Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, such as a kitchen knife. In some embodiments, an abrasive assembly has a frame, a handle, and a cartridge that supports a plurality of abrasive members each having an associated abrasive surface. A rod affixes the abrasive assembly to a base assembly to facilitate movement of the abrasive assembly along the cutting edge of the tool responsive to engagement, by a user, of the user handle. Each abrasive member is configured to be moved, by the user, with respect to the handle to present each abrasive surface in turn. In some cases, the cartridge is rotatable about a cartridge axis that may be parallel or non-parallel to a central axis of the rod.

Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, such as a kitchen knife. In some embodiments, an abrasive assembly has a frame, a handle, and a cartridge that supports a plurality of abrasive members each having an associated abrasive surface. A rod affixes the abrasive assembly to a base assembly to facilitate movement of the abrasive assembly along the cutting edge of the tool responsive to engagement, by a user, of the user handle. Each abrasive member is configured to be moved, by the user, with respect to the handle to present each abrasive surface in turn. In some cases, the cartridge is rotatable about a cartridge axis that may be parallel or non-parallel to a central axis of the rod.

A clamping assembly includes first and second jaws supported above a base in opposed, spaced-apart alignment on opposite sides of a central clamp axis, each jaw having a proximal end portion adjacent the base and an opposite distal end portion, where the jaws are pivotable between an open position and a closed position. A wedge movable along the central clamp axis between the proximal end portions of the pair of jaws in response to moving a handle between a first handle position and a second handle position. A cam assembly between the wedge and the base includes a cam, a follower on the proximal handle end portion, and a spring between the cam and the base. Compressing the spring increases an axial distance between the cam and the wedge.

A device for grinding and/or polishing a cutting edge of a cutting tool. The device includes a handle, at least one roller rotatable relative to the handle, and at least one disc that is rotatable relative to the handle for grinding and/or polishing the cutting edge of the cutting tool. The device can be moved over a substrate by exerting force on the handle so that the roller, which is rotating relative to the handle, rolls on the substrate and the disc can be set in rotation. The disc may be rotatable at a different rotational speed/angular velocity to the roller.

A knife sharpener for the manual sharpening of knives that includes a knife clamp, a honing bar extending in a first direction, an upright support, a base, and a sleeve that is configured to receive a knife having a blade. The knife clamp is configured such that the sleeve is selectively mated within the knife clamp to fixedly secure the knife blade therein along a second direction when the knife clamp is closed.

A knife sharpener for the manual sharpening of knives that includes a knife clamp member having first and second clamping members, a guide member that defines upper and lower guide members, and a base member. Each upper and lower guide member includes a plurality of apertures sized and shaped for receiving a guide rod that includes a sharpening stone. The knife clamp member further includes embodiments assuring the knife blade is held securely and positioned between the first and second clamping members in the same position in which the knife blade was installed the last time it was sharpened.

A magnetic sharpening jig, in particular for holding, by magnetic force, a cutting tool which is to be sharpened or polished and which includes a magnetizable blade, and for positioning said cutting tool relative to a sharpening and/or polishing tool, e.g. a rolling sharpener. In order to provide a versatile magnetic sharpening jig, the magnetic sharpening jig includes at least one flexible contact element with which the magnetically attracted blade of the cutting tool comes into contact during normal operation. Also disclosed are a set including a magnetic sharpening jig and a rolling sharpener, as well as a method for sharpening or polishing the cutting tool using the magnetic sharpening jig.

A method for producing a rolling sharpener having at least one grinding or polishing face for grinding and/or polishing a cutting tool, the rolling grinder being formed substantially from two rollers, a grip body to be arranged between the rollers and rotatably relative thereto, and a shaft to be supported rotatably in the grip body. To make correct operation of the rolling grinder user-friendly and to facilitate correct operation overall, each of the rollers is connected to the shaft in a frictionally engaged manner.

A method for producing a roll grinder with two running rollers, a handle body arranged between the running rollers and can be rotated relative thereto, and at least one grinding or polishing surface. The method includes steps of: producing the handle body; measuring the handle body in order to determine the actual dimensions of the handle body; providing at least two differently dimensioned types of spacer elements, by means of each of which a different distance can be set between one of the running rollers and the handle body in the installed state of the roll grinder compared to at least one other type; selecting one of the types of spacer elements provided depending on the measured dimension of the handle body; and connecting the handle body to the running rollers to form the roll grinder while using at least one spacer element of the type selected.

A clamping apparatus has first and second clamping members extending in an opposed, spaced-apart relation along a central axis from proximal end portions to distal end portions with inside surfaces of the clamping members facing each other. A gap between the proximal end portions is adjustable to releasably secure an object between the distal end portions. A clamp actuator has a handle and a wedge, moving the handle to a first handle position moves the wedge linearly along the clamp central axis in engagement with the inside surfaces of the proximal end portions to increase the gap. Moving the handle to the second handle position moves the wedge in an opposite direction along the central clamp axis, thereby permitting the gap to decrease. In embodiments, the clamping force is adjustable.