CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional Application Serial No.

62/775,074, filed on December 4, 2018, entitled INDEXED SLICING JIG.

FIELD

[0002] The present invention generally relates to food slicing jigs and, more particularly, to an indexed slicing jig for slicing a brisket or other food item into uniform slices of a desired, preselected thickness.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Jigs to aid in slicing food items are generally known in the art. Jigs with evenly spaced tines and slots have been used to slice bread, meat and other food items into thin slices. The jigs do not allow for selecting different thicknesses of the slices or orientations of the slice.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present invention provides for a jig for slicing a brisket or other food item into uniform slices of a desired, predetermined thickness. The jig includes a base, a bottom with vertical sides presenting a channel. The bottom includes longitudinal rows of spaced, index apertures. The vertical sides include transverse, aligned vertical slots and transverse, aligned angled slots for receiving and guiding a knife or other cutting utensil. A carrier includes a cutting board sized to be received within the channel, a vertical back secured to the cutting board transverse to the channel, a thickness selection bar secured to the vertical back with selection apertures in axial alignment with the rows of index apertures. An index pin passing through one of the selection apertures provides a thickness guide to cut uniform slices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the indexed slicing jig of the present invention with a knife and food item.

[0006] Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the indexed slicing jig of Fig. 1.

[0007] Fig. 3 is a partial view of the slicing jig of Fig. 1.

DET AILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] Referring to the figures, an indexed slicing jig of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Indexed slicing jig 10 includes a base 12 and a carrier 14. The base 12 includes a bottom 16 and vertical sides 18 and 20. The bottom 16 includes three rows 22, 24 and 26 of indexed apertures spaced longitudinally along the bottom 16 of the base 12. The first row 22 of indexed apertures may be spaced 3/8” to 1/2” apart, for example. The second row 24 of the indexed apertures may be spaced 1/4" to 3/8” apart, for example. The third row 26 of the indexed apertures may be spaced 1/8” to 1/4" apart, for example. While only three rows of indexed apertures are shown in the figures, two or more rows may be included in the bottom 16 of the base 12 as desired. For example, five rows may be included with spacings of 5/8”, 1/2", 3/8”, 1/4'” and 1/8” apart, or any other desired spacing.

[0009] Each side 18 and 20 extends at a right angle from the bottom 16 on opposite sides to form a channel 28 with the bottom 16. The sides 18 and 20 are generally rectangular, each with a vertical slot 30 and 32, respectively, and an angled slot 34 and 36, respectively.

Adjustable, vertical guides 38 and 40 are adjustably secured to outside surfaces 42 and 44.

Adjustable vertical/angled guides 46 and 48 are adjustably secured to the outside surfaces 42 and 44, respectively, on an opposite side of the vertical slots 30 and 32, respectively. Each of the adjustable vertical/angled guides 46 and 48 is generally triangularly shaped with the vertical side facing the adjustable, vertical guide 38 and 40, respectively, on opposite sides of the vertical slots 30 and 32. Adjustability of the guides 38, 40, 46 and 48 allows for accommodation of different widths of a blade 50 of a knife 52. The guides 38, 40, 46 and 48 may be made of a plastic, nylon or other appropriate material, for example. [0010] The carrier 14 includes a cutting board 54, a vertical back 56 coupled to the cutting board 54 at a right angle, a thickness selection bar 58 coupled to the outside surface 60 of the vertical back 56. The thickness selection bar 58 includes selection apertures 62, 64 and 66 in axial alignment with index apertures 22, 24 and 26, respectively. The selection apertures 62, 64 and 66 are adapted to receive an index pin 68. The index pin 68 clips to the thickness selection bar 58 through one of the apertures 62, 64 or 66. The index pin 68 includes a free end 70, which is received in the respective axially-aligned index aperture 22, 24 or 26 in the bottom 16 of the base 12.

[0011] To slice a piece of meat 80 or other food item, the carrier 14 is placed in the channel 28 of the base 12 and the index pin 68 is inserted into the desired aperture 62, 64, or 66 in the thickness selection bar 58 until the free end 70 engages index aperture 22, 24 or 26 respectively. The meat 80 is placed in channel 28 on the cutting board 54. The blade 50 of the knife 52 is guided into the vertical slots 30 and 32, or the angled slots 34 and 36 to cut the meat 80 in a desired orientation. When the blade 50 reaches the cutting board 54, it may be removed from the slots and the carrier 14 slid along the bottom 16 of the base 12 to the next index aperture 22, 24 or 26 and the process repeated to cut another slice of meat 80. In this manner, uniform slices of meat may be cut for presentation and consumption.

[0012] It is to be understood that while certain now preferred forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, the present invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown, and that the various features described may be combined in ways other than those specifically described without departing from the scope of the present invention. [0013] The terms“substantially”,“generally”,“approximately” , or any other qualifying term as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation which could permissibly vary without resulting in a change to the basic function to which it is related. The terms“first”,“second”,“third”, etc., for example, may be used to distinguish various elements and are not intended as a limitation.