A SANITARY CLEANING ARRANGEMENT, A KNIFE SHEATH ASSEMBLY AND A METHOD FOR SANITARY CLEANING KNIFES

Abstract

Sanitary cleaning arrangement for knives and sharp-edged objects, comprising an absorbent arrangement comprising a first and a second absorbent module. The first and the second absorbent modules are moisturized with a sanitizing agent and each of the absorbent modules comprises a sanitizing agent supply surface. The absorbent arrangement is configured for installment in an installation position accommodated by a knife sheath assembly. When the absorbent arrangement is arranged in the installation position, the first and second absorbent modules are positioned with the sanitizing agent supply surfaces opposed facing each other and configured for receiving the knife blade in a cleaning position. The absorbent arrangement is arranged for applying the sanitizing agent from the sanitizing agent supply surfaces onto the knife blade, when placing the knife blade in the cleaning position. Method for sanitary cleaning of knives and sharp-edged objects.

Claims

1. A sanitary cleaning arrangement for knifes and sharp-edged objects comprising: an absorbent arrangement comprising a first and a second absorbent module moisturized with a sanitizing agent and each of the absorbent modules comprises a sanitizing agent supply surface, the absorbent arrangement is configured for installment in an installation position accommodated by a knife sheath assembly, and when the absorbent arrangement is arranged in the installation position, the first absorbent module and second absorbent module are positioned with the sanitizing agent supply surfaces opposed facing each other and configured for receiving the knife blade in a cleaning position, wherein the absorbent arrangement is arranged for applying the sanitizing agent from the sanitizing agent supply surfaces onto the knife blade when placing the knife blade in the cleaning position.

2. The sanitary cleaning arrangement for knifes and sharp-edged objects in accordance with claim 1, wherein the absorbent arrangement is releasably accommodated in the installation position.

3. The sanitary cleaning arrangement for knifes and sharp-edged objects in accordance with claim 1, wherein the absorbent arrangement further comprises a protective layer covering at least a portion of the sanitizing agent supply surfaces of the first absorbent module and second absorbent module.

4. The sanitary cleaning arrangement for knifes and sharp edged objects in accordance with claim 3, wherein the protective layer has a perforated configuration for allowing the release of sanitizing agent through the protective layer.

5. A knife sheath assembly comprising a receptacle sheath member for holding knifes and sharp-edged objects and a sanitary cleaning arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the receptacle sheath member defines a housing for supportive accommodation of the absorbent arrangement in the installation position.

6. A knife sheath assembly in accordance with claim 5, comprising a scraper device for wiping off the knife blade when moving the knife blade into and away from the cleaning position.

7. A knife sheath assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the knife sheath assembly further comprises a lid member which is releasably attached to the receptacle sheath member and being arranged with a knife opening for inserting the knife blade into the cleaning position.

8. A knife sheath assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the scraper device is accommodated in the lid member and configured for engagement with the knife blade when entering through the knife opening.

9. A knife sheath assembly in accordance with claim 5, further comprising an attachment piece for selective suspension of the receptacle sheath member from a user.

10. Method for sanitary cleaning knifes and sharp edged objects by means of an absorbent arrangement comprising a first and a second absorbent module moisturized with a sanitizing agent, wherein the first and the second absorbent module are accommodated in an installation position by a knife sheath assembly, where the sanitizing agent supply surfaces of the first and the second absorbent module are positioned opposed facing each other, wherein the method comprises the following steps: guiding a first portion of the blade of a knife or a sharp-edged objects into an insert area of the absorbent arrangement, directing the knife blade further into the insert area and receiving the knife blade in a cleaning position in between the sanitizing agent supply surfaces thereby applying the sanitizing agent released from the sanitizing agent supply surfaces of the first and a second absorbent module onto the knife blade.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of the exterior of a knife sheath assembly holding a sanitary cleaning arrangement.

[0054] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the knife sheath assembly as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0055] FIG. 3. is a lengthwise cross section of the knife sheath assembly along section line A-A as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the illustration C in FIG. 3.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the knife sheath assembly as shown in FIG. 1.

[0058] FIG. 6 shows a cross along section lines D-D as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0059] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the knife sheath assembly as shown in FIG. 1.

[0060] FIG. 8 shows a lengthwise section of the knife sheath assembly along the section lines E-E.

[0061] FIG. 9 shows an attachment piece for attachment of a receptacle sheath member.

[0062] FIG. 10 shows the attachment of a receptacle sheath member to a belt by means of the attachment piece of FIG. 9.

[0063] A knife sheath assembly 1 is shown in the figs. The sheath assembly 1 comprises a receptacle sheath member 2. The receptacle sheath member 2 accommodates a first absorbent module 3 and a second absorbent module 4, which both are moisturized with a sanitizing agent. The first absorbent module 3 and a second absorbent module 4 illustrated in the figs, each comprises a pad element such as a sponge material or other absorbent materials. Materials capable of absorbing liquid and storing the liquid until the later release of the liquid due to for instance compression force squeezing the material, may be used for manufacture of the absorbent modules 3,4.

