US3980608A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Knife rack which self-adjusts to blade thickness
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-06-23
•
Granted: 1976-09-14
•
Expires: 1995-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A rack for holding knives comprising a housing including parallel first and second sidewalls interconnected by a base and having an opening therebetween, fasteners for mounting the housing to an associated surface such that the sidewalls are vertically oriented, and a plurality of partition members disposed in a stacked relationship on the base between and vertically movable within the sidewalls, each member being formed from a unitary body of resilient material including an elongated portion having a blade-holding surface and terminating in a blade guiding portion disposed in a facing relationship to the opening, the blade-holding surface of a first member being disposed subjacent the blade-guiding portion of a second member and cooperating therewith to form a blade-holding recess, whereby when the blade of a knife is inserted into the rack the blade-guiding portion serves to guide the tip of the blade into the recess forcing the members above the knife upward to accommodate the blade, the weight of the members above the knife serving to maintain the blade in the recess.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J. Faltersack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:52
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47G; A47G21/00; A47G21/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A rack for holding knives comprising: a housing including parallel first and second sidewalls interconnected by a base and having an opening therebetween; means for fastening said housing to an associated surface such that said sidewalls are vertically oriented; and a plurality of partition members disposed in a stacked relationship on said base between and vertically movable within said sidewalls, each member being formed from a unitary body of resilient material and including an elongated portion having a blade-holding surface, a bottom portion, a bight portion interconnecting said bottom and said elongated portions and disposed in a facing relationship to said opening, and a spacer portion, said spacer portion and said bight portion serving to maintain said elongated and bottom portions in a substantially parallel relationship, and said bight portion serving to normally bias said elongated portion in a direction away from said bottom portion, the blade-holding surface of a first partition member being disposed subjacent the bottom portion of a second partition member and cooperating therewith to form a blade-holding recess, whereby when the blade of a knife is inserted into the rack said bight portion and said bottom portion serve to guide the tip of the blade into said recess forcing the members above the knife upward to accommodate the blade, the weight of the members above the knife serving to maintain the blade in said recess and whereby said blade-holding surface of said first partition exerts an upwardly directed force which also serves to maintain the blade in said recess.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
A rack for holding knives comprising: a housing including parallel first and second sidewalls interconnected by a base and having an opening therebetween; means for fastening said housing to an associated surface such that said sidewalls are vertically oriented; and a plurality of partition members disposed in a stacked relationship on said base between and vertically movable within said sidewalls, each member being formed from a unitary body of resilient material and including an elongated portion having a blade-holding surface, a bottom portion, a bight portion interconnecting said bottom and said elongated portions and disposed in a facing relationship to said opening, and a spacer portion, said spacer portion and said bight portion serving to maintain said elongated and bottom portions in a substantially parallel relationship, and said bight portion serving to normally bias said elongated portion in a direction away from said bottom portion, the blade-holding surface of a first partition member being disposed subjacent the bottom portion of a second partition member and cooperating therewith to form a blade-holding recess, whereby when the blade of a knife is inserted into the rack said bight portion and said bottom portion serve to guide the tip of the blade into said recess forcing the members above the knife upward to accommodate the blade, the weight of the members above the knife serving to maintain the blade in said recess and whereby said blade-holding surface of said first partition exerts an upwardly directed force which also serves to maintain the blade in said recess.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A rack for holding knives as recited in claim 1 wherein said body is formed from a sheet of sheet metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A rack for holding knives as recited in claim 1 wherein said sidewalls each include a top portion having first and second spaced-apart holes, said first holes being aligned and said second holes being aligned and wherein said means for fastening includes first and second screws for insertion through said first and second holes, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A rack for holding knives as recited in claim 1 and further including at least one wall extending upwardly from said base parallel to and intermediate said sidewalls, adjacent ones of said at least one wall and said sidewalls each serving to receive a plurality of members in a stacked relationship.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A rack for holding knives as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing includes stop means arranged in a covering relationship over a portion of said opening to maintain said members in said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
225 words
A rack for holding knives comprising: a housing including parallel first and second sidewalls interconnected by a base and having opposed openings therebetween means for fastening said housing to an associated surface such that said sidewalls are vertically oriented; and a plurality of partition members disposed in a stacked relationship on said base between and vertically movable within said sidewalls, each member being formed from a unitary body including a first elongated portion having a blade-holding surface, a second elongated portion having a blade-holding surface a flat bottom portion, first and second bight portions interconnecting respective ends of said bottom portion and said first and second elongated portions and disposed in facing relationship to said respective openings, said first and second spacer portions for respectively maintaining said elongated portions a preselected spacing from said bottom portion, the blade-holding surfaces of a first partition member being disposed subjacent the bottom portion of a second partition member and cooperating therewith to form opposed blade-holding recesses, whereby when the blade of a knife is inserted into the rack through either opening one of said bight portions and said bottom portion serve to guide the tip of the blade into said recess forcing the members above the knife upward to accommodate the blade, the weight of the members above the knife serving to maintain the blade in said recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
225 words
A rack for holding knives comprising: a housing including parallel first and second sidewalls interconnected by a base and having opposed openings therebetween means for fastening said housing to an associated surface such that said sidewalls are vertically oriented; and a plurality of partition members disposed in a stacked relationship on said base between and vertically movable within said sidewalls, each member being formed from a unitary body including a first elongated portion having a blade-holding surface, a second elongated portion having a blade-holding surface a flat bottom portion, first and second bight portions interconnecting respective ends of said bottom portion and said first and second elongated portions and disposed in facing relationship to said respective openings, said first and second spacer portions for respectively maintaining said elongated portions a preselected spacing from said bottom portion, the blade-holding surfaces of a first partition member being disposed subjacent the bottom portion of a second partition member and cooperating therewith to form opposed blade-holding recesses, whereby when the blade of a knife is inserted into the rack through either opening one of said bight portions and said bottom portion serve to guide the tip of the blade into said recess forcing the members above the knife upward to accommodate the blade, the weight of the members above the knife serving to maintain the blade in said recess.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-14 | 1980-03-15 | 1980-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-14 | 1984-03-15 | 1984-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-14 | 1988-03-15 | 1988-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |