# US 2014/0197256 A1 · Device and method for chopping organic matter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197256 A1 - Document ID: US20140197256A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/740,196 - Filed: 2013-01-12 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-12 - Inventors: Edward Boes; Katie Boes; LuVerne Boes; Lillian Boes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197256A1 ## CPC - B26B 29/063: {Food related applications} - B26B 3/04: for performing several incisions simultaneously; Multiple-blade knives - B02C 2201/066: for garden waste - 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) - B02C: CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN ({household tools and machines for pulverising foodstuffs, e.g. coffee and spice mills A47J42/00; pharmaceutical mortars A61J3/02; mechanical processing of refuse and garbage B03B9/06; dressing mould materials by grinding B22C5/04}; obtaining metallic powder by crushing, grinding or milling B22F9/04; {recovery of plastics by disintegrating B29B17/00; crushing raw materials in starch making C08B30/02; beaters for papermaking D21D1/02; crushing devices specially for transport in mines E21F13/002; slag crushing devices F23J1/00; fuel milling devices in combustion apparatus F23K1/00; household devices for crushing coal F24B15/02; ice disintegrating devices F25C5/02}) ## Abstract A device and method for chopping organic matter includes a chopping device consisting of a handle and a plurality of flat, sharpened blades attached radially around one end of the handle's axis; a chopping board, which acts as a chopping surface and conforms to the inside, bottom shape of a containment vessel; and the containment vessel, which stores, contains, and transports organic matter for chopping and handling. The chopping board is placed on the inside bottom surface of the containment vessel, organic matter is placed into the containment vessel and on top of the chopping board, and the chopping device is placed inside the containment vessel. The chopping device is repeatedly thrust downward, chopping the organic matter between the chopping board and the chopping device. Embodiments of the chopping device and the chopping board may be scaled proportionally to fit predetermined sizes of containment vessels. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A composting tool, comprising: a. a handle of sufficient size to accommodate use by a human being in an upright position b. a plurality of blades of equal size and equal shape with the bottom edge of said blades having a sharpened edge c. a means for joining said blades at one end of said handle perpendicular to the length of said handle so said blades surround said handle's axis evenly and orient said sharpened edges downward. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composting tool of claim 1 wherein said handle is elongated whereby a human being can use said composting tool in a standing position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The composting tool of claim 1 wherein said blades are composed of flat steel of predetermined thickness. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The composting tool of claim 1 wherein said blades have shaped outside corners whereby said shaped outside corners prevent damage to the inside of said containment vessel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The composting tool of claim 4 wherein said shaped outside corners are rounded. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The composting tool of claim 1 wherein said means of joining said blades to said handle is comprised of a steel tube welded to said blades and mechanically fastened to said handle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The composting tool of claim 1 wherein said blades and said means of joining said blades are combined as a plurality of stamped steel parts mechanically fastened to said handle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The composting tool of claim 1 wherein said blades and said means of joining said blades are combined into a single cast iron assembly mechanically fastened to said handle. ### Claim 9 A chopping board, comprising: a. a material of predetermined thickness and strength to withstand repeated impacts of said blades b. a shape of said material conforming to the inside bottom of a containment vessel of predetermined size c. a means of removing said chopping board from said containment vessel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The chopping board of claim 9 wherein said shape is a circle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The chopping board of claim 10 wherein said shape conforms to the inside bottom surface of a standard 5-gallon pail. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The chopping board of claim 10 wherein said shape conforms to the inside bottom surface of a standard 1-gallon pail. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The chopping board of claim 9 wherein said material is polypropylene. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The chopping board of claim 9 wherein said means of removing said shape is a single notch of predetermined size on the perimeter of said shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The chopping board of claim 9 wherein said means of removing said shape includes a plurality of notches of predetermined size on the perimeter of said shape. ### Claim 16 A method of chopping organic matter, comprising: a. providing a containment vessel of predetermined size b. providing a chopping board and inserting said chopping board into said containment vessel c. providing said organic matter and inserting said organic matter into said containment vessel so that said organic matter rests on-top of said chopping board d. providing a composting tool and inserting said composting tool into said containment vessel so that said composting tool is positioned above said organic matter e. thrusting said composting tool firmly downward so that said composting tool chops through said organic matter and contacts the top surface of said chopping board f. repeating said thrusting movement until said organic matter is of desired chopped size g. removing said composting tool from said containment vessel h. removing said organic matter from said containment vessel whereby said organic matter is now chopped and can be easily added to compost. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein said containment vessel is a standard 5-gallon pail. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein said containment vessel is a standard 1-gallon pail.