Abstract:
A knife system including a handle and a disposable and interchangeable blade sized for kitchen, hunting, or fishing uses. The knife handle grips surround a handle core component. The handle core is shaped to hold a disposable and interchangeable knife blade. A latching arm component resides within the handle core, placing tension on the knife blade as the blade is inserted into the handle. A protrusion and a cutout on the latching arm and the blade engage each other and lock the blade in the handle. A blade release member is actuated against a release spring to force the latching arm to disengage and release the blade. The knife system has the advantages of easy removal, disposal, and replacement of dull, broken, or damaged full-sized knife blades.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/778,558, entitled “Knife with Disposable and Interchangeable Blade” and filed on Mar. 2, 2006, which is specifically incorporated herein by reference for all that it discloses and teaches. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to cutting implements and more particularly to a knife with a disposable and interchangeable blade. A knife handle assembly and disposable and interchangeable blade function together as a knife system to perform various functions such as cutting, chopping and slicing. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Knives have been used for centuries, from the days of the first bone and flint knives to today&#39;s high-carbon steel knives employed in modern kitchens. Over the years, many different sizes and shapes have been developed in order to meet the various demands of knife wielders. These size and shape innovations have helped to simplify many of the ordinary chores in which various knives are often used. However, one common problem still remains: regardless of the shape or size of the knife in question, the blade eventually dulls from use and needs to be resharpened in order to regain its original cutting efficiency. Depending on the shape, size, and composition of the blade, the resharpening process can be difficult and time-consuming, at best. 
         [0004]    An examination of the plethora of sharpening methods and devices hints at the scope of the problem. People employ everything from old hand-held sharpening stones to automated electric sharpening devices, and yet the “dull blade syndrome” continues to plague the average kitchen (i.e., the standard kitchen knife is more often dull than sharp). Other special-purpose knives such as those used by sportsmen for skinning, boning, filleting and otherwise processing fish and game also dull quickly and become difficult to use until time and effort is expended resharpening them. 
         [0005]    Three specialized knife applications are especially prone to the dull blade syndrome: kitchen knives, hunting knives, and fishing knives (i.e., fillet knives). These three knife types usually have medium to large blades with relatively thick blade spines so that each knife has the strength necessary to carry out its specialized tasks. Further, kitchen, hunting and fishing knives are often used repetitively and can dull before the user is finished with the cutting task. In a few very specialized cutting implement applications—such as surgical scalpels, razor blades, and “X-ACTO” modeling knives—blades have been developed that are designed to avoid the dull blade syndrome. These specialized cutting implements are designed to either be completely disposable (e.g., surgical scalpels) or to have an interchangeable blade component (e.g., “X-ACTO” knives). However, these small, specialized cutting implements can not function as kitchen, hunting or fishing knives because they incorporate delicate, use-specific blades that are unable to handle the rigors to which such knives are commonly subjected. Therefore, strong, durable kitchen, hunting and fishing knives are needed that avoid the dull blade syndrome. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Embodiments described and claimed herein address the foregoing problems by providing a component knife system including a handle assembly and a disposable and interchangeable blade sized for kitchen, hunting, or fishing uses. The knife system provides for the easy removal, disposal, and replacement of dull, broken, or damaged full-sized knife blades. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The aforementioned and other features and objects of the present invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a rear view perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a disposable and interchangeable blade knife system including an assembled knife and two disposable and interchangeable blades. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  provides a rear view exploded perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a knife system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a push-button blade-release knife system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a rear view perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a turn-knob blade-release knife system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a knife system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a rear end view of an exemplary embodiment of a knife system. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front end view of an exemplary embodiment of a knife system. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a knife system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    In one embodiment, a knife handle assembly and disposable and interchangeable blade comprise a knife system wherein a standard-sized knife can be used in the kitchen, for example, until dull. The user can then remove the dull blade, interchange it with a new, sharp blade, and simply dispose of the old blade. A significant benefit of this system is that the knife user does not need to expend any time or effort resharpening the dull blade. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment, the interchangeable blade is smaller-sized to more closely resemble a pairing knife type blade. The corresponding knife handle assembly can be similarly reduced in size or can remain the standard size. In other embodiments of the system, various size disposable blades and handles can be utilized. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a disposable and interchangeable blade knife system including an assembled knife and two disposable and interchangeable blades  100 . The illustration shows three primary objects: an interchangeable and disposable fillet blade  101 , a fully assembled knife system  110 , and an interchangeable and disposable carving blade  120 . 
