Technical Field

The present invention relates to blade sharpening systems. More particularly, to a system for sharpening blades at a specific angle.

Background

As of today, many knife sharpeners are available to sharpen dull knives with disregard to the angle of the knife edge. Owners of knives typically sharpen their knives with a tool file, on a sharpening stone, or perhaps with a sharpening “steel” with disregard to the angle at which the edge facets of the knife were formed. Some of the typical users have no sense of the importance of the edge angle and have no means or ability to sharpen the edge at a specified or controlled angle. In general, the expectation from using a typical knife sharpener is that the resulting knife will be sharp.

Surprisingly, different knives have different edge angles, examination of the knives produced in Europe, for example, shows that the total edge angle varied from about 40 degrees to 60 degrees or larger. Knives manufactured in Asia, for example, are found to have edge angles of about 10 degrees to 20 degrees. In general, the “European” style knife is designed for butchering and cutting tough fibrous foods, such as a wide variety of meats, whereas the “Asian” style knife is designed for cutting softer foods, such as fish and other.

US 4229910 discloses a knife sharpening apparatus which includes a platform on which a sharpening stone is supported, and a support assembly or assemblies mounted for shifting along a path substantially normal to the plane of the platform. A guide bar is mounted on the assembly and an extending, substantially parallel to the face of the stone, is shiftable, along with the assembly, to produce a preselected spacing between the bar and the stone. The described bar is shiftable independently, relative to the assembly, to produce a desired spacing between the bar and the stone, such being measured relative to the "preselected spacing". The latter spacing is determined by a scale of markings carried on the assembly. With the knife sharpening apparatus so set, a knife blade placed with its working edge against the face of the stone and its opposite edge against the bar, is held at an accurately determined preselected angle. Nevertheless, the disclosed sharpening apparatus is inconvenient.

It would therefore be desired to propose a system void of these deficiencies.

Summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ergonomic sharpening system, for properly sharpening knives or scissors, suited for artisans as well as laypersons.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sharpening system, for properly sharpening bladed metal objects, that can be used with any flat sharpening stone.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a sharpening system that can be used to sharpen different kinds of curved metal blades. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The present invention relates to a blade sharpening system for sharpening the edge of a bladed metal object, on a sharpening stone, in an ergonomic sharpening motion, while keeping the angle, of said bladed metal object, in relation to said sharpening stone, comprising: (a) a base; (b) at least 3 elongated members, each mounted at angle to one another, where 1 of said elongated member is attached to said base; (c) at least 2 joints, where each of the joints couples at least 2 of said multiple elongated members; (d) an angle adapter, coupled to 1 of said multiple elongated members, for holding said bladed metal object at a consistent tilt angle; and (e) wherein said joints and said elongated members and said angle adapter cooperate for allowing the movement of said bladed metal object while limiting the movement of said tilt angle, of the part of the edge of the blade of said bladed metal object that meets said sharpening stone, in relation to said sharpening stone, during the process of sharpening, while said bladed metal object is held by said angle adapter.

Preferably, the blade sharpening system may apply constant and consistent weight or pressure of the blade against the sharpening stone to aid in the sharpening quality.

Preferably, at least one of the multiple joints includes a bearing support and multiple bearings.

In one embodiment, the angle adapter utilizes a magnetic coupling mechanism for holding the bladed metal object. In another embodiment, the angle adapter utilizes a non-magnetic coupling mechanism for holding the bladed metal object.

Preferably, the base has an adapter for holding the sharpening stone.

In one embodiment, the adapter is a stone angle adapter for changing the angle of the sharpening stone in relation to the bladed metal object.

In one embodiment, the angle adapter is locked at 180 degrees.

In one embodiment, the stone angle adapter is locked at 180 degrees.

Preferably, the sharpening stone is a known standard flat sharpening stone.

