Horizontal Knife Holder

Abstract

A knife holder for placement into a drawer is disclosed. It includes a plurality of substantially identical and substantially rectangular flexible leaf members secured near one end but unsecured at the opposite end, either placed in an open top box which fits completely into a drawer or directly on a horizontal surface. Knives can be placed in the cutlery section of the box with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members, so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members and each knife is accessible by a user without removing other knives. The knives rest against the bottom of the box or against the horizontal surface. In one arrangement, a dowel rod secures the plurality of leaf members by tightly fitting through the holes formed by the leaf members.

Description

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

(d) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

(e) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates knife holders.

2. Description of Related Art

Many knife holders in the prior art are free standing. Free standing knife holders are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,939, U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,559 and Published Patent Application No. 206/0218798. Other knife holders are for attachment to a wall such as the ones shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,861,683 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,608.

Typically, when knives other than plain table knives are placed in a drawer, they are just put loosely into the drawer. Some silverware holders designed for placement into drawers have room for some larger knives, which are put loosely into the section for such knives.

(f) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A knife holder according to the present invention for placement into a drawer includes a plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members secured near one end but unsecured at the opposite end, and a box which fits completely into a drawer. The box has a bottom and four sides but an open top with at least one section for knives, such as a tray for cutlery or cutlery and silverware. When the plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members are placed into the knife section of the box with the secured end placed nearest the end of the cutlery section of the box, knives can be placed in the cutlery section of the box with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members, so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members and each knife is accessible by a user without removing other knives.

A knife holder for placement into a drawer, includes a plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members, means for securing the plurality of leaf members near one end, leaving the plurality of leaf members unsecured at the opposite end, and a box which fits completely into a drawer. The box has a bottom and four sides but an open top with at least one section for knives, such as a tray for cutlery or cutlery and silverware. When the plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members are placed into the knife section of the box with the secured end placed nearest the end of cutlery section of the box, and knives can be placed in the cutlery section of the box with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members. Each knife is accessible by a user without removing other knives.

In one arrangement, a knife holder according to the present invention, each leaf of the plurality of leaf members forms a hole at the point where the leaf members are secured, and a dowel rod secures the plurality of leaf members by tightly fitting through the holes formed by the leaf members.

In general, a knife holder for holding knives in substantially horizontal positions, includes a plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members secured near one end but unsecured at the opposite end, and a box having a bottom and four sides but an open top with at least one section for knives, such as a tray for cutlery or cutlery and silverware, wherein when the plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members are placed into the knife section of the box with the secured end placed nearest the end of cutlery section of the box, and the knives can be placed in the cutlery section of the box with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members, so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members and each knife is accessible by a user without removing other knives.

Even more generally, a knife holder for holding knives in substantially horizontal positions, includes only a plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members, and means for securing the plurality of leaf members near one end, leaving the plurality of leaf members unsecured at the opposite end. When the plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members are placed on a substantially horizontal surface, the knives can be placed with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members. In this way, each knife is accessible by a user without removing other knives.

In one arrangement of such a knife holder, each leaf of the plurality of leaf members forms a hole at the point where the leaf members are secured. The holes align and the means for securing the plurality of leaf members near one end, leaving the plurality of leaf members unsecured at the opposite end, is a dowel rod which secures the plurality of leaf members by tightly fitting through the holes formed by the leaf members.

These and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(g) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a top rear right perspective view of a horizontal knife holder according to the present invention, holding knives;

FIG. 2 is a top rear right perspective view of the horizontal knife holder and knives of FIG. 1 with one knife removed;

FIG. 3 is a top rear right perspective view of the horizontal knife holder and knives of FIG. 2, with the leaf members and knives lifted out of the box;

FIG. 4 is a top rear right perspective view of the horizontal knife holder and knives of FIG. 3 with the knives lifted out of the leaf members; and

FIG. 5 is a top rear right perspective view of the leaf members and a dowel rod used to secure one end of the leaf members.

