Cheese slicers with wires stretched between two points are well-known for cutting slices of cheese. The distance between the wire and a rest defines the thickness of the slice of cheese being cut. The cheese slicer can be of a type wherein a holder for the wire extends parallel to and as an extension of a handle on the cheese slicer. Alternatively, the cheese slicer can be of a type wherein the holder for the wire extends perpendicular to a handle of the cheese slicer. The wire is stretched between two points on the holder and tensioned with a screw or by means of spring bias of the holder.

A drawback that is common to the two types of cheese slicers is that the wire sometimes snaps and has to be replaced. The wire snaps particularly easily if there is rind on the cheese being cut by the cheese slicer. Consequently, manufacturers of these types of cheese slicers recommend that a knife be used to cut off the rind before the cheese slicer is used for cutting slices of cheese.

Other cheese slicers do not comprise a wire but are equipped with a blade, a cutting edge being formed approx. at the middle of the blade and facing outwards relative to the blade on the cheese slicer, the distance between the blade and the cutting edge defining the thickness of the slice of cheese which is cut. Between the blade and the cutting edge there is formed a channel, up through which the slice of cheese is displaced when the slice is cut. This type of cheese slicer has the advantage that there is no risk of a wire snapping and having to be replaced, even when the cheese slicer is used for cutting rind.

However, because this type of cheese slicer has a large blade to allow the possibility of cutting slices of cheese of a certain width, the friction between the blade and the cheese is also very great. This makes it difficult to pull the blade across the cheese when slices of cheese are cut or rind is cut. In this case the previously mentioned cheese slicers with a wire are considerably better since they exhibit minimal friction between the cheese slicer and the cheese.

Known cheese slicers may be provided with spikes which are meant for grapping a slice of cheese in order to transport the slice of cheese from the cheese from which the slice has been cut to, e. g., a slice of bread. However, these spikes tend to cut through the slice of cheese, thereby damaging it. The damage may even so extensive that the slice is dropped en route. This is a major disadvantage.

A household tool having, as an integrated part, a rabbet-like device for removing e. g. rind from a cheese is known from Norwegian patent No. NO 87 941. The household tool disclosed is a cheese slicer of the kind having a large blade. The rabbet-like device is positioned at the side of the household tool with the cutting edge of the rabbet-like device being substantially perpendicular to the cutting edge of the household tool. Thus, the household tool is adapted for cutting rind from a cheese while a slice of cheese is being cut. This further increases the friction between the household tool and the cheese making it even more difficult to pull the blade across the cheese. Furthermore it is not possible to use the rabbet-like device for removing rind independently of the primary function of the household tool, i. e. cutting a slice of cheese, since the rabbet-like device will be too difficult to control. In case the user wants to remove rind only, he or she would therefore probably choose to use the cutting edge of the household tool instead of the rabbet-like device, in which case the household tool works just like an ordinary cheese slicer having a large blade as described above, the rabbet-like device thereby loosing its significance. NO 87 941 does not address the problems associated with cheese slicers having a wire for cutting the cheese.

The object of the present invention is, with origin in a cheese slicer with a wire, to eliminate the drawback associated with cutting rind using this type of cheese slicer, where there is a risk of the wire snapping and having to be replaced, but to still avoid having to use another tool such as a knife for initially cutting the rind. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tool for removing rind which may easily be mounted on

existing cheese slicers and which may be easily and cheaply manufactured. An even further object is to provide a tool for supporting a slice of cheese being transported from the cheese from which the slice has been cut to, e. g., a slice of bread, the tool being shaped so as to prevent it from damaging the slice of cheese as described above.

These objects are achieved with a cheese slicer in which the metal plate is provided with a tab, that the tab is provided with a hole, and that the tab is designed to be mounted by means of the hole on a holder on a cheese slicer having a wire.

By providing a cheese knife with a tab having a hole, the possibility suddenly arises of providing a tool which neither has the drawbacks associated with the first type of cheese slicer having a wire nor the drawbacks of the second type of cheese slicer having no wire.

