KNIFE SCABBARD OR HOLDER

• US 3,676,961 A
• Filed: 04/06/1970
• Issued: 07/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wiltshire Consolidated Limited
• Original Assignee: Dennis B. Jackson
• Inventors: Jackson, Dennis B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Condon, Theron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peters, J. C.
• Application Number:
  US05/025,881
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 30/138,139,296 51/173,214,25WG
• US Class Current: 451/555
• CPC Class Codes: B24D 15/084 the sharpening elements being fitted to knife sheaths, holders or handles
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 29/025 Knife sheaths or scabbards

Abstract

A scabbard for receiving and protecting the blade of a knife and including a device which functions to sharpen the cutting edge of the blade as the blade is inserted into and withdrawn from the scabbard. The sharpening device is pivotally mounted so as to present a respective sharpening edge according to the direction of longitudinal movement of the blade relative to that device, and a cushion spring bears on the sharpening device to limit the pressure acting between the knife blade and the sharpening device, during the sharpening operation. Means is also provided to normally urge the knife blade into engagement with the sharpening device.

Claims

1. A knife scabbard including, a hollow housing defining an elongated blade receiving passage, said passage being open at a front end to define an access opening through which a knife blade is insertable into said passage, a sharpening device mounted within said housing for pivotal movement about an axis extending transverse to said passage so as to be movable towards and away from said access opening to adopt either of two operative positions, stop means attached to said housing and engaging said sharpening device when it is in either of said operative positions, sharpening elements forming part of said sharpening device and defining first and second sets of sharpening edges, each of said sets being operative to sharpen a knife blade in a respective one of said operative positions of said sharpening device so that said blade will be sharpened during both insertion into and withdrawal from said housing, and pressure means attached to said housing and operative to maintain a suitable pressure between said knife blade and said sharpening device during the blade sharpening operation.

2. A knife scabbard according to claim 1, wherein said pressure means includes, a leaf spring located within said housing so as to extend generally in the longitudinal direction of said passage and having a rear end portion secured to the housing, and a latch member having one end portion attached to said housing and being engageable at its opposite end portion with the upper edge of said knife blade, the front end portion of said spring engaging the latch member to urge it in a direction to engage said knife blade upper edge.

3. A knife scabbard according to claim 2, wherein said one end portion of the latch member is pivotally attached to said housing adjacent in upper wall thereof, said sharpening device being located adjacent the lower wall of said housing, said latch member being in the form of a metal strip which extends downwardly and rearwardly from said pivotal attachment, and said spring makes sliding contact with said strip intermediate the ends thereof.

4. A knife scabbard according to claim 3, wherein said spring and said latch member are arranged so that the lowermost end of the latch member moves upwardly and rearwardly as the depth of said knife blade being inserted into said passage increases, and as a consequence of said movement of said latch member the front end portion of said spring moves upwardly so that the zone of contact between said spriNg and said latch member is progressively moved towards said pivotal attachment, whereby the pressure exerted by said latch member on said blade remains substantially constant.

5. A knife scabbard according to claim 2, wherein means is attached to said housing for adjusting the force applied to said latch member by said spring.

6. A knife scabbard according to claim 5, wherein said adjusting means includes, a ramp device interposed between an upper wall of said housing and said spring and being slidable lengthwise of said passage, and a finger engageable member secured to said ramp device and extending through a longitudinal slot formed through said upper wall.

7. A knife scabbard according to claim 1, wherein said sharpening device includes a pair of cutter plates arranged in partially overlapping relationship so as to define between them a V-shaped recess for receiving said cutting edge of said knife blade.

8. A knife scabbard according to claim 1, wherein a second pair of said cutter plates is provided and is spaced from the first-mentioned said pair in the longitudinal direction of said passage, and each said pair is arranged to form a respective cutting angle on said cutting edge of said knife blade.

9. A knife scabbard according to claim 1, wherein each said set of sharpening edges is arranged to define a respective sharpening angle.

