EP1882561B1 - Kitchen knife with removable handle weights - Google Patents

Kitchen knife with removable handle weights Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1882561B1
EP1882561B1 EP07252953A EP07252953A EP1882561B1 EP 1882561 B1 EP1882561 B1 EP 1882561B1 EP 07252953 A EP07252953 A EP 07252953A EP 07252953 A EP07252953 A EP 07252953A EP 1882561 B1 EP1882561 B1 EP 1882561B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
weight
handle
knife
rod
mounting assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP07252953A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1882561A1 (en
Inventor
Ngok Wing Kwok
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Golden Sun Home Products Ltd
Original Assignee
Golden Sun Home Products Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2006005984U external-priority patent/JP3126016U/ja
Priority claimed from US11/773,459 external-priority patent/US7856910B2/en
Application filed by Golden Sun Home Products Ltd filed Critical Golden Sun Home Products Ltd
Publication of EP1882561A1 publication Critical patent/EP1882561A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1882561B1 publication Critical patent/EP1882561B1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26B—HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B26B3/00—Hand knives with fixed blades
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25G—HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
    • B25G1/00—Handle constructions

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to improved cutlery, and more particularly to a kitchen knife that has interchangeable weights so that a user can adjust the balance and feel of the knife.
  • Knives and related cutlery devices are common tools in both private and commercial kitchens.
  • a kitchen knife includes a blade attached to or formed integral with a handle through a tang.
  • the handle forms the main grasping surface, while the blade forms the cutting surface along a sharpened cutting edge along its length.
  • An opposing edge of the blade is flattened or blunted to allow a user to place a hand for additional guidance or support of the knife during use.
  • Weight imbalances can cause user fatigue over extended use periods, even in situations where the imbalance is relatively small. While both private and commercial users may use a knife for such extended periods, the problem is especially acute in commercial environments. In a typical fixed knife configuration, the center of gravity is located at or near the center of the handle portion and cannot be changed. Such inflexibility limits the utility of the knife, especially over periods of prolonged use. What is desired is a knife that can maintain a proper weight balance under different use conditions. What is further desired is a knife that can have its balance easily adjusted.
  • a kitchen knife capable of easy user-defined balancing is disclosed.
  • the overall weight balance of the knife can be optimized, thereby reducing the onset of user fatigue. Such is especially valuable in commercial kitchen applications, where a user may be working with the knife for hours at a time.
  • GB 177,344 describes an arrangement for attaching a hollow handle to the blade of a table knife, in which the blade is provided with a projecting member referred to as a "tang" which is inserted into the hollow handle and retained therein by means of a threaded engagement with a screw or collar which passes through an end piece attached to the hollow handle. It is stated that, in order to balance the knife so that the blade lifts clear of the table, the screw or collar is made of any desired weight or thickness to obviate the usual practice of filling the handle to achieve the same object.
  • EP 1016507 describes a knife that includes a blade made of stainless steel and a hollow handle.
  • the hollow handle is made from two halves, which are butt-joined.
  • the hollow handle is filled with a filler, including river sand, for adjustment of overall weight balance of the knife.
  • the blade and the handle are butt-joined into one piece at their confronting end edges.
  • DE 3315768 describes a weight-balancing device, provided on a knife handle, for balancing the weight of the entire knife.
  • a balancing weight of the weight-balancing device can be provided, for fine adjustment of the weight balance, by means of an annular collar of relatively large diameter or with a depression or recess.
  • a kitchen knife comprises a metal blade defining a cutting edge, a handle integrally connected to the blade, the handle defining a hollow compartment defining an axially elongate shape with a proximal end and a distal end therein, at least one removable weight configured to fit within the hollow compartment and a weight mounting assembly comprising a rod that is axially disposed within the hollow compartment, the rod being configured to accept placement of at least one removable weight thereon, said weight mounting assembly cooperative with the handle such that,s upon placement of at least one removable weight onto the rod and engagement of the weight mounting assembly to the handle, at least one weight is disposed in the hollow compartment to effect the user-defined balanced knife, configuration.
  • the blade includes a sharp cutting edge and a blunted edge opposite the cutting edge.
  • the handle and the blade define a single, one-piece (i.e., unitary) structure, rather than being fastened or adhesively glued together.
  • unitary construction which may be achieved by forming the handle and blade from a single piece of material, or by welding the two together along with post-weld machining, is not only more structurally robust, but also minimizes gaps or like locations on the outer surface of the knife that can provide a breeding ground for bacteria or other contaminants.
