Grating device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a grating device (1), preferably for grating food items such as cheese or the like, said grating device (1) comprising a housing unit (2) and a compartment (3) for the food item, said housing unit (2) containing an electric motor (4), a grating unit (5) that is connected to the electric motor (4) with a grating element (6) that will remove small bits or slices of the food item when the food item in the compartment (3) is brought into contact with the grating element (6), and an outlet duct (7) for the grated food item.

Description

[0001] Grating device

[0002] Technical field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a grating device, preferably for grating food items such as cheese or the like.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] Grating devices for for instance cheese come in many different forms and shapes. Often a simple manual grater is used, but other types that are more complicated, often easy-to-use, but not so easy to clean, are also on the market. They are typically provided with a handle rotating in a generally vertical plane and a grating unit rotating around a generally vertical axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the implement, and the grated items exit the implement from the side.

[0006] Object of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a grating device which overcomes the above drawbacks of the prior art techniques and which provides a means for grating cheese in a fast and efficient way and gives the possibility of obtaining a high precision in the application of cheese to a dish.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] According to the invention said grating device comprises a housing unit and a compartment for the food item, said housing unit containing an electric motor, a grating unit that is connected to the electric motor with a grating element that will remove small bits or slices of the food item when the food item in the compartment is brought into contact with the grating element, and an outlet duct for the grated food item, wherein said electric motor, said grating unit and said outlet duct are preferably located on a generally longitudinal axis, and wherein the grating device comprises a hand grip located on an axis that is generally perpendicular to the aforementioned longitudinal axis, said hand grip serving as a housing for the compartment for the food item, and a trigger device located close to and preferably in front of the hand grip for activating the electric motor by connecting it to a power source.

[0010] Such a grating device will ensure an easy and convenient way of distributing for instance cheese on guests in a restaurant can themselves provide a dish with grated food items in a precise and fun way.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the compartment for the food item is provided in a removable unit.

[0012] In this way, it is easy to clean and reload the device.

[0013] It is preferred that the removable unit is provided with a biasing device so as to apply a force to the food item so that it is constantly pushed towards the grating element when it is ready for use, so that it is not necessary for the user to provide the force on the food item.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment the housing unit is shaped like items that are generally provided with a grip and a trigger device. This gives the grating device a distinct and interesting look.

[0015] It is especially preferred that the housing is shaped like a gun, a power drill, a rocket launcher, a grease gun, a caulking compound gun or similar, that are all devices with a natural aiming point and they will be easy and fun to use for customers in for instance a restaurant setting.

[0016] To avoid being dependent on gravity, the outlet duct of grating device according to the invention is advantageously provided with a worm-like device for transporting the grated food item from the grating unit to an outlet end.

[0017] To enhance the precision of the application of the food item it is possible to provide the outlet end of the outlet duct with means for evenly spreading the grated food item.

[0018] It is possible to control the rotation of the electric motor with electronic means but in the preferred embodiment the device comprises a gear box between the electric motor and the grating unit.

[0019] The grading device can be connected to an external power source, but in the preferred embodiment the device comprises batteries to power the electric motor.

[0020] According to the invention all elements that come into contact with the food item are easily removable from the housing and are made of food grade, dishwasher safe materials.

[0021] Brief description of the figures

[0022] Figure 1 shows the grating device according to the invention having the shape of an automatic handgun,

[0023] Figure 2 shows the grating device according to the invention in a cut open view,

[0024] Figure 4 shows the separate inner units of the grating device of Figure 1 , and Figure 5 shows an assembly of inner units.

[0025] Figure 6 shows a grating device provided with at detachable part.

[0026] References

[0027] 1 Grating device

[0028] 2 Housing unit

[0029] 3 Compartment for food item

[0030] 4 Electric motor

[0031] 5 Grating unit

[0032] 6 Grating element

[0033] 7 Outlet duct

[0034] 8 Hand grip

[0035] 9 Trigger device

[0036] 10 Batteries

[0037] 11 Removable unit

[0038] 12 Outlet end

[0039] 13 Gear box

[0040] 14 Worm

[0041] 15 Push rod

[0042] 16 Grating element cover

[0043] 17 Worm cover

[0044] Detailed description of the invention

[0045] In Figure 1 an example of a grating device 1 according to the invention is shown.

[0046] It has a form similar to a handgun. Referring also to Figure 2 which shows the inner units, the grating device 1 comprises a housing unit 2 and a compartment 3 for the food item. The housing unit 10 further contains an electric motor 4 and a grating unit 5 that is rotatably connected to the electric motor 4. The grating unit 5 serves to remove small bits or slices of the food item when the food item in the compartment 2 is brought into contact with a grating element 6 of the grating unit 5. Also shown is an outlet duct 7 for the grated food item and an outlet end 12. She shown outlet duct 7 comprises a worm 14 that will force the grated food item towards the outlet end 12. As shown, the electric motor 4, the grating unit 5, the outlet duct 7 and the outlet end 12 are all located on a generally common longitudinal axis A-A (Fig. 4). The grating device 1 further comprises a hand grip 8 located on an axis that is generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis A-A and the hand grip 8 serves as a housing for the compartment 11 for the food item. In front of the hand grip 8 a trigger device 9 is located close to the hand grip 8, and the trigger device 9 will be used for activating the electric motor 4.