The cheese knife has the advantages associated with the second type of cheese slicer, but by being designed to be mounted on the first type of cheese slicer, the advantages associated with the first type of cheese slicer are also achieved.

In a preferred embodiment, the cheese knife is provided with at least one side cutting edge, that said at least one side cutting edge extends in front of the cutting edge and forward from the cutting edge seen in the direction of travel of the cheese knife in use, and that said at least one side cutting edge runs generally parallel to the direction of travel of the cheese knife in use.

By providing one or two side cutting edges, the width of the rind is well-defined as the distance between the upper face of the cheese and down to the side cutting edge or as the distance between two side cutting edges. This means that the part of the cheese that is free of rind will have a completely uniform distance from the upper face of the cheese from which the slices of cheese are cut and down to the junction between the part of the cheese free of rind and the part of the cheese still covered by rind, respectively. When side cutting edges are positioned in front of the cutting edge, side cutting edges will particularly facilitate cutting with the cutting edge in cases in which the cheese is provided with a very thick or hard rind, is provided with a thick layer of paraffin wax or, for example, is provided with aluminium foil. In these cases the side cutting edges will cut the rind, paraffin wax or foil, which is subsequently to be cut using the cutting edge, free of the remaining part of the rind, paraffin wax or foil.

Therefore, a cheese knife for cutting rind, paraffin wax, foil and the like from a cheese, is provided, said cheese knife comprising a cutting edge formed from a generally plane metal plate forming a blade of the cheese knife, and the cutting edge being situated outside a plane (P, Q) of the blade and facing forward in a direction of travel of the cheese knife in use, said cheese knife further comprising an aperture formed between the cutting edge and the blade such that rind, when cut off, passes inwards and through the aperture, the metal plate being provided with a tab being provided with a hole, and the tab being designed to be mounted by means of the hole on a holder on a cheese slicer having a wire.

The cheese knife may be designed to be mounted on a cheese slicer wherein a handle of the cheese slicer extends parallel to the wire on the cheese slicer, in which case the tab is preferably formed by bending the metal plate such that the tab extends outside the plane (P, Q) of the blade in the opposite direction relative to the cutting edge. Alternatively, it may be designed to be mounted on a cheese slicer wherein a handle of the cheese slicer extends perpendicular to the wire on the cheese slicer, in which case the tab is preferably formed as an extension of the remaining part of the metal plate such that the tab extends in the same plane (P, Q) as the blade, or alternatively the tab extends in another plane parallel to the plane (P, Q) of the blade.

The cheese knife is preferably provided with at least one side cutting edge, said at least one side cutting edge extending in front of the cutting edge and forward from the cutting edge seen in the direction of travel of the cheese knife in use, and said at least one side cutting edge running generally parallel to the direction of travel of the cheese knife in use as described above.

The at least one side cutting edge may be formed as a triangular tooth with a tip facing outwards from the blade, and with a side facing forward in the direction of travel, or it may, alternatively, be formed as a rectangular tooth with a single side which faces away from the biade, and with an adjacent side which extends between the blade and the single side facing away and which faces forward in the direction of travel.

The cheese knife may comprise a first part which forms a blade of the cheese knife and a second part which forms the cutting edge of the cheese knife, and the second part

extending in a plane parallel to, but displaced from, a plane (Q) of the first part which forms the blade.

The cutting edge preferably has a length of between 10 mm and 30 mm, most preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm.

The cheese knife may be made of a metal plate, preferably stainless steel, most preferably stainless spring steel, and the metal plate may have a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 2.0 mm, preferably between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm.

In a preferred embodiment the cheese knife further comprises a rigid part for enforcing the cheese knife, so as to limit the bending movement of the blade when the cheese knife is in use.

Such a rigid part is very useful since a cheese knife made from a resilient material, such as stainless spring steel, may bend so much when being used that it is difficult to remove a sufficient amount of rind or paraffin wax in a single movement. The rigid part is positioned relative to the remaining part of the cheese knife in such a way that it may "hold back"the cheese knife when it is pressed against the rind or paraffin wax, thereby allowing the forces being applied in said movement to be used for letting the knife cut through the rind or paraffin wax rather than being used for bending the blade of the cheese knife.

