GB2133681A

GB2133681A - Knife holder with frontal slots

Info

Publication number: GB2133681A
Application number: GB08334110A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel D Call
Original assignee: Fiskars Oyj
Current assignee: Fiskars Oyj
Priority date: 1983-01-20
Filing date: 1983-12-21
Publication date: 1984-08-01
Also published as: DK23284D0; FI834722A0; GB2133681B; DE3401457A1; GB8334110D0; NO840191L; SE453718B; FR2539609A1; DK23284A; SE8400236L; FR2539609B1; FI834722A; SE8400236D0

Abstract

A knife holder (10) for removably supporting kitchen knives is adapted to rest on a table or counter or hang on a wall. The holder includes an upwardly sloped upper surface (12), a generally vertical front surface (14), a plurality of slots (26) extending inwardly from these two surfaces, and an obstruction (60) near the lower end of the slots (26) so that the length of the interior portion of a slot (26) at least equals the length of a knife blade, whereas the frontal portion of a slot (down to the obstruction) is shorter than the knife blade. The holder is also provided with one or more implement receiving slots (40) extending horizontally thereinto from a side thereof for storing a scissors, a knife, a sharpener or other implement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Knife holder with frontal slots Background of the invention Field of use This invention relates generally to knife holders having blade-receiving slots therein for removably supporting kitchen knives.

Description of the prior art The prior art contains many examples of knife holders adapted to rest on a supporting surface, such as a table or counter, or adapted to be hung on a wall near a work center in a kitchen. Such prior art knife holders typicaliy comprise a body having an upper surface from which knife-blade-receiving slots extend into the body. The upper surface is either horizontal, with vertical slots extending into the body, or slanted, with vertically sloped slots extending into the body, and, when a knife is inserted into a slot, that end of the knife handle from which the knife blade extends rest on or against the upper surface.

The length of each slot is equal to or greater than the length of the blade of a knife to be supported therein and, as a result, when a knife is to be removed from the block, it must be withdrawn along the slot axis until the tip of the blade clears the upper end of the slot on the upper surface of the block. As a result, knife holders of the aforesaid character cannot be usefully located beneath a cabinet or shelf unless the clearance between the upper end of a knife handle and the underside of the cabinet or shelf is greater than the minimum distance the blade of a knife supported in the holder needs to be raised vertically to clear the upper end of the slot during removal, for example.

Summary of the present invention In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved knife holder having a plurality of slots for removably supporting a plurality of kitchen knives or the like which are of different sizes and shapes. The knife holder as adapted to rest on a surface such as a kitchen counter or table orto hang on a wall adjacent a work center in a kitchen. The knife holder is adapted for removably supporting knives of a type having a handle and a blade (thinner than the handle) extending from one end of the handle. The knife holder generally comprises a body having an upper surface, a front surface transverse to the upper surface, and a plurality of generally vertical blade-receiving slots extending inwardly into the body from both surfaces.Each slot has an interior portion at least as long as the knife blade it receives and an exposed frontal portion which is closer to the front surface of the body than is the interior portion of the slot. Blade obstructing means are located near the lower end of each slot at or near the exposed frontal portion of the slot. The distance between the upper surface of the body and the blade obstructing means is lessthan the length of the knife blade. Knife handle engaging means are located alongside the upper end of each slot, preferably in the form of a projection formed on the upper surface of the body.

In use, a knife blade is inserted into the frontal portion of the slot just high enough to clear the obstructing means, and then the knife blade tip is slid behind the obstructing means and the knife handle is brought to rest against the upper surface of the body behind the handle engaging means. A knife is removed by raising it until the handle clears the handle engaging means and until the blade tip clears the obstructing means, whereupon the knife may be tilted or moved horizontally (with tip downward) through the frontal portion of the slot.

In some embodiments, the knife holder is also adapted to removably support an implement, such as another knife, a pair of scissors, a sharpener, or the like, and is, therefore, provided with one or more implement-receiving slots extending inwardly from a side of the body.

A knife holder in accordance with the invention offers several advantages over the prior art. For example, since a knife need not be moved vertically for a distance equivalent to the length of its blade during insertion or removal from the holder, such actions are easierto accomplish. Furthermore, such a knife holder may be located or hung beneath a wall-mounted cabinet which has less clearance than would otherwise be needed to accommodate most types of prior art knife holders. The knife holder employs handle engaging means which ensures that a knife does not inadvertently or accidentally slide out of the holder through the frontal portion of the slot. The knife holder may employ a horizontaily arranged implement receiving slot which enhances its utility and, since no vertical clearance is needed for this slot, the aforementioned clearance problem is avoided.The knife holder takes the form of an article of manufacture which can be fabricated of several pre-shaped components, such as pieces of wood or plastic, which are secured together by adhesives, nails, screws or other fastening means; or can be fabricated as a one-piece or integral piece of molded plastic. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

