GB2136341A

GB2136341A - Knife scabbard

Info

Publication number: GB2136341A
Application number: GB08306728A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Maurice Stokes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-11
Filing date: 1983-03-11
Publication date: 1984-09-19
Also published as: GB8306728D0; GB2136341B

Abstract

A scabbard for meat knives for use by butchers or slaughterhousemen comprises a housing 14 of plastics material defining a partially enclosed space for receiving at least one knife blade and having a portion for supporting or locating the handle of a knife, and means 11, 12, 13 for permitting connection of the scabbard to a belt of the user. At least one resilient flap 25, 26 extending from a wall portion 22'' (Fig. 5) of the housing into the space for receiving a knife blade and being such as to press on a knife blade when located in the scabbard and restrict or inhibit the movement thereof whilst located in the scabbard. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved knife scabbard The present invention relates to an improved knife sheath or scabbard such as used by butchers or slaughterhousemen.

In an embodiment of my copending Appiication No. 8112505 there is described a scabbard for meat knives for use by butchers or slaughterhousemen, comprising two moulded members defining an enclosed or partially enclosed region for receiving a plurality of knife blades in which one member forms a main housing and has means for attachment to a belt or means for permitting attachment to a belt, and in which the other member is a wall or insert member locatable in a portion of the housing so as to define a front wall portion thereof and to provide means for receiving and retaining the handle of the knife when placed in position; said means for receiving and retaining a knife handle comprising an inclined, front upper wall portion of the insert member leading to an upstanding lip wherein said inclined portion and lip facilitate retention of a knife handle in position in the scabbard; and wherein a dividing member or dividing members for separating the knife blade receiving portion into different regions is/are integrally formed with one or the other members defining the blade receiving region; said scabbard being formed of a thermoplastics material which will not undesirably soften in boiling water and will not absorb water and which plastics material is soft so as not to impair to any major extent the cutting edge of any knife blade coming into contact thereagainst in normal location of the knife blade in the scabbard; the members of said scabbard such as to be separable so that the interior of the scabbard is readily accessible for cleaning and the balde receiving surfaces of the scabbard being smooth. With certain knives having non-standard size handles, there is a tendency for such knives to rattle or shake about in the scabbard and it is such problem with which the present invention is concerned.

According to the present invention there is provided a scabbard for meat knivesfor use by butchers or slaughterhousemen comprising a housing of plastics material defining a partially enclosed space for receiving at least one knife blade and having a portion for supporting or locating the handle of a knife, and means for permitting connection of the scabbard to a belt of the user; wherein the improvement comprises at least one resilient protuberance or projection extending from a wall portion or wall of the housing into the space for receiving a knife blade and being such as to press on a knife blade when located in the scabbard and restrict or inhibit the movement thereof whilst located in the scabbard.

The present invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a scabbard made in two parts, namely a main housing and an inner, wall insert.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the wall insert of Fig. 1 on its own and removed from the main housing; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the wall insert of Fig.

2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the wall insert of Figs. 2 and 3 viewed in the direction of arrows "A"; and Fig. 5 is a section on the line D--D of Fig. 3.

The scabbard device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 is formed of polypropylene which is thermoplastic so as not to melt in hot water or steam utilized for normal sterilization purposes and is sufficiently soft so as to avoid damaging any cutting edge of a knife used therewith.

The scabbard device is formed in two parts, namely a main housing 14 and an inner pocket or wall insert 1 5 both moulded from thermoplastic polypropylene.

The housing 14 comprises a lower, tapered blade receiving portion 1 6 defined by a rear wall 17, side walls 1 8 of constant depth, and front wall portions 1 9 interconnected by reinforcing crosspieces 20, and which portions together receive the insert 15. It will be appreciated that when the insert 1 5 is removed large, inspection and cleaning apertures thus exist on the front of the housing 14.

Means for attachment of the device to a belt comprise specifically arranged apertures 11, 1 2 and 1 3 provided in the upper part of the rear wall 1 7. The elongate, parallel apertures 11 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 14 whilst the elongate apertures 12 arranged in line extend transverse to the longitudinal axis. Slotted apertures 11 are provided for the threading of a belt therethrough for firm securement.Slotted apertures 12 are provided for receiving two, looped straps (not shown) suspending from a belt so as to permit movement of the device away from the body whilst single aperture 13 may receive a single looped belt to permit suspension from a belt with possible pivoting movement towards and away from the body and pivoting movement generally about the axis of aperture 13.

The wall insert 1 5 comprises a main wall portion 22 dimensioned and tapered to fit into the receiving portion of the housing 1 4 and having reinforcing grooves 22' (or ribs). The insert 1 5 has side walls 23 which in position rest against the inside surface of rear wall 1 7 and thus position the main wall 22 against the front wall portions 1 9 and cross-ieces 20. The insert.1 5 is readily removable to permit cleaning of the inside of the housing 14.

