Knife for cutting and peeling

Abstract

To provide a safety knife that can be used for cutting a part of a specific thickness, especially for peeling.SOLUTION: A knife (1) includes a handle (2) and a blade (3). The blade extends from a cutting edge (4) to a non-sharp spine (5) in a knife center surface. The knife includes a guide element (6) movable around a pivot shaft (7) oriented so as to be orthogonal to the knife center surface, between a first position and a second position across the non-sharp spine. The guide element is located at the handle at the first position. At the second position, the guide element is incorporated in the cutting edge such that a blade clearance is formed between the cutting edge and a jaw part of the guide element. The knife can be optimally used as an ordinary knife and also as a peeler by using the guide element located at the second position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a knife according to the preamble of claim 1. [Background technology]

[0002] A knife comprises a handle and at least one blade with a cutting edge, which at the central surface extends from the cutting edge to a blunt spine. For processing food products, knives are used, which are designed for the respective processing method and their place of application. Among the conventional processing methods are slicing, piercing, chopping and peeling. For peeling fruits, potatoes or vegetables, short-bladed knives or peelers are used. The peeler comprises a cutting edge and a guide element fixedly connected to the blade, which has jaws that rest against the foodstuff, between which a blade clearance is configured, so that during peeling, only a piece of skin is cut off, the thickness of which is determined by the blade clearance.

[0003] Food is often prepared in the kitchen, but also outdoors. Various handle and blade configurations should facilitate the different preparation methods. In carving knives, the handle extends along a longitudinal handle axis and the blade extends away from the handle in the direction of the longitudinal handle axis.

[0004] In knives intended for outdoor use and intended to be carried without causing harm, the blade is movably attached to the handle. In the closed position, the cutting edge of the blade is located at the handle, so that the cutting edge is inaccessible. By rotating the blade outwards about the blade pivot at the end region of the handle, or by a sliding movement from the handle, the blade and its cutting edge reach the working position, i.e. the open position, in which the blade extends away from the handle in the direction of the handle longitudinal axis.

[0005] For peelers, the orientation of the cutting edge relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle has two distinct characteristics: if the cutting edge of the peeler is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle, the entire arm is often moved when peeling, and if the cutting edge of the peeler extends away from the handle in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the handle, a wrist movement may be sufficient to peel.

[0006] CH 292339 describes a knife that can be used for free cutting. It can be used to cut off parts from potatoes, carrots, pears, apples and other fruits with a rigid wire having a straight section and two ends. Both ends of the wire are wound in opposite coils around parallel winding axes. In both areas following the straight sections, arc segments of the ends run directly above and below the parallel winding axes, forming a receiving area for the blade of the knife.

[0007] To attach the wire to the knife blade, the wire and knife are oriented so that the central plane of the blade extends perpendicular to the parallel winding axes, and in this mutual orientation, the cutting edge of the blade is inserted into these receiving areas between the overlapping arc segments at either end.

[0008] The transitions from the straight section of the rigid wire to the two wound ends run transversely to the center plane of the blade, i.e. with a component along the winding axis, and form a stop for the cutting edge of the blade respectively. If the rigid wire is engaged with the blade up to the stops, the area of ​​the straight section facing the cutting edge forms a jaw that extends to the center plane of the blade at a distance. This distance defines the thickness of the part to be cut off, e.g. the skin of fruit, potato or vegetable, when the jaw is applied to the blade.

[0009] Fitting the wire onto the cutting edge of the blade is dangerous, since the fingers of the person using it can be pressed against the cutting edge with force and can inadvertently touch it. This is associated with a high risk of cuts with sharp knives. In addition, both transitions of the rigid wire from the straight section to the wound ends are pressed against the cutting edge when it is fitted. The cutting edge is subject to undesirable deformations at the contact points by this stiff wire. Frequent attachment and detachment of the wire, at least with the jaws, dulls the cutting edge. If the blade is pulled back in the opposite direction to the cutting direction before a part has been completely cut off from the product to be processed, the wire can fall off the blade and must be found in the peel that has been cut off and fitted again. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] CH292339 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The object of the invention is now to find a risk-free solution, which allows the knife to be used both for free cutting and for cutting off parts of a certain thickness, in particular for peeling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] This problem is solved by a knife having the features of claim 1. The dependent claims describe alternative or advantageous variants, by means of which further problems are solved.

