GB2389031A

GB2389031A - A magnetic knife holder

Info

Publication number: GB2389031A
Application number: GB0212250A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Preistman; Caroline Casey; Chris Parker
Original assignee: GREEN STAR
Current assignee: GREEN STAR
Priority date: 2002-05-28
Filing date: 2002-05-28
Publication date: 2003-12-03
Also published as: GB0212250D0

Abstract

A magnetic knife holder 10 has a plurality of magnets 24 at different spaced apart locations along a length of the holder. The magnets 24 are covered by a cover 22 which defined a contact surface against which knife blades are to be retained by the magnets 24. To enable penetration of the magnetic field through the cover, a magnetic shielding element 30 is associated with each magnet 24 on the pole of the magnet opposite the contact surface. The discrete magnets 24 provide automatic uniform spacing of the knives on the holder 10 and the cover can be wiped clean.

Description

A MAGNETIC KNIFE HOLDER

This invention relates to a magnetic knife holder.

5 Magnetic knife holders are well known for storing knives on display, and they are typically wall mounted so that they do not take up space from a kitchen work surface. These are an alternative to a knife block.

Typically, a magnetic knife holder has magnetic strips running along the length of the 10 holder, and the knife blades are brought into contact with the strips in order to support the knives. The magnetic surface is therefore ridged with the magnetic strips exposed, which makes cleaning difficult and also limits the freedom in designing the appearance of the holder. Furthermore, there is a tendency for the knives to clump together if placed sufficiently closely together and there can also be a tendency for interaction of the knives 15 to result In spinning of the knives.

According to the invention, there is provided a magnetic knife holder comprising a plurality of magnets at different spaced apart locations along a length of the holder and a cover portion for covering the magnets and which defines a contact surface against which 20 knife blades are to be retained by the magnets, wherein one face of each magnet is adjacent the cover portion and an opposite face is adjacent a booster element.

This arrangement provides discrete magnets along the length of the holder. This provides automatic uniform spacing of the knives on the holder, which improves the aesthetic 25 appearance. The magnets are covered by a cover portion, which can be wiped clean and to which any desired outer design can be applied. To improve penetration of the magnetic field of each magnet through the cover portion, each magnet is provided with a booster

element opposite the cover portion 30 Preferably, the booster element comprises a ferrous metal disk placed In contact with the magnet on the opposite side of the magnet to the cover portion.

Each magnet preferably comprises a disk, having a first thickness, and the ferrous (for example steel) disk has a thickness less than the first thickness. It has been found that it is sufficient for the thickness of the steel disk to be less than that of the associated magnet, for example between one sixth and one half of the magnet thickness. The magnet may be 5 between 5mm and 12mm thick.

The cover portion is preferably made from plastics material which can be moulded, and may have a thickness of between lmm and 3mm. This provides sufficient rigidity whilst enabling the magnetic field to penetrate the cover portion. Each face of the magnet is

10 preferably a pole of the magnet, and the same pole of each magnet is preferably adjacent the cover portion. This reduces the tendency for the knives to pivot. The magnets are preferably rare earth magnets.

An example of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I shows the magnetic knife holder of the invention; Figure 2 shows a front view (A) and a cross sectional view (B) to explain the components of the magnetic knife holder of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows the magnetic knife holder 10 of the invention, which is for holding a set of knives 12 (for example five as shown) equally spaced along the holder. Each knife 12 is held through magnetic attraction between discrete magnets within the holder 10 and the blade 14 of each knife 12. The holder is for mounting on a wall 16 and retains the knives 25 on display. The external surface of the holder 10 is smooth so that it can be easily cleaned by wiping and can be designed to have any desired external appearance.

Figure 2 shows the holder in greater detail, in front view in Figure 2 part A. Figure 2 part B shows the cross section along the line B-B in Figure 2 part A. The holder comprises a base 20 for mounting against the wall and a cover 22 which is screwed to the wall through the base 20. The cover 22 performs two functions. The first function is to support a plurality of magnets 24 at different spaced apart locations along the

length of the holder. For this purpose, the cover 22 has a circular wall 26 extending from the inside face of the cover for each magnet. The magnets 24 have corresponding circular shape and are a push fit into the space defined by the circular walls 26. The second function of the cover 22 is to cover the magnets from view and define a contact surface 28 5 against which the knife blades 14 are to be retained by the magnets.