10. A knife scabbard including, a hollow housing defining an elongate blade receiving passage, said passage being open at a front end to define an access opening through which a knife blade is insertable into said passage, a sharpening device mounted within said housing in longitudinal alignment with said opening and arranged for pivotal movement about an axis extending transverse to said passage so as to be movable towards and away from said access opening to adopt either of two operative positions whereby said sharpening device is operative to engage and sharpen the cutting edge of a knife blade as the blade is moved longitudinally into and out of said passage, and magnetic means attached to said housing and operative to maintain a suitable pressure between said knife blade and said sharpening device during the blade sharpening operation.

11. A knife scabbard according to claim 10, wherein said magnetic means includes a magnet attached to said sharpening device.

12. A knife scabbard according to claim 11, wherein said sharpening device includes a support block formed of plastics material and at least one sharpening element having part thereof molded within said block, and said magnet is also molded within said block.

13. A knife scabbard according to claim 7 wherein said two pair of cutting plates are mounted adjacent respective ends of a support block, and said support block is pivotally attached to said housing for limited rocking movement about an axis extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of said passage.

14. A knife scabbard according to claim 8, wherein each said pair of cutter plates is attached to a respective support block, and each said support block is pivotally attached to said housing for limited rocking movement about a respective axis extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of said passage.

15. A knife scabbard including, a hollow housing defining an elongate blade receiving passage, said passage being open at a front end to define an access opening through which a knife blade is insertable into said passage, a sharpening device mounted within said housing in longitudinal alignment with said opening and arranged for pivotal movement about an axis extending transverse to said passage so as to be movable towards and away from said access opening to adopt either of two operative positions whereby said sharpening device is operative to engage and sharpen the cutting edge of a knife blade as the blade is moved into and out of said passage, and resilient means acting on said sharpening device to resist said movement there and to limit the pressure acting between said knife blade and sAid sharpening device during said sharpening operation.

16. A knife scabbard according to claim 15, wherein said resilient means includes a cushion spring attached to said housing and bearing against a rear face of said sharpening device so as to urge said sharpening device into a normal forward position, and positive stops are provided on said housing so as to prevent pivotal movement of said sharpening device beyond said operative positions and also prevent overstressing of said cushion spring.

17. A knife scabbard according to claim 15, wherein said sharpening device includes a support block pivotally mounted on said housing and at least one sharpening element carried by said block, and said resilient means includes a rearwardly directed leaf extension of said support block, said leaf extension being resilient in the direction of pivotal movement of said support block and engaging a lower wall of said housing at a zone remote from said pivotal axis.

18. A knife scabbard according to claim 15, wherein said sharpening device includes a support block pivotally mounted on said housing, positive stops are provided on said housing to prevent pivotal movement of said support block beyond said operative positions, and said resilient means includes a leaf spring which has a section bowed upwardly from a lower wall of said housing and bearing against a flat lower surface of said support block, said leaf spring being attached to said housing and functioning to resiliently retain said support block in a normal position intermediate said stops.

19. A knife scabbard according to claim 24, wherein a leaf spring is direction of said passage and has a rear end portion secured to the housing, and a latch member is attached at one end portion to said housing and is engageable at its opposite end portion with the upper edge of said knife blade, the front end portion of said spring engaging the latch member to urge it in a direction to engage said knife blade upper edge.

20. A knife scabbard according to claim 29, wherein said sharpening device includes a pair of cutter plates arranged in partially overlapping relationship so as to define between them a V-shaped recess for receiving said cutting edge of said knife blade.

21. A knife scabbard including;

hollow housing defining an elongate blade receiving passage, said passage being open at a front end to define an access opening through which a knife blade is insertable into said passage;

a sharpening device mounted within said housing in longitudinal alignment with said access opening and arranged for pivotal movement about an axis extending transverse to said passage so as to be movable towards and away from said access opening to adopt either of two operative positions whereby said sharpening device is operative to engage and sharpen the cutting edge of said knife blade as said blade is moved longitudinally into and out of said passage;

a leaf spring located within said housing so as to extend generally in the longitudinal direction of said passage and having a rear end portion secured to said housing; and

a latch member having one end portion attached to said housing and being engageable at its opposite end portion with the upper edge of said knife blade;

the front end portion of said spring engaging the latch member to urge it in a direction to engage said knife blade upper edge and thereby maintain a suitable pressure between said knife blade and said sharpening device during the blade sharpening operation.

