Garlic Peeler
The present invention provides an appliance for peeling certain fruits and vegetables having a fine skin, and especially garlic, without abrading or breaking the garlic clove and without beating and scratching it, thus avoiding or minimizing damage to the garlic clove, so as to avoid or reduce dispersion of the typical garlic smell and to retain aesthetics and nutritive values thereof. It is provided a garlic clove peeler comprising a housing formed with a clove receiving compartment formed with a friction wall and a complimentary peeling element formed with a peeler surface extending adjacent the friction wall; and a displacement mechanism for displacing one or both of the friction wall and the peeling element.
The present invention relates to fruit and vegetable peelers and more particularly to a peeler suited for peeling a fine peel/skin from garlic and other fruits and vegetables such as dried union, different dried nuts such as peanuts, almonds, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONOften the skin of a fruit or a vegetable is dry though in some cases it is not completely dry and is adhered to the fruit or vegetable. In some cases there is only one peel/skin layer (e.g. as in the case of different nuts), and in other cases there are several peels/skins, some of which at dry state and one or more layer which may be in damp state and inner most of which may still be adhered to the fruit or vegetable (e.g. as in the case of garlic, unions and the like).
For sake of simplicity, herein the specification and claims, all such fruits and vegetables are collectively referred to as garlic, though it is to be appreciated that the appliance according to the present invention may be used for peeling a selection of different fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, the terms ‘skin’ and ‘peel’ are collectively referred to hereinafter as ‘skin’.
Garlic is a member of the onion family, which has been cultivated for thousands of years and is widely used for both its culinary and medicinal attributes, resulting in an ever growing popularity of this crop. Garlic is already mentioned in the old testimony, where it reads: “We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic” (Numbers 11:5).
The increase in consumption of this popular herb raises a need for peeling methods and devices, in particular in light of the strong smell it leaves if it is hand peeled. Thus, several garlic peeling apparatuses have been introduced throughout the years.
A first type of garlic peeler is disclosed GB Patent 2315990 (Beveridge) directed to a non-mechanical gadget in the form of a tube made of resilient material and sized for accommodating a one or more garlic cloves, where an inside surface of the tube is roughened or knurled. Garlic cloves are peeled by introducing them into the tube and manually compressing and rolling the tube over a flat surface.
Another type of garlic peelers is concerned with mechanical or electromechanical apparatuses, as disclosed for example in the following publications:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,483 (Yip) discloses a peeler for garlic and/or peanuts including a housing having an open top end and a cylindrical friction wall surface on which four ribs having respective surfaces are formed, and a lid for closing the housing top end. The peeler includes a central beater surrounded by the wall surface and supported for rotation about an axis. A handle is provided for rotating the beater so the garlic and/or peanut pieces strike the rib surfaces at a steep angle, whereby the skin of the garlic and/or peanut pieces is cracked open through continued movement by the beater for subsequent peeling.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,429 (Federighi) discloses a rotary attachment disposed within the bowl of a food processing appliance in engagement with the drive shaft of the appliance and has a horizontal rotating disk with an abrasive upper surface which quickly removes the dry and brittle outer covering of garlic cloves or similar food ingredients.
US Patent Application US20020153440 (Holcomb et al) discloses a hand-held hand-powered food processor having a pull cord motor for rotating a spindle that carries an arm. The arm can be a cutter blade or an elastomeric flexible peeler arm having a durometer of preferable between Shore 80A and Shore 82A. The arm is driven by the spindle, and there is a stop block formed on a sidewall near the end of the arm. Rotating the spindle causes it to rub against the skin of food in the processor for peeling the food. The cover of the processor has a flat outer periphery so the cover can be used as a storage unit for the contents of the processor.
It is well known that undamaged garlic cloves hardly disperse any odor, however, the typical smell of garlic results due to a chemical reaction that takes place whenever cells are broken, i.e. upon cutting, slicing, grinding etc.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanic peeler for garlic (as well as other fruits and vegetables having a fine skin/peel), though in a non-abrasive fashion, leaving the garlic clove aesthetic and undamaged. The peeler according to the present invention is a simple, easy to operate and clean/wash after use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA primary object of the present invention is to provide an appliance for peeling certain fruits and vegetables (which are collectively referred to herein as garlic) having a fine skin, however without abrading or breaking the garlic clove and without beating or scratching it, thus avoiding or minimizing damage to the garlic clove, so as to avoid or reduce dispersion of the typical garlic smell and to retain aesthetics and nutritive values thereof.
