Zester having scraper assembly

Abstract

A zester having an elongated body with a handle portion at one end and a cutting portion form by a plurality of raised cutting elements at the other end portion. A lower member is moveably mounted on said body beneath said plurality of cutting elements to form a collection chamber. A flexible squeegee is affixed to said lower member to scrape zest material from beneath the cutting elements as the lower member is extended outward from the housing after use of the zester.

1 . A food cutting tool comprising
 a body having an upper plate, at least a portion of said upper surface including a plurality of raised cutting elements,   a lower member being mounted on said body for manual sliding movement beneath said plurality of raised cutting elements and forming a chamber for received cut food items, and   a scraper affixed to said lower member and having a surface contacting the bottom of said upper plate to scrape cut items from said bottom for collection.   
   
   
       2 . The food cutting tool of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of raised cutting elements extend on said upper plate from adjacent an end of said body to an intermediate portion of said body. 
   
   
       3 . The food cutting tool of  claim 2  wherein said scraper is moveable from said intermediate portion of said body to adjacent said one end of said body during movement of said lower member. 
   
   
       4 . The food cutting tool of  claim 3  wherein said lower member has a generally U-shaped cross section. 
   
   
       5 . The food cutting tool of  claim 4  wherein scraper is formed from a flexible material. 
   
   
       6 . The food cutting tool of  claim 5  wherein said scraper is a squeegee. 
   
   
       7 . The food cutting tool of  claim 4  wherein said body forms a handle adjacent said plurality of raised cutting elements. 
   
   
       8 . The food cutting tool of  claim 7  wherein said tool is zester. 
   
   
       9 . The food cutting tool of  claim 1  wherein said scraper has a v-shaped cross section forming an apex to contact said lower surface. 
   
   
       10 . The food cutting tool of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of cutting elements are arranged in lateral rows on said body.