Multi-blade cutting device

Abstract

A cutting device especially designed for cutting up salad greens includes two blades, a rib and handles. The two blades are inter-secured to rotate together about a common axis, but are spaced apart from each other along the common axis. The rib is pivotably secured to the two blades so as to rotate about the common axis, and is curved in a direction of rotation so as to have a concave surface. The handles are integrated with the two blades and the rib to control the two blades and the rib to rotate simultaneously between open and closed positions. The concave surface of the rib is the lead surface when moving from the open position to the closed position, and the cutting edges of the two blades cross edges of the concave surface when moving from the open position to the closed position, so as to perform a cutting action.

1. Hand-operated kitchen shears comprising:
 two blades inter-secured to rotate together about a common axis and spaced apart from each other along the common axis;  
 a rib pivotably secured to said two blades so as to rotate about an axis that is substantially the same as the common axis, said rib being curved in a direction of rotation so as to have a concave surface;  
 handles integrated with said two blades and said rib to control said two blades and said rib to rotate simultaneously between opened and closed positions,  
 wherein the concave surface of said rib is the lead surface when moving from the open position to the closed position, and cutting edges of said two blades cross opposing edges along the length of the concave surface when moving from the open position to the closed position so as to perform a cutting action against the opposing edges.  
 
     
     
       2. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 1 , wherein the concave surface of said rib has ridges formed thereon, said ridges extending in directions substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said rib. 
     
     
       3. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 1 , wherein said rib comprises rib blades secured to the sides thereof so as to form the opposing edges along the length of the concave surface, and the cutting edges of said two blades cross concave edges of said rib blades when moving from the open position to the closed position so as to perform a cutting action against the concave edges of said rib blades. 
     
     
       4. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of wings secured so as to rotate with said rib, said wings extending from opposite sides of said rib in directions substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said rib. 
     
     
       5. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 4 , wherein said wings extend from said rib at positions adjacent edges of said rib opposite the concave surface. 
     
     
       6. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 5 , wherein said wings extend out from said rib along a length of said rib in the range of about 3.5 to about 6.5 cm. 
     
     
       7. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 4 , wherein said wings extend from positions proximate to edges of said rib opposite the concave surface, a space is provided between said wings and said rib along portions of said rib and wings extending from the end of said rib opposite the axis of rotation inward, and tips of said blades pass between said wings and said rib at the spaces when moved to the closed position. 
     
     
       8. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 4 , wherein, from a position closest to said rib outward in directions substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said rib, said wings slope toward a direction of movement of said rib from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
       9. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 1 , further comprising a spring mechanism that biases said rib and said blades to the open position. 
     
     
       10. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 1 , wherein said blades are curved in their planes of rotation in a direction opposite the direction of curvature of  and the concave surface of said rib have curvatures that complement each other. 
     
     
       11. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance between said two blades at equal relative positions on the cutting edges is smaller than the distance between said two blades at equal relative positions on said two blades at positions closer to edges of said two blades opposite the cutting edges. 
     
     
       12. Hand-operated kitchen shears comprising:
 a plurality of pairs of blades pivotably inter-secured to rotate about substantially the same axis, each one of said pairs of blades including a first blade and a second blade having a substantially common plane of rotation, said first blades being curved in their respective planes of rotation to have concave cutting edges;  
 a pair of wings secured so as to rotate with said first blades, said wings extending in opposite directions from different outermost first blades along the axis of rotation; and  
 two handles integrated with said plurality of pairs of blades to control said first and second blades of each one of said plurality of pairs of blades to simultaneously rotate between opened and closed positions,  
 wherein the concave cutting edges of said first blades are lead edges as said plurality of pairs of blades are rotated from the open to closed position.  
 
     
     
       13. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 12 , wherein said wings extend from said first blades at positions at or adjacent edges of said first blades opposite the concave cutting edges. 
     
     
       14. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 13 , wherein said wings extend out from said first blades along a length in the range of about 3.5 to about 6.5 cm. 
     
     
       15. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 12 , wherein, in directions substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said first blades, portions of said wings are spaced from said first blades along portions of said first blades extending from the end of said first blades opposite the axis of rotation toward the axis of rotation, and tips of said second blades pass between said wings and said first blades at the spaces. 
     
