Food-dicing device and method of use

Abstract

In food preparation in which a starting salad of ingredients of a purchased size are reduced to bite-size by dicing, rather than slicing, and use is made of a scissors-type device which uses a cutting knife urged in one direction and a food-supporting scoop urged in an opposite direction to make a chopped salad.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A food-dicing device and method of preparing a chopped salad therewith: 
 said food-dicing device comprising: 
 A. a cooperating scissors-like pair of an operable first member and of an operable second member each having a first end and a second end at opposite locations of a linear expanse of each said members;  
 B. a pivot means interconnecting said members at a medial location of said linear expanse so as to permit pivotal transverses about said pivot means;  
 C. a hand grip integral to said first ends of said members for urging said members in said pivotal traverses;  
 D. cutting knife means integral in depending relation on said second end of said first operable member; and  
 E. a scoop in a semi-circular configuration integral on said second end of said second operable member in facing relation to said cutting knife means; and  
   said method of preparing said chopped salad comprising the steps of: 
 F. selecting for said salad ingredients preliminarily in larger than bite-sized condition;  
 G. placing said selected salad ingredients in said scoop;  
 H. alternately operating in the nature of a scissors said first and second members using said handgrips thereon in pivotal transverses to simultaneously: 
 (1) urge in ascending movement said scoop with said selected salad ingredients therein, and  
 (2) urge in descending movement said cutting knife means into cutting engagement with said ascending moving-salad ingredients.  
 
 I. during intervals between said pivotal transverses stirring with said scoop said bite-sized salad ingredients to vary the deployment of said salad ingredients in said scoop to a plane of descent of said cutting knife means; and  
 J. a repeating of a carrying as deemed necessary of diced bite-sized salad ingredients upon said scoop to a site of use and emptying said scoop thereat;  
 whereby a chopped salad is prepared of diced ingredients.  
   
     
     
         2 . A food-dicing device and method of preparing a chopped salad therewith: 
 said food-dicing device comprising: 
 A. a cooperating scissors-like pair of an operable first member and of an operable second member each having a first end and a second end at opposite locations of a linear expanse of each said members;  
 B. a pivot means interconnecting said members at a medial location of said linear expanse so as to permit pivotal transverses about said pivot means;  
 C. a hand grip integral to said first ends of said members for urging said members in said pivotal traverses;  
 D. cutting knife means integral in depending relation on said second end of said first operable member; and  
 E. a scoop in a semi-circular configuration integral on said second end of said second operable member in facing relation to said cutting knife means; and  
   said method of preparing said chopped salad comprising the steps of: 
 F. selecting for said salad ingredients preliminarily in larger than bite-sized condition;  
 G. placing said selected salad ingredients in said scoop;  
 H. alternately operating in the nature of a scissors said first and second members using said handgrips thereon in pivotal transverses to simultaneously: 
 (1) urge in a selected first directional movement said scoop with said selected salad ingredients therein, and  
 (2) urge in a selected second opposite directional movement said cutting knife means into cutting engagement with said moving-salad ingredients.  
 
 I. during intervals between said pivotal transverses stirring with said scoop said bite-sized salad ingredients to vary the deployment of said salad ingredients in said scoop to a plane of movement of said cutting knife means; and  
 J. a repeating of a carrying as deemed necessary of diced bite-sized salad ingredients upon said scoop to a site of use and emptying said scoop thereat;  
 whereby a chopped salad is prepared of diced ingredients.