  • the handle includes a proximal end and a distal end such that the hollow compartment terminates at the proximal end and the blade joins the handle at the distal end.
  • the weight mounting assembly can engage the handle at an end of the handle that is substantially opposite of the end of the handle nearest the blade. In this way, once a user has placed the weight or weights onto into a desired axial location within the hollow compartment, the weight mounting assembly can effect an axially balanced configuration suitable to the user's particular needs.
  • a rod may be axially disposed within the hollow compartment.
  • the rod may further be in the form of a tube, post or screw and aligned along the handle's axial dimension.
  • the weights may have a substantially axial bore formed through them such that they can engage the rod through the substantially axial bore. Connection between the bore and rod may be through slip fit, friction fit or threaded relationship, the latter where complementary threads promote a nut-and-bolt like fit between them.
  • the weights may be held in a preferred axial place by protrusions on the rod, or by sleeves (for example, tight-fitting rubber tubes) that can fit on the outer surface of the rod and remain in place by frictional contact, adhesive or other fastening or other means. Threaded cooperation between various components such as the stopper and a complementary surface on the handle (or a stopper-engaging mount, such as a ring, affixed to the surface of the handle) is such that ease of access to the hollow compartment through unscrewing the stopper is promoted. Likewise, screwing the stopper into the complementary threads on the mount or handle makes it easy to put the knife back together again once the desired weight balance is established.
  • the blade can be made from a suitable cutting material, such as a high carbon or otherwise alloyed steel.
  • a material making up the handle can be the same material, or can be a stainless steel.
  • the one or more weights may be disposed in the hollow compartment such that balanced knife configuration occurs mainly along a substantially lengthwise direction of the handle.
  • the handle engages the weight mounting assembly through a permanent connection, for example, welding a ring or related mount to the handle.
  • the one or more weights may be, in situations where multiple weights are used, axially disposed relative to one another within the hollow compartment.
  • the weight mounting assembly may be formed from numerous components, including a stopper or related main structural member that threadably or otherwise engages the ring or related mount that (through the aforementioned welding) is directly and permanently affixed to one or both of inner and rear surfaces of the handle, and an end cap or cover that is attached to the stopper.
  • the stopper functions as an anchor for a generally axial rod, post or screw upon which the weight or weights (which could have complementary threaded bores formed through them) can be secured in a preferred axial place.
  • the cover can be used to substantially close off the remaining components from the ambient environment once the weight mounting assembly is placed within the handle, and may be attached to the stopper in such a way that insertion or removal of the end cap (by screwing or unscrewing) of it produces sympathetic movement in the stopper which, by virtue of its threaded relationship with the ring or similar mount, can be inserted or removed by the screwing or unscrewing motion.
  • insertion or removal of the end cap (by screwing or unscrewing) of it produces sympathetic movement in the stopper which, by virtue of its threaded relationship with the ring or similar mount, can be inserted or removed by the screwing or unscrewing motion.
  • .movement of the stopper and end cap is rotational, so that such rotational movement in one produces comparable rotational movement in the other.
  • one or more indexing devices can be placed on the rod to cooperate with it to keep the weights disposed on the rod in a fixed axial location thereon.
  • the weight mounting assembly allows relatively precise placement of the weight or weights in accordance with a preferred balance, heft or related feel as desired by the user.
  • the handle may include protuberances on the outer surface thereof to promote improved user grip. Such construction is beneficial in avoiding having the knife slip in the user's hand.
  • a method of balancing a kitchen knife comprises configuring the knife to have a blade, a handle integrally formed with the blade, the handle defining a hollow compartment defining an axially elongate shape with a proximal end and a distal end therein and at least one weight sized to fit within a weight mounting assembly disposed in the hollow compartment, coupling the weight mounting assembly to at least one of said blade and said handle such that a rod disposed on the weight mounting assembly can accept at least one weight thereon, establishing access to the hollow compartment such that at least one weight can only be added through the proximal end of the handle that is axially opposite the blade and situating at least one weight on the rod in the hollow compartment.
  • weights including weights of different sizes, may be incorporated by the user until a balance deemed suitable to the user is arrived at.
  • situating the weight includes defining a bore through the weight and mounting the weight onto a rod or related member such that the bore cooperates with the rod to keep the weight in a preferred position.
  • the mounting between the at least one weight and weight mounting device can be achieved by friction fit, slip fit, threaded connection or other approach discussed herein, where tubes or related sleeves can be slipped over the rod and used to keep the weights in a preferred location on the rods in slip fit configurations.
  • the weight is a single weight or numerous weights.