[0013] Within the scope of the first inventive step, it was found that in the case of a knife having a blade with a cutting edge and, on the opposite side, a blunt spine, the user can safely press down on the blunt spine.

[0014] Within the framework of the second inventive step, it has been found that the guide element can be moved beyond the blunt spine to the cutting edge in such a way that a blade clearance is configured between the cutting edge and the jaws of the guide element, in the area of ​​this blade clearance it is possible to cut off peels or slices from vegetables, fruits or potatoes, the thickness of which is predetermined by the distance of the jaws from the blade central plane.

[0015] The knife according to the invention may be used for carving and peeling. The knife comprises a handle and at least one blade attached to the handle, the blade extending in the knife central plane from a cutting edge to a blunt spine opposite the cutting edge. The handle extends along a handle longitudinal axis. When carving or peeling, the blade of the knife extends away from the handle in the direction of the handle longitudinal axis. The knife has a guide element which is movable about a pivot axis oriented transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the knife central plane between a first and a second position over the blunt spine of the blade which extends away from the handle in the direction of the handle longitudinal axis. In the first position, the guide element is at the handle. In the second position, the guide element is integrated into the cutting edge such that a blade clearance is configured between the cutting edge and the jaws of the guide element.

[0016] With the knife according to the invention, there is no risk of the user's fingers being injured by the cutting edge of the blade when switching from a state in which only the blade protrudes from the handle to a state in which the guide element of the blade is extended for peeling. In addition, the knife does not contain any elements that come into contact with the cutting edge, and therefore no undesirable deformations of the cutting edge occur. The cutting edge is not impaired by the guide element. The knife according to the invention can be optimally used both as a normal knife with a handle and a blade, and also as a peeler with the guide element integrated in the blade. If alternating cutting and peeling processes are required, then these can be performed with only one knife. Between the different processes, it is only necessary to adjust the guide element from the first to the second position or from the second to the first position.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the guide element has an engagement element in the region of its free end opposite the pivot axis. The blade has a positioning hole passing through it, which is arranged in such a way that in the second position the engagement element overlaps and can fit into the positioning hole. In this case, the guide element is preferably configured or preloaded so that the engagement element fits into the positioning hole. The engagement is particularly configured in such a way that a blade clearance is formed, which during peeling or slicing results in a peel or slice having a substantially constant thickness along the blade clearance. A finger-pinchable removal element of the guide element allows the removal of the engagement element from the positioning hole and the movement of the guide element towards the first position.

[0018] In order to prevent the guide element from being moved beyond the second position or beyond the cutting edge, in an advantageous embodiment a stop is arranged between the guide element and the blade or the handle.

[0019] In the second position, the blade with a tip area on the guide element preferably projects away from the handle. This tip area can be used as a sprout area. If localized areas remain during peeling that need to be removed, these can be removed with the same knife, in particular with the protruding tip area.

[0020] In order to improve the comfort of the handle during both cutting and peeling, in an advantageous embodiment the handle has a receiving area for the guide element, which in the first position is at least partially received in this receiving area and therefore does not unduly protrude from the handle.

[0021] If the blade is attached to the handle via a non-adjustable joint and therefore always projects from the handle along its longitudinal axis, it is advantageous for the pivot shaft to be arranged in the area of ​​the blade and to face the handle at the blade, in which case a pin or rivet, preferably connected to the guide element, is inserted into the bore of the blade.

[0022] According to a further embodiment, the pivot axis is arranged in the end region of the handle, whereupon a positioning device is preferably configured which fixes the guide element in the second position and is only movable towards the first position when a force exceeding a predefined restoring force is applied or the lock is released.

[0023] In one embodiment, which is intended for outdoor use and does not pose a hazard when carried, the blade is movably attached to the handle. In the closed position, the cutting edge of the blade is located at the handle, so that the cutting edge cannot be touched. The blade and its cutting edge can be brought to a working position in which the blade extends away from the handle in the direction of the handle longitudinal axis, i.e., to an open position. Switching between the closed and open positions can be achieved by rotating the blade around a blade pivot at the end region of the handle to open outward, or by a sliding movement outward and into the handle.

