Patent Application
20060111030
The present invention relates to a manual, one-piece, durable, plastic, (but not limited to plastic), solid-bodied construction knife sharpener, and more particularly, to a knife sharpener that utilizes four each straight, specifically angled, in-line, stationary, 0.156″ diameter, sharpening rods that have been affixed into the knife sharpener's durable, plastic, solid-bodied construction. This manual knife sharpener can be hand held or mounted in a number of ergonomic, stationary positions. There are four each mounting holes and/or hang holes within the body of the knife sharpening unit. When mounting this manual knife sharpening unit in a stationary capacity, only two mounting holes are used at a time. When using this manual knife sharpening unit for hanging, any one of the two, notched holes, positioned on each of the corners by the handle, can be used. The notch is cut down into the body area to allow for easy positioning for a clasp-type attachment.
This manual knife sharpening system has two sets of four each in-line, 0.156″ diameter, sharpening rods to a set, known as a “quad rod sharpening system”. Each set of quad rods has been positioned to be at angles different from one another. The #1 positioned, specifically angled, in-line set of stationary, 0.156″ diameter, sharpening rods has angles that will specifically sharpen thin, flexible knives, along a blade's edge. These sharpening rods can be made of, but not limited to, a hardened stainless steel, tungsten steel, carbide steel, diamond rod or ceramic rod material.
The #1 position is also capable of thinning out the angles on a thicker knife blade, along the angle of that knife blade's edge. Thicker knife blades, that have been properly thinned to angles formed by the #1 positioned, specifically angled, in-line set of 0.156″ diameter, stationary, sharpening rod, can then be further refined to final cutting edge angles prepared within the #2 position, specifically angled, in-line set of stationary sharpening rods.
The #2 positioned, specifically angled, in-line set of 0.156″ diameter, stationary sharpening rods, has angles that properly realign and refine a stiff, thicker, knife blade edge angle, whose angles are different from those of thin knife blades also used to sharpen Scalloped edge, slicing type knife and/or bread knife.
We have the only manual knife sharpening system that can effectively sharpen within the interior radius and total surface area of a scalloped edge's blade length. The four each, 0.156″ diameter quad rods, distribute a more even surface pressure and contact along the length of the scalloped blade's surface, avoiding too much pressure in a given area of the knife blade, when compared to a single set of sharpening rods. A single set of sharpening rods has only two points of contacts, which places too much pressure in a given area of the knife blade's edge, resulting in less refinement, possible tearing, ripple, malformed, jagged blade edge. As a result, the knife edge's microscopic teeth will be malformed, overly thinned, weakened, jagged, missing and/or undefined.
These four each specifically angled. in-line, stationary sharpening rods have been made in a 0.156″ diameter, specifically for the purpose of producing an ultra-fine, microscopic, knife blade cutting edge. An ultra-fine microscopic cutting edge is one that has been properly formed, creating the maximum amount of cutting teeth, which are 500 per length of inch, on a knife blade's edge. Having a set of four quad rods, instead of two, will make it possible to distribute the surface pressure of the knife blade over the four points of contact. By the knife blade's making even, surface contact on all four quad rods, it becomes possible for the knife blade's angle to be perfectly aligned, on a vertical, horizontal and parallel line, when compared to the inconsistencies of a single set of two each sharpening rods, which can pitch in any direction.
This unit also houses a manual Scissor Sharpener.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved knife sharpener.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a knife sharpener that is more durable, more versatile, safer, and easier to use in either a hand held or a mounted position.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to improve on the current manual, single rod sharpening system that is either hand held, or mounted. This quad rod, hand held or mounted sharpening unit, will be used within these areas: professional culinary institutes, restaurants, sportsmen, retail professions, the processing industry, (beef, pork, poultry and fish), domestic kitchens, utility purposes, anyone who needs to sharpen and realign a knife blade's edge. Sharpening rods that are controlled to provide optimal angles and pressures and which obtain even and consistent edge realignment and/or edge retrieval, regardless of the sharpening technique being employed by the particular person who sharpens the knife.
It is another object of this present invention to create a durable, low-cost, on-line, knife sharpener for the beef, pork, poultry and fish industries that can be easily mounted, ergonomically, to more specifically accommodate awkward areas that other larger, knife sharpeners cannot fit into. This will also be the only hand held/mountable, quad rod, knife-sharpening unit to be designed for the specific needs of the processing industry.
