Pivotally-Leveraged Manual Centrifugal Drive

Abstract

A pivotally-leveraged manual centrifugal drive according to a preferred embodiment of the invention for use with a bowl and a basket formed to nest within the bowl, comprising: a) a housing formed to mate with the bowl; b) a rotation wheel rotatably connected to the housing, formed to mate with the basket, and having a plane of rotation; c) a handle pivotally attached to the housing and oriented to move in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the rotation wheel; and d) gears connecting the handle to the rotation wheel. Also disclosed are an automatic clutch that engages the rotation wheel only when the handle is moved in one direction, and a braking mechanism that includes a disk having a diameter substantially smaller than the rotation wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A. device for use with food items, comprising:
 an assembly including a bowl and a lid formed to mate with the bowl, the lid defining a handle axis of rotation, the bowl defining a holding area;   a handle mechanism pivotally coupled to the lid and rotatable about the handle axis of rotation;   an inner member rotatable about an inner member axis of rotation to spin food items, if any, in the holding area, the inner member axis of rotation being non-parallel with and spaced apart from the handle axis of rotation; and   a drive-train configured to rotate the inner member and including a slidable member, the slidable member being movable along at least a portion of the lid when the handle mechanism is rotated about the handle axis of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drive-train includes a gear that rotates as the slidable member moves in response to the handle mechanism rotating about the handle axis of rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the slidable member is movable away from the inner member axis of rotation towards an outermost. periphery of the lid as the handle mechanism rotates about the handle axis of rotation. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the slidable member is positioned between a rotatable handle of the handle mechanism and the inner member as the handle rotates about the handle axis of rotation. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the slidable member moves along a path that is substantially parallel to a plane containing a top rim of the inner member. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a gear member engageable with the slidable member such that substantially linear movement of the slidable member causes rotation of the gear member and rotation of the inner member. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner member axis of rotation passes through the handle mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drive-train is configured to cause rotation of the inner member when a handle arm of the handle mechanism moves towards a position in which the handle arm is substantially parallel to the lid. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the slidable member is within the lid and is moveable along a substantially linear path. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the slidable member physically engages and causes rotation of a gear member connected to the inner member as the slidable member is moved along the gear member. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the slidable member comprises at least one tooth positioned to engage the gear member. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner member includes a perforated basket. 
     
     
         13 . A device for use with food items, comprising:
 an apparatus defining a holding area;   a basket positioned within the apparatus and rotatable about a basket axis of rotation;   a handle mechanism pivotally coupled to the apparatus and rotatable about a handle axis of rotation spaced apart from the basket axis of rotation, the handle mechanism extending from the handle axis of rotation across at least a portion of an imaginary projection of the basket taken along the basket axis of rotation such that the basket axis of rotation passes through the handle mechanism at least when the handle mechanism is in a lowered position; and   a drive-train including a slidable member, the drive-train being configured to rotate the basket about the basket axis of rotation in response to the handle mechanism rotating about the handle axis of rotation to move the slidable member relative to the apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the slidable member reciprocates linearly when the handle mechanism is moved between a raised position and the lowered position. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the drive-train includes a gear mechanism including at least one spur gear that is rotatable to cause linear movement of the slidable member. 
     
     
         16 . The device of clam  13 , wherein the slidable member is linearly movable away from the basket axis of rotation towards an outer periphery of the apparatus in response to movement of the handle mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the slidable member moves along a path that is substantially parallel to a plane containing a top rim of the basket. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the handle mechanism extends across at least most of the imaginary projection of the basket. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a gear member engageable with the slidable member such that substantially linear movement of the slidable member causes rotation of the gear member and rotation of the basket. 
     
     
         20 . A device for use with food items, comprising:
 a handle having a first end and an opposing second end;   an assembly including a bowl and a lid formed to mate with the bowl, the lid being configured to be removably coupled to the bowl, the bowl defining a holding area, the first end of the handle being rotatable about a handle axis of rotation, wherein at least a portion of the lid covering the holding area is positioned between the handle axis of rotation and the holding area when the lid is coupled to the bowl;   an inner member rotatable about an inner member axis of rotation to spin food items, if any, in the holding area, the inner member axis of rotation being non-parallel with and spaced apart from the handle axis of rotation, the lid extending outwardly away from the handle axis of rotation past the second. end of the handle when the handle is in a lowered position; and   a drive-train configured to rotate the inner member, the drive-train including a slidable member that moves along the lid as the handle is moved between a raised position and the lowered position.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the slidable member reciprocates linearly when the handle is moved between the raised position and the lowered position. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the slidable member is linearly movable away from the inner member axis of rotation towards a periphery of the assembly in response to movement of the handle. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the inner member includes a basket, and the slidable member moves along a path that is substantially parallel to a plane containing a top rim of the basket. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the handle extends across at least most of an imaginary projection of the inner member when the handle is in the lowered position. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 20 , further comprising a gear member engageable with the slidable member such that substantially linear movement of the slidable member causes rotation of the gear member and rotation of the inner member.