Boning and trimming knife and housing

Claim 2

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having an arcuate wall surface engageable by and at least partially encircling the blade, the greatest radius of the wall surface being at said one axial end of the housing to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth at one axial end received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; said recess being of a depth greater than the axial length of the blade from the exterior flange to the one axial end of the blade having gear teeth; and means including a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange, to retain the blade in the housing without applying clamping force to the blade.

Claim 3

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing.

Claim 4

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing.

Claim 5

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said housing having an opening into the recess through the other axial end to receive a blade-driving gear; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing without applying clamping force to the blade.

Claim 6

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said housing having an opening into the recess through the other axial end to receive a blade-driving gear; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing without applying clamping force to the blade.

Claim 7

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade, the greatest radius of the wall surface being at said one axial end of the housing to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess and enclosed by said housing, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing.

Claim 8

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade, the greatest radius of the wall surface being at said one axial end of the housing to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess and enclosed by said housing, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing.

Claim 9

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having an arcuate wall surface engageable by and at least partially encircling the blade, the greatest radius of the wall surface being at said one axial end of the housing to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; a housing retainer releasably secured to said handle and releasably engaging said housing, securing it to the handle; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing without applying clamping force to the blade.

Claim 10

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having an arcuate wall surface engageable by and at least partially encircling the blade, the greatest radius of the wall surface being at said one axial end of the housing to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; a housing retainer releasably secured to said handle and releasably engaging said housing, securing it to the handle; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing without applying clamping force to the blade.

Claim 11

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; a housing retainer releasably secured to said handle and releasably engaging said housing, securing it to the handle; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing.

Claim 12

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; a housing retainer releasably secured to said handle and releasably engaging said housing, securing it to the handle; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing.

Claim 13

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having an arcuate wall surface engageable by and partially or fully encircling the blade, the greatest radius of the wall surface being at said one axial end of the housing to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; said handle having an arcuate face and an arcuate recess in the face to receive a portion of said housing; a housing retainer releasably secured to said handle and releasably engaging said housing, securing it to the handle; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing without applying clamping force to the blade.

Claim 14

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having an arcuate wall surface engageable by and partially or fully encircling the blade, the greatest radius of the wall surface being at said one axial end of the housing to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; said handle having an arcuate face and an arcuate recess in the face to receive a portion of said housing; a housing retainer releasably secured to said handle and releasably engaging said housing, securing it to the handle; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing without applying clamping force to the blade.

Claim 15

A hand knife as set forth in either of claims 5 or 6 wherein said housing retainer has a flange that extends toward the handle and engages an axially facing housing surface at said one axial end of the housing to retain said housing.

Claim 16

A hand knife as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the blade retainer is symmetrical about a midplane through its thickness, in part closely encircles the ring blade, and bears against said one axial end of the housing.

Claim 17

A hand knife as set forth in claim 9 wherein the handle includes a fulcrum across which the blade retainer extends, and including means movably securing the blade retainer to the handle between the fulcrum and the blade.

Claim 18

A hand knife as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 including at least one threaded fastener connecting the blade retainer to the handle, said blade retainer and fastener being constructed and arranged so the fastener and blade retainer move in the axial direction away from the housing when the fastener is loosened without the blade retainer pivoting about an axis parallel to that along which the fastener moves to release the blade.

Claim 19

For use in a hand knife of the type having a rotary ring blade for cutting meat and the like, a ring-like blade housing adapted to be secured at one portion to a handle and to guide a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing, said housing having two axial ends and an outer periphery, a circular recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end.

Claim 20

For use in a hand knife of the type having a rotary ring blade for cutting meat and the like, a ring-like blade housing adapted to be secured at one portion to a handle and to guide a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing, said housing having two axial ends and an outer periphery, a circular recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end.

