Hoof knife with moveably mounted blade

A knife or hoof knife where the cutting blade element of the hoof knife is flexibly mounted in the knife handle, at least partially compensating rough motions during trimming. The knife with this design therefore fits more comfortably in the hand and enables, for example, wrist-friendly trimming of a horse's hoof. The flexibility can also be varied by the use of damping elements with different hardnesses and by designing the cutting blade element as an exchangeable module, so that different cutting blade elements can be provided on one handle element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a knife, especially a hoof knife with a cutting blade element that is moveably mounted in a handle element, wherein the cutting blade element is at least partially inserted into a guide channel of the handle element and is fixed in the handle element.

Knives, in particular knives with longitudinally moveable blades, are known in the art and are used for a variety of purposes. In particular, the German patent specification 197 40 875 C1 discloses a knife with a moveable blade, in which the blade, which is mounted in a handle and is moveable in the longitudinal direction of the handle, features an opening, in which a locking pin is mounted that is moveable in its axial direction and which serves as a lever to move the blade. The locking pin is moveable in a slot provided on the handle side, wherein the slot is enlarged on its front end to form a recess, into which the locking pin can engage to lock the blade in the extended position. The locking pin is designed in three parts, i.e. one top part forming the lever, one middle part and one lower part. To lock the blade in the extended position, the locking pin is moveable in its axial direction by applying manual pressure to the upper part so that the upper part engages in the recess provided on the one side of the handle and the lower part engages in a hole provided in the other side of the handle.

Furthermore, hoof knives for trimming animal hooves, in particular horse hooves, are known that feature different blade and edge shapes for cutting different areas of the hoof. The blade of these hoof knives is rigidly connected by means of at least two fastening means, for example screw or rivet connecting elements, with the handle element of the hoof knife. A disadvantage of the rigid connection of the blade with the handle element is that all hard or rough cutting motions, for example when trimming a horse's hoof, are absorbed by the wrist of the farrier. This means that the wrist is subjected to an enormous strain when trimming the hoof using conventional hoof knifes, resulting in rapid fatigue and permanent damage to the wrist of the farrier.

It is an object of the present invention to present a knife, in particular a hoof knife, which protects the wrist of the user even during hard and rough cutting motions and therefore produces a comfortable cutting effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The essential advantage of the knife or hoof knife according to the invention is the fact that the cutting blade element of the hoof knife is flexibly mounted in the knife handle, at least partially compensating rough motions during trimming. The knife with this design therefore fits more comfortably in the hand and enables, for example, wrist-friendly trimming of a horse's hoof. The flexibility can also be varied by the use of damping elements with different hardnesses and by designing the cutting blade element as an exchangeable module, so that different cutting blade elements can be provided on one handle element.

The drawings show a knife, preferably a hoof knife for trimming a horse's hoof, in various embodiments and perspectives. The hoof knife consists of a blade or cutting blade element1and a handle element2connected with the blade element, wherein the cutting blade element1comprises a cutting element1.1and an adjoining holding element1.2, which adjoins the cutting element1.1in the longitudinal direction of the cutting blade element1.

Before or within the transition area between the cutting element1.1and the holding element1.2there is a hole1.3, which is provided approximately in the center in the area of the longitudinal axis of the cutting blade element1. On the free end of the cutting element1.1opposing the holding element1.2, a knife edge1.4provided for trimming the horse's hoof can have different shapes or designs for different applications. Furthermore, a second hole1.5can be provided in the area of the holding element1.2facing away from the cutting element1.1.

According toFIG. 1, the cutting blade element1or its holding element1.2, which features a considerably reduced width in comparison with the cutting element1.1, is provided with a spacer element7, wherein the cutting blade element1can be connected with the spacer element7so that the front side of the spacer element7facing the cutting blade element1adjoins nearly seamlessly the cutting element1.1while holding the holding element1.2, i.e. there is a smooth transition between the outer contours of the cutting element1.1and the outer contours of the spacer element7. For holding the holding element1.2in the spacer element7the spacer element7features a slot-shaped recess7.1, which extends from the front side of the spacer element7facing the cutting blade element1along the longitudinal axis of the spacer element7, wherein the width of the slot-shaped recess7.1is such that a distance d of at least 0.01 mm or more remains between the holding element1.2or its sides inserted into the slot-shaped recess7.1and the inner sides of the slot-shaped recess7.1of the spacer element7. In an alternative embodiment of the spacer element7the slot-shaped recess7.1features a widened area7.3on its end facing away from the recess opening, said widened area having for example a U-shape.

The spacer element7is part of the handle element2of the hoof knife and is located between one first and one second handle shell element2.1,2.2of the handle element2. For connecting the spacer element7with the first and second handle shell element2.1,2.2, at least one hole7.2is provided in the section facing away from the cutting blade element1, i.e. adjoining the slot-shaped recess7.1of the spacer element7. The described “layered or modular” design of the handle element2is indicated by way of example inFIG. 5by a cross section along the line l-l through a knife according toFIG. 2.