Drawings Figure lisa perspective view of the front surface, upper surface and a side surface of a first embodiment of a knife holder in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the holder of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the holder of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-section view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the front surface, upper surface and a side surface of a second embodiment of a knife holder in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the holder of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the holder of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a cross-section view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the front surface, upper surface and a side surface of a third embodiment of a knife holder in accordance with the invention;; Figure 10 is a front elevation view of the holder of Figure 9; Figure ii is a side elevation view of the holder of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a cross-section view taken on line 12-12 of Figure 10; Figure 13 is a perspective view of the front surface, upper surface and a side surface of a fourth embodiment of a knife holder in accordance with the invention; and Figure 14 is a cross-section view taken on line 14-14 of Figure 13.

Description ofpreferred embodiments Figures 1 through 4 pertain to a first embodiment designated 10 of the invention; Figures 5 through 8 to a second embodiment 210; Figures 9 through 12 to a third embodiment 310; and Figures 13 and 14 to a fourth embodiment 410. In the following description and accompanying drawings, similar components in the several embodiments are designated by similar reference numerals.

First embodiment Referring to Figures 1 through 4, the numeral 10 designates a knife holder in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Holder 10 comprises a body 11 having an upper surface 12, a front surface 14 transverse to upper surface 12, opposite side surfaces 16 and 18, a rear surface 20 and a bottom surface 22. Upper surface 12 slopes upwardly, proceeding rearwardly from the front edge 21 thereof which meets the upper edge of front surface 14. Holder 10 may be supported during use either on a table or counter (not shown) by resting its bottom surface 22 thereon or by hanging it on a wall (not shown) by an attachment means such as a hole 24 in the rear surface 20 of the holder.

Holder 10 comprises a plurality (four) of knifeblade receiving slots, such as slot 26, which extend inwardly from the upper surface 12 and front surface 14 and is thus able to releasably support a plurality (four) of knives, such as the knife 30 shown in Figures 2 and 4.

Knife 30 comprises a knife handle 32 and a knife blade 34. Knife handle 32, which is wider and thicker than blade 34, includes a terminal end 36 and an opposite end 37 from which blade 34 extends or projects. As Figures 2 and 4 show, the end 37 of handle 32 is sloped and tapered, respectively. Blade 16 has a length L measured from blade tip 35 to the lowermost part of handle end 37.

Holder 10 also comprises an implement receiving slot 40 which extends inwardly from side surface 18 and is adapted to accommodate an implement or a portion thereof in supporting relationship, such as the closed blades 41 or a scissors 42 shown in Figure 2.

As Figure 4 shows, a blade-receiving slot 26 includes an upper slot end 50, a lower slot end 52, an interior slot portion 54 and an exposed frontal slot portion 56 which is closer to front surface 14 of holder 10 than is the interior slot portion 54.

Blade-receiving slot 26, which is shown in Figure 4 as open at its lower slot end 52, is at least as long as the length L of the knife blade 16 of knife 30.

Blade obstructing means 60 are provided near the lower slot end 52 of blade-receiving slot 26 in front of the interior slot portion 54 and at or nearthe exposed frontal slot portion 56. The distance between the top side 62 of the blade obstructing means 60 and the upper surface 12 of the body 11 of knife holder 10 adjacent the lowermost part of handle 32 is less than the length L of blade 34 of knife 30.

Handle engagement means in the form of a projection 64 are provided adjacent the upper slot end 50 of blade-receiving slot 26 and near the edge 21 where the upper surface 12 and front surface 14 of body 11 meet or intersect. The handle engagement means 64 engages the end of handle 32 of knife 30 to prevent the latter from sliding and falling forward out of slot 26 when emplaced therein.

Knife holder 10 is employed as follows. Assume that holder 10 is standing on a surface, such as a table or counter (now shown), or is hung on a wall (not shown) by means of hole 24.

To place knife 30 therein, the user grasps the knife handle 32, inserts the top 35 of knife blade 34 in a slot 26 at any position above the obstructing means 60, slides the blade tip downwardly into the slot and into the space or region behind the obstructing means 60, and brings the end 37 of knife handle 32 to rest against the upper surface 12 of body 11 behind the handle engagement means 64 on surface 12, as Figure 4 shows.

To remove the knife 30, it is necessary to grasp the handle 32 and to raise it vertically until the handle ends 37 clears the handle engagement means 64 and then to further raise it vertically (simultaneously tilting the knife forward or counterclockwise with respect to Figure 4, if desired) until blade tip 35 is above and able to clear the obstructing means 60, whereupon the knife can be withdrawn completely from holder 10 without any further vertical movement.

As Figure 2 makes clear, the blades 41 of scissors 42 are grasped and axially inserted or withdrawn from slot 40.

