Vegetable slicing shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Slicing vegetables can be cumbersome and poses a risk of cutting oneself due to the difficulty in holding or positioning the vegetative material, which may slip or roll around on a cutting surface.
Innovation Solution
A vegetable slicing shield that contains vegetative material against a cutting surface, holds bulky vegetables in position, acts as a guide for uniform slicing, and operates as a shield to reduce the risk of cutting oneself.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a person holds or positions vegetative material manually on a cutting surface, then the slicing operation can be performed, but the hands are exposed to risk of cutting and the vegetables may slip or roll around
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a slicing shield as an intermediary device between the user's hand and the vegetable. The shield has a containment basket that holds the vegetable and a shield portion that acts as a physical barrier, allowing the user to push the vegetable against a cutting surface without exposing their hand to the knife blade.
Solution Approach 2:
The slicing shield is divided into distinct functional segments: a containment basket portion that secures the vegetable, a shield portion that protects the hand, and optional guide features. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function effectively.
2Productivity
If vegetables are placed on a cutting surface for slicing, then the slicing operation can proceed, but the vegetables may slip or roll around making the exercise cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The containment basket acts as an intermediary device that secures the vegetable in a fixed position. The basket has walls that contain the vegetable and prevent it from slipping or rolling, making the slicing operation more efficient and less cumbersome.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment basket pre-positions and secures the vegetable before the slicing operation begins. This preliminary securing action eliminates the need for continuous manual adjustment during slicing, improving overall efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If no containment structure is used, then the slicing operation is simple, but uniform slice sizes are difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The shield includes optional guide features such as spaced apart tines or ribs that create uniform gaps. These segmented guide structures physically guide the knife blade to produce consistent slice thicknesses without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide features within the containment basket act as intermediaries that transfer the cutting force uniformly across the vegetable. The spaced tines or ribs provide physical references that ensure uniform slice sizes are achieved consistently.
Data Source
AI summary
A vegetable slicing shield includes a root, a u-shaped handle, and a plurality of tines. The root is medially disposed between the u-shaped handle and the tines. The u-shaped handle is coupled with the root at opposing lateral regions of a first side of the root. The plurality of tines have first ends coupled with a second side of the root and extending outward from the root to second ends which form a row spaced apart points. Open slots are defined between adjacent tines of the plurality of tines. A subset of the tines are shaped between their first ends and their second ends to form slices of a containment basket which is curved in three-dimensions.