US2425369A

US2425369A - Device for sharpening cutlery

Info

Publication number: US2425369A
Application number: US740887A
Authority: US
Inventors: William E Fleming
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-04-11
Filing date: 1947-04-11
Publication date: 1947-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 1964-08-12

Description

Patented Aug. 12, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR SHARPENING CUTLERY William -E. Fleming, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Application April 11, 1947, Serial No. 740,887

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to devices for sharpening cutlery and particularly to a device of this character having means for renewing the abrasive surface as it becomes worn or clogged.

A number of devices for sharpening cutlery and adapted to employ replaceable abrasive sheets, have been proposed in the past. Some of these devices have, however, been objectionable because of the difficulty of replacing the abrasive sheet or keeping it taut. Others have been relatively complicated or expensive to manufacture.

It is, therefore, a primary object of my invention to provide a new and improved device for sharpening cutlery such as butcher knives and the like.

Another primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of this character adapted to employ a renewable strip of abrasive material which maybe quickly and easily changed to present a new abrasive surface.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of this nature which may be manufactured at low cost with a minimum of equipment.

Still another important object of 'my invention is theprovisicn, in such a device, of a simple and improved means for clamping and holding the abrasive strip taut.

Other and further features and objects of my invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawing and following specification, wherein are disclosed exemplar embodiments of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Inthe drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a cutlery sharpening device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal view, in section, of the device of Figure 1, the section being taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a view in top elevation of the sharpening device illustrated in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of my invention and is a view in vertical section taken longitudinally through the device.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1 thereof; a device, constructed in accordance with my invention, for sharpening butcher knives and like forms of cutlery consists generally of a base member LI sup-porting a roll of abrasive fabric l2 adjacent one end .2 thereof, a top member I3 hingedly connected to the base at one end .as indicated at 14 and a clamping member, indicated generally at l5 and adapted :to cooperate with the hinge M to clamp the top'membersecurely to the base.

I have found the most practical width for the abrasive fabric to be approximately one and one-half to two inches, and the portion 24 of this abrasive strip which constitutes the actual working. surface lies flat along the upper surface of the top member I3. Portions of the abrasive strip adjacent each end of the Workin surface 24 pass -dow nward1y through slots in the top member and outwardly between adjacent surfaces of the top and base members which, when secured together by {the clamping member [5, serve to bind the abrasive strip securely in position,

The base member H is preferably a generally rectangular block of any suitable material such as hard wood, molded plastic or the like, and securedto the sides thereof, adjacent one end, are a pair of generally L shaped brackets H of sheet metal or other suitable material. These brackets are secured to the sides of the base member by-means of wood screws 18 and the upper 'ends 'of the brackets are 'apertured to receive a pair of machine screws 19, These screws are threadedly received *in holes tapped into the ends of a spindle 20, which member serves to support the roll of abrasive fabric l2. In the device illustrated, the abrasive material which may "be emery or carborundum or the like on a cloth back-ingis provided in rolled form with the abrasive surface on'the inside.

The top member l3, which is preferably connected to the base atone end by means of the hinge M and screws 21, is generally the same rectangular shap and size as the base ll. Two transverse slots '22 and 23 are provided adjacent the hinged end of this top member, the abrasive strip 16 passing downwardly through the slot 2 2, then upwardly through the slot 23, The strip-extends over the major portion of the upper surface of the top member to provide the sharpening surface 24 and its free end extends downwardly through a third transverse slot 25 and outward-1y between the adjoining "surfaces of the top and base members.

Since the portions 26 and 27 of the abrasive strip lie between the bas and top members, it will be apparent that these portions and, therefore, the sharpening portion 24 of the strip will be firmly secured in position when'the clamping member I5 is tightened.

The top member 13 is, for convenience in manufacture, composed of a number of smaller blocklike portions, all secured together by screws 28, but all cut from a single block of material after the holes 29, for the assembling screws, have been drilled. The side rails 30 are first removed by sawing from the parent block after which the transverse slots are sawed. Th central portion of each side rail is removed to facilitate sharpening the blade of a knife entirely up to its handle, The central portions of the top member lying between the side rails are of slightly greater width than the strip 24 to permit the strip to pass freely through the

slots

22, 23 and 25 after assembly.

The clamping member l5 may be of any type desired, but the clamp shown is so constructed as to secure the base and top members together with a wedging action. I

This clamp may be similar to the locks used on double-hung window sash and includes a lower member 3| secured to the end of the base by wood screws and an upper member '32 secured in a similar manner by wood screws, to the end of the top member [3. The bottom member 3| has and consists of a knurled nut 48 threadedly received on a stud 49. This stud extends through an opening 50 in the top Wall of the base member and is threaded tightly into an opening [in the boss 5| which is formed as a part of the top casta The lower edges of the transverse ribs or Walls 52 of the top member are preferably serrated to afford amore positive grip upon the portions .46 and 4? of the abrasive strip when the clamping member 45 is tightened.