         [0019]    The interchangeable and disposable fillet blade  101  is an example of one type of blade size and style that can be used in the knife system. The fillet blade  101  can be constructed of steel or other metals, or any material known to the art, or yet to be developed, that is suitable for knife blades. The fillet blade  101  is shaped to have a cutting edge  102 , a spine  103  opposite the cutting edge  102 , a blade tip  104  at one end, and a blade shank  105  at the opposite end from the blade tip  104 . In alternate embodiments, the interchangeable and disposable fillet blade  101  can have any of a myriad of different shapes, including, but not limited to: two or more sharpened cutting edges, a blunt blade tip, no blade tip, a gut-hook blade tip, etc. Variations in knife blade sizes and shapes are known in the art and alternate embodiments include any known or future variations of knife blade shape, size, construction, material, etc. 
         [0020]    The cutting edge  102  can have straight, convex- or concave-shaped surfaces extending down from the spine  103  and terminating opposite the spine  103  where the surfaces join. Combinations of the aforementioned surface shapes are contemplated. Further, it is contemplated that the cutting edge  102  can utilize any of the various shapes, styles, and types of cutting edges known in the art. For example, the cutting edge can be thin and extremely sharp, thick and strong, serrated, etc. The spine  103  is often thicker in width than the cutting edge  102 , thus imparting strength to the blade. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the spine  103  is flat and un-sharpened. However, alternate embodiments are contemplated wherein the spine is sharpened into an additional cutting edge, shaped into a saw-blade configuration, etc. Similarly, the blade tip  104  can be sharp, blunt, etc. 
         [0021]    In  FIG. 1 , the shank  105  of the disposable fillet blade  101  is that portion of the disposable blade opposite the tip-end that does not have a sharpened cutting edge. Instead, the shank  105  is shaped so as to provide a surface and structure to facilitate rigid attachment to a knife handle assembly  111 . In the embodiment of the fillet blade  101  shown in  FIG. 1 , the shank  105  has a cutout  106  to facilitate rigid attachment of a knife handle assembly  111 . In another embodiment, a disposable and interchangeable fillet blade  101  can have a protrusion instead of a cutout to assist in attaching the fillet blade  101  to the knife handle assembly  111 . In yet another embodiment, the fillet blade  101  is shaped so as to securely attach to the handle assembly  111  without the use of a cutout or protrusion. 
         [0022]    The assembled blade system  110  shown in  FIG. 1  includes three main components: the knife handle assembly  111 , the push-button blade release  112 , and the disposable and interchangeable pairing blade  113 . As discussed above, the blade  113  can be constructed in various sizes and shapes and in alternate embodiments can be replaced with a fillet blade  101 , a carving blade  120 , or any other disposable and interchangeable blade. The knife handle assembly  111  can be constructed of plastic, wood, metal, or any other suitable material. The handle assembly  111  can be plainly shaped as shown in the embodiment in  FIG. 1 . In an alternate embodiment, the handle assembly  111  can be ergonomically shaped with grooves for a user&#39;s fingers and thumb so as to provide a more comfortable and close fit to the user&#39;s hand. The knife system with disposable and interchangeable blades contemplates various knife handle shapes which are currently known in the art and which become known. 
         [0023]    The push-button blade release  112  shown in  FIG. 1  provides the blade system user with a mechanism for removing and changing knife blades. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a user would utilize the following method to change blades: the user pushes in the push-button blade release  112  to release the pairing blade  113 ; the user removes the pairing blade  113  by pulling the blade straight out of the knife handle assembly  111 , away from the push-button blade release end of the knife; the push-button blade release  112  is then released and allowed to return to its normal position; the user selects an alternate disposable and interchangeable blade, such as the carving blade  120 ; the alternate blade is inserted into the knife handle assembly  111 ; the blade automatically locks into place when fully inserted by engaging the cutout  126  within the knife handle assembly  111 . In alternate embodiments, the knife system  100  can utilize other types of blade locking and release mechanisms such as the turn-knob blade release shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0024]    The interchangeable and disposable carving blade  120  is an example of another type of blade size and style that can be used in the knife system. The carving blade  120  can be constructed of steel or other metals, or any material known to the art, or yet to be developed, that is suitable for knife blades. The carving blade  120  is shaped to have a cutting edge  122 , a spine  123  opposite the cutting edge  122 , a blade tip  124  at one end, and a blade shank  125  at the other end, opposite the blade tip  124 . In alternate embodiments, the interchangeable and disposable carving blade  120  can have any of a myriad of different sizes and shapes, including, but not limited to: two or more sharpened cutting edges, a blunt blade tip, no blade tip, etc. 
         [0025]    The cutting edge  122  can have a convex, straight, or concave shape. Further, it is contemplated that the cutting edge  122  can utilize any of the various shapes, styles, and types of cutting edges known in the art. For example, the cutting edge can be thin and extremely sharp, thick and strong, serrated, etc. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the spine  123  is flat and un-sharpened. However, alternate embodiments are contemplated wherein the spine is sharpened into an additional cutting edge, shaped into a saw-blade configuration, etc. Similarly, the blade tip  124  can be sharp, blunt, etc. 
