GB2364893A

GB2364893A - Electric knife with pivoting handle

Info

Publication number: GB2364893A
Application number: GB0103916A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Willie Siu Wai Ng; Kin Hing Lai; Wei Hua Zhang
Original assignee: Hop Shing Metal & Plastic Manu
Current assignee: Hop Shing Metal & Plastic Manu
Priority date: 2000-07-27
Filing date: 2001-02-16
Publication date: 2002-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-16
Also published as: CN2444732Y; GB2364893B; GB0103916D0

Abstract

The body 100 is rotatable relative to the handle 200 by at least 90 degrees, between positions where blades 300 are parallel to the handle 200 and a position where the cutting edges 300 are perpendicular to the handle 200. Locking members 114, 216 associated with the body 100 and collar 212 respectively engage to lock the handle 200 in various positions. The pair of parallel blades 300 are releasably secured in slidable mounts (240 figure 1). A motor (230 figure 1) in the body 100 causes the blades 300 to slide simultaneously in opposite directions in a reciprocating manner. The locking member 216 is spring loaded and engages with the semi-circular locking member 114 by a latch action.

Description

2364893 ELECTRIC KNIFE The present invention relates to an electric knife

for kitchen use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrically driven knives are known in general. In a typical construction, the electric knife comprises a body, an upper handle, a pair of cutting blades, a pair of slidable mounts inside the body for supporting the blades by their rear ends, and an internal electric motor for driving the mounts and in turn the blades to slide simultaneously in opposite directions in a reciprocating manner for cutting. Invariably, the cutting edges of the blades face vertically downwards and are fixed in terms of angle, as in the case of conventional knives.

The invention seeks to provide an improved electric knife.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided an electric knife comprising a body having a front end, an upper handle having an end connected to the body, a pair of parallel cutting blades having respective cutting edges and including respective rear ends insertable into the body front end such that the blades may extend forwards from the body front end, a pair of slidable mounts provided within the body for supporting the blades by their rear ends respectively, and an electric motor provided within the body for driving to cause the mounts s and in turn the respective blades to slide simultaneously in opposite directions in a reciprocating manner for the cutting edges to cut, wherein the handle end is connected to the body by means of a pivotal connection such that the body is rotatable relative to the handle through an angle of at least 900 between a f irst position in which the cutting edges of the supported blades face substantially vertically downwards and a second position in which the cutting edges face substantially horizontally to one side, and co-operable first and second locking members associated with the body and the handle end respectively for inter- engagement to lock the body to the handle at a relative position rotated to.

It is preferred that the end of the handle is connected to the front end of the body.

Preferably, the pivotal connection is implemented by an annular part of the handle end extending around a part of the body for relative rotation about a common axis.

More preferably, the annular part of the handle end comprises a collar.

It is preferred that the handle includes another end that is unconnected.

Preferably, the pivotal connection is adapted to enable rotation of the body relative to the handle through an angle of at least 1800 between two said first positions on opposite left and right sides past said second position.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second locking members are adapted to lock the body to the handle at any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions comprising the first and second positions.

More preferably, said plurality of predetermined positions is include a third position in which the cutting edges face at an angle of substantially 450 to one side and downwards.

In a specific construction, the first locking member is fixed to the body and comprises a substantially semi- circular shape.

More specifically, the first locking member is formed with a plurality of recesses for inter-engagement with the second locking member, said recesses being positioned corresponding to said predetermined positions.

It is preferred that the second locking member is springloaded and arranged to engage with the first locking member through a latch action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment 10 of an electric knife in accordance with the invention, said knife having a body and a handle connected thereto; Figure 2 is a crosssectional side view of the knife similar to Figure 1, showing certain internal components is of the body associated with the handle; Figure 3 is a part of Figure 2, showing one of the components in a different position; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional end view of the knife of Figure 1, showing the handle in a first angular position relative to the body; Figure 5 is a crosssectional end view corresponding to 25 Figure 4, showing the handle in a second angular position relative to the body; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional end view corresponding to Figure 4, showing the handle in a third angular position relative to the body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown an electric knife 10 embodying the invention, which comprises a elongate body 100 having front and rear ends 110 and 120, a pair of co-parallel cutting blades 300 extending forwards from the body front end 110, and a handle 200 having a crooked front end 210 connected to the body front end 110 and a straight rear end 220 that is unconnected or free.

