Knife block with integrated sharpener

Abstract

A knife block system for holding and sharpening knives includes a knife block and a knife sharpener assembly. The knife block has a housing and defines a plurality of slots for receiving the knives. The knife sharpener assembly is operatively associated with the housing, and movable relative to the housing, between a closed configuration within the housing and an open configuration extending out of the housing. In the closed configuration, the knife sharpener assembly is fully nested within the housing of the knife block and hidden from view. In the open configuration, the knife sharpener assembly is accessible by a user to sharpen the knives.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A knife block system for holding and sharpening one or more knives, the knife block system comprising:
 a knife block having a housing and defining a plurality of slots for receiving the one or more knives; and   a knife sharpener assembly operatively associated with the housing, and movable relative to the housing, between a closed configuration within the housing and an open configuration extending out of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The knife block system of  claim 1 , wherein in the closed configuration, the knife sharpener assembly is fully nested within the housing of the knife block and hidden from view, and in the open configuration, the knife sharpener assembly is accessible by a user to sharpen the one or more knives. 
     
     
         3 . The knife block system of  claim 1 , wherein the knife sharpener assembly is electric, and includes a motor, an axle, and a grinding wheel mechanically coupled to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The knife block system of  claim 3 , wherein the knife sharpener assembly is linearly translatable between the open and closed configurations. 
     
     
         5 . The knife block system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a carriage supporting the knife sharpener assembly, wherein the housing of the knife block defines a channel for receiving and allowing longitudinal translation of a portion of the carriage supporting the knife sharpener assembly into and out of the housing.   
     
     
         6 . The knife block system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a spring mechanically coupled to the carriage and biasing the carriage toward the open configuration.   
     
     
         7 . The knife block system of  claim 6 , wherein the spring includes a distal end longitudinally fixed to the housing, and a proximal end longitudinally movable with the carriage. 
     
     
         8 . The knife block system of  claim 5 , wherein the carriage has a proximal end and a distal end, and in the closed configuration, the distal end is disposed inside the housing and the proximal end is flush with the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The knife block system of  claim 8 , wherein the knife sharpener assembly includes an on/off switch operatively disposed on the proximal end of the carriage and accessible by the user in both the open and closed configurations. 
     
     
         10 . The knife block system of  claim 5 , wherein the housing of the knife block includes a forwardly leaning rear block portion defining the plurality of slots, and a rearwardly leaning front panel mechanically coupled to the forwardly leaning rear block portion, and wherein the carriage is operatively disposed between the forwardly leaning rear block portion and the rearwardly leaning front panel. 
     
     
         11 . The knife block system of  claim 5 , wherein the knife sharpener assembly includes a pair of coupling gears rotatably coupled to one another along an interface, and configured to transfer torque from the motor to the grinding wheel via the axle, wherein the motor, the pair of coupling gears, and the grinding wheel are linearly offset from one another along the axle, operatively disposed in the carriage, and linearly translate with the carriage. 
     
     
         12 . The knife block system of  claim 11 , wherein in the open configuration, the grinding wheel is operatively disposed outside of the housing and the motor is operatively disposed inside the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The knife block system of  claim 11 , wherein the motor, the pair of coupling gears, and the grinding wheel are axially fixed relative to one another in the carriage during axial translation of carriage, and wherein the pair of coupling gears and the grinding wheel are removable from the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the axle. 
     
     
         14 . The knife block system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a wire guide defining a channel configured to receive wiring from a power source to power the motor, wherein the housing includes a bottom surface defining grooves configured to receive the wire guide such that the wiring from the power source is recessed within the knife block.   
     
     
         15 . The knife block system of  claim 14 , wherein the power source is one of a wall outlet or at least one battery. 
     
     
         16 . The knife block system of  claim 1 , wherein the knife block system is configured for placement on a countertop surface, the knife sharpener assembly includes a bearing wheel mechanically coupled and longitudinally fixed to the carriage and configured to support the carriage on, and to translate relative to, the countertop surface. 
     
     
         17 . A method of accessing a knife sharpener assembly operatively associated with a knife block, the method comprising:
 moving the knife sharpener assembly relative to the knife block from a closed configuration within the housing to an open configuration extending out of the housing, wherein the knife sharpener is biased toward the open configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The of  claim 17 , wherein the knife block defines an interior region, and moving the knife sharpener assembly includes pressing an end portion of a housing which supports the knife sharpener assembly toward the interior region. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein moving the knife sharper assembly further includes releasing the end portion of the housing, wherein the knife sharpener assembly is spring biased to translate out of the interior region following the releasing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the knife sharpener assembly is electric and includes a motor, an axle, and a grinding wheel which are mechanically coupled to one another and configured to linearly translate relative to the knife block.