[0024] Knives with a blade whose position relative to the handle is adjustable are particularly popular as pocket knives, or folding or tactical knives. Pocket knives include two outer surfaces forming a handle and, between these outer surfaces, first and second receiving sides facing away from each other and capable of receiving working elements. These working elements can be moved out of and into the pocket knife handle by movement about a movement axis as required.

[0025] An advantageous embodiment of the knife according to the invention is based on a pocket knife which, in addition to at least one blade movable about an axis of movement in a first end region of the handle, also comprises a guide element which is openable and closable about a pivot axis in this first end region of the handle.

[0026] The movement of the blade between the closed and open positions can be achieved by an opening and closing movement about an axis of movement, which is oriented perpendicular to the knife center plane and is located in the area of ​​the handle opposite the blade moving away from the handle, preferably comprising a positioning device which fixes the blade in the open and closed positions and allows the blade to move towards the respective other position only when a force exceeding a predetermined movement force is applied.

[0027] To provide the peeling knife function, the blade is movable from a first housing side of the pocket knife in a first rotational direction to an open position. The guide element is movable from a second housing side of the pocket knife in a pivotal direction opposite the first rotational direction from the first position to a second position over a blunt spine of the blade extending away from the handle in the direction of the handle longitudinal axis. The pivot axis of the guide element is located in a distal region of the handle with the axis of motion.

[0028] The guide element, like other operating elements of the pocket knife, is held firmly in the first and second positions, respectively, until the force required for opening or closing is applied to the guide element, for which purpose the pivot shaft is preferably provided with a positioning device which fixes the guide element in the first and second positions and allows it to move towards the second or first position only when a force exceeding a predetermined adjustment force is applied to the guide element.

[0029] The various advantageous embodiments in the form of a pocket knife each include at least one of the elements described for a knife with a blade rigidly projecting from the handle along the longitudinal axis of the handle.

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment, the guide element is configured with a cutting edge at the jaws, which, when the guide element is in the second position, faces the cutting edge of the blade, so that depending on the peeling direction, one of the two cutting edges can realize peeling and the other as the jaw sets the blade clearance. The guide element extends along the cutting surface starting from its cutting edge. In the area between the two cutting edges, the knife center surface and this cutting surface meet each other at an intersection line at an angle that is greater than 90° and less than 180°.

[0031] Instead, the distance between the cutting edge of the guide element and the knife center plane is substantially the same as the distance between the cutting edge of the blade and the cutting surface, so that a uniform peeling can be performed each time with the cutting edge of the blade or with the cutting edge of the guide element. When peeling with the cutting edge of the blade, the cutting edge of the guide element forms the jaws. When peeling with the cutting edge of the guide element, the cutting edge of the blade forms the jaws. Between each of the opposing cutting edges and the jaws formed by the respective other cutting edge, a blade clearance is formed, which sets the thickness of the peel or slices to be cut off during peeling.

[0032] The opposing cutting edges allow a particular user to peel in the direction he or she prefers, with either the right or left hand, as desired at any given time.

[0033] In a further advantageous embodiment, the knife according to the invention comprises two guide elements, which are arranged symmetrically across the knife central plane and which are individually movable in the same way between their respective first and second positions. For peeling, the guide element suitable for the desired peeling direction can be placed in the second position and the other guide element in the first position. The choice between two different guide elements allows the respective user to always use the appropriate guide element depending on his preferred peeling direction or whether the peeling movement is performed with the right or left hand.

