Resilient cutlery handle

• US 10,363,672 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2015
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corelle Brands Holdings Inc. (Instant Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Corelle Brands Holdings Inc. (Instant Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kerulis, Pat, Ludeman, Karl, Soibel, Randy, Zhong, Bing
• Primary Examiner(s): Prone, Jason Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crosby, Jr., Richard D
• Application Number:
  US14/857,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20160256994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 30340, 30342-344
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/102 the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 1/10 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 3/00 Hand knives with fixed blades handles, attaching the handles B25G
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 3/02 Table-knives B26B9/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A cutlery implement having a blade and resilient handle is disclosed. The blade has a proximal end, an opposed distal end, a cutting edge and a spine. The spine is disposed on a top side of the blade portion and generally opposed to the cutting edge. The cutlery implement also includes a handle coupled to the blade proximate the distal end of the blade. The handle includes an upper handle portion and a lower handle portion. The upper handle portion is disposed at or near the spine of the blade, and the lower handle portion is coupled to the upper handle portion. Either the upper handle portion or the lower handle is formed from a resilient polymer material, and the other is formed of a generally rigid material. A cavity containing a gel is defined between the lower handle portion and the upper handle portion.

Claims

1. A cutlery implement comprising:

a blade having a proximal end and an opposed distal end, the blade further having a cutting edge and a spine, the spine being disposed on a top side of the blade portion and generally opposed to the cutting edge;

a handle coupled to the blade proximate the distal end of the blade, the handle comprising;

an upper handle portion being coupled to the spine of the blade so that the handle remains stationary relative to the blade, and a lower handle portion coupled to the upper handle portion, wherein one of either the upper handle portion and the lower handle portion is formed from a resilient polymer material, and the other of the upper handle portion and the lower handle portion is formed of a generally rigid material;

a cavity defined between the lower handle portion and the upper handle portion, and

a handle core, wherein the cavity is defined between an outer surface of the handle core and an inner surface of the lower handle portion, and wherein the cavity contains a gel.

2. The cutlery implement of claim 1, further comprising an injection aperture disposed in the handle, the injection aperture being in fluid communication with the cavity.

3. The cutlery implement of claim 1, wherein the upper handle portion is integrally formed with the blade.

4. The cutlery implement of claim 1, wherein the upper handle portion is coupled to the blade by a welded connection.

5. The cutlery implement of claim 1, wherein the resilient polymer material is silicone.

6. The cutlery implement of claim 1, wherein the gel contained in the cavity is a silicone gel.

7. The cutlery implement of claim 1, wherein the upper handle portion is formed from stainless steel and the lower handle portion is formed from a resilient polymer material.

8. A cutlery implement comprising:

a blade having a proximal end and an opposed distal end, the blade further having a cutting edge and a spine, the spine being disposed on a top side of the blade and generally opposed to the cutting edge;

a handle coupled to the blade proximate the distal end of the blade, the handle comprising;

an upper handle portion being coupled to the spine of the blade so that the handle remains stationary relative to the blade, and a lower handle portion, wherein a portion of one of either the upper handle portion and the lower handle portion is formed from a resilient polymer material, and a portion the other of the upper handle portion and the lower handle portion is formed of a generally rigid material;

a middle assembly disposed between the upper handle portion and the lower handle portion, the middle assembly comprising;

an upper frame, a gasket, an inside frame, and a handle core; and

wherein a cavity is defined between an outer surface of the handle core and an inner surface of the lower handle portion, and wherein the cavity contains a gel.

9. The cutlery implement of claim 8, further comprising an injection aperture disposed in the handle, the injection aperture being in fluid communication with the cavity.

10. The cutlery implement of claim 8, wherein the middle assembly is comprised of an upper frame disposed proximate an inner surface of the upper handle, an inside frame, a gasket disposed between the upper frame and the inside frame and a handle core, wherein the cavity is defined between an outer surface of the handle core and an inner surface of the lower handle portion.

11. The cutlery implement of claim 8, wherein the entire upper handle portion is formed of a generally rigid material.

12. The cutlery implement of claim 8, wherein the entire lower handle portion is formed of a resilient polymer material.

13. The cutlery implement of claim 8, wherein the upper handle portion is formed from stainless steel and the lower handle portion is formed from a resilient polymer material.

14. The cutlery implement of claim 8, wherein the resilient polymer material is silicone.

15. The cutlery implement of claim 8, wherein a gasket of the middle assembly is formed from silicone.

16. The cutlery implement of claim 8, wherein the upper handle portion is integrally formed with the blade.

17. The cutlery implement of claim 8, wherein the upper handle portion is coupled to the blade by a welded connection.

18. The cutlery implement of claim 8, wherein the gel contained in the cavity is a silicone gel.

19. A cutlery implement comprising:

a blade having a proximal end and an opposed distal end, the blade further having a cutting edge and a spine, the spine being disposed on a top side of the blade portion and generally opposed to the cutting edge;

a handle coupled to the blade proximate the distal end of the blade, the handle comprising;

an upper handle portion being coupled to the spine of the blade so that the handle remains stationary relative to the blade, and a lower handle portion coupled to the upper handle portion, wherein one of either the upper handle portion and the lower handle portion is formed from a resilient polymer material, and the other of the upper handle portion and the lower handle portion is formed of a generally rigid material;

a cavity defined between the lower handle portion and the upper handle portion;

a handle core, wherein the cavity is defined between an outer surface of the handle core and an inner surface of the lower handle portion and wherein the cavity contains a gel; and

an injection aperture disposed in the handle, the injection aperture being in fluid communication with the cavity.