The knife holder 10 shown in Figures 1 through 4 is shown as constructed of pieces of wood (or possibly plastic) which are cut to appropriate size and shape and connected to one another with an appropriate adhesive (or small nails or brads) at the several joints. Knife holder 10 comprises a back-plate 70 in the form of a single piece of wood having an L-shaped groove or recess cut or routed into the inner surface thereof to define implement receiving slot 40. A series of five spaced apart blocks 72 are attached to the inner surface of back-plate 70 to define four slots 26. Each block 72 has a sloped upper end 74 defining the sloped upper surface 12.

Each block 72 has its upper edge adjacent a slot 26 cut away or bevelled as at 73 to match the configuration of the end 37 of the knife holder 32. The blocks 72 are the same height as back-plate 70 on their rear sides. Each block 72 is provided with an attached face plate 80 which is the same width but shorter in length than the block 72 and the upper corner of each face plate 80 adjacent a bevel 73 serves as the handle engagement means 64. A strip of wood 82 extends across the front of the lower ends of the blocks 72, below and in spaced relationship from the face plates 80 to provide the blade obstructing means 60.

Second embodiment Referring to Figures 5 through 8, the numeral 210 designates a knife holder in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Holder 210 also comprises body 11 having an upwardly sloped upper surface 12, a substantially vertical front surface 14 transverse to upper surface 12, opposite side surfaces 16 and 18, a rear surface 20 and a bottom surface 22.

Holder210 comprises a plurality (five) of knifeblade receiving slots, such as slot 26, which extend inwardly from the upper surface 12 and front surface 14 and is thus able to releasably support a plurality (five) of knives, such as the knife 30 shown in Figures 2and4.

Holder 210 comprises two implement receiving slots 40 and 44 which extend inwardly from side surface 18 and each is adapted to accommodate an implement or a portion thereof in supporting re lationship. Slot 40 is adapted to receive the closed blades 41 of a scissors 42 shown in Figure 2 and slot 44 is adapted to receive a sharpening stone (not shown), for example.

Blade obstructing means 60 are provided near the lower slot end 52 of blade-receiving slot 26 in front of the interior slot portion 54 and at or near the exposed frontal slot portion 56.

Handle engagement means in the form of a projection 64 are provided adjacent the upper slot end 50 of blade-receiving slot 26 and near the edge 21 where the upper surface 12 and front surface 14 of body 11 meet or intersect.

The knife holder 210 shown in Figures 5 through 8 is shown as constructed of pieces of wood (or possibly plastic) which are cut to appropriate size and shape and connected to one another with an appropriate adhesive (or small nails or brads) at the several joints. Knife holder 210 also comprises a back-plate 70 in the form of a single piece of wood. A series of six spaced apart blocks 72 are attached to the inner surface of back-plate 70 to define five slots 26. Each block 72 has a sloped upper end 74 defining the sloped upper surface 12. The blocks 72 are the same height as back-plate 70 on their rear sides. The blocks 72 have grooves or recesses cut or routed into the inner surface thereof to define implement receiv ing slots 40 and 44.Each block 72 is provided with an integrally formed face plate 80 which is the same width but shorter in length than the block 72 and the upper corner of each face plate 80 adjacent a slot serves as the handle engagement means 64. A strip of wood 82 extends across the front of the lower ends of the blocks 72, below and in spaced relation ship from the face plates 80 to provide the blade obstructing means 60.

Third embodiment Referring to Figures 9 through 12, the numeral 310 designates a knife holder in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. Holder 310 also comprises a body 11 having an upwardly sloped upper surface 12, a front surface 14 transverse to upper surface 12, opposite side surfaces 16 and 18, a rear surface 20 and a bottom surface 22.

Holder 310 comprises a plurality (five) of knifeblade receiving slots, such as slot 26, which extend inwardly from the upper surface 12 and front surface 14 and is thus able to releasably support a plurality (five) of knives, such as the knife 30 shown in Figures 2 and 4. Each slot 26 includes an upper segment 26A, an intermediate segment 26B, and a lower segment 26C.

Holder 310 also comprises two implement receiving slots 40 and 44 which extend inwardly from side surface 18 and is adapted to accommodate an implement or a portion thereof in supporting relationship. Slot 40 may receive the closed blades 41 of a scissors 42 shown in Figure 2 and slot 44 a sharpener (not shown).

The knife holder 310 shown in Figures 9 and 12 is shown as constructed of pieces of wood (or possibly plastic) which are cut to appropriate size and shape and connected to one another with an appropriate adhesive (or small nails or brads) at the several joints. Knife holder 310 also comprises a back-plate 70 in the form of a single piece of wood. The lower block has a groove or recess cut or routed into the inner surface thereof to define implement receiving slot 40. An upper block 72 is attached to the inner surface of back-plate 70 and is sawn to define five slot segments 26A. Block 72 has a sloped upper end 74 defining the sloped upper surface 12. Block 72 is shorter than back-plate 70. The upper block 72 defines the upper slot segments 26A. A single lower block 75 is provided with sawn-in lower slot segments 26C.Slot segment 26B is in the space between the upper blocks 72 and lower block 75.

