SHARPENING TOOL

Description

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to sharpening tools, and, in particular, to sharpening tools having housed and exposed sharpening mediums.

Scope of the Prior Art

Traditional sharpening devices often include simple, handheld tools such as sharpening stones or rods, which require manual control to achieve the desired edge. These tools are typically limited in their functionality, offering only one type of abrasive surface or sharpening method.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present invention is directed at a sharpening tool designed to offer a versatile, efficient, and user-friendly sharpening experience for various types of blades. The tool comprises three primary components: a handle, a housing portion, and a back portion. The handle can include integrated grips made from rubber or a similar material, strategically placed along the top and bottom surfaces of the handle. These grips are contoured to fit the natural shape of the hand, ensuring a secure, non-slip hold whether the user grips the tool from above or below.

The housing portion extends from the front end of the handle and serves as a protective enclosure for a rotatable disk mounted within. This disk, which can be positioned upright with its axis of rotation perpendicular to the length of the handle, is designed to hold multiple sharpening mediums along its perimeter. The housing portion not only safeguards the internal sharpening mediums when they are not in use but also allows one or more of them to be selectively exposed and accessed from either the underside or the front of the tool. This configuration enables the user to leverage his or her body weight by applying a downward force for more controlled and efficient sharpening, whether the tool is held horizontally or vertically.

The rotatable disk allows the user to switch between different sharpening mediums as needed. It can accommodate various types of sharpening mediums, including V-shaped sharpeners and sharpening rods. The V-shaped sharpeners are particularly useful for quickly sharpening a blade by drawing it through the “V,” simultaneously sharpening both sides of the edge with minimal effort. The sharpening rods, on the other hand, offer a more customizable sharpening option, allowing users to adjust the angle of the blade manually as it is drawn across the rod. This versatility makes the tool suitable for a wide range of sharpening tasks, from general maintenance to precise edge refinement.

The back portion of the tool extends from the rear of the handle and can include an additional sharpening medium, which can be integrated into a sharpening slot oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool. This design allows users to sharpen a blade with a simple horizontal pulling motion of the tool.

The sharpening tool can be further equipped with a locking mechanism that secures the disk in place during sharpening, preventing rotation and ensuring that the selected sharpening medium remains stable and properly aligned. The locking mechanism can be easily disengaged via a button, allowing the user to rotate the disk and select a different sharpening medium without adjusting his or her grip or the tool's position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred variations of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings variations that are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown. In the drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sharpening tool, according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a left-side view of the sharpening tool having the disk in a first configuration.

FIG. 3 is a left-side view of sharpening tool having its disk in a second configuration.

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view of the sharpening tool in a locked configuration.

FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of the sharpening tool in an unlocked configuration.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the sharpening tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of the present technology will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, which are provided as illustrative examples so as to enable those skilled in the art to practice the technology. Notably, the figures and examples below are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure to any single implementation or implementations. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to same or like parts.

Moreover, while variations described herein are primarily discussed in the context of a blade sharpener, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill that the present disclosure is not so limited. In fact, the principles of the present disclosure described herein may be readily applied to sharpening other types of blades or bladed objects.

In the present specification, an implementation showing a singular component should not be considered limiting; rather, the disclosure is intended to encompass other implementations including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Further, the present disclosure encompasses present and future known equivalents to the components referred to herein by way of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sharpening tool 100, according to a first embodiment. The sharpening tool may comprise a handle 102, a housing portion 104, and a back portion 106.

The handle 102 is ergonomically designed and can include rubber or rubber-like grips along the top and bottom handle surfaces to ensure a secure, non-slip hold. Additionally, the grips can be contoured to fit the natural shape of the hand, allowing a user to grip the sharpening tool 100 from above or below.

