Device for cutting slices of a food product

A device for cutting slices of a food product, which comprises a handle to hold and manipulate said device;

• a structure of cutting blades in the form of the slice or piece to be cut;
• a housing between the cutting blades and said handle;
• a system for opening and closing the blades to define the size of the slice of the food product;
• and means for holding and releasing a freshly cut slice of the food product:
• wherein:
• said system for opening and closing said blades comprises lateral projections arranged at the sides of the housing, one end of said projections being connected to said blades and the other end of said projections adapted to be selectively inserted into said housing;
• said projections are adapted to slide laterally selectively;
• an actuating mechanism operatively connected to said side projections to jointly cause the blades to move, closer to or away from each other to thereby define the size of the slice of food product to be cut;
• and an element for actuating said system for opening and closing the blades, which is disposed in the handle to select the size of the slice of the food product and release the freshly cut slice;
• and
• said means for holding and releasing the freshly cut slice comprising, a retractable element which, when unactuated, is lodged within said housing and said handle, and an actuating element in the handle operatively connected to said retractable element to cause the retractable element to first extend outside the housing under the freshly cut slice of food product for holding said slice when removed from the food product, and then inwardly of the housing when the slice will be served.