According to the present invention there is provided a garlic clove peeler comprising a clove receiving compartment formed with a friction wall and a complimentary peeling element formed with a peeler surface which at an assembled position extends adjacent the friction wall; and a displacement mechanism for displacing one or both of sad friction wall and said peeler surface, and wherein at least one of the friction wall and the peeler surface are made of a resilient material.
The arrangement is such that one or more garlic cloves, placed within a gap extending between the friction wall and the peeler surface are peeled off due to friction with the rotatable friction wall and/or the peeler surface, where the peel/skin is brushed/rubbed off without affecting the garlic clove itself.
According to one embodiment, of the present invention, there is provided a housing comprising a base member made of rigid material and constituting the clove receiving compartment with an inside wall thereof constituting the friction wall, and with a resilient balloon-like peeler member being rotatably supported within the housing such that a gap extends between the inner wall of the housing and said peeler element.
According to a modification of the present invention, the compartment of the clove receiving compartment is coated with or fitted with an inner liner constituting the friction wall; and a top cover made of a rigid material, fittable over the base member and supporting the peeling element, with the displacing mechanism articulated to the top cover or to the base member for rotating the peeler element respective to said friction wall.
According to a broad concept of the present invention, there is provided a garlic peeling appliance comprising a housing with a base member and cover member defining a garlic clove receiving compartment extending between a peeler surface of the cover member and an friction wall surface of the base member, wherein said surfaces are spaced apart retaining a small gap there between and where at least one of said surfaces is made of a resilient material. Displacement of one of the surfaces respective to the other entails peeling/brushing off the skin from a garlic clove received within said gap.
According to one particular design of the garlic peeler according to the present invention, at least one of the friction wall and the peeling element are deformable, e.g. under presence of a garlic clove there between. By one specific embodiment, the peeling element extends at a short distance from the friction wall, leaving a gap therebetween.
The peeler according to the present invention may further comprise one or more of the following features:
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- The displacement mechanism is a rotary mechanism for rotating the friction wall surface and/or the peeling element with respect to one another, wherein either one of the friction wall and the peeling element rotate or both, though at reverse directions;
- One or both of the friction wall and the peeler surface of the peeling element are formed with resilient projections such as ribs or bulges, or bristles;
- The friction wall and the peeler surface of the peeling element are evenly spaced from one another, giving rise to a homogeneous gap therebetween;
- The gap between surfaces is typically between about 5-10 mm.
The peeling element is resiliently biased in direction facing the friction wall surface;
All components of the peeler are easily disassembled for maintenance and washing thereof. According to a specific design, all components of the appliance are dishwasher proof;
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- The displacement mechanism is manually operated (e.g. by a so called ‘hand-crank’ or direct rotation of the top cover or base member) or electrically driven;
- One or both of the friction wall and the peeling element are replaceable/changeable by other such components having a different parameters, e.g. different shape, different surface contour or other resiliency properties, for use with different types of fruits or vegetables;
- The friction wall surface may be integral with or fixedly attached to a rigid housing comprising the clove receiving compartment;
- One or both of the friction wall and the peeling element are typically made of rubber material such as silicone rubber;
- The rotary mechanism may be articulated to either one of the base member or the top cover;
- Either one of the friction wall and the peeling element may be of a generally concave shape and the other of the friction wall and the peeling element be generally convex, in a matching fashion;
- Behind one or both of the friction wall and the peeling element there is a clear space to tolerate deformation thereof at the presence of a fruit within the gap there between;
- The housing including the base member and the top cover are stationary during rotation of the peeling element;
- Components of the apparatus are coaxially assembled;
According to one specific design, the devise is a part of a food processor comprising several accessories e.g. chopper, grinder, mixer, slicer, mincer etc. as well as a garlic peeler. Such a device typically comprises a receiving compartment (bowl-like), a cover and an accessory mountable on a shaft articulated to a power unit, either manual or electric, wherein the accessories are easily replaceable.
According to this embodiment, the receiving compartment (bowl) is made of a rigid material with a cover fitable there over with a peeler member in the form of a balloon made of resilient material rotatably retained within the bowl with a gap extending there between.
The bowl may be fitted with inwardly projecting protuberances and the gap between the inside surface of the receiving compartment (bowl) and the peeler element may differ along its couture between a tighter gap at a bottom portion thereof and a broader gap at an upper end thereof.