The housing portion 104 extends from the front end of the handle 102 and encases a rotatably mounted disk 120. It should be appreciated that the disk 100 can be any flat shape that can be rotated around a center point, for example, but not limited to, a flat circle, a flat square, or a flat hexagon. The housing portion 104 protects any internal sharpening mediums while also allowing one or more of the sharpening mediums to be selectively exposed and accessible from the underside or front of the housing. The housing portion 104 can include a locking mechanism 108 to prevent disk 120 rotation during sharpening, as will be further discussed. Preferably, the housing portion 104 features external sharpening stones 110 for additional sharpening functionality. In some embodiments, the external sharpening stones 100 can be positioned on the handle 102 and/or the back portion 106.

The back portion 106 extends from the back of the handle 102 and can incorporate an additional sharpening medium 112, Optionally, this additional sharpening medium 112 is integrated into a sharpening slot 114. The sharpening slot 114 is strategically oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sharpening tool 100, enabling users to sharpen a blade with a simple, horizontal pulling motion on the handle. This configuration is particularly advantageous for users who prefer a linear sharpening technique, as it provides a stable platform that aligns the blade correctly with the additional sharpening medium 112.

The disk 120 is rotatably secured within the housing portion 104. Preferably, the disk 120 is positioned upright such that its axis of rotation is perpendicular to the length of the sharpening tool 100. This configuration offers multiple advantages, especially in terms of accessibility and ease of use. The upright positioning of the disk 120 allows the sharpening mediums positioned along its perimeter to be easily accessible from the bottom and/or front of the tool when the user holds the handle. When the user desires to use the exposed sharpening medium that is accessible from the bottom, the user can hold the sharpening tool 100 horizontally and apply a strong downwards force when drawing the exposed sharpening medium across a blade positioned below the sharpening tool 100. Likewise, when the user wishes to use the exposed sharpening medium that is accessible from the front, the user can hold the sharpening tool 100 vertically and apply a strong downwards force when drawing the exposed sharpening medium across a blade positioned below the sharpening tool 100. By having sharpening mediums accessible from the bottom and/or front of the sharpening tool 100, the user can leverage his or her body weight for a more controlled and efficient sharpening experience.

Moreover, this configuration contributes to the sharpening tool's compact and ergonomic design. By keeping the disk's rotation perpendicular to the handle, the tool remains balanced and easy to maneuver, reducing hand fatigue during prolonged use. The ability to rotate the disk to expose different sharpening mediums as needed ensures versatility, allowing the user to quickly switch between different abrasives or sharpening tools without adjusting their grip or the tool's position.

The disk 120 is designed to accommodate a variety of sharpening mediums along its perimeter. In order of increasing preference, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, or at least 6 sharpening mediums are positioned along the perimeter of the disk 120. The sharpening mediums can be positioned equidistant from each other.

It should be appreciated that the sharpening mediums 118 can be any material, tool, or surface designed to abrade or refine the edge of a blade or cutting instrument in order to restore or enhance its sharpness. For example, sharpening mediums 118 can be used to remove material from a blade's edge, smooth its surface, or realign its cutting edge.

Sharpening mediums include, but are not limited to:

• • V-Shaped Sharpeners: Configurations where two abrasive surfaces form a “V” shape, allowing the blade to be drawn through the gap, sharpening both sides of the edge simultaneously.
  • Sharpening Rods (Honing Rods): Cylindrical or rectangular rods, often made of steel, ceramic, or diamond-coated materials, are used primarily for honing or lightly sharpening a blade by maintaining or slightly refining its edge.
  • Sharpening Stones: Made from natural or synthetic materials, these stones provide a flat abrasive surface for sharpening. They come in various grit levels, ranging from coarse (for reshaping dull or damaged edges) to fine (for polishing and refining the edge).
  • Diamond Plates or Pads: Flat or curved surfaces embedded with diamond particles, known for their durability and effectiveness in quickly sharpening hard or dull blades.
  • Strops: Typically made from leather or another soft material, strops are used to polish the edge of a blade after sharpening, aligning the microscopic teeth of the edge and giving it a razor-sharp finish.