The rigid part preferably comprises a substantially flat portion adapted for supporting a slice of cheese which has previously been cut, the slice of cheese being supported during transportation away from the cheese. The flat portion may thus be used as a kind of "palette", upon which the slice of cheese may rest. The flat portion may be provided with two or more protruding parts, each supporting different areas of the slice of cheese. Thus, the cheese knife provides a means for transporting a slice of cheese from the cheese from which the slice has been cut to, e. g., a slice of bread, without the user having to touch the slice of cheese. This is very hygienic. Furthermore, the slice of cheese will not be cut or otherwise damaged by the flat portion, which may be the case when using the known spikes as mentioned above.

The rigid part may be made from stainless steel, or it may be made from a synthetic material, such as polyethylene, such as PEHD.

The rigid part may form an integrated part of the cheese knife, the thickness of the blade in this case being substantially smaller than the thickness of the rigid part, or it may, alternatively, be separate from the remaining part of the cheese knife. The thickness of the rigid part is preferably between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, most preferably between 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm.

The rigid part is preferably further provided with a hole, the rigid part being designed to be mounted by means of the hole on a holder on a cheese slicer having a wire. The rigid part may be mounted together with the remaining part of the cheese knife, or it may be mounted separately as will be further described below.

The present invention further provides a supporting part for a cheese slicer, the supporting part comprising a substantially flat portion adapted for supporting a slice of cheese which has previously been cut, the slice of cheese being supported during transportation away from the cheese, the supporting part being provided with a mounting portion being provided with a hole, and the mounting portion being designed to be mounted by means of the hole on a holder on a cheese slicer having a wire.

The supporting part is preferably identical to the rigid part described above, and may thus have all the features described in connection with the rigid part. However, the supporting part may be mounted on a holder on a cheese slicer having a wire independently of the cheese knife described above. In this case the supporting part primarily provides a possibility of transporting a slice of cheese from the block of cheese from which the slice has been cut to, e. g., a slice of bread.

The invention further provides a method for manufacturing a cheese knife, the method comprising the steps of -punching out a metal plate with a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 2.0 mm, preferably between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm, the metal plate having an outer contour like the finished cheese knife, -cutting a cutting edge free of the metal plate by forming cuts around parts of the cutting edge, and

-bending the cutting edge outwards relative to a plane of the metal plate.

The method may further comprise the steps of -cutting side cutting edges free of the metal plate such that two out of three sides of a triangular tooth are cut free of the metal plate, and -bending the side cutting edge along the remaining third side of the triangular tooth outwards relative to the plane of the metal plate.

Alternatively, the method may further comprise the steps of -cutting side cutting edges free of the metal plate such that three out of four sides of a rectangular tooth are cut free of the metal plate, and -bending the side cutting edge along the remaining fourth side of the rectangular tooth, outwards relative to the plane of the metal plate.

Preferably, the method even further comprises the steps of -punching out an additional metal plate with a thickness of between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, preferably between 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm, the additional metal plate having an outer contour like a rigid part of the finished cheese knife, -bending the sides of the additional metal plate so as to provide a substantially flat portion adapted for supporting a slice of cheese, and a mounting portion being suitable for being mounted on a cheese slicer.

The method may even further comprise the step of punching a hole in the mounting portion in order to provide means for mounting the cheese knife on a cheese slicer as described above.

The invention even further provides a method of manufacturing a supporting part, the method comprising the steps of -punching out a metal plate with a thickness of between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, preferably between 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm, the metal plate having an outer contour like the finished supporting part, -bending the sides of the metal plate so as to provide a substantially flat portion adapted for supporting a slice of cheese, and a mounting portion being suitable for being mounted on a cheese slicer.

The method may further comprise the step of punching a hole in the mounting portion, so as to provide a means for mounting the supporting part on a cheese slicer as described above.