The magnets 24 are seated with one pole (the same pole for each magnet) in contact with the inside face opposite the contact surface 28 (i.e. at the base of the space defined by the walls 2G) and the other pole at the top of that space. The contact of the magnet with the 10 opposite side of surface 28 maximises the magnetic coupling to the contact surface 28. In this orientation, the magnetic flux lines extend normally Mom the surface 28. For example, the north pole of each magnet may be against the inside face of the surface 28.

A booster device 30 in the form of a ferrous, for example steel, disc is placed over each 15 magnet 24 within the cylindrical space defined by the walls 26. This disc distorts the magnetic flux around the magnet and serves to locally boost the magnetic field strength at

the location where the knife is to be retained. The ferrous booster element thus increases the penetration of the magnetic field.

20 The use of discrete magnets 24 along the length of the holder 10 provides automatic uniform spacing of the knives on the holder. The cover 22 can be wiped clean and can have any design applied to it.

In the example of Figure 2, each magnet is a circular rare earth magnet, having a thickness 25 of between Smm and 12mm. The metal disk 30 is thinner, for example 3mm deep. This is found to improve the magnetic field strength on the opposite side of the cover 22 (i.e. the

magnetic penetration) by around 30%. The cover 22 is a moulded plastics item, having a thickness of around 2mm to provide the required rigidity whilst enabling small spacing between the magnet and the knife blade.

In order to mount the holder, the cover 22 (with the magnets 24 and discs 30 in place) is arranged over the base 20. Two countersunk screw openings 32 of the cover 22 (one at each end) are axially aligned with openings 34 in the base 20. These openings 34 may be

slotted, for example one vertically and one horizontally, to enable the holder to be mounted horizontally despite some inaccuracy in the wall mounting positions. Two screws secure the base 20 and cover 22 together and mount both on the wall. When secured together, projections 36 forming part of the base 20 bear against the metal disks 30 thereby retaining 5 the magnets 24 pressed against the back of the contact surface 28. The countersunk screws are then hidden by cover plates 38 which are laterally slid into place.

The invention provides a knife holder design which is easily mounted, has few components, and has an exterior surface which is easily cleaned and which can be designed 10 to match other items. The knives are held neatly arranged, as the spacing between knives is automatically regular.

Although a booster element has been shown as a disk on a face of the magnet opposite the surface 28, the booster element may instead partially surround the magnet to confine 15 further the magnetic field lines. The disk provides a low cost and easily assembled

solution. Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A magnetic knife holder comprising a plurality of magnets at different spaced apart 5 locations along a length of the holder and a cover portion for covering the magnets and which defines a contact surface against which knife blades are to be retained by the magnets, wherein one face of each magnet is adjacent the cover portion and an opposite face is adjacent a booster element.

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2. A knife holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one face comprises one pole of the magnet and the other face comprises the other pole of the magnet.

3. A knife holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the booster element comprises a ferrous disk placed in contact with the magnet on the opposite side of the magnet to the 15 cover portion.

4. A knife holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein each magnet comprises a disk, having a first thickness, and the ferrous disk has a thickness less than the first thickness.

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5. A knife holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ferrous disk has a thickness between one sixth and one half of the first thickness.

6. A knife holder as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the first thickness is between 5mm and 12mm.

7. A knife holder as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover portion is made from plastics material and has a thickness of between 1 mm and 3mm.

8. A knife holder as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the one face of each 30 magnet comprises the same pole of each magnet.

9. A knife holder as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover portion has support members on one side for retaining the magnets and has the contact surface on an opposite side.

5

10. A magnetic knife holder comprising a plurality of magnets at different spaced apart locations along a length of the holder and a cover portion for covering the magnets and which defines a contact surface against which knife blades are to be retained by the magnets.