Combination of a sheath and a knife

Abstract

Disclosed is a combination of a sharpening sheath (1) and a knife (2) comprising a blade (20) intended to be reconditioned in the sheath (1), wherein the sheath (1) comprises a cavity (40) for receiving the blade (20) and an access opening (10) at one end of the cavity (40), the sheath (1) comprising, in the lower portion thereof, a device for receiving the cutting edge of the blade (20), characterized in that the sheath (1) has, in the upper portion thereof, a locking element (55) which cooperates with a safety element (22) provided on the back of the blade (20) to longitudinally immobilize the knife (2) in the sheath (1), and in that the device for receiving the cutting edge of the blade (20) is carried by an arm (7) rotatably mounted in the sheath (1), the sheath (1) comprising return means (8) acting on the arm (7) to return the device for receiving the cutting edge of the blade (20) towards the locking element (55).

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the combination of a sheath and a knife comprising a blade intended to be stored in the sheath. State of the art

[0002] Document FR2715340 describes a combination of a sharpening sheath and a knife equipped with a safety device to immobilize the knife in the sheath to prevent accidental falling of the latter.

[0003] However, such a device has the drawback of featuring a safety mechanism that is not very ergonomic, requiring the user to use both hands to unlock the knife. Indeed, the safety catch is located in the most fragile part of the knife, namely the blade's edge, thus weakening it. Furthermore, machining a safety catch in the most fragile part of the piece is a delicate process on an industrial scale and therefore more difficult to achieve in a factory, as the cutting edge is a critical part of the knife. In addition, it can interfere with sharpening because the safety catch can hinder the blade's movement during sharpening. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to remedy this drawback.

[0005] The technical problem underlying the invention is to propose a combination of a sheath and a knife in which the sheath is equipped with a safety device that secures the knife and is ergonomically designed. Another objective of the invention is to provide a simple and ergonomically designed combination of a sheath and a knife.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a combination of a sheath and a knife comprising a blade intended to be stored in the sheath, in which the sheath includes a cavity intended to receive the blade and an access opening at one end of the cavity, the sheath comprising, in its lower part, a device for receiving the cutting edge of the blade, characterized in that the sheath comprises, in its upper part, a locking element cooperating with a safety element provided on the back of the blade to immobilize the knife longitudinally in the sheath and in that the device for receiving the cutting edge of the blade is carried by an arm mounted movable in rotation in the sheath, the sheath comprising return means acting on the arm to bring the device for receiving the cutting edge of the blade back towards the locking element.

[0007] Such a locking device has the advantage of ensuring that the knife is immobilized in the sheath and preventing accidental drops, particularly during transport of the sheath.

[0008] Furthermore, this locking mechanism offers the advantage of excellent ergonomics, as the knife locks automatically under the pressure exerted by the retractors when the safety element reaches the locking element during insertion into the sheath. Unlocking the knife is also very ergonomic: simply press down on the handle to disengage the locking element from the safety element on the back of the blade, then pull on the back of the blade.

[0009] Another advantage of the invention is that the locking device keeps the knife securely in the sheath during handling of the combination according to the invention, so a user grasping the assembly by the handle of the knife will not see the sheath separate from the knife and vice versa.

[0010] Another advantage of the invention is that the knife locking mechanism is operated with the user's hands placed on the blunt side of the knife, whether engaging or disengaging the mechanism. The user's hands are advantageously positioned on the opposite side of the cutting edge, with the pressure applied to the blunt side. In contrast, with known safety systems, the user must place their hand under the knife handle, on the blade side, to engage the safety, which carries a risk of injury.

[0011] The device may also have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0012] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the locking element and the safety notch are arranged such that the locking element engages in the safety element and immobilizes the knife in a storage position in which the entire blade is inserted into the sheath.

[0013] Such a feature has the advantage of providing great safety in use by immobilizing the knife in a position in which the blade is hidden by the sheath and is therefore not accessible to the user.

[0014] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the safety device is constituted by a notch.

[0015] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the sheath includes a blade back guidance device advantageously located near the access opening.