The main, front wall 22 of insert 1 5 is inclined at 22" at its upper end and has a normally vertically upstanding lip 22"' at its end which is in fact parallel to the main portion of wall 22. The inclined portion 22" and lip 22"' receive the handles of knives (not shown) and act to securely retain such in position. In the upper region of insert 1 5 in the region of the inclined portion 22" the side walls 23 are enlarged at 23' so that in use such side wall enlargements act to prevent knives from accidentally falling out of the scabbard.

An additional dividing wall 24 is moulded with insert 1 5 to provide separate knife receiving regions within the scabbard. A plurality of dividing walls may be provided.

The improvement comprises the provision of two resilient flaps 25 and 26 integrally formed during the moulding of the insert 1 5 - one either side of the dividing wall 24. Each flap 25, 26 is approximately half the thickness of the rest of the material forming the insert 1 5 to provide the desired flexibility and each flap extends at approximately 20C to the plane of the wall portion from which it extends. When the insert 1 5 is located in the main housing 14, the flaps 25, 26 extend towards but do not abut and the ends thereof are spaced from the rear wall 1 7.

In use, when a knife is inserted into the scabbard, the blade will contact flap 25 or 26 and deflect such so that when the handle of the knife rests in the enlarged portion 23' the flap 25, 26 resiliently acts upon the blade and prevents or minimizes undesired movement thereof whilst the knife is housed in the scabbard -- such movement hitherto causing an undesired rattling noise.

It will be appreciated that the number of the resilient flaps may be selected depending upon the size and type of scabbard device involved. Instead of flaps, other flexible tongues or projections may be provided to act upon a knife blade and even a protuberance in the wall of the insert providing a resilient wall portion for acting on a knife blade may be provided. A resilient projection may be provided extending from a side wall or dividing wall of insert although such projection would act upon an edge of the blade and be subject to wear and cutting. Instead of providing one or more resilient projections on the insert, such may be provided on the main housing e.g. by providing resilient flaps similar to flaps 25 and 26 in the rear wall 17 of the housing 14.

The invention is also considered to cover a scabbard insert with resilient projections per se.

Claims

1. A scabbard for meat knives for use by butchers or slaughterhousemen comprises a housing of plastics material defining a partially enclosed space for receiving at least one knife blade and having a portion for supporting or locating the handle of a knife, and means for permitting connection of the scabbard to a belt of the user; wherein the improvement comprises at least one resilient protuberance or projection extending from a wall portion or wall of the housing into the space for receiving a knife blade and being such as to press on a knife blade when located in the scabbard and restrict or inhibit the movement thereof whilst located in the scabbard.

2. A scabbard as claimed in claim 1 in which the resilient projection is integrally formed with a wall of the scabbard.

3. A scabbard as claimed in claim 2 in which the resilient projection is of lesser thickness than the adjacent wall of the scabbard to provide for desired flexibility.

4. A scabbard as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the projection comprises a flap extending from a wall of the housing.

5. A scabbard as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 which is formed from two parts in which one part forms the main housing and has means for attachment to a belt or means for permitting attachment to a belt; and in which the other part is a wall or insert member locatable in a portion of the main housing so as to define a front wall portion thereof and to provide means for receiving and retaining the handle of the knife when placed in position; said at least one resilient protuberance or projection extending from said insert member.

6. A scabbard as claimed in claim 5, wherein the insert includes a dividing member or dividing members separating the knife blade receiving portion into different regions and a protuberance of projection is provided on one or more sides of the dividing member or members.

7. A scabbard substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A wall or insert for a scabbard having at least one resilient protuberance or projection extending from a wall thereof into the space for receiving a knife blade when located in the scabbard and to restrict or inhibit the movement thereof.

8. A scabbard substantiaily as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 2/5/84.

Superseded claims 1-8.

New or amended claims:

1. A scabbard for meat knives for use by butchers or slaughterhousemen comprises a housing of plastics material defining a partially enclosed space for receiving at least one knife blade and having a portion for supporting or locating the handle of a knife, and means for permitting connection of the scabbard to a belt of the user; wherein the improvement comprises at least one resilient protuberance or projection integrally formed with a wall portion or wall of the housing and extending from the wall portion or wall of the housing into the space for receiving a knife blade and being such as to press on a knife blade when located in the scabbard and restrict or inhibit the movement thereof whisit located in the scabbard.

2. A scabbard as claimed in claim 1 in which the resilient projection is of lesser thickness than the adjacent wall of the scabbard to provide for desired flexibility.

3. A scabbard as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the projection comprises a flap extending from a wall of the housing.

4. A scabbard as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, which is formed from two parts in which one part forms the main housing and has means for attachment to a belt or means for permitting attachment to a belt; and in which the other part is a wall or insert member locatable in a portion of the main housing so as to define a front wall portion thereof and to provide means for receiving and retaining the handle of the knife when placed in position; said at least one resilient protuberance or projection extending from said insert member.

5. A scabbard as claimed in claim 4, wherein the insert includes a dividing member or dividing members separating the knife blade receiving portion into different regions and a protuberance or projection is provided on one or more sides of the dividing member or members.

6. A wall or insert member for a scabbard having at least one resilient protuberance or projection extending from a wall thereof into the space for receiving a knife blade when located in the scabbard and to restrict or inhibit the movement thereof.