Tool receptacle

Abstract

A receptacle for storing and holding tools such as utensils and knives is selectively between a flat position in which tools held within slots in the receptacle are held in place and cannot be removed, and an open, curved position in which the receptacle forms a stable stand. In the open position the handles of the tools are exposed and may be readily removed for use and reinserted into holding slots when not in use.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to receptacles designed for holding knives, utensils and other tools, and more particularly, a portable holder that is useful especially for holding and storing such objects for use in camping, other outdoor activities, or activities in locations with limited space.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Fixed blade knives and other kitchen tools and utensils are often held in knife blocks. While there are many different designs, a typical knife block is made of a sturdy material such as wood that resists cutting, and which provides a heavy, stable base. The wood block typically includes a variety of different sized slots that receive knives in an angular orientation. A knife blade is inserted into an appropriately sized slot until the handle rests against the face of the block.

[0003] Because the knife angles downwardly in the slot it is held in the block, ready for use.

[0004] Conventional knife blocks are simple devices that add efficiency and flexibility to a kitchen. Knives held in a block are always in a ready position and the handles may be quickly and easily grabbed when needed. Because the blades are held within a solid block of wood, they are shielded from other knife blades and are thus less likely to be nicked or otherwise damaged during storage. This may be contrasted with the technique many people use of storing knives in a drawer—a storage system that presents several problems. For instance, when held in a drawer, blades rub and bang against one another, dulling the blades and risking damaging nicks. In addition, as anyone who uses the knife-in-the-drawer storage system knows, it can be dangerous to find a knife held in a drawer, as cuts may result.

[0005] Knife blocks thus serve many useful and necessary purposes. However, knife blocks such as those described above are designed for more or less stationary use in a kitchen. They are neither designed for, nor suitable for portable use, for instance during camping and other outdoor activities, since the blocks tend to be large and unwieldy and thus not appropriate for carrying around.

[0006] Knives are as important and useful for outdoor cooking as they are for cooking at home. Some campers rely upon folding knives for food preparation. Most folding knives, while tremendously useful, are not designed for serious use in food preparation. Among other reasons, the blades are typically too small, and cleaning the blades and handles to ensure food safety can be difficult. Fixed blade knives that are often used by hunters are also not well-suited to food preparation uses. While these knives are very useful, they are not designed for the same uses as fixed blade kitchen cutlery. It would be helpful therefore to use fixed blade knives such as traditional kitchen cutlery when preparing food out of doors, away from the home. But many do not include fixed blade knives among their gear because it would be unsafe to do so since the blades are exposed and potentially unsafe, and the blades could be damaged. While it would be feasible to sheath each fixed blade knife, most kitchen cutlery is designed for use in a kitchen, where a sheath is seldom needed. As such, traditional kitchen cutlery is not sold with a sheath. Moreover, even if sheaths were available their use would make use of the knives difficult during outdoor cooking since the individual sheaths would need to be removed prior to use, then replaced.

[0007] The present invention comprises a portable knife and utensil receptacle especially designed for use during camping, other outdoor activities or activities in locations with limited space. The receptacle includes a main body that comprises a knife holding section that includes a plurality of knife-receiving slots. This section is formed of a material such as plastic that is resistant to cuts and is easily cleaned. In a first position the receptacle is substantially flat so knives stored in the slots may be stored and transported. An adjustable flap, typically of a heavy fabric, is attached to the knife holding section. The flap is adjustable between two positions. In the first position, intended for storage and transportation of the knives, the flap folds over the knife-receiving slots and is fastened in place. This holds the knives firmly in the receptacle such that they cannot fall out. In a second position the flap is folded backward and is fastened to the rearward, lower edge of the main body section. This causes the upper portion of the body, which is flexible, to bend backward on itself, resulting in the receptacle defining a stable knife stand or block in which the knife handles are exposed and ready for use, with the blades still safely held in the knife receiving slots. The knife stand is easily converted back to the storage and transportation position by unfastening the flap from the position just described and closing the flap back over the front of the receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will be apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the following drawings.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the knife receptacle of the present invention with the front cover in the closed position and showing the front cover partially cut away to show knives contained in the knife holding slots in phantom lines.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the knife receptacle of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the knife receptacle of the present invention showing the receptacle oriented in the open, “knife stand” position, and with the receptacle partially assembled and partially cut away to show component pieces.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fully assembled knife receptacle of the present invention showing the receptacle oriented in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] A preferred embodiment of the knife receptacle 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. It will be appreciated that the preferred embodiment is described herein with respect to knives, but that the invention is equally suitable for holding a wide variety of tools and utensils. The word knives is thus used herein for exemplary purposes only, and not by way of limitation of the invention. The word “tools” as used herein thus describes generally the class of utensils, knives and other tools with which the invention may be used. Moreover, while the invention is particularly well-suited to use in outdoor activities such as camping, the invention is not limited to use with these activities, as the inventive knife receptacle may be used in virtually any particular circumstance.

