GB2483674A

GB2483674A - A knife for wiping a surface

Info

Publication number: GB2483674A
Application number: GB201015425A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Jennings
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-09-15
Filing date: 2010-09-15
Publication date: 2012-03-21
Also published as: GB201015425D0

Abstract

A knife comprises a blade having at least one edge 1 that is suitable for wiping across a surface, and particularly suitable for wiping the inside of a jam jar. The edge may have a substantially straight section, and at the end of the straight section it may define a circular shape so that the end 2 of the blade has a bulbous shape. The blade may also comprise a second edge 4 that is substantially straight and substantially parallel with the first edge. Preferably the second edge is less flexible than the first edge.

Description

DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of hand-held devices for use in e.g. the kitchen for food preparation. In particular, it relates to a knife that comprises a blade, which blade has at least one edge (1) that is suitable for wiping across a surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is difficult to extract every last bit ofjam from a jar using a common cutlery knife.

Not least that is because the knife blade, typically made of e.g. stainless steel, is not capable of being used to wipe the interior of the jam jar effectively.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves this problem by providing a knife that comprises a blade, which blade has at least one edge (1) that is suitable for wiping across a surface.

In order for the blade to have at least one edge that is suitable for wiping across a surface, the part of the blade that defines the wiping edge is sufficiently flexible that when the blade is wiped across a hard surface such as glass, the wiping edge sweeps across the hard surface, maintaining contact with the surface, such that any material on the surface is pushed across the surface. For instance, the hard surface could be the inside of a jam jar, and the material on the surface could be jam.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Figure 1 depicts a preferred knife of the present invention in 2 dimensions.

Figure 2 depicts a preferred knife of the present invention in 3 dimensions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The knife of the present invention comprises a blade, which blade has at least one edge (1) that is suitable for wiping across a surface. In the description below, this edge is sometimes referred to as the "wiping edge" or the "first edge".

As indicated above, the part of the blade that defines the wiping edge is typically sufficiently flexible that when the blade is wiped across a hard surface such as glass, the wiping edge sweeps across the hard surface, substantially maintaining contact with the surface, such that any material on the surface is pushed across the surface.

Obviously in this context it is necessary for the profile of the surface to correspond closely enough to the shape defined by the edge, e.g. if the surface is a reasonably flat plain then a blade with an approximately straight edge would be suitable for wiping that surface. For instance, the hard surface could be the inside of a jam jar, and the material on the surface could be jam. Ifthejamjar has a regular cylindrical shape, then a straight edge would be suitable for wiping the interior of the cylinder part of the jar.

Preferably, the blade that is suitable for being wiped across a surface has a substantially straight section. Thus, the edge typically defines a straight 1-dimensional line for most or all of its length. This is the preferred shape for use in wiping surfaces that are flat in at least one dimension, e.g. the inside of ajam jar that has the usual cylindrical shape, or a planer surface. Typically, the blade has a uniform cross section along most of its length, with the central part of the blade (5) being thicker than the edges, which are generally tapered, as in Figure 1.

In a preferred aspect of the invention, when the blade has a substantially straight section, at the end of the substantially straight section, the edge continues to define a circular shape such that the end of the blade has a bulbous shape (2). This can be useful for wiping uneven surfaces or wiping a small nook or cranny. For instance, a cylindrical jam jar often has a wider base. The bulbous shape at the end of the blade makes it easier to collect any residual jam found in this part of the jam jar.

The bulbous shape generally extends further out than the wiping edge. In this regard, the bulbous shape can extend further out than the wiping edge (i) in the direction of the substantially straight edge, i.e. the bulbous shape extends further away from the handle, if there is one; (ii) in a direction perpendicular to the edge, i.e. in the bottom right hand image of Figure 1, the bulbous shape (2) extends upwards relative to edge (1); or (iii) in both of directions (i) and (ii), as in Figure 1. The part of the blade that defines the edge of bulbous shape is generally of flexibility that is the same as or similar to that of the part of the blade that defines the wiping edge (1).