Rotation of the peeler element is imparted by a power unit fitted at the cover or at the base member with an axle extending there from and supporting the peeler element.
Thus, according to another aspect of the present invention there is also provided a peeler element for use in conjunction with a food processor.
According to a broad concept of the present invention, there is provided a garlic peeling appliance comprising a housing with a base member and cover member defining a garlic clove receiving compartment extending between a peeler surface of the cover member and an friction wall surface of the base member, wherein said surfaces are spaced apart retaining a small gap therebetween and where at least one of said surfaces is made of a resilient material. Displacement of one of the surfaces respective to the other entails peeling/brushing off the skin from a garlic clove received within said gap.
According to another aspect of the present invention the appliance is an add-on type for utilizing with a conventional mixer, wherein there is provided a housing in the form of a bowl formed with a hemispheric bottom portion and a peeling element with at least a bottom hemispheric portion made of a resilient material and sized and shaped to fit into said bowl; said peeling element further comprising a shank fitted for coupling to the mixer's chuck for rotation thereof.
In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, some embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring first to
As can best be seen in
Base member 28 with the friction wall (liner) 42 give rise to a clove receiving compartment 46 (see also
The top cover 32 is in the form of a rigid hemisphere complementary with the base member 28 and formed at its top with an aperture 48 (
Support disk 64 is formed with an upwardly extending cylindrical neck portion 74 with a smooth external surface 76 sized for snugly though free rotation within cylinder 50 of the top cover 32, whilst its inner surface is formed with a plurality of axially extending radial ribs 78 fitted for snap engagement with a cogged shank portion 82 of the hand crank 38 fitted for rotary engagement thereof as in the position of
As already mentioned above, and with particular reference to
As can best be seen in
Whilst the description here in the specification and claims makes reference to garlic, it is to be appreciated that the appliance may just as well be used for peeling other vegetables or fruits, e.g. onions, different types of nuts (almonds, peanuts, etc.) and others. Accordingly, the size of the gap, namely the distance between the friction wall (liner) 42 of the base member 28 and the peeler surface 56 of peeling element 51 may be differ according to the size of the vegetable or fruit under consideration. According to a particular design, not shown, the gap may be regulated by displacement of the peeling element or replacing it.
It is further appreciated that the appliance is easily assembled and disassembled for cleaning and maintenance, and is easily washable, even by dishwashing machines. Typically, all components of the appliance are made of plastic and elastomeric materials which are easily washable and which do not absorb any odors or color.
Turning now to
In the embodiment of
It is further appreciated that the same housing may be used, however, with a replaceable peeler element for adjusting for different fruits and vegetables.
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
It is appreciated that other embodiments as mentioned in connection with previous applications are possible as well, e.g. forming the peeler surface of the sleeve and/or friction wall 156 with projections or bristles, etc.
In the embodiment of
The arrangement is such that rotation of handle 188 entails corresponding rotation of the disk 190, resulting in peeling/brushing off the peel off a garlic clove 196 received within the clove receiving gap 192.
With further reference now made to
According to this embodiment, the garlic peeler 200 is an add-on type for utilizing with a conventional mixer, wherein the bowl 206 may serve also for other purposes used in conjunction with the mixer 204, as known per se. The arrangement is such that rotary motion is imparted to the peeling element from the motor of mixer 204. In this case, the size of the gap 239 between the bowl and the peeling element 220 may be adjusted by lowering or raising the mixer's arm 241 and further, the rotation speed is governed by a controller 245.
The shank 20 may be a specially design element, as in the figures, or it may be any one of a conventional mixing utensils used in conjunction with a mixer, wherein the peeling element is articulated thereto.
With further reference made to
A plurality of replaceable accessories are provided, of which only two are shown in the present embodiment. Such embodiments are, for example, a chopper, a grinder, a slicer, mincer, mixer, etc. In
It is further noticed that the bowl 252 is formed with a plurality of inwardly extending depressions 284 and that the gap extending between the inside surface of the receiving compartment (bowl 252) and the balloon-like peeling element 272 differs along its longitudinal contour between a tighter gap at a bottom portion thereof and a broader gap at an upper portion thereof.
The balloon-like peeling element 272 may be a homogenous solid unit made of resilient material or may be a sealed balloon retaining its shape. However, in accordance with a modification thereof, the balloon may be aired and may further be removable from shank 274, e.g. for purposes of cleaning.
