Sharpener with swing arm abrasive assembly

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sharpener for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, the sharpener comprising:
 a blade fixture configured to secure a blade of the cutting tool;   a base assembly configured to position the blade fixture at an orientation to the base assembly; and   an abrasive assembly comprising:
 a rod connectable to the base assembly; and 
 an abrasive block mountable on the rod, the abrasive block comprising one or more alignment features and a magnet for selectively aligning and securing an abrasive member to the abrasive block. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sharpener of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more alignment features comprise first and second alignment pins. 
     
     
         3 . The sharpener of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second alignment pins are disposed adjacent opposing ends of the abrasive block. 
     
     
         4 . The sharpener of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is disposed at or near a middle of the abrasive block. 
     
     
         5 . The sharpener of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more abrasive members, each of the one or more abrasive member comprising one or more alignment features that correspond to the one or more alignment features on the abrasive block. 
     
     
         6 . The sharpener of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more alignment features on the abrasive block and the one or more alignment features on each of the one or more abrasive members comprising mating features. 
     
     
         7 . The sharpener of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more alignment features on the abrasive block comprise one or more pins and the one or more alignment features on each of the abrasive members comprises one or more holes in each of the abrasive members. 
     
     
         8 . The sharpener of  claim 5 , wherein each of the one or more abrasive members comprises a material that is attracted by the magnet. 
     
     
         9 . The sharpener of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive block is rotatable at least partially around the rod. 
     
     
         10 . The sharpener of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive block is mountable at a fixed position along the length of the rod. 
     
     
         11 . The sharpener of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive block comprises a frame and a handle disposed at the end of the frame opposite to the base assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The sharpener of  claim 1 , wherein the handle and the frame are configured for independent rotation. 
     
     
         13 . The sharpener of  claim 12 , wherein the handle and the frame have corresponding limit features to limit the independent rotation therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . A sharpener for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, the sharpener comprising:
 a blade fixture configured to secure a blade of the cutting tool;   a base assembly configured to position the blade fixture at an orientation to the base assembly; and   an abrasive assembly comprising:
 a rod connectable to the base assembly; 
 a frame mountable on the rod; and 
 the abrasive cartridge connectable to the frame, the abrasive cartridge having a plurality of faces and being rotatable relative to the frame to selectively orient one of the faces towards the cutting edge, at least one of the faces comprising one or more alignment features and a magnet for selectively aligning and securing an abrasive member to the abrasive cartridge on the at least one face. 
   
     
     
         15 . The sharpener of  claim 14 , wherein the abrasive cartridge comprises a main body and projections extending from opposing ends of the main body. 
     
     
         16 . The sharpener of  claim 15 , wherein the frame comprises a base portion and first and second flanges extending from the base portion. 
     
     
         17 . The sharpener of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second flanges each comprise a saddle or recess configured to receive one of the projections of the abrasive cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . The sharpener of  claim 17 , wherein each saddle or recess comprises a magnet configured to selectively retain the projection therein. 
     
     
         19 . A sharpener for sharpening a cutting edge of a cutting tool, the sharpener comprising:
 a blade fixture configured to secure a blade of the cutting tool;   a base assembly configured to position the blade fixture at an orientation to the base assembly; and   an abrasive assembly comprising:
 a rod connectable to the base assembly; and 
 a frame or an abrasive cartridge connectable to the rod, the frame or the abrasive cartridge having at least one face configured to have an abrasive member attached thereto, the at least one face comprising one or more alignment features and a magnet for selectively aligning and securing the abrasive member to the frame or the abrasive cartridge on the at least one face. 
   
     
     
         20 . The sharpener of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more alignment features on the at least one face comprise one or more pins configured to be inserted into one or more corresponding holes in the abrasive member. 
     
     
         21 . The sharpener of  claim 19 , wherein the frame or the abrasive member is mountable at a fixed position along the length of the rod and rotatable at least partially about rod.