Abstract: An improved thumbpiece for a power-driven knife is disclosed. The one piece thumbpiece includes an annular base portion and a thumb support portion disposed vertically above the base portion. The base portion is adapted to be mounted on an annular boss extending from the headpiece. The thumb supporting portion includes a thumb contacting surface which extends outwardly at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base portion. The thumb contacting surface is patterned and is generally sinusoidal in profile and convex in cross section for supporting an operator's thumb in a partially flexed position along substantially the entire length of the thumb.

Abstract: A modular power-driven knife having an annular rotary blade, the structure of which knife can be varied through choice of standardized, i.e., compatible, components to accommodate different operators and different tasks. The components include plural elongated handles to accommodate different sized hands; plural headpieces, each having a transmission for driving an annular rotary blade and identical means by which any of the handles are attachable in a first orientation, and each differently constructed to support a replaceable blade housing of predetermined size and construction different from housings supported by other headpieces, including a construction for angling the blade housing and blade relative to the extending handle; adjustable thumb supporting pieces for the handles; handle adapters to reposition the handles; pistol grip handles; drive cable casing connectors; and replaceable blade housings securable to the headpieces for supporting replaceable rotary annular blades.

Abstract: Apparatus for steeling an inside and an outside annular surface that together form a cutting edge of an annular rotary knife blade. Two or more steeling members are utilized, to separately contact the inside surface and the outside surface of the blade. A fixture receives and orients a knife blade relative to the steeling members. The knife fixture is movable along guiding means relative to the steeling members, and is yieldably biased to a predetermined blade-receiving position.

Abstract: A slip-resistant, flexible, cushioning cover for a handle, formed of an elastomeric tube having at least one open end, said tube having ribs on an outside surface. The ribs each have sidewalls extending from the outside surface, and a top wall extending between the sidewalls, forming an outer surface of the ribs. The outer surface of the ribs is concave and the junctures of the top surface and the sidewalls have sharp edges.

Abstract: A method of applying a flexible cover to a handle by placing the cover on a mandrel like apparatus, rolling the cover into a toroidal shape and expanding the circumferential dimension of the toroidally shaped cover. Once the circumferential dimension of the toroidally shaped cover is increased, the handle is adjacently placed next to the toroidally shaped cover. The cover is then unrolled onto a preselected area of the handle.

Abstract: A slip-resistant, flexible, cushioning wrap for a handle comprising a laminate suitable for covering the handle. The laminate has a base layer of cushioning, non-absorbent closed-cell foam having an outer layer of washable, grip-enhancing, random and open-cell foam laminated to one side and having a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the other side. The laminate may be formed as a sheet or a tube. A sheet of laminate may be cut to conform to the contours of the handle and then wrapped about the handle with the edges either overlapping or abutting. A tube of laminate may also be formed to fit the contours of the handle.

Abstract: A rotary hand knife that includes a handpiece 12, 12', 220 a ring-like housing 14 on the handpiece, and a rotary ring blade 16 supported and guided by the housing. The blade is driven by a pinion 18, 18', 18" rotated by a motor-driven flexible cable assembly 24, 24', 24". A removable body 58, 58', 128, 258 in the handpiece is movable manually within the handpiece to control whether or not the cable drive rotates the pinion. A spring 94, 94', 94" within the handpiece yieldably biases the body to a position where the pinion is not driven and a hand-engageable member 120, 120', 120" retains the body in a position where the pinion is driven against the force of the spring when the handpiece and hand-engageable member are gripped.

Abstract: A hand knife 20 of the type used for trimming meat with a rotary gear-driven ring-like blade 34 guided by a ring-like housing 30 and retained by a pivoted retainer 36. The blade has a concave inner surface 96, a peripheral retaining groove 45 with a frusto-conical surface 90, and a reduced diameter outer cylindrical surface 93 to accommodate the retainer. An improved adjusting knob 124 and securing member 40 hold the retainer 36 in proper position.

Abstract: A rotary hand knife 20 of the type used for trimming meat, fat, and the like, and an improved pinion cap 58 and depth-of-cut gauge 47 for use with the knife. The cap provides a stepped mounting surface 149 for the gauge that forms a passage R for product scrap or slices to pass behind the gauge. The cap also has a lip 154 that blocks entry of product particles into the blade-driving pinion. The gauge has an arcuate portion 47a offset toward the blade from a base portion 47b that abuts the cap and slides axially on the cap surface to adjust the depth of cut.