22. A knife scabbard according to claim 21 wherein said one end portion of the latch member is pivotally attached to said housing adjacent an upper wall thereof, said sharpening device being located adjacent the lower wall of said housing, said latch member being in the form of a metal strip which extends downwardly and rearwardly from said pivotal attachment, said spring makes sliding contact with said strip intermediate the ends thereof, said spring and latch member are arranged so that the lowermost end of the latcH member moves upwardly and rearwardly as the depth of said knife blade being inserted into said passage increases, and as a consequence of said movement of said latch member the front end portion of said spring moves upwardly so that the zone of contact between said spring and said latch member is progressively moved towards said pivotal attachment, whereby the pressure exerted by said latch member on said blade remains substantially constant.

23. A knife scabbard including;

a hollow housing defining an elongate blade receiving passage, said passage being open at a front end to define an access opening through which a knife blade is insertable into said passage;

a sharpening device comprising a support block and a pair of sharpening plates carried by said block;

said support block being mounted within said housing for pivotal movement about an axis extending transverse to said passage so as to be movable towards and away from said access opening to adopt either of two operative positions of said sharpening device;

said sharpening plates being arranged in partially overlapping relationship to form between them a V-shaped recess for receiving the cutting edge of said knife blade, and defining first and second sets of sharpening edges, each of said sets being operative to sharpen said knife blade in a respective one of said operative positions of said sharpening device so that said blade will be sharpened during both insertion into and withdrawal from said housing;

stop means attached to said housing to engage said support block to prevent pivotal movement thereof beyond said operative positions;

a leaf spring located within said housing so as to extend generally in the longitudinal direction of said passage and having a rear end portion secured to said housing; and

a latch member having one end portion attached to said housing and being engageable at its opposite end portion with the upper edge of said knife blade;

the front end portion of said spring engaging the latch member to urge it in a direction to engage said knife blade upper edge to maintain a suitable pressure between said knife blade and said sharpening device during the blade sharpening operation.

24. A knife scabbard according to claim 23, wherein guide means are provided on said housing to limit lateral tilting movement of the blade during a sharpening operation, and said guide means includes a plurality of ribs formed integrally with each side wall of said housing and extending generally in the longitudinal direction of said passage, the respective ribs of the said side walls being spaced apart to allow passage of said knife blade therebetween, and said access opening is dimensioned to also form part of said guide means.

25. A knife scabbard according to claim 23, wherein said housing is releasably attachable to a mounting bar which is securable to a support, said mounting bar having a pair of fastening members upstanding therefrom, an enlarged head formed at the end of each said fastening member remote from said bar, a pair of key-hole shaped apertures is formed through the lower wall of said housing to receive a respective one of said fastening members, said housing being attachable to the mounting bar as a result of longitudinal movement of said housing relative to said bar after said fastening members are each located in a respective one of said apertures, and a hump is formed on said lower wall adjacent each said aperture, each said hump snap engaging with a respective one of said enlarged heads when said housing is moved longitudinally relative to said mounting bar with the said fastening members located in their respective said apertures.

26. A knife scabbard comprising a hollow housing having guide means therein defining a blade receiving passage opening through one end of said housing, blade sharpening means mounted within said housing in alignment with said passage for engaging a blade during the movement thereof through said passage, resilient means carried by said housing for maintaining pressure contact Between said sharpening means and a blade passing into and out of said housing, said blade sharpening means including a rocker member and a sharpening element carried by said rocker means, and means pivotally mounting said rocker member about an axis fixed relative to said rocker member and extending generally transversely of said blade receiving passage for rocking movement of said rocker member and said sharpening element in response to engagement by a knife in the positioning and removal of a knife relative to said scabbard.