The body 100 houses an electric motor 230 and a pair of slidable mounts 240 which support the blades 300 respectively and are arranged to be driven by the motor 230 to slide lengthwise simultaneously in opposite directions in a reciprocating manner. 20 The motor 230 has a worm-gear shaft 232 arranged to rotate, by means of a gearwheel or gear train (not shown), a pair of circular cams 234 which are supported for simultaneous rotation about a common off-centre axis 236.

Each mount 240 has a rear end in the form of a transversely oblong loop 242 which surrounds a respective cam 234, such that eccentric rotation of the cam 234 is translated into back-and-forth reciprocation of the respective mount 240.

The front end of each mount 240 is in the form of a sleeve 244 having an open front end through which the rear end 310 of the respective blade 300 is inserted for support.

While being set into motion by the motor 230, the mounts 240 slide the respective blades 300 back-and-forth in opposite directions for cutting food or the like, as is generally known.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 6, the front end 210 of the handle 200 is in the form of a collar 212 which surrounds the body front end 110 for relative rotation about a common axis that is the central axis of the body 100. The collar 212 and hence the overall handle 200 is rotatable relative to the body 100, or vice versa, from an uppermost central position (Figures 1, 2 and 4) downwards through an angle of 900 on either left/right side of the body 100 (Figures 5 to 6). A pair of laterally extending ribs 214 are provided on the uppermost inner surface of the collar 212, which are in sliding engagement with respective arcuate grooves 112 on the body front end 110, such that the body 100 and handle 200 are restricted to relative turning movement.

The handle 200 incorporates a pair of top and bottom electrical switches 250 and 260 which are connected in series by means of a pair of wires 270 to the motor 230 for control. The wires 270 extend from the handle end 210 through to the body end 110 and has an excess length so as not to hinder the relative rotation between the body 100 and the handle 200.

The collar 212 includes, on its lowermost inner surface, a longitudinally extending latch bar 216 which is slidable forwards and backwards and is resiliently biassed to slide forwards by means of coil spring 217 from behind. The latch bar 216 is manually slidable backwards by means of a connected knob 218 that is exposed on the lowermost outer surface of the collar 212 for use (Figure 3). A fixed locking half-ring 114 is provided within the lower part of the body front end 110, which is semi-circular in shape and extends about the axis of the body 100 through an angle exceeding 1800. The locking ring 114 has a radius substantially the.same as the distance of the latch bar 216 from the axis of the body 100 and is positioned directly in front of the latch bar 216 for co-operation. 20 The locking ring 114 is formed, on the side facing the latch bar 216, with a series of five recesses or notches 116 for inter- engagement with the front end of the latch bar 216. The middle notch 116 is positioned at the 25 lowermost central position with respect to the body front end 110, and the other four notches 116 at respective 450 and 900 positions up from the central position (Figure 4).

The notches 116 is slightly wider than the front end of the latch bar 216 for individual engagement therewith under the action of the spring 217 upon the latter, thereby defining five corresponding angular positions for locking the handle 200 to the body 100, or vice versa. As the handle 200 is on the opposite side of the body 100 from the latch bar 216, the five predetermined positions of the handle 200 are the uppermost central position (Figure 4) and 450 and 900 positions (Figures 5 and 6) down from the central position on opposite sides of the body 100.

As the electric knife 10 is always held by the handle 200 for use, it is the body 100 that is intended for turning relative to the handle 200 in order to select the direction at which the cutting edges of the blades 300 are to face. The body 100 is rotatable, after the latch bar 216 has been slid manually backwards by the knob 218 to disengage from the locking ring 114, to any one of the five predetermined positions. Upon release of the knob 218, the body 100 will be locked, with minor adjustment in its position as necessary, in the desired position through latching between the bar 216 and the relevant notch 116 of the half-ring 114.

