US3266081A

US3266081A - Handle for knives and the like

Info

Publication number: US3266081A
Application number: US346671A
Authority: US
Inventors: Heim Karl
Original assignee: C FRIEDR ERN
Current assignee: C FRIEDR ERN
Priority date: 1963-02-26
Filing date: 1964-02-24
Publication date: 1966-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-16
Also published as: DE1172575B

Description

Aug. 16, 1966 K. HEIM 3,266,081

HANDLE FOR KNIVES AND THE LIKE Filed. Feb. 24, 1964 FIG! I I7 9533 13 '7/70 70 2823 la 34? Karl HE/M his ATTORNEV United States Patent 3,266,081 HANDLE FQR KNii/ES AND THE LIKE Karl Heim, Solingen-Wald, Germany, assignor to C. Frieda". Erin, Solingen-Wald, Germany Filed Feb. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 346,671 Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 26, 1963, E 24,397; Dec. 24, 1963,15) 26,112 11 Claims. (Cl. 16-110) The present invention relates to handles for knives of many kinds including hunting knives and daggers, screwdrivers, walking sticks, awls and many other types of manually operated tools or implements. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in handles which are provided with so-called zebra stripes serving to enhance the appearance and the sales appeal of such structures. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in the construction and in the method of assembling handles whose peripheral surfaces are inlaid with substantially annular decorative strips of metallic and/or synthetic plastic material.

At the present time, such handles are manufactured by assembling a series of differently colored rings of metallic material, leather, laminated plastic or the like in such a way that the rings form a tubular liner around the main body portion of the handle. The rearmost ring is retained by a nut, by a disk or in a similar way. The resulting handle must be treated to insure that the peripheral surface is of sufiicient smoothness in order to avoid injury to the hand of a user. It was found that the manufacture of individual parts and assembling of such parts into zebra-striped handles involve-s much time, substantial expenditures in material, and rather compli cated machines which raise the cost of the ultimate product.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved zebra-striped decorative handle for knives, daggers and the like which may be manufactured and assembled at a greatly reduced cost, which is of eye-pleasing appearance, wherein the stripes may form a number of different patterns, wherein some of the stripes may be manufactured of low-cost metallic stock, and wherein the strips which are inlaid in the main body portion of the handle are securely anchored in a very simple and time-saving manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handle of the just outlined characteristics wherein two or more decorative strips may be joined into a one-piece insert which can be inlaid in the main body portion of the handle with substantial savings in time and cost, wherein a defective strip may be replaced by a satisfactory strip, and wherein the strips require minimal treatment subsequent to their mounting on the main body portion of the handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handle which is decorated with zebra stripes and wherein such decorations may be formed of inexpensive fiat sheet stock.

With the above objects in view, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of a handle for knives or the like which comprises an elongated main body portion or carrier having a peripheral surface, a pair of elongated side faces extending substantially radially of and inwardly from the peripheral surface, a series of circumferential recesses provided in the peripheral surface and extending between the side faces, and a plurality of circumferential ribs which alternate with the recesses. Each recess receives with little or without any play the medium portion of an elongated strip whose coloration is different from the coloration of the ribs, and each strip comprises a pair of bent-over end portions each of which is adjacent to one of the side faces.

The carrier may be assembled of two channel-shaped shells so that it then comprises two pairs of side faces I 3,266,081 Patented August 16, 1966 ice which may be held in abutment with each other, and each shell then supports a series of strips whose end portions are clamped between the pairs of abutting side faces. If the carrier is a oneapiece tube, its peripheral surface may be provided with a longitudinally extending groove which is hounded by two spaced parallel side faces, and the handle then comprises a suitable retaining member or tiller which fills up the remainder of the groove. This groove accommodates the end port-ions of the strips so that such end portions are reliably held in the groove, and the filler is provided with suitable anchoring means securing it to the carrier.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved handle itself, however, both as to its construction and the method of assembling the same, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a decorative handle for hunting knives and the like which embodies one form of my invention, a portion of the handle being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section through the handle as seen in the direction of arrows from the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a shell which constitutes one component part of the handle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section through a modified handle;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary developed'view of an insert consisting of several interconnected strips which are utilized in the handle of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged exploded fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the handle which embodies two inserts of the type shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal central section through a third handle which is utilized in a knife;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are transverse sections as seen respectively in the direction of arrows from the lines VIIIVIII and IX-IX of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged exploded fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the handle which is shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 there is shown a handle A for a hunting knife, bowie knife, dagger, letter opener or the like. This handle comprises a tubular main body portion or carrier 4 comprising two substantially channelshaped mirror

