EP2965879B1 - Knife - Google Patents

Description

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

Such a knife is known from U.S. 4,713,885 . Here the knife has a blade carrier which is mounted in the knife housing so as to be translationally displaceable and which can be moved between a rear position and a front position by means of a handle. The handle is formed by a lever which is pivotably attached to the housing by means of a joint. Furthermore, a toggle lever is pivotally attached to the housing at one end and pivotally attached to the blade carrier at the other end. The knee joint of the toggle lever is guided in an elongated hole in the handle.

EP 1 864 766 A1 relates to a knife with a housing and a blade carrier which is rotatable and longitudinally displaceable in the housing between a safety position and a cutting position. The blade carrier can be moved from the safety position into the cutting position by means of a handle that can be actuated on the outside of the housing. The handle forms a first coupling area which interacts with a second coupling area of the blade carrier in such a way that the engagement of the coupling areas can be released.

DE 43 15 495 A1 discloses a knife with a housing and a blade holder which is displaceable in the housing and which can be moved from a safety position into a cutting position by means of a handle. The handle has a first coupling area which interacts with a second coupling area of the blade carrier. When moving from the safety position to the In the cutting position, the coupling elements are in engagement. After the cutting position has been reached, the coupling elements are released from one another in that the first coupling element is moved over the second coupling element.

This in EP 1 946 897 A1 The knife disclosed comprises a housing in which a blade carrier can be displaced between a safety position and a cutting position. An actuating part comprises a first coupling area which releasably interacts with a second coupling area of the blade carrier.

The knife according to EP 1 985 417 A1 discloses a knife with a housing in which a blade carrier is slidably mounted between a safety position and a cutting position. The blade carrier comprises a first coupling means in the form of a projection, which interacts with a second coupling means in the form of a sliding block in the housing. After the movement of the blade carrier into the cutting position, the coupling means can be released from one another.

The knife is in need of improvement, particularly with regard to its safety.

The object of the invention is to create a knife that is further improved in terms of its safety, as well as its manufacturability and its functionality. Another object of the invention is to create a knife that allows a compact design.

The object set above is achieved by a knife with the features of claim 1.

The principle of the invention consists in that a support element is provided, by means of which an element of the actuation device, e.g. an actuation element connected to the handle in a pivot-joint manner, can be releasably supported on the housing. The support element can be assigned to the actuating device or the housing, for example. The actuating element can be releasably supported on the housing by means of the support element. When moving the actuating element from the basic position to a first pivoting position, the support element can, for example, be in engagement with the housing or can be moved into engagement with the housing. The support element then limits, for example, the degree of freedom of the actuating element, so that the actuating element is forced into the first pivoting position. The support element can, for example, form a support around which the actuating element can be pivoted.

Supporting element within the meaning of the invention can be an element which is stressed in a compression-proof or tensile manner.

If the blade carrier is moved from the first cutting position to a second cutting position, e.g. by a cutting reaction force, the support element can thereby be moved out of engagement. The actuating element then again has an additional degree of freedom which allows it to move back into the housing, although the handle is actuated.

With regard to other definitions of terms, reference is made to the definition of terms relating to the first aspect of the invention.

The advantage of the knife according to the invention is that a specific movement can be specified for the actuating element by means of the support element. A distance between the actuating element and the housing can be bridged by means of the support element. In addition, a safety function can be ensured by means of the support element, the blade moving back into the safety position when the handle is actuated if the cutting reaction force on the blade falls below a certain value. This is possible, for example, because the engagement of the support element is releasable. The release of the engagement of the support element can take place, for example, by the cutting reaction force, also called cutting force.

According to a first embodiment, the actuating element is designed as a lever which is pivotably connected to a part of the housing. The actuating element can be mounted on a moving part of the knife. For example, the actuating element can be mounted on the handle. The actuating element can be pivoted from a basic position into a first pivoting position when the handle is moved from the non-actuated position into an actuated position.

According to a further embodiment, the actuating element is firmly connected to the blade carrier by means of a swivel joint. The blade carrier is movably connected to the actuating element. The blade carrier and the actuating element can assume different angular positions with respect to one another.