In one embodiment, the angle adapter has a fence that registers the back edge of the bladed metal object.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings, and specific references to their details, are herein used, by way of example only, to illustratively describe some of the embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a sharpening system, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of the sharpening system, for depicting the six degrees of freedom according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 is a diagram of the sharpening system, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the inner part of a joint, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 depicts the angle adapter, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of a sharpening system, according to another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the inner part of the joints, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

The terms of “front”, “rear”, “down”, “up”, “bottom”, “upper”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, "right", "left" or any reference to sides or directions are used throughout the description for the sake of brevity alone and are relative terms only and not intended to require a particular component orientation.

One of the most significant challenges of sharpening knives on a sharpening stone, e.g. a whetstone, is presenting the knife-edge to the sharpening stone at a consistent angle throughout the process, e.g. while flipping the sides of the knife, changing sharpening stones, or the like. Some existing sharpening solutions fixedly hold the knife or blade and include a system of rods and bearings that allow the sharpening stone to move relative to the knife in a controlled way. These solutions, however, only allow the user to use sharpening stones with customized dimensions or other particular specifications provided with the sharpening system. Furthermore, many existing sharpening systems involve non-natural sharpening movement, which may result in non- ergonomic movements. Further, prior art sharpening solutions provide some matter of support for the knife blade while it is moving against a sharpening stone. These solutions are usually mass-produced and the material which makes up the support fixture may wear against the sharpening stone, which may result in loss of performance or even in injury. Furthermore, since these solutions are mass-produced, they cannot account for the requirement that knives of different blade widths may require a different angle with which to sharpen the blade.

Although a sharpening stone is discussed herein, it will be appreciated that any flat whetstone, apparatus or combination of components may be used, in conjunction with the proposed system, to sharpen the blade, e.g. sandpaper or sandpaper glued to glass/brick. In one embodiment, the apparatus discussed herein may include an adapter or holder to hold the sharpening stone or equivalent.

Embodiments discussed herein generally relate to a system that provides support of and guidance to sharpening a bladed metal object, such as a knife or scissors, to improve sharpening against a sharpening stone. The proposed system can hold the bladed metal object and provides a small degree of freedom while restricting some of the user’s movements to keep the part of the edge of the knife that is in contact with the sharpening stone at a consistent angle.

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a sharpening system, according to an embodiment of the invention. The blade sharpening system may include a removably coupling angle adapter 101 that holds the bladed metal object 300 at a consistent angle in relation to the sharpening stone 200. The adapter 101 may have a magnet or any other coupling mechanism for holding the bladed metal object 300 at a consistent angle in relation to the sharpening stone 200. The blade sharpening system may include a flat base 106, for placing the system on a surface, or it may include a clamp base (not shown) for allowing the blade sharpening system to be releasably mounted to a surface, such as a table or a countertop, or it may include a coupling base (not shown) for allowing the blade sharpening system to be releasably mounted to any stable formation, such as a wall. In one embodiment four elongated members 102-105 may be mounted in an angle to one another, e.g. perpendicular to one another, in a manner as seen in Fig. 1, which gives the blade sharpening system multiple degrees of freedom of movement. In one embodiment the four elongated members 102-105 are mounted in an assembly similar to the known SCARA parallel-axis joint layout. Each of the multiple elongated members 102-105 may be coupled to one another with a joint. In some embodiments, each of the multiple joints may include multiple bearing support of different sizes and/or multiple bearing of different sizes. The angled coupling adapter 101 may be coupled to the elongated member 102. In some embodiments, the angle adapter 101 utilizes a magnet to hold the bladed metal object 300 at a particular fixed angle.

