| 摘要 |
A device for creating partial cuts, such as transverse spiral cuts, into an elongated food product, such as hot dogs, frankfurters, and wieners, the device having an upper housing section with at least one top blade and a lower housing section with at least one bottom blade, wherein closing the top housing on top of the lower housing with the elongated food product inside allows the top blades and the bottom blades to partially cut through the elongated food product creating a helical groove pattern around the outer surface of the elongated food product while leaving an inner core intact. The device may also have guide channels to guide a skewer through the inner core for easy removal of the food product from the housing. The device can also be provided as a kit with skewers, modified tongs, and a heating unit to cook the food product in the housing. |
| 主权项 |
1. A device for creating generally transverse grooves in a sausage-like food product, the device comprising an elongated housing having a front side, a back side opposite the front side, a first end adjacent to the front side and the back side, and a second end opposite the first end and adjacent to the front side and the back side, the elongated housing defining a longitudinal axis through the first and second ends, the housing comprising:
a. a top housing section comprising a top wall defining a top cavity, and a plurality of top blades protruding downward from the top wall, each top blade having a top-front end adjacent to the front side of the housing, a top-back end adjacent to the back side of the housing, and a top intermediate portion therebetween, each top blade generally parallel to each other and defining a top space therebetween, wherein the top-front end and the top-back end of each top blade is axially offset relative to each other such that the top-back ends of each top blade are closer to one of the first or second ends of the housing relative to their respective top-front ends of the top blades, wherein the intermediate portion is shorter than the top-front end and the top-back end, wherein the top housing section at the first end comprises a first top channel coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis when the housing is closed, and wherein the top housing section at the second end comprises a second top channel coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis when the housing is closed, wherein the second top channel is defined by a first top gap between two bilaterally arranged top-arcuate walls at the second end and a second top gap between two bilaterally arranged top-protrusions at the second end, wherein the two bilaterally arranged top-arcuate walls and the two bilaterally arranged top-protrusions define a top-arcuate channel therebetween generally transverse to the second top channel; and b. a bottom housing section comprising a bottom wall defining a bottom cavity, and a plurality of bottom blades protruding upward from the bottom wall, each bottom blade having a bottom-front end adjacent to the front side of the housing, a bottom-back end adjacent to the back side of the housing, and a bottom intermediate portion therebetween, each bottom blade generally parallel to each other and defining a bottom space therebetween, wherein the bottom-front end and the bottom-back end of each bottom blade is axially offset relative to each other such that the bottom-front ends of each bottom blade are closer to one of the first or second ends of the housing relative to their respective bottom-back ends of the bottom blades, wherein the bottom intermediate portion is shorter than the bottom-front and bottom-back ends, wherein the bottom housing section at the first end comprises a first bottom channel coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis, and wherein the bottom housing section at the second end comprises a second bottom channel coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis, wherein the second bottom channel is defined by a first bottom gap between two bilaterally arranged bottom-arcuate walls at the second end and a second bottom gap between two bilaterally arranged bottom-protrusions at the second end, wherein the two bilaterally arranged bottom-arcuate walls and the two bilaterally arranged bottom-protrusions define a bottom-arcuate channel therebetween generally transverse to the second bottom channel, c. wherein when the top housing section and the bottom housing section are coupled together along the back side so as to adopt an open configuration in which the top cavity and the bottom cavities have been moved away from each other so as to be exposed, and a closed configuration in which the top cavity is positioned directly over the bottom cavity, wherein when the housing is in the closed configuration, the top blades are offset from the bottom blades such that the top blades and the bottom blades alternate from the first end to the second end, and wherein in the closed configuration, the first top channel and the first bottom channel are aligned to create a first cylindrical hole, coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis, and the second top channel and the second bottom channel are aligned to form a second cylindrical hole coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis. |
