Device for holding and preparing a food product

Abstract

The device is for holding an edible food product such as a vegetable or piece of fruit in readiness for the preparation thereof. The device may be used for peeling or cutting vegetables or fruit in a safe manner. The device includes a body that is meant to be grasped by a user of the device and a set of prongs that are supported by the body and extend from a distal end of the body. The set of prongs preferably includes at least three prongs that are disposed in a parallel array and that are for piercing engagement with the edible product. An actuator rod assembly is supported by the body and includes a proximal end cap and a distal pusher piece that is meant to engage the edible product for dis-engagement thereof from the set of prongs.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A device for holding an edible product in readiness for the preparation thereof, said device comprising:
 an elongated body that is to be grasped by a user of the device;   the elongated body having proximal and distal ends with the distal end having a distal annular end surface;   a set of prongs that are supported by the body and extend from the distal annular end surface of the body;   the set of prongs including at least three prongs that are disposed in a parallel array and that are for piercing engagement with the edible product;   an actuator rod assembly supported by the body and including a proximal end cap, an elongated actuator rod and a distal pusher piece integrally formed with and disposed from a distal end of the elongated actuator rod and that is to engage the edible product for disengagement thereof from the set of prongs;   the distal pusher piece having a free end edible product contact face surface for contact with the edible product at least when the edible product is engaged so as to release the edible product away from the prongs;   the complete distal pusher piece edible product contact face surface arranged within a locus area defined by and within the position of the set of prongs;   and a biasing spring disposed in the body for urging the actuator rod assembly in a proximal direction.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  including interlock keying means between the actuator rod assembly and the body so that the motion therebetween is limited to only linear relative motion and wherein said biasing spring is disposed about the elongated actuator rod. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22  wherein the keying means inhibits the relative rotation of the actuator rod assembly relative to the body. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21  including an eye ring disposed adjacent the proximal end cap and provided as a means to assist in operating the actuator rod assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24  wherein the eye ring is removably attached about the actuator rod of the actuator rod assembly in a stationary position relative to the actuator rod. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25  wherein the eye ring is comprised of a circular ring and an attachment tab that is integral with the circular ring but disposed offset from the outer surface of the circular ring so as to accommodate different size hands using the device, the circular ring adapted for alternate fixed positioning relative to engagement with the actuator rod between a first position wherein the ring is closer to the prongs and a second position wherein the ring is further from the prongs. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 21  wherein each of the prongs of the set of prongs has a pointed end and a series of spacedly disposed engagement grooves about the prong to assist in holding the edible product to the prongs. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 21  the distal end of the elongated body having a recess for receiving the distal pusher piece therein, said recess formed in, and in part defining, the distal annular end surface. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 21  including a cover that fits over the set of prongs and fits with the distal end of the body. 
     
     
         30 . A device for holding an edible product such as a vegetable or fruit in readiness for the preparation thereof, such as for the peeling thereof said device comprising:
 an elongated body that is meant to be grasped by a user of the device and held in the hand of the user;   the elongated body having proximal and distal ends with the distal end having a distal annular end surface;   the elongated body further having an elongated and centrally dispose passage extending therethrough from the proximal end to the distal end thereof;   a set of prongs, each having a pointed end, supported by the elongated body, extending from the distal annular end surface of the elongated body and fixed in position relative to the elongated body;   the set of prongs including at least three prongs that are disposed in a parallel array and that are for piercing engagement with the edible product;   adjacent pairs of the at least three prongs constructed and arranged to be disposed in respective predetermined planes that intersect so as to form a multi-sided area therebetween;   an ejector mechanism supported by the elongated body and disposed in the centrally disposed passage in the elongated body;   the ejector mechanism including a proximal end, a distal end and an actuator rod disposed between the proximal and distal ends;   a proximal end cap arranged at the proximal end of the ejector mechanism and for manual engagement to operate the actuator rod;   a distal pusher piece arranged at the distal end of the ejector mechanism and to engage the edible product only within the multi-sided area for disengagement of the edible product from the set of prongs;   the distal end of the elongated body having a recess for receiving the distal pusher piece therein;   said recess formed in, and in part defining, the distal annular end surface;   and a biasing spring disposed in the centrally disposed passage of the elongated body, about the actuator rod and normally biased for urging the ejector mechanism in a proximal direction wherein the distal pusher piece is held in the recess at the distal end of the elongated body.   
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30  including means for permitting linear translation of the actuator rod while inhibiting rotation between the actuator rod and elongated body. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31  wherein said means for inhibiting rotation includes interlock keying means between the ejector mechanism and the elongated body so that the motion therebetween is limited to only linear relative motion. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32  wherein the interlock keying means includes at least one key on the actuator rod and a corresponding at least one slot in the centrally disposed passage in the elongated body. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 30  including an eye ring disposed adjacent the proximal end cap and provided as a means to assist in operating the ejector mechanism. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34  wherein the eye ring is removably attached about an actuator rod of the ejector mechanism and can assume two separate positions, one position in which the eye ring is closer to the prongs and another position in which the eye ring is farther from the prongs. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the eye ring is comprised of a circular ring and an attachment tab that is integral with the circular ring but disposed offset from the outer surface of the circular ring so as to accommodate different size hands using the device. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 30  wherein all of the prongs of the set of prongs has a pointed end and an opposite end imbedded in the distal end of the elongated body and a series of spacedly disposed engagement grooves are disposed about all prongs to assist in holding the edible product to the prongs. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 30  wherein the distal end of the body is circular; the set of prongs extend from the annular end surface and the at least three prongs are arranged in a triangular pattern extending equally spaced from and about the annular end surface. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 31  including a cover that fits over the set of prongs and fits with the distal end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39  in combination with a base that supports the cover when the cover is engaged with the distal end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 21  including an eye ring attached at the proximal end of the actuator rod assembly, adjacent the proximal end cap and provided as a means to assist in operating the actuator rod assembly, the eye ring being removably attached about the actuator rod, the eye ring being comprised of a circular ring and a fork-shaped attachment tab that is integral with the circular ring but disposed offset extending from an outer surface of the circular ring, the fork-shaped attachment tab having a ridge for engaging with a slot in the actuator rod so that the eye ring interlocks with and is nonrotatably fixed to the actuator rod. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 30  including an eye ring attached at the proximal end of the ejector mechanism, the proximal end cap and provided as a means to assist in operating the ejector mechanism, the eye ring being removably attached about the actuator rod, the eye ring being comprised of a circular ring and a fork-shaped attachment tab that is integral with the circular ring but disposed offset extending from an outer surface of the circular ring, the fork-shaped attachment tab having a ridge for engaging with a slot in the actuator rod so that the eye ring interlocks with and is nonrotatably fixed to the actuator rod.