The blade sharpening system may include multiple rods or elongated members 102-105, as seen in Fig. 1, connected by joints 203-205 or bearings. In some embodiments the connecting joints are rotation bearings. In one embodiment the joint 203 is preferably a sliding bearing and the rod or elongated member 102 is preferably a round rod. The bladed metal object 300 may be held with a mechanical, magnetic, or any other known type of clamp. In one embodiment only 3 elongated members are required, where, instead of using the 2 elongated members 103-104 one telescopic elongated arm may be used. In one embodiment the elongated members or arms of the blade sharpening system may be folded in a flat package for easy storage. In some embodiments, the angle of the coupled adapter 101, may be changed to accommodate different angles for different blades. In one embodiment, the coupled adapter 101, as seen in Fig. 1, may have a screw or a pin for readjusting the adapter at a new angle of the coupled adapter 101. In some embodiments, the blade sharpening system may have multiple removably coupled adapters, which can be interchanged, for holding different metal blade objects of different blade widths. Each of the removably coupled adapters may, when installed in the system, hold the metal blade at a different fixed angle. Metal blades of different widths may then be held at different angles relative to the sharpening stone to sharpen the blade properly. In addition to ensuring a correct angle throughout the blade sharpening process, the blade sharpening system may apply constant and consistent weight or pressure of the blade against the sharpening stone to aid in the sharpening quality.

Embodiments discussed herein generally relate to a system that provides support of a bladed object, such as a knife or scissors, during sharpening against a sharpening stone. The blade sharpening system allows a small degree of freedom and may only restrict the sharpening angle of the blade. The sharpening angle is the angle measured between the blade and the sharpening stone at the point of their contact. In one embodiment, besides the sharpening angle of the blade being restricted, the other movements of the blade object may not be restricted. A person using the proposed system may be able to sharpen the metal object in an ergonomic fashion by using natural sharpening movements. As a result, in some embodiments, the person can employ any sharpening stones or strops, from the very basic sharpening stone to the most professional and achieve great and consistent results. It may be appreciated that any mounting solution may be utilized for the system. For example, the mounting solution may be screwed to a table, a surface, a wall, clamped, or the like. In some embodiments, the mounting solution may be removably coupled to a table to enable the system to be moved. In some embodiments, the foundation that holds the sharpening system, such as base 106 in Fig. 1, may also hold a sharpening stone 200. The foundation may be, in some embodiments, composed of stiff plastic and may include non- slippery coating on one or both sides.

FIG.2 depicts another example of the mechanism and its degrees of freedom, according to an embodiment. In one embodiment, the mechanism is compliant in the X-Y direction while the movement in the Z direction is determined by the contact point between the blade of the object and the stone, meaning that during the process of sharpening the mechanism allows an ergonomic movement of the object 300 left/right and forward/backwards while limiting the tilt angle of the object 300. In some embodiments, the number of degrees of freedom of movement of the bladed object, provided by the blade sharpening system, is five. FIG. 2, for example, details regarding degrees of freedom of movement. In some embodiments, the number of degrees of freedom of movement of the bladed object, provided by the blade sharpening system, is four. Other options regarding degrees of freedom will be discussed later in relation to Fig. 6.

As described above, the sharpening system may allow the freedom of movement of the object 300 in the X-Y direction, while limiting the movement of the tilt angle, of the part of the edge of the blade of the object 300 that meets the sharpening stone, in relation to the sharpening stone, during the process of sharpening while the object 300 is held by the angle adapter 101. In some embodiments, the sharpening system may also allow the freedom of rotation of the object 300, around the axis of the elongated member 102 and/or around the axis of joint 201, in addition to the X-Y direction while maintaining the angle of the blade object 300, in relation to the sharpening stone 200, during the process of sharpening, regardless of the blade’s curvature or its length. In this embodiment the system can maintain any point of the edge of the blade at the desired angle in relation to the sharpening stone 200, e.g. the angle between the horizontal plane of the sharpening stone and the line perpendicular to the blade edge.

