Abstract:
A portable tool sharpener adapted for mounting on a rail such as may be found on various weapons includes a sharpener body in which a plurality of sharpening tools are mounted and a rail-mounting base pivotally mounted to the sharpener body to allow the body to moved selectively to a closed and open position, wherein the rail-mounting base is releasably engageable with a rail mounted on a weapon, a handle or a fixed pad.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/362,953 filed on Jul. 15, 2016. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to portable apparatus for sharpening knives, fishhooks and other implements. In greater particularity the present invention relates to such an apparatus that may be hand held or mounted to a firearm using a rail-mounting system. In still greater particularity the apparatus relates to such an apparatus that may also be used as a hand held device or mounted to a surface such as a table, countertop, desk, or movable vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Other sharpeners have incorporated various ceramic, carbide and/or diamond feature components and configurations, either singularly or collectively, primarily configured for hand-held use. Other sharpeners feature much larger sharpening arrays, either manual or motorized, for tabletop use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    This rail-mountable tool sharpener provides direct and immediate six-station access for multi-task sharpening needs in a compact, fold-up housing that is removably attached to a rail-equipped firearm, crossbow, or other device. The rail-arm handle feature quickly deploys the sharpener from its compact, folded storage mode for immediate field sharpening needs with secure control and stability under all field conditions in an off-weapon carry mode, while incorporating the easy carry option of a pocket/vest/gear mounting clip. Both of these deployment modes provide for greater user safety and hand clearance due to their firm and rigid platform stability being attached to a firearm or the rail-mount handle versus a sharpener merely being hand-held. The PALS (Pouch Attachment Ladder System) sharpener carrier clip provides secure mounting for ready-access carry on all load-bearing platforms, such as vests and backpacks. The rail-equipped knife sharpener base allows for safe and stable tabletop sharpening in the kitchen or on a workbench. 
         [0005]    This rail mounted sharpener system is designed to be ultra-compact, incorporating sharpening solutions that exceed any other sharpener, with a mounting configuration that provides safe and ready-access functionality and usage for both the military and civilian markets. This rail mounted sharpener can be mounted on any rail-equipped military or sporting rifle, machine gun, shotgun, crossbow or other such equipped device, or carried on all load-bearing vests and backpacks, or mounted for tabletop use for ready-access knife, tool or fish hook sharpening needs. No other sharpener is as compact for ease of carry nor incorporates as many sharpening options as does this sharpener system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Referring to the drawings which are appended hereto and which form a portion of this disclosure, it may be seen that: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of the rail mounted sharpening device; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an upper perspective view of the rail mounted sharpening device; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an upper perspective view of the rail mounted sharpening device mounted to a rail; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the rail mounted sharpening device in a closed position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4A  is a side elevation view of the rail mounted sharpening device in a closed position from the side opposite the view shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the rail mounted sharpening device in a closed position mounted to a rail; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an end view of the rail mounted sharpening device in a closed position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of a handle and rail for the rail mounted sharpening device; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the rail mounted sharpening device mounted to the handle shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the rail mounted sharpening device in a closed position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the rail mounted sharpening device mounted to its handle 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the rail mounted sharpening device mounted to the rail handle in folded position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is an end view of the rail mounted sharpening device mounted to the rail handle in a folded position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of the rail mounted sharpening device secured in the PALS configured carrier clip; 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the PALS carrier clip; 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the rail mounted sharpening device mounted to an integral rail base. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    One or more of the above objects can be achieved, at least in part, by providing a multi-station rail mounted multifunctional sharpening device for knife blades, fish hooks, and other implements. Referring to  FIG. 1  it can be seen that multiple components are optionally included in the device. In one embodiment of the device, a foldable assembly  10  including a sharpener housing body  101  containing multiple sharpening stations is used. The rotatable sharpener housing body  101  is rotatably mounted to a sharpener housing rail-mounting base  102  that defines a rail receiver  105  therein for selective mounting of the base  102  and rotatable housing body  101  to a rail-mounting system, such as are used on various weapons. In one embodiment, the rail receiver  105  enables the rail-mounting base  102  to be connected to a hand-held handle  20  which includes a handle body  201  and pivoting and locking rail  203 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 6  note that sharpener housing body  101  supports a number of sharpening elements. At one end of the housing body  101  is a diamond hook sharpening panel  104 , which is also shown in  FIG. 6 . Sharpening panel  104  is a convex diamond coated plate and includes two tapered diamond coated grooves  126  shown in  FIG. 6 . Also mounted in housing body  101  are a pair of fine abrasive ceramic sharpening sticks  106  which are mounted at an angle to each other producing a 20° edge angle on both sides of a knife blade (40° included angle) drawn across the sharpening sticks  106  simultaneously. Near the middle of body  101 , a pair of coarse abrasive ceramic sharpening sticks  107  are also mounted, again at an angle producing a 20° edge angle on both sides of a knife blade drawn across the sharpening sticks  107  simultaneously. Likewise, beveled carbide inserts  108  are mounted at an angle producing a 20° edge angle on both sides of a knife blade carbide inserts simultaneously. Carbide inserts  108  are held in place by insert pins  109  whereas sharpening sticks  106  and  107  are held in place by four flat point socket set screws  121 , shown in  FIG. 3  which allow for the removal or rotation of sharpening sticks  106  or  107  if needed. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a diamond abrasive coated tapered rod  111  is mounted for rotation from within a longitudinal channel in body  101  on pivot pin  113 . Tapered rod  111  which rotates outwardly from the housing for sharpening knife blade serrated edges. The diamond coating on tapered rod  111  only extends to a point just before the area of contact with a retention lip  112  on the housing body  101 . To rotate the rod the user catches the tip of the rod, which extends out beyond the end of the housing, urging it laterally out of the channel and freeing it past the retention lip  112 . 
