove relative to the husk through the gripping prongs of the cup. While the majority of the existing art concerns the crushing of garlic gloves, this patent discloses a device intended solely to peel the fibrous husk from the firm inner meat of garlic cloves.

United States Patent 5,863,001 issued January 26, 1999 to Schulze, describes an apparatus for crushing various items, such as pills and foods including garlic.

This device uses a hinged lever-arm construction to crush items placed in a pocket by applying a biased force between the item and an opposing boss conforming to the interior configuration of the pocket, thereby resulting in a gradual crushing of the item.

One difficulty associated with using fresh garlic, but which is not addressed by the existing art, is the process of separating the individual cloves from the. entire garlic bulb. This often proves more difficult that it seems as a result of the fibrous husk of the garlic bulb.

No uncovered art discloses a device intended to facilitate splitting garlic bulbs into individual cloves. Equally, no uncovered prior art discloses a device which is capable of performing more than one of the tasks above mentioned, both peeling and crushing..

As a result of the forgoing, a need exists for a multi-purpose garlic processing device, which is capable of both splitting and peeling whole garlic bulbs, as well as crushing garlic cloves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved processing device for produce such as garlic.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a garlic-processing device which while being easy to use, is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for processing garlic which is capable of splitting and peeling bulbs, and crushing cloves.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a produce processing device comprising: first and second elongated members pivotally hinged at a common hinged end, where said first member includes a protruding press member, having a predetermined shape and lateral dimensions, at a point remote from said hinged end, and said second member defining a recess open towards the first member, at a similar remote point from said common hinged end so that the protruding press member can be received in the recess, and the recess is capable of receiving a produce item, the improvement comprising the recess having an area greater than the lateral dimensions of the press member such that when the produce item is within the recess and is engaged by the press, portions of the produce can be displaced within the recess and avoid being crushed by the press within the confines of the recess.

In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a produce processing device comprising: first and second elongated members pivotally hinged at a common hinged end; said first member including a protruding press member, having a predetermined shape and lateral

dimensions, at a point remote from said hinged end; said second member defining a recess open towards the first member, at a similar remote point from said common hinged end so that the protruding press member can be received in the recess, and the recess being capable of receiving a produce item; said second member having tenons protruding towards said first member at said hinged end; said first member having mortises defined in said hinged end for receiving said tenons; said tenons and mortises being in laterally pinned engagement, and said mortises extending towards said remote point sufficiently far to permit relative pivotal movement of said first member with respect to said second member; and the improvement comprising the recess having an area greater than the lateral dimensions of the press member such that when the produce item is within the recess and is engaged by the press, portions of the produce can be displaced within the recess and avoid being crushed by the press within the confines of the recess.

There is also provided, in accordance with the present invention, a garlic processing device comprising: first and second members adapted to permit relative movement therebetween; the first and second members each having a flat surface opposing one another; said flat surfaces being adapted for pressed engagement; whereby at least a garlic clove can be crushed between said flat surfaces when said first and second members are brought together in pressed engagement.

In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a garlic processing device comprising : first and second members adapted to permit relative movement therebetween; said first member including a

protruding press member, having a predetermined shape and lateral dimensions ; said second member defining a recess, open towards the first member, adapted to receive the protruding press member therein, and the recess being capable of receiving a garlic bulb; the improvement comprising the recess having an area greater than the lateral dimensions of the press member such that when the garlic bulb is within the recess and is engaged by the press, portions of the garlic bulb can be displaced within the recess and avoid being crushed by the press within the confines of the recess.

The press member may be conical so that when it engages a garlic bulb comprised of a plurality of garlic cloves, for example, it will separate the garlic cloves without crushing them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a herb bulb processing device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a lengthwise cross-sectional view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a conical press for use with the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a herb bulb processing device of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the device of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7a is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a garlic processing device of the present invention.

Fig. 7b is a perspective view of a further alternate embodiment of a garlic processing device of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view of another alternate embodiment of a garlic processing device of the present invention.

