The present invention generally relates to craft knives. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a craft knife handle that is configured to securely hold a cutting blade without the need to engage with a hole or notch in the cutting blade. Embodiments of the craft knife handle further include a no-roll design and safety cap.
A craft knife is a cutting tool that is commonly used in a variety of applications. Standard craft knives handles are generally configured to hold cutting blades by engaging with holes or notches formed in the cutting blade. In certain circumstances, it may not be possible to manufacture a cutting blade that has the appropriate holes or notches due to design limitations of particular materials. As an illustrative example, forming a hole or notch in a ceramic cutting blade compromises the strength of the ceramic cutting blade and increases the manufacturing costs. If the craft knife handle does not engage with a notch or hole in the cutting blade, then the cutting blade may not be secured sufficiently so as to prevent unwanted movement or shifting of the cutting blade within the craft knife handle. This issue can be further exacerbated by manufacturing tolerances in both the cutting blade and craft knife handle that cause a looser than intended fit between the cutting blade and the craft knife handle.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a craft knife handle that can securely hold a cutting blade without the need to engage with a hole or notch formed in the cutting blade, while also being able to account for manufacturing tolerances of cutting blades. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be explained and will become obvious to one skilled in the art through the summary of the invention that follows.
Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a craft knife handle that can securely hold a cutting blade without the need to engage with a hole or notch in the cutting blade. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a craft knife handle that can securely hold a cutting blade that is formed without any engagement holes or notches, including ceramic cutting blades. Furthermore, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a craft knife handle with a well-balanced and ergonomic feel, including a weighted design for balance and stability, as well as an anti-slip control grip.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a craft knife handle comprising: a handle body formed as a single continuous unit and comprising a front segment formed with a blade slot, a middle segment formed with a collar engagement means, and a rear segment formed with at least one flat facet, wherein the blade slot extends through the front segment and terminates as a blade slot recess that is formed as an indentation in the middle segment that tapers down in height as the blade slot recess extends into the middle segment, and a handle collar formed as a tube with a handle body engagement means on an interior portion of the handle collar.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the craft knife handle further comprises a safety cap.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the safety cap is formed with at least one flat facet, each of which corresponds to one of the flat facets on the rear segment.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the craft knife handle further comprises a cutting blade.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the handle body is substantially cylindrical in shape.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the blade slot is formed entirely through the front segment and passes through the longitudinal axis of the front segment.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the collar engagement means is a threaded portion formed on the middle segment.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the collar engagement means defines the front boundary of the middle segment.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the blade slot recess begins extending into the middle segment at the front boundary.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the blade slot begins as a V-shaped notch in a front tip of the front segment.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the blade slot recess is adapted to abut with one or more rear edges of a cutting blade to prevent vertical movement of the cutting blade within the blade slot.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front tip of the interior portion of the handle collar has sloped segment connecting between a first interior diameter segment and a second interior diameter segment that has a larger diameter than the first interior diameter segment.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the handle body engagement means is a threaded portion formed on an interior portion of the handle collar.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a craft knife handle comprising: a handle body formed as a single continuous unit and comprising a front segment formed with a blade slot, a middle segment formed with a collar engagement means, and a rear segment formed with at least one flat facet, wherein the blade slot extends through the front segment and terminates as a blade slot recess that is formed as an indentation in the middle segment that tapers down in height as the blade slot recess extends into the middle segment, and a handle collar formed as a tube with a handle body engagement means on an interior portion of the handle collar, wherein a front tip of the interior portion of the handle collar has sloped segment connecting between a first interior diameter segment and a second interior diameter segment.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second interior segment of the handle collar has a larger diameter than the first interior diameter segment of the handle collar.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the collar engagement means and the handle body engagements means are corresponding threaded portions that enable the handle collar to reversibly tighten around the handle body to secure a cutting blade within the blade slot.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sloped segment is configured to apply pressure to the front segment of the handle body to squeeze the cutting blade within the blade slot.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a craft knife handle comprising: a handle body formed as a single continuous unit and comprising a front segment formed with a blade slot, a middle segment formed with a collar engagement means, and a rear segment formed with at least one flat facet, wherein the blade slot extends through the front segment and terminates as a blade slot recess that is formed as an indentation in the middle segment that tapers down in height as the blade slot recess extends into the middle segment, a handle collar formed as a tube with a handle body engagement means on an interior portion of the handle collar, a safety cap that is configured to slide over and engage with either end of the handle body via a friction fit, and a cutting blade that is inserted into the blade slot and secured in the blade slot by the handle collar.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the blade slot recess is configured to receive the cutting blade to prevent vertical movement of the cutting blade within the blade slot.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flat facet of the rear segment of the body is configured to prevent unwanted rolling of the craft knife handle.