         [0026]    In  FIG. 1 , the shank  125  of the disposable carving blade  120  is that portion of the disposable blade opposite the tip-end that does not have a sharpened cutting edge. Similar to the fillet blade shank  105 , the carving blade shank  125  can have a cutout  126  to facilitate rigid attachment of a knife handle assembly  111 . In another embodiment, a disposable and interchangeable carving blade  120  can have a protrusion instead of a cutout to assist in attaching the carving blade  120  to the knife handle assembly  111 . In yet another embodiment, the carving blade  120  is shaped so as to securely attach to the handle assembly without the use of a cutout or protrusion. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  provides a rear view exploded perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a knife system  200 . This particular embodiment comprises the following components: left handle grip  201 , left handle core  202 , latching arm  203 , release spring  204 , blade release  205 , interchangeable and disposable blade  206 , right handle core  207 , and right handle grip  208 . In addition, the blade  206  contains a cutout  209  and the latching arm  203  has a protrusion  210  and a flange  211 . The components displayed in  FIG. 2  are shown from an exploded perspective. When the system is fully assembled, the left and right handle cores  202  and  207  enclose the latching arm  203 , the release spring  204 , the blade release  205  and the shank of the disposable blade  206 . The left and right handle grips  201  and  208  fit over the handle cores  202  and  207 . 
         [0028]    In the embodiment displayed in  FIG. 2 , the left and right handle grips  201  and  208 , respectively, are made of a soft over-molding material (e.g., rubber). In alternate embodiments, various other construction materials can be used. In yet another embodiment, the handle grips  201  and  208  can be ergonomically shaped to conform to the hand of a user of the knife. Finger grooves can be incorporated into the grips as can non-slip design elements so as to ensure that the user maintains a solid hold on the knife. Non-functional design elements such as color and stylized shapes can also be added to the handle grips. 
         [0029]    The left and right handle cores  202  and  207 , respectively, are made of injection-molded plastic or metal in the embodiment displayed in  FIG. 2 . Various other construction materials can be used. The handle cores are shaped so as to accept the shank of the interchangeable and disposable blade component  206  between them. The cores are further shaped so that when they are placed together, the latching arm  203 , the release spring  204 , and the blade release  205  (collectively, the “internal components”) fit inside and between the left and right handle core components  202  and  207 . In other embodiments, inserts could be added between the handle cores and the blade  206  and/or any of the internal components to assist in maintaining the blade&#39;s rigidity and position relative to the handle cores. In yet another embodiment, the handle cores can reside inside the shank of the blade  206 , i.e., the cores can be surrounded by and integrated within the shank of the blade. 
         [0030]    The latching arm  203  is constructed of spring steel in the embodiment displayed in  FIG. 2 . Other construction materials can be utilized. The latching arm  203  is shaped to fit securely within the handle cores  202  and  207 . As shown in the embodiment in  FIG. 2 , the latching arm  203  has a protrusion  210  which is shaped to fit within a matching cutout  209  in the shank of the disposable blade  206 . As the blade is inserted into the assembled knife handle (see  FIG. 1 ), the shape of the protrusion  210  on the latching arm  203  forces the latching arm  203  to flex outwards away from the shank of the disposable blade  206 . When the cutout  209  in the shank of the disposable blade  206  slides into position opposite the protrusion  210  on the latching arm  203 , the latching arm  203  snaps back into place with the protrusion  210  mated within the cutout  209  on the shank of the disposable blade  206 , thereby securely locking the disposable blade in place. In another embodiment, the latching arm  203  can be shaped to contain a cutout and the disposable blade  206  can have a protrusion. In yet another embodiment, the protrusion and cutout are replaced with other securing features. It is also contemplated that the securing features can be incorporated into the handle cores or other components and thereby remove the latching arm component altogether. 