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a starting blank for manufacturing the cheese knife according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the cheese knife according to the invention, Fig. 3 is a side view of the first embodiment of the cheese knife, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the cheese knife according to the invention, Fig. 5 is a side view of the second embodiment of the cheese knife, Fig. 6 is a perspective drawing of an alternative embodiment of a cheese knife according to the invention, Fig. 7 is a drawing of a type of cheese slicer with a wire, the cheese slicer being provided with the first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 8 is a drawing of a type of cheese slicer with a wire, the cheese slicer being provided with the second embodiment of the invention, Fig. 9 is a perspective drawing of the second embodiment of the cheese knife, Fig. 10 is a perspective drawing of a supporting part according to the invention,

Fig. 11 is a perspective drawing of an end part of a type of cheese slicer with a wire, the cheese slicer being provided with a supporting part according to the invention, and Fig. 12 is a perspective drawing of an end part of a type of cheese slicer with a wire, the cheese slicer being provided with a cheese knife and a supporting part according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a starting blank for manufacturing an embodiment of the cheese knife according to the invention. The starting blank is a metal plate having a thickness t (see Figs. 2-5) of between 0.1 mm and 2.0 mm, preferably 0.3 mm stainless spring steel. The metal plate comprises a blade 1 and a tab 2. The blade 1 is provided with cuts 3 for forming a cutting edge 4 and for forming side cutting edges 5 (see also Figs. 2-5). The tab 2 is provided with a hole 6 for use in mounting on a cheese slicer (see Fig. 7). The cheese knife is manufactured by being punched out along an outer contour 7 of the cheese knife.

The cuts 3 for forming the cutting edge 4 and the side cutting edges 5 are then formed, and the hole 6 in the tab 2 is formed.

The cuts 3 and the hole 6 can be formed by punching or preferably by laser cutting. In the embodiment shown, the cuts 3 are shown with a relative small width b. It will be possible to form cuts 3 with a larger width b and preferably with roundings between the various junctions and ends of the cuts in order to avoid crack formation at these points. For forming a first embodiment shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the cutting edge 4 and the side cutting edges 5 are finally bent outwards relative to the plane P, away from an under side 8 of the blade 1 (see Figs. 2-5).

For forming a second embodiment shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the tab 2 is similarly bent outwards relative to the plane P, away from an upper side 9 of the blade 1 (see Figs. 2-5).

Corners 18 of the blade 1 are cut off diagonally such that the corners 18 are not pointed.

This prevents the user from cutting himself/herself on the corners 18. However, the diagonally cut off corners 18 are sufficiently pointed and sharp to be used for opening packaging such as cheese packaging consisting of vacuum-packed plastic. It will also be possible to open types of packaging other than cheese packaging using the corners 18.

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show a first embodiment of a cheese knife according to the invention, formed from the starting blank shown in Fig. 1. The cutting edge 4 and the side cutting edges 5 are bent outwards away from the plane P of the blade 1. The cutting edge 4 faces forward in a direction of travel of the cheese knife, indicated by an arrow. When the cutting edge 4 is bent away from the plane P of the blade 1, a channel 10 is formed through which a cheese rind cut by the cutting edge 4, when the cheese knife is used for cutting rind, can extend onto the upper side 9 of the blade 1 relative to the under side 8 from which the cutting edge 4 faces away. The rind is cut with a depth d (see Fig. 4) corresponding to the distance between the under side 8 and a lower edge of the cutting edge 4.

The side cutting edges 5 form triangular teeth facing outwards with a tip 11 farthest away from the plane P of the blade 1 and with a side 12 facing forward in the direction of travel and forming a cutting edge per se of the side cutting edge 5. Relative to the direction of travel, the side cutting edges 5 are situated in front of the cutting edge 4 and thus form pre-cutters for the cutting edge 4. As an alternative to forming triangular teeth, the side cutting edges 5 may form rectangular teeth with a side facing away from the plane P of the blade 1 and with an adjacent side facing forward in the direction of travel and forming the cutting edge per se of the side cutting edges. As a further alternative, the side cutting edges 5 may form a semicircle or another form facing away from the plane P, and with a side forming a cutting edge per se.