According to a further embodiment, the handle is assigned to the actuating element. The handle can be formed in one piece with the second end region. The handle can for example be formed by a region of the actuating lever. Alternatively, the handle can, for example, be designed as a separate component and interact with the actuating element. The handle can, for example, interact releasably with the actuating element. A first end region of the actuating element can, for example, be connected to the blade carrier and a second end region of the actuating element can be connected to the handle.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the actuating element is firmly connected to the handle. The actuating element can be firmly connected to the handle, for example by means of a joint. The actuating element can, for example, be pivotably linked to the handle. When the handle is moved from the unactuated position into the activated position, the actuating element, which is connected to the handle in terms of movement, is moved along on this path of movement.

According to a further embodiment, the handle is formed by a lever which is pivotably articulated on the housing, the handle being pivotable at least between an actuated position and a non-actuated position. In this way, the handle can be pivoted relative to the housing in the manner of tongs, the actuating element being moved, for example, from a basic position into a first pivoting position.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the handle is loaded into the non-actuated position by a spring element. The handle is then automatically moved into the non-actuated position as soon as the user no longer exerts any force on the handle.

According to a further embodiment, a support element is provided for the actuating lever, which is assigned to the actuating element or the housing, by means of which the actuating element is supported on the housing at least in the first cutting position. The support element can limit the degree of freedom of the actuating element. It can form a support around which the actuating element can be pivoted like a rocker. The support element can, for example, be fastened to the actuating element and can be brought into engagement with the housing at least indirectly. The support element can, for example, cooperate with a stop element which is attached to the housing. Alternatively, for example, the support member may be attached to the housing and engageable with the actuator. For example, a stop element which interacts with the support element can be provided on the actuating element.

According to a further embodiment, a stop fixed to the housing is provided, on which the actuating element or the support element is supported. With the stop, a certain trajectory can be forced on the actuating element. By means of the stop, the actuating element can be moved from an unactuated position to an actuated position from a basic position to a first pivoting position when the handle is actuated, in which the blade carrier is arranged in the cutting position and protrudes from the housing. The stop can, for example, be molded onto the housing. The stop can, for example, cooperate with the support element which, for example, is attached to the actuating element.

According to a further embodiment, the support element is releasably in engagement with the housing or the actuating element bringable. By means of this embodiment, the degree of freedom of the actuating lever when the support element engages can be limited in a certain way and released again by releasing the support element. The actuating element can move back, for example, in the direction of the basic position when the engagement of the support element is released, regardless of whether the handle is in the actuated position. The blade carrier, which is connected in movement to the actuating element, can move into the safety position when the actuating lever is moved in the direction of the basic position.

According to a further embodiment, the support element (33) can be brought into engagement with the housing (H, 11, 12) or the actuating element (14) in a pressure-resistant or tensile manner. In particular, the support element can only be brought into engagement with the housing or the actuating element in a pressure-tight manner. The engagement of the support element with the housing or the actuating element can be released again in a simple manner in this embodiment. The support element can be released from the engagement, for example, by a pivoting movement of the actuating lever.

According to a further embodiment, the support element is approximately rod-shaped. The rod shape can be used to bridge a distance between the actuating element and the housing, for example.

According to a further embodiment, the support element is pivotably attached to the actuating element. Due to the pivotable mounting of the support lever on the actuation element, the actuation element can, for example, pivot like a rocker around the support element when the support element is in engagement with the housing. If the support element is moved out of engagement with the housing, it can be pivoted into a position in which an undesired renewed engagement with the housing is prevented as long as the handle is in the actuated position.

According to a further embodiment, a bearing seat is formed on the housing or on the actuating element, with which the support element can be releasably brought into engagement. The bearing seat can for example be formed by a recess, for example by a notch, by means of which an unintentional release of the actuating element from the engagement is prevented. When the actuating element is moved from the basic position into the first pivot position, the support element can be arranged in the notch. During the movement of the actuating element from the first pivot position into the second pivot position, the support element can move out of the notch and in this way lose contact with the housing or with the actuation element.

