# US 12,179,373 B2 · Vegetable slicing shield > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,373 B2 - Document ID: US12179373B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/547,283 - Filed: 2021-12-10 - Published: 2022-06-16 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-11 - Assignees: Better Trick, Inc. - Applicants: Better Trick, Inc. - Inventors: James William Kramer; Daniel Stephen Jones; Joel Lieblein; Steven Drake - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179373B2 ## CPC - B26B 29/063: {Food related applications} - A47J 43/28: Other culinary hand implements, e.g. spatulas, pincers, forks or like food holders, ladles, skimming ladles, cooking spoons; Spoon-holders attached to cooking pots - 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) - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract A vegetable slicing shield includes a root, a u-shaped handle, and a plurality of tines. The root is medially disposed between the u-shaped handle and the tines. The u-shaped handle is coupled with the root at opposing lateral regions of a first side of the root. The plurality of tines have first ends coupled with a second side of the root and extending outward from the root to second ends which form a row spaced apart points. Open slots are defined between adjacent tines of the plurality of tines. A subset of the tines are shaped between their first ends and their second ends to form slices of a containment basket which is curved in three-dimensions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vegetable slicing shield comprising: a u-shaped handle configured for gripping by a human user; a medially disposed root coupled with the u-shaped handle at opposing lateral regions of a first side of the root; a plurality of tines with first ends coupled with a second side of the root and extending outward from the root to second ends which form a row of spaced apart points, wherein open slots are defined between adjacent tines, and wherein a subset of the plurality of tines are shaped between their first ends and their second ends to form slices of a containment basket which is curved in three-dimensions; and a vegetable stop coupled with a tine and with the root and configured to space a vegetative material apart from the root when the vegetative material is contained between the containment basket and a cutting surface such that a knife access region for cutting the vegetative material is provided between the root and the contained vegetative material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of angled protrusions spaced along a concave side of a tine and configured to engage with and diminish movement of bulky vegetative material contained between the containment basket and a cutting surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 1, further comprising: a raised knife guard coupled with a lateral most tine of the plurality of tines and extending substantially orthogonally from a direction of the row of spaced apart points. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 1, wherein the u-shaped handle comprises: a plurality of through holes defined within the u-shaped handle and configured to diminish collection of water during dishwashing of the vegetable slicing shield. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 1, wherein the u-shaped handle is coupled to the root at an angle which is ergonomic for human grip when vegetative material is contained between the containment basket and a cutting surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 1, wherein the u-shaped handle is configured for ambidextrous gripping by a human user of vegetable slicing shield. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 1, wherein an open slot of the open slots is narrower in width than an adjacent tine of the plurality of tines. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 1, wherein a width of an open slot of the open slots is ¼ to ½ of the width of an adjacent tine of the plurality of tines. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 1, wherein a majority of the plurality of tines are of a substantially same width as one another along their lengths between the root and their respective points in the row of spaced apart points. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 1, wherein the root, handle, and tines are formed of injection molded plastic. ### Claim 11 A vegetable slicing shield comprising: a handle configured for ambidextrous gripping by a human user; a medially disposed root coupled with the handle on a first side of the root; a plurality of tines with first ends coupled with a second side of the root and extending outward from the root to second ends which form a row of spaced apart points, wherein open slots are defined between adjacent tines, and wherein a subset of the plurality of tines are shaped between their first ends and their second ends to form slices of a containment basket which is curved in three-dimensions; and a vegetable stop coupled with a tine and with the root and configured to space a vegetative material apart from the root when the vegetative material is contained between the containment basket and a cutting surface such that a knife access region for cutting the vegetative material is provided between the root and the contained vegetative material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 11, further comprising: a plurality of angled protrusions spaced along a concave side of a tine and configured to engage with and diminish movement of bulky vegetative material contained between the containment basket and a cutting surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 11, further comprising: a raised knife guard coupled with a lateral most tine of the plurality of tines and extending substantially orthogonally from a direction of the row of spaced apart points. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 11, wherein the handle comprises: a plurality of through holes defined within the handle and configured to diminish collection of water during dishwashing of the vegetable slicing shield. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 11, wherein the handle is coupled to the root at an angle which is ergonomic for human grip when vegetative material is contained between the containment basket and a cutting surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 11, wherein an open slot of the open slots is narrower in width than an adjacent tine of the plurality of tines. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 11, wherein a width of an open slot of the open slots is ¼ to ½ of the width of an adjacent tine of the plurality of tines. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 11, wherein a majority of the plurality of tines are of a substantially same width as one another along their lengths between the root and their respective points in the row of spaced apart points. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The vegetable slicing shield of claim 11, wherein the root, handle, and tines are formed of injection molded plastic.