EP0365280B1

EP0365280B1 - A knife, blade and tape measure

Info

Publication number: EP0365280B1
Application number: EP89310653A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frederick John Keil
Original assignee: AMBLELORD Ltd
Current assignee: AMBLELORD LTD.
Priority date: 1988-10-17
Filing date: 1989-10-17
Publication date: 1995-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-17
Also published as: EP0365280A1; CA2000737A1; AU4403589A; EP0438448A1; ATE116892T1; WO1990004501A1; DE68920539D1

Abstract

A blade (41) for a knife (40) has a slot (42,43) for receiving the hooked part (44,45,46) of the free end of a tape measure. Preferably, the blade (41) has two slots (42,43). A tape measure is correspondingly adapted by having a double hook end part (44,45,46). By this means, a workman can insert the end part of the tape measure in the slot or slots so that a plaster board or the like can be cut to a desired width more easily. In addition, a handle (51) for a knife of the type having a replaceable blade (53,100) comprises a mounting portion to hold the blade in the handle. A reinforcing portion (52) extends from the mounting portion so as to lie at least partially over the top of the blade (53,100). The reinforcing portion (52) has a recess (59) into which at least part of the top of the blade locates in use.

Description

The present invention is directed to a knife, and more particularly to a replaceable blade for a knife, and to a tape measure.
In order to cut plaster or other boards to a desired width, a workman will often use a knife of the type having a replaceable blade together with a tape measure of the type which is extendable and lockable and which has a hooked portion at its free end, instead of marking the board for cutting. The hooked part of the tape is either placed over the upper edge of the blade and held in position by the workman placing his thumb on top of the tape or simply abuts the face of the blade and is held in that position by the workman. The other hand is used to grasp the tape measure housing and then both hands are drawn down the plasterboard or the like, applying pressure on the blade so as to cut into the board. This is a very quick method, since it obviates the need for drawing the line of cut beforehand. However, since the workman must hold the tape in position on or against the knife blade, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to apply sufficient pressure to cut sufficiently far into the board. In addition, the tape easily slides off or away from the knife blade, giving rise to inaccurate cutting or injury to the workman.
US-A-4255856 discloses an attachment for a utility knife which is fitted into the handle of the knife adjacent the blade, the attachment having a slot for receiving a tape measure.
GB-A-2153283 discloses a "survival" knife which has an orifice in its blade to which can be fixed various tools, for example hooks to form a harpoon.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blade, for a knife, characterised in that the blade has a pair of adjacent slots for receiving the hooked part of the free end of a tape measure adapted to be received in the slots.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a knife of the type having a replaceable blade, comprising a handle and a blade, characterised in that the blade has a pair of adjacent slots for receiving the hooked part of the free end of a tape measure adapted to be received in the slots.
By this means, the hooked end of the tape measure may be located in the slots in the blade, and does not need holding in place by the workman during cutting of the board.
The slots are preferably elongate apertures in the blade, and may be parallel to the edge of the body of the knife adjacent to the blade. Alternatively, the slots may be provided at some other angle, for example, parallel to the upper and/or lower edges of the blade.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided in combination, a replaceable blade for a knife and a tape measure provided with a hook end part, characterised in that the blade has a pair of adjacent slots and in that the hooked end part of the tape measure is adapted to be received in the slots.
The invention further includes a tape measure comprising a tape having an end part with a hook on one side only, characterised in that the hook is bifurcated to form a pair of hook portions on either side of a slit extending the full length of the hook portions, whereby the hook end part is receivable by a blade having a pair of adjacent slots.
By this means, the tape is more securely held in position when the hooked part is passed through the blade, travel of the blade along the tape in use being inhibited.
Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of a knife having a replaceable blade, and a tape measure;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the blade of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a side view of a second example of a blade;
Fig. 4 is a side view of a third example of a blade;
Fig. 5 is a side view of a fourth example of a blade;
Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of the tape measure of Fig. 1; and,
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the tape measure of Fig. 6.

