Cutting instrument

An improved cutting instrument of the type having a blade and an extension thereof serving as a handle wherein the handle extends upwardly and inwardly at an acute angle with respect to the blade in order to permit the transmission of forces directly from the handle to the blade more efficiently.

The present invention relates to cutting instruments, and more 
particularly, improvements in culinary knives, although it will be 
appreciated that the invention has utility in other related fields. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Since the memory of man runneth not to the contrary, kitchen knives and 
like cutting devices have come in one principal configuration. 
Specifically, the cutting instrument will comprise an elongated blade 
portion having a variety of shapes and sizes depending on a particular 
use, such as chopping or dicing. A holding device or handle attaches to 
the blade portion, and more often than not, forms an extension of the 
longitudinal axis of the blade. Whether the handle is a separate piece 
which is riveted or otherwise attached to the blade, or is integrally 
formed with the blade portion, almost without exception, it extends along 
or parallel to the longitudinal axis from its point of attachment. 
The particular configuration described has two problems which are 
alleviated by the present invention. First, the instrument itself becomes 
much longer than is necessary or convenient for its efficient use, and, 
secondly, in most uses, the user finds that he must use one hand on the 
handle, and the other on the top of the blade in order to apply sufficient 
downward force to the cutting edge to accomplish the task at hand. 
In the first instance, storage and handling of the instrument is 
complicated by its unnecessary length. In the second instance, the 
placement of the user's hand in close proximity to the cutting edge, 
results in an inherent and thoroughly unnecessary danger to the user, 
whose digits are placed in jeopardy in order to accomplish an otherwise 
simple task, which should be doable in complete safety. 
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
Applicant's survey of the prior art indicates almost no effective solutions 
to problems perceived and solved by the present invention. 
Luzzi U.S. Pat. No. 2,527,018 appears to recognize the leverage problems 
inherent in cutting instruments of standard configuration. The Luzzi 
solution, however, is a "paper cutter" solution in which the free end of 
the cutting instrument is secured to and rotatable about a pivot point on 
a chopping block. In such devices, a greater percentage of the forces 
generated by the user on the handle are thus transmitted to the working 
edge of the blade to accomplish various tasks. However, while Luzzi 
certainly provides a device which protects the user's fingers, he also 
provides a device which is bulky, tough to clean and keep clean, and 
insidiously complicated, relative to the present invention, which adds to 
its expense and detracts from its successful use. 
Gramann U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,479 is a pizza cutter, and while the handle 
tends to be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device, the curvature 
of the handle delimits the amount of useful force that can be applied to 
the blade. 
Hickory Farms of Ohio markets a cheese cutter, which is believed to be 
unpatented, which employs a blade having an elongated slot cut in it in 
close proximity to one end. A wooden handle is riveted to a portion of the 
blade above the slot, and the edge below and forward the slot is 
sharpened. While this cheese cutter bears some remote resemblance to 
applicant's improved instrument, it is uniquely different in its use and 
configuration, and actual use of the Hickory Farms cheese cutter has shown 
that the user, in many instances, must still use both hands to accomplish 
its intended task. Moreover, on thicker cheese rounds, the close proximity 
of the handle to the cutting edge results in interference between the hand 
and the cheese, or whatever is being cut by the instrument, causing 
unnecessary difficulty. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
By way of summation, it is an objective of the present invention to provide 
a novel cutting instrument which permits the user to maximize the force 
applied at the handle transmitted to the cutting edge. 
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved 
cutting instrument which eliminates the danger inherent in using 
conventional instruments by eliminating the necessity of the use of two 
hands, one of which would be in close proximity to the cutting edge of the 
instrument. 
Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a unique 
cutting instrument in which the configuration provides an efficient size 
for both storage and use, while eliminating interference between the being 
used, and the user's hand.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and initially FIG. 1 thereof, a cutting 
instrument constructed in accordance with the present invention is 
indicated at 10. The cutting instrument has a blade 12, having an upper 
edge and a lower edge 16, which is sharpened to define a cutting edge. 
Attached to, or in the present instance initially intergrally formed with 
the blade 12, is an enlarged handle portion 20 which, in the illustrated 
case, has an integrally formed upstanding finger 22 which extends from 
joint 25 upwardly and inwardly towards the nose 27 of the blade 12. This 
upwardly and inwardly extending portion of the finger lies within the 
vertical plane of the place extended. An enlarged gripping section 30 is, 
in the illustrated case, secured to the finger 22 by means of rivets, or 
other suitable fasteners 33. It will be appreciated, however, that other 
forms of gripping means may be employed without departure from the 
invention. 
As will be appreciated from the drawings, that portion of the handle 20 
which projects upwardly and inwardly from the joint 25 is also parallel to 
the longitudinal axis A of the blade 12, and forms an acute angle B with 
that axis. 
It has been found that there is no single precise angle which gives maximum 
results for all users and for all tasks. An acute angle B ranging between 
50.degree. and 15.degree., however, appears to give excellent results and 
accomplish the dual purpose of keeping the user's hand out of the way, 
while permitting the user to transfer forces applied directly to the 
handle to the cutting edge without use of a second hand. Naturally, the 
greater the acute angle, the lesser the percentage of forces which will be 
readily transferred to the cutting edge. With reference to FIG. 2, it will 
be appreciated that the cutting instrument of the present invention is 
conveniently stored in a storage block S in an exceptionally compact 
fashion. Storage in drawers and other places where such utensils are 
stored is equally efficient and compact. 
FIGS. 3 and 4 apply the principles of the present invention to different 
types of blades, and it will be appreciated that other blades, such as 
carving knives and bread knives would benefit equally from the nuances 
herein described.