Abstrict A combination can crusher, juicer and slicer having a main housing
with a vertically adjustable cutting blade holder or can holder
and a ratcheted lever adapted to raise and lower a pressure plate
into contact with either a can disposed in the holder or a cutting
blade retained in the holder. Moving the pressure plate, which will
vary depending on the operation desired, downwardly against a can
disposed in the holder crushes the same. Moving the pressure plate
downwardly against a mating cutting blade cuts a fruit or vegetable
therebetween. Moving the pressure plate downwardly against a mating
juicer assembly juices a vegetable or fruit disposed therebetween
and juices the same.
Claims I claim:
1. A combination can crusher, juicer and slicer comprising:
a base;
an elongated post vertically mounted on said base, said post having
a toothed rack extending vertically along one side thereof;
a holder mounted on said post, said holder having a toothed extension
position with teeth thereon engaging said rack with said post extending
therethrough and an integral holding portion having a central opening
therethrough, said opening having a shoulder about the inner wall
thereof and said rack extending toward said opening;
releasable locking means associated with said extension portion
and said post for releasably locking said holder at spaced locations
along said post;
an upper pressure plate assembly mounted on said post above said
holder, said pressure plate assembly having an extension portion
with said post extending therethrough; and
a compression handle pivotally mounted to said pressure plate assembly
having gearing means engaging said rack whereby downward movement
of said handle moves said plate assembly downwardly on said post,
said plate assembly including a pressure plate holder thereon for
receiving a pressure plate therein.
2. In the combination of claim 1 including releasable means associated
with said compression handle for releasing said gearing means from
engagement with said rack.
3. In the combination of claim 1 wherein said locking means includes
a hollow block member having a first upper compartment of a first
width and a second lower compartment of a second width greater than
said first width, said holder extension portion having an elongated
member integral therewith extending into said block member in one
of said compartments, said elongated member having a width generally
related to the width of said upper compartment, said teeth of said
extension portion engaging said rack when said elongated member
is disposed in said upper compartment and disengaging said teeth
of said extension portion from said rack when said elongated member
is disposed in said lower compartment.
4. In the combination of claim 1 including a slicing knife having
one end disposed in a slot formed in said holding portion below
said shoulder therein having an integral knife edge extending normal
toward the central axis of said opening in said holding portion,
said one end being laterally movable within said slot so that said
knife edge can be moved across said opening in said holding portion.
5. In the combination of claim 1 including a counterbalance mounted
to said post extending in a direction opposite said compression
handle for balancing combination.
6. In the combination of claim 1 including releasable means associated
with said compression handle for releasing said gearing means from
engagement with said rack, said releasable means including a spring
biased trigger portion pivotally mounted in a slot in said compression
handle, said trigger portion having pawl means thereon normally
biased into a position wherein said pawl means engages said gearing
means and, when moved against the compression of said spring, releases
said pawl means from engagement with said ratchet allowing said
compression handle to be moved upwardly on said post out of engagement
with said rack.
7. In the combination of claim 1 including an apple core and slicing
pressure plate removably mounted in said pressure plate holder,
said pressure plate having a plurality of downwardly extending spaced
protrusions surrounding a centrally mounted downwardly extending
corer blade, and a cutter mounted in said holding portion resting
on said shoulder having a plurality of spaced openings therethrough
configured similarly to the protrusions of said pressure plate and
surrounding a hole from receiving said corer therein.
8. In the combination of claim 7 wherein said protrusions and said
openings are generally triangularly-shaped in cross-section.
9. In the combination of claim 1 including a french fry potato
pressure plate removably mounted in said pressure plate holder,
said pressure plate having a plurality of downwardly extending spaced
protrusions, and a cutter mounted in said holding portion resting
on said shoulder having a plurality of spaced openings therethrough
configured similarly to the protrusions of said pressure plate.
10. In the combination of claim 9 wherein said protrusions and
said openings are generally square in cross-section.
11. In the combination of claim 1 including a juicer pressure plate
removably mounted in said pressure plate holder, said pressure plate
having a downwardly extending protrusion, and a juicer plate mounted
in said holding portion and resting on said shoulder, said juicer
plate having a concave portion therein adapted to receive said protrusion
thereagainst surrounding a central hole therethrough.
12. In the combination of claim 1 including a can crusher pressure
plate removably mounted in said pressure plate holder having an
upper surface and a lower surface with a downwardly extending flange
on said lower surface adapted to engage the top of an aluminum can
disposed within said opening through said holding portion and resting
on said base to crush the same when said pressure plate is moved
downwardly along said rack.
Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to small kitchen appliances; and, more particularly,
to a combination can crusher, juicer and slicer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Various small kitchen appliances that can carry out more than a
single operation have been suggested in the past. In U.S. Pat. No.
4345519 to Sabino, a vertical can crusher is disclosed. However,
this is only one operation that the crusher can do. In U.S. Pat.
No. 2693210 to Gustafson, a combined cutter and slicer is disclosed.
However, this device is quite complicated and cannot crush cans.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5188024 to Li, another can crusher, capable of
only a single operation, is disclosed. In U.S. Pat. No. 2507963
Davitcho, a juice extractor is disclosed. However, it is difficult
to conceive how it could be used to crush cans. Further, there is
no cutting blade. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5245902 discloses a vegetable
cutter; however, there is no way to juice fruits or vegetables and
no means for crushing a can. U.S. Pat. No. 2703522 discloses a
fruit juicer. The juice can be modified to rice or shred potatoes,
open oysters or crack nuts. However, there is no way to crush cans.
Also, the entire means for shredding, juicing, etc., mounted to
collar 23 must be removed and replaced with the desired shredding
or juicing element or the like.
There is thus a need for a small kitchen appliance that is simple
and easy to use and one that can crush cans and juice or slice vegetables
or fruits in the same unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a combination can
crusher, juicer and slicer.
It is a further an object of this invention to carry out the foregoing
object using removable blades and/or disks.
It is still further an object of this invention to carry out the
foregoing objects using a single kitchen appliance producing a high
amount of compressive force with little effort.
These and other objects are preferably accomplished by providing
a combination can crusher, juicer and slicer having a main housing
with a vertically adjustable cutting blade holder or can holder
and a ratcheted lever adapted to raise and lower a pressure plate
into contact with either a can disposed in the holder or a cutting
blade retained in the holder. Moving the pressure plate, which will
vary depending on the operation desired, downwardly against a can
disposed in the holder crushes the same. Moving the pressure plate
downwardly against a mating cutting blade cuts a fruit or vegetable
therebetween. Moving the pressure plate downwardly against a mating
juicer blade juices a vegetable or fruit disposed therebetween and
juices the same.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination can crusher, juicer
and slicer in accordance with the teachings of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2 a portion thereof
being omitted for convenience of illustration;
FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 4;
FIGS. 7 through 9 are exploded views of various plate and cutter
combinations for carrying out various operations using the combination
of FIGS. 1 to 6;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a can crusher plate and can in
accordance with the teachings of the invention;
FIG. 11 is a view taken along lines 11--11 of FIG. 7;
FIG. 12 is a view taken along lines 12--12 of FIG. 9; and
FIG. 13 is a view taken along lines 13--13 of FIG. 10.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a combination 10 is shown
that may be used to crush cans and juice or slice fruits or vegetables.
Combination 10 includes a base 11 an upstanding vertical post 12
mounted on base 11 and a movable or adjustable can or blade holder
13 mounted on post 12. A rack 14 is used to both adjustably lock
holder 13 in position along post 12 and also provide a ratchet by
engagement with a gear 15 mounted on a compression plate assembly
16 as will be discussed.
As seen in FIG. 2 rack 14 is an integral part of post 12. Holder
13 includes a holder portion 17 which is generally a round ring
in cross-section (FIG. 1) having a first lower portion 18 (FIG.
2) of an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of a second
upper portion 19 thereby forming a step or shoulder 20 at the intersection
thereof. Holder portion 17 has an integral L-shaped portion 21 (FIG.
3) which straddles post 12 and integral rack 14 terminating in an
extension portion 22 extending into a block member 23.
Thus, as seen in FIG. 2 extension portion 22 extends inside of
block member 23 which is hollow on the interior and divided into
an upper chamber 24 and a lower chamber 25. As seen in FIG. 2 both
chambers are rectangular in cross-section with upper chamber 24
being lesser in width than lower chamber 25. Also, extension portion
22 extends into upper chamber 24 and is generally the same width
and length thereof in a generally tight fitting relationship. As
seen, in this position, holder portion 17 which has gear teeth
26 thereon engaging the teeth of rack 14 is in a meshing relationship
therewith. However, by grasping integral handle 27 on block member
23 and moving block member 23 upwardly in the direction of arrow
28 (FIG. 2), extension portion 22 moves down into lower chamber
25 allowing cutter holder 13 to move to the left in FIG. 2 and thus
move teeth 26 out of engagement with rack 14 thus unlocking the
same allowing holder 13 to be adjusted up or down. When handle 27
is grasped and block member 23 is moved downwardly in the direction
of arrow 29 extension portion 22 moves back into upper chamber
24 thus moving teeth 26 back into engagement with rack 14 placing
holder 13 back into a locked position.
