Abstract:
A filleting knife is disclosed that includes an offset portion that raises the handle away from the plane of the blade. The length of the offset portion allows a user to cut along the plane of a surface without scraping or otherwise contacting the surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is generally directed to a knife, and more particularly to a knife having a handle that is uplifted from the plane of the blade. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The fishing industry has produced a number of unique knives for filleting fish. These knives include a wide variety of configurations, sizes and designs. It is believed that there does not exist a filleting knife that makes the hand and arm motion and manipulation of a user easier during the filleting process, such that the user can easily, rapidly, and efficiently produce fillets. 
         [0003]    Thus, a long felt need exits to design a filleting knife that allows a user to easily fillet a fish in a simple and efficient motion. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a filleting knife that allows a user to fillet a fish by sweeping a knife blade in a horizontal motion while allowing the user&#39;s hand to move parallel to the motion of the blade in a plane above the plane of the blade. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An aspect of the disclosure includes a filleting knife including a blade comprising a blade longitudinal axis; a handle having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a handle longitudinal axis; an offset portion connecting the blade to the handle. The offset portion separates the blade longitudinal axis from the handle longitudinal axis by a distance greater than about 1 inch. 
         [0006]    It is an object of the invention to provide a filleting knife that allows for the rapid filleting of fish by providing the user with a bladed tool that can be grasped with a hand above the plane of the table or support surface while passing the blade of the knife through the fish. 
         [0007]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a filleting knife according to the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the filleting knife of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the filleting knife of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a partial rear bottom view of the filleting knife of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a filleting knife according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]      FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a filleting knife  10  according to the present invention. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the filleting knife  10  includes a handle  12 , a substantially vertical drop or offset portion  14  extending from the handle  12 , and a blade  20 . The blade  20  extends in a forward direction “A” along the longitudinal axis  11  of the handle  12  from the substantially vertical drop or offset portion  14 . In this exemplary embodiment, the filleting knife  10  includes an optional cord or lanyard  15 , which is attached to the handle  12 . The lanyard  15  may be used to attach the filleting knife  10  to a belt or other point of attachment (not shown). 
         [0014]    The handle  12  includes tang portion  12   a  and a grip  12   b.  The handle  12  includes a top surface  12   c  and a bottom surface  12   d.  The tang portion  12   a  is in material connection with the offset portion  14 . The grip  12   b  includes first and second grip portions  12   e,    12   f,  respectively, that are attached to the tang portion  12   a  by fasteners  13 . In another embodiment, the grip  12   b  may include one or more portions. In yet another embodiment, the grip  12   b  may be omitted, and the handle may be formed of only the tang  12   a.    
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the offset portion  14  extends below the handle  12 . As used in this disclosure, the term “below” means vertically disposed beneath as referenced to the orientation of the filleting knife  10  when held in a operational position as shown in  FIG. 1  with the major plane  310  of the blade positioned parallel to a horizontal cutting surface  320 . The offset portion  14  includes a first transition portion  18  that connects the offset portion  14  to the tang portion  12   a  and a second transition portion  19  that connects the offset portion  14  to the blade  20 . 
         [0016]    The first transition portion  18  connects the offset portion  14  to the tang portion  12   a  at a first angle “B”. As further shown in  FIG. 3 , first angle “B” is a right angle or about 90°. In other words, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the major axis of the offset portion  14  is the same as the vertical axis “Y”, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  11  of the handle  12 . In another embodiment, first angle “B” may be between about 90° and about 150°. In a further embodiment, first angle “B” may be between about 90° and about 120°. In yet a further embodiment, first angle “B” may be between about 90° and about  110 . 
         [0017]    The second transition portion  19  connects the offset portion  14  to the blade  20  at a second angle “C”. (see  FIG. 3 ). As further shown in  FIG. 3 , second angle “C” is a right angle or about 90°. In other words, the major axis of the offset portion  14  is substantially coincident with the vertical axis “Y”, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  16  of the blade  20 . In another embodiment, second angle “C” may be between about 90° and about  1 50°. In a further embodiment, second angle “C” may be between about 90° and about 120°. In yet a further embodiment, second angle “C” may be between about 90° and about 110. 
         [0018]    In other words, the transition portion  14  provides a transition from the horizontal, longitudinal axis  11  ( FIG. 1 ) of the handle, to the horizontal, longitudinal axis  16  ( FIG. 1 ) of the blade  20 , such that in this embodiment, the longitudinal axis  11  of the handle  12  is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  16  of the blade  20  and separated by a distance D 1  as measured from an intersection point E between longitudinal axis  11  of the handle and axis “Y” and an intersection point F between axis “Y” and longitudinal axis  16  of the blade  20 . In an embodiment, the distance D 1  is greater than about 1 inch. In another embodiment the distance D 1  is greater than about 2 inches. In yet another embodiment, the distance D 1  is greater than about 3 inches. In another embodiment, the distance D 1  is between about 1 inch and about 3 inches. In a further embodiment, the distance D 1  is between about 1 inch and about 2 inches. 