symmetrical shells

14, 24 having pairs of radially inwardly extending elongated side faces 11, 11' whereby the side faces 11, 11' of the shell 14 respectively abut against the

side faces

11, 11 of the shell 24, see particularly FIG. 2. The cavities of the

shells

14, 24 respectively accommodate pairs of registering

stitfeners

22, 23 and the end face of each stiffener 22 abuts against the end face of a stiffener 23. The

stiffeners

22, 23 are integral with the respective shells and are respectively provided with cutouts 26, 27 forming two composite opening s for a flat extension 3 of a knife blade 1. At its rear end, the blade 1 is formed with a pair of transversely extending stop shoulders 2 which abut against a guard 4a provided at the forward end of the carrier 4. This guard 4a consists of two halves which are respectively integral with or secured to the

shells

14, 24. The rear portion 4b of the carrier 4 forms a knob which seals the interior of the handle to prevent entry of dust or moisture. The

shells

14, 24 are connected with each other and with the extension 3 by a pair of transversely extending fastening members here shown as rivets 5 which pass through suitable holes in the extension 3 and in the

stiffeners

22, 23. When the heads of the rivets are upset in a manner as shown in FIG. 1, the side faces 11, 11 of the shells are in abutment with each other and the extension 3 is snugly received in the cutouts 26, 27 of the

stiffeners

22, 23 while the guard 4a abuts against the shoulders 2 so that the blade 1 is set in the handle A without any play. If desired, the rivets 5 may be replaced by threaded fasteners to make sure that the handle may be taken apart. The carrier 4 preferably consists of suitable wear-resistant synthetic plastic material, but it is also contemplated to make the carrier of metal, wood, horn or another equivalent material.

In accordance with my invention, the external surfaces of the shells 14, 24 (which external surfaces together form the peripheral surface of the tubular carrier 4) are provided with arcuate circumferential recesses 10, best shown in FIG. 3 and disposed in planes extending transversely of the longitudinal extension of the handle A. Each recess is, but need not be, of constant width and each of these recesses comprises two terminal portions 10a which are provided in the

side faces

11, 11 of the respective shell. The recesses 10 alternate with arcuate ribs 101) which together form a series of annuli extending circumferentially around the handle A and being separated from each other by annular depressions each of which comprises the arcuate portions of two registering recesses 10, i.e., the arcuate portion of a recess 10 in the external surface of the shell 14 and the arcuate portion of the registering recess 10 in the external surface of the shell 24.

Each recess 11) receives the median portion of an originally flat strip 13, and each strip comprises two substantially L-shaped end portions including a first or inner section 13 which is received in the respective terminal portion 10a and a second or outer section 13" which is adjacent to the internal surface of the respective shell. The strips 13 preferably consist of a metallic material whose coloration is different from the coloration of the

shells

14, 24 so that the fully assembled handle A is an article of eye-pleasing appearance. The material of the strips 13 is deformable so that it may be provided with the bent-over

sections

13, 13".

The

shells

14, 24 may be mass produced in suitable molds and with suflicient accuracy to make sure that the side faces 11, 11 come in accurate abutment with each other, that the arcuate portion of each recess 10 in the external surface of the shell 14 registers with the arcuate portion of a recess 11} in the external surface of the shell 24, and that the

stiffeners

22, 23 define two composite openings each consisting of registering cutouts 26, 27 which receive the extension 3 of the blade 1 without excessive play. The strips 13 may be stamped from thin sheets of aluminum or other suitable metallic material, and it goes without saying that the strips which are inlaid in the handle A may consist of two or more differently colored or shaded materials to enhance the appearance of the knife.