According to a further embodiment, at least one guide surface is formed adjacent to the recess, which guides the support element into engagement with the recess. For example, two guide surfaces can be provided, a first guide surface guiding the support element into the recess when the actuating element is moved into the first pivot position. After the support element has disengaged from the recess, the actuating element can move back towards the home position, e.g. when the handle is actuated. The support element can, for example, lie against the second guide surface, which guides the support element to the first guide surface.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the support element is loaded into a neutral position by at least one spring element. When the support element is pivoted in The support element is then loaded back into the neutral position in at least one direction of rotation. If the actuating element is moved into the first pivot position after the engagement of the support element with the stop element, the support element can pivot relative to the actuation element and tension the spring element. The spring element can be formed, for example, by a tension spring or by a compression spring or by another suitable spring element. The spring element can, for example, be molded onto the actuating element and formed in one piece with it.

According to a further embodiment, the blade carrier is mounted on the housing in a translationally movable and rotatable manner. The blade carrier can for example be provided with at least one guide element which corresponds to a guide structure of the housing. The guide element can for example be formed by a truncated cylinder which is received in a guide groove formed in the housing.

According to a further embodiment, the blade carrier can be moved from the safety position into a first cutting position in which the blade protrudes from the housing, and can be moved from the first cutting position into at least one second cutting position by an additional movement. The blade carrier can be moved back into the safety position from the second cutting position. Positions of the actuating element and of the support element can be assigned to the different positions of the blade carrier. For example, a movement of the actuating element and / or the support element can be controlled by the movement from the first cutting position into the second cutting position. The moving of the blade carrier from the first to the second cutting position can be done, for example, by the cutting force which acts on the blade during the cut when the blade is moved into the cutting material.

Between the safety position and the first cutting position, the actuating element can be supported on the housing, for example by the support element. Moving to the second cutting position allows the support element to move out of engagement with the housing or the actuating element, for example.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the support element is engaged when the blade carrier is moved into the first cutting position and the support element is disengaged when the blade carrier is moved into the second cutting position, with a movement when the handle is moved into the actuated position of the blade carrier in the safety position is prevented when the support element is in engagement and a movement of the blade carrier in the safety position is possible when the support element is disengaged. By moving the blade carrier from the first to the second cutting position, for example, the actuating element can be moved from a first pivoting position to a second pivoting position. By moving the actuating element into the second pivot position, for example, the support element can be moved out of engagement with the housing or with the actuating element.

According to a further embodiment, the blade carrier is mounted in such a way that a cutting force acting on the blade causes a translational movement and / or a pivoting movement of the blade carrier, the blade carrier being moved from the first cutting position into the second cutting position. Through the translational movement and / or the pivoting movement of the With the blade carrier, the actuating element is moved, for example, from the first pivot position into a second pivot position.

According to a further embodiment, the receiving space is formed jointly by a housing shell of the knife and the handle. The handle forms a second housing part. The receiving space of the housing and the receiving space of the handle are connected to one another. The housing shell and the handle form e.g. the housing of the knife. For example, the actuating element can be arranged at least partially in the receiving space of the handle. A spring element that loads the actuating element into the basic position can, for example, be arranged in the receiving space of the handle.

The advantage of the invention is that the design of the knife can be designed flexibly, since an additional receiving space is available in which functional parts of the knife can be received.

According to another aspect of the invention, the blade carrier can be moved with an actuating device from a safety position in which the blade is retracted into the housing inaccessible to the user, into a cutting position in which the blade protrudes from the knife housing. The blade carrier is mounted so that it can move in translation and rotate.

As a result of the rotatable mounting, the area of the actuating device which interacts with the blade carrier can carry out a complex movement which, for example, has movement components in two spatial directions. For example, it can be a compound movement made up of a swivel movement and a act translational movement. The area of the actuating element that interacts with the blade carrier is therefore not limited to a straight movement, as was the case in the prior art. The actuating element can, for example, execute a pivoting movement, the blade carrier interacting with the actuating element performing a pivoting movement and a linear movement.

The actuating device comprises at least one handle and at least one actuating element for actuating the blade carrier. The actuating element can be moved, for example with the handle, from a basic position into a first pivoting position. The handle is moved, for example, from an unactuated to an actuated position in order to move the actuating element from the basic position into a first pivoting position.