Fig. 9a is a perspective view of a further alternate embodiment of the garlic processing device of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9b is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9b-9b of Fig. 9a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figure 1, a wooden produce processing device is generally comprised of an upper lever arm member 10 and a lower base member 12, both having generally rectangular cross sections. The rectangular shaped front end face 26 of the upper lever arm 10 has a top flat exterior surface 18 and opposed bottom interior surface 20, and lateral side faces 22. A rectangular rear end face 30 of the upper lever arm 10, opposed and parallel to the front end face 26, provides a surface for the attachment of one leaf of hinge 38 to the upper lever arm 10 using two standard wood screws 40.

The interior surface 20 of upper lever arm 10 has a circular recess 52 having a diameter permitting it to accept the base of the conical press 42 in a mating fit.

The circular recess 52 is located at the lateral midpoint of the surface 20, at a point approximately 2/5 of the total length from the hinged end of the upper lever arm 10.

Referring to Fig. 4, the conical press 42 is comprised of a cylindrical lower portion 43 and a conical portion 44. The cylindrical lower portion 43 has a flat base 45. The cone shaped portion 44 has a central point 46. The depth of circular recess 52 in the upper lever arm 10 is such that approximately half the cylindrical wall 48 of the conical press element 42 protrudes beyond the bottom surface 20, when the conical press element 42 is inserted fully into the circular recess 52 such that the flat circular base 45 of the conical press 42 comes in contact with the bottom of the circular recess 52.

The lower base member 12, is comprised of top interior and bottom exterior surfaces 14 and 16, lateral side faces 24, and front and rear end faces 28 and 32 respectively. The lower base member 12 has a thickness such that there is. sufficient depth for a recess capable of retaining a garlic bulb.

A circular depression 54 is located at the midpoint of the top interior surface 14 of the lower base member 12, and is located lengthwise so that its center corresponds with the center of the circular recess 52 in the bottom surface 20 of the upper lever arm 10. This circular depression 54 has a frusto-conical sidewall 58 and is intended to be able to receive a garlic bulb, in place, for splitting and peeling. The depth of the circular depression 54 is such that the garlic bulb is contained therein. At the center of this circular depression 54 is a shallow conical recess 60, formed within the circumference of the circular depression 54. Between the wall 58 and the

recess 60, is a flat annular surface 56 which provides a base on which to place the garlic bulb. The diameter of the depression 54 is greater than the lateral dimensions of the press 42 in order to allow the displacement of the garlic meat portions to be displaced as will be described.

In one example the dimensions of the device where as follows: Length of the lever arm member 10: 8 inches Width of the lever arm member 10: 3 inches Thickness of the lever arm member 10: 0.5 inches Diameter of the base of the press member 42: 1.25 inches Length of the base member 12: 8 inches Width of the base member 12: 3 inches Thickness of the base member 12: 1 inch Diameter of the recess 54: 2.5 inches Depth of the recess 54: 0.75 inches A cut-out is defined in the rear end face 32 of the lower base member 12 proximal to the top interior surface 14, to allow for the knuckle and pin of the hinge 38. This cut-out permits flush mounting of the hinge to the rear faces 32 and 30, and allows for complete surface contact between the flat lower interior surface 20 of the upper lever arm 10 and the flat top interior surface 14 of the lower base member 12, when the two are brought together by pivoting the upper lever arm 10 toward the lower base member 12 about the common hinge 38.

To split and peel a garlic bulb, the top lever arm 10 is pivoted open, and the garlic bulb is placed within the circular depression 54 of the lower base member 12.

Pivoting the top lever arm 10 down, the central point 46 of the conical press 54 is brought into contact with the center of the garlic bulb. As further downward pressure is applied on the top lever arm 10, the conical press 54 is forced down through the center of the garlic bulb, breaking through the outer skin, and displacing the cloves radially outwards within the depression 54, splitting the peeled cloves from the remainder of the bulb. By removing the pressure from the top lever arm 10 and pivoting open the device, the individual garlic cloves can now be removed from the circular depression 54 in. the lower base member 12.