Claim 21

For use in a hand knife of the type having a ring-like rotary blade for cutting meat and the like, a ring-like blade housing adapted to be secured at one portion to a handle and to carry a ring blade for rotary movement about a central axis of the housing, said housing having an arcuate groove portion open at one axial end of the housing, with inner concentric wall surfaces spaced apart at least as far at the open axial end as inwardly thereof to allow entry of a blade into the groove through the opening thereof, a transverse wall therebetween, and an opening in said transverse wall through which a blade within the housing can be driven.

Claim 22

For use in a hand knife of the type having a ring-like rotary blade for cutting meat and the like, a ring-like blade housing adapted to be secured at one portion to a handle and to carry a ring blade for rotary movement about a central axis of the housing, said housing having an arcuate groove portion open at one axial end of the housing, with inner concentric wall surfaces spaced apart at least as far at the open axial end as inwardly thereof to allow entry of a blade into the groove through the opening thereof, a transverse wall therebetween, and an opening in said transverse wall through which a blade within the housing can be driven.

Claim 23

A ring-like housing guiding a rotary ring blade used for cutting meat and the like, said housing having two axial ends and an outer periphery, a circular recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end.

Claim 24

A ring-like housing guiding a rotary ring blade used for cutting meat and the like, said housing having two axial ends and an outer periphery, a circular recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end.

Claim 25

A gear-driven ring blade for a hand knife of the type used for cutting meat and the like, said blade comprising: a ring gear portion at one axial end of the blade and a thinner portion extending therefrom to the other axial end and terminating at the other axial end in a cutting edge, and an exterior peripheral flange at the juncture between the thicker and thinner portions, an axially extending part of said thinner portion directly adjacent the flange having an outer peripheral surface of revolution that is symmetrical about a radial plane spaced from the flange.

Claim 26

A gear-driven ring blade for a hand knife of the type used for cutting meat and the like, said blade comprising: a ring gear portion at one axial end of the blade and a thinner portion extending therefrom to the other axial end and terminating at the other axial end in a cutting edge, and an exterior peripheral flange at the juncture between the thicker and thinner portions, an axially extending part of said thinner portion directly adjacent the flange having an outer peripheral surface of revolution that is symmetrical about a radial plane spaced from the flange.

Claim 27

A ring blade as set forth in claim 15 wherein said axially extending part is cylindrical.

Claim 28

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a pinion gear rotatable in the handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate blade-receiving recess; said blade having gear teeth at one axial end received in said recess and engaged by said pinion gear, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; said recess being of a depth greater than the axial length of the blade from the exterior flange to the one axial end of the blade having gear teeth; and means including a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange adjacent the pinion gear, to retain the blade in the housing without applying clamping force to the blade.

Claim 29

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a pinion gear rotatable in the handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate blade-receiving recess; said blade having gear teeth at one axial end received in said recess and engaged by said pinion gear, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; said recess being of a depth greater than the axial length of the blade from the exterior flange to the one axial end of the blade having gear teeth; and means including a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange adjacent the pinion gear, to retain the blade in the housing without applying clamping force to the blade.

Claim 30

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a pinion gear rotable in the handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate blade-receiving recess; said blade having gear teeth at one axial end received in said recess and engaged by said pinion gear, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; said recess being of a depth greater than the axial length of the blade from the exterior flange to the one axial end of the blade having gear teeth; and means including a wear-resistant member separate from the housing, carried by the handle, and located to oppose a portion of the exterior flange adjacent the pinion gear, to retain the blade engaged with the pinion gear without applying clamping force to the blade.

Claim 31

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a pinion gear rotable in the handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate blade-receiving recess; said blade having gear teeth at one axial end received in said recess and engaged by said pinion gear, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and an exterior flange about the periphery of the blade; said recess being of a depth greater than the axial length of the blade from the exterior flange to the one axial end of the blade having gear teeth; and means including a wear-resistant member separate from the housing, carried by the handle, and located to oppose a portion of the exterior flange adjacent the pinion gear, to retain the blade engaged with the pinion gear without applying clamping force to the blade.

