Knife and/or steel storage unit

A storage unit for knives and/or steels including a series of individual blocks pivotal forwardly within a frame from a generally upright storage position to an inclined access position. The frame and blocks are modular in construction, permitting widening of the frame and addition of blocks by the purchaser subsequent to his initial purchase.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to storage units and, more particularly adapted for 
the storage of knives, a sharpening steel and the like on a countertop or 
similar surface. 
So-called "knife blocks" have, through the years, become well known in the 
art. They consist, generally, of a block of wood or similar material 
having formed therein at spaced intervals a series of blade-receiving 
pockets. A knife is stored in units of this general type by inserting the 
blade into its particular pocket until the handle comes into abutment with 
the block. A single block or combinations of blocks may be adapted to 
receive a set of steak knives, a butcher knife, a paring knife or knives, 
a bread knife, a sharpening steel or any of a wide variety of other types 
of cutlery. 
Many currently available knife blocks provide an aesthetically pleasing 
means for knife storage. They are also functional in the sense that, once 
the knife is stored, a user's hand cannot accidentally come into contact 
with the blade as in the case where such knives are stored in drawer trays 
and the like. 
One significant drawback of prior art knife blocks, however, has been the 
amount of counter space which they occupy and , for that matter, the 
amount of wood or other suitable material required for their construction. 
Since knife blocks of the general type under consideration are typically 
stored on a kitchen countertop against the wall beneath a cupboard, the 
pockets must be angled sufficiently with respect to the vertical to permit 
storage and withdrawal of the knife without interference from the bottom 
of the cupboard. This problem has been solved in prior art knife blocks by 
forming the pockets at an angle of 45.degree., more or less, with the 
vertical permitting insertion and removal of the knives without 
interference from the bottom of the overhead cupboard. This solution, 
however, has resulted in extremely bulky knife blocks, many of which are 
extremely expensive to manufacture, and which, simply stated, require the 
allocation of excessive space in relation to the aesthetic and functional 
advantages which they provide. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The storage unit which is the subject of the present invention comprises 
spaced end panels, each having forward and rear surfaces, a lower surface 
adapted to rest on a countertop or the like and having connected 
therebetween an axle member. A series of knife and/or steel receiving and 
retaining blocks are pivotally mounted on the axle member, each of the 
blocks having an elongated receiving pocket therein. Each of the blocks is 
pivotal forwardly from a storage position at which the pocket and any 
knife and/or steel contained therein are generally vertical with the 
handle uppermost to an access position at which the pocket and any knife 
and/or steel contained therein are at an angle with respect to the 
vertical, permitting withdrawal of the knife and/or steel from the pocket 
without interference from an overhead obstruction such as the bottom of a 
cupboard. Means are provided for retaining each of the blocks in the first 
position when it has been pivoted rearwardly thereto and in the second 
position when it has been pivoted forwardly thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The storage unit 10 which is the subject of the present invention is 
illustrated generally in FIGS. 1-3. It includes end panels 12a, 12b having 
respectively lower surfaces 14a, 14b, rear surfaces 16a, 16b and forward 
surfaces 18a, 18b. Forward surfaces 18a, 18b, as best illustrated in FIG. 
3, slant forwardly and downwardly. Rear surfaces 16a, 16b are 
perpendicular to lower surfaces 14a, 14b. The unit, in use, will typically 
rest upon a kitchen countertop with lower surfaces 14a, 14b in contact 
with the countertop. It will typically be pushed rearwardly to the wall 
such that surfaces 16a, 16b lie close proximity thereto in order to 
preserve the maximum amount of working space. It will also, typically, be 
placed beneath a cupboard, as described in the Background. 
End panels 12a and 12b are identical with the exception that countersunk 
apertures 64 to be discussed hereinafter are on the facing surface 
thereof. The panels are interconnected by an axle member 22, a rear stop 
member 24 and a forward stop member 26, also to be described hereinafter. 
Members 22, 24 and 26 may take the form of continuous metallic rods having 
a diameter of approximately three-eighths inch and may be suitably secured 
to the end panels 12a and 12b in any conventional fashion. 