The actuating element can for example be formed by an actuating lever which cooperates with the blade carrier. The blade carrier is pivotable relative to the actuating lever. When moving between the basic position and a first swivel position, the actuating lever executes a swivel movement with a certain swivel angle and thereby moves the blade carrier from the safety position into the first cutting position.

The actuating element is mounted on the housing, for example. It can be stored directly or indirectly in the housing. The actuating element can be mounted on the handle, for example. The actuating element can, for example, be actuated indirectly or directly with the handle. The handle and the actuating element can be formed, for example, from separate parts. Alternatively, for example, the Handle and the actuating element can be formed from one component. The handle can, for example, form an area of the actuating element. The handle can, for example, form part of the housing. The actuating element can be mounted on the handle, for example.

According to the invention, the actuating device interacts with the blade carrier in a pivoted manner. For example, the actuating element can cooperate in a pivoting manner with the blade carrier. The actuating element can, for example, be permanently connected to the blade carrier. Alternatively, the actuating element can, for example, be releasably connectable to the blade carrier. In the connected state, the blade carrier and the actuating element can then be pivoted relative to one another.

The blade carrier is mounted on the housing such that it can move in translation and rotate. "Movable in translation" in the context of the invention means that the blade carrier can be moved along a path. The path can, for example, be straight or curved or have straight and curved sections.

The advantage of the invention is that the knife comprises only a few parts and a simple construction is possible. The knife is easy to manufacture in this way and has low manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the knife according to the invention has a high level of functional reliability.

In particular, the knife components knife housing, handle, actuating device, blade carrier with blade and possibly support element can form elements of a gear. In this way it is possible, through the design of the gear elements, a certain movement characteristic of the blade carrier during the movement between the safety position and the at least one cutting position. The actuating device can, for example, form a four-bar linkage with the handle and the blade carrier. The actuating device can comprise, for example, two control arms which are articulated on the one hand on the handle and on the other hand on the blade carrier.

As the blade carrier performs a pivoting movement in the direction of the cutting material when moving from the second cutting position to the safety position, the frictional force between the blade and the cutting material increases during the cutting process. In this way it is e.g. possible to cut very thin materials such as foil.

In addition, the design of the gear elements can be used to determine, for example, the extension movement of the blade carrier when the handle is operated.

Due to the mounting of the blade carrier, which allows a translatory and a rotary movement, it is easily possible to design the knife in such a way that both a cutting force parallel to the cutting edge of the blade and a cutting force acting at right angles to the blade move of the blade carrier from the first cutting position into the second cutting position.

• Fig. 1 eine schematische teilweise geschnittene Ansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Messers, wobei sich der Klingenträger in der Sicherheitsposition und die Handhabe in der unbetätigten Position befindet,
• Fig. 2 in Anlehnung an Fig. 1 eine Darstellung des Messers, wobei sich der Klingenträger in der ersten Schneidposition und die Handhabe in der betätigten Position befindet,
• Fig. 3 in Anlehnung an Fig. 2 eine Darstellung des Messers, wobei sich der Klingenträger in der zweiten Schneidposition und die Handhabe in der betätigten Position befindet,
• Fig. 4 in Anlehnung an Fig. 3 eine Darstellung des Messers, wobei sich der Klingenträger in der Sicherheitsposition und die Handhabe in der betätigten Position befindet,
• Fig. 5 in Anlehnung an Fig. 4 eine Darstellung des Messers, wobei sich der Klingenträger in der Sicherheitsposition und die Handhabe zwischen der betätigten und der unbetätigten Position befindet.
• Fig. 6a in Anlehnung an Fig. 1 eine Darstellung des Winkels zwischen Klingenträger und Betätigungselement, wobei sich der Klingenträger in der Sicherheitsposition befindet.
• Fig. 6b in Anlehnung an Fig. 2 eine Darstellung des Winkels zwischen Klingenträger und Betätigungselement, wobei sich der Klingenträger in der ersten Schneidposition befindet.
• Fig.6c in Anlehnung an Fig. 3 eine Darstellung des Winkels zwischen Klingenträger und Betätigungselement, wobei sich der Klingenträger in der zweiten Schneidposition befindet.
• Fig. 7 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Messers, wobei das Betätigungselement in einer Grundposition angeordnet ist,
• Fig. 8 in Anlehnung an Fig. 7 die zweite Ausführungsform des Messers, wobei das Betätigungselement in einer ersten Schwenkposition angeordnet ist,
• Fig. 9 in Anlehnung an Fig. 8 die zweite Ausführungsform des Messers, wobei das Betätigungselement in einer zweiten Schwenkposition angeordnet ist, und
• Fig. 10 in Anlehnung an Fig. 9 die zweite Ausführungsform des Messers, wobei das Betätigungselement in einer dritten Schwenkposition angeordnet ist.

