Patent Publication Number: US-2012042520-A1

Title: Ceramic twin kitchen knives

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to Kitchen knives and, more particularly, to a set of two uni-body ceramic kitchen knives designed to be washed safely in a dish-washing machine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ceramic Kitchen knives are now commonly used and appreciated for the durability and quality of their edge of the blade; However, as a consequence of the high hardness property of the zirconium ceramic, the low resilience of this material makes the edge of the blade a fragile area that has to be preserved from shocks with other cutlery to avoid chips. Therefore, ceramic knives cannot be washed in dish-washing machine cycle between other cutleries. Typically, the leaflet forbids such case of exposure. For a kitchenware, such restriction is an important limitation for the convenience of use. 
     The state of the art as disclosed in the patent DE 1992077 is a twin knife designed for trekking; each blade is longitudinally inserted upside down in the handle of the other that has a sheath especially designed for this. 
     This sheath protects the blade but this is not suitable for a kitchen use; the sheath cannot be cleaned properly inside, then the blade is not safe for food contact after. Any food particle could remain in the sheath; and rot inside; this may poison the user. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a set of two ceramic kitchen knives enhanced for dish-washing cycle. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to protect the edge of the blade from any chips, during the storage time in a drawer but not only, resulting by shocks with other cutlery. 
     The invention describes a set of two uni-body kitchen knives K 1  and K 2 , with respectively the blades B 1  and B 2  in ceramic but not only, fitting in Head-to-tail method when it is coupled, wherein the edge of blade of a knife E 1  (or E 2 ) is respectively protected by the handle of the other knife H 2  (or H 1 ), wherein the resulting set of knives, assembled together, can be cleaned easily during dish-washing machine cycle; 
     As a primary feature of the invention, the bottom side of each handle is especially designed with a longitudinal opening (groove) G 1  or G 2 , in order to receive the blade of the other knife, B 2  or B 1 , sufficiently wide to allow the cleaning by water flow during dish-washing machine cycle. When a regular uni-body knife is typically full material at the handle for the mechanical resistance, the original design presents a substantially weaken structure at the handle in order to meet with the benefits of cleaning improvements. In a preferred embodiment, the dimensioning of the handle is appropriately sized to meet the requirements of resistance; 
     As a further feature of the invention, the design of the groove is enhanced with a plurality of perforations P 1  and P 2 , in order to increase the water flow during cleaning. When external surface of a regular uni-body knife handle is closed area, the original design includes perforations at preferred location such as the neutral axis (neutral fiber) or extremity of the handle at top (opposite to the blade) to limit the stress value during use and the risk of breaking. Of course, in a non-preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that the handle could be designed without perforation; 
     As another feature of the invention, the assembly of the set of knives can be maintained by two magnets M 1  and M 2  inserted respectively in the handles H 1  and H 2  (Each magnet encapsulated in each handle), aligned together, close to the junction with the blade, where the magnetic strength attracts the both knives K 1  and K 2  together. Of course, in a non-preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that the knives could be assembled by various methods well-known by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; 
     As an additional feature of the invention, the magnets M 1  and M 2  also authorize to fix the set of knifes assembled together on any magnetic steel surface as a solution of storage, preferentially for kitchen but not only; 
     As a feature of the invention, the handles H 1  and H 2  are made of plastic resin that resists in dish-washing machine temperature (about 75 Celsius degree) and the detergent; 
     As a feature of the invention, the magnets M 1  and M 2  likewise preferably are made of thermo-resistant material with strong magnetic force and high Curie point (Rare earth magnets from class of temperature M, H, SH, comply for repetitive exposure to cycle of dish-machine appliance). 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a schematic illustration of the set of two uni-body kitchen knives assembled together, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2   a ,  FIG. 2   b ,  FIG. 2   c  are section views of  FIG. 1 , respectively according the section lines A-A, B-B C-C; 
       FIG. 3  is top view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective showing the set of two uni-body kitchen knives separated, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of the set of two uni-body kitchen knives in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of  FIG. 5 ;