US2085681A - Knife guard mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 29, 1937. w, LmHTY I 2,085,681

KNIFE GUARD MECHANI SM Filed April 17, 1935 t Patented June 29, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a guard mechanism adapted for use with a utensil such as a paring knife or similar tool; and

the objects of my improvements are, first, to

provide a mechanism for guarding and protecting the fingers of an operator using a knife or similar tool from being injured and irritated by contact with the blade of the knife or similar tool; second, to provide a guard mechanism'for 1,3 aknife or similar tool that may be readily installed on or removed from the knife or similar tool; third, toprovide a guard mechanism for a knife or similar tool that will control the thickness of the paring or slice of the materialbeing 1; pared; fourth, to provide a guard mechanism for controlling the thickness of the paring or slice made bya knife or similar tool with means for adjusting the mechanism to provide parings or 4 slices of different thicknesses; fifth, to provide a mechanism for a knife or similar tool that will enable the operator to develop rectangular or similar shaped parings, pieces, strips or slices from an object such as a potato to form what is.

commonly known as shoestring or ffrench fry potatoes; sixth, to provide a guard mechanism for a knife or similar tool that will enable the operator to develop either a conventional slice or a string .or' narrow strips from said slice; seventh, to provide a guard mechanism for a knife or similar tool that will enable the operator to develop slices from an object being pared and which will leave the tip of the knife or similar tool exposed for the purpose of cutting and digging eyes from such objects as potatoes and for similar operations on similar objects; eighth, to provide a guard mechanism for a knife or similar tool that will enable the operator to use a thumb for exerting a thrust against the corner of the knife without danger from being injured thereby; ninth, to providea guard mechanism for a knife that will enable the operator to apply a pressure from the fin- I gers to opposite sides of the knife blade without injury, irritation, or bruising of said fingers; tenth, to provide a guard mechanism for a knife or similar tool andhaving a deformable portion adapted to be displaced to clear the blade of the knife to permit the knife to be used in a conventional manner without reference to the thickness of the paring or slice developed; eleventh, to provide a guardmechanism for a knife that may be used with or without aslicer mechanism adapted for associated use therewith on the knife; twelfth, to provide a slicer mechanism having resilient characteristics for gripping the blade of a knife; thirteenth, to provide a guard'mechanism having resilient characteristics for gripping the blade of a knife; fourteenth, to provide a slicer mechanism adapted to be retained on a knife by a guard mechanism mounted on the knife; and fifteenth, to provide a slicer mechanism provided with a plurality of cutters having surfaces abutting the broad side of a knife blade to absorb the thrust reaction of the cutters of the slicer mechanism. 1Q

I attain these objects by the mechanism i1 lustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my guard mechanism, which controls the thickness of conventionalslices, applied to a knife; Fig. 2, a side view ofthe guard mechanism and a partial view of the knife disclosed in Fig. 1; Fig.3, a sectional view of the guard mechanism and knife disclosed in Fig. 2, said sectional view being taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a partial plan view of the guard mechanism and knife disclosed in Fig. 1, said guard mechanism being mounted in a different adjusted position on the knife to develop a slice of greater thickness than with the guard mechanism in the position disclosed relative to the knife in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a side View of the guard mechanism installed on a knife, disclosed partially, in association with a second mechanism for developing small slices or strips from a conventional slice of a potato or similar object; Fig. 6, an end view of my mechanism and knife as disclosed in Fig. 5', a cross section of the knife blade being disclosed; and Fig. '7, a bottom view of the mechanism and knife disclosed in Fig. 5.

Similar numerals refer to, similar parts throughout the several views. The knife I is provided With the handle 2 and the blade 3 and constitutes a conventional par- 0 ing knife used as a kitchen utensil and indicates one of various tools or implements of'similar use and construction with which my invention is adapted for use, the blade 3 being set into the handle land suitably secured by the rivets or fastening members 4.

The guard mechanism comprises the convoluted portion 5 at its front or forward end which is formed by a wire wound into a plurality of coils 6 similar to the coils of a spring member, one end of the wire terminating at I to form a partial coil.