[0016] This feature allows the back of the blade to be guided in a way that facilitates the engagement of the locking element in the safety mechanism.

[0017] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the guiding device comprises a receiving groove for the back of the blade and the locking element is constituted by the bottom of the groove.

[0018] Such a feature has the advantage of ensuring, with the same element, both the transverse guidance of the blade and its longitudinal locking.

[0019] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the receiving groove on the back of the blade has a V-shaped form.

[0020] This feature has the advantage of ensuring excellent guidance of the back of the blade in the sheath.

[0021] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the receiving device for the cutting edge of the blade is constituted by a sharpening device.

[0022] This feature allows the blade to be automatically sharpened when it is inserted and / or removed from the sheath.

[0023] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the sharpening device is mounted to rotate freely on the arm.

[0024] Such mobility of the sharpening device at the end of the arm allows the sharpening device to follow the curvature of the blade in order to always position itself with the same angle of attack relative to the cutting edge of the blade, so that the sharpening of the blade is optimized independently of the curvature of the latter.

[0025] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the sharpening device comprises two sharpening elements arranged in a V.

[0026] This feature allows for balanced sharpening on both sides of the blade.

[0027] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the two sharpening elements are arranged in two offset planes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheath.

[0028] Such an arrangement makes it possible to reduce the width of the sharpening device.

[0029] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the sharpening device is arranged adjacent to the access opening.

[0030] This feature allows the blade to be sharpened along virtually the entire length that is inserted into the sheath.

[0031] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the return means comprise a return spring, advantageously helical, interposed between the arm and a base of the sheath.

[0032] Such a construction has the advantage of being simple and economical to build.

[0033] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the sheath comprises a base and a cover mounted removably on the base.

[0034] This feature makes it easier to clean the inside of the sheath.

[0035] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the arm comprises a first longitudinal end mounted movably for rotation on a base

[0036] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the sharpening device is mounted to rotate freely at a second longitudinal end of the arm.

[0037] According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the first longitudinal end is pivotally mounted on the base around a first axis and the sharpening device is pivotally mounted on the arm around a second axis, the first and second axes being parallel to each other. Brief description of the figures

[0038] The aims, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [ Fig 1 ] There figure 1 is a perspective view of a sheath and a knife according to a particular embodiment of the invention; the knife being shown outside the sheath. Fig 2 ] There figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sheath of the figure 1 ; Fig 3 ] There figure 3 is a perspective view of the sheath of the figure 1 with the knife inserted into the sheath, the sheath being shown in this figure without its outer casing in order to allow visual access to the sheath mechanism; Fig 4 ] There figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sheath and knife in the position illustrated on the figure 3 ; Fig 5 ] There figure 5 is a view from below of the removable sheath; [ Fig 6 ] There figure 6 is another perspective view of the sheath of the figure 1 deprived of his knife; [ Fig 7 ] There figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along line VII-VII of the figure 4 ; Fig 8 ] There figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the sharpening device fitted to the sheath of the figure 1 . [ Fig 9 ] There figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sheath and knife of the figure 1 in 3 positions: a) the knife inserted into the sheath b) the knife in a low position with the spring compressed c) the knife partially extended from the sheath. Fig 10 ] There figure 10 is a side view with a user's hands positioned on the sheath and knife according to the invention, to remove the knife.

[0039] Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been shown. To facilitate reading the drawings, the same elements bear the same reference numbers from one figure to another.

[0040] It should be noted that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "longitudinal", "transverse", used to describe the sharpening device refer to this device in use, when it rests flat on its base.

[0041] THE figure 1 , 3 et 4 represent a sharpening sheath 1 and a kitchen knife 2 comprising a blade 20 intended to be stored in the sheath 1, the knife 2 classically comprising a handle 21 which protrudes outside the sheath 1 when the blade 20 is stored in the sheath 1.