It is another object of this present invention to put into place the advantages of a quad rod knife sharpening system; one that makes it possible to distribute even amount of surface pressure on the knife blade when positioned within the quad rods' four points of contact, resulting in a more refined, microscopic cutting edge. A traditional, two contact point sharpening rod system, is disadvantageous because it places too much pressure in that given area of the knife blade's edge, resulting in less refinement, especially if used with too much force. Too much force and improper sharpening techniques can tear, ripple and divot a final, knife's edge angle. As a result, the knife's edge's microscopic teeth will be malformed, overly thinned, weakened, jagged, missing and/or undefined.
It is another object of this present invention, that by having a sharpening system implementing a set of four quad rods, instead of two, makes it possible to distribute the surface pressure of the knife blade over the four points of contact. By the knife blade's making even, surface contact on all four quad rods, it becomes possible for the knife blade's angle to be perfectly aligned, on a vertical, horizontal and parallel line, when compared to the inconsistencies of a single set of two each sharpening rods, which can pitch in any direction. (Putting the skill into the sharpening process through unskilled hands means to compensate for lack of skill through design improvements. The quad rod sharpening system was developed to easily keep a knife blade's edge angle in proper alignment and keep it sharp. Labor that is brought into processing facilities and/or professional and institutional kitchens, etc., is mostly unskilled in the art of knife sharpening. The proper and consistent sharpening angles that can be achieved through the quad rod sharpening system, will quickly lend professionalism to those unskilled hands.)
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.
Overall Peripheral Dimensions:
With reference to the drawings and primarily
Mounting Holes and Hang Holes:
There are four 0.210″ holes 55a, 55b, 55c and 55d in
The number “2”, (36) positioned adjacent to the #2 sharpening slot 40, is molded or etched onto the housing material as a visual and physical marking for the #2 sharpening slot 40. The number “2” (36) denotes the type of knife and angle used to be sharpened within the #2 sharpening slot 40. The number “1”, (35) positioned adjacent to the #1 sharpening slot 30, is molded or etched onto the housing material as a visual and physical marking for the #1 sharpening slot 30. The number “1” (35) denotes the type of knife and angle used to be sharpened within the #1 sharpening slot 30.
Extra Large Handle Opening:
A extra large handle opening 50 cut through the total thickness ¾″ thickness of the housing material, allows a liberal amount of room for a hand for the insertion of the users hand measures 1.750″×3.8750, may also contain ridges forming a better grip for fingers. This design feature application is specifically geared for all processing plants that use and wear cotton, rubber and/or cut gloves.
Sharpening Slot for Right-Handed Shears/Scissors: 56
Two 5/16″ wide×1¼″ long, off-set slots, located along the left edge of the sharpening unit, intersect at a center point for a total equaling 3/16″. All of the slotted areas are cut entirely through the ¾″ thickness of the housing material. A specifically hardened, individual, 1¾″ long×⅛″ round, stainless steel rod is inserted through the slotted area, at a specific degree of angle and drilled at the center point through the ¾″ housing material to intersect through the point where both 5/16″ wide×1¼″ long, off-set slots intersect, equaling 3/16″ open width. This 3/16″ open area adjoins both off-set slots and provides the necessary space for the specifically hardened, round ⅛″ stainless steel or carbide rod to pass through. The ⅛″ rod is compressed at both ends through a press fit or molding method, within the body of the housing material and is exposed only within the open-slotted areas. (To identify the right handed shear location, “RIGHT HANDED SCISSORS” is etched or molded onto the housing's outer side of the slot location.)
Knife Sharpening Slot #2 40
A “V” shaped slot 25, positioned ¾″ in from the bottom left corner of
Knife Sharpening Slot #1 30
A “V” shaped slot 20, positioned ¾″ in from the top left corner of
Numeral Descriptions for the #2 and #1 Knife Sharpening Slot Positions:
The number “2”, (36) positioned adjacent to the #2 sharpening slot 40, is molded or etched onto the housing material as a visual and physical marking for the #2 sharpening slot 40. The number “2” (36) denotes the type of knife and angle used to be sharpened within the #2 sharpening slot 40. The number “1”, (35) positioned adjacent to the #1 sharpening slot 30, is molded or etched onto the housing material as a visual and physical marking for the #1 sharpening slot 30. The number “1” (35) denotes the type of knife and angle used to be sharpened within the #1 sharpening slot 30.