Further advantages result from the subclaims, which are not recognized, and from the description of an exemplary embodiment shown in the following figures. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a schematic partially sectioned view of a first embodiment of the knife according to the invention, wherein the blade carrier is in the safety position and the handle is in the non-actuated position,
• Fig. 2 based on Fig. 1 a representation of the knife, with the blade carrier in the first cutting position and the handle in the actuated position,
• Fig. 3 based on Fig. 2 a representation of the knife, with the blade carrier in the second cutting position and the handle in the actuated position,
• Fig. 4 based on Fig. 3 a representation of the knife, with the blade carrier in the safety position and the handle in the actuated position,
• Fig. 5 based on Fig. 4 a representation of the knife, with the blade carrier in the safety position and the handle between the actuated and the non-actuated position.
• Figure 6a based on Fig. 1 a representation of the angle between the blade carrier and the actuating element, the blade carrier being in the safety position.
• Figure 6b based on Fig. 2 a representation of the angle between the blade carrier and the actuating element, wherein the blade carrier is in the first cutting position.
• Fig.6c based on Fig. 3 an illustration of the angle between the blade carrier and the actuating element, the blade carrier being in the second cutting position.
• Fig. 7 a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the knife according to the invention, wherein the actuating element is arranged in a basic position,
• Fig. 8 based on Fig. 7 the second embodiment of the knife, wherein the actuating element is arranged in a first pivot position,
• Fig. 9 based on Fig. 8 the second embodiment of the knife, wherein the actuating element is arranged in a second pivot position, and
• Fig. 10 based on Fig. 9 the second embodiment of the knife, wherein the actuating element is arranged in a third pivot position.

A knife as a whole is denoted by the reference number 10 in the figures. The same reference symbols in the different figures denote corresponding parts even when small letters are added.

The knife 10 essentially has a housing H, a handle 12, a blade carrier 13 and an actuating element 14. The handle 12 and the actuating element 14 are parts of an actuating device V. The housing H is formed by a housing shell 11 and the handle 12.

The handle 12 is fastened to a housing shell 11 so as to be pivotable by a pivot joint G1 with a pivot axis a1. The handle 12 is from the in Fig. 1 The non-actuated position shown can be moved in the direction w1 into an actuated position shown, for example, in FIG. From the actuated position, the handle 12 can be pivoted in the direction w2 into the non-actuated position.

The handle 12 comprises a stop element 15 which is received in a slot-like recess 16 in the housing shell 11. In the non-actuated position, the stop element 15 interacts with an edge region 17 of the recess 16, and in the actuated position it interacts with an edge region 18 of the recess 16. The edge area 17 and the edge area 18 each form a contact surface for the stop element 15. The movement of the handle 12 is limited in this way.

The handle 12 is loaded into the non-actuated position by a spring element 19. An end region 22 of the spring element 19 is connected to a fastening means 21 molded onto the handle 12. Another end region 20 of the spring element 19 is fastened to a retaining bolt 23 molded onto the housing shell 11.

In the housing shell 11, a receiving space A _{1 is} formed, in which the blade carrier 13 is arranged. A receiving space A _{2 is} formed in the handle 12. The receiving spaces A1 and A2 are connected to one another and together form the receiving space A. A cylindrical stump 24 is formed on the blade carrier 13 and is received in a groove 25 formed in the handle 12. The blade carrier 13 is in this way displaceable parallel to a longitudinal center axis m of the groove 25 in the directions x1, x2 and about a pivot axis a2 of the truncated cylinder 24 in the directions q1, q2 (see Fig. 9 ) pivotable. The blade carrier 13 can switch between a safety position (see Fig. 1 ), a first cutting position (see Fig. 2 ) and a second cutting position (see Fig. 3 ) are moved. The blade carrier 13 has a holder, not shown in detail, for a blade 27.