         [0026]    As may be seen more clearly in  FIG. 2  housing body  101  is pivotally mounted to base  102  along an axis extending along a sharpener housing rotation locking screw  123 , which is received in sharpener housing rotation locking screw threaded shaft  119 . The rotation locking screw has a knob end  103  extending from housing body  101  for access to enable the locking screw  123  to be loosened for selective movement between the work position shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3  and the closed position shown in  FIG. 4 . A modified disc rotation locking wheel  114  is also mounted to base  102  and at can be rotated to lock and unlock the rotation of the housing in both the open (upright) and closed (laid down) positions. The full edge of the wheel  114  rotated vertically along any part of its circumference will block and lock the housing&#39;s rotation. To free the rotation, the wheel  114  is rotated until the opposite side of the wheel which has a diminished radius, is turned upwardly, such that it does not contact the housing body  101  and allows movement between the open and closed positions. 
         [0027]    Again as seen in  FIG. 2 , sharpener housing rail-mounting base  102  includes an opposing side forming a sharpener housing rail-mounting base clamp  118  which forms the opposite side of rail receiver  105 . A pair of sharpener base rail locking screws  116  pass through the base  102  and receiver  105  and screw into threaded inserts  122 , shown in  FIG. 4A . It will be appreciated from  FIG. 3  that the rail  140  inserted into receiver  105  is formed with a number of crests and valleys such that the rail locking screws  116  can be inserted to engage appropriate valleys and lock the base  102  to rail  140  in a well-known manner. Of course, the rail and receiver may be locked by other means such as with locking pins as is well known. Rail  140  may be configured a MIL-STD-1913 rail, a 2324 rail, a Picatinny rail, a tactical rail, a Weaver rail, a STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rail (NAR), and/or any other rail-mounting platform of similar configuration. It is understood that these rail configurations are well known in the firearms industries and allow the sharpener to be readily mounted to a firearm. As will be discussed further, the sharpener may likewise be rail mounted to objects other than a firearm. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , it may be seen that the housing body  101  folds down on base  102  when mounted for storage on a rail. Referring to  FIG. 5 , housing body  101  is shown in its folded position, with tapered rod  111  and retention lip  112  visible above rotating locking screw knob  103 . Diamond hook sharpening panel  104  with two tapered diamond coated grooves  126  is also shown. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8  an optional knife and tool sharpener handle  20  is provided including handle body  201  carrying a sharpener handle pivot pin  202 , on which is mounted the sharpener handle rail  203 , the sharpener handle rail locking wheel  204 , the sharpener handle clip  206 , and the sharpener handle rail locking wheel screw  207 , shown in  FIG. 12 , which retains the locking wheel  204 . As may be seen in  FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 , the assembly  10  is attached to the sharpener handle rail  203  in exactly the same manner as the assembly is attached to a weapon mounted rail, however, the handle body  201  allows much more maneuverability and ease of use. The assembly  10  may be collapsed or folded as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . Rotating locking wheel  204  will allow rail  203  to pivot around pin  202  and the folded assembly  10  may be brought into a stored position resting on detent  208 , shown in  FIG. 10 . Locking wheel  204  may then be repositioned to retain the assembly  10  in the stored position. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , note that assembly  10  may be secured in the PALS sharpener carrier  301 . The carrier has a detent  302  in the bottom foot  306  that aligns with the opening in the threaded shaft  119  to aid in positioning alignment. When in place, the rotation locking screw  123 , having been removed prior to insertion into the carrier, passes through an alignment hole  303  in the top  305  of the carrier and screws down into the threaded shaft  119  in the sharpener base, securing it to the carrier. 
         [0031]    There is clearance space allowed for between the inside face of the carrier body  304  and the sharpener itself for webbing to pass and be secured to on the PALS grid on vests, packs, etc. To attach the carrier  301  to a vest or pack, the bottom foot  306  of the carrier passes behind the webbing and the carrier is rotated vertically into position to accept the sharpener housing. The radiused cutout  307  in the lower body of the carrier  301  allow for some slight flexing to occur when the base is positioned into engagement. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , it may be seen that the versatile tool may be attached to a mounting pad  401  for use on a table top, on a surface on a vehicle or any other similar mounting platform. Pad  401  has an integral rail  402  that is used to secure the assembly  10  in the same manner as the aforementioned rails and may be likewise configured. It will be readily understood that pad  401  may be conventionally secured or may have a tacky lower surface that prevents its movement while the tool is in use. 
         [0033]    While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain embodiments thereof, and many details have been put forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.