[0042] In accordance with the figure 2 The sheath 1 comprises a base 3 and a casing 4 fixed one on top of the other, and advantageously made of plastic material. The base 3 and the casing 4 have an elongated shape defining a cavity 40 for storing the blade 20 of the knife 2. The sheath 1 has a rear end with an access opening 10 through which the blade 20 of the knife 2 can be inserted into the cavity 40. The casing 4 has, upstream of the access opening 10, a guide skirt 41 with walls that converge towards the access opening 10 and guide the tip of the blade 20 of the knife 1 towards the access opening 10.

[0043] The base 3 comprises a base 30 including a lower face intended to rest flat on a support and includes a front end formed by a grid 31 which extends upwards from the base 30 at an angle of approximately 65° to the lower face of the base 30, the grid 31 closing the front end of the sheath 1 and advantageously being obtained by molding with the base 30.

[0044] The casing 4 is advantageously attached in a removable manner to the base 3 and has an inverted U-shaped cross-section, visible on the figure 5 comprising, at each of its ends, a rib 42 engaging in a guide groove 32 formed longitudinally on each side of the base 30 of the plinth 3.

[0045] In accordance with figures 3 et 4 , the sheath 1 includes a guide device for the upper part of the blade 20 of the knife 2, also called the back of the blade 20, comprising a guide piece 5 fixed inside the casing 4, at the level of its curved part defining the top of the casing 4, the guide piece 5 extending along the longitudinal axis of the sheath 1 from the open end of the sheath 1 to the grid 31 defining the front end of the sheath 1.

[0046] Preferably, the guide piece 5 includes an opening 51 near its front end, into which a hook 45 carried by the casing 4, visible on the figures 2 And 4 , the front end of the guide piece 5 having a head 52 which protrudes upwards and engages in a notch 44 adapted to the front end of the envelope 4.

[0047] Inserting the hook 45 into the opening 51 and engaging the head 52 in the notch 44 allows the front end of the guide piece 5 to be fixed, in a removable manner, to the front end of the envelope 4.

[0048] The guide piece 5 is advantageously fixed to the rear end of the casing 4 by clipping, the rear end of the guide piece 5 having a centering ring 50 which engages elastically between two locking clips 43 protruding on the edges of the access opening 10 of the sleeve 1.

[0049] As can be seen on the figure 2 , the head 52 of the guide piece 5 engages longitudinally in a notch 33 provided at the upper end of the grid 31 when the envelope 4 is placed on the base 3, the head 52 having a lower face comprising a groove 53 in which a locking tab 34 disposed at the base of the notch 33 engages elastically, allowing the envelope 4 to be held in position on the base 3.

[0050] In accordance with figures 5 And 6 , the centering ring 50 has an inverted V-shaped groove 54 ensuring the centering of the back in the blade 20 relative to the casing 4 when the blade 20 is inserted into the sheath 1.

[0051] The sheath 1 includes, opposite the centering ring 50, a sharpening device 6 advantageously carried by an arm 7 pivotally mounted on the base 3, the sharpening device 6 being brought back towards the centering ring 50 by a return spring 8 acting on the arm 7. Preferably, the arm 7 is movable in the plane of the blade 20 between a high position where the return spring 8 is deployed to its maximum and a low position where the return spring 8 is compressed to its maximum.

[0052] In accordance with figures 2 And 3The arm 7 has a first end, called the front end, mounted pivotally near the front end of the base 3, by means of a first axis 71 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the base 3. In the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, the first axis 71 is supported by two lateral partitions 35 extending vertically on either side of the front end of the arm 7, these lateral partitions 35 contributing to the rigidity of the connection between the base 30 and the grid 31.

[0053] The arm 7 has a second end, called the rear end, on which the sharpening device 6 is preferably mounted pivotally about a second axis 72 extending parallel to the first axis 71, the device being able to pivot relative to the arm 7 over an angular range of at least 15° and preferably of the order of 30°.

[0054] In the example illustrated in the figures, the arm 7 has two lateral legs 73 which project towards the rear of the arm 7 and between which the sharpening device 6 is arranged, the second axis 72 being advantageously formed by cylindrical pins of circular section which project laterally to the sharpening device 6 and which are engaged in circular openings provided in the lateral legs 73.