The wire forming the coils 6 will be extended toformgthe spacer portion 8 which extends between and connects and spaces the. convoluted portion 5 and the convoluted portion 9 which is formed by further coiling the wire to form the coils I0 which are located to extend beyond and cover the corner or heel II of the blade 3 thus preventing the thumb of the operator from engaging the heel II, the thumb being conventionally placed adjacent the heel II and held, with pressure, against the lower side of the handle 2 in the usual paring and slicing operation, a condition that often results in injury to the thumb of the operator and continually occasions irritation and inconvenience due to the thumb being pressed continually against sharp edges or portions or" the blade 3 or handle 2, this condition being eliminated by the thumb engaging my guard mechanism adjacent the smooth surface of the rear portion of the spacer portion 8 and the smooth lower surfaces of the convoluted portion 9, the thumb of the operator being indicated at I2, Fig. 5.

It is to be noted that the wire from which the guard mechanism is made will be further extended upwardly as at I3 and from this point the wire will be bent to form the portion I4 which extends transversely across the upper side of the knife I at a point substantially adjacent the junction of the blade 3 with the handle 2, the portion I4 being further bent upwardly and curved to form one side I5 of the finger or index thrust guard or flange I6, the one side of the index thrust guard I6 being inclined or bent inwardly to the curved tip or portion H where it is further extended to form the other side I8 of the index thrust guard I6, the sides I6 and I8 being oppositely inclined to form upwardly converging sides to present a more eflicient and sightly tip portion II, thelower portion of the side I8 being bent to form the portion I9 which extends transversely across the upper edge of the blade 3 in a plane substantially parallel with the portion I 4, the portion I9 as well as one end of the wire, from which the guard mechanism is made, terminating at 20, the portion I9 contacting the upper edge of the blade 3 and forming a means for transferring the thrust of the index finger against the index thrust guard I6 to the blade 3 during the paring or slicing operation, the index thrust guard I6 being provided with a curved formation as viewed from the side, in Figs. 2 and. 5, to fit and engage the index finger of the operator when the knife I together with the guard and slicing mechanisms are held and gripped by the hand of the operator, the index finger of the operator being indicated at 2I in Fig. 5.

It is to be noted that the blade 3 will be inserted between like coils of the convoluted portions 5 and 9 and will thus be located or spaced from the spacer portion 8 with which it extends substantially parallel, the width of the space 22 between the blade 3 and the. side of the spacer portion 8, as viewed in Fig. l, controlling the thickness of the paring orslice which will be pared or sliced from a potato or similar object, the spacer portion contacting and sliding over the outside surface of the potato or similar object during the paring or slicing operation, the space 22 representing the minimum space and consequent minimum thickness of the paring or slice due'to the blade 3 being positioned between the pair of like coils, in each of the convoluted portions 5 and 9, nearest the. spacer portion 8, the diameter of the wire'substantially determining the increments of thickness of the paring or slice, the blade 3 being positioned between the different aosaci.

like pairs of coils of the convoluted portions 5 and 9 in accordance with the desired thickness of the paring or slice, the blade 3 being disclosed as being positioned between the next pair of like coils of the convoluted portions 5 and 9 in Fig. 4, resulting in a space 24 substantially twice the width of the space 22 in Fig. 1, thus further resulting in a consequent increase in the thickness of the paring or slice.

It is to be noted that the spacer portion 8 will be positioned slightly below the cutting edge 23 of the blade 3, as viewed in Fig. 2, thus resulting in the space or gap 25 as viewed from the side in Fig. 2, the spacer portion 8 thus being positioned ahead or in advance of the cutting edge 23 so that the thumb I2 of the operator is also positioned away from and in a protected position where it cannot engage the cutting edge 23 in the normal paring or slicing operation.