(h) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawing and, in particular to FIGS. 1-4, a knife holder according to the present invention is referred to generally by reference numeral 10. In a preferred form, knife holder 10 is substantially horizontal and holds the knives on edge, but substantially horizontal for placement into a drawer. Knife holder 10 includes a plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members 12 secured near one end 14 but unsecured at the opposite end 16, all placed in a box 18, which fits completely into a drawer. Box 18 has a bottom 20, a rear side 22, a front side 24 and right side 26 and a left side 28 but an open top with at least one section 30 for knives 32, 34, 36, 40, 42 and 44. Box 18 can be a tray for cutlery or cutlery and silverware. When plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members 12 are placed into knife section 30 of box 18 with secured end 14 placed nearest the end of the cutlery section of the box, in this case front end 24, knives can be placed in the cutlery section of the box with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members, so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members and each knife is accessible by a user without removing other knives. In this way, knife 44 was removed without disturbing the remaining knives.

A knife holder for placement into a drawer, includes a plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members, means for securing the plurality of leaf members near one end, leaving the plurality of leaf members unsecured at the opposite end, and a box which fits completely into a drawer. The box has a bottom and four sides but an open top with at least one section for knives, such as a tray for cutlery or cutlery and silverware. When the plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members are placed into the knife section of the box with the secured end placed nearest the end of cutlery section of the box, and knives can be placed in the cutlery section of the box with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members. Each knife is accessible by a user without removing other knives. Suitable materials for the box include bamboo, wood, plastic, metal or any other hard surface that can support the appropriate weight.

Referring specifically to FIG. 5, in one arrangement of a knife holder according to the present invention, each leaf of the plurality of leaf members forms a hole 46 at the point where the leaf members are secured, and a dowel rod 48 secures the plurality of leaf members by tightly fitting through the holes formed by the leaf members. Any equivalent of a dowel rod, such as a bolt and nut could be used, forming recesses in the box for the bolt head and the nut.

In general, a knife holder for holding knives in substantially horizontal positions, includes a plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members secured near one end but unsecured at the opposite end, and a box having a bottom and four sides but an open top with at least one section for knives, such as a tray for cutlery or cutlery and silverware, wherein when the plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members are placed into the knife section of the box with the secured end placed nearest the end of cutlery section of the box, and the knives can be placed in the cutlery section of the box with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members, so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members and each knife is accessible by a user without removing other knives.

Even more generally, a knife holder for holding knives in substantially horizontal positions, includes only a plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members, and means for securing the plurality of leaf members near one end, leaving the plurality of leaf members unsecured at the opposite end. When the plurality of substantially rectangular leaf members are placed on a substantially horizontal surface, the knives can be placed with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members. In this way, each knife is accessible by a user without removing other knives.

In one arrangement of such a knife holder, each leaf of the plurality of leaf members forms a hole at the point where the leaf members are secured. The holes align and the means for securing the plurality of leaf members near one end, leaving the plurality of leaf members unsecured at the opposite end, is a dowel rod which secures the plurality of leaf members by tightly fitting through the holes formed by the leaf members.

In the embodiment illustrated, individual leaf members are secured at one end, they could be bound at one end. Leaf members can also be formed by a single piece fan folded or multiple pieces fan folded, or some combination of the individual and fan fold. Suitable materials for leaf members include cork, rubberized cork, silicone, rubber, paper, wood, plastic or other flexible material.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is well adapted to attain all of the ends and objectives hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A knife holder that allows placement into a drawer, comprising in combination:

a plurality of substantially identical flexible leaf members for holding the end of knife blades opposite the knife handles, each leaf member having two substantially parallel and substantially rectangular sides as installed, the two substantially rectangular sides being substantially planar as installed, wherein substantially rectangular can include one or more rounded corners;

a member for securing the leaf members near the end of the leaf members opposite the knife handles but unsecured at the end nearer to the knife handles, wherein the two ends are of substantially uniform distance apart, whereby each leaf member is of substantially uniform thickness; and

a box capable of fitting completely into a drawer, wherein the box has a bottom and four sides but an open top with at least one section for knives, wherein when the plurality of substantially identical and substantially rectangular leaf members are placed into the knife section of the box with the secured end placed nearest the end of cutlery section of the box, and knives can be placed in the cutlery section of the box with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members, so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members and each knife is accessible and can be easily removed by a user without removing other knives, wherein the sharp edge of the blades rest partly against the bottom of the box and the handles of the knives rest partly against the bottom of the box.