The devices which I hav herein disclosed are well adapted to serve their purpose. Cutlery, such as butcher knives and the like, which sometimes require frequent resharpening, may be quickly given a keen cutting edge with only a few strokes over the abrasive surface of my sharpening device. The abrasive strip will, however,

7 serve as an efficient sharpening tool for only a an embossed or enlarged portion having an in- 7 members to be slightly separated and the portion 21 of the abrasive strip'to be grasped and pulled outwardly so as to draw'a fresh sharpening surface into position at 24. 'The projecting portion of the strip is torn oil to permit the handle 34 to be turned into locking position.

The various parts of the top member [3, when constructed of wood, may be secured together by means of glue instead of being screwed together asshown. i

In the modified form of my invention, illustrated in Figure 4, the base and top members 35 and 36 respectively, are thin walled castings of metal or mouldings of plastic or the like. The

top surface of the top member 36 is slotted trans versely a short distance from each end, as indicated at 3! and 38, to permit the abrasive strip 39 from the roll 43 to be passed between the base and top member, then upwardly through the slot 31, across the upper surface of the top member to provide the sharpening surface 4|, and then downwardly through the slot 38 and outwardly between the adjoining surfaces of the baseand topmembers, a T

The roll of abrasive fabric 40 is supported upon a spindle 42 between a pair of brackets 43in the same manner as described in connection with Figures 1 to 3. The brackets 43 are secured'to the side walls of thebase member 35 by means of the bolts and nuts 44. It Will be noted that the portions 43a of the brackets 43 extend upwardly beyond the top surface of the base and serve as guidesto align the top and base mem- :bers at that end. 7 I

Anotheraligning means is provided-by the clamping member 45 which member also serves 7 ito-clamp the base and top together to thus bind the portions 46'and 41 of the abrasive striptherebetween. This clamping member a is preferably positioned midway between thegends of the base short time. When the abrasive becomes worn off or clogged 'with metal particles, the cutting surface mustbe renewed and, witha device embodyin my inventive idea, this may be accomplished with great ease. Only a single clamping member need be loosened to permit a new abrasive surface to be pulled into position, and no parts need be removed. The device is simple and inexpensive both to produce andto use. Y

Although I have shown and describedspecifi embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications of my invention may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims. w g I claim as my invention: 7

1. In a sharpening device of the character described, a base member, a top member having. a plurality of slotsextending therethrough" adja,- cent the ends thereof, an abrasive strip extending over the portion of the top memberbetween said slots, the ends of the said abrasive strip passing downwardly throughthe said slots and between the adjacent surfaces of said base and top members, means forhingedly connecting the said base and top members together at one end, and means, adjacent the o pposite end. thereof, for clamping said members together.

2. In a sharpening device, a generally flatbas'e, V

' adjacent surfaces of the's'aid topand base members, and means securing together the top memher and base so as to bind portions of the; abrasive strip therebetween.

'3. In asharpening device, a fiat rectangular base, a generally rectangular top member having atransverse slot adjacent each end thereofl'an abrasive strip extending over the upper surface of the top member, down through the. Said slots and outwardly between adjacentsurfaces of the baseand top member, and 'means detachably' clamping together, the said base and ,top members to thereby bind the abrasive strip iniposi ,tion, V 1 4. In a sharpening device, a base, a'roll of abrasive material, means forsupporting' the'roll V adjacent one end'of thebasega top memberjdis f posed above the basev and having transverseslots adjacent each end; the abrasive material passing 7 from the roll,upwardlythrough one offsaidslo ts,

5' over the top surface of the top member, downwardly through another of said slots and outwardly between adjacent surfaces of the base and top member, and means clamping said base and top members together.

5. In a cutlery sharpening device, a, base member, a top member having two transverse slots adjacent one end thereof, a third slot adjacent the other end thereof, means hingedly connecting together the top and base members at the said one end, a strip of abrasive fabric passing downwardly through one and upwardly through the second of the said two slots, lengthwise over the upper surface of the top member, downwardly through the said third slot and outwardly between the adjacent surfaces of the top and base members, and means, spaced from the hinged connecting means, detachably securing together the said top and base members.

6. In a cutlery sharpening device, a base member, a top member having transverse slots therethrough adjacent opposite ends thereof, a strip of abrasive fabric extending over the top surface of the top member with the ends thereof passing downwardly through said slots and outwardly between adjacent surfaces of the top and base members, means for clamping the top member against the top surface of the base to bind the said ends of the abrasive strip therebetween, and means, spaced from said clamping means, for aligning the said top and base members.

WILLIAM E. FLEMING.