Preferably the knife also comprises a handle (3) from which the blade extends. As with a common cutlery knife, the handle typically extends lengthwise in line with the blade, though alternative constructions are possible e.g. wherein the blade and handle are in the same plane but off-set, to enable the wiping of surfaces that would not be possible using a knife wherein the blade and handle are perfectly aligned (e.g. a jam jar that is wide but has a small opening at the top). Usually the blade is fixed relative to the handle, although in an altemative embodiment the blade could be moveable relative to the handle, for instance in a foldable fashion as in a Swiss army pocket knife style. In another embodiment, the handle is removable, e.g. it could be a screw-in handle, so that different handles could be used according to the user's preference.

Typically, the knife of the present invention has a blade that has at least one edge (1) that is suitable for wiping the inside of a jam jar.

In one embodiment, the blade of the knife of the invention comprises a second edge (4).

Typically this second edge is substantially straight. More typically, it is substantially parallel with the first edge (1) and faces in the opposite direction to the first edge.

In one embodiment the second edge has a flexibility that is the same as or similar to that of the wiping edge, so that the second edge can be used for wiping too. As in Figure 1, though, in this embodiment it is preferred that the second edge (4) does not have a bulbous shape present at the end of it, such as that (2) which is present at the S end of the first edge (1). Accordingly, if the first edge is used to extract jam from a jar, the second edge can be used to spread the jam on bread or toast (the bulbous shape at the end of the first edge means that the first edge is not ideal for spreading jam on a flat surface like a piece of toast).

In an alternative embodiment, when the knife of the present invention has a blade with a second edge, said second edge is less flexible (more rigid) than the first edge.

This can extend the possible uses of the knife of the invention. For instance, the first edge of the blade can be wiped against the interior surface of a nearly empty jam jar to collect the remaining jam. The jam can then be transferred to a piece of bread or toast, and the rigid part of the blade could then be used to spread the jam and/or cut the bread or toast.

Although the present invention has been described above in connection with jam, it will be appreciated that a knife of the present invention may have other applications too. For instance, it could be useful in other food applications, such as spreading icing on cake. Altematively, it could be useful in the building industry, e.g. for applying grout to tiles. That said, it is preferred for the knife to be suitable for use in wiping the inside of ajam jar to extract jam from the inside of the jar.

As will be appreciated, the particular flexibility of the relevant part of the blade will vary depending on the intended use of the knife. In the embodiment where the blade comprises a second edge that is more rigid, the same is also true of the rigid part of the blade -its rigidity can vary depending on the intended use of the knife. For instance, in one embodiment the rigid part of the blade could be suitable for cutting and may include features to assist in cutting, such as serrations.

It is preferred, from a manufacturing point of view, for the blade to be constructed from a single material, although in some constructions the blade may have a core made from a different substance, e.g. a metal rod extending lengthways from the handle through the centre of the blade, to provide additional strength.

As will be appreciated, there is no need for the wiping edge to be particularly sharp.

Any shape is possible provided that the edge is suitable for wiping across a surface, such as glass, whilst substantially maintaining contact with the surface. Usually the edge is tapered. Similar considerations also apply to the second edge, when present.

Typically the blade will be substantially symmetrical when viewed end-on, as in the bottom left hand image of Figure 1, where the left and right hand sides of the image are minor images of each other. This is not essential, though -altemative shapes are possible, which enable different flexibilities and wiping effect depending on the direction in which the edge is swept across the surface.

The blade can be made from any material of suitable flexibility. Thus, it should not be made of metal. Rather, it should be made from a synthetic material such as a plastic or rubber. Suitable materials are known in the art. The knife can be made using standard construction methods that are known in the art, e.g. methods that are used by manufacturers of cutlery and kitchen utensils could easily be adapted to produce a knife of the present invention. In one embodiment the flexible part of the blade can have a hollow construction.

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Claims

CLAIMS1. A knife that comprises a blade, which blade has at least one edge (1) that is suitable for wiping across a surface.
2. A knife according to claim 1, wherein the edge of the blade that is suitable for being wiped across a surface has a substantially straight section.
3. A knife according to claim 2, wherein at the end of the substantially straight section of the edge, the edge continues to define a circular shape such that the end of the blade has a bulbous shape (2).
4. A knife according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the knife also comprises a handle (3) from which the blade extends.
5. A knife according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said edge is suitable for wiping the inside of a jam jar.
6. A knife according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the blade comprises a second edge (4) that is substantially straight and is substantially parallel with the first edge (1) and faces in the opposite direction to the first edge.
7. A knife according to claim 6, wherein said second edge is less flexible than the first edge.
8. A knife according to any one of the preceding claims and substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.