The foregoing summary of the present invention with the preferred embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention. It should be understood and obvious to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention thus described may be further modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present invention generally relates to craft knives. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a craft knife handle that is configured to securely hold a cutting blade without the need to engage with a hole or notch in the cutting blade. Embodiments of the craft knife handle further include a no-roll design and safety cap.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the craft knife handle described herein primarily comprises a handle body and a handle collar. In some embodiments, the craft knife handle further comprises a cutting blade and a safety cap. Certain embodiments of the craft knife handle may include fewer components or additional components depending on the utilization and purpose for the craft knife handle. Embodiments of the craft knife handle may be formed in a variety of designs and optionally configured with any combination of components with departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the handle body of the craft knife handle is a single, continuously formed unit. In a preferred embodiment, the handle body may be primarily cylindrical in shape and comprises a front segment configured to receive cutting blade, a middle segment configured to engage with the handle collar, and a rear segment formed with a no-roll flat facet. In the preferred embodiment, the front segment is formed with a blade slot that begins as a V-shaped notch in the front tip of the handle body and extends as a slot along the length the front segment. The middle segment includes a threaded portion that defines the front boundary of the middle segment is adapted to engage with a corresponding threaded portion on the inside of the handle collar. The rear segment is configured with at least one flat facet that prevents the craft knife handle from rolling. In the preferred embodiment, the front segment has a smaller diameter relative to the middle segment and the middle segment has a smaller diameter relative to the rear segment. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are many suitable designs for a craft knife handle, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated to take advantage of any such design.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a blade slot is formed in the front segment of the craft knife handle. In a preferred embodiment, the blade slot is an opening formed continuously from the top to the bottom of the front segment and passes through the longitudinal axis of the front segment. The blade slot begins as a V-shaped notch at the tip of the front segment, continues through the front segment and terminates at a blade slot recess that is formed in the front of the middle segment of the craft knife handle. In the preferred embodiment, the width and height of the blade slot are sufficient to the accommodate the thickness and height of the desired cutting blade, while the length of the blade slot is sufficient to allow the rear portion of the cutting blade to sit in the blade slot recess and the front portion of the cutting blade to extend beyond the front tip of the craft knife handle.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a blade slot recess is formed in the front of the middle segment of the craft knife handle. In a preferred embodiment, the blade slot recess is a notch, indentation, groove, or similar depression that extends into the middle segment of the craft knife handle and is configured to provide a friction fit with the rear portion of the cutting blade by engaging with the rear edges of the cutting blade. In the preferred embodiment, the blade slot recess begins at the point where the threading begins on the middle segment of the craft knife handle. As the blade slot recess extends into the craft knife handle, the blade slot recess initially has the same height as the rest of the blade slot, but begins to taper down in height from both the top and bottom of the blade slot recess. The taper of the blade slot recess may appear as two ridges or bumps, with one on the top side of the blade slot recess and another on the bottom. The tapering of the blade slot recess enables a tighter fit between the craft knife handle and the cutting blade, as the tapered blade slot recess compensates for various manufacturing tolerances in cutting blades, as well as the craft knife handle. When a cutting blade is inserted into the blade slot in the front segment of the craft knife handle, the rear portion of the cutting blade is eventually pushed into the blade slot recess where the tapering height of the blade slot recess causes the blade slot recess to firmly grip the edges of the cutting blade. By firmly gripping the edges of the cutting blade, the blade slot recess reduces or eliminates blade wiggle or shifting that can result from manufacturing tolerance in the cutting blade, in particular vertical wiggle that is caused by tolerances in the height of the cutting blade.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the middle segment of the handle body is configured with a collar engagement means that enables the handle body to reversibly engage with the handle collar. In a preferred embodiment, the collar engagement means on the middle segment is formed as a threaded portion that reversibly engages with a corresponding threaded portion on the interior of the handle collar. The threaded portion of the handle body allows the handle collar to be tightened onto the handle body to secure the cutting blade within the blade slot.