Claim 32

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle, a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle and having a peripheral surface at least a portion of which is in the form of a cylindrical segment, a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing and extending from one axial end thereof, and means to locate said housing relative to the handle, said means including a first surface in the form of a cylindrical segment having an axis parallel with the housing axis and against which said portion of the blade housing is located, a flange extending from the handle transversely beyond and at one axial end of said first surface that is remote from the axial end of the housing from which the blade extends, and a surface on said flange extending transversely of the axis of said first surface, facing in the direction the blade extends from the housing, and opposing axial movement of the housing relative to the handle in a direction only away from that in which the blade extends.

Claim 33

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle, a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle and having a peripheral surface at least a portion of which is in the form of a cylindrical segment, a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing and extending from one axial end thereof, and means to locate said housing relative to the handle, said means including a first surface in the form of a cylindrical segment having an axis parallel with the housing axis and against which said portion of the blade housing is located, a flange extending from the handle transversely beyond and at one axial end of said first surface that is remote from the axial end of the housing from which the blade extends, and a surface on said flange extending transversely of the axis of said first surface, facing in the direction the blade extends from the housing, and opposing axial movement of the housing relative to the handle in a direction only away from that in which the blade extends.

Claim 34

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; a pinion carried by the handle and engageable with the blade; said housing having an axially elongated peripherally continuous portion that covers the pinion, and having an arcuate recess that opens toward an axial end of the housing, and said blade having gear teeth at one axial end received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and a circular flange by which the blade is retained in the housing recess; said recess being of a depth greater than the axial length of the blade from the exterior flange to the one axial end of the blade having gear teeth; and means including a blade retainer connected to the handle and located to in part oppose the blade flange to retain the blade in the housing without clamping the blade against the housing.

Claim 35

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; a pinion carried by the handle and engageable with the blade; said housing having an axially elongated peripherally continuous portion that covers the pinion, and having an arcuate recess that opens toward an axial end of the housing, and said blade having gear teeth at one axial end received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and a circular flange by which the blade is retained in the housing recess; said recess being of a depth greater than the axial length of the blade from the exterior flange to the one axial end of the blade having gear teeth; and means including a blade retainer connected to the handle and located to in part oppose the blade flange to retain the blade in the housing without clamping the blade against the housing.

Claim 36

A hand knife as set forth in claim 20 wherein said housing includes two axially extending slots spaced on opposite sides of the pinion and opening through one axial end of the housing.

Claim 37

For use in a hand knife of the type having a rotary ring blade for cutting meat and the like, a ring blade housing having an axially elongated peripherally continuous portion adapted to be secured to a handle, to cover a blade-driving pinion in the handle, and to guide a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing, said housing having two axial ends and an outer periphery, a circular recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery, the diameter of said recess at said one axial end being at least as large as the diameter of the recess elsewhere, and said housing having two peripherally spaced axially extending slots in the elongated portion opening through the other axial end.

Claim 38

For use in a hand knife of the type having a rotary ring blade for cutting meat and the like, a ring blade housing having an axially elongated peripherally continuous portion adapted to be secured to a handle, to cover a blade-driving pinion in the handle, and to guide a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing, said housing having two axial ends and an outer periphery, a circular recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery, the diameter of said recess at said one axial end being at least as large as the diameter of the recess elsewhere, and said housing having two peripherally spaced axially extending slots in the elongated portion opening through the other axial end.

Claim 39

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle, a ring blade housing at one end of the handle, a ring blade having gear teeth at one axial end rotatable in the housing about a central axis and having a transverse annular surface facing axially away from the housing by which it is retained in the housing, a drive member carried by the handle and engageable with the blade, said housing having an axially extending peripheral wall about a portion of the blade, the length of the blade from the transverse annular surface to the said axial end being less than the axial length of the peripheral wall that extends about a portion of the blade, and means, including a blade-retaining shoe movably secured to the handle and movable relative to the housing adjacent the handle, to selectively retain and release the blade for removal from the housing without clamping the blade against the housing, said shoe having a portion that opposes the transverse annular surface of the blade to retain the blade in the housing.