[0064] The first absorbent module 3 and the second absorbent module 4 have sanitizing agent supply surfaces 5, 6. When arranged in the accommodated position in the knife sheath assembly as shown for instance in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the sanitizing agent supply surfaces 5, 6 are positioned opposed facing each other. Protective layers 7, 8 cover the sanitizing agent supply surfaces 5, 6 respectively, and are shown also covering chamfered portions 9, 10 of the first absorbent module 3 and the second absorbent module 4. The chamfered portions 9, 10 are configured to form an insert area of the absorbent arrangement, such as a knife inlet 13 for guiding and directing the knife blade and receiving the knife blade in a cleaning position as shown in FIG. 8. In the embodiment shown in the figs support layers 11, 12 cover outer surfaces of the first absorbent module 3 and second absorbent modules 4.

[0065] The protective and support layers 7, 8, 11, 12 as shown in figs, may be provided as separate parts such as armoring layers or may be integrated as part of the first absorbent module 3 and the second absorbent module 4. The protective layers cover the sanitizing agent supply surfaces 5, 6 and are arranged perforated as shown in FIG. 8. When installing a knife blade into the knife sheath assembly 1 by entrance through the knife inlet 13, the knife blade is inserted in an insert area in between the first and second absorbent module 3, 4. As illustrated in the figs, the gap distance between the absorbent modules 3, 4 is minor or even absent. This gap distance may vary in accordance with need, and the absorbent modules 3, 4 might be arranged distanced apart or the absorbent modules 3, 4 may be positioned so that at least portions of the absorbent modules 3, 4 are arranged in contact with each other. By the insert of the knife blade 20 into cleaning position as illustrated in FIG. 8, the sanitizing agent is applied from the first absorbent module 3 and the second absorbent module 4, through the perforations in the protective layers 7, 8 and onto the knife blade 20.

[0066] The protective layers 7, 8 covering the first and second absorbent module 3, 4 prevent the knife blade from damaging the first and second absorbent module 3, 4.

[0067] The receptacle sheath member 2 is configured for accommodation of the first and second absorbent module 3, 4 in a supportive manner and apart from a top portion 14, the receptacle sheath member 2 is configured as a closed structure with an insert cavity housing the absorbent modules 3, 4 in a supportive manner.

[0068] A lid member 15 is attached to the top portion 14 of the receptacle sheath member. The lid member 15 has locking members 17 such as locking grips fitting into corresponding locking slots provided in the receptacle sheath member 2, thereby facilitating a simple method for attaching and detaching the lid member from engagement with the receptacle sheath member 2. The lid member 15 has a knife opening 16 for the insert of the knife blade. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the knife opening 16 configured as a slit, and an additional opening 17 is provided for receiving the lower portion of the knife handle 21. When inserting the knife blade into cleaning position as shown in FIG. 8, an excess of sanitizing agent is brought to the top portion of the receptacle sheath member 2 and will clean the lower end portion 22 of the knife handle proximate to the knife blade. This part of the knife is often neglected and thus a breeding ground for bacterial growth.

[0069] The knife opening 16 of the lid member 15 has a funnel shaped inlet region 23 shaped by inclined surfaces 18, 25 for directing the knife blade 20 safely into the cleaning position as illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0070] In addition, a protective structure 19 projects as an extension from the inclined surface 18 to offer further protection, when the user positions the knife into the knife sheath assembly. The protective structure 19 projects from the inclined surface 18 that will be positioned closest to the torso of the user when attached to a belt or other part of the clothing by means of attachment piece 30. As the insert of the knife blade into the knife sheath assembly 1 sometimes happens without the user having the eyes on the knife, the presence of protective and guiding structures is important to avoid bodily injury.

[0071] The attachment piece 30 as shown in the FIGS. 1-8 is shown as a hook member to be fastened to a belt, but might also be fastened to a wall, a piece of furniture or other suitable places. The attachment piece 30 as shown in the FIGS. 1-8 is a fixed part of the knife sheath assembly, but it may also be arranged releasably connected to the receptacle sheath member 2 as shown by embodiment on FIG. 9-10. A detachable attachment piece 50 as shown in FIG. 9 has an opening 51 for receiving the belt 52, and may have a click or snap connection or other quick fastening means for rapid simple fastening and release of the receptacle sheath-member 2. In FIGS. 9 and 10 click/snap connection is provided by a resilient locking member 57.