A series of knife blocks 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d are pivotally mounted on 
axle member 22, axle member 22 passing through suitably sized apertures 
33a, etc., in each of the blocks. Knife blocks 32 each contain pockets 34 
running longitudinally with respect to the blocks and opening along the 
rear faces thereof. Pockets 34 are sized so as to receive knives having 
varying blade sizes. A single block 32 may be utilized to store two or 
more smaller knives, such as steak knives or paring knives, by properly 
positioning dowels 42, as will be described hereinafter. 
Storage unit 10 also includes a sharpening steel block 36 pivotally carried 
on axle member 22 by passage through an aperture located identically to 
apertures 33. Steel block 36 has a steel receiving pocket 38 drilled 
therethrough, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
End panels 12a, 12b, knife blocks 32 and steel block 36, in accordance with 
the preferred embodiment of this invention, are made from wood such as 
oak, maple or the like. Pockets 34 are formed in blocks 32 by merely 
running them through a saw blade of appropriate width. The pockets are 
thereafter closed off at the rear edge of the blocks by any suitable means 
such as wooden dowels 42 (see, also, FIG. 5). Depending on the size of 
knife to be accommodated in a particular block 32, a series of dowels 42 
may be spaced from left to right as viewed in FIG. 5 to form multiple 
pockets in a single block. Note, also, that the pockets 34 may extend to 
the right as viewed in FIG. 5 past the axle receiving apertures 33 
provided that the knife to be stored in the particular pocket overlying 
axle member 22 is sufficiently short that its blade will not come into 
contact with the axle prior to the time that the handle comes into 
abutment with the top of the particular block. 
With particular reference to FIG. 3, blocks 32 and 36 are pivotal from a 
first position wherein the rear surfaces of the blocks are in contact with 
rear stop member 24 to a second position wherein the forward surfaces of 
the blocks are in contact with forward stop member 26. The first position, 
wherein the pockets 34 and 38 and any knives, steels, etc., contained 
therein are oriented in a generally vertical direction is the storage 
position. The second position, wherein the pockets 34 and 38 and any 
knives, steels, etc., stored therein are oriented at an approximate 
45.degree. angle to the vertical is the access position. When all blocks 
are in the storage position, a particular knife is selected by grasping 
either its handle or the block within which it is positioned and moving 
the block to the access position. The knife, etc., may then be withdrawn 
(or reinserted) without interference from the bottom of the overhead 
cupboard which will typically overlie the storage unit. The block is then 
returned to the storage position making available for use the countertop 
work surface which the block or blocks overlaid while in the access 
position. 
The relative locations of members 22, 24 and 26, the configuration of the 
end panels and the location of apertures 33 in the knife and steel blocks 
must be interrelated such that: (a) when blocks 32 and 36 are in their 
storage positions with knives, etc., in place, the center of gravity of 
each block lies to the left of axle 22 as viewed in FIG. 3; (b) when the 
blocks 32 and 36 are in their access position with knives, etc., in place, 
the center of gravity of the entire storage unit 10 must be to the left, 
again as viewed in FIG. 3, of the rightwardmost point on 
countertop-contacting lower surfaces 14a and 14b; (c) when the blocks 32 
and 36 are pivoted from their storage positions to their access positions, 
arc 46 (FIG. 3) indicating the path of travel of the lower right-hand 
corner of each individual block does not pass below the plane containing 
lower surfaces 14a and 14b of panels 12a and 12b--i.e., does not strike 
the countertop; and (d) when each of the blocks 32 and 36 is pivoted 
between their storage and access positions, the path of travel of the left 
lowermost corner of each block as indicated by arc 44 in FIG. 3 does not 
pass beyond the plane containing rear surfaces 16a and 16b of end panels 
12a and 12b--i.e., does not strike the wall against which the unit is 
positioned. Satisfactory results have been achieved utilizing: (a) knife 
and steel blocks having a length of ten inches, a width of 
three-and-one-half inches and aperture 33 positioned one-and-one-quarter 
inches from each of the lower and forwardmost surfaces of the individual 
blocks; (b) end panels having a height of ten-and-three-quarter inches, a 
top width of approximately five inches, a bottom width of approximately 
six-and-three-quarter inches, the axle being borne midway between the 
forward and rear surfaces at a height one-and-three-quarter inches above 
lower surfaces 14; (c) a rear stop member located approximately 
three-quarters of an inch from rear surfaces 16 and elevated approximately 
seven inches above lower surfaces 14; and (d) a forward stop located 
approximately three-quarters of an inch from forward surfaces 18 and 
elevated approximately two inches above lower surfaces 14. 