The base of the blade sharpening system may allow the blade sharpening system to be mounted to a fixed surface such as a table, countertop, a wall, or a base plate. The base of the blade sharpening system may be any material including, for example, metal, plastic, ceramic, or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the station 405 of the blade sharpening system may be made of plastic or any other rigid material. In this example, the station 405 of the blade sharpening system may include a cavity to accommodate the elongated member 105. In various embodiments, the cavity may have a different measurement. The cavity in the station of the blade sharpening system may be any shape (e.g., rectangular, circular, hexagonal, polygonal, or the like). In one embodiment, the station 405 may be mounted and/or releasably coupled to the base 106 of the blade sharpening system. In other embodiments, the station 405 may be manufactured as part of the base 106.

In one embodiment, an elongated member 105 may be inserted into the cavity of the station 405 of the blade sharpening system seen in Fig. 3. The elongated member 105 may be composed of any rigid material, e.g. metal, metal alloy, or a rigid polymer material. The elongated member 105 may have any reasonable height or width. In one example, the elongated member 105 may have a height of 25 cm, and a diameter of 28 mm. In one embodiment, the elongated member 105 may be rectangular and may have a height of 25 cm, a length of 28 mm, and a width of 28 mm. The elongated member 105 may have different dimensions. In some embodiments, the elongated member 105 may be connected to or attached to the station 405 of the blade sharpening system with an attachment mechanism such as, for example, a M6 screw and nut. The elongated member 105 may be attached to the station 405 of the blade sharpening system with other bolt fasteners. One end of the elongated member 105 may be attached to the station 405. Another end of the elongated member 105 may be attached to a joint 205.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of the inner part of the joint 205, according to an embodiment of the invention. The joint 205 may have several pieces that make up one joint of the blade sharpening system according to some embodiments. The joint 205 may be shaped to hold two elongated members such that the two elongated members are perpendicular to one another. The joint may provide one degree of freedom of movement to the blade sharpening system. In some embodiments, the joint 205 may include a steel rod 504, a bearing apparatus, and washer. The bearing apparatus may include multiple bearings, such as the bearings 501-502, and bearings support 503. In one embodiment, 504 is a 8mm steel rod, 501-502 may be 608 bearings. In some embodiments, other sizes of one or more of the bearings and bolts may be used.

In one embodiment, another elongated member 104 may be used with the blade sharpening system, as seen in Fig. 3, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the elongated member 104 may have dimensions similar to the elongated member 105. In various embodiments, the elongated member of 104 may have dimensions that are different from the elongated member 105. One end of the elongated member 104 may be attached to the joint 205. The second end of the elongated member 104, which may be on an opposite end of the elongated member 104, may be attached to another joint 204.

In one embodiment, another joint 204 may be used with the blade sharpening system, as seen in Fig. 3, according to some embodiments. The joint 204 may attach the elongated member of 104 and yet another elongated member 103, such that the elongated members 103-104 are at angle to one another, e.g. perpendicular to one another. The joint 204 may have several pieces that make up one joint of the blade sharpening system, according to some embodiments. The components of joint 204 may make up an 8mm steel axis, two 608 bearings and locking sleeves. In some embodiments, other sizes of one or more of the bearings and bolts may be used. The components may, in some embodiments, be screwed together and attached. In some embodiments, the joint 204 may be made up of materials similar to that of the joint 205. The bearings of 204 may have similar dimensions to those of joint 205 or may have different dimensions. In some embodiments, another elongated member 103 may have similar, or non-similar, dimensions and may be made up of materials similar to that of the elongated member 104. Another attachment point of elongated member 103 may be attached to the vertically stabilizing joint 203.

In one embodiment, another joint 203 may be used with the blade sharpening system, as seen in Fig. 3, according to some embodiments. In one embodiment, the joint 203 may be a vertical bearing for a vertical pin. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertically stabilizing joint 203 may be a sliding bearing mounted in a cavity of the elongated member 103. In one embodiment, the vertical stabilizing joint 203, as depicted in Fig. 3, comprises a LM8LUU bearing or similar. The vertically stabilizing joint may hold the elongated member 103 and a vertical adapter holding rod 102 so that they are at angle to one another, e.g. perpendicular to one another.