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rear segment of the handle body is formed with at least one flat facet to prevent unwanted rolling of the craft knife handle. In a preferred embodiment, the rear segment is formed with a raised flat portion that extends off of the otherwise generally cylindrical shape of the handle body. In the preferred embodiment, the raised flat portion prevents unwanted rolling of the craft knife handle when the craft knife handle is placed on a surface. Additionally, the rear segment also forms the rear tip of the craft knife handle. The rear tip of the craft knife handle may be configured to receive the safety cap of the craft knife handle, with the safety cap being pushed onto and over the rear tip of the handle body and being secured with a friction fit.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the handle collar of the craft knife handle may be primarily tubular in shape and is configured to reversibly engage with the handle body of the craft knife handle, as well as being the portion of the craft knife handle by which craft knife handle is generally held while the user is making cuts. In a preferred embodiment, the handle collar is configured as a tube with a handle body engagement means formed on at least a portion of the interior of the handle collar. In preferred embodiment, the handle body engagement means is configured to engage with the collar engagement means on the handle body. The handle body engagement means of the handle collar is preferably formed as a threaded portion on the interior of the handle collar. In the preferred embodiment, the threaded portion of the handle collar is configured to engage with a corresponding threaded portion on the collar engagement means of the handle body. When the handle collar is threaded onto the handle body, the handle collar causes the blade slot of the handle body to tighten against and firmly grip the front and rear faces of the cutting blade so that the cutting blade is held securely within the blade slot in the front segment of the handle body. Conversely, as the handle collar is loosened from the handle body, the cutting blade can be removed or replaced. In the preferred embodiment, the front tip of the handle collar has a slightly smaller diameter than the rest of the interior of the handle collar. The exterior diameter of the handle collar is smallest at the front tip of the handle collar and gradually increases to the full diameter of the handle collar, leaving most of the handle collar to be the larger diameter. The interior diameter of the handle collar begins with a slightly small diameter for a short segment, and then gradually increases to the full interior diameter roughly in parallel with the outside diameter, thereby creating a handle collar that has front tip that has slightly smaller diameter relative to the rest of the handle collar. In the preferred embodiment, the short smaller interior diameter segment of the handle collar is connected to the larger diameter remainder of the handle collar by a sloped segment. By changing diameter via a sloped segment, as opposed to in a stepped fashion, the handle collar of the craft knife handle generates an increased gripping force on the first segment of the handle body, without damaging the handle body. Additionally, the handle collar may be weighted and made from a material such as copper to provide a weighted balance to the craft knife handle. Furthermore, the handle collar may be textured or otherwise configured with an anti-slip grip to allow for a secure grip and precise control of the craft knife handle. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are many suitable designs for a handle collar of a craft knife, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for use with any such design.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the blades used in the craft knife handle of the present invention may be constructed from a ceramic material that is capable of withstanding extended use without becoming dull or unusable. Ceramic materials appropriate for such construction include, but are not limited to, Zirconium Oxide. In certain cases, manufacturing costs and other design limitations of blade made from ceramic materials require that the blades be formed without and holes or notches, which can weaken the strength of a ceramic blade. However, the handle collar and handle body of the craft knife handle of the present invention are adapted to securely hold a cutting blade without the need to engage with a hole or notch formed in the cutting blade. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerous ceramic materials that could be utilized with embodiments of the present invention. Alternatively, embodiments of the present invention may be used with standard craft knife blades.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the blades used in the craft knife may contain rounded tips to reduce the chance of injury.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the craft knife handle may further include a safety cap that is configured to reversibly attach to both the front tip and the rear tip of the craft knife handle via friction fit between the safety cap and the craft knife handle. In particular, the safety cap engages with the front tip of the craft knife handle by sliding over handle collar at the front segment of the handle body and engages with the rear tip of the craft knife handle by sliding over the rear segment of the handle body. In a preferred embodiment, the craft knife handle may be formed with at least one flat facet to provide for a no-roll design. When the craft knife handle is not being used, the safety cap can be pushed onto and over the front tip of the craft knife handle, thereby covering the cutting blade to improve safety and prevent wear on the cutting blade. When the craft knife handle is being used, the safety cap can be secured to the rear of the craft knife handle, thereby keeping the safety cap together with the craft knife handle and reducing the chance the safety cap becomes loss or otherwise misplaced from the craft knife handle. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are many suitable designs for a safety cap, and embodiments of the present invention are contemplated for to take advantage of any such design.
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It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. The invention is capable of myriad modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.