Multi-blade knife assembly with protective cover

Abstract

The knife assembly includes a multi-blade knife and a protective cover. The multi-blade knife includes a handle and a plurality of blades attached to the handle. Each blade of the plurality of blades extends longitudinally from the handle and is substantially parallel to one another. Each blade includes a lower cutting edge and an upper non-cutting edge connected therebetween by opposing blade sides. The protective cover includes a cover top and a pair of opposing cover sidewalls. The cover top is configured to cover a substantial portion of each of the upper non-cutting edges of the plurality of blades. The cover sidewalls extend downwardly from opposing ends of the cover top and substantially parallel to one another. The cover sidewalls are spaced apart to frictionally fit against outermost sides of opposing outermost blades of the plurality of blades.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a nonprovisional application of and claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 363,577, entitled “Multi-Blade Knife Assembly With Protective Cover,” filed April 26, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. [Technical field]

[0002] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to knives. More particularly, this disclosure relates to multi-blade knives. [Background technology]

[0003] Knives are often used to cut or chop many foods into slices, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, etc. Knives often include a single blade, and the need to perform repeated chopping motions multiple times can be very time consuming and tedious, especially for inexperienced users and chefs.

[0004] Additionally, users often use one hand on the knife handle and the other on the non-cutting edge of the knife blade for leverage during the chopping process. However, this repeated pressure on the non-cutting edge of the knife blade can cause pain or irritation to the user's hand. Additionally, because the knife blade is not designed for gripping, the user's hand may be more likely to slip off the non-cutting edge of the knife blade than it is to slip off the knife handle.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a knife or knife assembly that can perform multiple cuts simultaneously. There is also a need for a knife assembly that protects and cushions the user's hand when placed on the non-edge of the knife blade. There is also a need for a knife assembly that prevents the user's hand from slipping off the non-edge of the knife blade during a cutting or chopping operation. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present disclosure offers advantages and alternatives over the prior art by providing a multiple blade knife assembly with a protective cover over the non-cutting edges of the knife. The multiple blades are capable of making multiple cuts simultaneously. The blades can also be designed to be removable and / or replaceable at the knife handle.

[0007] Additionally, a protective cover over the non-cutting edges of the knife blades provides protection and cushioning to the user's hands during cutting or chopping operations. Additionally, a finger ring can be placed on the protective cover to secure the user's fingers to the cover to prevent the user's hands from inadvertently slipping off the blades during chopping operations.

[0008] A knife assembly according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure includes a multi-blade knife and a protective cover. The multi-blade knife includes a handle and a plurality of blades attached to the handle. Each blade of the plurality of blades extends longitudinally from the handle and is substantially parallel to one another. Each blade includes a lower cutting edge and an upper non-cutting edge connected by opposing blade sides. The protective cover includes a cover top and opposing cover sidewalls. The cover top is configured to cover a substantial portion of each of the upper non-cutting edges of the plurality of blades. The cover sidewalls extend downwardly from opposing ends of the cover top and substantially parallel to one another. The cover sidewalls are spaced apart to frictionally fit against outermost sides of opposing outermost blades of the plurality of blades.

[0009] In some examples of the knife assembly, the protective cover includes a finger ring pivotally mounted to a top portion of the cover, the finger ring being sized to receive a finger of a user's hand.

[0010] In some examples of the knife assembly, the protective cover is operable to protect and cushion a user's hand when pressing against the non-cutting edges of the blades during a chopping operation, and the finger ring is operable to secure the user's fingers to the cover to prevent the user's hand from inadvertently slipping off the blades during a chopping operation.

[0011] In some embodiments of the knife assembly, the protective cover is removably fitted over the plurality of blades.

[0012] In some examples of the knife assembly, the protective cover includes at least one spacer tab extending downwardly from the cover top substantially parallel to the cover sidewall, the at least one spacer tab having a thickness sized to frictionally fit into at least one separation space formed between adjacent sides of a pair of knife blades.

[0013] In some examples of the knife assembly, the at least one spacer tab includes a plurality of spacer tabs, each spacer tab sized to frictionally fit within a respective separation space formed between sides of adjacent blades of a respective pair of the knives.

[0014] In some examples of the knife assembly, the at least one spacer tab includes a single spacer tab sized to frictionally fit between a single pair of blades of the knife.