As seen in FIG. 1 a slicing knife 30 is shown having a handle
portion 31 and an integral elongated blade portion 32 with sharp
cutting edges on each side thereof. As seen in FIG. 2 end 33 of
knife 30 is receivable in a slot 34 in holder portion 17.
Knife 30 is a dicing or slicing knife, as will be discussed, and
end 33 is press fit into slot 34 but allowing sufficient movement
in the directions of double arrows 35 as seen in FIG. 1 and as
will be further discussed.
Referring back to FIG. 1 compression plate assembly 16 includes
a compression plate 36 which, as seen in FIG. 5 has an upper generally
round plate portion 37 having a downwardly extending peripheral
wall 38 terminating in an inwardly extending peripheral lip 39.
As seen in FIGS. 1 and 5 this forms an open slot 40 for receiving
a plurality of cutters therein as will be further discussed.
Plate 36 has a rear extension portion 41 (FIG. 1) through which
post 12 extends. Plate 36 is fixedly mounted to a pair of upstanding
spaced triangularly-shaped flanges 42 43. As seen in FIG. 1 these
flanges 42 43 having rear portions 44 extending downwardly abutting
against the rear extension portion 41.
A weighted counterbalance stabilizing handle 45 is provided terminating
adjacent post 12 in a roller assembly 46 (FIGS. 4 and 6). Roller
assembly 46 includes upper and lower rollers (upper rollers 146
147 -- FIG. 6 and lower rollers 148 -- only one visible -- FIG.
4). Rollers 146 147 are rotatably mounted, via pin 47 to handle
45 between flanges 42 43 as seen in FIG. 6. In like manner, bottom
rollers 148 are rotatably mounted between flanges 42 43 by pin
47' (FIG. 5).
An elongated compression handle 48 is provided as part of the compression
plate assembly 16 having an inner elongated cavity or slot 49 (FIG.
4) receiving therein a like configured elongated trigger portion
50. Trigger portion 50 is movable within slot 49 in the direction
of arrows 51 but normally biased downwardly by means of spring 52
having one end disposed in a hole 53 formed in the inner wall 54
of handle 48 and the other end disposed in a hole 55 formed in the
outer wall of trigger portion 50. Trigger portion 50 is retained
to handle 48 and within slot 49 thereof by a pivot pin 57 (see also
FIGS. 1 and 6) extending through handle 48 and trigger portion 50.
Trigger portion 50 at its rear lower end, terminates in a plurality
of pawl teeth 58 engaging the teeth of a pinion gear 59. The teeth
of gear 59 are adapted to engage teeth 15 mounted between flanges
42 43 which teeth 15 are in engagement with teeth 14 of rack 12.
Gear 59 is disposed between flanges 42 43 and rotatable therein
by means of pin 61.
Thus, it can be appreciated that moving compression handle 48 up
in the direction of arrow 61' in FIG. 4 pawl teeth 58 slip over
the teeth of gear 59. Moving handle 48 downwardly in the direction
of arrow 62 results in pawl teeth 58 engaging the teeth of gear
59 turning pinion gear 59 counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 4 into
engagement with teeth 15 moving plate 36 downwardly along rack 14
with extremely high compressive force at all times. When it is desired
to release handle 48 the operator squeezes trigger portion 50 against
the bias of spring 52 releasing pawl teeth 58 from engagement with
gear 59 allowing plate 36 to be moved back up post 12 to reposition
the same for the next operation.
A plurality of operations may be quickly and easily carried out
using the combination 10. The parts for carrying out four such operations
are shown in FIGS. 7 through 10 respectively. Thus, as seen in
FIG. 7 an apple coring assembly 63 is shown. Apple coring assembly
63 includes an upper main pressure plate 64 and a lower apple cutter
65. Upper plate 64 is generally a flat circular plate of the same
outer diameter as that of slot 40 (FIGS. 5 and 1) and adapted to
be removably retained therein. As seen in cross-section in FIG.
11 plate 64 includes a plurality of downwardly extending triangularly
spaced protrusions 66 adapted to extend into like configured openings
67 in cutter 65. As seen in FIG. 7 cutter 65 has a central ring
shaped opening 68 adapted to receive therein a downwardly extending
protrusion or corer 69 as seen in FIG. 11.
Cutter 65 has a lower shoulder portion 74 adapted to rest on top
of shoulder 20 in holder 13 as will be discussed.
Pressure plate 64 also has a downwardly extending outer peripheral
flange 71.