Preferably, at least one of the sharpening mediums is a V-shaped sharpener. This setup is ideal for quickly and effectively sharpening a blade by drawing it through the “V,” ensuring that both sides of the edge are sharpened simultaneously. Such sharpeners are particularly advantageous for maintaining a consistent sharpening angle, making it easy for users to achieve a uniform edge without requiring advanced technique or skill. This sharpening medium is well-suited for general-purpose sharpening tasks, providing a quick and reliable way to restore a sharp edge to most kitchen or utility knives.

Preferably, at least one of the sharpening mediums is a sharpening rod. These rods offer a more versatile and customizable sharpening option, allowing users to manually adjust the angle of the blade as it is drawn across the rod. Sharpening rods are particularly useful for honing the blade, refining its edge, and maintaining its sharpness over time. Depending on the material and surface texture of the rod, it can be used for both light honing and more aggressive sharpening, making it a valuable addition to the sharpening tool's array of sharpening mediums.

The strategic incorporation of both V-shaped sharpeners and sharpening rods along the rotatable disk's perimeter ensures that users have access to the right tool for their specific sharpening needs. In an embodiment, two of the sharpening mediums are V-shaped sharpeners and two of the sharpening mediums are sharpening rods.

In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the sharpening mediums is a first-type sharpening medium suitable for sharpening a blade in a first manner and a second-type sharpening medium suitable for sharpening a blade in a second manner.

FIG. 2 shows the disk 120 in a first configuration in which the two exposed sharpening mediums are V-shaped sharpeners. Two sharpening rods are enclosed within the housing portion 104 (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows the disk 120 in a second configuration in which the two exposed sharpening mediums are sharpening rods. Two V-shaped sharpeners are enclosed within the housing portion 104 (not shown).

The disk 120 can be rotated between at least two configurations. Preferably, the number of configurations is equal to the number of sharpening mediums on the perimeter of the disk 120. For example, for a disk having five equidistant sharpening mediums along its perimeter, the first sharpening medium faces downwards in a first configuration, the second sharpening medium faces downwards in a second configuration, a third sharpening medium faces downwards in the third configuration, and so forth. To switch between these configurations, the disk 120 can be rotated by 72 degrees.

Alternatively, the number of configurations is does not depend on the number of sharpening mediums on the perimeter of the disk 120. For example, each configuration can be separated by 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, and so forth. This functionality offers greater flexibility and fine-tuning in sharpening angles and positions as users can select a specific angle that optimizes the sharpening effect for a particular blade.

Preferably, the disk 120 can be rotated such that at least one V-shaped sharpener (a first-type sharpening medium) and a sharpening rod (a second-type sharpening medium) are exposed at the same time.

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view of the sharpening tool 100 in its locked (engaged) configuration. When engaged, the locking mechanism 108 secures the disk 120 in a specific configuration by preventing the disk 120 from rotating. Preferably, the locking mechanism 108 is continuously engaged in its default state. Here the spring maintains the locking mechanism 108 in contact with the disk 120, preventing its rotation. This ensures that the selected sharpening medium remains in the correct position during use.

In an embodiment, the locking mechanism 108 is disengaged by pressing a button 116 located near the front-top of the handle 102. Alternatively, the button 116 is positioned near the front-side of the handle 102 or any other location that can be reached by the user during ordinary use. The button 116 can be integrated into the handle or into the housing portion 104. Alternatively, the locking mechanism 108 can be engaged and/or disengaged with a slide switch, twist mechanism, lever, push-and-turn mechanism, rotational ring or dial, or any other capable mechanism.

FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of the sharpening tool 100 in its unlocked (disengaged) configuration. When disengaged, the disk 120 can freely rotated into a desired configuration. Here, depressing the button 116 compresses the spring such that the locking mechanism 108 is no longer interfering with disk 120 rotation.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the sharpening tool. Here, the additional sharpening medium 112 is a V-shaped sharpening medium.