Method and apparatus for knife

A knife including a blade section having a sharp edge, a J-shaped section, and a handle section connected to the J-shaped section. The J-shaped section may have a bottom portion connected to a stem portion, and a substantially uniform thickness. The sharp edge may have a thickness which is substantially less than the substantially uniform thickness of the J-shaped section. The handle section may have a thickness which is substantially greater than the uniform thickness of the J-shaped section. The blade section, the J-shaped section, and the handle section may be configured so that a person can place an index finger of the person so that an end of the index finger contacts the bottom portion of the J-shaped section and a length of the index finger contacts the stem portion of the J-shaped section, while simultaneously one or more further fingers of the person grip the handle section.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning knives.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various knives known in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In at least one embodiment, a knife is provided. The knife may include a blade section having a sharp edge, a J-shaped section adjacent the blade section, and a handle section connected to the J-shaped section. The J-shaped section may have a bottom portion connected to a stem portion. The J-shaped section may have a substantially uniform thickness. The sharp edge may have a thickness which is substantially less than the substantially uniform thickness of the J-shaped section. The handle section may have a thickness which is substantially greater than the uniform thickness of the J-shaped section.

The blade section, the J-shaped section, and the handle section may be configured so that a person can place an index finger of the person so that an end of the index finger contacts the bottom portion of the J-shaped section and a length of the index finger contacts the stem portion of the J-shaped section, while simultaneously one or more further fingers of the person grip the handle section.

The bottom portion of the J-shaped section may be substantially parallel to at least part of the sharp edge of the blade section. The bottom portion of the J-shaped section may be substantially perpendicular to the stem portion of the J-shaped section. The sharp edge of the blade section may curve from a first end where the sharp edge is substantially parallel to the bottom portion of the J-shaped section to an opposing second end where the sharp edge is substantially parallel to the stem portion of the J-shaped section.

The knife may be further comprised of an intermediate section connected between the blade section and the handle section. The intermediate section may have a curved surface. The J-shaped section may be on one side of the knife and the curved surface of the intermediate section may be on an opposing side of the knife. The curved surface of the intermediate section may have a substantially uniform thickness which is substantially greater than the thickness of the sharp edge. The curved surface of the intermediate section and the J-shaped section may be configured so that an end of an index finger of a person can contact the bottom portion of the J-shaped section while a further finger of the person contacts the curved surface of the intermediate section.

The bottom portion of the J-shaped section may be substantially perpendicular to the stem portion of the J-shaped section. The sharp edge of the blade section may curve from a first end where the sharp edge is substantially parallel to the bottom portion of the J-shaped section to an opposing second end where the sharp edge is substantially parallel to the stem portion of the J-shaped section.

The substantially uniform thickness of the J-shaped section may be about one eighth of an inch or greater. The thickness of the handle section may be about three times the thickness of the J-shaped section. The knife may be elongated, such that the knife has a length and a width, and the length is substantially greater than the width. The length may be about six and one half inches, and the width may be about one and one quarter inches.

A method is provided which includes using a knife to pare an outer covering off of an object using a sharp edge of the knife. The knife may have a structure as previously disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1shows a top view of a knife1in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2shows a bottom view of the knife1.FIG. 3shows a top, and front perspective view of the knife1.FIG. 4shows a bottom, and rear perspective view of the knife1.FIG. 5shows a rear view of the knife1.FIG. 6shows a front view of the knife1.

The knife1includes a body portion2and a handle device24. The body portion2may be made of rigid metal such as steel. The handle device24may include handle portion26shown inFIG. 1and handle portion40shown inFIG. 2. The handle portions26and40may be connected by screw or bolt34and38shown inFIG. 1and fasteners or nuts48and52, respectively, shown inFIG. 2. The screws or bolts34and38may be inserted through openings32and36, and through openings46and50respectively, to connect and fix the handle portions26and40to the body portion2. The handle portions26and40may be made of a rubber or plastic. There may be a hole30in handle portion26which is aligned with a hole44in handle portion40, which is aligned with a hole, not shown, in section54of body portion2. A lanyard can be inserted through the holes30, and44to attach the knife1to a lanyard.

The body portion2includes a blade section4, a section20, and a section22shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, and a section54shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. The blade section4includes a gradually tapered section6having a top surface6ashown inFIG. 1and a bottom surface6bshown inFIG. 2. The tapered section6gradually decreases from the section20to a blade edge section8. The blade edge section8has a top surface8ashown inFIG. 1, a bottom surface8bshown inFIG. 2, and a blade edge8cshown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The tapered section6and the blade edge section8form a triangular or substantially triangular surface10shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 6. The blade edge8cis typically very sharp and thus as thin as possible. The blade edge8chas a thickness T3, shown inFIG. 5, which is typically much less than the thickness T1.