         [0019]    It is to be understood that the term substantially parallel, such as in the context of the longitudinal axis  11  of handle  12  being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  16  of blade  20 , is intended to mean that a distance D 2  ( FIG. 1 ) as measured between an intersection point G between an axis Z (that is parallel to axis Y) and axis A, and an intersection point H between axis Z and longitudinal axis  16  of blade  20  may deviate from distance D 1  by about ½ inch. Point G coincides with an end of tang portion  12   a  that is opposite of first transition portion  18  ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the blade  20  further includes a cutting edge  24  disposed on a first side  25  of the blade  20 . The blade  20  is tapered along the first side  25  from a rear end  22  to a tip  23 . As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the amount of taper may vary. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the length of blade  20  is between about 8 inches and about 12 inches. In another embodiment, the length of blade  20  is between about 9 inches and about 12 inches. In yet another embodiment, the length of blade  20  is between about 11 inches and about 12 inches. In a further embodiment, the length of blade  20  is about 12 inches. However in other embodiments, different ranges of lengths of less than 8 inches and greater than 12 inches may be used, depending upon the application of use, such as the size of the animal being filleted, and preference of the user. 
         [0022]    As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the offset portion  14  allows a user to grasp the handle  12  by wrapping the user&#39;s hand (not shown) around the handle  12 , with the blade  20  proximate to the cutting surface  320 . In such a manner, the blade  20  can be moved parallel and proximate to the cutting surface  320  without contacting the user&#39;s hand with the cutting surface  320 . 
         [0023]    Tang  12   a,  offset portion  14  and blade  20  may be manufactured from a single piece of material, such as metal, including, but not limited to steel, such as stainless steel. In other embodiments, at least blade  20  may be composed of a nonmetal material, including, but not limited to, a ceramic material, such as a nonmetal material having a hardened coating layer or a layer having hardened particulates contained in the layer, such as industrial diamond dust that is capable of holding a keen edge, a nonmetal material comprising a mixture of a hardening material capable of holding an edge without requiring an outer layer, and the like. In yet a further embodiment, tang  12   a,  offset portion  14  and blade  20  may be manufactured from a single piece of nonmetal material. In another embodiment, one or more of the tang  12   a,  offset portion  14 , and blade  20  may be formed from separate pieces of material that are joined together. It is to be understood that in other embodiments, irrespective of the material of construction (i.e., metal or nonmetal), the handle may also be formed of the same material as the other portions of the knife. Stated another way, the knife may have a unitary construction. 
         [0024]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , grip  12   b  of handle  12  includes first grip portion  12   e  and second grip portion  12   f.  It is to be understood that grip portions  12   e,    12   f  may be composed of a different material from tang  12   a , although in another embodiment, one or more of grip portions  12   e,    12   f  may be composed of the same material from which tang  12   a  is constructed. Grip portions  12   e,    12   f  may be composed of any suitable material, including, but not limited to natural materials, such as animal horn or wood, man-made materials, such as micarta, a registered trademark owned by Industrial Laminates/Norplex, Inc. of Indiana, plastic, composites, and the like. It is also to be understood that grip portions  12   e,    12   f  may be composed of materials that have a broad range of hardness or resiliency, such as in accordance with application of use, and/or “tactile feel”, as desired by the user. In one embodiment, first grip portion  12   e  may be composed of a material (or combination of materials) that is different from the material (or combination of materials) of second grip portion  12   f,  although in another embodiment, the grip portions may be composed of the same material(s). 
         [0025]    It will be readily recognized that the blade  20  may include blades having various types of lengths, curvatures, shapes or cutting edges. An important consideration is that the offset portion  14  separates the longitudinal axis  16  of the blade  20  from the bottom surface of the handle  12  by a minimum separation distance D 1  of more than about 1 inch. The minimum separation distance D 1  allows the user to fillet a fish easily by moving the blade  20  along the backbone of the fish. 
         [0026]    The knife  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-3  may be referred to as a right handed embodiment. A fish would be positioned in front of the user sideways or transverse of the forward facing user position (from the left to the right as seen by the user, i.e., the head of the fish would be positioned to the left of the user, and the tail of the fish would be positioned toward the right of the user). The minimum separation distance D 1  allows the user&#39;s right hand to remain above the cutting surface  320  ( FIG. 3 ) as the user holds the knife  10  with the blade  20  passing through the fish in a left to right motion. 
         [0027]    As can be appreciated by one in the art, the offset portion  14  also prevents the user&#39;s hand from slipping from the handle  12  in a forward direction towards the blade  20 . As can be seen most clearly in  FIG. 4 , the offset portion  14  further includes protrusions or tabs  450  extending outwardly from offset portion  14  in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis  11  of handle  12  in order to assist in preventing the user&#39;s hand from slipping onto the blade  20 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a left hand embodiment of the knife  10 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the cutting edge  24  disposed on a second side  25   a  of the blade  20 . In such a manner, a fish would be positioned in front of the user in an orientation sideways or transverse of the forward facing user position (from the right to the left as seen by the user, i.e., the head of the fish would be positioned to the right of the user, and the tail of the fish would be positioned toward the left of the user). The minimum separation distance D 1  allows the user&#39;s left hand to remain above the cutting surface  320  ( FIG. 3 ) as the user holds the knife  10  with the blade  20  passing through the fish in a right to left motion. 
         [0029]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.