De-Seeding tool

Abstract

A de-seeding tool (Figure 7 - 1) suitable for butternut squash, the tool having a rotary drive means (Figure 7 - 2) and a tool head 3. The tool head is connected to the rotary drive means and rotates

Description

The present disclosure relates to a de-seeding tool for butternut squash. Butternut squash is a type of winter squash. It has a long, tapered neck and a bulbous bottom portion (or blossom end). The seeds in a butternut squash are located in the bulbous bottom portion in a cavity and surrounded by a stringy, fibrous pulp. Pre-prepared fruits and vegetables, i.e. fruits and vegetables that have been cleaned, chopped, sliced, or otherwise processed to make them ready to eat or cook with, are increasingly popular with consumers. Previously, the preparation of butternut squash has been laborious and time consuming, with the necessary removal of the seeds and pulp from the bulbous bottom portion being performed by use of a manual hand tool comprising a specially shaped curved blade. The present invention arose as a result of work aimed at improving the deseeding of butternut squash. Representative features are set out in the following clauses, which stand alone or may be combined, in any combination, with one or more features disclosed in the text and / or drawings of the specification. According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a deseeding tool for butternut squash as recited by Claim 1. The drive means is preferably an electric motor. Regardless of the drive means, the tool head is preferably rotationally driven in a single direction only. The surfaces may form scoops. The surfaces may be substantially concave. The recesses preferably extend to the edges of the surfaces. The edges of the surfaces may comprise blunt blades. The tool head preferably comprises no sharp edges. There may be a plurality of openings, with each of the recesses provided adjacent to a respective one of the openings. The recesses and openings may be continuous with one another. The tool head may comprise a plurality of radially extending hollow ribs, wherein each of the surfaces comprises an inner surface of one the ribs that is exposed by a cutout provided in the rib. A base of the tool head is preferably substantially open. The tool head may be substantially hollow. The tool head may have a substantially annular profile in plan view. The tool head may have a profile that tapers towards a tip of the tool head. The edges of the surfaces preferably at least partially define the tapered profile of the tool head. The tool head may have a curved profile. It may have a substantially curved conical profile. The tool head may be unitarily formed. It is preferably formed from metal. It is preferably formed by 3-D printing. It may be 3-D printed titanium that is polished. The tool head may have a maximum diameter of between 75 and 95mm. The tool head may have a length in the axial direction of between 75 and 95mm. The tool head is preferably mounted with its rotation axis substantially vertical, and a receptacle is preferably provided beneath the tool head for collection of waste material. There may be provided a shield that at least partially surrounds the tool head for catching waste material. There is preferably a free space around and below the tool head, to allow for free movement of the butternut squash during a deseeding operation using the tool. According to the present invention in a further aspect, there is provided a method of de-seeding a butternut squash, the method comprising cutting an end off the squash, substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the butternut squash, to expose the seed cavity, and inserting the tool head of the tool as claimed in any preceding claim into the seed cavity whilst the tool head is rotated by the rotary drive means. Non-limiting embodiments of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of the head of a de-seeding tool according to an embodiment; Figure 2 is an alternative perspective view from above of the tool head of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view from below of the tool head of Figure 1; Figure 4 is side view of the tool head of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the tool head of Figure 1 taken through line A-A of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a plan view from above of the tool head of Figure 1; and Figure 7 is a schematic view of a de-seeding tool comprising the tool head of Figure 1. With reference to the figures, there is shown a de-seeding tool 1 for butternut squash, the tool 1 comprising a rotary drive means 2 and a tool head 3, wherein the tool head 3 is connected to the rotary drive means 2 for rotation about a rotation axis (X, see Figure 5) of the tool head 3, and the tool head 3 comprises a plurality of surfaces 4 that each extend substantially radially with respect to the rotation axis X and each define a recess 5 that is open and faces in the direction of rotation of the tool head 3. The tool head 3 is preferably unitarily formed. The tool head 3 is preferably formed from metal, so as to provide sufficient strength. For example, it may be formed from titanium. It may, however, be formed from alternative materials, such as plastic. Regardless of the specific material, it may be formed by 3-D printing. When it is metal, it may be polished after printing. The drive means 2 preferably comprises an electric motor, however, alternative drive means could be provided, including a compressed air drive system or otherwise. A control means (not shown) is provided for the drive means 2, as will be readily appreciated. The tool head 3 is configured to be rotated in a single direction, as indicated by the arrows in Figures 1 and 7. The tool head 3 is preferably rotated at a speed of at least 1,000 revolutions per minute (RPM) during a de-seeding operation. It may be rotated at a speed of 1,200 to 1,500 RPM. In a particularly preferred arrangement, it is rotated at a speed of 1,300 RPM. The surfaces 4, and thereby the recesses 5 may be substantially concave. They may take alternative indented / recessed forms. Regardless of specific form, the surfaces may be considered to comprise scoops, arranged to scoop out seeds and pulp from the cavity of the butternut squash during use. It is particularly preferable that the tool head comprises no sharp edges, for preserving the edible flesh of the butternut squash during the de-seeding process. In particular, the edges 