Knife system

A knife system for providing efficient replacement of a knife blade. The knife system generally includes a body, a lever pivotally connected to the body, a collet connected to the body, and a shaft connected between the lever and the collet. When the lever is in a closed position, the shaft applies tension to the collet resulting in frictional engagement with a blade within the collet. An illuminating unit is preferably positioned within the body directing light towards the blade within the collet to illuminate a work area.

Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to knives and more specifically it relates to a knife system for providing efficient replacement of a knife blade.

2. Description of the Related Art

Utility knives and hobby knives have been in use for years. Conventional utility knives, such as drywall knives, utilize replaceable blades that require removing a portion of the housing to replace the blade. Inexpensive utility knives utilize extendable blades that have breakable segments to allow for a sharpened segment to be exposed from the body. Hobby knives, such as X-ACTO® brand knives, utilize a blade that is mounted in an elongated cylindrical body by a knurled collar that tightens a collet that retains the blade.

A problem with conventional knives is that they are time consuming and cumbersome to replace a blade. A problem with conventional hobby knives is that they are prone to rolling off tables and other surfaces. A problem with utility knives and hobby knives is that they do not provide an independent light source for a user. Another problem with knives that use replaceable blades is that the blades become loosened over time as they are used making it difficult to be accurate.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a knife system that has many of the advantages of the knives mentioned heretofore. The invention generally relates to a knife which includes a body, a lever pivotally connected to the body, a collet connected to the body, and a shaft connected between the lever and the collet. When the lever is in a closed position, the shaft applies tension to the collet resulting in frictional engagement with a blade within the collet. An illuminating unit is preferably positioned within the body directing light towards the blade within the collet to illuminate a work area.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

An object is to provide a knife system for providing efficient replacement of a knife blade.

Another object is to provide a knife system that illuminates an area near the blade.

An additional object is to provide a knife system that is comprised of an ergonomic design.

A further object is to provide a knife system that is not cumbersome to utilize. Another object is to provide a knife system that prevents a blade from loosening during usage.

Another object is to provide a knife system that is capable of receiving various types and sizes of replaceable blades.

Another object is to provide a knife system that provides adjustable tension for retaining blades.

Another object is to provide a knife system that allows for various blade positions.

Another object is to provide a knife system that stores at least one replacement blade.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,FIGS. 1 through 9illustrate a knife system10, which comprises a body20, a lever30pivotally connected to the body20, a collet70connected to the body20, and a shaft50connected between the lever30and the collet70. When the lever30is in a closed position, the shaft50applies tension to the collet70resulting in frictional engagement with a blade12within the collet70. An illuminating unit40is preferably positioned within the body20directing light towards the blade12within the collet70to illuminate a work area.

FIGS. 1 through 9illustrate a preferred embodiment for the body20. The body20is preferably comprised of an elongated structure having a first end21and a second end28opposite of one another. The body20is preferably comprised of unitary structure, however, the body20may be comprised of multiple components assembled together. The body20is preferably comprised of a cast aluminum or other cast material.

The body20preferably includes at least one storage compartment to store a replacement blade12as best illustrates inFIGS. 2band2cof the drawings. The storage compartments26are preferably positioned on opposing interior sides of the body20with the shaft50passing between thereof. Each storage compartment is covered by the lever30when the lever30is in the closed position as illustrated inFIGS. 2aand2bof the drawings.

FIG. 3illustrates wherein the body20includes a head member60having an extended portion66is attached to a first opening22within the body20. As shown inFIG. 3, the head member60includes a front opening62for receiving the collet70and a light opening64for receiving the illuminating unit40.

The lever30is pivotally connected to the body20at a first pivot point as shown inFIGS. 2athrough2cof the drawings. The lever30is preferably pivotally connected to the second end28of the body20opposite of the collet70as shown inFIGS. 1 through 2cof the drawings. The first pivot point has a first axis that is substantially transverse with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body20.

The second end28of the body20preferably includes a pair of receiver members29that slidably receive hinge members of the lever30as shown inFIG. 3of the drawings. The hinge members preferably are each comprised of a semi-rectangular structure with flanged portions. The receiver members29are comprised of a C-shaped structure with the opening narrower than the interior opening within the receiver members29to allow for rotation of the hinge members within the receiver members29. The narrower opening within the receiver members29allows passage of the hinge members only when the semi-rectangular structure of the hinge members are longitudinally aligned with the openings.

