# US 12,179,372 B2 · Guard to protect a user while cutting food > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,372 B2 - Document ID: US12179372B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/497,153 - Filed: 2021-10-08 - Published: 2023-04-13 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-10-08 - Assignees: March Design LLC - Applicants: Ruixi Austin Chen; Hugo Chi Yan Tam - Inventors: Ruixi Austin Chen; Hugo Chi Yan Tam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179372B2 ## CPC - B26B 29/02: Guards or sheaths for knives - B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H) ## Abstract A guard to protect a user while cutting food (“guard”) has an outer body, a plurality of sides, and at least one grip to securely hold a piece of food within the guard. A plate is secured to the bottom of the outer body to add a further layer of protection. It is preferred that the outer body of the guard is made of a flexible material so that the sides can flex inwardly to accommodate different sizes of food. A method for using the guard to cut food has the food being placed inside the guard, the user gripping the guard and flexing the sides inwardly so that the at least one grip forms a secure connection with the outer surface of the food, and cutting the food such that the plate adds a layer of protection between the cutting instrument and the user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A guard to protect a user while cutting food comprising: a) the guard having an outer body; b) the outer body having at least one grip on an inner surface; c) a plate; d) the outer body having two sides, wherein the two sides are opposed on a pair of lateral sides of the outer body; e) at least one grip extending from each of the two sides toward the center of the guard; f) the outer body being made of a flexible material, wherein the flexible material allows a piece of food to be inserted into the guard without pulling the two sides away from each other and then, the two sides being flexed inwardly toward the piece of food to secure the piece of food in the guard; and g) the outer body being configured to be cradled by a hand of a user, at an end where the two sides join, and flexed inwardly by the hand of the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guard of claim 1 further comprising: a) the plate being positioned on a top surface of a bottom surface of the outer body; b) the outer body being a unitary piece; and c) the two sides having an opening, wherein the opening allows the knife to be inserted into the opening to cut the food without using a guide. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The guard of claim 1 further comprising: a) the plate being made of a metal, wherein the plate is configured to provide protection between a cutting instrument and a user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The guard of claim 2 further comprising: a) the plate being made of a metal, wherein the plate is configured to provide protection between a cutting instrument and a user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The guard of claim 1 further comprising: a) the outer body having at least two corners, wherein the at least two corners, on opposing sides of the outer body, are configured to be gripped by at least two digits of a user, further wherein the at least two corners are configured to allow the user to grip the at least two corners and press the two sides inwardly toward each other while a hand of the user is cradling the outer body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The guard of claim 2 further comprising: a) the outer body having at least two corners, wherein the at least two corners, on opposing sides of the outer body, are configured to be gripped by at least two digits of a user, further wherein the at least two corners are configured to allow the user to grip the at least two corners and press the two sides inwardly toward each other while a hand of the user is cradling the outer body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The guard of claim 3 further comprising: a) the outer body having at least two corners, wherein the at least two corners, on opposing sides of the outer body, are configured to be gripped by at least two digits of a user, further wherein the at least two corners are configured to allow the user to grip the at least two corners and press the two sides inwardly toward each other while a hand of the user is cradling the outer body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The guard of claim 4 further comprising: a) the outer body having at least two corners, wherein the at least two corners, on opposing sides of the outer body, are configured to be gripped by at least two digits of a user, further wherein the at least two corners are configured to allow the user to grip the at least two corners and press the two sides inwardly toward each other while a hand of the user is cradling the outer body. ### Claim 9 A method of using a guard to protect a user while cutting food comprising: a) obtaining a guard, at least one piece of food, and at least one cutting instrument, wherein the guard has an outer body and the outer body has two sides, and further wherein the two sides are opposed on a pair of lateral sides of the outer body; b) cradling the guard, at an end where the at least two sides join, wherein the guard is configured to be cradled by a hand of a user; c) placing the at least one piece of food within the outer body and between the two sides of the guard without pulling the two sides away from each other; d) flexing the two sides inwardly toward the at least one piece of food, wherein each of the at least one grip extends from each of the two sides and contacts the at least one piece of food; e) using the at least one cutting instrument to cut the at least one piece of food; and f) removing the at least one piece of food from the guard once the at least one piece of food has been cut. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising: a) gripping at least two corners on an outer body of the guard, wherein the at least two corners are configured for each corner to receive at least one digit of the user, further wherein the at least two corners are configured to allow the user to grip the at least two corners and flex the two sides toward each other while a hand of the user is cradling the outer body; and b) inserting a knife through an opening formed by the two sides, wherein the opening allows the at least one piece of food to be inserted into the opening to cut the at least one piece of food without using a guide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising: a) gripping at least two points and at least one point, of the at least two points, being on each of the at least two sides on the outer body of the guard, wherein each of the at least two points are between at least two corners, further wherein the at least two sides are configured to allow the user to grip the at least two points on each of the two sides and flex the two sides toward each other while a hand of the user is cradling the outer body; and b) inserting a knife through an opening formed by the two sides, wherein the opening allows the at least one piece of food to be inserted into the opening to cut the at least one piece of food without using a guide.