|
(11) | EP 0 365 280 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
|
|
| (54) |
A knife, blade and tape measure Messer, Klinge und Massband Couteau, lame et mètre à ruban |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention is directed to a knife, and more particularly to a replaceable blade for a knife, and to a tape measure.
[0002] In order to cut plaster or other boards to a desired width, a workman will often use a knife of the type having a replaceable blade together with a tape measure of the type which is extendable and lockable and which has a hooked portion at its free end, instead of marking the board for cutting. The hooked part of the tape is either placed over the upper edge of the blade and held in position by the workman placing his thumb on top of the tape or simply abuts the face of the blade and is held in that position by the workman. The other hand is used to grasp the tape measure housing and then both hands are drawn down the plasterboard or the like, applying pressure on the blade so as to cut into the board. This is a very quick method, since it obviates the need for drawing the line of cut beforehand. However, since the workman must hold the tape in position on or against the knife blade, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to apply sufficient pressure to cut sufficiently far into the board. In addition, the tape easily slides off or away from the knife blade, giving rise to inaccurate cutting or injury to the workman.
[0003] US-A-4255856 discloses an attachment for a utility knife which is fitted into the handle of the knife adjacent the blade, the attachment having a slot for receiving a tape measure.
[0004] GB-A-2153283 discloses a "survival" knife which has an orifice in its blade to which can be fixed various tools, for example hooks to form a harpoon.
[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blade, for a knife, characterised in that the blade has a pair of adjacent slots for receiving the hooked part of the free end of a tape measure adapted to be received in the slots.
[0006] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a knife of the type having a replaceable blade, comprising a handle and a blade, characterised in that the blade has a pair of adjacent slots for receiving the hooked part of the free end of a tape measure adapted to be received in the slots.
[0007] By this means, the hooked end of the tape measure may be located in the slots in the blade, and does not need holding in place by the workman during cutting of the board.
[0008] The slots are preferably elongate apertures in the blade, and may be parallel to the edge of the body of the knife adjacent to the blade. Alternatively, the slots may be provided at some other angle, for example, parallel to the upper and/or lower edges of the blade.
[0009] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided in combination, a replaceable blade for a knife and a tape measure provided with a hook end part, characterised in that the blade has a pair of adjacent slots and in that the hooked end part of the tape measure is adapted to be received in the slots.
[0010] The invention further includes a tape measure comprising a tape having an end part with a hook on one side only, characterised in that the hook is bifurcated to form a pair of hook portions on either side of a slit extending the full length of the hook portions, whereby the hook end part is receivable by a blade having a pair of adjacent slots.
[0011] By this means, the tape is more securely held in position when the hooked part is passed through the blade, travel of the blade along the tape in use being inhibited.
[0012] Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of a knife having a replaceable blade, and a tape measure;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the blade of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a side view of a second example of a blade;
Fig. 4 is a side view of a third example of a blade;
Fig. 5 is a side view of a fourth example of a blade;
Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of the tape measure of Fig. 1; and,
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the tape measure of Fig. 6.
[0013] A first example of a knife 1 of the type having a replaceable blade 2 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The blade 2 has a pair of adjacent slots 31,32 which are parallel to the edge 4 of the handle 5 of the knife 1 adjacent to the blade 2.
[0014] As shown in Figures 1 and 6, a double hook end part 44 of a tape measure 7 is provided with two hooks 45,46 adapted to pass through the slots 31,32.
[0015] In use, the workman passes the two hooks 45,46 of the tape measure 7 through the respective slots 31,32 of the blade 2, and draws the tape out to the required length. The tape is then usually locked at that length by means of a locking device commonly provided on the body of such tape measures. The workman is then free to apply full pressure to the plasterboard or the like to be cut, since he is not required actively to hold the hooked end part 44 of the tape measure 7 in position on the blade 2. Using his other hand to hold the tape box (not shown) so that some tension is present in the tape 7, an accurate cut is quickly and easily achieved.
[0016] The bridge portion 47 between the slots 31, 32 prevents the blade 2 from being able to move along the length of the tape during cutting, and so secure locking is ensured. The provision of the two small slots 31,32 also serves to reduce weakening of the blade to a minimum.
[0017] The slots 31,32 may be positioned at other angles. Examples of such other orientations are shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.