[0055] As can be seen more precisely on the figure 8 , the sharpening device 6 comprises a U-shaped body supporting two sharpening elements 60 arranged to form a V in a projection plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheath 1, i.e. when the sharpening device 6 is viewed according to the direction of introduction of the blade 20 into the access opening 10 of the sheath 1, the two sharpening elements 60 being offset on the longitudinal axis of the sheath 1 and each extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0056] The two sharpening elements 60, advantageously made of two ceramic cylinders, are arranged in two housings 61 configured to hold two sharpening elements 60 in a V-shaped arrangement. The device 6 includes a slot 63, formed between the two U-shaped arms, providing access to the space between the two sharpening elements 60. The two sharpening elements 60 are held in place by friction within their housing 61 by a portion of the body of the sharpening device 6, not visible in the figures, pressing against the end of the sharpening element 60. Thus, the sharpening elements 60 do not rotate in their housing 61, or only very slightly, when subjected to the friction of the blade 20 during its insertion into or removal from the sheath 1.

[0057] In the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, the return spring 8 is a helical spring disposed between the base 3 and the lower face of the arm 7, near the rear end of the arm 7. In order to ensure the retention of the return spring 8 between the arm 7 and the base 3, the base 3 includes a cup 36 for retaining the lower end of the return spring 8 and the lower face of the arm 7 includes a cup 74 for retaining the upper end of the return spring 8, the cup 74 coming opposite the cup 36 when the arm 7 is brought towards the base 3.

[0058] Advantageously, the back of the blade 20 of the knife 2 has a safety notch 22, preferably located near the handle 21 of the knife 2, into which a locking element 55, formed by the bottom of the groove 54, engages when the entire blade 20 is inserted through the sheath 1, as illustrated in the figures 3 et 4 . Such insertion of the locking element 55 into the safety notch 22, under the effect of the push of the return spring 8 on the arm 7, makes it possible to immobilize the knife 2 longitudinally in the sheath 1 in a storage position.

[0059] In accordance with the figure 9 The knife is first shown in the immobilized position (first position 9a) with the locking element 55 engaged in the safety notch 22. The knife is then shown in the unlocked position (second position 9b), with the locking element 55 disengaged from the safety notch 22 and the return spring 8 compressed. Finally, the knife is shown in the released position (third position 9c), with the locking element 55 free and the safety notch 22 free.

[0060] The operation of the sharpening sheath 1 will now be described.

[0061] When the user wishes to store the blade 20 of knife 2 in the sheath 1 or to sharpen it, they bring the tip of knife 2 to the front of the diamond-shaped opening, visible on the figure 6 formed by the groove 54 and the two sharpening elements 60, then inserts the blade 20 of the knife 2 into the sheath 1 by a longitudinal movement. During this movement, the back of the blade 20 is centered in the bottom of the V-shaped groove 54 while the cutting part of the blade 20 is centered by the V formed by the two sharpening elements 60.

[0062] This double positioning of the cutting edge of the blade 20 and the back of the blade 20 makes it possible to obtain a sharpening angle that remains symmetrical and constant throughout the path of the blade 20 in the sheath 1, without the user needing to manually orient the blade 20. Thus, the symmetry of the sharpening is guaranteed and the sharpening angles are equal on each side of the edge of the blade, which allows for homogeneous and centered wear of the blade 20.

[0063] Furthermore, during the insertion or extraction of the blade 20 from the sheath 1, the pivoting movement of the arm 7 allows the sharpening device 6 to follow the profile of the cutting edge of the blade 20. Under the effect of the return spring 8, the sharpening device 6 exerts moderate pressure on the cutting edge of the blade 20 when the tip of the blade is inserted into the access opening 10 of the sheath 1, and then increasingly greater pressure as the height of the blade 20 increases when the knife 2 is inserted into the sheath 1 (visible on the figures 9b et 9c ). The significant friction between the cutting part of the blade 20 and the sharpening elements 60 causes the blade 20 to be sharpened.

