GB2390322A

GB2390322A - Articulated cutting device

Info

Publication number: GB2390322A
Application number: GB0215538A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Robert Creighton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-07-04
Filing date: 2002-07-04
Publication date: 2004-01-07
Also published as: GB0215538D0

Abstract

This invention relates to device where one end of a cutting blade B is arranged to articulate/hinge about a horizontal and vertical axis. The blade B is arranged to extend from the hinge area at essentially 90 0 to each of the hinge axes when lying horizontal. Assuming a traditional handle D is attached to the opposite end of the blade, B the handle D can be raised and lowered vertically and moved horizontally. With the blade set in an upright position (similar to a knife blade used for chopping), this arrangement ensures that the blade remains upright and prevents it from twisting about a horizontal axis (this horizontal axis being essentially perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the hinge). By moving the handle up and down a chopping / slicing action is achieved and moving the handle side to side varies the position of the cutting. Other features include a turntable T and provision for motorising the chopping action of the cutting blade B.

Description

- 1 ARTICULATED CUTTING DEVICE

DESCRIPTION

This invention is directed primarily to controlling a knife blade to ease the difficult task of chopping / slicing herbs and vegetables for people who are not gifted with dexterity. The invention relates to articulation of one end of a cutting blade about horizontal and vertical axes. The blade is arranged to protrude at essentially 90 to each of these axes when the blade is in the horizontal position. If the blade is set to be upright (similar to a knife blade used for chopping), this arrangement ensures that the blade is kept upright. Typically the opposite end of the blade from the articulation end would be fitted with a traditional handle to allow a user to move the blade up and down and from side to side enabling an easy chopping action to be achieved and at differing positions.

Blades have been produced before with one articulation axis at one end e. g. on a penknife, but not with two articulation axes.

The articulation can be achieved in various ways. The horizontal and vertical articulation axes can cross each other but do not have to.

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic arrangement where the axes do cross each other.

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic arrangement where the axes do not cross each other. The articulation points are arranged to be essentially close to the end of the blade.

However they can be remote from or before the end of the blade and can be offset.

Figures 1 and 2 depict a remote arrangement and Figure 3 shows an arrangement where the articulation points are situated before the end of the blade and in this case the vertical articulation axis is offset to one side.

In each of the Figures 1, 2 and 3 the horizontal articulation axis is represented by H. the vertical articulation axis is represented by V, and the blade by B. Figure 4 shows a practical arrangement of Figure 2 where the articulation axes do not cross. Figure 4 shows a moveable block A fifed into the mouth of a fixed block F linked together with a pivot pin V which also acts as the vertical articulation axis.

Block A pivots about pin V. Into the mouth of block A is fitted blade B. Block A and blade B are linked together with a pivot pin H which acts as the horizontal articulation axis. Blade B pivots about pin H. Figure 5 shows a practical arrangement of Figure 3 where the horizontal articulation axis and vertical articulation axis are situated before the end of the blade and offset respectively. Figure 5 shows a moveable block A fitted to a fixed base (not shown) via a pivot pin V which also acts as the vertical articulation axis. Block A pivots about pin V. Into the mouth of block A is fitted blade B. Block A and blade B are linked together with a pivot pin H which acts as the horizontal articulation axis. Blade B pivots about pin H.

-2 Attachment of the blade to the articulation points need not be direct. Attachment could be via a fixture connected to the end of the blade as depicted in Figure 6. The articulation takes place at the fixture and transfers the movement to the blade.

Figure 6 shows a moveable block A fitted to a eked base (not shown) via a pivot pin V which also acts as the vertical articulation axis. Block A pivots about pin V. The blade B is attached to fixture C. Into the mouth of block A is fitted the fixture C. Block A and fixture C are linked together with a pivot pin H which acts as the horizontal articulation axis. Blade B pivots about pin H via the fixture C. A practical use of a device which employs this invention is shown in Figure 7 where it is used on a herb-chopping machine for use in the kitchen.

Figure 7 shows the moveable block A with the articulation pivot pins forming the horizontal and vertical articulation axes. The blade B is shown together with a handle D. In this arrangement a manually rotatable cutting table T is shown which aids the position/orientation of the cutting. It is operated by moving handle D up and down and side to side.

