Hufmesser

Abstract

A hoof knife (1) comprises a handle (2) to which a fixed knife blade (3) is assigned in such a way that it is held releasably by means of a clamping device (8) arranged in the handle (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a hoof knife with a handle to which a fixed knife blade is assigned in such a way that it is held releasably by means of a clamping device arranged in the handle.

[0002] A hoof knife is a specialized tool typically used by farriers and veterinarians to trim and shape horses' hooves. It is often a long, slender knife with a curved blade, used to remove excess horn material from the horse's hooves.

[0003] DE 1 783 495 U discloses a hoof knife with a handle to which a fixed knife blade is assigned in such a way that it is held releasably by means of a clamping device arranged in the handle.

[0004] Hoof knives for trimming animal hooves, especially horse hooves, are known from US patents 6,202,754 B1, GB patent 2,230,223 A, and US patent 664,175 A. These knives feature different blade and cutting shapes for specific hoof trimming applications. The blade of the hoof knife is rigidly connected to the handle by at least two fasteners, such as screws or rivets.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of creating a hoof knife of the type mentioned above, which includes a replaceable knife blade and is ergonomically easy to handle.

[0006] According to the invention, the problem is solved by the features of the independent claim.

[0007] The dependent claims represent advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0008] A hoof knife comprises a handle to which a fixed blade is attached, such that the blade is releasably held by a clamping device located in the handle. The handle has a longitudinally extending opening into which a holder for the clamping device is inserted in a rotationally fixed and immovable manner. The holder is designed on one end face to receive a clamping element of the clamping device and the free ends of the blade, and on the opposite end face to guide a clamping screw of the clamping device that engages in a threaded bore of the clamping element.

[0009] The knife blade can be removed from the handle or clamping device in which it is essentially held by friction, allowing for replacement or sharpening. The handle has a relatively large inner diameter, making it comfortable to hold and ergonomically easy to use.

[0010] The essential components of the clamping device, namely the holder, the clamping element, and the clamping screw, are made of steel, for example, stainless steel. The holder's receiving area is designed to guide the two free ends of the knife blade, between which the clamping element is positioned, in a virtually tilt-proof manner.

[0011] According to a further development of the invention, the knife blade is V-shaped, with the two legs transitioning into one another via a bending radius and being held at their free ends by the clamping device. The working area of ​​the knife blade extends essentially over the entire length of the legs, which, due to the bend for attachment by means of the clamping device, are not straight but slightly convex, resulting in an overall slightly bulbous geometry.

[0012] Preferably, the holder in the receiving area is designed as a square tube, the inside of which is adapted to the width of the knife blade. The clamping element, with at least two wedge-shaped clamping surfaces, presses the two legs of the knife blade against the square tube when the clamping screw is tightened. Thus, when the clamping screw is tightened, the clamping element presses the legs of the knife blade against the corresponding opposing inner walls of the holder, which may project slightly beyond the corresponding end face of the handle. Naturally, the opening extending through the handle is adapted to the geometry of the holder, so that the square cross-section of the holder prevents it from rotating relative to the handle.

[0013] Preferably, a cylindrical tube adjoins the square tube of the holder, the cylindrical tube having a support plate at its free end with a through-hole for the clamping screw. The cylindrical tube of the holder can be inserted into a suitably sized bore in the handle, and the drilled support plate forms a support for the screw head of the clamping screw, thus acting as a kind of counter-bearing to clamp the holding element in the holder's receptacle with the inserted prongs of the knife blade.

[0014] To prevent the holding device from being easily pulled out of the handle, the handle is advantageously designed to accommodate at least one clamping screw that interacts with the holder. The clamping screw can, for example, be screwed into a threaded hole in the handle and its free end presses against the holder, or it can be inserted through a through-hole in the handle and screwed to the holder. Naturally, two or more clamping screws can also be provided, particularly positioned opposite each other or arranged in a triangular pattern.

[0015] To allow the user to apply the necessary force to the knife blade while maintaining a comfortable and fatigue-free hand position when working on, for example, a horse's hoof, the handle features an arc-shaped section on the end opposite the blade. This arc allows the user to rest their thumb, for instance, during a pulling motion with the hoof knife.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the knife blade is made of strip steel that has a cutting edge on at least one side, at least in the area of ​​the tip. Advantageously, the knife blade is made of bimetallic strip steel.

[0017] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations. The scope of the invention is defined solely by the claims.

[0018] The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the associated drawing.

