The invention relates to a piston press or strainer where an inhomogenous substance is pressed out or runs out through one or more restriction passages in the bottom.

The known designs are difficult to clean, as fibres usually are stuck in the holes.

The press or the strainer according to the invention is characteristic in that one or more individual hole edges or hole walls consist of at least two parts, so that the restriction passage or the holes can be opened in the longitudinal direction, i.e. the direction of flow, by separating for cleaning purposes.

As will be shown in the following embodiments the above characteristics can be realised in two fundamentally different constructions.

By means of these constructions it is possible to separate the individual parts forming the holes and thus to facilitate cleaning which often can be handled simply by rinsing under a water tap.

A simple embodiment is characteristic in that the bottom consists of two plates, each provided with a number of parallel slots, that at least one plate is detachable, and that the slots of one plate are turned in order to form an angle of for example 90° with the slots of the second plate.

The above embodiment constitutes an improved embodiment of an already marketed garlic press which has a detachable plate with holes. This plate can now be replaced by two plates with slots, which plates are easier to clean

separately.

A further development of this construction is characteristic in that the lower plate is the thicker plate, and may be an integral part of the cylinder part, and that means are provided to ensure correct mounting of the two plates in relation to each other, for example by configuring the plates with an elliptic shape corresponding to an elliptic inner surface of the cylinder. It is expedient that the lower plate is the thicker plate, as it will thus become a supporting plate. Thus a thinner upper plate may be produced and cleaning is hereby facilitated.

If the piston press is of a kind having an upper lever to which the piston is hinged as well as a lower lever in which the belonging cylinder part or cup is embedded, as the two levers are hinged to each other, the press, according to the invention, can be characteristic in a third hinged lever which is positioned between the two other levers, and which carries the upper plate as well as a portion of the cup which thus consists of two portions.

In this way all parts are hinged together without the risk that parts of the press may be lost and the cup can be readily cleaned when it can be separated in two.

A further development of this press is characteristic in that the upper plate is configured with slots which are open at one end, i.e. the plate is configured as a fork with many prongs.

The upper plate is thus easier to clean, as the fibres from the garlic can be brushed or rinsed off in the direction towards the fork ends.

Another further development is characteristic in that the

slots in the lower plate are configured in such a manner that they expand downwards, i.e. they have a trapezoidal cross section.

Hereby the lower plate is easier to clean by way of rinsing from above.

An entirely different embodiment is characteristic in that the cylinder is closed at one end, i.e. it is configured like a bottom hole and has a substantially cylindrical inner surface, and that the piston is substantially cylindrical, however, is provided with axially extending grooves in the outer surface, i.e. has a star-like form and that the points in this star-like form serve for centering of the piston in the cylinder.

An embodiment for a strainer or a colander according to the invention can be characteristic in that the plates in the bottom are adapted to rest in a recess in the strainer, that they are equally thick, and that means have been provided to ensure that the slots in one plate will be at right angles to the slots in the other plate.

In this connection it is of no importance whether one plate or the other is positioned at the top, and at the same time a correct positioning of the slots or the plates in relation to each other is achieved.

According to the invention the above means may consist in the two plates having the same rectangular form and the slots in one plate extending longitudinally of the rectangle and transversely in the other plate.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, wherein

fig. 1 is a side view and partly a sectional view of an embodiment of the garlic press according to the invention,

fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II of fig.