  • the blade and the handle may be formed from or into a single-piece structure.
  • the hollow compartment may be closed at its terminal end.
  • a weight mounting assembly can be used to secure the one or more weights within the handle, as well as close off the terminal end of the handle.
  • the assembly may include a handle-engaging member (for example, a ring or related device to couple the back or interior surface of the handle to the rest of the assembly), an anchor member and a rod that is coupled to or otherwise supported by the anchor member.
  • the assembly may additionally include an end cap that may be friction fit, threaded, keyed or otherwise joinable to other components within the weight mounting assembly. For example, by being threadably attached to the anchor member, a user desirous of changing the balance of the knife, may unscrew the end cap and anchor member to allow exposure of the rod and other components used to carry and position the weights.
  • the anchor member acts as a base for the rod, elongate tube, post or screw in such a way as to have the rod extend in an axially forward direction into the hollow compartment.
  • closing the hollow compartment may be achieved by placing the removable parts of the assembly into the hollow compartment that is defined in the handle, and attaching such parts to the handle-engaging member.
  • at least the parts of the assembly used to support the weights is removable from the handle. In this way, when a user desires to make rapid, small-scale changes to the knife's balance, he or she need merely remove such parts, add or remove weights, then reinsert those parts of the assembly into the handle.
  • the knife 1 includes a blade 10 with a cutting edge 12 and an opposing spine 14.
  • the spine 14 generally has a blunted or squared-off edge such that a user can place his or her hand on the spine 14 to stabilize or otherwise guide the knife 1 during use.
  • the blade is made from an alloyed steel to give it enhanced hardness or other desirable cutting edge attributes.
  • One such material may be a high-carbon steel.
  • the knife 1 also includes a handle 20 that is affixed to blade 10.
  • the handle 20 is tapered from its proximal end 22 to its distal end 21, where the distal end 21 smoothly transitions into blade 10.
  • the blade 10 and handle 20 form a one-piece unitary structure.
  • Such structure can be formed by having the blade 10 and handle 20 be formed from a single piece of material in situations where the blade and handle materials are the same, or joined together (for example, by welding) in situations where the materials are dissimilar.
  • the handle 20 may be of a dissimilar material to that of the blade 10 is where the handle 20 is made of 304 stainless steel.
  • the handle 20 of the present invention can be formed from a single piece of material that provides its own support structure.
  • two mirror-image halves with cavities or recesses formed therein may joined together (such as by welding), and subsequently joined to the blade 10.
  • Such an approach is superior to that where the handle is formed from halves over a tang or related stub shaft and subsequently joined by rivets, screws or related fasteners.
  • the cavities or recesses of each of the handle halves when coupled together, allows the handle 20 to define a hollow compartment 25 inside, the volume of which is ample to accommodate one or more weights 40A, 40B and 40C (collectively referred to as 40), as well as the weight mounting assembly 30 that will be discussed in additional detail below.
  • the blade 10 is joined together with the handle 20 by welding or related joining process known to those skilled in the art. After welding, the weld line can be removed by grinding and polishing, giving the knife 1 the look and mechanical integrity of a single piece unitary structure.
  • a ring 31 (which is shown in isolated form in FIGS. 2A and 2B ) or related handle-engaging device is welded, screwed or otherwise affixed at the proximal end 22 of handle 20.
  • ring 31 is made from a rigid, durable material, such as 304 stainless steel.
  • the ring 31 defines a friction fit with the proximal end 22 of the handle 20, although it will be appreciated that other connection schemes (such as a threaded relationship formed between the peripheral surface of ring 31 and a respective surface inside handle 20 ) capable of effecting a secure fit between the ring 31 and handle 20 may be employed. In such circumstances where the ring 31 is threaded, it will be referred to as threaded ring 31. Again as shown, ring 31 is welded to the proximal end 22 of handle 20 in a permanent connection.
  • FIGS. 2A through 7B in conjunction with FIG. 1A , the various components making up the weight mounting assembly 30 are shown.
  • a stopper 32 (as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B ), end cap or cover 33 (as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B ) sealing ring 34 (as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B ), rod 35 (as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B ) and sleeve (or tube) 36 (as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B ).
  • Stopper 32 may be made of a hard, durable, bacterial-resistant material (such as nylon), while sealing ring 34 may be made of rubber or related compliant material. Stopper 32 (which is shown in isolated form in FIGS. 3A and 3B ) is placed with the aperture formed in threaded ring 31. Whereas the preferred connection between the threaded ring 31 and the handle 20 is through a permanent affixation (such as welding), the connection between the stopper 32 and threaded ring 31 is preferably through a threaded connection. As will be discussed in more detail below, such threaded connection facilitates ease of insertion and removal of the weight mounting assembly 30.
  • sealing ring 34 (which is shown in isolated form in FIGS. 5A and 5B ) is placed within recess 32B of stopper 32.
