Bread slicing and storage device for cylindrical shaped loaves

#1. Field of the invention

#This invention relates to a bread slicing and storage unit to be used for slicing cylindrical shaped loaves of bread, such as those produced by certain automated home bread bakingmachines. The device also doubles as a bread storage unit and knife holder.

#2. Prior art

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of cover showing stored knife.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of bread slicing holder without bread or knife.

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of bread slicing holder in use showing bread and knife.

#Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view of the bread slicing holder cover. The holder cover 21, is rigid, of one piece construction, open at the bottom and conforming to, but slightly larger than the outside surface of the holder, permitting it to fit closely over the top, completely enclosing the holder and its contents. A sheath, 22 is integrated within the cover, for holding and encasing the blade of the cutting implement.

#Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of the bread slicing holder. The bread slicing holder, referred to with a numeral 10 is rigid and monolithic in construction featuring two opposing parallel slicing guide side walls, 11 which extend vertically from the base of the unit along two lateral outside edges 12. The lower two thirds of the side wall's interior surfaces are concave, forming with the concave bottom a cylindrical cavity, 13 which is open at the top along its full length, and closed at one end. This opening width is approximately 120 degrees of arc 14. As shown in FIG. 3 this cylindrical cavity matches closely with the shape of the bread loaf, but is slightly smaller, embracing itsecurely during cutting.

#The upper one-third of these side walls form the opening to the cylindrical cavity. This opening, which is a wedged shaped chute, is opened at the top and runs lengthwise with the cavity 15. As shown in FIG. 2 all surfaces of the cylindrical cavity including the flat closed end are covered with a sharp, even texture 16. This texture grips the loaf and prevents the bread from sliding or rotating during cutting. As seen in FIG. 2 from the top of this textured cavity the remaining smooth upper one third of the wall surfaces continue upward and are tapered outward, narrowing towards the top 17. The guide walls are divided by a series of evenly spaced, parallel vertical slots, 18 which descend from the top of the walls to a level just past the bottom of the curved cavity 19. Each slot becomes shallow as it traverses the bottom of the curved cavity and then joins with another slot directly across from it on the opposite guide wall. As shown in FIG. 3 these paired slots are slightly wider than the blade of the cutting implement 20 to allow the blade to pass smoothly between them guiding the blade as it slices vertically through the bread loaf.