Tool holder with markings

Abstract

A knife holder for storing a variety of different types of knives. The knife holder includes a body portion including a plurality of slots formed therein for receiving a blade portion of a knife. The knife holder further includes an external marking adjacent to the plurality of slots to identify the type of knife or implement each of the plurality of slots will store.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority from and incorporates by reference the entire disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/554,500, which was filed on Mar. 19, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to kitchen tool holders and more specifically to tool holders used for storing a plurality of ordinary knives, forks, shears, sharpeners and other utensils used in preparing food. In particular, the present invention relates to a knife holder having a plurality of openings or slots with markings on the holder near the slots to identify a particular kind of knife which is to be stored in each slot.

2. Description of Related Art

Knife blocks or holders are well known in the art and are primarily designed to provide a plurality of slots or openings formed in a suitable support block. Each slot is adapted to removably receive and retain a knife blade. The slots are formed within a support body so as to receive the knife blade in a generally downward extending position, with an edge of each knife handle resting upon a support.

In another approach, a magnetic knife holder is utilized as a means for holding knives. The magnetic knife holder generally comprises a bar magnet to retain a plurality of knife blades in a vertical plane, with the blade positioned in an upwardly or downwardly-extending orientation. Generally, a support (bolster) is provided beneath the handle portion of the knives to prevent the knives from sliding downwards off the magnetic bar. Since, the knife blades are not covered, a user's hand is susceptible to come in contact with the knife blade unless extra caution is exercised by the user while using magnetic knife holders. Hence, the magnetic knife holders do not provide a safe and convenient means for handling knives.

Additionally, when knives are stored in a slotted knife holder, the blade of the knife is not exposed. This does not enable the user to readily determine the type of knife which is stored in each slot or readily return the knives to their proper storage location. Often, the user will grasp and remove one knife only to realize that the wrong knife was selected. In most cases, different types of knives have identical handles and a constant removal of the knife from the knife holder for inspection purposes creates unnecessary wear and tear on the knife blade and increased user frustration.

None of the prevalent prior art solutions provide a safe and effective means for identifying a desired choice of knife without the actual removal of the knife from the knife holder.

Therefore, there is a need for a knife holder that provides an easy and efficient mechanism for identifying the type of knife being stored in each slot of the knife holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A knife holder for storing a plurality of knives includes a body portion having a plurality of slots for receiving a blade portion of a knife. The knife holder further includes an external marking defined on a surface of the body adjacent to each of the plurality of slots. The marking indicates a type of knife which is held in the associated slot.

In another embodiment of the present invention a tool holder includes a body portion having a plurality of openings for receiving a working end of the tool. The tool holder further includes an external marking on a surface of the body adjacent to each of the plurality of openings for indicating a type of tool which is held in the associated slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the knife holder of the present invention may be acquired by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the knife holder in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the knife holder of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top front view of the knife holder of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the knife holder according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the knife holder according to another alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the knife holder according to yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the knife holder according to another alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of the knife holder according to yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the knife holder according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, a novel knife holder embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. While the embodiments described herein are intended as an exemplary holder for storing knives (and related tools such as sharpeners and shears), it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited for storing knives, and may be employed for storing other utensils used in preparing food.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a first embodiment of the knife holder 10 of the present invention will be described in detail.

The knife holder 10 of the present invention can provide a storage means for a variety of different types of knives (and perhaps other utensils or tools). While the present invention is particularly suitable for storing knives, the scope of this invention extends to any knife which includes a blade and any other utensils used in the preparation of food where the working end of the tool is hidden from view when stored.

The knife holder 10 includes a body member 12 which is substantially rectangular in shape and which progressively inclines from a surface from which it rests. The rectangular configuration of the knife holder 10 is abruptly terminated along its lower surface, the proximity of which is designated at 14, permitting it to rest on a flat surface, such as a countertop.

The block body 12 is provided with a plurality of slots 16 or other openings, which extend longitudinally therein from an inlet surface 18 and perhaps extend completely therethrough. According to an embodiment of the present invention, seven slots 16 are shown, however, the number and shape of the slots 16 or appropriately sized openings utilized may vary as desired to store a plurality of knives or utensils or tools.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the knife holder 10 can be formed from a variety of different materials which are approved for use in food industry and are anti-bacterial and sterilizable (such as plastics, acrylic, ceramics, metal, an alloy or combination thereof). In an embodiment of the present invention, the knife holder 10 is made of wood.

The plurality of slots 16 may be saw-cut into opposed sides of an initial block and opposed veneer sides may be laminated to the initial block to close the edges of the slots 16 and form composite block body 12. In an embodiment of the present invention, seven saw-cut slots 16 are illustrated. However, the number, shape and depth of the slots 16 may vary depending upon the type of knife being stored in the slots 16.

