Abstract:
A knife with a handle capable of adjustable weight configurations. The handle is hollow such that the weight balance between the handle and blade may be adjusted through the selective use of one or more removable weights that form part of an axially oriented weight mounting assembly. A user may add or remove weights until a desired knife balance is achieved.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to improved cutlery, and more particularly to a kitchen knife that has interchangeable weights so that a user can adjust the balance and feel of the knife. 
         [0002]    Knives and related cutlery devices are common tools in both private and commercial kitchens. Typically, a kitchen knife includes a blade attached to or formed integral with a handle through a tang. The handle forms the main grasping surface, while the blade forms the cutting surface along a sharpened cutting edge along its length. An opposing edge of the blade is flattened or blunted to allow a user to place a hand for additional guidance or support of the knife during use. 
         [0003]    Weight imbalances can cause user fatigue over extended use periods, even in situations where the imbalance is relatively small. While both private and commercial users may use a knife for such extended periods, the problem is especially acute in commercial environments. In a typical fixed knife configuration, the center of gravity is located at or near the center of the handle portion and cannot be changed. Such inflexibility limits the utility of the knife, especially over periods of prolonged use. What is desired is a knife that can maintain a proper weight balance under different use conditions. What is further desired is a knife that can have its balance easily adjusted. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    These desires are met by the present invention, where a kitchen knife capable of easy user-defined balancing is disclosed. With this preferred arrangement, the overall weight balance of the knife can be optimized, thereby reducing the onset of user fatigue. Such is especially valuable in commercial kitchen applications, where a user may be working with the knife for hours at a time. 
         [0005]    According to a first aspect of the invention, a kitchen knife includes a metal blade, a handle with a hollow compartment, one or more removable weights and a weight mounting assembly that cooperates with the handle to allow the weights to be secured within the hollow compartment. The blade includes a sharp cutting edge and a blunted edge opposite the cutting edge. The handle is connected to the blade, while the weight mounting assembly can engage the handle at an end of the handle that is substantially opposite of the end of the handle nearest the blade. In this way, once a user has placed the weight or weights into a desired axial location within the hollow compartment, the weight mounting assembly can effect an axially balanced configuration suitable to the user&#39;s particular needs. 
         [0006]    Optionally, the blade can be made from a suitable cutting material, such as a high carbon or otherwise alloyed steel. Similarly, a material making up the handle can be the same material, or can be a stainless steel. The one or more weights may be disposed in the hollow compartment such that balanced knife configuration occurs mainly along a substantially lengthwise direction of the handle. In one form, the handle engages the weight mounting assembly through a permanent connection, for example, welding a ring or related mount to the handle. In addition, the one or more weights may be, in situations where multiple weights are used, axially disposed relative to one another within the hollow compartment. The weight mounting assembly may be formed from numerous components, including a stopper or related main structural member that threadably or otherwise engages the ring or related mount that (through the aforementioned welding) is directly and permanently affixed to one or both of inner and rear surfaces of the handle, and an end cap or cover that is attached to the stopper. The stopper functions as an anchor for a generally axial rod, post or screw upon which the weight or weights (which could have complementary threaded bores formed through them) can be secured in a preferred axial place. The cover can be used to substantially close off the remaining components from the ambient environment once the weight mounting assembly is placed within the handle, and may be attached to the stopper in such a way that insertion or removal of the end cap (by screwing or unscrewing) of it produces sympathetic movement in the stopper which, by virtue of its threaded relationship with the ring or similar mount, can be inserted or removed by the screwing or unscrewing motion. Preferably, movement of the stopper and end cap is rotational, so that such rotational movement in one produces comparable rotational movement in the other. In addition, one or more indexing devices can be placed on the rod to cooperate with it to keep the weights disposed on the rod in a fixed axial location thereon. The weight mounting assembly allows relatively precise placement of the weight or weights in accordance with a preferred balance, heft or related feel as desired by the user. In another option, the handle may include protuberances on the outer surface thereof to promote improved user grip. Such construction is beneficial in avoiding having the knife slip in the user&#39;s hand. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the invention, a kitchen knife including a metal blade with a cutting edge, a handle integrally defining an axially elongate hollow compartment and one or more removable weights disposable in the hollow compartment is disclosed. The cooperation between the weight and the hollow compartment is such that upon placement of the weight in the hollow compartment, a predetermined balance characteristic of the knife can be established. By being integrally constructed, the handle and the blade define a single, one-piece (i.e., unitary) structure, rather than being fastened or adhesively glued together. Such unitary construction, which may be achieved by forming the handle and blade from a single piece of material, or by welding the two together along with post-weld machining, is not only more structurally robust, but also minimizes gaps or like locations on the outer surface of the knife that can provide a breeding ground for bacteria or other contaminants. 