[0014] Receptacle 10 is moveable between a first flat position in which knives held in the receptacle are secured for storage, and a second “knife stand” position in which the receptacle is folded over onto itself and secured to define a knife stand. The receptacle is shown in the flat position in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in the knife stand position in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0015] With reference to FIG. 1, receptacle 10 is a foldable storage device for knives. The receptacle includes a main body section 12 that is generally rectangular in shape and which has a front cover or flap 16 attached to the upper edge 14 of the main section. Main body section 12 is combined with other body plates to define the knife-holding slots in receptacle 10 and is formed of a material that is flexible yet resistant to cuts and nicks caused by knife blades, and which is easily cleaned and maintained. Preferable materials include many types of plastic, but as described below, other materials may be used for the main body section.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, knives 18, which are illustrated in phantom lines, are held in knife holding slots 20 formed in the receptacle.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 3, which shows the receptacle in the second or knife stand position, main body section 12 is combined with three other body pieces to form a multi-layered body for holding knives 18 received in slots 20. More specifically, a rear plate 13 is placed over the interior portion of main body section 12 such that three tabs 15 on rear plate 13 are inserted into cooperative slots 17 in the main body section. A front plate 19 is placed over rear plate 13. Each of the front and rear plates and the main body section includes plural holes 21 that align when the plates are stacked in the manner just described. As detailed below, rivets 24 are inserted into holes 21 to both fix the layers together and to define the knife receiving slots. Main body section 12 includes a pair of opposed lateral flaps 23 and an outer face section 25. With the rear and front plates in place on main body section 12 as described, the outer face section 25 is folded upwardly over front plate 19 (arrow B in FIG. 3) and each of the lateral flaps 23 are folded inwardly over outer face section 25. Holes 21 in the outer extensions align with the corresponding aligned holes in the outer face section, front and rear plates, respectively, and rivets 24 are inserted through the holes and the entire structure is secured together, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0018] Referring again to FIG. 1, it may be seen that the outer face section 25 of main body section 12 is folded over onto itself such that it extends partially up the length of the main body section. In FIG. 1 the upper edge 26 of the folded-over outer face section 25 extends slightly beyond ½ of the overall length of the receptacle to define a knife blade holding section 22. Knife blade holding section 22 has multiple layers—two layers on each side of the knife blades held in slots 20. Stated otherwise, the knife holding slots are defined between the main body section 12 and the rear plate 13 on the lower side, and the front plate 19 and the outer face section 25 on the upper side. The multiple layers ensure that the sharp edges and tips of the knives held in the slots 20 do not cut through the body of the receptacle.

[0019] Rivets 24, which are preferably plastic but may be other materials, also define the knife holding slots 20. Specifically, the rivets extend through all layers of the body and are aligned in columns with a knife holding slot 20 defined between each column of rivets. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 there are three knife holding slots 20. The number of slots and their sizes can be varied to any number, depending upon the size, type and number of knives to be held in the receptacle. Moreover, the knife-holding slots could be defined in any convenient manner other than with rivets. For example, if plastic material is used for the body the slots may be defined by gluing, or sonic or heat welding the various layers of plastic material along the lines defined by the columns of rivets 24 shown in the figures. It will be appreciated that the knife holding slots 20 are bounded on opposite lateral sides by rivets 24, and that the lower edge of the knife holding slots is “closed” by the doubled over main body section 12.

