EP2203281B2 - Knife - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a knife, comprising a blade carrier (14) for holding a blade (15), having at least one primary knife part (11) and a secondary knife part (12), which is configured to be movable relative to the primary knife part (11), wherein the primary knife part (11) is associated with first coupling means (20, 36), which can be detachably engaged with second coupling means (18, 38) associated with the secondary knife part (12) in order to move the blade carrier (14) by way of a motion of the primary knife part (11) relative to the second knife part (12) between a safety position, in which the blade (15) is retracted into a knife housing (11) configured by the primary knife part (11) and/or the secondary knife part (12) and inaccessible to the user, and an intermediate position, in which the blade (15) protrudes from the knife housing (11), wherein the blade carrier (14) is subjected to a load by a restoring force (21) in the safety position. The special characteristic is that the blade carrier (14) is pivotally mounted about a fixedly disposed rotational axis (a2), that by the action of a cutting force (F) on the blade (15) the blade carrier (14) can be moved out of the intermediate position into a cutting position, and that in the cutting position the first coupling means (20, 36) and the second coupling means (18, 38) are detached from each other such that the blade carrier (14) can be moved into the safety position.

Description

The invention relates to a knife according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a knife is known from the DE 197 23 279 C1 , In the blade housing, a blade carrier is slidably mounted in the housing between a retracted into the housing and a forward displaced position. In the forward pushed position, the blade protrudes out of the housing. An actuating member has a primary coupling member engageable with a secondary coupling member of the blade carrier to move the blade carrier from the retracted position to the advanced position.

The movement of the operating part is limited to the front. With regard to this foremost position of the actuating part, the blade carrier is allowed additional relative movement, by means of which the primary and the secondary coupling element can be disengaged. The blade carrier can therefore be withdrawn with decreasing cutting force on the blade of a spring element in the housing.

Starting from the DE 197 23 279 C1 It is an object of the invention to provide a safety knife, which has further advantages in terms of manufacturing, assembly and functional safety and occupational safety.

The object is achieved by a knife with the features of claim one.

The principle of the invention is that the knife has a blade carrier, which is pivotable about a fixed pivot axis between a safety position, an intermediate position and a cutting position. By a restoring force of the blade carrier is loaded in the safety position. In the safety position, the blade is inaccessible within the housing. In the intermediate position and the cutting position, the blade protrudes from an opening of the housing.

By a relative movement of a primary blade part to a secondary blade part of the blade carrier can be moved from the safety position to the intermediate position. Relative movement, in the sense of the invention, may mean any kind of movement, such as e.g. Pivoting movement or linear movement.

The primary blade part is associated with first coupling means, which are releasably engageable with second coupling means, which are associated with the secondary blade part. The first coupling agents may e.g. be directly or indirectly connected to the primary blade part. Likewise, the second coupling agents may e.g. be directly or indirectly connected to the secondary blade part.

An actuator with actuating means, e.g. the primary and secondary blade parts are movable by the relative movement of the primary to the secondary blade part between a home position and an operation position. The actuator may e.g. be burdened by a restoring force in the home position. By moving the actuator from the home position to the actuated position, the first and second clutch means are releasably engageable.

When the primary blade member is moved from the home position to the actuating position relative to the secondary blade portion, the first clutch means and the second clutch means engage because the first clutch means are in the path of travel of the second clutch means. As soon as the coupling means engage, the blade carrier is also moved during the further movement of the actuating device. There is e.g. also the possibility that the coupling means are already in the basic position in engagement. Upon movement of the primary and secondary blade parts from the home position to the actuation position, the blade carrier is e.g. moved from the safety position to the intermediate position. In this intermediate position, the blade protrudes from the housing.

While in the actuation position of the primary and secondary blade parts, e.g. can act to a defined end position, the blade carrier with respect to the intermediate position additional pivotal movement is allowed in the cutting position. The additional pivotal movement of the blade carrier into the cutting position may be e.g. be caused by a cutting force. During the movement of the blade carrier from the intermediate position into the cutting position, the first and second coupling means move out of engagement.

When the blade carrier moves into the cutting position, the primary and secondary blade parts do not necessarily remain in the actuation position. A release of the coupling means enabling movement of the primary and the secondary blade part is also conceivable.

After releasing the first and second coupling means, the path of movement of the blade carrier is free to retract to the safety position. As soon as the cutting force is lower than the restoring force of the blade carrier, the blade carrier pivots back into the safety position. If e.g. When the blade leaves the material to be cut, when the first and second coupling means are disengaged from each other, the blade carrier can move back to the safety position even though the actuator is in the operating position.

The blade housing may be formed by the primary and / or the secondary blade part.