         [0008]    The handle includes a proximal end and a distal end such that in a preferred embodiment, the hollow compartment terminates at the proximal end and the blade joins the handle at the distal end. The knife may further include a weight mounting assembly configured in a manner generally similar to that discussed above in conjunction with the previous aspect. Closure of the proximal end of the handle occurs with the end cap, which (in a manner similar to that discussed above) when in place closes off access to the hollow compartment that terminates at the proximal end of the handle. As previously stated, a stopper may be threaded so that it engages the handle as a device that can be screwed on or off by movement imparted to it through the end cap. In addition, a rod may be axially disposed within the hollow compartment. The rod may further be in the form of a tube, post or screw and aligned along the handle&#39;s axial dimension. To enhance cooperation between the weights and the rod, the weights may have a substantially axial bore formed through them such that they can engage the rod through the substantially axial bore. Connection between the bore and rod may be through slip fit, friction fit or threaded relationship, the latter where complementary threads promote a nut-and-bolt like fit between them. In a slip fit configuration, the weights may be held in a preferred axial place by protrusions on the rod, or by sleeves (for example, tight-fitting rubber tubes) that can fit on the outer surface of the rod and remain in place by frictional contact, adhesive or other fastening or other means. Threaded cooperation between various components such as the stopper and a complementary surface on the handle (or a stopper-engaging mount, such as a ring, affixed to the surface of the handle) is such that ease of access to the hollow compartment through unscrewing the stopper is promoted. Likewise, screwing the stopper into the complementary threads on the mount or handle makes it easy to put the knife back together again once the desired weight balance is established. 
         [0009]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of balancing a kitchen knife is disclosed. The method includes configuring the knife to have a blade, a handle defining a hollow compartment therein and one or more weights sized to fit within the hollow compartment. In addition, the method includes establishing access to the hollow compartment such that the weight (or weights) can only be added through the back or rear end of the handle that is axially opposite the blade, then situating the weight(s) in a predetermined axial position in the hollow compartment. As few or as many weights, including weights of different sizes, may be incorporated by the user until a balance deemed suitable to the user is arrived at. 