[0034] In the following the invention will be described in more detail on the basis of several figures. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of the knife with the guide element in a first position at the handle. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the knife with the guide element moving between first and second positions. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the knife with the guide element in a second position at the blade. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 shows the side of the knife opposite the guide element, with the guide element in a second position. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 shows the cutting edge of the knife with the guide element in a second position. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the knife with the guide element in a second position. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 shows the blunt spine of the knife with the guide element in a second position. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a side view of a pocket knife with the blade in a closed position and the guide element in a first position. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a side view of a pocket knife with the blade between a closed position and an open position and the guide element between a first position and a second position. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a side view of a pocket knife with the blade in an open position and the guide element between a first position and a second position. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a side view of the pocket knife with the blade in an open position and the guide element in a second position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of a knife 1 according to the invention. The knife 1 comprises a handle 2 and a blade 3 attached to the handle 2. In FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6, the blade 3 extends in a knife central plane parallel to the plane of the drawing from a cutting edge 4 to a blunt spine 5 opposite the cutting edge 4. The handle 2 extends along a handle longitudinal axis. In this first embodiment, the blade 3 of the knife 1 extends away from the handle 2 in the direction of the handle longitudinal axis so that its position cannot be adjusted. The knife 1 has a guide element 6 which is movable between a first position 8 and a second position 9 over the blunt spine 5 about a pivot axis 7 oriented perpendicular to the knife central plane. In the first position 8, the guide element 6 is at the handle 2. When the guide element 6 is in the second position 9 , it is engaged with the cutting edge 4 such that a blade clearance 11 is defined between the cutting edge 4 and jaws 10 of the guide element 6 .

[0037] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7, the guide element 6 has an engagement element 12 in the region of its free end opposite the pivot axis 7, and the blade 3 has a positioning hole 13 passing through it, which is arranged in such a way that in the second position 9 the engagement element 12 overlaps and can fit into it. The guide element 6 is preferably configured or preloaded such that the engagement element 12 fits into the positioning hole 13 and thereby prevents it from moving back towards the first position. This engagement is configured such that a blade clearance 11 is formed between the guide element 6 and the cutting edge 4, which blade clearance 11 allows a peel or slice to be cut off along the blade clearance 11 with a substantially constant thickness when peeling or slicing.

[0038] In the embodiment shown, on the side of the positioning hole 13 opposite the cutting edge 4, the engagement element 12 abuts against the blade 3 on the side opposite the guide element 6. This ensures that the forces acting on the guide element 6 during peeling do not cause it to lift off the blade 3.

[0039] The removal element 14 of the guide element 6, which can be grasped with the fingers, makes it possible to remove the engagement element 12 from the positioning hole 13 and to move the guide element 6 towards the first position 8. This removal element 14 protrudes slightly beyond the blade 3, so that when the guide element 6 is in the second position 9, the free end of the removal element 14 can simply be grasped with the fingers from below, to lift the guide element 6 out of the positioning hole 13 and to pivot the guide element 6 towards the first position 8.

[0040] In both the embodiment of figures 1 to 7 and the embodiment of figures 8 to 11, a tip region 15 of the blade 3 projects away from the handle 2 beyond the positioning hole 13 or beyond the guide element 6 in the second position 9. This tip region 15 can be used as a sprout region.

[0041] The illustrated handle 2 has a receiving area 16 for the guide element 6. In the first position 8, the guide element 6 is at least partially received in this receiving area 16 and therefore does not protrude undesirably from the handle 2.

[0042] 1 to 7, the blade 3 is attached to the handle 2 via a non-adjustable joint, and the pivot shaft 7 is advantageously arranged in the area of ​​the blade 3 and faces the handle at the blade. At the pivot shaft 7, a pin or a rivet, which is preferably connected to the guide element 6, is inserted into a bore in the blade 3.

[0043] 8 to 11 show an embodiment of the knife 1 configured as a pocket knife. The pivot axis 7 is oriented perpendicular to the knife central plane and is located in the terminal region of the handle 2. It also serves as the axis of movement of the blade 3. At this pivot axis 7, a positioning device, customary for pocket knives, is configured, by which the guide element 6 is fixed in the second position 9 and the blade 3 in the open position 21, respectively, so that they can be moved towards the first position 8 or the closed position 20 only when a force exceeding a predetermined restoring force acts on them. This positioning device also holds the guide element 6 and the blade 3 in the first position 8 or the closed position 20, so that in order to rotate them outwards, at least a predetermined force must be applied.

[0044] The pocket knife shown comprises two outer surfaces 17 at least partially closing the handle 2 perpendicular to the knife central plane, and a first receiving side 18 and a second receiving side 19 facing away from each other between the outer surfaces 17. The first receiving side 18 receives the blade 3, and the second receiving side 19 receives the guide element 6. The blade 3 and the guide element 6 are moved in opposite directions about a pivot axis 7, respectively, out of and into the handle 2 of the pocket knife.