FIG. 2aillustrates the lever30in the closed position to contract the collet70upon the blade12thereby preventing movement or release of the blade12from the collet70.FIG. 2cillustrates the lever30in the open position to allow for release of the collet70and the blade12from the collet70.

The lever30is preferably comprised of a molded plastic material. However, the lever30may be comprised of various other materials including but not limited to metal. The lever30preferably has a U-shaped cross sectional structure to provide for increased strength and stability during operation as illustrated inFIGS. 2band2cof the drawings.

As shown inFIGS. 1 through 5of the drawings, the lever30is comprised of shape that when closed with respect to the body20creates an ergonomic shaped structure capable of being held within the hand of a user. The outer surface of the lever30preferably includes a plurality of U-shaped gripping members that assist in maintaining a user's grip during usage and operation of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 9of the drawings, a significant portion of the outer surface of the lever30is substantially parallel with respect to an opposite side of the body20. The lever30is further formed to fit within the recessed portion24formed within the body20so that when the lever30is closed the lever30and the body20have a unitary appearance.

The lever30further preferably includes one or more guide members36opposite of the first pivot point to guide the lever30within the recessed portion24of the body20when entering the closed position. The guide members36preferably extend from the end portion of the lever30and extend into the interior of the body20when in the lever30is in the closed position. The guide members36provide for increased alignment of the lever30during closing, and stability after the lever30is closed to prevent side-to-side movements of the lever30during operation thereof.

The lever30includes an offset aperture32that extends through the lever30and substantially parallel to the first pivot point as shown inFIGS. 1 through 3and5. The offset aperture32receives an offset pin34that the shaft50pivotally connects to. The offset pin34may be comprised of any structure capable of pivotally supporting the shaft50. The offset pin34preferably extends between two support portions extending from the lever30that support the hinge members as shown inFIGS. 2band2cof the drawings.

The offset aperture32is positioned away from collet70when the lever30is in the closed position as shown inFIG. 5of the drawings. The offset aperture32is further positioned above or below the first pivot point when the lever30is in the closed position to provide a constant closing force to the lever30when in the closed position as shown inFIG. 5of the drawings.

When the lever30is in the open position, the offset aperture32is positioned closer to the collet70thereby allowing the collet70to expand and release a blade12as shown inFIG. 2cof the drawings. When the lever30is in the open position, the shaft50is moved towards the collet70which results in the loosening of the collet70to release the blade12.

A collet70is positioned within a front opening62of the body20to selectively receive, secure and release a blade12. The collet70may be comprised of any structure capable of frictionally engaging a neck14of a blade12in a non-movable manner.

The collet70is movably connected to the first end21of the body20. The collet70is preferably rotationally positioned within the front opening62of the body20so that when the lever30is in the open position, it allows for rotation of the collet70to achieve different blade angles and allows for adjustment of the collet70with respect to the shaft50. The collet70is preferably comprised of a first member72having a first slot74and a second member76having a second slot78in opposition to one another. The first member72and the second member76are comprised of inwardly tapering structures received within a front opening62of the body20. When the shaft50draws the collet70inwardly toward the body20the first member72and the second member76are contracted toward one another to frictionally retain the blade12within the collet70.

The first member72preferably includes an extended member71having an interiorly threaded aperture that threadably engages an exteriorly threaded portion of the shaft50. By rotating the collet70(which includes the first member72), the extended member71is rotated upon the shaft50thereby causing the position of the first member72to move inwardly or outwardly with respect to the shaft50which allows for increased or decreased frictional engagement of the blade12respectively.

A guide pin73preferably extends from the first member72as best illustrated inFIG. 3of the drawings. The guide pin73is received within a guide aperture77within the second member76as further shown inFIG. 3of the drawings. The guide pin73retains the first member72connected to the second member76when positioned within the front opening62of the body20. The guide aperture77is sufficiently larger than the guide pin73to allow for not only rotational movement but also pivotal movement of the guide pin73within the guide aperture77.

In addition, the second member76preferably includes a cantilever portion79surrounding the guide aperture77that the first member72pivots upon with respect to the second member76as further shown inFIG. 3. The cantilever portion79is preferably comprised of a rounded configuration.