In assembling the handle A, the strips 13 are inlaid in the respective recesses 11) and are bent over to form the end sections 13', 13 whereby each strip straddles and is automatically retained on the respective shell. In the next step, the

shells

14, 24 are assembled with the extension 3 of the blade 1 by means of two rivets 5 and, if necessary, the peripheral surface of the resulting handle A is treated by a grinding or polishing tool to make sure that the handle is sufficiently smooth, i.e., that the strips 13 do not extend beyond the ribs 101) or vice versa. The steps of assembling the strips 13 with the

shells

14, 24 and of assembling the thus completed shells with the extension 3 of the blade 1 by means of the rivets 5 may be carried out by hand or in suitable automatic or semiautomatic machines whose construction forms no part of this invention.

It is often sufiicient to select the length of strips 13 in such a way that each thereof extends only to the inner edges of the respective side faces 11, 11', i.e., the outer sections 13 may be dispensed with, particularly if the thickness of a strip exceeds very slightly the depth of the terminal portions 19a of the recesses 111. In such handles, the bent-over sections 13 at the longitudinal ends of the strips are clamped with sufficient force to prevent accidental separation of the strips when the heads of the rivets 5 are deformed to press the

side faces

11, 11 of the shell 14 against the

side faces

11, 11 of the shell 24 It is further to be noted that, while FIGS. 1 and 2 illus trate a handle wherein each strip on the shell 14 registers 'with a strip on the shell 24, I also contemplate forming the shells with recesses which are staggered with reference to each other in the longitudinal direction of the shells, of forming the external surfaces of the shells with recesses of different width, of providing such recesses in planes which are not exactly perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the handle, and/or of utilizing strips with toothed, undulate or otherwise adorned marginal portions to fit into complementary recesses on the

shells

14, 24. All such modifications of the handle actually shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are so obvious that each thereof will be readily comprehended by men skilled in this art without necessitating additional illustrations.

The strips 13 and the ribs 19b form a pattern of zebra stripes Which is pleasant to the eye and enhances the sales appeal of the implement, be it a knife, dagger, walking stick, screwdriver, hammer or another manually operated too-l or implement.

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate a slightly modified handle B which is quite similar to the handle A and wherein all parts corresponding to those described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3 are identified by similar reference characters, each preceded by the digit 1. The handle B comprises a tubular carrier 104- including two elongated channelshaped shells 114, 124 having abutting side faces 111, 1 11' and external surfaces provided with arcuate circumtferential recesses each of which comprises two terminal portions 110a extending into the respective side faces 11. 1, 111. In addition, each side face 111, 1111' is formed with a longitudinally extending cutout 116 which is spaced from the external surface of the respective shell and which communicates with the adjacent terminal portions 110a. These longitudinally extending cutouts 1116 serve to re ceive elongated connecting webs of two grate-like inserts or inlays 113A one of which is shown in FIG. 5. Each insert 113A comprises a series of spaced parallel metallic strips 113 each of which includes two end portions 1:13 integral with the respective web 115. When one of the shells, say the shell 114, is assemr led with a suitable deformed insert 113A in a manner as shown in FIG. 6, the median portions of the strips 113 are accommoda'ted in the arcuate portions of the recesses 110 and the bent-over end portions 113 at one end of each strip 113 extend into the terminal portions 110a of the respective recesses. At the same time, one of the webs 115 extends into the cutout 116 in the side face 111 of the shell 1 1 and, since the other web 115 extends into the cutout 116 in the other side face 111 of the shell 114, the insert 1 13A is automatically retained on this shell so that the shell 11 1 may be assembled with the shell .124 which latter also carries a suitably deformed grate-like insert 113A consisting of a series of strips 113 and two webs 115. The fully assembled handle B is shown in FIG. 4, and it will be noted that its shells 114, 124 are provided with stiffeners 122, 1.2 3 which define cutouts 1 2.6, 127 to accommodate the extension 3 of a knife blade. The recases 110 in the external surface of each she-ll alternate with arcuate circumferential ribs 11% which may but nee-d not be of equal width, i.e., the spacing of the recesses 110 (as seen in the longitudinal direction of the handle B) may but need not be the same.

