US2544777A - Knife sharpener - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1951 J. A. CAHIL KNIFE SHARPENER Filed NOV. 26, 1948 "im"nmmmuunmunnnmmml fz'@ f2 Z/ ze z/ f7 Y A Ti'j E' INVENTOR. dwf/2H UAH/L Patented Mar. 13,I 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,544,777 KNIFE SHARPENER Joseph A. Cahil, New York, N. Y.

Application November 26, 1948, Serial No. 62,073

1 claim. 1

The present invention relates to a new and improved knife sharpener, the construction of which permits the eifective use thereof on any desired surface.

Heretofore, difficulty has been encountered in holding hand knife Sharpeners for effective operation. If the Sharpeners are not properly held while the knife is drawn across the sharpening elements. the sharpening action afforded by these prior devices is impaired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved knife Sharpener adapted to be held upon any suitable surface to accomplish the sharpening operation effectively.

This object, as well as others which will appear from the following detailed description, is attained by a knife Sharpener comprising sharpening mechanism enclosed within a case having a centrally disposed notch to permit access thereto. A handle extends from the case, the free end thereof being in the same plane as the under surface of the case to provide an effective bearing area when the Sharpener is grasped during use.

The invention may be better understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a knife sharpener constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the device of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a view in cross section of the device, taken at line 3 3 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a plan view partly broken away and in section, taken at line 4-4 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the structural details of the device.

Referring now to the drawings, the knife sharpener comprises a sharpening mechanism I0 enclosed within a case I I formed of any suitable material, such as a plastic of the phenol-formaldehyde class, for example. To facilitate assembly, case II may be formed as two separate units, a base plate I2 and a body member I3. Body member I3 is provided with a centrally disposed V-shaped notch I4 having an aperture l5 therein for permitting access to the sharpening mechanism I0. A handle I6, preferably an integral part of body member I3, extends therefrom .and is formed at its free end I1 with a bearing pad I8 positioned in the plane of the under surface of base plate I 2.

Sharpening mechanism I0 comprises a series of abrasive or cutting rollers I9 mounted on angular flanges 20 and 2| extending from side walls 22 and bottom wall 23, respectively, of a frame 24. Rollers I9 are journaled in the flanges 20 and 2| by means of p-intles 25. Frame 24 is secured to body member I3 by screws 26 or other suitable fastening means.

When the device is assembled, the body member I3 is secured-as by glueing, to base plate I2, a iiange I2a serving to locate and position the body member I 3 in the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

In operation, the sharpening device is held upon any supporting surface with the bottom plate I2 and bearing pad I8 resting upon the surface. The user grasps the handle I 6 with one hand and inserts a knife blade into notch I4 for contact with the rollers I9 of the sharpening mechanism. The device is thus firmly held in proper position while the blade is moved across the rollers I9, to form an effective cutting edge.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the invention provides a new and improved knife sharpener formed to enable the Sharpener to be firmly held in a desired position while the device is being used.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited save as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A knife Sharpener having stabilization against angular movement in both horizontal and vertical planes comprising, in combination, a housing having side, end and top and bottom members, said bottom member having a bearing surface contained in a given plane and adapted to rest squarely upon a supporting surface, a handle rigidly secured to said housing and extending laterally outwardly therefrom spaced from the plane of the bottom member to afford a fingerreceiving opening between the handle and the supporting surface, a depending foot portion on said handle spaced from said housing, said foot being formed on its free end with a bearing surface disposed in the plane of the said bottom member, said foot and said bottom member affording stabilization of the knife Sharpener against turning movement in the plane normal to the supporting surface while the Sharpener is pressed against a supporting surface by downward thrust between the supporting foot and the housing, said foot providing in addition frictional drag opposing angular `movement of said sharpener in the plane parallel to the supporting surface, an elongated notch in said top member for receiving the knife blade and sharpening mechanism comprising means for engaging the knifeedge at points spaced lengthwise of the blade, said sharpening mechanism being maintained in substantially fixed orientation relative to the supporting surface during the course of operation.

JOSEPH A. CAHIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number l Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Annan Nov. 16, 1858 Dearborn Jan. 16, 1912 Seramidis Apr, 4, 1916 Rogers Aug. 22, 1922 Graves July 31, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Country e Date Great Britain Sept. 15, 1919 Great Britain May 11, 1920 Germany Mar. 6, 1931

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