[0015] In some examples of the knife assembly, the at least one spacer tab includes a first spacer tab and a second spacer tab, the first spacer tab is sized to frictionally fit into a first separation space formed between a side of a first blade adjacent a second blade of the knife, and the second spacer tab is sized to frictionally fit into a second space formed between a side of the second blade adjacent a third blade of the knife.

[0016] In some embodiments of the knife assembly, the plurality of blades includes at least a pair of blades.

[0017] In some embodiments of the knife assembly, the plurality of blades includes at least three blades.

[0018] In some examples of the knife assembly, each blade of the plurality of blades is removably attached to the handle of the knife.

[0019] In some examples of the knife assembly, a blade connector mechanism is disposed between the handle and the plurality of blades, the blade connector mechanism being operable to attach and detach each blade of the plurality of blades to and from the handle of the knife.

[0020] A protective cover according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure includes a protective cover for a multi-blade knife. The knife includes a handle and a plurality of blades attached to the handle, each blade of the plurality of blades extending longitudinally from the handle and substantially parallel to one another, each blade including a lower cutting edge and an upper non-cutting edge connected by opposing blade sides. The protective cover includes a cover top and a pair of opposing cover sidewalls. The cover top is configured to cover a substantial portion of each of the upper non-cutting edges of the plurality of blades of the knife. The pair of cover sidewalls extend downwardly from opposing ends of the cover top and substantially parallel to one another. The cover sidewalls are spaced apart to frictionally fit against outermost sides of opposing outermost blades of the plurality of blades of the knife.

[0021] It should be understood that all combinations of the foregoing concepts, and the additional concepts described in more detail below (provided that such concepts are not mutually inconsistent), are considered to be part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein and can be used to achieve the benefits and advantages described herein. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1A] FIG. 1A illustrates an example of a side perspective view of a three-blade multi-blade knife assembly including a protective cover press-fit thereon in accordance with embodiments described herein. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B illustrates an example of a side perspective view of a dual-blade multi-blade knife assembly including a protective cover press-fit thereon in accordance with embodiments described herein. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A illustrates an example of a side rear perspective view of the multi-blade knife assembly of FIG. 1A according to embodiments described herein. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B illustrates an example of a side rear perspective view of the multi-blade knife assembly of FIG. 1B according to embodiments described herein. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A illustrates an example of a top view of the multi-blade knife assembly of FIG. 1A according to embodiments described herein. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B illustrates an example of a top view of the multi-blade knife assembly of FIG. 1B according to embodiments described herein. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A illustrates an example of a front view of the multi-blade knife assembly of FIG. 1A according to embodiments described herein. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B illustrates an example of a front view of the multi-blade knife assembly of FIG. 1B according to embodiments described herein. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a perspective view of a protective cover for a three-blade multi-blade knife according to embodiments described herein. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 illustrates an example diagram of a three-blade multi-blade knife assembly as handled by a user during a chopping operation according to embodiments described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Specific examples will now be described to provide a general understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the methods, systems, and devices disclosed herein. One or more examples are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the methods, systems, and devices specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting examples, and the scope of the disclosure is defined only by the claims. Features illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure.

[0024] "Significantly," "substantially," "approximately," "about," "relatively," or other such similar terms that may be used throughout this disclosure, including the claims, are used to describe and explain small variations from a reference or parameter due to variations in processing. Such small variations include zero variation from a reference or parameter. For example, they can refer to ±10% or less, such as ±5% or less, such as ±2% or less, such as ±1% or less, such as ±0.5% or less, such as ±0.2% or less, such as ±0.1% or less, such as ±0.05% or less.

[0025] 1A, 2A, and 3A, there are illustrated an example of a side perspective view (FIG. 1A), a side rear perspective view (FIG. 2A), and a top view (FIG. 3A) of a multi-blade knife assembly 100. The example multi-blade knife assembly 100 of FIGS. 1A-3A includes three blades 102. Additionally, the multi-blade knife assembly 100 of FIGS. 1A-3A includes a protective cover 104 press-fit thereon in accordance with embodiments described herein.