The first slot74and the second slot78form a receiver slot that receives the neck14of the blade12as shown inFIGS. 2band2cof the drawings. The receiver slot is sufficient in size to allow for receipt of the neck14of the blade12but prevents the main portion of the blade12from entering.

The blade12is removably secured within the collet70as shown inFIG. 2aof the drawings. The blade12may be comprised of various styles of blades used in hobby knives, utility knives and medical knives, and any other replaceable blade12. The blade12typically has a neck14that is inserted within the receiver slot within the collet70for frictional engagement thereof in a non-movable manner.

The shaft50is connected between the lever30and the collet70as best illustrated inFIGS. 2c,3and5of the drawings. The shaft50is connected to the lever30at the second pivot point, wherein the second pivot point is offset from the first pivot point as discussed previously. The end of the shaft50connected to the collet70is preferably threaded to allow for adjustment of the collet70and the shaft50with respect to one another. The connecting end52of the shaft50is preferably looped to receive the offset pin34.

The second pivot point is closer to the first end21of the body20when the lever30is in the open position than when the lever30is in the closed position. When the lever30is in the closed position the shaft50applies tension to the collet70causing the collet70to frictionally engage the blade12. When the lever30is in the open position the shaft50reduces tension to the collet70compared to the closed position allowing the blade12to be removed from the collet70.

The illuminating unit40is attached to the body20to apply light towards an area near the blade12. The illuminating unit40includes a switch42electrically connected between a power source and a light. The power source is preferably comprised of a battery and the light is preferably comprised of a light-emitting-diode (LED). Various other lights may be utilized to construct the illuminating unit40.

The LED extends through and from the light opening64within the body20directed towards the blade12to illuminate a work area. The switch42is attached to the first end21of the body20wherein the user may simultaneously grasp the body20and close the switch42thereby activating the LED.

A cap68is removably attached to the first end21of the body20and covering the blade12. The cap68preferably includes an inner lip69that catchably engages with a transverse groove within the body20. The cap68has a length sufficient to allow the blade12to remain within the collet70and is rigid enough to prevent injury to an individual. The cap68preferably has a tapered design corresponding to the body20and the shape of the blade12.

The cap68is preferably translucent or semi-translucent to allow an individual to see that a blade12is attached within. A slot preferably extends through the cap68to allow for viewing of the blade12and to allow for expansion of the cap68for securing and removal of the cap68with respect to the body20.

I. Operation of Preferred Embodiment

In use, the user opens the lever30thereby causing the collet70to extend outwardly from the body20and expand as shown inFIG. 2cof the drawings. A blade12is removed from one of the storage compartments26and the neck14portion of the blade12is inserted into the slots74,78of the collet70. The user then closes the lever30which causes the shaft50to apply tension to the collet70as shown inFIG. 2aof the drawings. When tension is applied to the collet70, the collet70contracts upon the neck14of the blade12in a frictional engagement thereby preventing removal of the blade12. If the blade12is loose or becomes loose during usage, the user is able to open the lever30and then rotate the collet70to draw the collet70inwardly towards the body20resulting in additional friction being applied to the blade12to retain the blade12within the collet70.

When the lever30is in the closed position, the tension within the shaft50coupled with the offset pivot point on the lever30results in an inward closing force constantly applied to the lever30to prevent the lever30from opening. The closing force is present as long as there is tension within the shaft50.

When the user needs to replace a blade12, the user opens the lever30by grasping the lever30and pivoting it away from the body20. As the lever30is rotated away from the body20, the offset pivot point that the shaft50is connected to moves towards the first end21of the body20resulting in reduced tension within the shaft50(and preferably extending the collet70outwardly slightly from the body20) thereby resulting in the loosening of the collet70around the neck14of the blade12. The user is then able to remove the blade12from the collet70and then position a new blade12within the collet70with the above procedure repeated.

After a blade12is properly secured within the collet70, the user is then able to utilize the present invention to cut various types of items. While grasping the body20with the lever30with their hand, the user can also depress the switch42resulting in the illumination of the work area prior to and/or during cutting. The user may remove the pressure from the switch42at anytime resulting in the termination of the illumination.