Hand-held slicer

Abstract

A hand-held slicing device having a handle connected to a slicing tray. The slicing tray includes a ramp leading to a fixed blade. The ramp is readily adjustable such that the height of the edge of the ramp most closely adjacent the blade can be raised or lowered. In one version, the ramp can be raised or lowered by sliding a support structure connected to a knob that can be slideably adjusted by the user's thumb. The device may include a series of julienne blades that are selectively extendable above the slicing ramp or retractable below the ramp.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A slicing device, comprising:
 a tray defining a plane and having a proximal end and a distal end, an upper surface and a lower surface;   an elongated handle secured to the proximal end of the tray and extending away from the proximal end of the tray;   a guide having a first side and a second side, with the tray positioned between the first side and the second side of the guide;   a ramp forming a portion of the tray, the ramp having a first end and a second end, an upper surface and a lower surface, the first end being pivotally secured to the slicing device such that the ramp is pivotable through a range of motion including a first position in which the upper surface of the ramp lies substantially within the plane defined by the upper surface of the tray and a second position in which the upper surface of the ramp is pivoted toward the lower surface of the tray;   a blade secured to the distal end of the tray, the blade having a sharpened edge and being positioned on the distal end of the tray such that the sharpened edge is closely adjacent the second end of the ramp when the ramp is in the first position;   a brace engaged with the ramp, at least one of the ramp and the brace having an incline surface and the other of the ramp and the brace having an engagement surface for contacting the incline surface, whereby movement of the brace with respect to the ramp causes the engagement surface to contact a different portion of the incline surface and to pivotally move the ramp; and   a knob adjacent the handle and connected to the brace, the knob being moveable along a longitudinal path linearly aligned with the handle, the longitudinal path extending along the upper surface of the tray, the knob further being positioned to be operable by a thumb of a user's hand when the hand is grasping the handle to cause a corresponding movement of the brace.   
     
     
         2 . The slicing device of  claim 1 , wherein the incline comprises a plurality of steps. 
     
     
         3 . The slicing device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of steps are formed on the lower surface of the ramp and the engagement surface is formed on the brace. 
     
     
         4 . The slicing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a channel formed in the tray adjacent the handle, the knob being slideably moveable within the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The slicing device of  claim 4 , wherein the ramp is integrally formed with the tray. 
     
     
         6 . The slicing device of  claim 4 , wherein the ramp is formed separately from the tray, the ramp further having a pair of pivot pins for pivotally securing the ramp to the tray. 
     
     
         7 . The slicing device of  claim 1 , wherein the knob is positioned on the upper surface of the tray. 
     
     
         8 . The slicing device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the distal end of the tray further comprises a scalloped surface. 
     
     
         9 . The slicing device of  claim 1 , wherein the knob is positioned at a juncture where the handle joins to the upper surface of the tray. 
     
     
         10 . A slicing device, comprising:
 a tray defining a plane and having a proximal end and a distal end, an upper surface and a lower surface;   a handle secured to the proximal end of the tray and extending away from the tray;   a guide having a first side and a second side, with the tray positioned between the first side and the second side of the guide;   a ramp forming a portion of the tray, the ramp having a first end and a second end, an upper surface and a lower surface, the first end being pivotally secured to the slicing device such that the ramp is pivotable through a range of motion including a first position in which the upper surface of the ramp lies substantially within the plane defined by the upper surface of the tray and a second position in which the upper surface of the ramp is pivoted toward the lower surface of the tray;   a blade secured to the distal end of the tray, the blade having a sharpened edge and being positioned on the distal end of the tray such that the sharpened edge is closely adjacent the second end of the ramp when the ramp is in the first position;   a means for supporting the ramp at the first position and the second position; and   a knob operatively connected to the means for supporting the ramp, the knob being moveable along a longitudinal path aligned with the handle and operable by a thumb of a user when grasping the handle to cause a corresponding pivotal movement of the ramp.   
     
     
         11 . The slicing device of  claim 10 , wherein the knob is positioned at a juncture where the handle joins to the upper surface of the tray. 
     
     
         12 . The slicing device of  claim 11 , further comprising a trough formed in the upper surface of the tray, the knob being slideably moveable within the trough. 
     
     
         13 . The slicing device of  claim 12 , wherein the means for supporting the ramp is configured to support the lower surface of the ramp. 
     
     
         14 . A slicing device, comprising:
 a tray defining a plane and having a proximal end and a distal end;   an elongated handle secured to and extending away from the proximal end of the tray, the tray and handle combining to form an upper surface and a lower surface of the device;   a guide having a first side and a second side, with the tray positioned between the first side and the second side of the guide;   a ramp forming a portion of the tray, the ramp having a first end and a second end, an upper surface and a lower surface, the first end being pivotally secured to the slicing device such that the ramp is pivotable through a range of motion including a first position in which the upper surface of the ramp lies substantially within the plane defined by the tray and a second position in which the upper surface of the ramp is pivoted at least partially below the plane defined by the tray;   a blade secured to the distal end of the tray, the blade having a sharpened edge and being positioned on the distal end of the tray such that the sharpened edge is closely adjacent the second end of the ramp when the ramp is in the first position;   a brace engaged with the ramp, the brace having a moveable engagement surface for contacting the ramp, whereby movement of the brace causes pivotal movement of the ramp; and   a knob positioned on the upper surface of the device and connected to the brace, the knob further being positioned to be operable by a thumb of a user's hand when the hand is grasping the handle to cause a corresponding movement of the brace.   
     
     
         15 . The slicing device of  claim 14 , wherein the knob is moveable along a longitudinal path. 
     
     
         16 . The slicing device of  claim 15 , wherein the longitudinal path is linearly aligned with the handle. 
     
     
         17 . The slicing device of  claim 16 , further comprising a channel formed in the upper surface of the tray, the knob being slideably moveable within the channel.