[0064] Finally, with the sharpening elements placed one behind the other, in the direction of the introduction of the blade 20, the possible oscillation of the sharpening device 6 relative to the second end of the arm 7 allows the sharpening elements 60 to remain in permanent contact with the blade 20 and to remain correctly oriented relative to it, which optimizes the sharpening of the blade 20.

[0065] When the blade 20 of knife 2 is fully inserted into the sheath 1, the locking element 55 of the centering ring 50 is engaged in the safety notch 22 on the back of the blade 20 by the return spring 8. Knife 2 is then held securely in the sheath 1. To remove knife 2 from the sheath 1, as illustrated in the figure 10The user must first apply downward pressure to the handle 21 of the knife 2 to release the locking element 55 from the safety notch 22, then pull on the handle 21 of the knife 2 to extract the blade 20. Such a manipulation prevents any accidental fall of the knife 2 which could occur for example when the sheath 1 is handled for transport.

[0066] Furthermore, the sheath 1 thus constructed also has the advantage of allowing easy cleaning of the inside of the sheath 1. Indeed, the user can easily detach the casing 4 from the base 3 by holding the base 3 with one hand, after removing the knife 2, and then pulling on the casing 4 so that the groove 53 disengages, by elastic deformation of the head 52, from the locking tab 34 located at the top of the grid 31. He can then slide the casing 4 onto the base 3, each guide groove 32 of the base 3 having, on the side of the access opening 10, an open longitudinal end allowing the extraction of the rib 42 of the casing 4. After cleaning the inside of the sheath 1, he can reattach the casing 4 onto the base 3 by performing the operations described above in reverse order.

[0067] Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only by way of example. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

[0068] Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the casing may not be removable from the base, the base and the casing of the sheath being, for example, made in one piece.

[0069] Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the safety notch may be replaced by a safety element projecting from the back of the blade and cooperating with a locking notch provided on the upper part of the scabbard.

Claims

1. Combination of a sheath (1) and a knife (2) comprising a blade (20) intended to be stored in the sheath (1), wherein the sheath (1) comprises a cavity (40) intended to receive the blade (20) and an access opening (10) at one end of the cavity (40), the sheath (1) comprising, in its lower part, a receiving device for the cutting edge of the blade (20), characterized in that the sheath (1) comprises, in its upper part, a locking element (55) cooperating with a safety element (22) provided on the back of the blade (20) in order to immobilize the knife (2) longitudinally in the sheath (1), and in that the receiving device for the cutting edge of the blade (20) is carried by an arm (7) mounted rotatably in the sheath (1), the sheath (1) comprising biasing means (8) acting on the arm (7) in order to return the receiving device for the cutting edge of the blade (20) towards the locking element (55).

2. Combination according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (55) and the safety element (22) are arranged such that the locking element (55) engages in the safety element (22) and immobilizes the knife (2) in a storage position in which the entirety of the blade (20) is inserted into the sheath (1).

3. Combination according to claim 2, characterized in that the safety element (22) is constituted by a notch (22).

4. Combination according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sheath comprises a guide device (54) for the back of the blade (20), advantageously arranged in the vicinity of the access opening (10).

5. Combination according to claim 4, characterized in that the guide device comprises a groove (54) for receiving the back of the blade (20), and in that the locking element (55) is constituted by the bottom of the groove (54).

6. Combination according to claim 5, characterized in that the groove (54) for receiving the back of the blade (20) has a V-shape.

7. Combination according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device for the cutting edge of the blade (20) is constituted by a sharpening device (6).

8. Combination according to claim 7, characterized in that the sharpening device (6) is mounted rotatably on the arm (7).

9. Combination according to any one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the sharpening device (6) comprises two sharpening elements (60) arranged in a V-shape.

10. Combination according to claim 9, characterized in that the two sharpening elements (60) are arranged in two offset planes parallel to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheath (1).

11. Combination according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the sharpening device (6) is arranged adjacent to the access opening (10).

12. Combination according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the biasing means comprise a return spring (8), advantageously a helical spring, interposed between the arm (7) and a base (3) of the sheath.

13. Combination according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the sheath (1) comprises a base (3) and a casing (4) removably mounted on the base (3).

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