The section20has a uniform or substantially uniform thickness T1 shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. The section20includes a top surface20c, shown inFIG. 1, a bottom surface20dshown inFIG. 2, a front surface20a, shown inFIG. 3, and a rear surface20b, shown inFIG. 4. The front surface20aincludes a plurality14of ridges, including ridge14a. An edge or surface12is shown between the plurality of ridges14and the surface10. The edge or surface12may be J-shaped or L-shaped and may include a portion12aand a portion12b. The portion12amay be the bottom section of the J or L shape, and the portion12bmay be the stem portion of the J or L shape. It is preferred and in at least one embodiment is critical that the J or L shape surface12have a uniform or substantially uniform thickness T1, as shown inFIG. 6, for reasons that will be explained later. The thickness T1 may be about one eighth of an inch. The thickness T1 may also be greater than one eighth of an inch. A thickness T1 of about one eighth of an inch or greater is critical in at least one embodiment so that a person's finger can rest comfortably without being cut or pinched.

The rear surface20bof the section20is curved and on one side is next to a protrusion18, which is next to an indentation16. The protrusion18provides separation between the curved rear surface20band the sharp blade edge8cto prevent a person from cutting a finger on the blade edge8c. The curved rear surface20b, and shown inFIG. 5, may have thickness T1, which may be about one eighth of an inch or greater than one eighth of an inch. In at least one embodiment, a thickness of about one eighth of an inch or greater is critical so that a person does not cut their finger using the knife1.

Section54of the body portion2, is sandwiched between the handle portions26and40, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. Section54includes an edge or surface54aand an edge or surface54b. Edge or surface54aincludes a plurality of indentations56which includes indentation56a. The handle portion26includes a plurality of indentations28including indentation28a, and the handle portion40includes a plurality of indentations42, including the indentation42a. The indentations28,56, and42are aligned with each other as shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 7shows a top, front perspective view of the knife1ofFIG. 1, with a person's hand100holding the knife1. The person's hand100includes a thumb102, an index finger or pointer finger104, and fingers106,108, and110. The index finger104has a portion104balong its length or longest dimension, which rests on the ridges14and on the stem12bof the J-shaped section12. The index finger104has an end104awhich may contact bottom portion12aof the J-shaped section12. In at least one embodiment, it is critical that the bottom portion12abe curved to match and/or fit the curve of the end104aof the index finger104so that the index finger104can be comfortably held by the J-shaped bottom portion12a. The ridges14help to provide a firm grip and/or to prevent the index finger104from sliding off of the section20and/or out of or off of the J-shaped section12. An end102aof the thumb102may rest on the section22. The fingers106,108, and110may grip the combination of sections22,26, and40.

In operation, a individual, while gripping the knife1as shown inFIG. 7may cut an object by moving the blade section8in the direction D1 as shown inFIG. 7. Having the index finger104in the position shown inFIG. 7, allows the index finger104to provide pressure and stability, and to provide force in the direction D1 for better cutting. This is particularly useful for paring, such as when an individual wants to remove an outer covering or skin, such as the outer covering or skin of a piece of fruit.

FIG. 8shows a bottom, rear perspective view of the knife1ofFIG. 1, with a person's hand200holding the knife1. The configuration shown inFIG. 8may be substantially the same as or the same as the configuration shown inFIG. 7, except shown from a different perspective. The hand200may be the same as the hand100. InFIG. 8, the hand200includes a index finger204, thumb202, and fingers206,208, and210. The index finger204has a portion204bwhich rests on the portion12bof J-shaped section12and on the ridges14. The index finger204also has an end or tip204awhich contacts the bottom portion12aof the J-shaped section12. The thumb202has an end202awhich rests on the section22of the knife1. The thumb202and the fingers206,208, and210grip the combination of the section22and the sections26,54, and40.

In operation, referring toFIG. 8, the knife1can be moved in the direction D2 to cut an object. Having the index finger204in the position shown inFIG. 8, allows the index finger204to provide pressure and stability, and to provide force in the direction D2 for better cutting. This is particularly useful for paring, such as when an individual wants to remove an outer covering or skin, such as the outer covering or skin of a piece of fruit.

In at least one embodiment, the knife1is elongated and has a length of L1,which may be about six and one half inches or above. The knife1may have a width, W1, which may be about one inch and a quarter. In at least one embodiment, these dimensions are critical to provide a knife1cutting in the manner shown inFIG. 7andFIG. 8, such as for paring skin off of fruit.