         [0010]    Optionally, situating the weight includes defining a bore through the weight and mounting the weight onto a rod or related member such that the bore cooperates with the rod to keep the weight in a preferred position. Such arrangement promotes a secure connection between them. The mounting between the at least one weight and weight mounting device can be achieved by friction fit, slip fit, threaded connection or other approach discussed herein, where tubes or related sleeves can be slipped over the rod and used to keep the weights in a preferred location on the rods in slip fit configurations. Such applies whether the weight is a single weight or numerous weights. As discussed with the previous aspects, the blade and the handle may be formed from or into a single-piece structure. Also as discussed in conjunction with the previous aspects, the hollow compartment may be closed at its terminal end. A weight mounting assembly can be used to secure the one or more weights within the handle, as well as close off the terminal end of the handle. The assembly may include a handle-engaging member (for example, a ring or related device to couple the back or interior surface of the handle to the rest of the assembly), an anchor member and a rod that is coupled to or otherwise supported by the anchor member. The assembly may additionally include an end cap that may be friction fit, threaded, keyed or otherwise joinable to other components within the weight mounting assembly. For example, by being threadably attached to the anchor member, a user desirous of changing the balance of the knife, may unscrew the end cap and anchor member to allow exposure of the rod and other components used to carry and position the weights. Specifically, the anchor member acts as a base for the rod, elongate tube, post or screw in such a way as to have the rod extend in an axially forward direction into the hollow compartment. As previously discussed, closing the hollow compartment may be achieved by placing the removable parts of the assembly into the hollow compartment that is defined in the handle, and attaching such parts to the handle-engaging member. Thus, in a preferred form, at least the parts of the assembly used to support the weights (for example, the rod and the stopper or anchor, to which the rod and weights may be attached) is removable from the handle. In this way, when a user desires to make rapid, small-scale changes to the knife&#39;s balance, he or she need merely remove such parts, add or remove weights, then reinsert those parts of the assembly into the handle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The following detailed description of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a partial elevation cutaway view of a knife with blade and handle according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is an end view along section A-A of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1C  is a top view of the knife of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a side cutaway view of a threaded ring that fits into a proximal end of the handle; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  is an aft looking forward view of the threaded ring of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  is a side cutaway view of a stopper that engages the threaded ring and fits within a hollow compartment formed in the handle; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3B  is an aft looking forward view of the stopper of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  is a side cutaway view of a cover that engages the stopper of  FIGS. 3A and 3B ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4B  is an forward looking aft view of the cover of  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  is a side cutaway view of a sealing ring that fits between the threaded ring and stopper; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  is an axial view of the sealing ring of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of a rod supported by the stopper of  FIGS. 3A and 3B ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6B  is an end view along section A-A of  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7A  is a side cutaway view of an indexing tube that engages the rod of  FIGS. 6A and 6B ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7B  is an end view of the indexing tube of  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8A  is a side cutaway view of three separately-sized weights that are supported by the rod of  FIGS. 6A and 6B  and held in axial place by the indexing tubes of  FIGS. 7A and 7B ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8B  is an end view of the largest of the weights of  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the stopper of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  with the cover of FIGS.  4 A and  4 B attached; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a rear partially disassembled view showing the various components making up an embodiment of the kitchen knife of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0031]    Referring to the figures, a kitchen knife  1  and the various components making it up are shown. Referring with particularity to  FIG. 1A , the knife  1  includes a blade  10  with a cutting edge  12  and an opposing spine  14 . Referring with particularity to  FIG. 1C , the spine  14  generally has a blunted or squared-off edge such that a user can place his or her hand on the spine  14  to stabilize or otherwise guide the knife  1  during use. In one preferred (although not necessary) form, the blade is made from an alloyed steel to give it enhanced hardness or other desirable cutting edge attributes. One such material may be a high-carbon steel. 
         [0032]    The knife  1  also includes a handle  20  that is affixed to blade  10 . The handle  20  is tapered from its proximal end  22  to its distal end  21 , where the distal end  21  smoothly transitions into blade  10 . In a preferred form, the blade  10  and handle  20  form a one-piece unitary structure. Such structure can be formed by having the blade  10  and handle  20  be formed from a single piece of material in situations where the blade and handle materials are the same, or joined together (for example, by welding) in situations where the materials are dissimilar. One example of where the handle  20  may be of a dissimilar material to that of the blade  10  is where the handle  20  is made of 304 stainless steel. The handle  20  of the present invention can be formed from a single piece of material that provides its own support structure. In another form, two mirror-image halves with cavities or recesses formed therein may joined together (such as by welding), and subsequently joined to the blade  10 . Such an approach is superior to that where the handle is formed from halves over a tang or related stub shaft and subsequently joined by rivets, screws or related fasteners. Referring again to  FIG. 1A , the cavities or recesses of each of the handle halves, when coupled together, allows the handle  20  to define a hollow compartment  25  inside, the volume of which is ample to accommodate one or more weights  40 A,  40 B and  40 C (collectively referred to as  40 ), as well as the weight mounting assembly  30  that will be discussed in additional detail below. 
