Garlic Peeler

Abstract

The present invention provides an appliance for peeling certain fruits and vegetables having a fine skin, and especially garlic, without abrading or breaking the garlic clove and without beating and scratching it, thus avoiding or minimizing damage to the garlic clove, so as to avoid or reduce dispersion of the typical garlic smell and to retain aesthetics and nutritive values thereof. It is provided a garlic clove peeler comprising a housing formed with a clove receiving compartment formed with a friction wall and a complimentary peeling element formed with a peeler surface extending adjacent the friction wall; and a displacement mechanism for displacing one or both of the friction wall and the peeling element.

1 . A garlic clove peeler comprising a housing formed with a clove receiving compartment formed with a friction wall and a complimentary peeling element formed with a peeler surface extending adjacent the friction wall; and a displacement mechanism for displacing one or both of said friction wall and said peeling element. 
   
   
       2 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the friction wall and the peeler surface of the peeling element are fitted with or made of a resilient material. 
   
   
       3 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein a gap extends between the peeling element and the friction wall surface. 
   
   
       4 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 3 , wherein the gap is uniform. 
   
   
       5 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 3 , wherein the gap is sized so as to snugly receive one or more garlic cloves. 
   
   
       6 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 3 , wherein the size of the gap is adjustable to comply with different fruit/vegetable size. 
   
   
       7 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein the displacement mechanism is a manually operated hand-crank. 
   
   
       8 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein the displacement mechanism is an electric motor, substantially accommodated within the housing.  
   
   
       9 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein substantially all components thereof are made of plastic material. 
   
   
       10 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the friction wall and the peeling element are fitted with projection and wherein the projections are in the form of bulges or ridges. 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the friction wall and the peeling element are fitted with resilient bristles. 
   
   
       13 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a top cover fitable over a base member, both made of a rigid material, said top cover supporting the peeling element projecting towards the friction wall. 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 12 , wherein the friction wall is an inner liner of the base member. 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 12 , wherein the friction wall is integrally molded with the base member. 
   
   
       19 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 12 , wherein the peeling element is retained by a retention ring articulated to the top cover. 
   
   
       20 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 12 , wherein the peeling element is detachable from the top cover. 
   
   
       21 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the friction surface and the peeling element are deformable to snugly receive a garlic clove there between. 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein the clove receiving compartment extends between a cylindrically extending friction wall that is fixedly retained within the housing and a coaxial peeling element that is rotatably secured to a cover engageable with the housing. 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein where both the friction wall and the peeping element rotate, they rotate in opposed directions. 
   
   
       27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein the peeling element is resiliently biased in direction facing the friction wall surface. 
   
   
       29 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein the size of gap of the clove receiving compartment is adjustable so as to comply with different fruit/vegetable sizes. 
   
   
       30 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the friction wall and the peeling element are replaceable. 
   
   
       31 - 36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 1 , wherein the peeling element is in the form of a balloon articulated to the shank. 
   
   
       38 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 37 , wherein the balloon is detachable from the shank. 
   
   
       39 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 37 , wherein the shank is one of a conventional mixer utensils. 
   
   
       40 . A garlic clove peeler comprising a housing formed with a clove receiving compartment formed with an inner friction wall and a complimentary peeling element rotatably supported within the clove receiving compartment, and a power mechanism for rotating said peeling element. 
   
   
       41 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 40 , wherein one or both of the friction wall and the peeling element are fitted with or made of a resilient material. 
   
   
       42 . (canceled) 
   
   
       43 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 40 , wherein the peeler element is balloon-like. 
   
   
       44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 40 , wherein the peeler element is rotatably retained within the clove receiving compartment with a gap extending there between. 
   
   
       46 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 40 , wherein the clove receiving compartment is fitted with inwardly projecting protuberances. 
   
   
       47 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 45 , wherein the gap between an inside surface of the receiving compartment and the peeler element differs along its couture between a tighter gap at a bottom portion thereof and a broader gap at an upper end thereof. 
   
   
       48 . A garlic clove peeler according to  claim 40 , wherein rotation of the peeler element is imparted by a power unit fitted at the cover or at the base member with an axle extending there from and supporting the peeler element. 
   
   
       49 - 56 . (canceled) 
   
   
       57 . A garlic clove peeling accessory for a food processor comprising a housing formed with a clove receiving compartment having an inner friction wall and a power mechanism, said peeling accessory fitted for rotation within the clove receiving compartment. 
   
   
       58 . A garlic clove peeling accessory according to  claim 57 , made of a flexible material. 
   
   
       59 . A garlic clove peeling accessory according to  claim 57 , being balloon-like. 
   
   
       60 - 65 . (canceled)