[0020] As noted above, a front flap 16 is connected to the upper edge 14 of the main body section 12. As may be seen in FIG. 1, front flap 16, which is preferably a heavy waterproof material (such as a coated heavy nylon fabric) is connected to upper edge 14 of main body section 12 by any convenient method such as stitching. Front flap 16 may likewise be made from other materials such as plastic, webbing and the like. Front flap 16 is slightly shorter than the overall length of the receptacle body. A pair of slide release buckles 28 is connected to the lowermost ends of lateral flaps 23 (FIG. 4) and to the front flap 16, respectively, and are provided to fasten front flap 16 securely in the closed position shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, a pair of female clip ends 30 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1) is attached to the respective outer lateral sides of the lower edge 31 of front flap 16. The mating male ends 32 are attached to lateral flaps 23 in positions such that when the male and female ends are connected the front flap 16 is secured in the closed position with the flap held taut against the main body section 12.

[0021] The base ends 34 of the female ends of slide release buckles 28 are connected to front flap 16 such that the clip may be freely rotated back and forth about the attachment point when the female end is not connected to the male end. So too, the base ends 34 of the male ends of slide release buckles 28 are attached to the main body section 12 so that the male ends may freely rotate back and forth about the point of attachment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 with reference to the male end 32 of slide release buckle 28 shown on the right hand side of the figure, the male end is connected to a loop formed in lateral flap 23.

[0022] With front flap 16 in the closed position shown in FIG. 1, knives 18 are held in the knife holding slots 20 and cannot be removed. The blade portions of the knives are completely retained in the knife holding slots 20, and the main body section and front and rear plates, which as noted are formed of a material that is resistant to cutting, prevent accidental exposure of the blades. The knives cannot contact one another because each is held in a discrete knife holding slot and is shielded from adjacent knives. This allows the receptacle 10 to act as a safe storage place for the knives, allowing them to be transported without risk. Moreover, the receptacle defines an essentially flat storage compartment that aids in packing in a small space.

[0023] When the knives need to be used the receptacle 10 is converted from its closed, flat position described above into the knife stand position to define a stable knife stand. Referring to FIG. 3, knife receptacle 10 is converted into a stand by first unclipping the two slide release buckles 28. Front flap 16 is then folded backward over the upper edge 14 of main body section 12 and completely behind the receptacle 10. As noted above and as illustrated in FIG. 1, front flap 16 is somewhat shorter than the overall length of receptacle 10. With front flap 16 folded completely behind receptacle 10, it is pulled downwardly (in the direction of the arrow labeled A in FIGS. 3 and 4). The uppermost portion 38 of main body section 12, which comprises a single layer of plastic, bends backward under the pulling force applied to front flap 16 and tabs 15 move in slots 17 as the main body section flexes. The upper portion 38 of main body section 12 thus defines a hinged area. The front flap is pulled downwardly in the direction of arrow A until the slide release buckles 28 can be reattached as shown in FIG. 4. With slide release buckles 28 reattached to one another the receptacle defines an essentially triangular stand that is very stable. In this open position the receptacle may be placed on a flat surface such that the knives rest at an inclined angle with the handles toward the top of the incline.

[0024] A pair of clips 27 is provided in main body section 12 to facilitate attachment of the receptacle to another object, in either the flat first position or the open second position.

[0025] The plastic material used in backing layer 12 is resilient and in a resting position lies flat. As such, when in the “open” position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plastic exerts a biasing force on flap 16 in the direction opposite of arrow A, pulling against slide release buckles 28. This biasing force holds the receptacle in a taut configuration that is very stable. Moreover, the plastic material forms a living hinge that may be moved through many thousands of folding cycles.

[0026] With the receptacle in the open position of FIGS. 3 and 4 the handles of knives 18 are exposed much in the same way that knife handles are exposed, ready for use, as with traditional knife blocks.

[0027] The knife receptacle 10 is particularly well suited for use in camping and other activities where indoor kitchen facilities are not available. The receptacle is easily cleaned and sanitized and may be washed in automatic dishwashers. It is lightweight and retains the knives in readily accessible positions where they can be quickly accessed for use. The knives are kept in a clean place, which is a benefit when being used outdoors. When the knives are no longer needed, the clips are again unfastened and the front flap is closed over the front side of the receptacle to secure the knives in place. It will be appreciated, however, that the knife receptacle may be used in most any situation, including for example household settings, equally well.

[0028] Various additional features can be added to the receptacle to facilitate convenient use of the receptacle. Referring to FIG. 2, a carrying handle 40, which is preferably fabric, may be connected to the back side of the receptacle.

