Blade Sharpening Tool

Abstract

A hand-held sharpening tool for sharpening tractor and lawn mower attachments blades while the blade are attached to the tractor or lawn mower. The tool includes a tool body having a grinding surface that extends away from the tool body in a substantially perpendicular direction and a second grinding surface that extending away from the tool body in an angled direction. The two grinding surfaces are located in close proximity of each other to create a grinding zone and allows for a blade to simultaneously engage both grinding surfaces. As the tool is drawn along said blade, its edge is sharpened.

Description

REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS

This application does not claim the benefit of any pending patent application.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

This application is not referenced in any microfiche appendix.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a blade sharpening tool, and more specifically to a handheld blade sharpening tool for use with blades attached to tractor and lawn mower attachments without removing such attachment.

The blades of tractor and lawn mower attachments often lose their sharpness. One method for sharpening these blades is to first remove the blade from the cutting attachment and then grinding its edge with a table grinder or other similar type of machine. This method, however, is not efficient due to the time and difficulty associated with the removal of and subsequent grinding of the blade from the cutting attachment.

The prior art also discloses a number of hand-held blade sharpening tools, such as U.S. Pat. No. 1,927,636 issued to Epworth and U.S. Pat. No. 3,996,836 issued to Lindsay. The Epworth patent discloses a handheld blade sharpening tool having a grinding stone located within a groove, whereby the blade to be sharpened is placed within fee groove and coming in contact with the grinding stone. The Lindsay patent discloses a handheld sharpening device having a two part molded plastic body housing two grinding stones and an adjustable handle secured to the plastic body.

The prior art handheld sharpening devices are not efficient to manufacture due to their inclusion of many small parts and multiple settings and adjustments thereto. Thus there is a need for a more efficient and effective blade sharpening device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive handheld blade sharpening tool described herein satisfies the needs set out above. This device has an efficient design and it is effective when used.

One aspect of the present invention includes a base which is designed to fit within the palm of the user's hand. The first sharpening stone extends substantially perpendicular from the base and a second sharpening stone extends at an angle away from the base. Further, the first grinding stone and second grinding stone are positioned relative to each other such that a grinding zone is formed between them.

In use the user grasps the base and positions the blade to be sharpened within the grinding zone and in contact with both the first and second grinding stone. The user then moves the device along the length of the blade and thereby sharpening the blade.

Upon reading the included description, various alternative embodiments will become obvious to those skilled in the art. These embodiments are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the subject invention, which is only limited by the claims which follow and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a back view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description shows the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

As shown by the figures, an embodiment 10 of the inventive blade sharpening device is described herein. Embodiment 10 comprises a base 12 having a first grinding surface 14 extending substantially perpendicular away therefrom and a second grinding surface 16 extending at an angle away therefrom.

Base 12 can be constructed from various materials including plasties and wood. Base 12 of embodiment 10 is dimensioned to be handheld by the user. Further, base 10 includes seeming holes 18 and 20.

In embodiment 10 grinding surface 14 comprises a grinding wheel 22 having an opening 18 therethrough. Grinding wheel 22 is secured to base 12 by screw 24 and nut 26 fitting within opening 28 and engaging opening 18. Because opening 18 is substantially perpendicular to the surface of base 12, grinding wheel 22 also extends substantially perpendicular to the surface of base 12.

Similarly, grinding surface 16 comprises a grinding wheel 30 being secured to base 12 by a screw 32 and nut 34 with screw 32 extending between the opening 36 of grinding wheel 30 and opening 20. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the use of a screw and nut to secure both grinding wheels is illustrative and that other fastening devices may be utilized. Due to the orientation of opening 20 being at an angle relative to the surface of base 12 grinding wheel 30 also extends at an angle to base 12.

In embodiment 10 grinding surfaces 14 and 16 are located along base 12 such that grinding wheels 22 and 30 in contact or near contact with each other creating a grinding zone 40 there between. Grinding zone 40 is sufficiently large enough to allow a cutting attachment blade to engage both cutting wheels 22 and 30.

In operation, the user holds the base in one hand and positions the inventive blade sharpener in such a manner that the blade to be sharpened is located within the grinding zone 40 and in contact with both grinding wheels 22 and 30. The user then moves the inventive blade sharpener along the blade, sharpening the blade as it moves.

While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, such disclosures should not be regarded as any limitation of the scope of our invention. The true scope of our invention is defined in the appended claims. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims shall be construed to include both the preferred embodiment and all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A hand-held sharpening tool for sharpening blades for tractor and lawn mower attachments while said blades are attached to said attachments, said tool comprising:

a tool body;

a first grinding surface secured to said tool body, said first grinding surface extending away from said tool body in a substantially perpendicular direction relative to said tool body; and

a second grinding surface secured to said tool body, said second grinding surface extending away from said tool body in an angled direction relative to said tool body, said second grinding surface being in contact with said first grinding surface creating a grinding zone therebetween, said grinding zone configured to allow said blade to engage both said first and second grinding surfaces and sharpen the edge of said blade as said tool is drawn along said blade.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said tool body is further defined as having a first opening and a second opening, said first opening configured to be perpendicular to said tool body surface, said second opening configured to be aligned at an angle to said tool body surface;

said first grinding surface is further defined as having a first grinding wheel having an opening therethrough, and

a first fastener extending through the opening within said first grinding wheel and said first opening in said tool body securing said first grinding wheel to said tool body;

said second grinding surface is further defined as having a second grinding wheel having an opening therethrough, and

a second fastener extending through the opening within said second grinding wheel and said second opening in said tool body securing said first grinding wheel to said tool body.