6 of the surfaces 4 are preferably blunt. The tool head 3 preferably comprises a plurality of radially extending hollow ribs 7, wherein each of the surfaces 4 comprises an inner surface of one the ribs 7 that is exposed by a cutout 8 provided in the rib 7. This is best seen in the plan view of Figure 6. With reference to the direction of rotation, each of the ribs 7 comprises a front wall 9 and a rear wall 10, which each extend substantially radially and are opposed to one another wherein the exposed inner surface, which comprises the surface 4, is the inner surface of the rear wall 10 and the front wall 9 comprises the cutout 8. The front wall 9 may be substantially entirely removed by the cutout 8, as is preferred and seen in the depicted arrangement. The degree of opening may be varied by varying the size of the cutout 8, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. It should be appreciated that the tool head 3 may take alternative forms whilst defining the surfaces 4. The discussed arrangement is an exemplary arrangement only. Regardless of specific form, the tool head 3 comprises one or more openings 11 which are in communication with the recesses 5. The one or more openings 11 are configured to allow for the passage of materials, received by the recesses, therethrough, as illustrated by the arrow in Figure 5. Preferably, there are a plurality of openings 11 and each of the recesses 5 is provided adjacent to a respective one of the openings 11. Yet more preferably, the recesses 5 and openings 11 are continuous with one another, as seen in the depicted arrangement. In such case each of the cutouts 8 may be co-formed with a respective one of the openings 11. A bottom 12 of the tool head 3 is preferably substantially open and in communication with the recesses 5 and openings 11 to allow for the passage of material entering the tool head 3 through the recesses 5 out of the bottom 12. The tool head 3 is preferably substantially hollow, as seen. The tool head 3 preferably has a substantially annular profile in plan view, as best seen in Figure 6. The tool head 3 preferably has a profile that tapers towards a tip 12 of the tool head 3, as best seen in Figure 4. The tool head 3 preferably has a curved profile, as again best seen in Figure 4. The edges 6 of the surfaces 4 preferably at least partially define the tapered profile of the tool head 3. The recesses 5 preferably extend substantially to the edges 6, and preferably follow the profile of the edges 6. The tool head 3 of the depicted arrangement has six ribs, and thereby six surfaces 4, which are evenly spaced around the axis X. It should be appreciated that, whilst this arrangement is preferred, there may be arrangements that comprise more or less ribs 7 / surfaces 4. 5 The tool head 3 is appropriately sized for its express use in the de-seeding of butternut squash. The tool head 3 preferably has a maximum diameter of at least 75mm. It may be between 75 and 95mm. The tool head 3 preferably has a length in the axial direction of at least 75mm it may be between 75 and 95mm. In a non-10 limiting exemplary arrangement, the tool head 3 has a maximum diameter of 86.5mm and a height of 85mm. There is preferably a free space around and below the tool head 3, to allow for free movement of the butternut squash during a deseeding operation using the tool 1. 15 Whilst the specific form of the tool head 3 need not be limited as such, there may be provided a base portion 13 and a reaming portion 14, wherein the base portion 13 comprises an annular side wall 15 and an upper surface 16 extending radially inwards from an upper edge of the side wall 14. The side wall 15 and / or the upper surface 16 may be sloped and / or curved. The openings 11 may be formed in 20 the upper surface 16. The surfaces 14 / webs 7 may project axially from the upper surface 16. On an inside of the tool head 3, there may be provided a plurality of radial webs 17 for supporting a central column 18, which lies on the rotational axis and 25 provides for suitable attachment of the tool head to the rotary drive means 2. The central column may comprise a hole 19, which may be threaded for attachment to a drive shaft 20 of the rotary drive means 2. As will be appreciated, numerous alternative attachment means may be provided. 30 With reference to Figure 7, the butternut squash de-seeding tool 1 comprising the tool head 3 will be considered in further detail. The tool head 3 is preferably mounted with its rotation axis X substantially vertical. However, it could be otherwise oriented. Preferably, a receptacle 21 is provided beneath the tool head for collection of waste material. The form of the receptacle 21 is not particularly limited. Any form of waste extraction / processing means may be attached to the receptacle. As noted, there is preferably a free space around and below the tool head, as seen, to allow for free movement and tilting of the butternut squash during a deseeding operation using the tool. The tool head 3 may, as mentioned, be mounted to a shaft 20, wherein the tool head 3 is mounted to an upper region of the shaft 20, to provide the free space below the tool head 3. A shield 22 is preferably provided, which at least partially surrounds the tool head 3 for catching waste material. The shield 22 may be open at a front for providing access to the tool head 3 by a user. The shield 22 may comprise three sides, which may comprise metal sheets that are substantially vertical in use and are joined to one another to form a U-shaped shield in plan view. According to the present disclosure, a method of de-seeding a butternut squash may comprise cutting an end off the butternut squash to expose the seed cavity, and inserting the tool head 3 of the tool 1 into the seed cavity whilst the tool head is rotated by the rotary drive means 2. Both ends of the butternut squash may be removed prior to the de-seeding operation. The skin of the butternut squash may further be removed before deseeding. The tool 1 is highly effective at de-seeding, whilst preserving the flesh of the butternut squash and significantly reduces the time taken for preparing the butternut squash. When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the 5 disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. Although certain example embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited solely to these 10 embodiments. The claims are to be construed literally, purposively, and / or to encompass equivalents.