In one embodiment, the vertical adapter rod 102 may be attached to the vertically stabilizing joint 203, where the vertical adapter rod 102 may be utilized to support the angle adapter 101, i.e., the blade holder assembly, as described in relation to Fig. 3. The angle adapter may include two ball bearings, a rod mount, and a metal rod. In some embodiments, the metal rod of the angle adapter 101 may have a diameter of 8mm and the 608 bearings may be used. One end of the vertical adapter rod 102 may be connected to the blade holder assembly 101. Another end of the vertical adapter rod 101 may be fastened to a holder attachment.

The holder 101 may be attached to the vertical adapter rod 102, as described in relation to Fig. 3. In some embodiments, the holder attachment is fastened to the vertical adapter rod with multiple metal screws. In various embodiments, the holder attachment may be fastened to the vertical adapter rod in other manners such as an adhesive substance or soldering. The angle adapter 101 may include an indentation to hold a magnet. The magnet may be used to hold the metal blade in a secure manner for sharpening. The holder 101 may have a magnetic coupling mechanism for holding the bladed metal object 300 at the consistent angle with respect to the sharpening stone 200. The holder 101 may have a non-magnetic coupling mechanism for holding the bladed metal object 300 at the consistent angle with respect to the sharpening stone 200. The angle adapter may be removable in various embodiments. For example, an angle adapter, or blade adapter that may be coupled to the angle adapter (not depicted) may be changed to hold a blade at a particular angle. As discussed herein, different blades may be held at different angles. There may be any number of angle adapters, each with their own angle. As the user change types of knives for sharpening, the user may change the angle adapter for another angle adapter that holds the blade at a different angle. The angle adapter may be coupled to the system with screws, fasteners, latches, magnets, or the like to ensure that the angle adapter is secure during use but able to be changed.

In one embodiment, a magnet is adhered to an indentation of the angle adapter. In one embodiment, the magnet is adhered to the indentation using an adhesive substance.

In one embodiment, the angle adapter is attached to the holder attachment by using a screw to attach the fastening nuts of the angle adapter to the holder attachment. As discussed herein, different angle adapters may be used to hold blades of different widths.

In various embodiments, the angle adapter is removably coupled to the rest of the system (e.g., through releasable pins, clamps, magnets, and/or the like. There may be any number of angle adapters, each with a different angle for different types of bladed objects. In some embodiments, an angle adapter may be reconfigurable, whereby the magnet of the angle adapter may be tilted or rotated within the angle adapter, thereby enabling a single angle adapter to support multiple angles. In that example, the angle adapter may or may not be removably coupled to the blade sharpening system.

In some embodiments, the angle of the angle adapter is very close to the angle at which the user prefers to sharpen their knives. In some cases, customary angles are 20 degrees for European knives and 15 degrees for Japanese, but other variants exist as well (e.g., 22 degrees for cleavers and as little as 7 degrees in some extreme cases). In some embodiments, there may be a variety of different angle adapters that may be coupled to the system to support any or all of these angles. In various embodiments, the angle of the magnet of a particular angle adapter may be reoriented to support any or all of these angles.

Fig. 5 depicts the angle adapter 101, according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, the adapter 101 may also have at its bottom a fence 108 for properly holding the object 300 and/or for registering the back edge of the object 300 in order to prevent the object 300 from shifting out of the angle adapter 101 while sharpening the blade of the object 300.