     
       16. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 12 , further comprising a spring mechanism that biases said first and second blades to the open position. 
     
     
       17. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 12 , wherein cutting edges of said second blades are curved in their planes of rotation in directions opposite that of the curvature of said  and cutting edges of said first blades are curved in respective planes of rotation to complement each other. 
     
     
       18. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 12 , wherein, from a position closest to said respective first blades outward in directions substantially perpendicular the plane of rotation of said first blades, said wings slope in a direction of movement from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
       19. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 11 , further comprising a rib positioned between an innermost two of said first blades and secured to said device so as to rotate with said first blades, said rib being curved in the same direction as said first blades so as to have a concave surface. 
     
     
       20. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 19 , wherein said innermost two first blades are secured flush against opposing sides of said rib. 
     
     
       21. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 11 , wherein an innermost two first blades are secured to each other so as to form a rib, said rib having a concave surface bounded by said concave cutting edges of said innermost two first blades. 
     
     
       22. Hand-operated kitchen shears comprising:
 a first blade secured to said device so as to rotate about an axis, said first blade having a cutting edge;  
 a scoop secured to said device so as to rotate about an axis that is substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said first blade, said scoop having (a) a concave scooping surface opposing a cutting edge of said first blade and (b) a second cutting blade secured to  on the scooping surface, the second cutting blade having a concave cutting edge; and  
 handles integrated with said first blade and said scoop to control said first blade and said scoop, including the second blade, to simultaneously rotate between open and closed positions,  
 wherein (a) a  the concave cutting edge of the second blade of said scoop is a lead edge when moving from the open position to the closed position, (b) the second blade's cutting edge and the first blade's cutting edge cross so as to perform a cutting action when moving from the open position to the closed position, and (c) said scoop supports the second blade so as to prevent the second blade from contacting surfaces positioned below said scoop.  
 
     
     
       23. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 22 , wherein the concave scooping surface is curved in directions both perpendicular to and parallel with a  the plane of rotation of said first blade. 
     
     
       24. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 23 , wherein the concave scooping surface has ridges formed thereon, the ridges extending in directions substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said first blade. 
     
     
       25. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 23 , further comprising a spring mechanism that biases said scoop and said first blade to the open position. 
     
     
       26. The hand-operated kitchen shears according to  claim 23 , wherein the cutting edge of the second blade is curved in its plane of rotation in a direction opposite that of the curvature of the cutting edge of said first blade  the cutting edge of the first blade is curved convexly in its plane of rotation. 
     
     
       27. Hand-operated kitchen shears comprising:
 a blade secured to said device so as to rotate about an axis, said blade having a cutting edge;  
 a scoop secured to said device so as to rotate about an axis that is substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said blade, said scoop having (a) a concave scooping surface opposing a cutting edge of said blade, with the concave scooping surface being curved in directions both perpendicular to and parallel with a  to define a curvature that extends both within and transverse to the plane of rotation of said blade, and (b) a cutting blade formed on the scooping surface; and  
 handles integrated with said blade and said scoop to control said blade and said scoop, including the cutting edge, to simultaneously rotate between open and closed positions,  
 wherein the cutting edge of said scoop (a) is a lead edge when moving from the open position to the closed position and (b) crosses the blade's cutting edge so as to perform a cutting action when moving from the open position to the closed position.  
 
     
     
       28. Hand-operated kitchen shears comprising:
 a blade secured to said device so as to rotate about an axis, said blade having a cutting edge;  
 a scoop secured to said device so as to rotate about an axis that is substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said blade, said scoop having (a) a concave scooping surface opposing a cutting edge of said blade, and (b) a cutting edge formed on the scooping surface, the radius of curvature of  the scooping surface cutting edge at a most severe curve of the cutting edge being in the range of  having about 30 to 90 degrees of arc; and  
 handles integrated with said blade and said scoop to control said blade and said scoop, including the cutting edge, to simultaneously rotate between open and closed positions,  
 wherein the cutting edge of said scoop is (a) a lead edge when moving from the open position to the closed position and (b) crosses the blade's cutting edge so as to perform a cutting action when moving from the open position to the closed position.  
 
