Blade sharpening system

Abstract

A knife sharpening system includes a substantially planar bed defining a first plane, a support base rigidly coupled to the bed and defining a second plane lying at a selected angle with respect to the first plane, first and second end rails are rigidly coupled to respective ends of the bed and extend outward therefrom. A reference surface is provided on an end of the second end rail, defining a plane that lies parallel to the second plane. A bench stone is received on the bed, and supported thereby so that a surface of the bench stone is parallel to the bed, and lies at the selected angle, relative to the second plane. Apertures formed in the first and second end rails form a cradle configured to receive a sharpening steel, and support the sharpening steel at the selected angle, relative to the second plane.

1 . A knife sharpening system, comprising:
 a substantially planar bed having a first surface and first and second ends, the first surface defining a first plane;   a support base rigidly coupled to the bed and defining a second plane lying at a selected angle, greater than zero, with respect to the first plane defined by the first surface of bed;   a first end rail having first and second ends, the first end rail being rigidly coupled to the first end of the bed and extending outward from the bed, the first end having at least a part of the support base positioned thereat; and   a second end rail rigidly coupled to the second end of the bed and extending outward from the first end of the bed; the first and second end rails defining first and second ends of the bed.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising first and second side rails, coupled to respective sides of the first surface of the bed and extending outward therefrom and defining, between them, a width of the bed of the first surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second end rails includes an aperture extending through the respective end rail along a common axis lying parallel to, and a selected distance from, the first surface. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a reference surface on the second end of the first end rail, the reference surface lying substantially parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first leg and the first end rail are elements of a common element coupled to the first end of the bed plate. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the selected angle is between 10 and 25 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the selected angle is between 15 and 20 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the selected angle is 16 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a length of the bed, between the first and second end rails, is greater than 6 inches and less than 14 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a length of the bed, between the first and second end rails, is greater than 6 inches and less than 14 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a length of the bed, between the first and second end rails, is greater than 6 inches and less than 14 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a length of the bed, between the first and second end rails, is greater than 8 inches and less than 9 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a length of the bed, between the first and second end rails, is between about 7¼ inches and about 7¾ inches. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a shim plate sized to be removably received between the first and second end rails, and having first and second substantially planar opposing surfaces defining respective planes that lie, with respect to each other, at an angle of greater than about one degree and less than about five degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a shim plate sized to be removably received between the first and second end rails, and having first and second substantially planar opposing surfaces defining respective planes that lie, with respect to each other, at an angle of about two degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a shim plate sized to be removably received between the first and second end rails, and having first and second substantially planar opposing surfaces defining respective planes that lie, with respect to each other, at an angle of about three degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first shim plate sized to be removably received between the first and second end rails, and having first and second substantially planar opposing surfaces defining respective planes that lie, with respect to each other, at an angle of about two degrees; and   a second shim plate sized to be removably received between the first and second end rails, and having first and second substantially planar opposing surfaces defining respective planes that lie, with respect to each other, at an angle of about three degrees.   
     
     
         18 . A system for sharpening knives, comprising:
 a stand having:
 a base defining a first plane and configured to support the stand on a planar surface so that the first plane is coplanar with the planar surface, 
 a bed defining a second plane lying at an angle with respect to a the first plane, sized to receive a bench stone thereon, and 
 a reference surface positioned at an end of the bed, lying parallel to and spaced away from the first plane. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the stand comprises a cradle defining an axis that lies parallel to and spaced away from the second plane. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , comprising a bench stone sized to be received by the bed of the stand.