A first example of a knife 1 of the type having a replaceable blade 2 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The blade 2 has a pair of adjacent slots 31,32 which are parallel to the edge 4 of the handle 5 of the knife 1 adjacent to the blade 2.
As shown in Figures 1 and 6, a double hook end part 44 of a tape measure 7 is provided with two hooks 45,46 adapted to pass through the slots 31,32.
In use, the workman passes the two hooks 45,46 of the tape measure 7 through the respective slots 31,32 of the blade 2, and draws the tape out to the required length. The tape is then usually locked at that length by means of a locking device commonly provided on the body of such tape measures. The workman is then free to apply full pressure to the plasterboard or the like to be cut, since he is not required actively to hold the hooked end part 44 of the tape measure 7 in position on the blade 2. Using his other hand to hold the tape box (not shown) so that some tension is present in the tape 7, an accurate cut is quickly and easily achieved.
The bridge portion 47 between the slots 31, 32 prevents the blade 2 from being able to move along the length of the tape during cutting, and so secure locking is ensured. The provision of the two small slots 31,32 also serves to reduce weakening of the blade to a minimum.
The slots 31,32 may be positioned at other angles. Examples of such other orientations are shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.
In Figure 3, the slots 31,32 are provided in the blade 2 such that the slots 31,32 are parallel to the upper edge 8 of the blade 2.
In Figure 4, slots 31,32 are provided at a non-zero angle to the edge 9 of the body of the knife adjacent to the blade 2. With the slots 31,32 in this position, in use, the tape is able to be used by the workman so as to check the accuracy during cutting whilst preventing the sharp edge of the tape itself from cutting into the plasterboard. In addition, the likelihood of the blade snapping is kept to a minimum.
Figure 5 shows a blade 2 wherein slots 31,32 are again provided at a non-zero angle to the edge 9 of the body of the knife adjacent to the blade 2, but in a different orientation to the slots 31,32 shown in Figure 4.
As shown in Figure 7, the hook end part 44 of the tape measure should protrude somewhat from the end of the tape so as to leave a substantially rectangular gap 48 between the hooks 45, 46 and the square end 49 of the tape. In addition, as shown most clearly in Figure 6, the hook end part 44 has a cut-out 50 which accommodates the bridge portion 47 of the blade. This cut-out 50 preferably extends beyond the free end 49 of the tape so that the blade can be tilted relative to the tape, ensuring that the hooks 45,46 can be easily inserted into the slots 31,32. These two features in particular allow the blade 2 to be accommodated within the gap 48 so that the plane of the blade is substantially perpendicular to the length of the tape, which ensures accurate measuring and cutting.
In each of the examples shown in Figures 1 to 5, a reinforcing member (not shown) may be clipped to the upper edge of the blade so as to provide increased strength and rigidity. This member is elongate and is provided with a channel along its length which accepts the blade in use. Alternatively, the reinforcing member may be formed integrally with the blade.

Claims

A blade (2), for a knife (1), characterised in that the blade has a pair of adjacent slots (31,32) for receiving the hooked part (44,45,46) of the free end of a tape measure adapted to be received in the slots (31,32).
A blade according to claim 1, wherein each of the slots (31,32) is an elongate aperture.
A blade according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a reinforcing member along the edge of the blade remote from the cutting edge.
A knife (1) of the type having a replaceable blade, comprising a handle (5) and a blade (2), characterised in that the blade has a pair of adjacent slots (31,32) for receiving the hooked part (44,45,46) of the free end of a tape measure adapted to be received in the slots (31,32).
In combination, a replaceable blade (2) for a knife (1) and a tape measure provided with a hook end part, characterised in that the blade (2) has a pair of adjacent slots (31,32) and in that the hooked end part (44,45,46) of the tape measure is adapted to be received in the slots (31,32).
A combination according to claim 5, wherein the hook end part (44) of the tape measure protrudes from the square end (49) of the tape so as to leave a gap (48).
A combination according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the hook end part of the tape measure has a cut-out (50) for accommodating the bridge portion (47) between the pair of slots (31,32) in the blade (2).
A tape measure comprising a tape having an end part (44) with a hook on one side only, characterised in that the hook is bifurcated to form a pair of hook portions (45,46) on either side of a slit extending the full length of the hook portions (45,46), whereby the hook end part is receivable by a blade having a pair of adjacent slots (31,32).
A tape measure according to claim 8, wherein the hook end part (44) has a cut-out (50) in extension of the slit for accommodating the bridge portion (47) between the pair of slots (31,32) in the blade (2).