However, it is to be noted that due to the flexible characteristics of the wire of which the guard mechanism is made, the spacer portion 8 may be bent, flexed, or displaced by an added pressure of thumb I2 against the spacer portion 8, to substantially the position, as indicated by the dotted lines 26, Fig. 2, and in which position of the spacer portion 8, the knife 3 may be used in a conventional manner, at the central portion of the cutting edge 23, without interference of the spacer portion 8 with the potato or similar object which is being pared or sliced, the thumb I2, during the operation, being slidably moved along the spacer portion 8 until the thumb I2 approaches or nearly approaches the longitudinal central portion of the spacer portion 8, the thumb i2 being further preferably positioned in this operation with the spacer portion 8 in contact principally with the inner side portion of the thumb relative to the cutting edge 23 of the blade 3.

It is to be noted that the blade 3 of the knife I is disclosed as being provided with the point or pointed portion 21 which is located and extends beyond the coils 6 of the convoluted portion 5 so that the point 21 is positioned so that it is free for digging eyes, specks, etc., out of the potato or similar object, or for similar operations with the guard mechanism mounted on the knife I.

It is to be noted that my guard mechanism is especially adapted for use as an accessory with the knife I and may be readily installed thereon or removed therefrom as desired by the operator. In installing the guard mechanism on the knife I, the point 21 of the blade 3 is inserted between the desired pair of coils 9 and then the blade 3 is slidably moved longitudinally through and between said pair of coils in a plane substantially bisecting the angular space between the index thrust guard I6 and the spacer portion 8 until the convoluted portion 9 is adjacent the forward end of the handle 2, when the guard mechanism may be pivotally moved, relative to the blade 3, about the convoluted portion 9 as a pivot center, until the convoluted portion 5 is positioned with the blade 3 between the desired pair of coils thereof and with the spacer portion 8 substantially parallel with and spaced from the cutting edge 23 as disclosed in Fig. 2, the procedure being substantially reversed to remove the guard mechanism from the knife I.

When it is desired to produce and develop shoe string or french fry pieces, slices or strips of a potato or similar object, the slicer mechanism, comprising the wire 28 and the cutters or blades n wer 33 and 31 forming'a loop or bent portion each 1 having the open upper end 32 for receiving the blade 3 therein to position it between the sides 30 and 3| with the cutting edge 23 in contact with I the closed lower end 33, the sides 30 and 3| being preferably formed with a wider space therebetween at its lower portion adjacent the closed end 33, the sides 30 and 3| being constructed with a curved formation, as disclosed in Fig. 6, which allows the upper ends of the sides 30 and 3l adjacent the open ends 32 to be positioned normally in contact with one another to allow the blade 3 to be inserted through the open ends 32, the sides 3E] and 3| being necessarily spread apart to receive the blade 3 therebetween, the sides 33 and 3| inherently possessing resilient characteristics which will be increased by the spreading of the sides 33 and SI to-cause the surfaces of the sides 1 3i! and3l, adjacent the open ends 32, to grip the blade 3 andretain the slicer mechanism on the blade 3, the Wire 23 of the slicermechanism terminating at the ends 34. The wire 28 of the slicer mechanism is provided with the portions 35 which are bent to extend outwardly and slightly downwardly from the blade 3, as viewed in Fig. 6,

the portions 35 being connected by the portion 33 which extends substantially parallel with the blade 3 and ina plane extending transversely to the blade 3 between its upper edge and its lower or cutting edge 23. i

The cutters 29 are provided with suitable openings, through which extends the portion 36 of the wire23 andare spacedibythe spacer, bushing or it washer members 3i which are also provided with suitable openings through which extends the portion 33, the cutters 29 and the spacermembers 3'! being suitably secured to the portion 36by welding, soldering or similar means. i

The spacers 3? are each preferably provided with a relatively large surface 38 for contacting the cutters 28 andmay-be provided with a curved or spherical surface or shape extending to the relatively small end surfaces 39 to present a smooth outer surface and pleasing appearance.