[0047] The compartment 3 for the food item grip is provided in a removable unit 11 and it has means for easily securing and removing thereof. Examples of such means can be a twist lock system or a two-finger release mechanism like for a power drill battery or a pistol magazine. The compartment 3 for the food item is provided with a biasing device so as to apply a force to the food item so that it is constantly pushed towards the grating element 6.

[0048] Figure 3 shows the elements that together form the housing unit 2 along with the removable unit 11 in which the compartment 3 for the food item is located. The removable unit comprises a spring biased push rod that pushes the food item towards the grating element when released.

[0049] The device can comprise a safety switch to prevent unintentional activation of the electric motor and it is also possible to add a switch for changing the rotation of the electric motor, so that it is possible to free the food item if it should get stuck during the grating process. Figure 4 (disassembled) and 5 (assembled) shows the inner units. As shown the inner units are aligned on a common axis A-A. From right to left, the inner elements comprise an electric motor 4 and a gear box 13 with means for rotating the grating unit 5 with the grating element 6. In use, the grating element is protected by a grating element cover 16. Cheese from the grating element is moved towards the outlet end by means of a worm that is also provided with a cover. It is contemplated that all elements that come into contact with the food item, are made of food grade, dishwasher safe materials. As shown in the drawings, all these elements can easily be removed from the housing unit 2 for cleaning along with the removable unit 11 . After cleaning, the removable unit 11 will be loaded with cheese again and it will be ready for mounting in the grip again. When the removable unit 11 is in place, the push rod will be released and the cheese is forced against the grating element 6 and the grating device is again ready for use.

[0050] Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the invention, where the part 18 containing the battery and motor is adapted with snap coupling means (not shown) such that it can be dismantled from the rest of the grating device 18' having complementary snap coupling means. The part 18 and the rest of the grating device is preferably mutually adapted such that the motor 4 shaft 19 is dismantled together with the part 18, this facilitates joining when the parts are to be reassembled, as the user can easily (aim and) connect the shaft 19 with a thereto adapted part (not shown) in the rest of the grating device.

[0051] The purpose of making the part 18 removable is that these parts - which are vulnerable to water - can thereby be removed so that the rest of the grating device can be washed with water - even, for example, in a dishwasher - without the washing entailing the risk of destroying motor, battery and other electrical parts. This naturally means that hygiene can be improved as the washing process can be intensified. It is even possible to make the part 18 waterproof so that dirt cannot penetrate into it and thereby contaminate the more complex parts (such as the motor) of the grating device.

[0052] In one embodiment, the grating device includes coupling means that are adapted so that it is possible to switch between several - different - grating elements 6 made with complementary coupling means. This entails that, for example, that a user can switch between different customized grating 6 elements with different roughness depending on the type of cheese or other needs.

[0053] The removeable part 18 is preferably adapted such that it also contains the gearbox 13, however, the gearbox - provided the grating device is made with one - can also be situated in the rest of the grating device 18' depending on the need.

[0054] As stated, the grating device according to the invention is particularly suited for grating cheese, such as parmesan, but with suitable grating elements it can obviously also be used for edible roots and spices such as horse radish, carrots, nutmeg or the like.

Claims

Claims1 . Grating device (1 ), preferably for grating food items such as cheese or the like, said grating device (1 ) comprising a housing unit (2) and a compartment (3) for the food item, said housing unit (2) containing an electric motor (4), a grating unit (5) that is connected to the electric motor (4) with a grating element (6) that will remove small bits or slices of the food item when the food item in the compartment (3) is brought into contact with the grating element (6), and an outlet duct (7) for the grated food item, wherein said electric motor (4), said grating unit (5) and said outlet duct (7) are preferably located on a generally longitudinal axis (A-A), and wherein the grating device (1 ) comprises a hand grip (8) located on an axis that is generally perpendicular to the aforementioned longitudinal axis (A-A), said hand grip (8) serving as a housing for the compartment (3) for the food item, and a trigger device (9) located close to and preferably in front of the hand grip (8) for activating the electric motor (4) by connecting it to a power source (10).

2. Grating device (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the compartment (3) for the food item is provided in a removable unit (1 1 ).

3. Grating device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the removable unit (11 ) is provided with a biasing device so as to apply a force to the food item so that it is constantly pushed towards the grating element (6) when it is ready for use.

4. Grating device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing unit (2) is shaped like items that are generally provided with a grip (8) and a trigger device (9).

5. Grating device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the housing is shaped like a gun, a power drill, a rocket launcher, a grease gun, and a caulking compound gun or similar.

6. Grating device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the outlet duct (7) is provided with a worm-like device for transporting the grated food item from the grating unit (5) to an outlet end (12).

7. Grating device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the outlet end (12) of the outlet duct (7) is provided with means for evenly spreading the grated food item.

8. Grating device according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the device comprises a gear box (13) between the electric motor (4) and the grating unit (5).

9. Grating device according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the device comprises batteries (10) to power the electric motor.

10. Grating device according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein all elements that come into contact with the food item are made of food grade, dishwasher safe materials.11 . Grating device according to any of claims 8-10, wherein the batteries (10) and the electric motor are placed in a dismountable part (18).

12. Grating device according to claim 11 , wherein the batteries (10), the gear box (13) and the electric motor (4) are placed in the dismountable part 18

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