In practice, the knob 218 may be released after the body 100 and handle 200 have been turned away from the previous or any relative position, whereupon the body 100 and handle 200 can be turned freely to the next position and be latched automatically in that position. As the notches 116 and the front end of the latch bar 216 have substantially parallel sides, their inter- engagement will be rigid against any tendency of the body 100 to turn as may be caused by the cutting action of the blades 300.

In the central position (Figures 1, 2 and 4), the cutting edges of the blades 300 face vertically downwards, as in the case of conventional knifes. In the 900 position on either left/right side (Figure 6), the cutting edges face horizontally to that side to facilitate food cutting in either horizontal direction and to suit left/right handed users. In the 450 position on either side (Figure 5), the cutting edges face at an acute angle, to one side and downwards, to facilitate food cutting at an inclined angle.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electric knife comprising a body having a front end, an upper handle having an end connected to the body, a pair of parallel cutting blades having respective cutting edges and including respective rear ends insertable into the body front end such that the blades may extend forwards from the body front end, a pair of slidable mounts provided within the body for supporting the blades by their rear ends respectively, and an electric motor provided within the body for driving to cause the mounts and in turn the respective blades to slide simultaneously in opposite directions in a reciprocating manner for the cutting edges to cut, wherein the handle end is connected to the body by means of a pivotal connection such that the body is rotatable relative to the handle through an angle of at least 900 between a first position in which the cutting edges of the supported blades face substantially vertically downwards and a second position in which the cutting edges face substantially horizontally to one side, and co-operable first and second locking members associated with the body and the handle end respectively for inter -engagement to lock the body to the handle at a relative position rotated to.

2. The electric knife as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end of the handle is connected to the front end of the body.

3. The electric knife as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pivotal connection is implemented by an annular part of the handle end extending around a part of the body for relative rotation about a common axis.

4. The electric knife as claimed in claim 3, wherein the annular part of the handle end comprises a collar.

5. The electric knife as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the handle includes another end that is unconnected.

is

6. The electric knife as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pivotal connection is adapted to enable rotation of the body relative to the handle through an angle of at least 1800 between two said first positions on opposite left and right sides past said second position.

7. The electric knife as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second locking members are adapted to lock the body to the handle at any one of a plurality of predetermined relative positions comprising 25 the first and second positions.

8. The electric knife as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plurality of predetermined positions include a third position in which the cutting edges face at an angle of substantially 450 to one side and downwards.

9. The electric knife as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the first locking member is fixed to the body and comprises a substantially semi-circular shape.

10. The electric knife as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first locking member is formed with a plurality of recesses for inter-engagement with the second locking member, said recesses being positioned corresponding to said predetermined positions.

11. The electric knife as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the second locking member is spring-loaded and arranged to engage with the first locking member through a latch action.

ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE ELECTRIC KNIFE An electric knife (10) comprising a body (100) having a front end (110) and an upper handle (200) having an end (210) connected to the body (100). A pair of parallel cutting blades (300) having respective cutting edges and including respective rear ends (310) are insertable into the body front end (110) such that the blades (300) may extend forwards from the body front end (110). A pair of slidable mounts (240) are provided within the body (100) for supporting the blades (300) by their rear ends (310) respectively. An electric motor (230) in the body (100) drives to cause the mounts (240) and in turn the respective blades (300) to slide simultaneously in opposite directions in a reciprocating manner for the cutting edges to cut. The body (100) is rotatable relative to the handle (200) through an angle of at least 900 between a first position in which the cutting edges of the blades (300) face vertically downwards and a second position in which the cutting edges face horizontally to one side. Co-operable first and second locking members (114 & 216) associated with the body (100) and the handle end (210) respectively are inter- engageable to lock the body (100) to the handle (200) at any one of a number of relative positions.

[Figure 2]