A holder for knives or tools includes a vessel of an elastic material that has a chamber. Linear bristles fill and are arranged in adjacent rows within the chamber so that the vessel exerts a compression force on the linear bristles. Each bristle has a generally rectangular cross-section transverse to a length of the bristle. The linear bristles receive and retain knives or tools via a friction force irrespective of the orientation of the knives or tools when inserted into the vessel and irrespective of the orientation of the vessel. The holder assembly can include a suction cup via which the vessel can be coupled to a surface, and a base plate that receives the suction cup for mounting to different (e.g., uneven, non-smooth) surfaces.

A knife block may include a block body with a recessed portion and a block insert positioned at least partially within the recessed portion. The block insert may include a first knife slot and a second knife slot. The knife block may include a knife sharpener coupled to the block insert, where the first knife slot is sized such that a first knife is sharpened by the first knife sharpener each time the first knife is removed from the first knife slot. The knife block may include a first knife storage slot and a second knife storage slot.

A knife block may include a block body with a recessed portion and a block insert positioned at least partially within the recessed portion. The block insert may include a first knife slot and a second knife slot. The knife block may include a knife sharpener coupled to the block insert, where the first knife slot is sized such that a first knife is sharpened by the first knife sharpener each time the first knife is removed from the first knife slot. The knife block may include a first knife storage slot and a second knife storage slot.

A dishware combination comprising, at least, an elevating base and a plurality of receptacles for various flatware is disclosed. The combination may further comprise a plurality of flatware rests appropriate for spoons, forks, knives, chopsticks, or the like, and the plurality of receptacles may be specifically designed to accommodate flatware appropriate to the specific dishware combination implemented. The dishware combination itself may present as a soup bowl, salad plate, coffee plate or saucer, sushi plate, drinking glass, drinking mug, or any other type of dishware. The dishware combination may further comprise the appropriate flatware itself.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for an electronic knife holder. In some implementations, the electronic knife holder includes a microprocessor, a base member that has a first exterior surface containing multiple slots, a lock, and sensors corresponding to the multiple slots. Each of the multiple slots defines an interior space of the base member and is configured to receive a knife blade. When the lock is placed in a locked position, the lock locks one or more knives placed in one of the multiple slots. The sensors are configured to detect if a knife is present in one of the multiple slots.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-storage media, for an electronic knife holder. In some implementations, the electronic knife holder includes a microprocessor, a base member that has a first exterior surface containing multiple slots, a lock, and sensors corresponding to the multiple slots. Each of the multiple slots defines an interior space of the base member and is configured to receive a knife blade. When the lock is placed in a locked position, the lock locks one or more knives placed in one of the multiple slots. The sensors are configured to detect if a knife is present in one of the multiple slots.

The lockable knife block comprises a knife block and one or more knives. The knife block is a mechanical structure that stores one or more knives. The lockable knife block is a locking structure. The locking knife block comprises an interlock mechanism that inhibits an individual from removing an individual knife selected from the one or more knives from the knife block without releasing the interlock mechanism. The interlock mechanism is a lockable structure.

The lockable knife block comprises a knife block and one or more knives. The knife block is a mechanical structure that stores one or more knives. The lockable knife block is a locking structure. The locking knife block comprises an interlock mechanism that inhibits an individual from removing an individual knife selected from the one or more knives from the knife block without releasing the interlock mechanism. The interlock mechanism is a lockable structure.

An edged tool storage device storing a kitchen knife and the like has a structure including a pedestal, a support rod that extends in a substantially vertical direction from the pedestal, and a first edged tool cover and a second edged tool cover that are removably connected to the support rod and store edged tools, in which each of the first edged tool cover and the second edged tool cover includes a holding part that is elastically fitted onto the support rod and thus holds the support rod, and is removably connected to the support rod by the holding part, and the holding part of the first edged tool cover and the holding part of the second edged tool cover are different in height when connected to the support rod.

An edged tool storage device storing a kitchen knife and the like has a structure including a pedestal, a support rod that extends in a substantially vertical direction from the pedestal, and a first edged tool cover and a second edged tool cover that are removably connected to the support rod and store edged tools, in which each of the first edged tool cover and the second edged tool cover includes a holding part that is elastically fitted onto the support rod and thus holds the support rod, and is removably connected to the support rod by the holding part, and the holding part of the first edged tool cover and the holding part of the second edged tool cover are different in height when connected to the support rod.