If required, the individual cloves can be crushed in order to extract their pulp. A clove is placed on the flat frontal surface 62 of the lower base member 12, and the top lever arm 10 is pivoted downwardly until the flat frontal surface 64 of the top lever arm 10 makes contact with the clove to be crushed. By applying further pressure on the top lever arm 10, the garlic clove will be crushed between the two flat surfaces. In the alternate press device shown in Fig. 9a, the mating frontal surfaces of the top lever arm 110 and lower base member 112 comprise offset ridged regions 170 and 172 respectively. The ridges of the upper region 170 are matingly engaged with valleys between the ridges of the base region 172 when the top lever arm 110 is fully pivoted towards the base member 112. This permits garlic cloves placed on the ridged base region 172 to be simultaneously crushed and cut by the engaging ridges of the two mating surfaces when the press is closed together. Fig. 9b shows a cross section of this the ridged crushing regions when the press members are closed together. The ridges could be any alternatively shaped offset protrusions, such as a plurality of individual

pyramids adapted to inter-engage with corresponding offset pyramids of the opposing press member. The ridges or pyramid shaped pressing elements can have any orientation or pattern, but are all preferably between 2 and 6 mm in height.

Figs. 5 and 6 show an alternate embodiment of the device of the present invention comprising an alternate type of hinge. A wooden built-in hinge assembly 103 generally includes a pair of protruding mounting pegs 105 extending from the lower base member 112, a corresponding pair of slots 107 in the upper lever arm member 110, and a retaining hinge pin 109 cooperating with each peg 105.

This simple hinge assembly permits the two members of the herb processing device to be hinged together, without requiring an externally mounted metal hinge. This improves the overall aesthetic appeal of the device and allows a single material to be used. Wood is the preferable material of choice, although many alternate materials are equally possible, including plastics.

The hinge assembly 103 also allows a completely flush rear face, such that rear end faces 132 and 130 are coplanar when the device is closed. The chamfered rear inside edge 115 of the upper lever arm member 110 permits full contact between the top surface 114 of the base member and the bottom surface 120 of lever arm member when the device is closed, while nevertheless allowing free rotation of the upper lever arm from the closed position to the perpendicular fully open position. Two rectangular slots 111 in the lower base member 112 intimately accept the rectangular peg members 105, such that the pegs are flush with both the end face 132 and the bottom surface 116 and extend generally perpendicularly from the top surface 114

of the lower base member 112. The pegs 105 can be held in place using finishing nails 113 and glue, alone or in combination. Trapezoidal slots 107 in the upper lever arm member 110, are so shaped to enable the lever arm to swing without interfering with the top corners of the extending pegs 105, while ensuring an aesthetically pleasing finish when the device is closed, such that the top faces of the pegs 105 are flush with the top surface 118 of the upper lever arm member 110.

The alternate embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 also has slightly varied dimensional proportions. The circular receptacle 154 is shallower and of a proportionally larger diameter. The upper lever arm member 110 and the lower base member 112 are also of the same thickness.

In another alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 7a and 7b, the garlic processing device comprises an upper arm member 210 and a lower base member 212 similar to the previously described embodiments, however is devoid of any press element on the upper member or receptacle in the base member. This embodiment is preferably used for crushing garlic cloves between the flat surfaces 262 of the base member and 264 of the upper arm member, which are brought together in pressed mating engagement in order to extract the pulp from the garlic cloves. The two pressing members can permit relative movement therebetween using a hinge assembly 203 providing relative pivotal movement as disclosed in previously described embodiments above, or can alternately be brought together by relative linear movement of the press members,. using any linear guiding means 223 which enable the two

pressing surfaces 262 and 264 to remain substantially parallel to one another.

In a further alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 8, the upper press member 310 comprises a conical press thereon as described in previous embodiments above, and the lower base member 312 includes a receptacle 254, adapted to receive a garlic bulb therein.

However, the two press members are not hinged together at a common end, but can be freely displaceable by the user, in order to bring the two members together in a plurality of angles and orientations as required for the purposes of splitting the garlic bulb, or crushing individual garlic cloves between mating flat surfaces 362 and 364. The embodiment of Fig. 8 can additionally comprise a linear guide means similar to that shown in Fig. 7b, to keep the press members substantially parallel to one another throughout the pressing process.

The preferred embodiments of the invention described above in detail are intended to be exemplary only. The scope and purview of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.