The first and second handle shell element2.1,2.2are designed nearly congruently with the spacer element7and therefore have nearly the same outer contours. The spacer element7virtually forms the extension or continuation of the cutting blade element1between the first and second handle shell element2.1,2.2of the handle element2. The first and second handle shell element2.1,2.2can be made of different materials, for example wood, metal, plastic, mother of pearl or similar sturdy materials and/or can exhibit different patterns, colors and/or surface structures.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second handle shell elements2.1,2.2are connected with the spacer element7by means of at least one releasable fastening element3and at least one additional fixed fastening element4,8. For this purpose, the individual fastening elements3,4,8are designed either as screw connecting elements or as rivet connecting elements or similar releasable or fixed connecting elements.

By means of the described releasable or fixed connection of the first and second handle shell element2.1,2.2with the spacer element7provided between the first and second handle shell element2.1,2.2, a guide channel2.5is provided in the handle element2featuring at least one first and second sections2.51,2.52and extending along the longitudinal axis of the handle element2. The first section2.51of the guide channel2.5is provided for holding the holding element1.2and the second section2.52of the guide channel2.5is provided for at least partial holding of the cutting element1.1.

In a preferred embodiment the first and second handle shell element2.1,2.2each have a hole2.6in the section2.3of the handle element2facing the cutting blade element1, the middle axis of said hole extending perpendicular to the surface of the handle element2. In an alternative embodiment the first and second handle shell element2.1,2.2have at least one additional hole2.7in the section2.4of the handle element2facing away from the cutting blade element1and/or in the end area of the guide channel2.5, into which (hole) the additional fastening elements4,8can be inserted.

When a cutting blade element1is inserted into the guide channel2.5, the opposing holes2.6and2.7provided in the first and second handle shell elements2.1,2.2are congruent or on the same axis with the first hole1.3and/or the second hole1.5of the cutting blade element1.

For flexible mounting of the cutting blade element1in the handle element2, at least one damping element5,6is provided, which is designed either as a U-shaped sleeve or case element5or as a damping ring element6. In a preferred embodiment, the damping elements5,6are exchangeable and are provided for example in the first and second section2.3,2.4of the handle element2. They are furthermore made of a flexible material, and the degree of damping can be adjusted via the hardness of the flexible material. Therefore, it is possible for example to use damping elements5,6with differing hardnesses to adjust the damping properties depending on the use of the knife.

In an embodiment according toFIG. 2, the guide channel2.5forms in its first section2.51, on its end facing away from the cutting blade element1, a holding space2.8, which preferably is U-shaped, so that the holding element1.2bears for example flush with its rounded end, surrounded by the U-shaped sleeve or case element5in the holding space2.8. The rotatable mounting of the cutting blade element1on the fastening element3results in a lever, the end of which, opposing the cutting edge1.4, is held flexibly in the handle element by means of the U-shaped sleeve or case element5. The U-shaped sleeve or case element5has approximately the same thickness as the spacer element and/or the holding element1.2.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first handle shell element2.1, followed by the spacer element7and the second handle shell element2.2are connected tightly with each other, preferably by means of a rivet and/or screw and/or adhesive connection. The elements2.1,2.2,7thus connected with each other form a handle element module or the handle2of the knife, on which various cutting blade element modules can be provided.

However, the spacer element7is shorter than the first and second handle shell element2.1,2.2, forming the second section2.52of the guide channel2.5in the connecting area or fastening area of the cutting blade element1. The second section2.52of the guide channel corresponds for example to the width of the cutting element1.1in the transition area between the cutting element1.1and the holding element1.2.

For the dampened mounting or fastening of the cutting blade element1on the handle2, one damping ring element6, for example a metal or plastic bearing in the form of a ring, is inserted into the hole1.3and is inserted together with the cutting blade element1into the guide channel2.5. After full insertion of the holding element1.2in the holding space2.8or on the end of the guide channel2.5, the cutting blade element1is flexibly connected with the handle2, namely through a rigid fixing of the lever end in the guide channel2.5and a flexible mounting in the area of the rotational axis or of the fastening element3.

In this position the holes2.6,2.7of the first and second handle shell elements2.1,2.2overlap with the holes1.3,1.5of the cutting blade element1, so that one fastening element3.4, preferably a screw connecting element, can be guided through the holes2.1,2.2,2.6,2.7,1.3,1.5, so that the cutting blade element1is mounted at least partially moveably and flexibly in the handle2. In a preferred embodiment the fastening element3is designed as a screw connecting element, comprising a screw element3.1and a nut element3.2that works together with the screw element, wherein the nut element features a bolt-shaped section3.3. The cutting blade element1is therefore moveable relative to the handle element2, namely to the extent allowed by the flexible mounting.

In a preferred embodiment the cutting blade element1or the holding element1.2is held by positive locking in the slot-shaped recess7.1of the spacer element7. Alternatively, an additional hole1.5can be provided in the holding element1.2for holding a second additional fastening element4, which is provided on the section of the holding element1.2facing away from the cutting element1.1. In the above alternative fastening of the cutting blade element on the handle2, widened area7.3is eliminated, so that the slot7.1of the spacer element7is connected in its bottom area directly with the holding element1.2to produce a positive locking.

The invention was described above based on several exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that numerous modifications and variations are possible without abandoning the underlying inventive idea upon which the invention is based.

REFERENCE LIST