1 of the garlic press according to the invention with certain parts left out,

fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of fig. 2 of the cup and the piston with certain parts left out,

fig. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of a plate which together with a similar plate is adapted to constitute the bottom of a piston press according to the invention, and

fig. 5 is a top view of the same plate, however, placed on top of a similar plate turned 90°, the two plates together being adapted to constitute the bottom of a piston press according to the invention,

fig. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a garlic press according to the invention, in a closed position,

fig. 7 is an exploded view of fig. 6,

fig. 8 is a bottom view of the press,

fig. 9 is a side view of the press,

fig. 10 is a top view of the press,

fig. 11 is an end view of the press,

fig. 12 is an opposite end view of the press,

fig. 13 is a side view of the press in opened position,

fig. 14 is a bottom view of the upper lever of the press,

fig. 15 is a side view of the upper lever of the press,

fig. 16 is an end view of the upper lever of the press,

fig. 17 is an end view of the third, intermediate lever of the press,

fig. 18 is a side view of fig. 17,

fig. 19 is a top view of fig. 17,

fig. 20 is an end view of the lower lever of the press,

fig. 21 is a side view of fig. 20,

fig. 22 is at top view of fig. 20,

fig. 23 is an end view and partly a sectional view of another embodiment of the lower lever and the intermediate lever,

fig. 24 is a side view and partly a sectional view of fig. 23,

fig. 25 is a top view of fig. 23, and

fig. 26 is a sectional view in part of an embodiment of a strainer or a colander according to the invention, i.e. half of the cup is broken away,

fig. 27 is a sectional view of the strainer or the colander, on a smaller scale,

fig. 28 is a perspective view of one of the rectangular bottom plates with slots for use in the strainer,

fig. 29 is a perspective view of the other rectangular bottom plate, and

fig. 30 is a perspective view of the two plates in a correct position in relation to each other.

With reference to fig. 1 the numeral 1 indicates a press according to the invention with a first lever 2 extending from one side of a cup 3 which consists of a cylindrical wall 4 with a bottom 5. Preferably the cup 3 has a circular-cylindrical cross section.

On the diametrically opposite side the cup 3 is provided with a bracket 6 extending substantially parallel with the axis 7 of the cup 3 in the direction turning away from the bottom 5 of the cup 3. The bracket 6 has a relatively small thickness and has at its free end a transverse bore for a pin 8.

A second lever 9 is provided with a slit, the two prongs of which overlap the two sides of the bracket 6 and is provided with bores for the mentioned pin 8. Preferably the bore in the bracket 6 is configured with a diameter that enables the pin 8 to rotate in relation to the bracket 6 while the pin 8 is secured at least in one of the two mentioned prongs on the second lever 9. From the above it will be understood that the second lever 9 is pivotable in relation to the first lever 2 and the connected cup 3 as well as the bracket 6.

At a distance from the pin 8 the two prongs are provided with bores for a second pin 10 extending parallel with the pin 8. The pin 10 is also inserted into a bore in a piston rod 11 which has a piston 12 at its opposite end, which piston can be inserted into the cup and abut on the bottom 5 of the cup 3, when the levers 2, 9 are pressed together.

In a manner similar to that of the pin 8 the pin 10 is preferably secured to at least one prong of the second lever and is pivotable in the bore of the piston rod 11.

On the piston rod 11 between the piston 12 and the second lever 9 is provided a shield 13 of such a size that it can prevent remnants pressed out in the cup 3 and falling from the cup 3 from entering the hinge at the pin 10 and to some extent also the pin 8.

The piston 12 has a sectional dimension which substantially fills in the cavity formed by the wall 4 in the cup 3, and the piston 12 is provided with a grooving 14 along its circumference in such a manner that restriction passages appear between the inner surface of the wall 4 and the circumference of the piston 12.

The press 1 according to the invention is operated as follows:

The two levers 2, 9 are spread whereby the piston 12 is pulled out of the cup 3. The vegetable substance which is to be pressed out, for example garlic, is placed in the cavity of the cup 3, and the levers 2, 9 are pressed together again, so that the substance cannot fall out of the cup 3. Thereupon the press 1 is taken into one hand, so that the mouth of the cup 3 faces downwards, and is placed above a dish which can hold the pressed out juice and fine particles of the substance.

The levers 2, 9 are pressed together by the hand, so that the substance is mashed between the end surface of the piston 12 and the bottom 5 of the cup 3 and is pressed out through the restriction passages between the circumference of the piston 12 and the inner surface of the wall 4.