Claims

1. A de-seeding tool for butternut squash, the tool comprising a rotary drive means and a tool head, wherein the tool head is connected to the rotary drive means for rotation about a rotation axis of the tool head, and the tool head comprises a plurality of surfaces that each extend substantially radially with respect to the rotation axis and each define a recess that is open and faces in the direction of rotation of the tool head, and the tool head comprises one or more openings which are in communication with the recesses, the one or more openings being configured to allow for the passage of materials, received by the recesses, therethrough.

2. A de-seeding tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the surfaces are substantially concave.

3. A de-seeding tool as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the surfaces form scoops.

4. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the one or more openings comprise a plurality of openings and each of the recesses is provided adjacent to a respective one of the openings.

5. A de-seeding tool as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the recesses and openings are continuous with one another.

6. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool head comprises a plurality of radially extending hollow ribs, wherein each of the surfaces comprises an inner surface of one the ribs that is exposed by a cutout provided in the rib.

7. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a base of the tool head is substantially open.

8. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool head is substantially hollow.

9. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool has a substantially annular profile in plan view.5 10. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool headhas a profile that tapers towards a tip of the tool head.

11. A de-seeding tool as claimed in Claim 10, wherein edges of the surfaces at least partially define the tapered profile of the tool head.io12. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool head has a curved profile.

13. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool head 15 comprises no sharp edges.

14. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool head is unitarily formed.20 15. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool head isformed from metal.

16. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool head has a maximum diameter of between 75 and 95mm.2517. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool head has a length in the axial direction of between 75 and 95mm.

18. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool head is 30 mounted with its rotation axis substantially vertical, and a receptacle is provided beneath the tool head for collection of waste material.

19. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tool head is mounted to the rotary drive means by a drive shaft which extends from a base of the tool head.5 20. A de-seeding tool as claimed in Claim 19, wherein there is a free space allaround the tool head.

21. A de-seeding tool as claimed in any preceding claim, which further comprises a shield that at least partially surrounds the tool head for catching waste material..

022. A method of de-seeding a butternut squash, the method comprising cutting an end off the squash to expose the seed cavity, and inserting the tool head of the tool as claimed in any preceding claim into the seed cavity whilst the tool head is rotated by the rotary drive means.

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