Claim 40

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle, a ring blade housing at one end of the handle, a ring blade having gear teeth at one axial end rotatable in the housing about a central axis and having a transverse annular surface facing axially away from the housing by which it is retained in the housing, a drive member carried by the handle and engageable with the blade, said housing having an axially extending peripheral wall about a portion of the blade, the length of the blade from the transverse annular surface to the said axial end being less than the axial length of the peripheral wall that extends about a portion of the blade, and means, including a blade-retaining shoe movably secured to the handle and movable relative to the housing adjacent the handle, to selectively retain and release the blade for removal from the housing without clamping the blade against the housing, said shoe having a portion that opposes the transverse annular surface of the blade to retain the blade in the housing.

Claim 41

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; and means to retain the blade in the housing; said housing having two axial ends and an outer periphery, a circular recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said handle having a part cylindrical face and a face transverse thereto for locating said housing relative to the handle.

Claim 42

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; and means to retain the blade in the housing; said housing having two axial ends and an outer periphery, a circular recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said handle having a part cylindrical face and a face transverse thereto for locating said housing relative to the handle.

Claim 43

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; and means to retain the blade in the housing, said housing having an arcuate groove portion open at one axial end of the housing, with inner concentric wall surfaces spaced apart at least as far at the open axial end as inwardly thereof to allow entry of a blade into the groove through the opening thereof, a transverse wall therebetween, and an opening in said transverse wall through which a blade within the housing can be driven; said handle having a part cylindrical face and a face transverse thereto for locating said housing relative to the handle.

Claim 44

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; and means to retain the blade in the housing, said housing having an arcuate groove portion open at one axial end of the housing, with inner concentric wall surfaces spaced apart at least as far at the open axial end as inwardly thereof to allow entry of a blade into the groove through the opening thereof, a transverse wall therebetween, and an opening in said transverse wall through which a blade within the housing can be driven; said handle having a part cylindrical face and a face transverse thereto for locating said housing relative to the handle.

Claim 45

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; a pinion carried by the handle and engageable with the blade; said housing having an axially elongated peripherally continuous portion that covers the pinion, and having an arcuate recess that opens toward an axial end of the housing, said housing recess being defined in part by a peripheral circular wall, a transverse wall extending radially inwardly therefrom, and a concentric part-circular wall of smaller diameter than the circular wall, and said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and a circular flange by which the blade is retained in the housing recess; and means including a blade retainer connected to the handle and located to in part oppose the blade flange to retain the blade in the housing without clamping the blade against the housing.

Claim 46

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; a pinion carried by the handle and engageable with the blade; said housing having an axially elongated peripherally continuous portion that covers the pinion, and having an arcuate recess that opens toward an axial end of the housing, said housing recess being defined in part by a peripheral circular wall, a transverse wall extending radially inwardly therefrom, and a concentric part-circular wall of smaller diameter than the circular wall, and said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and a circular flange by which the blade is retained in the housing recess; and means including a blade retainer connected to the handle and located to in part oppose the blade flange to retain the blade in the housing without clamping the blade against the housing.

Claim 47

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and a frusto-conical exterior flange surface about the periphery of the blade; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing, said retainer having a beveled edge surface adapted to contact said frusto-conical flange surface.

Claim 48

A hand knife for cutting meat and the like comprising a handle; a ring-like blade housing at one end of the handle; a continuous ring blade rotatable in the housing; said housing having an arcuate recess that opens toward one axial end of the housing, spaced inwardly of the outer periphery of the housing, and having two spaced concentric arcuate wall surfaces engageable by the blade and spaced apart at least as far at said one axial end of the housing as inwardly thereof to allow assembly of the blade with the housing from the said one axial end; said blade having gear teeth received in said recess, a cutting portion extending from the housing, and a frusto-conical exterior flange surface about the periphery of the blade; and a blade retainer movably connected to the handle, engageable with the housing, and located to oppose the exterior flange to retain the blade in the housing, said retainer having a beveled edge surface adapted to contact said frusto-conical flange surface.