The juice and the fine particles of the substance can now be poured from the mouth of the cup 3 into the mentioned dish.

During the pouring the shield 13 ensures that the juice and the fine particles bypass the hinges 8, 10, so that special cleaning of these hinges is not necessary after the use of the press 1.

When the press 1 is to be cleaned the levers 2, 9 are spread again to lay the piston 12 open. The individual parts of the press 1 can then be cleaned by rinsing under a jet of water, if necessary with the aid of a brush or cloth.

The invention is not limited to the pressing of garlic, in spite of the example embodiments given in this relation. When pressing apple juice from apples it is most likely that the restriction passages in the sliding surface between the piston and the cylinder will be advantageous.

Fig. 4 shows a circular plate 15 provided with a number of parallel, equidistant slots 16, which plate 15 is adapted to constitute the bottom of, for example, a garlic press, for example by the plate 15 being inserted into the cup and resting on a shoulder in the bottom of the cup in a known manner per se.

Fig. 5 shows the plate 15 on top of a second similar plate 17 which can be seen through the slots 15. The second plate

17 is also provided with slots 18 forming an angle of approx. 90° with the first slots 16. Hereby square holes 19 appear where the two sets of slots intersect.

In this manner the two plates constitute the bottom of a garlic press itself, for example by resting on a shoulder.

Of course, the lower plate can be integral with the actual garlic press, so that only one detachable plate is present. Both plates will be easier to clean in dismounted position, i.e. the detached plate and the garlic press are merely to be held under the open water tap.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the garlic press according to the invention and in closed position. Fig. 7 is a perspective and exploded view of the garlic press according to the invention.

At the top is an upper lever 20 and below is a lower lever 21 which is integral with a cup 22 and a lower plate 23 configured with parallel slots 24. A third lever 25 with a second portion 26 of the cup 22 and an upper plate 27 together with a piston 28 are shown between the two levers 20 and 21.

The figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 show the parts in a double right-angled view, where the piston press is closed. Fig. 13 is a side view of the press in open position.

Figs. 14, 15, and 16 show a double right-angled view of the upper lever with the piston 28.

Figs. 17, 18, and 19 show a double right-angled view of the third lever 25 with a portion of the cup 26 which at the bottom is configured with a tapered portion 29 adapted to fit into a corresponding tapered portion 30 of the cup 22,

which shows a double right-angled view of the lower lever 21. These tapered portions 29 and 30 serve for providing proper engagement and good sealing between the portions of the cup.

The wedge-shaped portions 31 and 32 of the cup portions as shown in fig. 25 serve the same purpose.

Figs. 23, 24, and 25 show a double right-angled view of the lower lever 21 with cup 22, where the slots 33 expand downwards along plane surfaces. Hereby the cleaning is facilitated by rinsing from above.

Fig. 26 shows the half part of a cup-shaped portion 50, where two rectangular filter plates 51 and 52 are mounted at the bottom.

Fig. 27 is a sectional view of a bowl 53 wherein the filter plates 51 and 52 are also shown in section. The filter plates 51 and 52 rest on the bottom of the bowl 53 on an inwardly projecting recess 53.

Fig. 28 shows a perspective view of one filter plate 51, and fig. 29 shows a perspective view of the second filter plate 52. Both filter plates 51 and 52 have the same rectangular shape, however, in the filter plate 51 the slots extend transversely of the rectangular shape while the slots in the filter plate 52 extend longitudinally of the rectangular shape. It is thus easy to put the two plates correctly together as shown in fig. 30. Furthermore, it will not be possible to place the plates 51 and 52 incorrectly in the bowl 53 shown in fig. 27. In dismounted position the parts are easy to clean. The construction shown is for example suited for straining boiled paste.

It should be emphasized that the invention can be used every where in the technique where a press or strainer is used, and where facilitated cleaning is desired. The decisive element is that a technique has been provided whereby the holes of the strainer can be separated to the effect that cleaining is facilitated.