The axis of rotation of the blade carrier is fixed. The axis of rotation may, for example, be mounted on the primary blade part or alternatively on the second blade part. According to a further alternative, the axis of rotation can be mounted on both blade parts.

The advantage of the invention is that the pivotally fixed to the housing mounted blade carrier does not have to be moved over a long length in the housing. Therefore, it is less susceptible to contamination of the housing and possibly arranged therein drive elements. Moreover, between the safety position and the cutting position, no great way, but e.g. only a small swing angle covered. Therefore, the blade carrier can be moved quickly from the safety position to the intermediate position. After a separation of the coupling means, the blade carrier also moves quickly back to the safety position.

Since the blade carrier is pivotally mounted, the housing need not have bearing structures for displaceable mounting of the blade carrier in the knife longitudinal direction. The housing can therefore be made structurally simpler. Nevertheless, the knife provides full safety function, the blade being automatically withdrawn into the housing when leaving the material to be cut even though the actuator is in the operating position.

According to a first embodiment, the first coupling means or the second coupling means are associated with the blade carrier. Are e.g. the first coupling means associated with the blade carrier, the blade carrier is e.g. stored on the primary blade part and thus connected to this blade part.

According to another embodiment, the first coupling means or the second coupling means are formed by a structure which is fixedly connected to one of the blade parts. The structure may e.g. be integrally formed with one of the blade parts.

According to a further embodiment, the first coupling means or the second coupling means are associated with actuating means for actuating the blade carrier. The actuating means may e.g. be firmly connected to one of the blade parts or alternatively be movably mounted on at least one of the blade parts. For example, the coupling means may be formed by a handlebar.

According to a further embodiment, the actuating means are associated with a lever with a fixed axis of rotation. The lever may e.g. be formed by the primary blade part, which is mounted by means of a fixed axis of rotation at the secondary blade part. With the lever, e.g. the first or the second coupling agent to be connected. The lever may e.g. be designed as two-armed lever. In this way it is possible to make the safety knife like a tongs and e.g. to operate a first lever arm by hand. A second lever arm of the two-armed lever, the coupling means may be assigned. Upon pivoting of the lever, the coupling means engage and cause in this way a pivoting of the blade holder.

In another embodiment, the actuating means comprise at least one handlebar. The handlebar may e.g. be slidably mounted in a slot with an end. For example, can be performed in the slot a firmly connected to the handlebar bolt. The handlebar may e.g. be formed by a rigid rod.

According to a further embodiment, the actuating means form a transmission. By means of the transmission, e.g. Forces and movements of the gear parts are translated. For example, can be moved quickly by the translation of the blade carrier between the safety position, the intermediate position and the cutting position. In addition, e.g. the blade carrier perform a desired movement by means of the gearbox when the primary blade part is moved relative to the secondary blade part. The blade carrier can form part of the transmission.

According to another embodiment, the transmission is formed by a linkage. For example, For example, a first link of the transmission may be formed by the blade carrier. A second link may e.g. be connected to the blade carrier and with one of the blade parts. The first or the second coupling means may be associated with a link of the steering gear. The first or second coupling agents may e.g. at least during the engagement of the first and the second coupling means form a part of the steering gear.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the first coupling means and / or the second coupling means are formed by at least one spring element. Such a spring element has the advantage that it is elastically deformable. For example, during movement from the safety position to the intermediate position, the spring element may be deformed after the coupling means have engaged. When releasing the coupling means, the spring element can move back to the starting position. In addition, the first coupling means may be moved out of the path of movement of the second coupling means after being disengaged. In particular, e.g. by the use of a spring element due to the elastic deformability of the engagement of the first coupling means remain with the second coupling means even if the first coupling means and the second coupling means move in at least a first specific direction relative to each other. With a relative movement of the coupling means in at least one second direction of movement, the coupling means may e.g. disengage.

According to a further embodiment, the blade holder is movable against the force of a spring element from the safety position into the intermediate position and from the intermediate position into the cutting position. If the blade carrier is no longer held by the cutting force in the cutting position, it moves automatically due to the restoring force of the spring element back into the safety position. Even in the case that the actuator is moved back to the home position, the blade carrier, caused by the restoring force pivots in the safety position.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the engaged first coupling means and / or the second coupling means are elastically deformed when moving from the safety to the cutting position against its resilient restoring force and move back to its original position upon release of the coupling means. During the entire movement of the blade holder from the safety to the intermediate position, the coupling means therefore remain engaged.