         [0033]    To assemble the knife, the blade  10  is joined together with the handle  20  by welding or related joining process known to those skilled in the art. After welding, the weld line can be removed by grinding and polishing, giving the knife  1  the look and mechanical integrity of a single piece unitary structure. Once the handle  20  is made by two separated stainless steel pieces and welded together, a ring  31  (which is shown in isolated form in  FIGS. 2A and 2B ) or related handle-engaging device is welded, screwed or otherwise affixed at the proximal end  22  of handle  20 . Preferably, ring  31  is made from a rigid, durable material, such as  304  stainless steel. As shown, the ring  31  defines a friction fit with the proximal end  22  of the handle  20 , although it will be appreciated that other connection schemes (such as a threaded relationship formed between the peripheral surface of ring  31  and a respective surface inside handle  20 ) capable of effecting a secure fit between the ring  31  and handle  20  may be employed. In such circumstances where the ring  31  is threaded, it will be referred to as threaded ring  31 . Again as shown, ring  31  is welded to the proximal end  22  of handle  20  in a permanent connection. 
         [0034]    Referring next to  FIGS. 2A through 7B  in conjunction with  FIG. 1A , the various components making up the weight mounting assembly  30  are shown. In addition to the aforementioned threaded ring  31  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a stopper  32  (as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ), end cap or cover  33  (as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) sealing ring  34  (as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ), rod  35  (as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ) and sleeve (or tube)  36  (as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B ). Stopper  32  may be made of a hard, durable, bacterial-resistant material (such as nylon), while sealing ring  34  may be made of rubber or related compliant material. Stopper  32  (which is shown in isolated form in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ) is placed with the aperture formed in threaded ring  31 . Whereas the preferred connection between the threaded ring  31  and the handle  20  is through a permanent affixation (such as welding), the connection between the stopper  32  and threaded ring  31  is preferably through a threaded connection. As will be discussed in more detail below, such threaded connection facilitates ease of insertion and removal of the weight mounting assembly  30 . 
         [0035]    To help isolate the hollow compartment  25  from the ambient environment, sealing ring  34  (which is shown in isolated form in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ) is placed within recess  32 B of stopper  32 . Sealing ring  34  is made of a compliant material, such as rubber or silicone. By being slightly oversized relative to the fit between the stopper  32  and threaded ring  31 , the sealing ring  34  becomes compressed, which in turn provides an interference that inhibits the passage of fluids. A proximal end of stopper  32  includes a recess  32 A that can be used to accommodate a cover  33  (which is shown in isolated form in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) to effect an aesthetically-pleasing closure to the proximal end  22  of handle  20 . A distal end of stopper  32  includes a generally axially-oriented anchor region  32 C into which rod  35  (which is shown in isolated form in  FIGS. 6A and 6B ) fits. To promote secure connection between rod  35  and anchor region  32 C, the proximal end of rod  35  may be keyed  35 A such that it can fit within a complementary slot (not shown) in anchor region  32 C. In another version (not shown), both the proximal outer surface of the end of rod  35  and the inner surface of the anchor region  32 C can include complementary threads. Rod  35  is preferably made from a rigid structural material, such as an iron-based material. In addition, it may be nickel plated for smooth finish and enhanced resistance to corrosion. 
         [0036]    Also as shown in  FIG. 1A , in conjunction with  FIG. 1B  and  FIGS. 8A and 8B , one or more weights  40 A,  40 B and  40 C can be placed within hollow compartment  25  to allow a user to vary the balance attributes of knife  1 . The weights  40 A,  40 B and  40 C are secured to the handle  20  through the weight mounting assembly  30  in general, and rod  35  in particular. Weights  40 A,  40 B and  40 C can be made of any relatively dense material (such as steel or other iron-based material). In a particular form, they can be made of a nickel plated iron in a manner similar to rod  35 . As can be seen with particularity in  FIG. 1B , the weights  40  (of which only the most proximally-mounted weight  40 C can be seen) are horizontally and vertically centered within hollow compartment  25 . Rod  35  (which will be discussed in more detail below) extends along the longitudinal (i.e., axial) dimension of the handle  20  and blade  10  of the knife  1 . 