[0045] To provide the peeling knife function, the blade 3 is movable from a first receiving side 18 to an open position 21. The guide element 6 is movable from a second receiving side 19 to a second position 9 over a blunt spine 5 of the blade 3 that extends from the first position 8 in the direction of the handle longitudinal axis away from the handle 2.

Claims

1. A cutting and peeling knife (1) having a handle (2) and at least one blade (3) attached to the handle (2), the blade (3) extending in a knife central plane from a cutting edge (4) to a blunt spine (5) opposite the cutting edge (4), the handle (2) extending along a handle longitudinal axis, and the blade (3) of the knife (1) extending away from the handle (2) in the direction of the handle longitudinal axis when cutting or peeling, 1. The knife (1), comprising a guide element (6) movable about a pivot axis (7) oriented transversely to the knife central plane between a first position (8) and a second position (9) over the blunt spine (5) of the blade (3) extending in the direction of the handle longitudinal axis away from the handle (2), the guide element (6) being integrated into the cutting edge (4) such that in the first position (8) it is located at the handle (2) and in the second position (9) a blade clearance (11) is configured between the cutting edge (4) and a jaw (10) of the guide element (6).

2. 2. The knife (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (7) is oriented perpendicular to the knife central plane.

3. 3. The knife (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide element (6) has an engagement element (12) in the region of its free end opposite the pivot axis (7), which engages in a positioning hole (13) through the blade (3) when the guide element (6) is in the second position (9), and a finger-pinchable removal element (14) of the guide element (6) makes it possible to remove the engagement element (12) from the positioning hole (13) and to move the guide element (6) towards the first position (8).

4. A knife (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the second position (9), the blade (3) having a tip area (15) on the guide element (6) projects away from the handle (2), said tip area being usable as a sprout removing area.

5. The knife (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the handle (2) has a receiving area (16) for the guide element (6), whereby in the first position (8) said guide element (6) is at least partially received in said receiving area (16).

6. A knife (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a pivot axis (7) is arranged in the area of ​​the blade (3) which is opposed to the handle (2) at the blade (3) extending away from the handle (2) and in which a pin or rivet connected to the guide element (6) at the pivot axis (7) is inserted into a bore in the blade (3).

7. 6. The knife (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a pivot axis (7) is arranged in an end region of the handle (2), on which a positioning device is preferably configured, which fixes the guide element (6) in the second position (9) and is movable towards the first position (8) only when a force exceeding a predetermined restoring force is applied or when a locking mechanism is released.

8. 8. The knife (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that a blade (3) is movably attached to a handle (2), the cutting edge (4) of the blade (3) being located at the handle (2) in the closed position (20) so that the cutting edge (4) is inaccessible, and in the open position (21) the blade (3) protrudes from the handle (2) in the direction of the handle longitudinal axis.

9. 9. The knife (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the movement of the blade (3) between the closed position (20) and the open position (21) can be achieved by an opening and closing movement about an axis of movement, which is arranged in the distal region of the handle (2) oriented perpendicular to the knife central plane, and which preferably comprises a positioning device for fixing the blade (3) in the open position (21) and in the closed position (22) and for allowing the blade to move towards the respective other position (20, 21) only when a force exceeding a predetermined movement force is applied.

10. 9. The knife (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the movement of the blade (3) between the closed and open positions (20, 21) can be achieved by a sliding movement in and out of the handle (2) in the direction of the handle longitudinal axis, and a positioning device is configured to fix the blade in the open and closed positions (21, 22) and to move the blade towards the respective other position (20, 21) only when a force exceeding a predetermined movement force is applied.

11. 11. The knife (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide element has cutting edges at the jaws, which are opposite the cutting edges of the blade when the guide element is in the second position, so that depending on a selectable peeling direction, one of the two cutting edges can achieve peeling and the other can set the blade clearance as a jaw, and the guide element extends along the cutting surface starting from its cutting edge, and an angle greater than 90° and less than 180° is defined between the knife centre plane and the cutting surface.

12. 11. The knife (1) according to claim 1, comprising two guide elements (6), arranged symmetrically on either side of the knife central plane and both independently movable in the same way between their respective first and second positions (8, 9), such that for peeling, the guide element (6) appropriate for the desired peeling direction can be positioned in the second position (9) and the other guide element (6) in the first position (8).

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