[0072] The detachable attachment piece 50 has a positioning and connecting element 52 with an enlarged portion 53 fitting into a lengthwise receiving recess (not shown) arranged on the back portion 60 of the protective structure 19, or alternatively on the back portion 54 of the receptacle sheath member 2. The receiving recess has an open lower portion, two side walls and an upper rim edge closing the top portion of the receiving recess. The width of the enlarged portion 53 corresponds to the inner with of the receiving recess. When the receptacle sheath member 2 is to be connected to the detachable attachment piece 50, the receiving recess of the receptacle sheath member 2 is aligned and guided onto the positioning and connecting element 52 in a downward direction D (seen from the point of the user wearing the belt) as illustrated in FIG. 10, until an upper portion 55 of the positioning and connecting element 52 is brought into engaging contact with the upper rim of the receiving recess. During the connection, the resilient locking member 57 is forced inwards and then returns to its original position again as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, after the connection between the positioning and connecting element 52 and the receiving recess is completed. The receptacle sheath member 2 then hangs off the upper portion 55 with the width of the enlarged portion 53 fitting correspondingly into the width of the receiving recess. As the positioning and connecting element 52 also comprises a lower portion having a width that is smaller than the width of the receiving recess, the connection between the receptacle sheath member 2 and the detachable attachment piece 50 allows for a slack and possibility for relative, but restricted revolving movement between the receptacle sheath member 2 and the detachable attachment piece 50 with the enlarged portion 53 as a revolving center. When releasing the connection between the receptacle sheath member 2 and the detachable attachment piece 50, the resilient locking member 57 is pushed inwards and the connection may be freely released by moving the receptacle sheath member 2 in an upwards direction U as illustrated (seen from the point of the user wearing the belt) and may have a click or snap connection or other quick fastening means for rapid simple fastening and release of the receptacle sheath-member 2.

[0073] The lid member 15 is arranged with a scraper device for wiping off excess of sanitizing agent when withdrawing the knife from the knife sheath assembly. The scraper device also prevents or slow down the vaporization of sanitizing agent from the receptacle sheath member. The scraping device as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises two scraper elements 40, 41 each having an accommodation portion attached in a corresponding recess in the lid member 15, and a scraping portion 44, 45 positioned to engage with the knife blade 20, when entering and leaving the knife opening 23 into and from the cleaning position. The scraping portions 44, 45 which in the figs are shown as the tip portions of the scraper elements are shown with an installed position where these tip portions are distanced from each other. However, these tip portions may advantageously be arranged in contact with each other to reduce and in best case, avoid vaporizing of sanitizing agent past the scraper elements.

[0074] The scraper elements 40, 41 may be arranged as resilient members for instance as squeegees. The scraper elements 40, 41 have an accommodation portion 42 received in a recess 43, and a resilient portion 45 protruding into a position where the knife blade engages with the resilient portions 45 of both scraper elements 40, 41, when entering and when being withdrawn from the cleaning position. Should the knife blade by neglect be contaminated by debris or be wet, the scraper elements 40, 41 is, as a safety measure, capable of removing debris and water before inserting the knife blade into the cleaning position between the first and second absorbent modules 3, 4. When withdrawing the knife from the cleaning position, the scraper elements 40, 41 will wipe off the sanitizing agent. Some of the sanitizing agent will follow the knife blade 20 and be deposited on the scraping portion 44, 45, and will thereby clean the scraper elements 40, 41 and the lid member 15. This is advantageous as the depositing of the sanitizing agent ensures that these elements are kept clean and reduce, and in some circumstances, even eliminate the possibility for bacterial growth on the scraper elements 40, 41.

[0075] The depositing of sanitizing agent ensures a satisfactory cleaning of the lid member 15 and the scraper elements 40, 41 during working hours. A simple wipe off of the lid member 15 at the end of the work shift would mostly be sufficient, and in some cases it might be necessary to wash the lid member using hot water and a detergent.

[0076] The absorbent arrangement, comprising the first absorbent module 3 and a second absorbent module 4 arranged with the protective and support layers 7, 8, 11, 12, are releasably accommodated in the installment position in the receptacle sheath-member 2, and may be replaced by a new, clean absorbent arrangement by removing the lid member 15 and releasing the existing the absorbent arrangement.

[0077] To facilitate the replacement of the absorbent arrangement, the first absorbent module 3 and second absorbent module 4 with the protective layers may be arranged as a unit easy to insert into the receptacle sheath member 2. The absorbent arrangement may then comprise a storage bag (not shown) made of a plastic material or other material capable of preventing the evaporation of the sanitizing agent that soaks the first absorbent module 3 and second absorbent module 4. Alternatively, the absorbent arrangement may be sealed otherwise, for instance by a tear-up tape solution capable of providing rapid access to the absorbent arrangement when needed. When the new absorbent arrangement is placed in the installation position in the receptacle sheath-member 2, the removal of the tape or the insert of the knife blade from the knife inlet and further into the cleaning position, breaks the storage bag open and the absorbent modules 3, 4 are ready for use.

[0078] The first absorbent module 3 and second absorbent module 4 may be provided by various materials and in various configurations. The first absorbent module 3 and second absorbent module 4 as shown are made as pads of absorbent materials for instance a sponge material or a cotton material. However, the absorbent modules may alternatively comprise gel, fabrics layered or as a single unit, absorbent granulates such as small sized balls, pellets or other fragmented particles made of a material capable of soaking up, storing and releasing liquid. The absorbent granulates may be enclosed by a wrap up or envelope for keeping the absorbent granulates in place. The protective layers may comprise the wrap up or envelope.

[0079] In the preceding descriptions, various aspects of sanitary cleaning arrangement and method for sanitary cleaning according to the invention have been described with reference to the illustrative embodiment. However, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and variations of the illustrated embodiment, as well as other embodiments of the arrangement, which are apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to lie within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.