The embodiment of the cheese knife shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is designed to be mounted on a cheese slicer, the wire extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a handle on the cheese slicer, e. g. of the type shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show a second embodiment of a cheese knife according to the invention, formed from the starting blank shown in Fig. 1. As in the first embodiment, the cutting edge 4 and the side cutting edges 5 are bent outwards from an under side 8 away from a plane P of the blade 1. The cutting edge 4 also faces forward in a direction of travel of the cheese knife. When the cutting edge 4 is bent away from the plane P, a channel 10 is also formed through which a cheese rind being cut by the cutting edge 4, when the cheese knife is used for cutting rind, can extend onto an upper side 9 of the blade 1.

As in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the side cutting edges 5 form trian- gular teeth facing outwards with a tip 11 farthest away from the plane P of the blade 1 and with a side 12 facing forward in the direction of travel and forming a cutting edge per se of the side cutting edge 5. Alternatively, the side cutting edges 5 can also form rectangular teeth with a side facing away from the plane of the blade 1 and with an adjacent side facing forward in the direction of travel and forming a cutting edge per se of the side cutting edge 5.

The embodiment of the cheese knife shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is designed to be mounted on a cheese slicer in which the wire extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of a handle on the cheese slicer, e. g. of the type shown in Fig. 8.

In the shown first embodiment (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) and second embodiment (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5), the distance d between the under side 8 and the lower edge of the cutting edge 4 is established by the cutting edge being bent at an angle a. By altering the angle a, the distance d can be altered and thereby the thickness of the rind which is cut off. In the embodiments shown, the side cutting edges 5 face downwards perpendicular to the plane P of the blade 1 and thus form an angle (3 of 90 degrees with the plane P.

If the cheese knife is made of a material with great tendency to spring back after being bent, e. g. spring steel, the side cutting edges 5 will, because of tendency to spring back after bending, face downwards at an angle ß of more than 90 degrees unless bending takes place at an angle ß of less than 90 degrees such that the side cutting edges after bending face perpendicularly downwards. This will, however, complicate the method according to the invention for manufacturing the cheese knife, since bending which takes place from the upper side 9 will in that case have to take place both downwards and inwards on the under side 8 instead of just downwards.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a cheese knife according to the invention. The cheese knife is likewise made from a metal plate. The cutting edge 4 is, however, formed by imparting a difference in level between a first part 13 of the metal plate which forms the blade itself, and a second part 14 of the metal plate which forms the cutting edge 4. A channel 10 is formed between the part 13 of the metal plate forming the blade itself and the part 14 forming the cutting edge 4. The channel 10 is open at one side 15. The extremity 16 of the cutting edge 4 is pointed and can thus be used for opening packaging

such as cheese packaging consisting of vacuum-packed plastic. It will also be possible to open types of packaging other than cheese packaging using the tip 16.

The part 13 of the metal plate which forms the blade itself is provided with a foot 17 extending perpendicularly downwards relative to a plane Q of the blade. The foot 17 is designed to abut on an upper face of the cheese such that the two parts 13,14, forming the blade and the cutting edge, respectively, are situated along one side of the cheese, which side is still covered with rind. When rind is to be cut from the surface of the cheese, the cutting edge is pulled forward in a direction of travel. In the embodiment shown, the cheese knife shown in Fig. 6, like the cheese knife shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, is provided with a tab 2 which is bent outwards from the metal plate and is provided with a hole 6 for mounting the cheese knife on a cheese slicer as shown in Fig. 7. Alternatively, the tab could be in plane with the part 13 that forms the blade for mounting on a cheese slicer as shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 7 is a drawing which shows a type of cheese slicer having a wire 20, the wire 20 extending in a holder 21 perpendicular to a longitudinal axis A of a handle 22 on the cheese slicer. The holder 21 is provided with a roller 23 which defines a distance a to the wire 20 and thus defines a thickness of slices of cheese which are cut using the cheese slicer.