     
     
       29. Hand-operated kitchen shears comprising:
 a blade secured to said device so as to rotate about an axis, said blade having a cutting edge;  
 a scoop secured to said device so as to rotate about an axis that is substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said blade, said scoop having (a) a concave scooping surface opposing a cutting edge of said blade, and (b) a cutting edge formed on the scooping surface; and  
 handles integrated with said blade and said scoop to control said blade and said scoop, including the cutting edge, to simultaneously rotate between open and closed positions,  
 wherein the cutting edge of said scoop (a) is positioned away from a lengthwise edge of said scoop, toward the center of said scoop, (b) is a lead edge when moving from the open position to the closed position and (c) crosses the blade's cutting edge so as to perform a cutting action when moving from the open position to the closed position.  
 
     
     
       30. Hand-operated kitchen shears comprising:
 a blade secured to said device so as to rotate about an axis, said blade having a cutting edge;  
 a scoop secured to said device so as to rotate about an axis that is substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said blade, said scoop having (a) a concave scooping surface opposing a cutting edge of said blade and (b) a cutting edge formed on the scooping surface; and  
 handles integrated with said blade and said scoop to control said blade and said scoop, including the cutting edge, to simultaneously rotate between open and closed positions,  
 wherein (a) the cutting edge of said scoop is a lead edge when moving from the open position to the closed position, (b) the scoop's cutting edge and the blade's cutting edge cross so as to perform a cutting action when moving from the open position to the closed position and (c) the curvature of said blade substantially machines the curvature of said scoop along the length of the scoop, and (d) the scoop's cutting edge is a concave cutting edge opposing the blade's cutting edge.  
 
     
     
       31. A hand- operated food - chopping device comprising:      two blades secured to rotate together in the same direction, at the same time, about a common axis and spaced apart from each other along the common axis, each blade having a cutting edge;        a scoop pivotably secured to the two blades so as to rotate about an axis that is substantially the same as the common axis, the scope having a concave surface; and        handles integrated with the two blades and the scoop to control the two blades and the scoop to rotate between open and closed positions,        wherein, when moving from the open position to the closed position the blades' cutting edges are the lead edges of the blades and the concave surface of the scoop is the scoop's lead surface, and wherein the concave surface is capable of supporting food such that the cutting edges of the two blades chop the food supported by the scoop when moving from the open position to the closed position.     
     
     
       32. The hand- operated food - chopping device according to    claim 31   , wherein the concave surface of the scoop has a curvature that extends within the plane of rotation of the scoop, and a curvature that extends transverse to the plane of rotation of the scoop.   
     
     
       33. The hand- operated food - chopping device according to    claim 32   , wherein the concave surface of the scoop has side edges and the plane of rotation of each of the blades intersects the concave surface along a line that is intermediate the scoop's side edges.   
     
     
       34. The hand- operated food - chopping device according to    claim 33   , wherein the cutting edge of each of the blades is curved in its plane of rotation and at least a portion of that curvature substantially matches the curvature of the scoop in the plane of rotation of that blade.   
     
     
       35. The hand- operated food - chopping device according to    claim 34   , wherein the scoop blocks the two blades from contacting surfaces positioned below the scoop.   
     
     
       36. A hand- operated food - chopping device comprising:      a blade secured so as to rotate about an axis of rotation, the blade having a cutting edge;        a food - supporting scoop secured so as to rotate about an axis that is substantially the same as the axis of rotation of the blade, the scoop having side edges and a concave surface that opposes the cutting edge of the blade, with the concave surface being curved to define a curvature that extends both within and transverse to the plane of rotation of the blade; and        handles integrated with the blade and the scoop to control the blade and the scoop to rotate between open and closed positions,        wherein  ( a )  the concave surface of the scoop is the lead surface when moving from the open position to the closed position,  ( b )  the blade's plane of rotation intersects the scoop along a line that is intermediate the scoop's side edges, and  ( c )  the blade's cutting edge chops food supported by the scoop when moving from the open position to the closed position.     
     
     
       37. The hand- operated food - chopping device according to    claim 36   , wherein the cutting edge of the blade is curved in its plane of rotation and at least a portion of that curvature substantially matches the curvature of the scoop in the plane of rotation of the blade.   
     