The cutters 29 are constructed with a semicylindrical shape at the portion 44 through which the portion 36 of the wire 23 extends and are each provided with the cutting edges All extending substantially at right angles with the cutting edge 23, the cutters 29 being further provided with potato or similar object.

the surfaces 4| which abut the fiat surface, of the blade 3, which is located nearest the operator, the remaining peripheral edges of the cutters 29 respectively connecting one end of the surfaces 4! and the cutting edges 40 longitudinally with the peripheral edges of the semi-cylindrical portions 24 through which the portion 36 of the wire width of theshoe strings, strips, slices, or pieces of the potato or similar objectwhile the depth of said shoe strings, strips, slices, or pieces will be i controlled and developed by the spaces 22 or 24 or similar adjusted spaces, the spaces 42 being disclosed in Fig. '7 as being rectangularwith sub stantially equal sides to form. alsquare, the blade 3being' positionedbetween the pairs, of coils, in

most from the spacer portion .8.

It'is tobe noted that the portions 430i the Wire 28. of the slicer mechanism willbe. positioned, on the blade 3, adjacent the inner sides of the convoluted portions and 9 of the guard mechanism, the slicer mechanism, thus being retained longitudinally of the blade 3 by the guard mechanism.

'It is to be.understood. that the coils of the convoluted portions 5 and 9' of the guard mechanism will possess sufficient resilient characteristics .to clamp and retain the guard mechanism,

in its operative mechanismon the blade 3 of the knife I. 1

. It is also to be noted that my mechanism provides means for resiliently attaching a guard mechanism to a blade offia knife together with resilient means for transferring a thrust of a finger to a knife blade and also provides means for resiliently attaching a slicer mechanism to said blade. p 1 i In operation, the guard mechanism is assemthe convoluted portions 5 and 9, locatedfarther bled on the blade 3 of the knife I and with the convoluted portion 5 pivotally moved away, from the blade, as above described, the slicer mechanism is assembled on the blade 3, after which the convoluted portion 5 may be pivotally moved to the blade 3, the blade 3 being positionedbetween the selected pairs of coils of the convoluted portions 5 and 9 to provide the requisite thickness of the pieces of potato or similar object.

The potato or similar object is grasped in the left hand, for example, while the handle of the knife i is grasped in the other or right hand with the thumb 12 adjacent the lower side of the guard mechanism and the knife, the index finger 2! of i the hand grasping the knife, being placed in engagement with the index finger guard [6;

The cutting'edge 23 of the blade 3 of the knife I and the'cutting edges of the slicer, mechanism are entered or inserted in and through the potato or similar object with the spacer portion 8 sliding over the outside of the potato or similar object, thepotato or similar object being cut into pieces or strips according to the size'of the spaces 42.

If it is desired to accomplish only a paring or plain slicing operation, then the slicer mechanism maybe omitted and the guard mechanism installed alone on the knife I as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. i

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for a knife provided with a blade and a handle for slicing a potato or similar object, the combination of a guard mechanism provided with convoluted portions at each of its ends, each of said convoluted portions comprising a plurality of coils together with a spacer portion connecting said convoluted portion and extending substantiallyparallel with and in spaced relationship to saidblade, said spacer portion being located in a plane extending substantially at right angles to the broad surface of the blade and below its cutting edge, said spacer portion being adapted to be held in engagement with the potato or similar object during the slicing operation, the blade of the knife being adapted to be .entered and frictionally held between a pair of V the operatorwhen the knife is held in the hand of the operator forparing or slicing the potato or similar object, the other of said convoluted portions being located rearwardly from the point of the blade of the knife to leave said point free for digging eyes, specks, etc., from the potato or similar object, and a slicer mechanism provided with loop portions at each of its ends for resiliently engaging the sides of the blade of the knife to secure the slicer mechanism on the blade of the knife, said loop portions being located in engagement with the inner surfaces of said convoluted portions of said guard mechanism to further retain said guard mechanism ontheblade of the knife, said slicer mechanism being further provided with a third portion extending in a spaced relationship with and substantially parallel with the broad surface of the blade of the knife, said slicer mechanism being further provided with a plurality of cutters mounted in spaced relationship on said third portion of said slicer mechanism and each having surfaces abutting the broad surface of the blade of the knife, said cutters each having cutting edges extending adjacent the cutting edge of the blade of the knife and adapted to slice into strips the slice of the potato or similar object which is being sliced therefrom by the cutting edge of the blade of the knife.

2. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring a potato or similar object, the combination of a pair of convoluted portions each provided with coils adapted to receive and frictionally hold the blade of the knife therebetween, a spacer portion connecting said convoluted portions and extending substantially parallel with the blade of the knife and in spaced relationship therewith to control the thickness of the paring when said spacer portion is held in engagement with the potato or similar object during the paring operation, and a plurality of cutters having portions irictionally engaging and securing said cutters to said blade, said portions of said cutters being positioned between said pair of convoluted portions to further retain said outters against movement longitudinally of said blade, said cutters being adapted to slice said paring inv strips.

3. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring a potato or similar object, the combination of a pair of convoluted portions adapted to clamp the blade of a knife, a spacer portion connecting said convoluted portions and extending in a plane located normally below the cutting edge of said blade to maintain portions of the hand of the operator from the cutting edge of said blade, said spacer portion being provided with resilient characteristics to permit it to be deflected and displaced to a position where portions of it are located above the cutting edge of said blade, and a plurality of cutters having portions resiliently engaging said blade, said portionsof said cutters being located between and adjacent said convoluted portions to prevent movement of'said cutters longitudinally of said blade, said cutters being adapted to out said paring into slices.

4. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring a potato or similar object, the combination of a pair of convoluted portions resiliently engaging the blade of the to engage the potato or similar object, and a finger thrust portion extending above the blade of theknife, said extension portion of said convoluted portion being extended to form said finger thrust portion.

5. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring a potato or similar object, the combination of a pair of convoluted portions resiliently engaging the blade of the knife, a spacer portion connecting said convoluted portions and adapted to engage the potato or similar object, and a finger thrust portion extending above the blade of the knife, said finger thrust portion being provided with a resilient portion adapted to engage the blade of the knife and to transfer the thrust of the finger to the blade of the knife during the paring operation, said convoluted portions, said spacer portion and said finger thrust portion being formed of a sole piece of wire or similar material, said finger thrust portion being extended from one of said convoluted portions.

6. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring a potato or similar object, a guard mechanism comprising a wire forming a substantially straight portion located in spaced relationship to the blade of the knife together with a plurality of coils at each end of said straight portion for resiliently engaging the blade of the knife, said straight portion being adapted to engage the potato or similar object during the paring operation, one of said plurality of coils at oneend of said straight portion being extended to form a finger thrust guard positioned above the knife and resiliently engaging said blade to transfer the thrust of the finger to said blade during the paring operation.

7. In a guard mechanism for a knife having a blade for paring a potato or similar object, the combination of a pair of convoluted portions adapted to resiliently engage the blade of the knife, a resilient spacer portion connecting said convoluted portions and adapted to engage the potato or similar object, said resilient spacer portion being normally located below the cutting edge of the blade of the knife, said resilient spacer portion being adapted to be displaced to a position where portions of itself will be located above the cutting edge of the blade of the knife, and a resilient finger thrust guard extending above the knife and provided with a portion for resiliently engaging the blade of the knife to transfer the thrust of the finger to the blade of the knife during the paring operation, said finger thrust guard being constructed by providing one of said convoluted portions with an extension portion extending upwardly adjacent one side only of said blade, said extension portion being further extended across the upper edge of said blade to form said finger thrust guard.

8. In a slicer mechanism for a knife having a blade for slicing a potato or similar object, the combination of a guard mechanism provided with portions for securement to said blade together with a portion for spacing said first mentioned portions, said last mentioned portion engaging said potato or similar object to control the thickness of the slice, and a plurality of cutters having portions for securement to said blade, said portions of said plurality of cutters being placed adjacent said first mentioned portions of said guard mechanism to retain said cutters longitudinally on and relative to said cut said slice into strips, said plurality of cutters being further adapted to be removed from said blade to permit said knife to be used with said guard mechanism without said plurality of.

cutters.