         [0031]    The release spring  204  and blade release  205  function together in the embodiment pictured in  FIG. 2  in order to release the disposable blade  206  from the handle assembly. The blade release  205  is shaped so as to fit inside the left and right handle cores  202  and  207 . The push-button end of the blade release  205  is visible and accessible on the butt-end of the handle assembly opposite the end where the disposable blade  206  is inserted (see  FIG. 1 ). The release spring  204  fits within the core handles and against the shaft of the blade release  205 . The release spring  204  provides resistance to the in/out motion of the blade release relative to the core handles. When a user pushes the push-button end of the blade release  205 , the blade release  205  is forced further into the core handles towards the point of the disposable blade  206 . The release spring  204  provides resistance to this inward motion. As the blade release  205  slides deeper into the core handles, the end of the blade release  205  opposite the push-button acts against a flange  211  on the latching arm  203 . The contact between the blade release  205  and the flange  211  on the latching arm  203  flexes the latching arm  203  away from the shank of the disposable blade  206 . If enough pressure is applied by the user, the protrusion  210  on the latching arm  203  will disengage from the cutout  209  on the shank of the disposable blade  206 , allowing the disposable blade  206  to be removed from the handle assembly. In another embodiment, the blade release  205  is shaped so that a twisting motion applied by the user to the exposed and accessible end of the blade release  205  flexes the latching arm  203  away from the shank of the disposable blade  206  and releases the disposable blade  206 . In yet another embodiment, the features of the blade release  205  component are added to the handle cores such that blade release can be affected without the use of a separate and distinct blade release component. 
         [0032]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the disposable blade  206  is shaped to have a sharpened cutting edge, a spine (opposite the cutting edge), a tip or point at one end, and a shank at the other end (opposite the point). In alternate embodiments, the disposable blade  206  can have any of a myriad of different shapes, including, but not limited to: two or more sharpened cutting edges, no point, a blunt point, a gut-hook point, etc. In  FIG. 2 , the shank of the disposable blade  206  is that portion of the disposable blade opposite the pointed-end that does not have a sharpened cutting edge. Instead, the shank is shaped so as to provide a surface and structure to facilitate rigid attachment between the handle cores and the disposable blade. The shank of the disposable blade  206  has a cutout  209  made to accept a protrusion  210  from the latching arm  203 . In another embodiment, the disposable blade  206  has a protrusion and the latching arm  203  has a cutout. In yet another embodiment, the disposable blade  206  is shaped so as to securely attach to the handle assembly without the use of a latching arm component. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a push-button blade-release knife system  300 . The system contains two primary components: the interchangeable and disposable blade  301  and the handle assembly  302 . The disposable blade  301  is inserted into one end of the handle assembly  302 . At the opposite end of the handle assembly  302 , the push-button end of the blade release  303  is visible. To remove the disposable blade  301 , the user simply depresses the push-button end of the blade release  303  and slides the disposable blade  301  out of the handle assembly  302 . As noted above, in an alternate embodiment, the push-button end of the blade release  303  could be shaped so that a twisting motion applied by the user to the exposed and accessible end of the blade release  303  releases the disposable blade  301 . In such an embodiment, the push-button end of the blade release  303  can be a turn-knob (see  FIG. 4 ) instead of a push-button. Other methods of releasing the blade are contemplated. 
         [0034]    As a user wields the knife system to perform various tasks, the disposable blade  301  eventually dulls. The user can then employ the following method to dispose of the old blade  301  and interchange a new, sharp, disposable blade: operate the blade release  303 ; remove the dull blade  301 ; insert a new, sharp disposable blade. The user can then dispose of the old blade  301 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  illustrates a rear view perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a turn-knob blade-release knife system  400 . The system contains two primary components: the interchangeable and disposable blade  401  and the handle assembly  402 . The disposable blade  401  is inserted into one end of the handle assembly  402 . At the opposite end of the handle assembly  402 , the turn-knob end of the blade release  403  is visible. To remove the disposable blade  401 , the user simply twists the exposed and accessible end of the blade release  403  and pulls the blade  401  away from the handle assembly  402 . Other methods of releasing the blade are contemplated. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a knife system  500 . The top of the knife handle assembly  502  and the spine of the disposable blade  501  are pictured. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the blade  501  is centered in the handle assembly  502 . In alternate embodiments, the blade can be offset or angled. In yet another embodiment, the blade  501  can be turned ninety degrees such that it exits the handle assembly  502  between the fingers of the user forming a “T” shape with the handle assembly  502 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  illustrates a rear end view of an exemplary embodiment of a knife system  600 . The blade release end of the knife system with a push-button blade release  603  is shown surrounded by the handle assembly  602 . The tip of the interchangeable and disposable blade  601  can also be seen extending outwards and above the handle assembly  602 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front end view of an exemplary embodiment of a knife system  700 . The disposable blade tip of the knife system is shown beginning at the tip of the disposable blade  701  and looking back towards the handle assembly  702 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a knife system  800 . The disposable blade  801  is shown in its fully attached position inside the handle component  802 . 
         [0040]    In addition to the embodiments described above, other aspects of the present invention include methods for inserting, removing, interchanging, and disposing of the blades. 
         [0041]    The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the described articles of manufacturer and methods. Many embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0042]    Certain operation in the methods described above must naturally precede others for the described method to function as described. However, the described methods are not limited to the order of operations described if such order sequence does not alter the functionality of the method. That is, it is recognized that some operations may be performed before or after other operations without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.