[0026] 1B, 2B, and 3B, there are depicted another example of a side perspective view (FIG. 1B), a side rear perspective view (FIG. 2B), and a top view (FIG. 3B) of a multi-blade knife assembly 100. The example multi-blade knife assembly 100 shown in FIGS. 1B-3B includes two blades 102. Additionally, the multi-blade knife assembly 100 of FIGS. 1B-3B includes a protective cover 104 press-fit thereon in accordance with embodiments described herein.

[0027] The multi-blade knife assembly 100 includes a multi-blade knife 106 and a protective cover 104. The multi-blade knife 106 includes a handle 108 and a plurality of blades 102 attached to the handle 108. Each blade 102 of the plurality of blades 102 extends longitudinally from the handle 108 and substantially parallel to one another. Each blade 102 includes a lower cutting edge 110 and an upper non-cutting edge 112 connected therebetween by opposing blade sides 114.

[0028] 1A-3A and 1B-3B depict a three-blade and a two-blade knife assembly 100, respectively, the knife assembly 100 may be designed to include any number of blades 102. For example, the multi-blade knife assembly 100 may include a pair of blades 102, three blades 102, four blades 102, five blades 102, or more.

[0029] The plurality of blades 102 may be permanently secured to a handle 108 of the multiple blade knife 106. However, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1A-3A and 1B-3B, each blade 102 of the plurality of blades 102 is removably attached to the handle 108 of the knife 106.

[0030] With respect to the removably attached blades 102, a blade connector mechanism 126 is disposed between the handle 108 and the plurality of blades 102. The blade connector mechanism 126 is operable to attach and detach each blade 102 of the plurality of blades 102 to the handle 108 of the knife 106. The blade connector mechanism may be operated via any number of suitable connection mechanisms. For example, and without limitation, a spring loaded release button 128 may be depressed to pry off a latch retainer (not shown) from a base portion (not shown) of the removable blade 102 that is inserted into the front end of the handle 108.

[0031] The protective cover 104 includes a cover top 116 and a pair of opposing cover sidewalls 118. The cover top 116 is configured to cover a substantial portion of each of the upper non-cutting edges 112 of the blades 102. The cover sidewalls 118 extend downwardly from opposing ends 120 of the cover top 116 and substantially parallel to one another. The cover sidewalls 118 are spaced a predetermined distance 122 apart to frictionally fit over the outermost sides 114A of the opposing outermost blades 102 of the blades 102. Although the cover sidewalls 118 are illustrated in FIGS. 1A-3A and 1B-3B as single sidewalls 118 that each extend substantially completely beyond the distal end 124 of the top end 116 of the protective cover 104, the cover sidewalls 118 may be designed in several other configurations. For example, the cover sidewalls 118 may be configured as multiple tab-like portions that extend beyond each distal end 124 of the cover top 116. Additionally, the end 120 from which the sidewalls 118 extend can not only include the distal end 124 of the cover top 116. Rather, the end 120 can include the outer quarter or outer third of the cover top 116, and the sidewalls 118 can extend from any location within the boundaries of the end 120.

[0032] The protective cover 104 includes a finger ring 130 pivotally attached to the cover top 116. The finger ring 130 is sized to receive fingers 132 of a user's hand 134. The protective cover 104 is operable to protect and cushion the user's hand 134 as it presses against the non-cutting edges 112 of the plurality of blades 102 during a chopping operation (see FIG. 6). The finger ring 130 is operable to secure the user's fingers 132 to the cover 104 to prevent the user's hand 134 from inadvertently slipping off the plurality of blades 102 during a chopping operation.

[0033] The protective cover 104 may be permanently secured to the blades 102 of the multi-blade knife 106. However, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1A-3A and 1B-3B, the protective cover 104 is removably friction fitted over the multi-blade knife 106.

[0034] 4A and 4B, examples of front views of the three-blade multi-blade knife assembly 100 of FIG. 1A (FIG. 4A) and the two-blade multi-blade knife assembly 100 of FIG. 1B (FIG. 4B) are depicted according to embodiments described herein. The example protective cover 104 shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B each includes at least one spacer tab 136 extending downwardly from the cover top 116 substantially parallel to the cover sidewall 118. The at least one spacer tab 136 has a thickness 138 configured to frictionally fit into at least one separation space 140 formed between the sides 114 of a pair of adjacent blades 102 of the multi-blade knife 106.