The preferred embodiment of the storage unit 10 which is the subject of 
this invention is modular in the sense that additional knife and/or steel 
blocks may be added at a time subsequent to the original purchase. To this 
end, members 22, 24 and 26 are each formed from modular rod segments 52 
which have been axially drilled and tapped at either end. Each segment 52 
has a length approximately the thickness of a knife block 32 plus the 
thickness of the washer 58 which surrounds axle member 22 between each 
adjacent pair of wood surfaces. A threaded rod section 54 is affixed to 
each of the modular rod segments 52 in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
Cap screws 56, the threaded sections of which have the same O.D. and pitch 
as sections 54, complete the hardware necessary to assembly of the storage 
unit. 
The basis or starter unit will be assumed for explanatory purposes to be as 
shown in FIG. 1. It includes four knife blocks 32 having a thickness of 
approximately one-and-one-quarter inches and one steel block 38. The steel 
block, because of the peculiar nature of the steel with which it will be 
sold, has a thickness equal to twice that of each knife block plus the 
thickness of a washer 58. With these blocks and end panels come five cap 
screws 56, eighteen modular rod segments 52, fifteen threaded rod sections 
54 and six washers 58. 
Assembly is effected by initially forming members 22, 24 and 26, each from 
six modular rod segments 52 and five interconnecting threaded rod sections 
54. One of the cap screws 56 is then affixed to the extremity of axle 
member 22 as shown in FIG. 5. Blocks 32 and 36 are next placed on axle 
member 22 with a washer between adjacent blocks and between the two end 
blocks and the panels 12. The extremities of axle member 22 are then 
fitted into countersunk apertures 64 in end panels 12. The length of the 
heads of cap screws 56 is twice the depth of countersunk apertures 64. 
One of stop members 24 and 26 is then affixed in position utilizing two of 
the remaining four cap screws 56 which pass through aperture 62 and end 
panels 12. The blocks are then pivoted so as to rest against the installed 
member 24 or 26 and the remaining stop member installed, utilizing the two 
remaining cap screws. The storage unit is then ready for use. 
Should the purchaser, at some later date, decide to add to the storage 
unit, he need buy only the particular block or blocks desired, three 
modular rod segments 52, three threaded rod sections 54 and a washer 58 
for each block to be added. These components must be doubled, of course, 
if an additional steel block is desired. 
Note that if it is desired to sell a starter kit which is standardized as 
to number and type--i.e., knife and steel--of blocks, members 22, 24 and 
26 as furnished may take the form of continuous rods drilled and tapped at 
either extremity. Additions may thereafter be made to the starter kit 
utilizing modular rod segments 52 in the same manner as described in the 
preceding paragraph. 
The present invention, thus, provides a storage unit which occupies a 
minimal amount of countertop space and yet permits ready access to its 
contents even when positioned beneath a cupboard. Suitable choices of 
materials will provide an aesthetically pleasing arrangement. The capacity 
of the unit may be expanded, in accordance with the preferred embodiment, 
as desired. 
Numerous alternative constructions will be readily apparent to those 
skilled in the art, particularly if one should not desire to maintain the 
modular capabilities of the unit. Rear stop 24, for example, could take 
the form of a wall across the back of the unit or, for that matter, the 
existing wall between the countertop and the cupboard could perform this 
function if the end panels are secured in some fashion to the countertop 
or wall. Forward stop member 26, similarly, could take the form of a 
bottom wall against which the forward and lowermost corners of the blocks 
came into abutment when the access position had been reached. Plastic 
material, of course, could be utilized, as well as wood and/or metal. Such 
other embodiments and constructions are to be deemed included within the 
scope of the appended claims unless these claims, by their language, 
expressly state otherwise.