2. A knife holder that allows placement into a drawer, comprising in combination:

a plurality of substantially identical flexible leaf members, each leaf member having two substantially parallel and substantially rectangular sides as installed, the two substantially rectangular sides being substantially planar as installed and secured near one end but unsecured at the opposite end, wherein the two sides are of substantially uniform distance apart, whereby each leaf member is of substantially uniform thickness;

means for securing the plurality of leaf members near one end, leaving the plurality of leaf members unsecured at the opposite end; and

a box which fits completely into a drawer, wherein the box has a bottom and four sides but an open top with at least one section for knives, rectangular leaf members are placed into the knife section of the box with the secured end placed nearest the end of cutlery section of the box, and knives can be placed in the cutlery section of the box with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members and each knife is accessible and can be easily re-moved by a user without removing other knives, wherein both one edge of the blades and the handles of the knives rest against the bottom of the box.

3. A knife holder according to claim 2, wherein each leaf of the plurality of leaf members includes a hole at the point where the leaf members are secured and wherein the holes align and the member for securing the plurality of leaf members near one end, leaving the plurality of leaf members unsecured at the opposite end, is a dowel rod which secures the plurality of leaf members by fitting through aligning holes the leaf members.

4. A knife holder for holding knives in substantially horizontal positions, comprising in combination:

a plurality of substantially identical flexible leaf members, each leaf member having two substantially parallel and substantially rectangular sides as installed, the two substantially rectangular sides being substantially planar as installed, wherein substantially rectangular can include one or more rounded corners;

a member for securing the leaf members near the end opposite the knife handles but unsecured at the end nearest the knife handles, wherein the two sides of a leaf member are of substantially uniform distance apart, whereby each leaf member is of substantially uniform thickness; and

a box having a bottom and at least three sides but an open top with at least one section for knives, wherein when the plurality of substantially identical and substantially rectangular leaf members are placed into the knife section of the box with the secured end placed nearest the end of cutlery section of the box, and the knives can be placed in the cutlery section of the box with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members, so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members and each knife is accessible and can be easily removed by a user without removing other knives, wherein both one edge of the blades and the handles of the knives rest against the bottom of the box.

5. A knife holder for holding knives in substantially horizontal positions, comprising in combination:

a plurality of substantially identical flexible leaf members, each leaf member having two substantially parallel and substantially rectangular sides as installed, the two substantially rectangular sides being substantially planar as installed, wherein substantially rectangular can include one or more rounded corners;

means for securing the plurality of leaf members near one end, leaving the plurality of leaf members unsecured at the opposite end, wherein when the plurality of substantially identical and substantially rectangular leaf members are placed on a substantially horizontal surface, wherein the knives can be placed with the free ends of their blades held between the unsecured ends of the leaf members so that the knives are held on their edges by the plurality of leaf members and each knife is accessible and can be easily removed by a user without removing other knives, wherein both one edge of the blades and the handles of the knives rest against the horizontal surface.

6. A knife holder according to claim 5, wherein each leaf of the plurality of leaf members includes a hole at the point where the leaf members are secured and wherein the holes align and the means for securing the plurality of leaf members near one end, leaving the plurality of leaf members unsecured at the opposite end, is a dowel rod which secures the plurality of leaf members by fitting through the hole in each leaf member.

7. A knife holder according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of substantially identical and substantially flat, and substantially rectangular flexible leaf members comprises a plurality of substantially identical and substantially rectangular flexible leaf members for each knife to be held.

8. A knife holder according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of substantially identical and substantially flat, and substantially rectangular flexible leaf members comprises a plurality of substantially identical and substantially rectangular flexible leaf members for each knife to be held.

9. A knife holder according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of substantially identical and substantially flat, and substantially rectangular flexible leaf members comprises a plurality of substantially identical and substantially rectangular flexible leaf members for each knife to be held.