In the safety position, the blade carrier 13 is arranged in such a way that the blade 27 is retracted into the housing H and is inaccessible to a user. The blade 27 protrudes from the housing H in the first cutting position and in the second cutting position.

A rear extension 26 of the blade carrier 13 is fixedly connected to a first end region 49 of the actuating element 14 by means of a joint G3 with a pivot axis a3. The blade carrier 13 can be pivoted relative to the actuating element 14 by means of the joint G3. The actuating element 14 and the blade carrier 13 are movably connected to one another.

The actuating element 14 is pivotably mounted on the handle 12 at a second end region 50 with a joint G4, which has a pivot axis a4. In this way, the actuating element 14 can be pivoted with respect to the handle 14 in the directions p1, p2. A spring element 28 loads the actuating element 14 into the, for example, in Fig. 1 Basic position shown, in which the actuating element 14 holds the blade carrier 13 in the safety position. The spring element 28 is fastened with one end region 29 to a fastening means 30 of the actuating element 14 and with another end region 31 to a fastening means 32 of the handle 12.

A support element 33 is pivotably mounted on the actuating element 14 with a pivot joint G5 with a pivot axis a5. An end region 34 of the support element 33 lies in the Fig. 1 illustrated basic position of the actuating element 14 at a Outer surface 35 of a housing structure 36. The support element 33 is pivoted from a neutral position in the direction u2. A first spring element 37 loads the support element 33 clockwise in the direction of rotation u1 against the outer surface 35. The spring element 37 is connected to an end region 38 on a fastening means 51 of the actuating element 14 and to an end region 39 on a fastening means 40 of the support element 33.

A second spring element 41 is in the in Fig. 1 position shown relaxed. The spring element 41 is fastened with an end region 42 to a fastening means 43 of the support element 33 and with an end region 44 to a fastening means 45 of the actuating element 14.

The spring element 37 and the spring element 41 are designed as compression springs in the present exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, however, all suitable spring elements can be used. According to an alternative, only one spring element can be used, for example, which loads the support element 33 into the neutral position.

If the handle 12 is in accordance with the inactivated position Fig. 1 in direction w1 in the actuated position according to Fig. 2 moves, the end region 34 of the support element 33 moves along the outer surface 35 into engagement with a notch 46. By engaging the support element 33 with the notch 46, when the handle 12 is moved from the unactuated to the actuated position, the actuating element 14 becomes about the axis a4 in the direction p1 in the in Fig. 2 pivoted first pivot position shown.

After the end region 34 engages in the notch 46, whereby the contact between the support element 33 and the housing shell 11 is established, a force is exerted on the actuation element 14 by the support element 33 via the joint G5, which force causes the actuation element 14 to pivot with respect to the handle 12 in the direction p1 when the handle 12 is moved in the direction w1. The actuating element 14 acts as a two-armed lever with the axis of rotation a5, the end area 49 being located on a first lever arm and the end area 50 being located on a second lever arm. The support element is loaded with pressure.

The pivoting of the actuating element 14 from the basic position into the first pivoting position takes place against the spring force of the spring element 28. During the movement of the actuating element 14 from the basic position into the first pivoting position, the blade carrier 13 is clockwise in direction q1 according to Fig. 1 pivoted about the pivot axis a2. Furthermore, the blade carrier 13 is pivoted about the pivot axis a3 relative to the actuating element 14. Furthermore, the stub cylinder 24 firmly connected to the blade carrier 13 is moved in the groove 25 formed in the handle 12 in the direction x1. While the truncated cylinder 24 is in the safety position of the blade carrier 13 according to FIG Fig. 1 is located at an end region 52 of the groove 25, the truncated cylinder 24 is in the first cutting position of the blade carrier 13 according to FIG Fig. 2 moved in the direction of an end region 53 of the groove 25.

If the actuating element 14 is in the first pivot position, the blade 27 protrudes from an opening 47 of the knife 10. In the housing shell 11 and the handle 12 openings are provided which form the opening 47 of the housing H. When the actuating element 14 is pivoted into the first pivot position, the support element 33 is also relative to the Actuating element 14 pivoted against the spring force of the second compression spring 41 in the direction of rotation u1.