In operation, pressure plate 64 is inserted into slot 40 of compression
plate 36. Cutter 65 is placed into holder 13 with shoulder 74 resting
on top of shoulder 20. An apple is placed in holder 13 on top of
cutter 65. Handle 48 is moved downwardly as heretofore discussed.
Corer 69 extends through the apple and cuts out the core thereof
through opening 68 in cutter 65. The triangularly-shaped protrusions
66 push the apple down through like configured openings 67 thus
slicing the apple into cored triangularly-shaped segments. Handle
48 is now moved upwardly in the direction of arrow 61' (FIG. 4)
and plate 64 and cutter 65 can be quickly and easily removed. Combination
10 is now ready for the next operation.
If desired, during the foregoing operation, as the apple segments
move downwardly through openings 67 knife 30 can be moved across
the bottom of cutter 65 further dicing or slicing the apple segments.
As seen in FIG. 8 combination 10 may be used to make french fries
as seen by the plate assembly 72 in FIG. 8. In place of pressure
plate 64 a pressure plate 73 is provided also having a generally
round flat plate portion 74 and a plurality of downwardly extending
spaced protrusions 74. Protrusions 74 however, are square-shaped
and configured as openings 75 in lower cutter 76. Cutter 76 also
has a shoulder 77 adapted to rest on shoulder 20 of holder 13. Thus,
when plate 73 and cutter 76 are mounted in combination 10 as heretofore
discussed with respect to plate 64 and cutter 65 a peeled or unpeeled
potato placed on top cutter 76 is cut into elongated pieces square-shaped
in cross-section (which may be further cut into pieces via knife
30 as the cut pieces pass through openings 75). Further discussion
is deemed unnecessary.
Combination 10 may also be used as a juicer as seen by the juicer
assembly 77 in FIG. 9. Thus, upper pressure plate 78 is again a
generally round plate having a downwardly extending protrusion 79
(FIG. 12). However, as seen in FIG. 12 protrusion 79 is comprised
of a generally V-shaped blade to mate with convex insert 80 (FIG.
9) which has a rim 83' which rests on shoulder 183 of the lower
conical portion 81 of the juicer assembly. A central hole 82 is
provided in lower portion 81 so that juice squeezed by the engagement
of protrusion 79 with a fruit or the like placed on top of convex
insert 80 can pour from central hole 181 and peripherally spaced
holes 182 down hole 82. A lower stepped shoulder 83" is provided
on juicer portion 81 for resting on shoulder 20 in holder 13 as
heretofore discussed.
Finally, combination 10 can be used to crush cans or the like,
such as aluminum cans. A can 83' is merely placed within holder
13 resting on base 11. As seen in FIG. 10 upper can crusher plate
83 is again a generally round flat plate having a downwardly extending
flange 84 (FIG. 13). As pressure plate 83 is lowered as heretofore
discussed, a can placed inside of holder 13 is crushed by engagement
of flange 84 with one side of can 83'.
It can be seen that there is disclosed a combination juicer, slicer
and can crusher.
A high amount of squeezing force is produced with very little effort.
The force is developed by having a ratchet driven pinion operating
against a rack integrated into a rigid column or post attached to
a base. The ratchet provides for multiple strokes which greatly
increases the mechanical advantage (by 3-4 times) over similar devices
that achieve their force with one stroke only.
The trigger release allows the appliance or combination to be reset
quickly to the starting position. The cutter holder is designed
so that it can be locked in any position along the length of the
rack for carrying out different operations. The various cutter and
squeezer combinations can be quickly changed from one operation
to another.
The combination can perform the following operations in the kitchen
in a single appliance:
A. Crushing aluminum cans (without the need to be attached to a
wall or counter);
B. Coring an slicing fruits (such as apples, pears, etc.);
C. Cutting potatoes for french fries;
D. Cutting and dicing fruits and vegetables; and
E. Juicing heavy skinned fruits (such as oranges, grapefruits,
etc.).
Obviously, although four different types of operations have been
described in conjunction with the use of the appliance combination,
such as in FIGS. 7 and 10 obviously other combinations of pressure
plates and cutters may occur to an artisan. Also, post 12 may be
snap fit into hole 12' in base 11 and holder 13 unlocked and removed
therefrom. The entire compression plate assembly may also be released
from engagement with rack 14 and thus removed from post 12. All
of the parts of combination 10 including the various parts in FIGS.
7 to 10 can be placed in a dishwasher for washing. The parts can
then be quickly and easily assembled.
Although a specific can crusher, juicer and slicer combination
has been disclosed, variations thereof may occur to an artisan and
the scope of the invention should be considered as limited only
to the scope of the appended claims. |