Blade sharpening system and an edge restoring unit capable of use therewith

Abstract

A knife sharpening system includes a plurality of sharpening units, each performing a different sharpening operation, which are individually mountable on a base for alternate use. One of those units may be a knife edge former which is adjustable to produce edges of preselected different sharpness angles, and which is capable of use independently or as a part of said system.

1 . A blade-sharpening system comprising a base having means accessible from the exterior thereof for receiving and holding a blade-sharpening unit, and in combination therewith, a plurality of blade-sharpening units each having a part operatively engagable with said receiving and holding means, each of said units alternately held by said base and each performing a different blade-sharpening operation.  
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , in which said receiving and holding means comprises a slot in said base open to the exterior, and said blade-sharpening unit parts are shaped to enter said slot, thereby to alternatively mount said unit on said base.  
     
     
         3 . The system of either of claims  1  or  2 , in which a handle is articulately mounted on said base so as to be moveable between a standby position adjacent said base and a functioning position extending out from said base.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , in which said handle is mounted on said base to pivot about an axis inclined with respect to the bottom of said base.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , in which a protective element is mounted on said base and extends from said base between said handle and the blade-sharpening unit in place on said base.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , in which said base has a top wall and a side wall, said slot opens at said top wall and said handle is mounted on said side wall.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , in which one of said blade-sharpening units comprises a base, a wall extending up therefrom, said wall having a slot for receiving a knife blade to be sharpened, and a pair of sharpening elements mounted on said wall to opposite sides of said slot and extending partly over said slot so as to define between them an included angle coinciding with said slot, said sharpening elements being articulately mounted on said wall to be capable of assuming selected different fixed positions on said wall, thereby to produce different included angles, and means for releasably securing said elements to said wall in a desired relevant fixed position.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , in which said wall has a side surface intersected by said slot, said sharpening elements being pivotally mounted on said side surface.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , in which said side surface is provided with a plurality of stops adapted to be selectively engaged by said sharpening elements in their different relative positions respectively.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , in which said side surface is provided with a pair of recessed portions, one on each side of said slot, and in which said sharpening elements are mounted within said recessed portions respectively.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , in which said side surface is provided with a plurality of stops adapted to be selectively engaged by said sharpening elements in their different relative positions respectively, and in which said stops are located in said recessed portions.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , in which said stops are defined by spaced notches into which parts of said sharpening elements are selectively adapted to be received.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 , in which said space-notches are located to be opened to said recessed portion.  
     
     
         14 . A blade-sharpening unit comprising a base, a wall extending therefrom, said wall having a slot for receiving a knife blade to be sharpened, and a pair of sharpening elements mounted on said wall mounted on said wall to opposite sides of said slot and extending partly over said slot so as to define between them an included angle coinciding with said slot, said sharpening elements being articulately mounted on said wall to be capable of assuming selected different fixed positions on said wall, thereby to produce different included angles, and means for releasably securing said elements to said wall in a desired relevant fixed position.  
     
     
         15 . The unit of  claim 14 , in which said wall has a side surface intersected by said slot, said sharpening elements being pivotally mounted on said side surface.  
     
     
         16 . The unit of  claim 15 , in which said side surface is provided with a plurality of stops adapted to be selectively engaged by said sharpening elements in their different relative positions respectively.  
     
     
         17 . The unit of  claim 15 , in which said side surface is provided with a pair of recessed portions, one in each side of said slot, and in which said sharpening elements are mounted within said recessed portions respectively.  
     
     
         18 . The unit of  claim 17 , in which said side surface is provided with a plurality of stops adapted to be selectively engaged by said sharpening elements in their different relative positions respectively, and in which said stops are located in said recessed portions.  
     
     
         19 . The unit of  claim 16 , in which said stops are defined by spaced notches into which parts of said sharpening elements are selectively adapted to be received.  
     
     
         20 . The unit of  claim 19 , in which said spaced-notches are located to be open to said recessed portions.