  • Sealing ring 34 is made of a compliant material, such as rubber or silicone. By being slightly oversized relative to the fit between the stopper 32 and threaded ring 31, the sealing ring 34 becomes compressed, which in turn provides an interference that inhibits the passage of fluids.
  • a proximal end of stopper 32 includes a recess 32A that can be used to accommodate a cover 33 (which is shown in isolated form in FIGS. 4A and 4B ) to effect an aesthetically-pleasing closure to the proximal end 22 of handle 20.
  • a distal end of stopper 32 includes a generally axially-oriented anchor region 32C into which rod 35 (which is shown in isolated form in FIGS. 6A and 6B ) fits.
  • the proximal end of rod 35 may be keyed 35A such that it can fit within a complementary slot (not shown) in anchor region 32C.
  • both the proximal outer surface of the end of rod 35 and the inner surface of the anchor region 32C can include complementary threads.
  • Rod 35 is preferably made from a rigid structural material, such as an iron-based material. In addition, it may be nickel plated for smooth finish and enhanced resistance to corrosion.
  • weights 40A, 40B and 40C can be placed within hollow compartment 25 to allow a user to vary the balance attributes of knife 1.
  • the weights 40A, 40B and 40C are secured to the handle 20 through the weight mounting assembly 30 in general, and rod 35 in particular.
  • Weights 40A, 40B and 40C can be made of any relatively dense material (such as steel or other iron-based material). In a particular form, they can be made of a nickel plated iron in a manner similar to rod 35. As can be seen with particularity in FIG.
  • the weights 40 (of which only the most proximally-mounted weight 40C can be seen) are horizontally and vertically centered within hollow compartment 25.
  • Rod 35 (which will be discussed in more detail below) extends along the longitudinal (i.e., axial) dimension of the handle 20 and blade 10 of the knife 1.
  • Weights 40 are of generally cylindrical construction, and define an axial bore 140 therethrough.
  • the relationship between the axial bore 140 and the rod 35 is such that placing the weights 40 on the rod 35 is akin to stringing beads in that one or more of the weights 40 are stacked relative to one another along the rod 35 until a user-determined heft and axial balance is achieved.
  • the attachment of one or more sleeves 36 (two of which are shown in FIG. 1A axially surrounding weights 40A, 40B and 40C ) to the rod 35 prevents the sort of free-floating movement of the weights 40 along the rod 35 that would otherwise upset the user's much sought-after balance.
  • Sleeve 36 can in one form be made of rubber that can have a relative high coefficient of friction when disposed against rod 35.
  • the sleeve 36 acts to limit the axial or longitudinal travel of the weights 40A, 40B and 40C.
  • the present inventors have recognized that another way to achieve the stopping or locking effect of the sleeves is to include radially-extending detents or related protrusions from the rod 35; such can act to limit the axial travel of the weights 40A, 40B and 40C and concomitant imbalances that arise out of an otherwise loose or sloppy connection.
  • cover 33 is made from stainless steel.
  • Cover 33 includes an axially-projecting flange 33A that is sized to securely fit within recess 32A of stopper 32.
  • Flange 33A preferably includes keyed members 33B that fit into complementary indents 32D formed along recess 32A.
  • cover defines a centrally disposed tool access 33D.
  • the tool access is a screwdriver slot (for example, to accept a Phillips screwdriver).
  • the cover 33 which is threadably attached to the stopper 32, can be used as the mechanism with which a screwdriver interacts to allow insertion and removal of the weight mounting assembly 30, as screwing and unscrewing it has the effect of transferring such motion to the keyed attachment on the stopper 32, which by virtue of its threadable attachment to the inner surface of threaded ring 31, screws to and unscrews from the handle 20, exposing the hollow compartment 25 therein.
  • FIG. 10 an aft-looking-forward view of knife 1 and the various components used to allow the knife 1 to possess weight-balancing features is shown.
  • a ridgeline 27 extends rearwardly from the distal end 21 of the handle 20 to a location intermediate the distal end 21 and the proximal end 22.
  • a roughened grip portion 29 may be defined on a portion of handle 20; such portion may coincide with an area on one side of the ridgeline 27.
  • the hollow compartment 25 is defined within handle 20, and terminates at its proximal (i.e., rearward) end with the threaded ring 31.
  • the engagement of the threaded ring 31 to the handle 20 can be through welding, although friction fitting, screwing or other approached may also be used.
  • Internal threads 31A on threaded ring 31 cooperate with the external threads 32D on stopper 32 such that the former and latter can removably engage one another.
  • the centrally disposed tool access 33D is in the form of a recess capable of receiving an Allen wrench.
  • the weight mounting assembly 30 is shown mostly assembled, with stopper 32, cover 33 and rod 35 connected.
  • Weights 40A, 40B and 40C can be mounted onto the rod 35 and affixed axially along the rod 35 by placement of the sleeves 36 axially forward and aft of the weights.
  • Rod 35 may include threads 35A to promote a more secure placement of the weights 40 or sleeves 36.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Knives (AREA)
  • Food-Manufacturing Devices (AREA)
EP07252953A 2006-07-26 2007-07-26 Kitchen knife with removable handle weights Active EP1882561B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2006005984U JP3126016U (ja) 2006-07-26 2006-07-26 可変バランサー付き刃物
US11/773,459 US7856910B2 (en) 2007-07-05 2007-07-05 Method of balancing a kitchen knife using removable handle weights