Works in the in Fig. 2 position of the knife 10 shown a cutting reaction force F on the blade 27, the blade carrier 13 pivots from the first cutting position about the pivot axis a2 clockwise in the direction q1 in the Fig. 3 second cutting position shown. It should be pointed out that the cutting reaction force on the blade 27 can also act on the blade 27 in a direction other than that shown. The cutting reaction force F can have components that act parallel to a cutting edge S of the blade 27 and other components that act at right angles to the cutting edge S.

Since the blade carrier 13 is movably connected to the actuating element 14 via the joint G3, the actuating element 14 is in the process shown in FIG Fig. 3 second pivot position shown moved. Due to the pivoting movement of the actuating element 14, the support element 33 moves into the second pivot position out of engagement with the notch 46 and is moved by the second compression spring 41 relative to the actuating element 14 in the direction u2 into the in Fig. 3 shown neutral position moved.

As soon as the cutting force F is less than the spring force of the spring element 28, which is the case, for example, when contact between the blade 27 and a not shown material to be cut, the actuating element 14 is moved by the spring element 28 from the second pivot position about the pivot axis a4 clockwise in in the Fig. 4 third pivot position shown moves although the handle 12 is in the actuated position. The blade carrier 13 is moved in the direction x2 into the safety position in which the on The blade 27 attached to the blade carrier 13 is withdrawn into the receiving space A of the housing H. The third pivot position of the actuating element 14 differs from the basic position only by a small angle, which is, for example, less than 5 °.

During the aforementioned movement of the actuating element 14 from the second pivot position into the third pivot position, the blade carrier 13 is also pivoted about the pivot axis a2 in the direction q2.

In the in Fig. 4 The third pivot position of the actuating element 14 shown in the illustration, the end region 34 of the support 33 rests against an outer surface 48 of the housing structure 36. The blade carrier 13 is arranged in the safety position in which the blade 27 is retracted into the housing H inaccessible to the user. The spring element 37 is tensioned and loads the support 33 against the outer surface 48 of the housing structure 36.

As soon as the user releases the handle 12, the handle 12 is pivoted by the spring element 19 about the pivot axis a1 into the non-actuated position. The end region 34 of the support element 33 slides along the outer surface 48 and is guided from the outer surface 48 to the outer surface 35. In Fig. 5 the knife 10 is shown shortly before reaching the unactuated position of the handle 12.

The inoperative position of the handle is in Fig. 1 shown. According to Fig. 1 the support element 33 rests again with the end region 34 on the outer surface 35.

In the basic position of the actuating element 14 (see Figure 6a ) a central axis I1 (connecting line of the pivot axes a2 and a3) of the blade carrier 13 is arranged at an angle α1 to a central axis I2 (connecting line of the pivot axes a3 and a4) of the actuating element 14. In the first swivel position (see Figure 6b ) of the actuating element 14, the central axis I1 is at an angle α2 to the central axis I2. In the second swivel position (see Figure 6c ) the central axis I1 is pivoted at an angle α3 to the central axis I2. The angle α1 is smaller than the angle α2 and the angle α2 is smaller than the angle α3.

As already mentioned above, the receiving space A of the knife 10 is formed by the receiving space A1 of the housing shell 11 and the receiving space A2 of the handle 12. The housing shell 11 and the handle 12 have openings facing one another, through which the receiving space A1 and the receiving space A2 are connected to one another to form the receiving space A.

A second embodiment is shown in Figures 7 to 10 shown. In Fig. 7 the knife is in the inoperative position. The support element 33 has a hook-shaped end region 54 which interacts with an end region 55 of the housing structure 36. If the handle 12 from the in Fig. 7 position shown in direction w1 in the in Fig. 8 If the position shown is pivoted, the end region 54 moves during this pivoting movement into positive engagement with the end region 55. After the end regions 54 and 55 are in engagement, the support element 33 exerts a tensile force on the actuating element during the further pivoting movement of the handle 12 in the direction w1 14 off. In this case, the actuating element 14 is pivoted against the spring force of the spring element 28 with respect to the handle 12 in the direction p1, whereby the blade 27 out of the opening 47 of the housing H exits. In addition, the support element 33 is pivoted relative to the actuating element 14 against the force of a spring element in the direction u1.

