GB2242641A

GB2242641A - Food knife.

Info

Publication number: GB2242641A
Application number: GB9001227A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Hans Gilbert
Original assignee: M Gilbert
Current assignee: M Gilbert
Priority date: 1990-01-19
Filing date: 1990-01-19
Publication date: 1991-10-09
Also published as: DE9100188U1; GB9001227D0; CA2034353A1; EP0443707A3; IE910052A1; EP0443707A2

Description

FOOD KNIFE This invention relates to a food knife which is provided with

means to identify the food with which it is to be used.

At the present time there is great concern, especially in hospitals and other public food establishments, due to cross-infection of food which is caused by the use of knives which are used for more than one type of food material. Thus if, for example, a knife is used first for a dairy product such as cheese and is then subsequently used on raw meat or fish then is again used for cheese without cleansing taking place between each food material there is the possibility of cross-infection and subsequent poisoning of the person eating the food.

It is know that in order to prevent such cross-use of knives to colour them in some way, for example, by providing a coloured handle with a colour which represents the type of food concerned. At the present time red is used for raw meat, blue for raw fish and yellow for dairy products. This system is successful only as long as the person using the knife is familiar with the colour coding. It is possible to mark the knife with the name of the material concerned but such labels are liable to become detached.

The present invention is therefore intended to produce a knife which can be used in a more hygienic way and which is instantly recognisable to the user.

According to the present invention a food knife has a blade which is permanently annotated with the word or words for the material for which the knife is intended td be used.

Thus, if the blade is metal the word or words can be impressed, cut or etched into the metal so that even when the knife is cleaned, wiped or washed, for example in a mechanical washing machine, the word cannot be removed.

In order to cut the word into the blade it can be engraved.

In order to further assist in identifying the knife the word can,be coloured to identify the material with which it is to be used and thus, the word can be colour etched into the metal.

The invention can be performed in various ways but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows the blade of a knife according to the invention and which is intended to be used with dairy products.

The knife according to the invention comprises a handle (not shown) and a blade 1 made from a metal such as steel. One or both sides of the blade 1 are acid etched so that the word "DAIRY" indicated by reference numeral 2 is etched into the metal. The etching ensures that the word will not be removed during use or if the blade is wiped or washed, for example in a mechanical appliance, or if the blade is sterilised. The word "DAIRY" implies that the knife is for use with dairy products so that any user can immediately see which knife is required for this kind of material and, provided the user is sensible will not be used for any other material, for example raw meat or raw fish. Thus, the knife assists in the hygiene of the kitchen and prevents inadvertent use for different materials which are likely to promote cross-contamination.

1 fl If desired coloured acid etching can be used so that, for example, with the word DAIRY the word can be indicated in yellow lettering. Using the now-accepted colour coding knife blades marked "RAW MEAV can be colour engraved in red and knife blades marked "RAW FISH" can be colour engraved in blue. The appropriate knife can therefore be immediately identified for the material with which it is to be used.

As mentioned above in the example described the word relating to the material with which the knife is intended to be used is acid etched but other means of marking such a metal blade can be employed, for example the word could be impressed into the blade by stamping or it could be engraved. The essential qualification of the annotation is that it is permanent and cannot be removed.

1

Claims

1. A food knife the blade of which is permanently annotated with the word or words for the material with which the knife is intended to be used.

2. A food knife as claimed in claim 1 in which the blade is metal and the word is impressed, cut or etched into the metal.

3. A food knife as claimed in claim 2 in which the word is cut by engraving.

4. A food knife as claimed in claims 1 to 3 in which the word is coloured to identify the material with which it is to be used.

5. A food knife as claimed in claim 4 in which the word is colour etched into the metal.

6. A food knife substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

Published 1991 a! The Paten! Office. Concepi House- Cardiff Road. NewportGwent NP9 I RH. Further copies may be obtained from Sales branch. Unit 6. NmeMile Point. Ciimfelinfa, 1- I-ross Kevs. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Marv Cray. Kent- i 1 I#