9. In a slicer mechanism for a knife having a blade for slicing a potato or similar object; the combination of a guard mechanism provided with portions for securement to said blade, said guard mechanism being provided with a portion for engaging the potato or similar object to control the thickness of the slice, and a plurality of cutters having portions for securement to said blade, said portions of said plurality of cutters being positioned between and in substantial engagement with said portions securing said guard mechanism to said blade and to retain said cutters longitudinally of said blade, said plurality of cutters being adapted to out said slice into controlling the thickness of the slice, and a combination of a mechanism mounted on said knife and provided with a spacer portion for controlling the thickness of the slice, a member bent portion of said member in spaced relationsecured to said knife and provided with a portion bent outwardly from said blade, and a plurality of cutters telescopically mounted on said ship and adapted to out said slice into strips, said plurality of cutters being provided with resilient loop portions for clamping said blade.

12. In a sliver mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for slicing a potato or similar object, the combination of a mechanism mounted on said knife and provided with a spacer portion adapted to engage the potato or similar obje'ctto control the thickness of the slice, a member pro- 7 vided with a portion extending parallel with the face of the knife, said memberbeing provided with a pair of clamp portions for resiliently engaging said knife to secure said member thereon, and a plurality of cutters mounted on said por- "tion of saidmember in spaced relationship to engage and cut the slice into strips.

13. In a slicer mechanism for a knife provided with a blade having a cutting edge for slicing a potato or similar object, the combination of a mechanism mounted on said knife and provided with a spacer member adapted to engage the potato or similar object to control the thickness of the slice, a wire member securedto said blade and having a portion extending substantially parallelwith said blade, and aplurality of cutters mounted on said portion of said wire member in spaced relationship and each provided with a cutting edge extending substantially at right angles to the cutting edge of said blade together with a surface abutting the broad side of said blade.

14. In a slicer mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for slicing a potato or similar object;

the combination of a guard mechanism mounted on said blade, and a slicer mechanism mounted on said blade, said slicer mechanism comprising a support member formed by wire or similar material together with a plurality of cutters having surfaces abutting said blade to absorb the thrust reaction developed by said cutters in the slicing operation, said, cutters being mounted on said support member formed of wire or similar material.

15. In a slicer mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for slicing a potato or similar object, the combination of a structure mounted on said blade and provided with a portion extending substantially parallel with said blade, and a plurality of cutters encircling said portion of said structure, said plurality of cutters each having an edge portion abutting said blade to absorb thrust reactions imposed on said plurality of cutters in the slicing operation.

16. In a slicer mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for slicing a potato or similar object,

the combination of a guard mechanism mounted on said blade and provided with a portion for engaging the potato or similar object to govern the thickness of the slice, a member secured to said blade, a plurality of cutters mounted on said member and abutting said blade, and washer members secured to said member and spacing said cutters in their operative positions.

17. In a slicer mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for slicing a potato or similar object, the combination of a guard mechanism mounted on said blade and provided with a portion for engaging the potato or similar object to govern the thickness of the slice, and a plurality of cutters supported by a structure having a portion extending substantially parallel with said blade, said cutters having portions resiliently clamped on said blade, said plurality of cutters each encircling said portion of said structure, said outters being spaced to engage and cut the slices into strips.

18. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring a potato or similar object, the combination of a pair of convoluted portions each provided with a plurality of coils adapted to frictionally receive and hold the blade of the knife therebetween, a spacer portion connecting said convoluted portions and extending substantially parallel with the blade of the knife and in spaced relationship therewith to control the thickness of the paring, an extension portion connected with one of said coils of one of said convoluted portions, said extension portion being located adjacent one side only of said blade, said extension portion being extended to form a portion extending transversely across the upper side of said blade, said last mentioned portion being further formed to provide upwardly extending portions curved to fit a finger of the operator, one of said upwardly extending portions being further extended'inwardly to form a second portion extending transversely across and in engagement with the upper portionof said blade to provide means for transferring the thrust of the finger of the operator to said blade during the paring opera-,

tion. j

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