[0018] In Figure 3, the slots 31,32 are provided in the blade 2 such that the slots 31,32 are parallel to the upper edge 8 of the blade 2.
[0019] In Figure 4, slots 31,32 are provided at a non-zero angle to the edge 9 of the body of the knife adjacent to the blade 2. With the slots 31,32 in this position, in use, the tape is able to be used by the workman so as to check the accuracy during cutting whilst preventing the sharp edge of the tape itself from cutting into the plasterboard. In addition, the likelihood of the blade snapping is kept to a minimum.
[0020] Figure 5 shows a blade 2 wherein slots 31,32 are again provided at a non-zero angle to the edge 9 of the body of the knife adjacent to the blade 2, but in a different orientation to the slots 31,32 shown in Figure 4.
[0021] As shown in Figure 7, the hook end part 44 of the tape measure should protrude somewhat from the end of the tape so as to leave a substantially rectangular gap 48 between the hooks 45, 46 and the square end 49 of the tape. In addition, as shown most clearly in Figure 6, the hook end part 44 has a cut-out 50 which accommodates the bridge portion 47 of the blade. This cut-out 50 preferably extends beyond the free end 49 of the tape so that the blade can be tilted relative to the tape, ensuring that the hooks 45,46 can be easily inserted into the slots 31,32. These two features in particular allow the blade 2 to be accommodated within the gap 48 so that the plane of the blade is substantially perpendicular to the length of the tape, which ensures accurate measuring and cutting.
[0022] In each of the examples shown in Figures 1 to 5, a reinforcing member (not shown) may be clipped to the upper edge of the blade so as to provide increased strength and rigidity. This member is elongate and is provided with a channel along its length which accepts the blade in use. Alternatively, the reinforcing member may be formed integrally with the blade.
1. A blade (2), for a knife (1), characterised in that the blade has a pair of adjacent
slots (31,32) for receiving the hooked part (44,45,46) of the free end of a tape measure
adapted to be received in the slots (31,32).
2. A blade according to claim 1, wherein each of the slots (31,32) is an elongate aperture.
3. A blade according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a reinforcing member along
the edge of the blade remote from the cutting edge.
4. A knife (1) of the type having a replaceable blade, comprising a handle (5) and a
blade (2), characterised in that the blade has a pair of adjacent slots (31,32) for
receiving the hooked part (44,45,46) of the free end of a tape measure adapted to
be received in the slots (31,32).
5. In combination, a replaceable blade (2) for a knife (1) and a tape measure provided
with a hook end part, characterised in that the blade (2) has a pair of adjacent slots
(31,32) and in that the hooked end part (44,45,46) of the tape measure is adapted
to be received in the slots (31,32).
6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the hook end part (44) of the tape measure
protrudes from the square end (49) of the tape so as to leave a gap (48).
7. A combination according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the hook end part of the tape
measure has a cut-out (50) for accommodating the bridge portion (47) between the pair
of slots (31,32) in the blade (2).
8. A tape measure comprising a tape having an end part (44) with a hook on one side only,
characterised in that the hook is bifurcated to form a pair of hook portions (45,46)
on either side of a slit extending the full length of the hook portions (45,46), whereby
the hook end part is receivable by a blade having a pair of adjacent slots (31,32).
9. A tape measure according to claim 8, wherein the hook end part (44) has a cut-out
(50) in extension of the slit for accommodating the bridge portion (47) between the
pair of slots (31,32) in the blade (2).
1. Klinge (2) für ein Messer (1), dadurch gekennzeichnet,daß die Klinge ein Paar nebeneinanderliegende
Schlitze (31,32) zur Aufnahme der hakenartigen Teile (44,45,46) des in die Schlitze
(31,32) aufnehmbaren, freien Endes eines Maßbandes aufweist.
2. Klinge nach Anspruch 1, bei welcher jeder der Schlitze (31,32) eine verlängerte öffnung
darstellt.
3. Klinge nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, welche außerdem entlang der, von der Schneidkante entfernten
Klingenkante ein Verstärkungsglied aufweist.
