Melon wedger

A device for slicing food and non-food items, said device comprising:

• a base, having a plurality of vertical and independent legs, each said leg having an upper portion and a lower portion;
• each said lower portion providing a separate foot for standing on a fixed surface;
• each said upper portion comprising a substantially horizontal segment terminating on a centrally fixed sleeve;
• a removable blade assembly comprising a plurality of blades creating a plurality of voids therebetween, wherein disposed on each of said legs is a projection, and further wherein disposed on said blade assembly are a plurality of U-shaped elements that correspond in size, shape, orientation and location to said projections such that said blade assembly may be removably attached to said base at said projections;
• a press mechanism including a removable contoured press complementary to said removable blade assembly, wherein said contoured press comprises a plurality of punch elements corresponding in size and shape to said plurality of voids in said blade assembly such that said punch elements may be inserted into said voids during operation of said device, and further wherein said contoured press includes slidable attachment means for removably attaching said contoured press to said press mechanism and an upper element having a planar edge and said press mechanism includes a channel therein for receiving said planar edge of said contoured press, wherein said press mechanism is attached to said base by means of guides attached to said press mechanism, wherein said guides engage said legs;
• a slide for catching falling sliced food and non-food items wherein said slide catches said food and non-food items in an upper portion of said slide located directly below said voids and gravity causes said food and non-food items to move to a lower portion of said slide, said lower portion terminating outside an enclosed area circumscribed by said feet of said legs;
• and
• a movable lever handle attached to said base and to said press mechanism for forcing said food and non-food items against said base assembly to thereby slice said food and non-food items, wherein said fixed sleeve guides a lever rod up and down to thereby raise and lower said press mechanism and a spring forces said lever rod upwards, wherein said movable lever handle is attached to said base by means of a hinged element and wherein said lever rod is attached to said press mechanism such that pressing down on said lever handle forces said lever rod down and thereby forces said press mechanism towards said blade assembly.