When moving the blade holder into the cutting position, the first coupling means and the second coupling means are disengaged so that the first coupling means and / or the second coupling means caused by their resilient restoring force, can move back to the starting position. Due to the return movement into the starting position, the first coupling means are not in the path of movement of the second coupling means, whereby the blade holder can pivot back into the safety position.

• Fig.1 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitsmessers in Sicherheitsstellung,
• Fig.2 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung des Sicherheitsmessers in der Sicherheitsstellung,
• Fig.3 in Anlehnung an Fig. 1 eine Seitenansicht des Sicherheitsmessers in einer Zwischenstellung,
• Fig. 4 in Anlehnung an Fig. 2 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung des Sicherheitsmessers in der Zwischenstellung,
• Fig.5 in Anlehnung an Fig. 3 eine Seitenansicht des Sicherheitsmessers in einer Schneidstellung, wobei eine Schneidkraft den Klingenträger in der Schneidstellung hält,
• Fig. 6 in Anlehnung an Fig. 4 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung des Sicherheitsmessers in der Schneidstellung, wobei eine Schneidkraft den Klingenträger in der Schneidstellung hält,
• Fig.7 in Anlehnung an Fig. 5 eine Seitenansicht des Sicherheitsmessers in der Sicherheitsstellung, wobei sich die Betätigungsvorrichtung in der Betätigungsposition befindet,
• Fig. 8 in Anlehnung an Fig. 6 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung des Sicherheitsmessers in der Sicherheitsstellung, wobei sich die Betätigungsvorrichtung in der Betätigungsposition befindet.
• Fig. 9 eine schematische Darstellung eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitsmessers in der Sicherheitsstellung,
• Fig. 10 in Anlehnung an Fig. 9 eine schematische Darstellung des Sicherheitsmessers in der Zwischenstellung,
• Fig. 11 in Anlehnung an Fig. 10 eine schematische Darstellung des Sicherheitsmessers in der Schneidstellung, und
• Fig. 12 in Anlehnung an Fig. 11 eine schematische Darstellung des Sicherheitsmessers in der Sicherheitsstellung, wobei sich die Betätigungsvorrichtung in der Betätigungsposition befindet.

Further advantages will be apparent from an embodiment shown in the figures. Show it:

• Fig.1 a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the safety knife according to the invention in safety position,
• Fig.2 a schematic sectional view of the safety knife in the safety position,
• Figure 3 based on Fig. 1 a side view of the safety knife in an intermediate position,
• Fig. 4 based on Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view of the safety knife in the intermediate position,
• Figure 5 based on Fig. 3 a side view of the safety knife in a cutting position, wherein a cutting force holds the blade carrier in the cutting position,
• Fig. 6 based on Fig. 4 a schematic sectional view of the safety knife in the cutting position, wherein a cutting force holds the blade carrier in the cutting position,
• Figure 7 based on Fig. 5 a side view of the safety knife in the safety position, wherein the actuator is in the operating position,
• Fig. 8 based on Fig. 6 a schematic sectional view of the safety knife in the safety position, wherein the actuator is in the operating position.
• Fig. 9 a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the safety knife according to the invention in the safety position,
• Fig. 10 based on Fig. 9 a schematic representation of the safety knife in the intermediate position,
• Fig. 11 based on Fig. 10 a schematic representation of the safety knife in the cutting position, and
• Fig. 12 based on Fig. 11 a schematic representation of the safety knife in the safety position, wherein the actuator is in the operating position.

The safety knife as a whole is denoted by the reference numeral 10 in the drawings. Insofar as differing embodiments are shown below, mutually analogous features are always provided with the same reference number despite physical deviations.

A first embodiment is in the Fig. 1 to 8 shown. The safety knife 10 has according to Fig. 1 a housing 11 and an actuator 12. The actuator 12 is pivotally mounted on the housing 11 about a pivot axis a1 in directions v1 and v2. By means of a hand attachment region 24 of the housing 11 and by means of a grip region 13 of the actuating device 12, the actuating device 12 is like a pliers between a in Fig. 1 shown basic position and one eg in Fig. 3 shown actuating position pivoted.

According to Fig. 2 the knife 10 has a spring element 22, which loads the actuating device 12 in the direction v2 the basic position. The spring element 22 rests with a spring leg 27 on an inner surface 28 of a receiving space 16 of the housing 11. Another, not shown spring leg of the spring element 22 abuts against the actuator 12. The actuating device 12 is designed as a two-armed lever, wherein a lever arm of the handle portion 13 and another lever arm is formed by an actuating portion 17.

In the receiving space 16, a blade carrier 14 is pivotally mounted on the housing 11 about a pivot axis a2 in directions u1, u2. The pivot axis a2 is fixed to the housing. On the blade carrier 14, a blade 15 is held with a cutting edge S. In the example in Fig. 2 illustrated safety position, the blade 15 is completely within the housing 11, so that injury to the user is not possible.