The block body 12 further includes an inlet surface 18 and a lower support surface 26, utilized for supporting the knife holder 10 in an inclined position. The block body 12 has a rear surface 22 and a wedge support 24 having a slant surface 27.

The inlet surface 18 further includes a marking 28 (or insignia) adjacent to each of the plurality of slots 16 to identify the type of knife or implement each of the plurality of slots 16 is designed to store. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the marking 28 is preferably positioned below each of the plurality of slots 16. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the markings 28 are positioned below each of the plurality of slots 16 and engraved on the surface 18 of the knife holder 10.

The markings 28 are provided to identify and distinguish the knives when the blade is sheathed or stored and not in view. The markings 28 allow the user to determine which knife or implement is located in each of the slots or openings 16 without pulling the knife out of the knife holder 10. As a result of the markings 28, the knife only needs to be pulled out when needed and does not need to be pulled out to determine whether it is the correct knife for the required task.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front elevation view of the knife holder 10 of FIG. 1. In an embodiment of the present invention, the markings 28 may include the length or type of blade associated with the knife. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the markings 28 may indicates the type of food to be cut with the knife. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the markings 28 may be made on the surface 28 by engraving, however, other suitable processes may be employed (such as etching or stamping or labeling).

FIG. 3 illustrates a top front view of the knife holder 10 storing a plurality of knives 30. When a knife 30 is positioned in an opening or slot 16, a marking 28 on the surface 18 below each slot identifies and distinguishes between the various types of knives 30. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the markings 28 are preferably positioned below each of the slots 16. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the marking 28 can be positioned in any location on the surface 18 so as to identify the type of knife 30 each slot is designed to hold.

With reference to FIG. 1-3, the manner of using the knife holder 10 will be described. The knife holder 10 is in an inclined angular position, a plurality of knives 30 may be positioned with their blades inserted within the slots 16, such that a top portion of each knife handle abuts against the upper inlet surface 18 to limit a downward position of the knife 30 with respect to each slot. Additionally, the markings 28 on the surface 18 adjacent to each slot provides a means for readily identifying the type of knife 30 being stored in each of the slots 16. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the markings 28 allow the user to determine which knife 30 is located in the slot without pulling the knife out of the block.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the knife holder 10 is inclined and substantially rectangular in shape. However, the knife holder 10 embodying the novel concept as discussed above can be of any geometric shape so long as it is sized and shaped to store a plurality of knives (such as curved, square, triangular etc.) Additionally, the novel concept of including a marking (or insignia) adjacent to the plurality of slots 16 for identification purposes can be utilized in various different forms and types of knife holders 10 that are available. As an exemplary embodiment, a few variations of knife holders 10 are illustrated in FIGS. 4-9 embodying the novel concept of having markings on the plurality of slots as discussed above.

Although preferred embodiments of the different kinds and shapes of a plurality of knife holders of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A knife holder comprising:

a body portion including a plurality of slots formed therein, each of said plurality of slots for receiving a blade portion of a knife; and

an external marking for indicating a type of said blade of said knife, wherein the marking is located on said body portion adjacent to each of said plurality of slots.

2. The knife holder of claim 1, wherein said marking is located on said body such that when said blade is sheathed, said marking is visible.

3. The knife holder of claim 1, wherein said knife holder is made from plastic.

4. The knife holder of claim 3, wherein said plastic is anti-bacterial and sterilizable.

5. The knife holder of claim 1, wherein said knife holder is made from wood.

6. The knife holder of claim 1, wherein said knife holder has a geometric shape.

7. The knife holder of claim 6, wherein said knife holder has a substantially rectangular shape.

8. The knife holder of claim 6, wherein said knife holder is substantially curved.

9. The knife holder of claim 1, wherein said marking is substantially engraved adjacent to each of said plurality of slots on said body.

10. The knife holder of claim 1, wherein said marking is stamped adjacent to each of said plurality of slots on said body.

11. The knife holder of claim 1, wherein said marking is etched adjacent to each of said plurality of slots on said body.

12. The knife holder of claim 1, wherein said marking indicates a length of said blade of said knife.

13. The knife holder of claim 1, wherein said marking indicates a type of food to be cut by said knife.

14. The knife holder of claim 1, wherein said plurality of slots vary in shape and depth.

15. A knife holder comprising:

a body portion including a plurality of slots formed therein, each of said plurality of slots for receiving a blade portion of a knife; and

an insignia indicating a type of said blade of said knife, wherein said insignia is located on said body portion below each of said plurality of slots.

16. A tool holder comprising:

a body portion including a plurality of openings formed therein, each of said plurality of openings for receiving a working end of said tool; and

an external marking for indicating a type of said tool, wherein said marking is located on said body portion below each of said plurality of openings.