If desired, each shell 114, 124 may be assembled with two or more inserts or inlays each. of which comprises two or more parallel strips 113 and two webs. Such utilization of two or more inserts for each shell is of advantage when the shells are provided with a large number of recesses and when the inserts are mass prroduced in advance and in a single size so that, if necessary, two or more groups of interconnected strips may be inlaid in each shell of the improved handle. For example, the insert 113A shown in FIG. 5 could consist of two halves each of which would then include three strips 113. The break lines in FIG. 5 indicate that, if necessary, this insert 113A may comprise seven or more strips 113.

It is to be noted that each insert may comprise a single web 115 which may be provided at a point between the ends of the strips and that one or both ends of each strip 113 may be bent along the intern-a1 sunface of the respective shell. "Dhus, and referring to FIG. 5, the lower web .115 could be omitted so that the lower end portion 113 of each strip 1.1-3 would be free to extend along the internal surface of the respective shell in a manner as shown at 113" in the lower part of FIG. 2. Such modified handle would embody the features of the handles shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 4-6. A very important advantage of insents with one or two webs is that a large number of strips may be mounted and anchored in a single operation with substantial savings in time, which is of particular importance when the strips are mounted by hand.

The cutouts 1 16 may be omitted so that the webs 115 will be retained by a clamping action when the shells 114, 124 are connected by rivets or similar fasteners. In other words, the insert 1113A may interlock with the ends of the ribs 110]) by extending into the cutouts 116 or, alternatively, the insert may be simply clamped between the side faces 111, 111 of the shells.

Referring finally to FIGS. 7 to 10, there is shown a different handle D which comprises a one-piece tubular carrier 204 of synthetic plastic material. This carrier 204 is formed with a longitudinally extending groove 217 which is located at the underside of the handle, namely, at that side which is normally grasped by finger tip of one hand when the handle D is to form a component part of a knife, dagger or a similar cutting or stabbing implement. The groove 217 is bounded by a pair of elongated parallel side faces 211, 211, best shown in FIG. 10 and extending substantially radially inwardly from the peripheral surface of the carrier, and the peripheral surface of the carrier is formed with a series of arcuate circumferential recesses 210 each extending between the side faces 211. 211. The carrier 204 is surrounded by a single grate-like insert or inlay 2 13A comprising a series of spaced parallel strips 213 and a pair of substantially parallel webs 215 each of which extends substantially transversely of the strips and each of which is integral with one end portion 213' of each strip 213. Prior to its application to the carrier 204, the insert 213A is preferably flat but is then deformed in such a way that the median portion of each strip 213 enters snugly one of the arcuate recesses 210 and that the webs 215 abut against the side faces 211, 211' and against the bottom surface 217a of the groove 217. The thus deformed insert 213A is then held in the position shown in FIGS. 79 by an elongated retaining bar or filler 218 which fills up the remainder of the groove 217 and which is provided with hook-shaped end portions each including a radially inwardly extending anchoring lug 219 and a longitudinally extending anchoring lug 221. During assembly of the handle D, the anchoring lugs 221 are coplanar with the respective anchoring lugs 219 so that they may enter a pair of longitudinally spaced radial slots 220 provided in the carrier 204 at the longitudinal ends of the groove 217, see particularly FIG. 7. Once the main part of the retaining bar 218 is received in the groove 217 and overlies the bent-over portions of the webs 215, the anchoring lugs 221 may be bent to abut against the internal surface of the carrier 204 whereby the strips 213 are automatically retained in the respective recesses 210. The anchoring lugs 221 are bent over before the carrier 204 is assembled with a pair of

collar members

206, 207 which are respectively fitted into the front and rear ends thereof. The front collar member 207 is adjacent to a guard 204a which abuts against a pair of shoulders 202 provided at the rear end of a blade 201. This blade comprises a tapering extension 203 which passes through the guard 204a, through a complementary opening in the front collar member 207, through the interior of the carrier 204, and through a suitable opening in the rear collar 206. The rear collar member 206 is provided with an annular socket which accommodates a locking disk 208 cooperating with a locking pin 209 to prevent withdrawal of the extension 203. The open rear end of the collar member 206 is closed by a detachable cap 206a.