         [0037]    Weights  40  are of generally cylindrical construction, and define an axial bore  140  therethrough. The relationship between the axial bore  140  and the rod  35  is such that placing the weights  40  on the rod  35  is akin to stringing beads in that one or more of the weights  40  are stacked relative to one another along the rod  35  until a user-determined heft and axial balance is achieved. The attachment of one or more sleeves  36  (two of which are shown in  FIG. 1A  axially surrounding weights  40 A,  40 B and  40 C) to the rod  35  prevents the sort of free-floating movement of the weights  40  along the rod  35  that would otherwise upset the user&#39;s much sought-after balance. Sleeve  36  can in one form be made of rubber that can have a relative high coefficient of friction when disposed against rod  35 . By proper choice of aperture size and material choice, a relative ease of positioning of the sleeve  36  can be effected by the user, while remaining a relatively immovable connection to the rod  35  once put into place. In this way, the sleeve  36  acts to limit the axial or longitudinal travel of the weights  40 A,  40 B and  40 C. The present inventors have recognized that another way to achieve the stopping or locking effect of the sleeves is to include radially-extending detents or related protrusions from the rod  35 ; such can act to limit the axial travel of the weights  40 A,  40 B and  40 C and concomitant imbalances that arise out of an otherwise loose or sloppy connection. 
         [0038]    To adjust the weight of the handle  20 , the user removes the cover (i.e., end cap)  33  to gain access to stopper  32  and the rod  35  and weights  40  mounted on the stopper  32 . Referring with particularity to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4 A,  4 B and  9 , engagement of cover  33  and stopper  32  is shown. In a preferred form, cover  33  is made from stainless steel. Cover  33  includes an axially-projecting flange  33 A that is sized to securely fit within recess  32 A of stopper  32 . Flange  33 A preferably includes keyed members  33 B that fit into complementary indents  32 D formed along recess  32 A. In addition, cover defines a centrally disposed tool access  33 D. In the form shown in  FIG. 9 , the tool access is a screwdriver slot (for example, to accept a Phillips screwdriver). In this way, the cover  33 , which is threadably attached to the stopper  32 , can be used as the mechanism with which a screwdriver interacts to allow insertion and removal of the weight mounting assembly  30 , as screwing and unscrewing it has the effect of transferring such motion to the keyed attachment on the stopper  32 , which by virtue of its threadable attachment to the inner surface of threaded ring  31 , screws to and unscrews from the handle  20 , exposing the hollow compartment  25  therein. 
         [0039]    Referring lastly to  FIG. 10 , an aft-looking-forward view of knife  1  and the various components used to allow the knife  1  to possess weight-balancing features is shown. Particular contouring on the handle  20  can be seen, where a ridgeline  27  extends rearwardly from the distal end  21  of the handle  20  to a location intermediate the distal end  21  and the proximal end  22 . To improve the tactile feel of knife  1 , a roughened grip portion  29  may be defined on a portion of handle  20 ; such portion may coincide with an area on one side of the ridgeline  27 . The hollow compartment  25  is defined within handle  20 , and terminates at its proximal (i.e., rearward) end with the threaded ring  31 . As stated above, the engagement of the threaded ring  31  to the handle  20  can be through welding, although friction fitting, screwing or other approached may also be used. Internal threads  31 A on threaded ring  31  cooperate with the external threads  32 D on stopper  32  such that the former and latter can removably engage one another. In the version of cover  33  shown in  FIG. 10 , the centrally disposed tool access  33 D is in the form of a recess capable of receiving an Allen wrench. The weight mounting assembly  30  is shown mostly assembled, with stopper  32 , cover  33  and rod  35  connected. Weights  40 A,  40 B and  40 C can be mounted onto the rod  35  and affixed axially along the rod  35  by placement of the sleeves  36  axially forward and aft of the weights. Rod  35  may include threads  35 A to promote a more secure placement of the weights  40  or sleeves  36 . 
         [0040]    Having described the present invention in detail and by reference to the embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention in the following claims.