Block 72 is provided with an integrally formed face plate 80 which is the same width and the same length as the front of the block 72, and the upper corner of each face plate adjacent a slot serves as the handle engagement means 64. A strip of integral wood 82 extends across the front of the block 75, below and in spaced relationship from the upper blocks 72 to provide the blade obstructing means 60.

Fourth embodiment Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the numeral 410 designates a knife holder in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Holder 410 comprises a body 11 having an upwardly slopedupper surface 12, a front surface 14 transverse to upper surface 12, opposite side surfaces 16 and 18, a rear surface 20 and a bottom surface 22.

Holder 410 comprises a plurality (five) of knifeblade receiving slots, such as slot 26, which extend inwardly from the upper surface 12 and front surface 14 and is thus able to releasably support a plurality (five) of knives, such as the knife 30 shown in Figure 14.

Holder 410 also comprises an implement receiving slot 40 which extends inwardly from side surface 18 and is adapted to accommodate an implement or a portion thereof in supporting relationship, such as the closed blades 41 of a scissors 42 shown in Figure 2.

The knife holder 410 shown in Figures 13 and 14 is shown as constructed of plastic which is molded to appropriate size and shape. Knife holder 410 comprises a back-plate 70 having an L-shaped groove or recess formed to define implement receiving slot 40.

A series of six spaced apart segments 72 define five slots 26. A section of plastic 82 extends across the lower ends of the slots 26 to provide the blade obstructing means 60.

Claims

1. As an article of manufacture, a knife holder for releasably supporting a knife having a handle and a blade comprising: an upper surface; a front surface transverse to said upper surface; a knife blade-receiving slot extending inwardly from said surfaces and at least as long as said knife blade; and blade-obstructing means located near the lower end of said slot at a distance from said upper surface shorter than the length of said knife blade to prevent insertion or removal of said knife from said holder until the tip of said knife blade is moved clear of said blade-obstructing means.

2. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 including handle engaging means located near said upper surface where said slot extends thereinto.

3. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said holder includes an implementreceiving slot extending inwardly from a surface of said holder.

4. An article of manufacture according to claim 3 including a plurality of said blade-receiving slots.

5. As an article of manufacture, a knife holder for removably supporting at least one knife having a handle and a blade extending from one end of said handle, said knife holder comprising: an upper surface: a front surface transverse to said upper surface: a blade-receiving slot extending inwardly from said surfaces, said slot having an interior portion and an exposed frontal portion closer to said front surface than said interior portion, said slot further comprising upper and lower ends, said interior portion of said slot being at least as long as said blade; and blade obstructing means near the lower end of said slot and near said exposed frontal portion of said slot, the distance between said upper surface and said blade obstructing means being less than the length of said blade.

6. An article of manufacture according to claim 5 wherein said knife holder is further adapted to removably support an implement further comprises a side surface and an implement-receiving slot extending inwardly therefrom.

7. An article of manufacture according to claim 5 or 6 wherein said knife holder comprises a plurality of said blade-receiving slots.

8. An article of manufacture according to claim 5 or 6 wherein said upper surface slopes upwardly proceeding in the direction away from said front surface, and further including knife-engaging means on said holder adjacent the upper end of said slot.

9. As an article of manufacture, a knife holder for removably supporting a plurality of knives, each knife having a handle and a blade extending from one end of said handle, said knife holder comprising: an upper surface; a lower surface; side surfaces; a rear surface; a front surface transverse to said upper, lower and side surfaces; said upper surface sloping upwardly proceeding in the direction away from said front surface and toward said rear surface;; a plurality of blade-receiving slots, each bladereceiving slot extending uninterruptedly inwardly from said front surface and extending downwardly from said upper surface, said slot having a vertically extending interior portion and a vertically extending exposed frontal portion closer to said front surface than is said interior portion, said slot further comprising upper and lower ends, said interior portion of said slot extending downwardly for a predetermined distance; handle engaging means for each slot located near and extending upwardly relative to said upper surface adjacent where said slot extends thereinto; a single blade obstructing means for each slot and located near said lower end of said slot and near said exposed frontal portion of said slot, the distance between said upper surface and said blade obstructing means being less than said predetermined distance; ; and at least one implement-receiving slot extending axially inwardly from a side surface rearwardly of said blade-receiving slots to removably support an implement.

10. An article of manufacture according to claim 9 further including another implement-receiving slot extending axially inwardly from a side surface forward of said blade-receiving slots.

11. A knife holder substantially as described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.