[0019] The only figure in the drawing shows Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a hoof knife according to the invention, Fig. 2 a side view of a handle of the hoof knife according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a side view of a holder of a clamping device for the hoof knife Fig. 1, Fig. 4 a side view of a clamping element with a clamping screw of the clamping device of the hoof knife according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 a side view of a knife blade of the hoof knife according to Fig. 1.

[0020] The hoof knife 1 comprises the handle 2, which has an arc-shaped end and is fitted with the knife blade 3 at the other end. The handle 2 has a longitudinal opening 4, extending from the arc-shaped end as a stepped bore 5 with a rectangular opening 6 at its end. The holder 7 of the clamping device 8 is inserted into the larger diameter of the stepped bore 5 and the rectangular opening 6. The clamping screw 9 of the clamping device 8 projects with its screw head 10 into the smaller diameter of the stepped bore 5, so that the clamping screw 9 can be rotated by means of a suitable tool that can be inserted into the smaller diameter of the stepped bore 5 in order to fix or release the knife blade 3 by means of the clamping element 11 of the clamping device 8. The holder 7 is secured against being pulled out of the handle 2 by means of a clamping screw 12.Of course, several clamping screws 12 can be provided if required.

[0021] The holder 7 is designed as a square tube 14 in the area where the clamping element 11 of the clamping device 8 is located and the free ends 13 of the essentially V-shaped knife blade 3 are located. The tube's inner surface is adapted to the width of the knife blade 3. A cylindrical tube 15 adjoins the square tube 14 and has a support plate 16 at its free end with a through-hole for the clamping screw 9. The holder 7 extends through corresponding cross-sections of the opening 4 in the handle 2. Accordingly, the square tube 14 is inserted into the square opening 6 and the cylindrical tube 15 into the large diameter of the stepped bore 5.

[0022] For the force-fit fastening of the knife blade 3, the wedge-shaped clamping element 11 is inserted between the legs 17 of the V-shaped knife blade 3. The clamping element 11 has a threaded bore 18 for the clamping screw 9, the screw head 10 of which rests on the support plate 16, which forms a kind of counter bearing. When the clamping screw 9 is under tension, the two wedge surfaces 19 of the clamping element 11 press the two legs 17 of the knife blade 3 against the corresponding inner walls of the square tube 14.

[0023] The knife blade 3, made of a bimetal, for example, has a bending radius in the transition area between the two legs 17, which may have a slightly convex curvature due to the clamping element 11 in the square tube 14. The knife blade 3 may already be suitable for cutting and scraping work on a hoof due to its thickness, or it may be additionally sharpened. Reference sign 1 hoof knife 2 Handle 3 knife blade 4 Opening 5-step drilling 6 Square opening 7 bracket 8 Clamping device 9 clamping screw 10 screw heads 11 clamping element 12 clamping screws 13 End 14 square tubes 15 cylinder tube 16 support plate 17 thighs 18 threaded holes 19 wedge surfaces

Claims

[1] Hoof knife (1) with a handle (2) to which a fixed knife blade (3) is assigned in such a way that it is releasably held by means of a clamping device (8) arranged in the handle (2), characterized by that the handle (2) has a longitudinally extending opening (4) into which a holder (7) of the clamping device (8) is inserted in a rotationally fixed and immovable manner, wherein the holder (7) is designed on one end face to receive a clamping element (11) of the clamping device (8) and the free ends (13) of the knife blade (3) and on the opposite end face to guide a clamping screw (9) of the clamping device (8) engaging in a threaded bore (18) of the clamping element (11). [2] Hoof knife (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the knife blade (3) is V-shaped with two legs (17), wherein the two legs (17) merge into one another over a bending radius and are held by their free ends (13) on the clamping device (8). [3] Hoof knife (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the holder (7) is designed in the region of the receptacle as a square tube (14) which is adapted on the inside to the width of the knife blade (3), wherein the clamping element (11) with at least two wedge-shaped clamping surfaces presses the two legs (17) of the knife blade (3) against the square tube (14) in its position of use under the action of the clamping screw (9). [4] Hoof knife (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that a cylinder tube (15) is connected to the square tube (14) of the holder (7), which has a support plate (16) with a through hole for the clamping screw (9) on its free end. [5] Hoof knife (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the handle (2) is designed for inserting at least one clamping screw (12) cooperating with the holder (7). [6] Hoof knife (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the handle (2) has an arc-shaped shape on the end face opposite the knife blade (3). [7] Hoof knife (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the knife blade (3) is made of a strip steel which has a cutting area on at least one side, at least in the area of the tip. [8] Hoof knife (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the knife blade (3) is made of bimetallic strip steel.

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