     
       38. The hand- operated food - chopping device according to    claim 37   , wherein the scoop blocks the blade from contacting surfaces positioned below the scoop.   
     
     
       39. A hand- operated food - chopping device comprising:      a blade secured so as to rotate about an axis of rotation, the blade having a cutting edge;        a food - supporting scoop secured so as to rotate about an axis that is substantially the same as the axis of rotation of the blade, the scoop having side edges and a concave surface that opposes the cutting edge of the blade; and        handles integrated with the blade and the scoop to control the blade and the scoop to rotate between open and closed positions,        wherein  ( a )  the concave surface of the scoop is the lead surface when moving from the open position to the closed position,  ( b )  the blade's plane of rotation intersects the scoop along a line that is intermediate the scoop's side edges, and  ( c )  the blade's cutting edge chops food supported by the scoop when moving from the open position to the closed position.     
     
     
       40. The hand- operated food - chopping device according to    claim 39   , wherein the cutting edge of the blade is curved in its plane of rotation and at least a portion of that curvature substantially matches the curvature of the scoop in the plane of rotation of the blade.   
     
     
       41. The hand- operated food - chopping device according to    claim 40   , wherein the scoop blocks the blade from contacting surfaces positioned below the scoop.   
     
     
       42. Hand- operated kitchen shears comprising:      at least one blade having a blade's cutting edge;        at least one opposing concave cutting edge;        a scoop having a concave curvature with a bottom;        handles integrated with the at least one blade and the scoop;        a pivot connection that is arranged to enable the at least one blade and the at least one opposing cutting edge to rotate about the pivot connection between open and closed positions in response to movement of the handles relative to each other so that the blade's cutting edge and the opposing cutting edge cross each other to perform a cutting action when moving from the open position to the closed position, the opposing cutting edge being between the bottom of the concave curvature and the at least one blade while the at least one blade and the at least one cutting edge are in the open position, the handles being arranged to abut each other in response to the at least one blade and the at least one opposing cutting edge reaching the closed position; and        a locking mechanism arranged to lock the handles while the handles abut each other in the closed position.     
     
     
       43. Hand- operated kitchen shears comprising:      at least one blade having a convex cutting edge;        a scoop having a concave surface;        handles;        a pivot connection that pivotally connects the scoop to the at least one blade and is arranged to enable the at least one blade to rotate about the pivot connection relative to the scoop between open and closed positions in response to movement of the handles relative to each other, the handles being arranged to abut each other in response to the at least one blade reaching the closed position, wherein the blade is positioned so as to chop food supported on the surface of the scoop when the blade moves to the closed position; and        a locking mechanism arranged to lock the handles together while the handles abut each other in the closed position.     
     
     
       44. Hand- operated kitchen shears comprising:      at least a pair of blades each having a respective cutting edge;        a scoop being elongated and having a dimension transverse to a direction of elongation of the scoop that is wider than a distance between the blades;        handles; and        a pivot connection that pivotally connects the scoop to each of the blades and is arranged to enable the at least one blade to rotate about the pivot connection relative to the scoop between open and closed positions in response to movement of the handles relative to each other.     
     
     
       45. The hand- operated kitchen shears as in    claim 44   , wherein the handles abut each other in response to the at least one blade and the at least one opposing cutting edge reaching the closed position.   
     
     
       46. The hand- operated kitchen shears as in    claim 45   , further comprising a locking mechanism arranged to lock the handles while the handles abut each other during the closed position.   
     
     
       47. The hand- operated kitchen shears of    claim 1   , wherein each of the two blades contacts one of the opposing edges along the concave surface of the rib when moving from the open position to the closed position.   
     
     
       48. The hand- operated kitchen shears according to    claim 27   , wherein the cutting edge on the scooping surface is plastic.   
     
     
       49. The hand- operated kitchen shears according to    claim 48   , wherein the cutting edge on the scooping surface is square with the scooping surface.   
     
     
       50. The hand- operated kitchen shears according to    claim 48   , wherein the cutting edge on the scooping surface is a raised portion of the scooping surface.   
     
     
       51. The hand- operated kitchen shears according to    claim 48   , wherein the blade contacts the cutting edge on the scooping surface when moving from the open position to the closed position.