[0035] The at least one spacer tab 136 can include a plurality of spacer tabs 136, each spacer tab 136 sized to frictionally fit into a respective separation space 140 formed between the sides 114 of each pair of adjacent blades 102 of the knife 106. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, the at least one spacer tab 136 includes a single spacer tab 136 sized to frictionally fit between a single pair of blades 102 of the knife 106. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the at least one spacer tab 136 includes a first spacer tab 136A and a second spacer tab 136B. The first spacer tab 136A is sized to frictionally fit into a first separation space 140A formed between the sides 114 of the first blade 102A adjacent to the second blade 102B of the multi-blade knife 106. The second spacer tab 136B is sized to frictionally fit into a second space 140B formed between the side 114 of the second blade 102B adjacent the third blade 102C of the multi-blade knife 106.

[0036] The spacer tabs 136 help to keep the blades 102 of the knife 106 aligned and separated. Additionally, the spacer tabs 136 help to friction fit the protective cover 104 onto the blade 102 so that the protective cover 104 does not inadvertently slip along the non-cutting edge 112 of the blade 102 during a cutting operation.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 5, an example perspective view of a protective cover 104 for a three-blade multi-blade knife assembly 100 is depicted in accordance with an embodiment described herein. As previously described herein, the protective cover 104 is removable from the blades 102 of the knife 106. The protective cover 104 includes a cover top 116. Extending downwardly from an end 120 of the cover top 116 are a pair of opposing side walls 118. Extending between the side walls are a first spacer tab 136A and a second spacer tab 136B. Any number of spacer tabs 136 may frictionally fit into any number of separation spaces 140 formed by any number of pairs of adjacent blades 102 of the multi-blade knife assembly 100.

[0038] 6, an example diagram of a triple-edged multi-blade knife assembly 100 being handled by a user during a chopping operation according to embodiments described herein is depicted. The user grasps the handle 108 with one hand 142 and secures the other hand 134 to the protective cover 104 by sliding fingers 132 through finger rings 130 attached to the protective cover 104.

[0039] Multiple blades 102 can make multiple cuts simultaneously on an object for speed and efficiency. In the example shown in Figure 6, the three blades 102 of the knife assembly 100 are making three cuts simultaneously on a carrot 144. However, any number of other items can be used with the knife assembly 100, such as, but not limited to, other vegetables, fruits, nuts, and a variety of other foods.

[0040] Advantageously, the protective cover 104 covering the non-cutting edge 112 of the knife blade 102 protects and cushions the user's hand 134 during a cutting or chopping operation. Additionally, the finger ring 130 disposed on the protective cover 104 functions to secure the user's finger 132 to the cover 104 so that the user's hand 134 does not inadvertently slip off the multiple blades 102 during a chopping operation.

[0041] It should be understood that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts described in more detail herein (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are considered to be part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein, in particular all combinations of claimed subject matter described at the end of this disclosure are considered to be part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein.

[0042] While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood that numerous variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the embodiments described, but rather have full scope defined by the language of the following claims.

Claims

1. Pattern, and a plurality of blades attached to the handle, each blade of the plurality of blades extending longitudinally from the handle and substantially parallel to one another, each blade including a lower cutting edge and an upper non-cutting edge connected therebetween by opposing blade sides; multi-bladed knives including; a protective cover including a cover upper portion and a pair of opposing cover side walls, the cover upper portion configured to cover a substantial portion of each of the upper non-cutting edges of the plurality of blades, the cover side walls extending downwardly from opposing ends of the cover upper portion and substantially parallel to each other, the cover side walls being spaced a predetermined distance apart so as to frictionally fit against outermost sides of opposing outermost blades of the plurality of blades; The protective cover also includes at least one spacer tab extending downwardly from the cover top and substantially parallel to the cover sidewall, the at least one spacer tab having a thickness sized to frictionally fit within at least one separation space formed between sides of a pair of adjacent blades of the knife; a distal end of the at least one spacer tab and the pair of opposing cover sidewalls leave the lower cutting edge of each of the plurality of blades exposed for cutting, while the protective cover is removably fitted into position along the upper non-cutting edges of the plurality of blades.