On the actuating part 17, a beak-like projection 18 is formed. The projection 18 cooperates with a spring element 19, which is fastened to the blade carrier 14. The spring element 19 surrounds an S-shaped two integrally formed on the blade carrier 14 cylinder stumps 29 and 30. The spring element 19 is fixedly connected to the blade carrier 14. At a free end portion 31 of the spring element 19, a U-shaped bent receiving seat 20 is formed for the projection 18.

In the safety position according to Fig. 2 is the receiving seat 20 in the path of movement of the projection 18, but the projection 18 is not in contact with the spring element 19. If the actuator 12 from the basic position according to Fig. 1 and 2 in the direction v1 in the operating position according to the 3 and 4 pivoted, engages the projection 18 in the receiving seat 20 and moves the blade carrier 14 against the force of a merely schematically indicated by a broken line spring element 21 from the safety position in the direction u1 in the intermediate position, in the 3 and 4 is shown. The spring element 19 is thereby deformed against its elastic restoring force.

According to Fig. 4 the blade carrier 14 is pivoted in the first cutting position by an angle α. In the intermediate position, the blade 15 exits from an opening 32 of the housing 11.

The actuator 12 is in the intermediate position according to the 3 and 4 far against the force of the spring element 22 (for clarity, only in Fig. 2 shown) that a provided on the actuator 12 stop element 23 abuts against an outer surface 33 of the handset area 24.

By a force F on the blade 15 of the blade carrier 14 in the in the FIGS. 5 and 6 shown cutting position pivoted in which a stop extension 25 of the blade carrier 14 abuts a shoulder 26 of the housing 11 and the blade carrier has an angle β to a housing wall 34. In this case, the receiving seat 20 of the spring element 19 is disengaged from the projection 18. The spring element 19 can elastically in its relaxed position according to Fig. 6 move back. The projection 18 is now outside the path of movement of the receiving seat 20th

Once the force acting on the blade 15 force F is less than the spring force of the spring element 21 which loads the blade carrier 12 in the safety position, the blade carrier 14 of the spring element 21 in the direction u2 in the safety position according to the FIGS. 7 and 8 pivoted, although the actuator is in the operating position. When decreasing force on the handle portion 17, the actuator 12 is moved by the spring element 22 in the home position.

A second embodiment is in the Fig. 9 to 11 shown. A primary blade part 11 is pivotally connected to a secondary blade part 12 by means of a pivot joint a1. The primary blade part 11 can therefore be relative to the secondary blade part 12 of the in Fig. 9 illustrated basic position, for example, against the restoring force of an elastically deformable element 22 indicated only by a dashed line, in the direction w1 in an operating position according to Fig. 10 movable. The pivotal movement of the primary blade portion 11 to the secondary blade portion 12 may be limited, for example in a manner not shown by a stop.

A blade carrier 14 is pivotally mounted on the secondary blade part 12 by means of a pivot joint a2. On the blade carrier 14, a blade 15 is supported. From the in Fig. 9 illustrated safety position, the blade carrier 14 in the pivoting direction u1 against the restoring force of an elastic member 21 in an in Fig. 10 shown intermediate position to be moved. From the intermediate position of the blade carrier 14 in the direction u1 in an in Fig. 11 shown cutting position pivotally. In the safety position, the blade 15 is received inaccessible to a user in a receiving space 16 of the knife 10. In the intermediate position and the cutting position, the blade 15 projects through an opening 32 out of the receiving space 16.

An extension 37 is fixedly connected to the blade carrier 14. The extension 37 is connected by means of a pivot joint a3 with a first end portion 41 of a link 35. At a second end portion 42 of the arm 35, a pin 40 is fixed, which is guided in a slot 39 in the direction of n1, n2 pivotally and in the direction x1, x2 longitudinally displaceable. The pin 40 forms with the slot 39 a joint a5.

On the handlebar 35 second coupling means in the form of a rod 38 are mounted by means of a pivot joint a4. The rod 38 is releasably engageable with first coupling means in the form of a structure 36. The structure 36 is formed on the primary blade part 11.

In the basic position according to Fig. 9 the rod 38 and the structure 36 are disengaged. If the knife 10 in the operating position according to Fig. 10 moves, the rod 38 and the structure 36 engage. In this case, the rod 38 is pivoted relative to the handlebar 35 against the force of an elastic element, not shown, in the direction of p1. Due to the contact between the rod 38 and the structure 36, the arm 35 is pivoted in the direction n2 about the pivot axis a5 during the movement into the intermediate position. In this case, the pin 40 is moved with the end portion 42 in the slot 39 in the direction x1.