The geometry of the blade sharpening system may be different than previously discussed, as long as the degrees of freedom are maintained. In some embodiments, other mechanisms that achieve this effect are possible. In either embodiment of the blade sharpening system, the blade angle against the stone may be adjusted.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of a sharpening system, according to another embodiment of the invention. The blade sharpening system may include a coupling angle adapter 701 that holds the bladed metal object 300 at a consistent angle parallel to the base 106, i.e. flat angle. The adapter 701 may have a magnet or any other coupling mechanism for holding the bladed metal object 300 at the consistent flat angle. The blade sharpening system may include a flat base 106, similar to the described in relation to Fig. 1, for placing the system on a surface. The depicted elongated member and joints may be similar to the described in relation to Fig. 1, nevertheless, in this embodiment, the sharpening stone 200 may be held at an angle in relation to the base 106. In this embodiment, a stone angle adapter 706 may be placed under the foundation that holds the sharpening stone 200 for changing the angle of the sharpening stone 200 in relation to the bladed metal object. In this embodiment, the object 300 may be ergonomically moved in relation to the sharpening stone 200 while maintaining the consistent sharpening angle between the blade of object 300 and the sharpening stone. In one embodiment, the adapter 701 is sometimes locked at 180 degrees. In one embodiment, the stone angle adapter 706 is sometimes locked at 180 degrees. In one embodiment, the angled coupling adapter 101, as described in relation to Fig. 1, and the stone angle adapter 706 are both used, in the same system, for sharpening the blade of the metal object. In one embodiment, the angled coupling adapter 101 is set for the basic angle while the stone angle adapter 706 may be changed for fine tuning during sharpening.

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the inner part of the joints 201, and 203-205, according to an embodiment of the invention. The joints may have several pieces that make up one joint of the blade sharpening system according to some embodiments. The joints 203-205 may be shaped to hold two elongated members such that the two elongated members are perpendicular to one another. The joint may provide one degree of freedom of movement to the blade sharpening system. In some embodiments, each of the joints 203-205 may include multiple bearings, and bearing supports within the elongated members. In one embodiment, the joins may have an 8 mm steel rod, and 608 bearings. The joint 201 may be shaped to hold the two parts of the angle adapter 101, as described in relation to Fig. 3, such that the two parts are rotatable one to the other. The joint may provide one degree of freedom of movement to the blade sharpening system. In some embodiments, the joint 201 may include multiple bearings, and bearing supports within the angle adapter 101.

In some embodiments, other sizes of one or more of the bearings and bolts may be used.

In one embodiment, four elongated members 102-105 may be mounted in an angle to one another, e.g. perpendicular to one another, in a manner as seen in Fig. 1, which gives the blade sharpening system multiple degrees of freedom of movement. In one embodiment, the four elongated members 102-105 are mounted in an assembly similar to the known SCARA parallel-axis joint layout. Each of the multiple elongated members 102-105 may be coupled to one another with a joint. In some embodiments, each of the multiple joints may include multiple bearing support of different sizes and/or multiple bearing of different sizes. The angled coupling adapter 101 may be coupled to the elongated member 102. In some embodiments, the angle adapter 101 utilizes a magnet to hold the bladed metal object 300 at a particular fixed angle.

Similar to the system of FIG. 1, there may be an angle adapter, blade adapter, or other system that enables changes to the angle of different blades. As discussed herein, for example, the angle adapter may be removably coupled to attached different angle adapters of different angles. Similarly, there may be different blade holders that can be removed or reconfigured to hold different blades at different angles.

In some embodiments, the sharpening stone may be: oil stones, Arkansas stones, water stones, and diamond stones or any other known sharpening stone. Oil stones may comprise one of three materials, novaculite, aluminum oxide, or silicon carbide and may be man-made stones. Oil is required to lubricate the oil stone before it may be used to sharpen the metal object. In one embodiment, Arkansas stones are natural stones quarried in the state of Arkansas in the United States. In one embodiment, water stones may be natural or man-made, natural water stones are quarried in Belgium and Japan. Water is required to lubricate the water stone before it may be used to sharpen the metal object. Diamond stones comprise man-made diamond electroplated onto a metal plate.

While the above description discloses many embodiments and specifications of the invention, these were described by way of illustration and should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention. The described invention may be carried into practice with many modifications which are within the scope of the appended claims.