It is to be noted that the webs 215 may extend along the entire side faces 211, 211 and that the provision of distinct end portions 213' on each strip 213 is actually necessary only in the event that the side faces 211, 211' are provided with cutouts corresponding to the cutouts 116 in the shells 114, 124- of FIGS. 46. In such modified constructions, the webs need not be bent into abutment with the bottom surface 217a of the groove 217 because the ends of the circumferential ribs 21Gb then prevent withdrawal of webs 215 from the groove. In other words, if the side faces 211, 211' are provided with longitudinally extending cutouts for the webs 215, the retaining bar 218 will extend between but need not overlie the webs.

It is further to be noted that the insert 213A may be assembled of two or more smaller grate-like inserts each of which then comprises a lesser number of strips 213. Also, the carrier 204 of FIGS. 7 to 10 may be provided with two or even more grooves 217 so that each annulus formed by a strip 213 may consist of two or more shorter strips. Such carrier would resemble rather closely the two-piece carrier 104 of FIGS. 4-6 with the exception that the shells 114, 124 would form an integral unit and that the handle would comprise two or more retaining bars 218.

The

webs

115, 215 are actually nothing more but enlarged end portions of the

strips

113, 213 which are integrally connected to each other.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A handle for knives and the like, comprising an elongated carrier having a peripheral surface and a pair of elongated side faces extending substantially radially of and inwardly from said peripheral surface, said peripheral surface being provided with a plurality of circumferential ribs and with circumferential recesses extending between said side faces and alternating with said ribs; and a plurality of arcuate strips each comprising an arcuate median portion snugly received in one of said recesses and a pair of bent-over end portions each abutting against one of said side faces, the coloration of said strips being different from the coloration of said ribs so that the median portions of said strips and said ribs together form a decorative pattern of zera stripes.

2. A handle for knives and the like, comprising an elongated carrier having a peripheral surface and a pair of elongated side faces extending substantially radially of and inwardly from said peripheral surface, said peripheral surface being provided with a plurality of circumferential ribs and with circumferential recesses extending between and including terminal portions formed in said side faces, said recesses alternating with said ribs; and a plurality of arcuate strips each comprising an arcuate median portion snugly received in one of said recesses and a pair of bent-over end portions each received in one of said terminal portions, the coloration of said strips being different from the coloration of said ribs so that the median portions of said strips and said ribs together form a decorative pattern of zebra stripes.

3. A handle for knives and the like, comprising an elongated carrier having a peripheral surface and a pair of elongated side faces extending substantially radially of and inwardly from said peripheral surface and being spaced from each other, said peripheral surface being provided with a plurality of circumferential ribs and with circumferential recesses extending between said side faces and alternating with said ribs; a plurality of arcuate strips each comprising an arcuate median portion snugly received in one of said recesses and a pair of bent-over end portions each abutting against one of said side faces, the coloration of said strips being different from the coloration of said ribs so that the median portions of said strips and said ribs together form a decorative pattern of zebra stripes; and a filler received between said end portions intermediate said side faces, said filler being provided with anchoring means securing it to said carrier.