As a result of a cutting force F on the cutting edge S of the blade 27, the blade carrier 13 pivots in the direction q1 about the pivot axis a2, whereby the actuating element 14 due to the movement connection with the blade carrier through the joint G3 continues in the direction p1 with respect to the handle 12 in the position shown in FIG Fig. 9 is pivoted. This pivoting movement releases the positive engagement of the end regions 53 and 54 and the support element 33 pivots into its starting position due to the restoring force of the spring element (not shown) in the direction u2.

As soon as the cutting force F, which acts on the cutting edge S of the blade 27, is less than the force exerted by the spring element 28 on the actuating element 14, the actuating element 14 pivots, caused by the restoring force of the spring element 28, about the pivot axis a4 of the pivot joint G4 in Direction p2 in an in Fig. 10 position shown. As a result of the pivoting movement of the actuating element 14 in the direction p2, the blade 27 is withdrawn into the housing H, although the handle 12 is in the actuated position.

When the force on the handle 12 decreases, the handle 12 is moved by the spring element 19 into the position shown in FIG Fig. 7 moved, the end regions 53 and 54 being moved into positive engagement.

Claims (15)

1. Knife with a housing (H, 11, 12) and a blade holder (13), with an actuating device (V) comprising at least one actuating element (14) and at least one handle (12) which is movable between a non-actuated position and an actuated position, the blade holder (13) being displaceable by means of the actuating device (V) from at least one safety position in which a blade (27) retained on the blade holder (13) is retracted into a compartment (A) of the housing (11) into at least one cutting position in which the blade (13) extends out from the housing (11), the blade holder (13) being movable from a safety position into a first cutting position and displaceable by an additional movement from the first cutting position into at least one second cutting position from which the blade holder (13) can be moved back into the safety position even though the handle (12) is located in the actuated position, characterised in that the blade holder (13) is connected to the actuating element (14) by means of a joint (G3) and a support element (33) is provided, by means of which at least one element (14) of the actuating device (V) can be releasably supported on the housing (H, 11, 12), the support element (33) being released from the housing (11) or actuating device (V) due to the movement of the blade holder into the second cutting position, thereby imparting an additional degree of freedom to the actuating element.
2. Knife as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the support element (33) is part of the actuating device (14) or the housing (H, 11, 12).
3. Knife as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a stop (36; 46) affixed to the housing is provided, against which the actuating element (14) or the support element (33) is supported.
4. Knife as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (33) can be moved into engagement with the housing (H, 11, 12) or the actuating element (14) by applying pressure or by tension.
5. Knife as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (33) is of an approximately rod-shaped design.
6. Knife as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (33) is secured to the actuating element (14) so as to be pivotable.
7. Knife as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (33) is biased into a neutral position by means of at least one spring element (37, 41).
8. Knife as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a bearing seat (46) is provided on the housing (H, 11, 12) or on the actuating element (14) with which the support element (33) can be releasably moved into engagement.
9. Knife as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that provided adjacent to the bearing seat (46) is at least one guide surface (35, 48) which guides the support element (33) into engagement with the bearing seat (46).
10. Knife as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the handle (12) is formed by a lever which is linked to the housing (H, 11, 12) so as to be pivotable and the handle (12) is pivotable at least between a non-actuated and an actuated position.
11. Knife as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (33) is engaged when the blade holder (13) is moved into the first cutting position and the support element (33) is disengaged when the blade holder (13) is moved into the second cutting position and as the handle (12) is moved into the actuated position, a movement of the blade holder into the safety position is prevented when the support element (33) is engaged and a movement of the blade holder (13) into the safety position is possible when the support element (33) is disengaged.
12. Knife as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the actuating element (14) is connected to the housing (H, 11, 12) so as to be pivotable.
13. Knife as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the actuating element (14) is fixedly connected to the handle (12).
14. Knife (10) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the actuating element (14) is fixedly connected to the blade holder (13) by means of a pivot joint (G3).
15. Knife as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the blade holder (13) is mounted on the housing (11) so as to be movable in translation and movable in rotation.

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