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1882561A1 EP1882561A1 (en) 2008-01-30
EP1882561B1 true EP1882561B1 (en) 2009-11-11

Family

ID=38608748

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07252953A Active EP1882561B1 (en) 2006-07-26 2007-07-26 Kitchen knife with removable handle weights

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1882561B1 (zh)
CN (1) CN101112761B (zh)
AT (1) ATE448055T1 (zh)
CA (1) CA2594292C (zh)
DE (1) DE602007003148D1 (zh)
DK (1) DK1882561T3 (zh)
HK (1) HK1116131A1 (zh)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090188066A1 (en) * 2008-01-30 2009-07-30 Van Deursen Gary E Wall scraper
DE102011015718A1 (de) * 2011-03-31 2012-10-04 Zwilling J. A. Henckels Ag Messer mit einer metallenen Endkappe
CN104055432B (zh) * 2013-03-19 2018-04-06 金昇家品有限公司 厨具及其调重装置
FR3073441B1 (fr) * 2017-11-16 2020-03-06 Cirrus Couteau comprenant des moyens de reglage du centre de gravite
CN112428310A (zh) * 2020-10-30 2021-03-02 广东力王厨房用品有限公司 一种可自由调节重心位置的刀具

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB177344A (en) 1921-02-10 1922-03-30 John Ernest Cooper Improvements in table and the like knives and forks
DE3315768A1 (de) 1983-04-30 1984-10-31 Kai Cutlery Center Co.,Ltd., Seki, Gifu Messer
JP2000189682A (ja) 1998-12-28 2000-07-11 Yoshida Kinzoku Kogyo Kk 包 丁
DE202006017812U1 (de) * 2006-04-21 2007-03-08 Emsa Gmbh Ausbalancierbares Küchenwerkzeug

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101112761A (zh) 2008-01-30
CA2594292A1 (en) 2008-01-26
CA2594292C (en) 2013-03-19
HK1116131A1 (en) 2008-12-19
DK1882561T3 (da) 2010-03-29
DE602007003148D1 (de) 2009-12-24
CN101112761B (zh) 2012-07-04
EP1882561A1 (en) 2008-01-30
ATE448055T1 (de) 2009-11-15

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