2. 10. The knife assembly of claim 1, wherein said protective cover includes a finger ring pivotally mounted to a top portion of said cover, said finger ring being sized to accommodate only a single finger of a user's hand.

3. 3. The knife assembly of claim 2, wherein the protective cover is operable to protect and cushion a user's hand when pressing against the non-cutting edges of the plurality of blades during a chopping operation, and the finger ring is operable to secure the user's fingers to the cover to prevent the user's hand from inadvertently slipping off the plurality of blades during the chopping operation.

4. The protective cover is configured to be removably friction-fit onto the plurality of blades; and The protective cover is configured to be removable by hand only by lifting the protective cover upward from the upper non-cutting edges of the blades. The knife assembly of claim 1 .

5. A knife assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer tab includes a plurality of spacer tabs, each spacer tab sized to frictionally fit into each separation space formed between the sides of adjacent blades of each pair of the knives.

6. A knife assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer tab includes a single spacer tab sized to frictionally fit between a single pair of blades of the knife.

7. A knife assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer tab includes a first spacer tab and a second spacer tab, the first spacer tab being sized to frictionally fit into a first separation space formed between sides of a first blade adjacent to a second blade of the knife, and the second spacer tab being sized to frictionally fit into a second space formed between sides of the second blade adjacent to a third blade of the knife.

8. A knife assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of blades includes at least one pair of blades.

9. A knife assembly as described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of blades includes at least three blades.

10. A knife assembly as described in claim 1, wherein each blade of the plurality of blades is removably attached to the handle of the knife.

11. A knife assembly as described in claim 1, including a blade connector mechanism disposed between the handle and the plurality of blades, the blade connector mechanism being operable to attach and detach each blade of the plurality of blades to and from the handle of the knife.

12. A protective cover for a multi-blade knife, the knife comprising a handle and a plurality of blades attached to the handle, each blade of the plurality of blades extending longitudinally from the handle and substantially parallel to one another, each blade including a lower cutting edge and an upper non-cutting edge and connected therebetween by opposing blade sides, the protective cover comprising: an upper cover configured to cover a substantial portion of each of the upper non-cutting edges of the plurality of blades; and a pair of opposing cover sidewalls extending downwardly from opposing ends of the cover top substantially parallel to one another and spaced a predetermined distance apart so that the cover sidewalls frictionally fit against outermost sides of opposing outermost ones of the plurality of blades of the knife; the protective cover also includes at least one spacer tab extending downwardly from the cover top and substantially parallel to the cover sidewall, the at least one spacer tab having a thickness sized to frictionally fit within at least one separation space formed between sides of a pair of adjacent blades of the knife; a protective cover, wherein a distal end of the at least one spacer tab and the pair of cover side walls expose the lower cutting edge of each of the plurality of blades for cutting, while the protective cover is removably fitted onto a position along the upper non-cutting edges of the plurality of blades.

13. A protective cover as described in claim 12, including a finger ring pivotally attached to the top of the cover, the finger ring being sized to fit only a single finger of a user.

14. A protective cover as described in claim 13, wherein the protective cover is operable to protect and cushion a user's hand when pressing against the non-cutting edges of the blades during chopping, and the finger ring is operable to secure the user's fingers to the cover to prevent the user's hand from inadvertently slipping off the blades during chopping.

15. The protective cover is configured to removably friction fit over the plurality of blades; and The protective cover is configured to be removable by hand only by lifting the protective cover upward from the upper non-cutting edges of the blades. The protective cover of claim 12.

16. A protective cover as described in claim 12, wherein the at least one spacer tab includes a plurality of spacer tabs, each spacer tab sized to frictionally fit into a respective separation space formed between the sides of adjacent blades of each pair of the knives.

17. A protective cover as described in claim 12, wherein the at least one spacer tab includes a single spacer tab sized to frictionally fit between a single pair of blades of the knife.

18. A protective cover as described in claim 12, wherein the at least one spacer tab includes a first spacer tab and a second spacer tab, the first spacer tab being sized to frictionally fit into a first separation space formed between sides of a first blade adjacent to a second blade of the knife, and the second spacer tab being sized to frictionally fit into a second space formed between sides of the second blade adjacent to a third blade of the knife.

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