Hand-held multi-purpose kitchen tool

A hand-held multi-purpose kitchen tool apparatus, comprising:

• a body and a handle, wherein the body comprises a piece of material having:
• a first surface extending width-wise from a first side to a second side and length-wise from a first end to a second end;
• a second surface, opposite the first surface and extending width-wise from the first side to the second side and length-wise from the first end to the second end;
• an elongated opening extending through and between the first surface and the second surface of the piece of material;
• and
• a group of openings extending through and between the first surface and the second surface of the piece of material, wherein:
• the first side of the piece of material extending from the first end to the second end is straight;
• the second side of the piece of material, opposite the first side, and extending from the first end to the second end curves inward toward the first side;
• the first end of the piece of material extending from the first side to the second side comprises a plurality of protrusions spaced apart along the first end between the first side and the second side of the piece of material;
• the second end of the piece of material extending from the first side to the second side curves outward away from the piece of material forming a protrusion at least partly along the second end extending between the first side and the second side of the piece of material;
• and
• the handle extends from the first surface of the piece of material and is configured such that a user can hold the handle to use the apparatus.

A method of using a hand-held multi-purpose kitchen tool apparatus comprising:

• a body and a handle, wherein the body comprises a piece of material having a first surface extending width-wise from a first side to a second side and length-wise from a first end to a second end;
• a second surface, opposite the first surface and extending width-wise from the first side to the second side and length-wise from the first end to the second end;
• an elongated opening extending through and between the first surface and the second surface of the piece of material;
• and a group of openings extending through and between the first surface and the second surface of the piece of material, wherein the first side of the piece of material extending from the first end to the second end is straight;
• the second side of the piece of material, opposite the first side, and extending from the first end to the second end curves inward toward the first side;
• the first end of the piece of material extending from the first side to the second side comprises a plurality of protrusions spaced apart along the first end between the first side and the second side of the piece of material;
• the second end of the piece of material extending from the first side to the second side curves outward away from the piece of material forming a protrusion at least partly along the second end extending between the first side and the second side of the piece of material;
• and the handle extends from the first surface of the piece of material and is configured such that a user can hold the handle to use the apparatus, the method comprising:
• to zest or grate a food item, holding the apparatus by the handle such that at least a portion of the user's hand is positioned adjacent to the first surface of the piece of material and opposite the second surface of the piece of material;
• positioning the group of openings of the piece of material on the food item such that the second surface of the piece of material is positioned adjacent to the food item;
• and moving the apparatus such that the group of openings moves along the food item and thereby zests or grates the food item through the group of openings from the second surface to the first surface of the piece of material, wherein at least the portion of the user's hand is shielded by the piece of material from making contact with the food item while the user is zesting or grating the food item with the apparatus;
• to cut a food item on a surface, holding the apparatus by the handle such that at least a portion of the user's hand is positioned adjacent to the first surface of the piece of material and opposite the second surface of the piece of material, positioning the first side of the piece of material on the surface such that the second surface of the piece of material is positioned adjacent to the food item positioned on the surface, and cutting the food item with a knife, wherein at least the portion of the user's hand is shielded by the piece of material from being cut by the knife while the user is holding the apparatus and cutting the food item;
• to compress a food item on a surface, holding the apparatus by the handle such that at least a portion of the user's hand is positioned adjacent to the first surface of the piece of material and opposite the second surface of the piece of material, positioning the second surface of the piece of material on the surface such that the second surface of the piece of material is positioned on the food item positioned on the surface, and moving the apparatus such that the second surface compresses the food item upon the surface, wherein at least the portion of the user's hand is shielded by the piece of material from making contact with the food item while the user is compressing the food item with the apparatus;
• to move a food item along a surface, holding the apparatus by the handle such that at least a portion of the user's hand is positioned adjacent to the first surface of the piece of material and opposite the second surface of the piece of material, positioning the first side of the piece of material on the surface such that the second surface of the piece of material is positioned adjacent to the food item positioned on the surface;
• and moving the apparatus such that the second surface moves the food item along the surface, wherein at least the portion of the user's hand is shielded by the piece of material from making contact with the food item while the user is moving the food item with the apparatus;
• to hold down and cut a food item on a surface, holding the apparatus by the handle such that at least a portion of the user's hand is positioned adjacent to the first surface of the piece of material, positioning the apparatus such that the second side of the piece of material is positioned on the food item positioned on the surface such that the second side holds down the food item on the surface, and cutting the food item with a knife, wherein at least the portion of the user's hand is shielded by the piece of material from being cut by the knife while the user is holding down the food item with the apparatus and cutting the food item;
• to pin down a food item on a surface, holding the apparatus by the handle such that at least a portion of the user's hand is positioned adjacent to the first surface of the piece of material and positioning the apparatus such that the first end of the piece of material is positioned adjacent to the food item positioned on the surface such that the protrusions of the first end pin down the food item on the surface;
• to juice a food item, holding the apparatus by the handle such that at least a portion of the user's hand is positioned adjacent to the first surface of the piece of material, positioning the protrusion of the second end of the piece of material adjacent to the food item, and moving the apparatus such that the protrusion presses against the food item and thereby extracts a liquid content from the food item, wherein at least the portion of the user's hand is shielded by the piece of material from making contact with the food item while the user is juicing the food item with the apparatus;
• and
• to slice a food item, holding the apparatus by the handle such that at least a portion of the user's hand is positioned adjacent to the first surface of the piece of material and opposite the second surface of the piece of material, positioning the elongated opening of the piece of material on the food item such that the second surface of the piece of material is positioned adjacent to the food item, and moving the apparatus such that the elongated opening moves along the food item and thereby slices the food item through the elongated opening from the second surface to the first surface of the piece of material, wherein at least the portion of the user's hand is shielded by the piece of material from making contact with the food item while the user is slicing the food item with the apparatus.