As a result of the pivoting movement of the link 35, the blade carrier 14, which is connected in terms of movement with the link 35 via the joint a3, pivots in the direction in the direction u1 in the intermediate position Fig. 10 in which the rod 38 and the structure 36 are engaged and thus prevent movement of the blade carrier 14 in the safety position.

By a cutting force F on the blade 15 of the blade carrier 14 is further in the direction u1 in the cutting position according to Fig. 11 pivoted. The handlebar 35 is thereby pivoted further in the direction n2. The pin 40 is moved simultaneously in the slot in the direction x1. In this case, the rod 38 detaches from the structure 36. The rod 38 pivots after it has disengaged from the structure 36, caused by the restoring force of the elastic element, not shown, in the direction p2 relative to the handlebar 35th

The blade carrier 14 can now from the cutting position according to Fig. 11 be pivoted by the elastic member 21 in the safety position, since the rod 38 and the structure 36 are no longer engaged. The blade carrier 14 therefore pivots into the safety position as soon as the restoring force of the elastic element is greater than the cutting force acting on the blade 15 by the cutting operation.

During the movement of the blade carrier 14 into the safety position, the pin 40 is moved in the slot 39 in the direction x2. At the same time, the handlebar pivots in the direction of n1.

The movement of the blade carrier 14 from the cutting position to the safety position takes place after the release of the coupling means from each other, even if the primary blade portion 11 and the secondary blade portion 12 in the actuated position according to the Fig. 10 and 11 remain (see Fig. 12 ).

When a user no longer exerts any force on the primary blade part 11 and the secondary blade part 12, the primary blade part 11 moves in the direction w2 relative to the secondary blade part to the basic position according to the restoring force of the elastic element 22 Fig. 9 back.

Claims (12)

1. Knife, with a blade-carrier (14) for holding a blade (15) with at least one primary knife part (11) and a secondary knife part (12) which is constructed so as to be movable relative to the primary knife part (11), wherein there are associated with said primary knife part (11) first coupling means (20, 36) which can be brought into engagement, in a releasable manner, with second coupling means (18, 38) associated with the secondary knife part (12) in order to move the blade-carrier (14), by a relative movement of the primary knife part (11) in relation to the secondary knife part (12), between a safety position, in which the blade (15) is retracted, in a manner inaccessible to the user, into a knife casing (11) formed by the primary knife part (11) and/or the secondary knife part (12), and an intermediate position in which the blade (15) protrudes from the knife casing (11), wherein the blade-carrier (14) is loaded into the safety position by a restoring force (21),
   characterised in that
   the blade-carrier (14) is mounted so as to be pivotable about a fixedly arranged pivot (a2) between the safety position, the intermediate position and a cutting position; that the blade-carrier (14) can be pivoted out of the intermediate position and into the cutting position by the action of a cutting force (F) upon the blade (15); and that, in the cutting position, the first coupling means (20, 36) and the second coupling means (18, 38) are released from one another, so that the blade-carrier (14) can be pivoted into the safety position.
2. Knife according to claim 1, characterised in that the first coupling means (20, 36) or the second coupling means are associated with the blade-carrier (14).
3. Knife according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the first coupling means (36) or the second coupling means are formed by a structure (36) which is fixedly connected to one of the knife parts (11).
4. Knife according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the first coupling means or the second coupling means (18, 38) are associated with actuating means (17, 35) for actuating the blade-carrier (14).
5. Knife according to claim 4, characterised in that the actuating means (17, 35) are associated with a lever (12) with a fixed pivot (a1) with respect to the primary actuating means (11) or the secondary actuating means.
6. Knife according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the actuating means (12, 35) form, at least in part, a linkage.
7. Knife according to claim 6, characterised in that the linkage is formed by a guide bar linkage with at least one guide bar (11, 12, 14, 35, 38).
8. Knife according to claim 7, characterised in that the first coupling means or the second coupling means (38) are associated with a guide bar (35).
9. Knife according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the first coupling means or the second coupling means (38) are formed by a rigid element which is connected to a guide bar by means of a joint (a4).
10. Knife according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the blade-carrier (14) is part of the guide bar linkage (11, 12, 14, 35, 38).
11. Knife according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first coupling means (20) and/or the second coupling means (18) are associated with at least one spring element (19).
12. Knife according to claim 11, characterised in that the spring element (19) is elastically deformable against a restoring force when the movement from the safety position into the intermediate position occurs, and can be moved back into its starting position by the elastic restoring force after the release of the first coupling means (20) from the second coupling means (18).

Images