With this type of cheese slicer equipped with the cheese knife shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, it is possible in a first situation to use the cheese slicer itself to cut a slice of cheese by pulling the handle 22 of the cheese slicer towards oneself parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the handle 22 while the wire cuts through the cheese. In a second situation, by simply turning the handle 22 of the cheese slicer a quarter of a revolution around the longitudinal axis A of the handle 22, it is possible using the same movement with which the handle 22 of the cheese slicer is pulled towards oneself along the longitudinal axis A of the handle 22 to use the cheese slicer to cut rind off the cheese.

Fig. 8 is a drawing which shows a type of cheese slicer having a wire 20, the wire 20 extending around a holder 24 parallel to a longitudinal axis B of a handle 25 on the cheese slicer. Distances a1 and a2 define distances between the holder 24 and the wire 20 on each side of the holder 24 and thus define the thickness of slices of cheese cut using the cheese slicer.

With this type of cheese slicer equipped with the cheese knife shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, it is possible in a first situation to use the cheese slicer itself to cut a slice of cheese by pulling the handle 25 of the cheese slicer towards oneself perpendicular to the longitudinal axis B of the handle 25 while the wire cuts through the cheese. In a second situation, by simply turning the handle 25 of the cheese slicer a quarter of a revolution around an axis C perpendicular to the longitudinal axis B of the handle 25 and a quarter of a revolution around the longitudinal axis B, it is possible using the same movement with which the handle 25 of the cheese slicer is pulled towards oneself, but along the longitudinal axis B of the handle 25, to use the cheese knife to cut rind off the cheese.

Fig. 9 is a perspective drawing of the embodiment of the cheese knife described in connection with Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 10 is a perspective drawing of a supporting part or a rigid part 26. The rigid part 26 is preferably manufactured by punching out or laser cutting a stainless steel plate of between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, most preferably between 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm, and by subsequently bending the plate into the shape shown in Fig. 10. This is very similar to the manufacture of the cheese knife which is described above. The supporting part 26 has a substantially flat portion 27 having two protruding parts 28, and a mounting portion 29 being provided with a hole 30. The mounting portion 29 is bent in the end 31 opposing the substantially flat portion 27 in order to provide support for the cheese knife of Figs. 4,5 and 9 when in use. This will be described further below.

The substantially flat portion 27 is adapted for supporting a slice of cheese after it has been cut by a cheese slicer. The slice of cheese then needs to be transported from the block of cheese to, e. g., a slice of bread, and during this operation it may rest on the substantially flat portion 27, preferably on the two protruding parts 28, so as to prevent that the user has to touch the slice of cheese.

Fig. 11 shows the supporting part 26 of Fig. 10 mounted on a type of cheese slicer having a wire 20. The supporting part 26 is mounted with the mounting portion 29 abutting the end of the cheese slicer and by means of the hole 30 of the mounting portion 29. The supporting part 26 is mounted as follows. The wire 20 is loosened and removed the way it is usually done when the wire 20 has to be replaced. The hole 30 of the mounting portion

29 is then slid over the holder 24 of the cheese slicer, the wire 20 is repositioned as before, except that it has to be positioned on the outer side of the supporting part 26 as indicated in Fig. 11. Finally, the wire 20 is tensioned as usual.

Fig. 12 shows the cheese knife of Figs. 4,5 and 9 as well as the supporting part 26 of Fig.

9 mounted on a type of cheese slicer having a wire 20. The cheese knife and the supporting part 26 are mounted in the way described above.

The bent end 31 of the mounting portion 29 of the supporting part 26 abuts the cheese knife. Since the supporting part 26 is more rigid than the cheese knife (mainly because it is thicker), it will support the cheese knife when it is being used. That is, when the cheese knife is pressed against the rind or paraffin wax of a cheese in order to remove said rind or paraffin wax, it will be bent away from the rind or paraffin wax until it is also pressed against the bent end 31 of the mounting portion 29. The bent end 31 will in turn react to the force thereby being applied, and will thus prevent the cheese knife from bending even further away from the rind or paraffin wax.