In use, dry garlic cloves are placed in the bowl 252 and then the device is closed by placing the cover member 260 and the top cover 258. Upon starting the electric motor by switch 264, the peeler element 274 is rotated within the bowl causing the garlic cloves to displace within the receiving compartment whereby friction between the peeler element 272 and the inner surface 273 of bowl 252 results in peeling the garlic clove.
It is appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples and that many other embodiments are possible, all of which fall within the spirit and the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A garlic clove peeler comprising a housing formed with a clove receiving compartment formed with a friction wall and a complimentary peeling element formed with a peeler surface extending adjacent the friction wall; and a displacement mechanism for displacing one or both of said friction wall and said peeling element.
2. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the friction wall and the peeler surface of the peeling element are fitted with or made of a resilient material.
3. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein a gap extends between the peeling element and the friction wall surface.
4. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 3, wherein the gap is uniform.
5. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 3, wherein the gap is sized so as to snugly receive one or more garlic cloves.
6. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 3, wherein the size of the gap is adjustable to comply with different fruit/vegetable size.
7. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein the displacement mechanism is a manually operated hand-crank.
8. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein the displacement mechanism is an electric motor, substantially accommodated within the housing.
9. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein substantially all components thereof are made of plastic material.
10. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the friction wall and the peeling element are fitted with projection and wherein the projections are in the form of bulges or ridges.
11. (canceled)
12. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the friction wall and the peeling element are fitted with resilient bristles.
13. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a top cover fitable over a base member, both made of a rigid material, said top cover supporting the peeling element projecting towards the friction wall.
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 12, wherein the friction wall is an inner liner of the base member.
17. (canceled)
18. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 12, wherein the friction wall is integrally molded with the base member.
19. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 12, wherein the peeling element is retained by a retention ring articulated to the top cover.
20. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 12, wherein the peeling element is detachable from the top cover.
21. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the friction surface and the peeling element are deformable to snugly receive a garlic clove there between.
22. (canceled)
23. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein the clove receiving compartment extends between a cylindrically extending friction wall that is fixedly retained within the housing and a coaxial peeling element that is rotatably secured to a cover engageable with the housing.
24. (canceled)
25. (canceled)
26. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein where both the friction wall and the peeping element rotate, they rotate in opposed directions.
27. (canceled)
28. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein the peeling element is resiliently biased in direction facing the friction wall surface.
29. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein the size of gap of the clove receiving compartment is adjustable so as to comply with different fruit/vegetable sizes.
30. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the friction wall and the peeling element are replaceable.
31-36. (canceled)
37. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 1, wherein the peeling element is in the form of a balloon articulated to the shank.
38. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 37, wherein the balloon is detachable from the shank.
39. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 37, wherein the shank is one of a conventional mixer utensils.
40. A garlic clove peeler comprising a housing formed with a clove receiving compartment formed with an inner friction wall and a complimentary peeling element rotatably supported within the clove receiving compartment, and a power mechanism for rotating said peeling element.
41. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 40, wherein one or both of the friction wall and the peeling element are fitted with or made of a resilient material.
42. (canceled)
43. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 40, wherein the peeler element is balloon-like.
44. (canceled)
45. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 40, wherein the peeler element is rotatably retained within the clove receiving compartment with a gap extending there between.
46. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 40, wherein the clove receiving compartment is fitted with inwardly projecting protuberances.
47. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 45, wherein the gap between an inside surface of the receiving compartment and the peeler element differs along its couture between a tighter gap at a bottom portion thereof and a broader gap at an upper end thereof.
48. A garlic clove peeler according to claim 40, wherein rotation of the peeler element is imparted by a power unit fitted at the cover or at the base member with an axle extending there from and supporting the peeler element.
49-56. (canceled)
57. A garlic clove peeling accessory for a food processor comprising a housing formed with a clove receiving compartment having an inner friction wall and a power mechanism, said peeling accessory fitted for rotation within the clove receiving compartment.
58. A garlic clove peeling accessory according to claim 57, made of a flexible material.
59. A garlic clove peeling accessory according to claim 57, being balloon-like.
60-65. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 2, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 27, 2008
Inventors: Simon Haimoff (Jerusalem), Ofer Haimov (Rishon Le Zion)
Application Number: 11/571,921
International Classification: A23N 7/00 (20060101);