[0029] It will be appreciated that numerous variations can be made to the invention without departing from its scope. To name just a few, many different materials may be used to form the main body section, the front and rear plates, and the front flap. The main body section could be made of a relatively inflexible plastic material, and a sprung hinge could be used to move the backing material between the closed and open positions. And as noted, the number and width of the knife holding slots can be varied widely. For example, the slots could be formed to accommodate knives of different widths and/or lengths and other utensils and tools. Moreover, the multiple-layer configuration shown and described may be eliminated and the receptacle may be formed in a single piece or with molded plastic materials.

[0030] It will thus be appreciated by one of ordinary skill that the spirit and scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments described herein, but extend to the various modifications and equivalents as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tool receptacle, comprising:

a flexible body having at least one slot formed therein for receiving a tool;

a member connected to said body and foldable over said slot;

said body movable between a first position in which said body lies substantially flat and a tool retained in said slot may not be removed therefrom, and a second position in which said body is bent such that said body defines a tool stand wherein a tool retained in said slot may be removed therefrom.

2. The tool receptacle of claim 1 wherein said body has plural slots for receiving plural tools.

3. The tool receptacle of claim 1 wherein said body comprises a backing layer and a front layer adjacent said backing layer, and wherein said slot is defined therebetween.

4. The tool receptacle of claim 3 wherein said member connected to said body comprises a flap connected to said backing layer and foldable over said front layer, said flap having a lower edge connectable to said flexible body when said body is in said first position such that said flap prevents a tool received in said slot from being removed therefrom.

5. The tool receptacle of claim 4 wherein in said second position said flap is folded over said backing layer and said flap lower edge is connected to said flexible body.

6. The tool receptacle of claim 1 wherein said body is substantially rectangular and has opposed side edges and a top and bottom edge, a lower layer and an upper layer extending partially over said lower layer to define at least a double-layered section having plural tool holding slots formed therein for receiving plural tools, said body further defining a front face and a rear face.

7. The tool receptacle of claim 6 wherein said member connected to said body comprises a flap connected to the body proximate said top edge and having a free lower edge, said flap foldable over said front face to define said first position and said flap foldable over said rear face to define said second position.

8. The tool receptacle of claim 7 wherein in said first position said flap is folded over said front face and said flap lower edge is connected to said main body proximate said lower edge thereof.

9. The tool receptacle of claim 7 wherein in said second position said flap is folded over said rear face and said flap lower edge is connected to said main body proximate said lower edge thereof.

10. The tool receptacle of claim 1 wherein said main body defines a hinged section that flexes between said first and second positions and wherein said hinged section normally urges said main body section toward the first position.

11. A tool receptacle comprising:

a flexible main body section movable between a first position in which said main body section is substantially flat and a second position in which said main body section defines a curved body, said main body section being rectangular and having an upper edge, an opposed lower edge, and opposed side edges, said main body section further defining a front face having at least one slot formed therein for receiving a tool, and a rear face;

a flap connected to the main body section along the upper edge thereof and sized to cover said front face to occlude said slot when said main body section is in said first position.

12. The tool receptacle of claim 11 wherein said flap defines a free lower edge that may be secured to said main body section when said main body section is in said first position.

13. The tool receptacle of claim 12 wherein said flap is foldable over said rear face and said free lower edge is connected to said main body section when said body is in said second position.

14. The tool receptacle of claim 11 including a plurality of slots in said main body section.

15. A tool storage receptacle comprising:

a rectangular body having an upper edge and an opposed lower edge, and opposed side edges, a front face having at least one slot formed therein for receiving a tool, and a rear face;

hinge means for selectively moving said body between a first position in which said body is substantially flat and a second position in which said body is curved to define a tool stand;

means for retaining said tool in said slot when said body is in said first position.

16. The tool storage receptacle of claim 15 wherein said hinge means comprises a flexible section of said body.

17. The tool storage receptacle of claim 15 wherein said means for retaining said tool in said slot comprises a flap connected to said upper edge and having a free edge selectively connectable to said body.

18. The tool storage receptacle of claim 17 wherein said flap is foldable over said rear face and said free edge is selectively connectable to said body to secure said body in said second position.

19. The tool storage receptacle of claim 18 wherein when said body is in said second position said hinge means urges said body toward said first position.

20. The tool receptacle of claim 15 wherein when a tool received in said slot may not be removed therefrom when said body is in said first position, and said tool may be removed from said slot when said body is in said second position.