Layered Kitchen Knife Structure for Lower-Cost Patterned Blades

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional kitchen knives using a stack of metallic plate materials incur higher manufacturing costs due to the use of multiple types of materials, leading to increased production expenses.

Innovation Solution

Manufacture a kitchen knife by joining a spine-side member made of a single material with a blade-side member composed of a stack of multiple metallic materials, and then perform grinding and polishing to create a pattern, thereby reducing material costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a stack of several types of metallic plate materials is used as raw material, then a pattern can be formed on the blade through curving and grinding, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern formationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is divided into multiple metallic plate layers stacked together, where each layer can be ground to different degrees to create the pattern. This segmentation allows pattern formation without requiring all materials to be expensive, as only certain layers need specific properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the blade use different materials strategically - the cutting edge uses harder materials for durability, while other areas use softer or more aesthetically pleasing materials for pattern formation. This local differentiation creates the pattern effect while controlling overall cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a stack of several types of metallic plate materials is used, then the blade can have enhanced properties, but the raw material cost is higher compared to single material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade performanceVSAvoidraw material cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The blade uses a composite structure of multiple metallic plate materials stacked together. This composite approach combines the advantages of different materials (hardness, toughness, corrosion resistance) in a single blade, achieving enhanced overall performance while allowing cost optimization by selecting materials strategically for different functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different materials are placed in different locations based on functional requirements - harder materials at the cutting edge for durability, softer materials in the body for flexibility and pattern formation. This localized material selection optimizes performance where needed while controlling costs in less critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4327992B1Kitchen knife and method for manufacturing kitchen knife
Publication Date: 2025.08.13 KAI R&D CENT CO LTD
  • EP4327992B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4327992B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4327992B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A kitchen knife of the present invention includes a spine-side member located on a spine side; and a blade-side member located on a blade side and composed of a stacked member including a stack of two or more different metallic materials. The blade-side member is thinner than the spine-side member, and a pattern is formed on the blade-side member by processing the blade-side member into a curved shape at least at a part thereof as viewed from a cutting edge side, then joining the blade-side member to the spine-side member, and performing at least one of grinding and polishing after the joining.