Overall Peripheral Dimensions:
With reference to the drawings and primarily
Mounting Holes and Hang Holes:
With reference to the drawings and primarily
Extra Large Handle Opening:
A extra large handle opening 50 cut through the total thickness ¾″ thickness of the housing material, allows a liberal amount of room for a hand for the insertion of the users hand measures 1.750″×3.8750, may also contain ridges forming a better grip for fingers. This design feature application is specifically geared for all processing plants that use and wear cotton, rubber and/or cut gloves
Sharpening Slot for Left-Handed Shears/Scissors: 56a
Two 5/16″ wide×1¼″ long, off-set slots, located along the left edge of the sharpening unit, intersect at a center point for a total equaling 3/16″. All of the slotted areas are cut entirely through the ¾″ thickness of the housing material. A specifically hardened, individual, 1¾″ long×⅛″ round, stainless steel rod is inserted through the slotted area, at a specific degree of angle and drilled at the center point through the ¾″ housing material to intersect through the point where both 5/16″ wide×1¼″ long, off-set slots intersect, equaling 3/16″ open width. This 3/16″ open area adjoins both off-set slots and provides the necessary space for the specifically hardened, round ⅛″ stainless steel or carbide rod to pass through. The ⅛″ rod is compressed at both ends through a press fit or molding method, within the body of the housing material and is exposed only within the open-slotted areas. (To identify the left-handed shear location, “LEFT HANDED SCISSORS” is etched or molded onto the housing's outer side of the slot location.)
Knife Sharpening Slot #2 (40)
A “V” shaped slot 25, positioned ¾″ in from the bottom right corner of
Knife Sharpening Slot #1 (30)
A “V” shaped slot 20, positioned ¾″ in from the top right corner of
Numeral Descriptions for the #2 and #1 Knife Sharpening Slot Positions:
The number “2”, (36) positioned adjacent to the #2 sharpening slot 40, is molded or etched onto the housing material as a visual and physical marking for the #2 sharpening slot 40. The number “2” (36) denotes the type of knife and angle used to be sharpened within the #2 sharpening slot 40. The number “1”, (35) positioned adjacent to the #1 sharpening slot 30, is molded or etched onto the housing material as a visual and physical marking for the #1 sharpening slot 30. The number “1” (35) denotes the type of knife and angle used to be sharpened within the #1 sharpening slot 30.
Sharpening Slot for Left-Handed Shears/Scissors
Located on the left side of the sharpening unit, within
When pulling the blades out of the sharpening rod area, the shear blade edges should not make surface contact with the sharpening rod. The shear blades can only be properly sharpened in a forward motion.
Sharpening Slot for Right-Handed Shears/Scissors
Located on the left side of the sharpening unit, within
The sharpening rods 15e and 15g crossing one another and 15f and 15h crossing one another at a V-shaped intersection point 25, the location of slot 2, (40). With reference to the drawings and primarily
A “V” shaped slot 20, 1-⅛″ long×½″ wide at the base, is radius at the base that is easy to clean and provides an easy, open area for the drilling or molding of four each, individual, off-set, specifically same degree, angled, slotted areas for the proper intersection of 2″ long×⅛″ round, in-line, off-set, specifically hardened, stainless steel, carbide or diamond rods, set at specifically same-degree angles, inserted through a pressure-fit or molded method 15a, 15b, 15c and 15d. (The 4 each off-set, in line, specifically same-degree, sharpening rod angles are set to create and refine edges on thin, flexible knife blades and stiff, thick blades that have narrow, hollow ground angles. Can be used to thin down and prepare edge angles for sharpening position #2.) The sharpening rods 15a and 15c cross one another and the sharpening rods 15b and 15d crossing one another at a V-shaped intersection point 20, the location of slot 1, 30.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments, thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art, or to those who work with these units on a daily basis. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited, not by specific disclosure herein, but only be appended claims.