4. A handle for knives and the like, comprising an elongated carrier having a peripheral surface and a pair of elongated side faces extending substantially radially of and inwardly from said peripheral surface and having portions which are at least slightly spaced from each other, said peripheral surface being provided with a plurality of circumferential ribs and with circumferential recesses extending between said side faces and alternating with said ribs; and a substantially grate-like insert comprising a plurality of spaced elongated strips each having a pair of end portions, and a pair of elongated bent-over Webs each integral with one end portion of each strip and each extending substantially transversely of said strips, each of said strips comprising a median portion received snugly in one of said recesses and said webs being disposed intermediate said side faces, the coloration of said strips being different from the coloration of said ribs whereby the median portions of said strips and said ribs together form a decorative pattern of zebra stripes.

5. A handle for knives and the like, comprising an elongated tubular carrier having a peripheral surface and an elongated groove extending longitudinally thereof and bounded by a pair of spaced side faces, said peripheral surface being provided with a plurality of circumferential ribs and with circumferential recesses alternating with said ribs and each having terminal portions in the region of said side faces; a grate-like insert including a plurality of spaced strips each having two end portions, and a pair of elongated bent-over webs extending transversely of and each integral with one end portion of each strip, each of said strips comprising an arcuate median portion inlaid in one of said recesses and each of said webs being adjacent to one of said side faces, the coloration of said strips being different from the coloration of said ribs so that said ribs and said strips together form a decorative pattern of zebra stripes; and an elongated retaining member filling the remainder of said groove and comprising anchoring means securing it to said carrier.

6. A handle for knives and the like, comprising an elongated carrier including a pair of substantially mirror symmetrical shells each having an external surface and a pair of elongated side faces, each side face of one of said shells being adjacent to one side face of the other shell and each of said external surfaces being provided with a plurality of circumferential ribs and with circumferential recesses alternating with the respective ribs and extending between the side faces of the respective shell; a plurality of elongated strips each having an arcuate median portion inlaid in one of said recesses and a pair of bent-over end portions each adjacent to one side face of the respective shell, the coloration of said ribs being different from the coloration of said strips so that the median portions of said strips and said ribs together form a decorative pattern of zebra stripes; and fastener means connecting said shells to each other so that the end portions of said strips are clamped between the adjacent side faces.

7. A handle for knives and the like, comprising an elongated carrier having a peripheral surface and a pair of elongated side faces extending substantially radially of and inwardly from said peripheral surface, said peripheral surface being provided with a plurality of circumferential ribs and with circumferential recesses extending between said side faces and alternating with said ribs; a plurality of arcuate strips each comprising an arcuate median portion snugly received in one of said recesses and a pair of bent-over end portions each abutting against one of said side faces, the coloration of said strips being different from the coloration of said ribs so that the median portions of said strips and said ribs together form a decorative pattern of zebra stripes; and a web integral with and extending transversely of said strips, said Web being inlaid in said carrier.

8. A handle for knives and the like, comprising an elongated carrier having a peripheral surface and a pair of elongated side faces extending substantially radially of and inwardly from said peripheral surface, said peripheral surface being provided with circumferential ribs and with circumferential recesses alternating with said ribs and extending between said side faces; and a plurality of arcuate strips each received in one of said recesses and each comprising a pair of bent-over end portions adjacent to said side faces, the coloration of said strips being different from the coloration of said ribs so that said ribs and said strips together form a decorative pattern of zebra stripes.

9. A handle as set forth in claim 8, wherein at least one end portion of each strip is connected with one end portion of each other strip.

10. A handle as set forth in claim 8, wherein said recesses comprise pairs of terminal portions provided in said side faces and wherein the end portions of said strips are inlaid in said terminal portions.

111. A handle for knives and the like, comprising an elongated carrier having a peripheral surface and a pair of elongated side faces extending substantially radially of and inwardly from said peripheral surface, said peripheral surface being provided with circumferential ribs and with circumferential recesses alternating with said ribs and extending between said side faces; a plurality of arcuate strips each received in one of said recesses and each comprising a pair of bent-over end portions adjacent to said side faces, the coloration of said strips being different from the coloration of said ribs so that said ribs and said strips together form a decorative pattern of zebra stripes; and means holding the end portions of said strips against the respective side faces.

No references cited.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. J. L. JONES, ]R., Assistant Examiner.