Figure 8 shows a more detailed pictorial view of the moveable block A and Figure 9 shows a cross-section of the moveable block A. Figure 9 also shows the rotatable table T. In each of the Figures 8 and 9, A represents the moveable block which provides the articulation axes, V represents the vertical articulation axis pin, H represents the horizontal articulation axis pin, and B represents the cutting blade.

The blade could be straight or convex.

Figure 10 show an arrangement with a convex blade. To ensure the cutting is effective for a convex blade the vertical articulation axis fitting would be sprung loaded to allow the blade to align with the cutting surface/table. As can be seen in this arrangement, the horizontal articulation axis is allowed to move up and down.

Figure 10 shows a moveable block A with a convex blade B feted via a horizontal pivot pin H. The moveable block A can move up and down the vertical pivot pin V against the resistance of spring S. As the blade B is moved down to cut, the block A moves up (and vice versa).

The sprung vertical articulation axis could also be used with a straight blade to help with the alignment of the blade against the cutting surface/table. Similarly a floating/sprung supported cutting surfaceAable can be used to aid alignment of the blade with the cutting surfaceAable.

Blade release from the articulation points for cleaning purposes could be done by removal of either of the articulation hinge pins or by having a notched blade to connect to the horizontal articulation pin which hooks under the pin as shown in Figure 11. Lifting the blade from the horizontal position to the vertical allows removal.

Additionally if the blade is attached to the articulation point via a fixture the blade could be made to separate from the fixture.

The blade could be spring assisted to help with its operation such that only downward pressure would be needed to operate the chopping action. This is depicted in Figure 12 which shows blade B pivoted via a horizontal pivot pin H situated towards the top of the blade B. Spring G is located between the moveable block A and the lower part of the blade B. From the geometry, the spring pressure acting on the lower part of the blade rotates the blade about pin H thus lifting the blade in the direction of arrow E.

- 3 Previous discussion makes reference to manual operation of the blade (by direct contact with ones hand), however the operation could be mechanised e.g. by suitable use of a motor or hand cranking, arranged to oscillate the blade in horizontal and vertical modes.

Figure Legend: A = Moveable Block B = Cutting Blade C = Connection Fixture D = Handle E = Direction F = Fixed Block G - Blade Spring H = Horizontal Axis t Pin S = Block Spring T = Cutting Surface / Table V = Vertical Axis / Pin.

Claims

-- ARTICULATED CUTTING DEVICE ADplication No GB 0215538.0 CLAIMS 1 -

Page 1 of 2

Claim 1 A cuffing blade where one end is arranged to articulate about horizontal and vertical axis points and the cutting edge acts against a movable table / platform.

Claim 2 A device as described in claim 1 where the horizontal and vertical axes cross.

Claim 3 A device as described in claim 1 where the horizontal and vertical axes do not cross.

Claim 4 A device as described in claim 1 where the horizontal and vertical axes are offset.

Claim 5 A device as described in claim 1 where the horizontal and vertical axes are situated remote or before the end of the blade.

Claim 6 A device as described in claim 1 where the horizontal and vertical axes are transferred via one or more fixtures to which the blade is attached to at least one.

Claim 7 A device as described in claim 1 where the cutting blade is straight or curved.

Claim A device as described in claim 1 where the horizontal axis can move vertically.

Claim 9 A device as described in claim 1 where the horizontal axis can move vertically and is sprung to control the movement.

Claim 10 A device as described in claim 1 where a spring is used to rotate the cutting blade (via fixture if used - Claim 6) towards or away from the cutting surface.

Claim 1 1 A device as described in claim 1 where the horizontal blade connection or fixture connection if used (Claim 6) has a notch to aid release of the blade from the device.

Claim 12 A device as described in claim 1 where the operation of the cutting action is manual or mechanised e.g. via a cranking handle or motor.

as ARTICULATED CUTTING DEVICE Application No GO 0215538.0 CLAIMS 1 Page 2 of 2 Claim 13 A device as described in claim 1 where the table or platform against which the cutting edge acts is moveable either forward I back or side to side or rotate.

Claim 14 A device as described in claim 1 with a table or platform as described in Claim 13 which can be fixed or removable for cleaning.

Claim 15 A device as described in claim 1 with a table or platform as described in Claim 13 which can be moved by hand directly or indirectly or is motorised.