4. Messer (1) mit einer auswechselbaren Klinge, welches einen Griff (5) und eine Klinge
(2) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Klinge ein Paar nebeneinanderliegende
Schlitze (31,32) zur Aufnahme der hakenartigen Teile (44, 45,46) des in die Schlitze
(31,32) aufnehmbaren, freien Endes eines Maßbandes aufweist.
5. Eine auswechselbare Klinge (2) für ein Messer (1) zusammen mit einem, einen hakenartigen
Endteil aufweisenden Maßband, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Klinge (2) mit einem
Paar nebeneinanderliegender Schlitze (31,32) versehen ist, und daß der hakenartige
Endteil (44,45,46) des Maßbandes in die Schlitze (31,32) aufnehmbar ist.
6. Eine Zusammenstellung nach Anspruch 5, bei welcher der hakenartige Endteil (44) des
Maßbandes über das quadratische Ende (49) des Bandes hinausragt und sich dadurch eine
Aussparung (48) ergibt.
7. Eine Zusammenstellung nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, bei welcher der hakenartige Endteil
des Maßbandes einen Ausschnitt (50) zur Aufnahme der zwischen dem Schlitzpaar (31,32)
in der Klinge vorgesehenen Brücke (47) aufweist.
8. Maßband, welches ein Band mit einem, auf nur einer Seite mit einem Haken versehenen
Endteil (44) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Haken gegabelt ist und sich
somit auf jeder Seite eines sich über die gesamte Länge der Hakenteile (45,46) erstreckenden
Schlitzes zwei Hakenteile (45,46) ergeben, wobei der Haken-Endteil durch eine, zwei
nebeneinanderliegende Schlitze (31,32) aufweisende Klinge aufnehmbar ist.
9. Maßband nach Anspruch 8, bei welchem der Haken-Endteil (44) einen Ausschnitt (50)
in Verlängerung des Schlitzes zur Aufnahme der Brücke (47) zwischen den beiden, in
der Klinge (2) vorgesehenen Schlitze (31,32) aufweist.
1. Lame (2) pour couteau (1), caractérisée en ce que la lame présente une paire de fentes
adjacentes (31, 32), pour recevoir la pièce en crochet (44, 45, 46) de l'extrémité
libre d'un mètre-ruban adaptée pour être reçue dans les fentes.
2. Lame selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle chacune des fentes (31, 32) est une ouverture
allongée.
3. Lame selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, comportant en outre un organe
de renfort le long du bord de la lame qui est éloigné du bord coupant.
4. Couteau (1) du type présentant une lame remplaçable, comportant une poignée (5) et
une lame (2), caractérisé en ce que la lame présente une paire de fentes adjacentes
(31, 32), pour recevoir la pièce en crochet (44, 45, 46) de l'extrémité libre d'un
mètre-ruban adaptée pour être reçue dans les fentes (31, 32).
5. Combinaison d'une lame remplaçable (2) pour un couteau (1) et d'un mètre-ruban doté
d'une pièce d'extrémité en crochet, caractérisée en ce que la lame (2) présente une
paire de fentes adjacentes (31, 32), et en ce que la partie en crochet (44, 45, 46)
de l'extrémité libre d'un mètre-ruban est adaptée pour être reçue dans les fentes
(31, 32).
6. Combinaison selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle la pièce d'extrémité en crochet
(44) du mètre-ruban déborde de l'extrémité carrée (49) du ruban, de manière à laisser
un interstice (48).
7. Combinaison selon la revendication 5 ou la revendication 6, dans laquelle la pièce
d'extrémité en crochet du mètre-ruban présente une découpe (50) pour loger la partie
en traverse (47) située entre les fentes (31, 32) de la paire de fentes de la lame
(2).
8. Mètre-ruban comportant une pièce d'extrémité (44) avec un crochet sur un seul côté,
caractérisé en ce que le crochet est en fourche, pour former une paire de parties
en crochet (45, 46) de chaque côté d'une fente s'étendant sur toute la longueur des
parties en crochet (45, 46), la pièce d'extrémité en crochet pouvant être reçue par
une lame présentant une paire de fentes adjacentes (31, 32).
9. Mètre-ruban selon la revendication 8, dans lequel la pièce d'extrémité en crochet
(44) présente une découpe (50) dans le prolongement de la fente, pour loger la partie
en traverse (47) située entre les fentes (31, 32) de la paire de lentes de la lame
(2).