Knife Sharpening Device

Abstract

A knife sharpening device and method of using the device are disclosed. The device can include a closed housing for receiving a knife blade. The housing can include an opening in the front panel through which the blade can be inserted, and the opening can prevent the knife handle from being inserted. The device can include a cartridge with a sharpening stone. The cartridge can be coupled to a belt in communication with a one or more pullies that are coupled to the housing at positions spaced apart from one another to define an elliptical path for the belt to travel. The device can include a motor for driving the rotation of the pullies, which will cause the belt to travel about the elliptical path and causes the sharpening stone to contact the blade.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A knife sharpening device, comprising:
 a closed housing configured to receive a blade of a knife, the housing comprising a front panel, a base panel, and a side panel;   an opening in the front panel through which the blade can be inserted, wherein the opening is configured to prevent a handle of the knife from being inserted;   a cartridge comprising a first sharpening stone configured to sharpen the blade, wherein the cartridge is coupled to a belt in communication with a first pulley and a second pulley, wherein the first and second pullies are coupled to the side panel at positions spaced apart from one another to define an elliptical path for the belt to travel; and   a motor for driving a rotation of at least one of the first pulley or the second pulley, wherein said rotation causes the belt to travel about the elliptical path;   wherein the elliptical path of the belt causes the first sharpening stone to contact the blade.   
     
     
         2 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge further comprises an arm, the arm comprising a first end to which the first sharpening stone is attached. 
     
     
         3 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a bracket that is coupled to the belt and coupled to a second end of the arm. 
     
     
         4 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 3 , wherein the arm is a pivotable arm biased by a spring that allows the first sharpening stone to pivot between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         5 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pedal coupled to the base panel, the pedal configured to make contact with the blade after it is inserted into the device. 
     
     
         6 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 5 , wherein the pedal is a pivotable pedal that is biased away from the base panel by a spring, wherein the blade is pushed away from the base panel when in contact with the pivotable pedal. 
     
     
         7 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 5 , further comprising a sensor positioned in proximity to the pedal, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the presence or absence of the blade. 
     
     
         8 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor is configured to send a signal that activates the motor when the blade is detected or a signal that deactivates the motor when the blade is absent. 
     
     
         9 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 1 , further comprising a blade stabilizer in communication with the opening on the front panel, through which the blade can be inserted, wherein the blade stabilizer is configured to maintain the knife in a fixed position so the blade can be sharpened by the first sharpening stone. 
     
     
         10 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 9 , wherein the blade stabilizer comprises a second sharpening stone. 
     
     
         11 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 10 , wherein the first sharpening stone and the second sharpening stone are comprised of different materials, such that when the knife is withdrawn from the device, the blade will receive additional sharpening from the second sharpening stone. 
     
     
         12 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 11 , wherein the blade stabilizer comprises a sensor configured to detect the presence or absence of the blade. 
     
     
         13 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is configured to send a signal that activates the motor when the blade is detected or a signal that deactivates the motor when the blade is absent. 
     
     
         14 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 1 , wherein the first sharpening stone is comprised of stone, carborundum (silicon carbide), tungsten carbide, oil stones, Arkansas stones, water stones, synthetic water stones, or diamond sharpening stones. 
     
     
         15 . A knife sharpening device, comprising:
 a closed housing configured to receive a blade of a knife, the housing comprising a front panel, a base panel, and a side panel;   an opening in the front panel through which the blade can be inserted, wherein the opening is configured to prevent a handle of the knife from being inserted;   a first cartridge comprising a first sharpening stone configured to sharpen the blade, wherein the first cartridge is coupled to a belt in communication with a first pulley and a second pulley, wherein the first and second pullies are coupled to the side panel at positions spaced apart from one another to define an elliptical path for the belt to travel; and   a motor for driving a rotation of at least one of the first pulley or the second pulley, wherein said rotation causes the belt to travel about the elliptical path;   wherein the elliptical path of the belt causes the first sharpening stone to contact the blade.   
     
     
         16 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 15 , further comprising a second cartridge comprising a second sharpening stone configured to sharpen the blade, wherein the second cartridge is coupled to the belt. 
     
     
         17 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 16 , wherein the first cartridge and the second cartridge are coupled to the belt in positions spaced apart from one another. 
     
     
         18 . The knife sharpening device of  claim 17 , further comprising a blade stabilizer in communication with the opening on the front panel, through which the blade can be inserted, wherein the blade stabilizer is configured to maintain the knife in a fixed position so the blade can be sharpened by the first sharpening stone and the second sharpening stone;
 wherein the blade stabilizer comprises a third sharpening stone.   
     
     
         19 . A method of sharpening a knife, the method comprising:
 providing a knife sharpening device, comprising:
 a closed housing configured to receive a blade of a knife, the housing comprising a front panel, a base panel, and a side panel; 
 an opening in the front panel through which the blade can be inserted, wherein the opening is configured to prevent a handle of the knife from being inserted; 
 a cartridge comprising a first sharpening stone configured to sharpen the blade, wherein the cartridge is coupled to a belt in communication with a first pulley and a second pulley, wherein the first and second pullies are coupled to the side panel at positions spaced apart from one another to define an elliptical path for the belt to travel; and 
 a motor for driving a rotation of at least one of the first pulley or the second pulley, wherein said rotation causes the belt to travel about the elliptical path; 
 wherein the elliptical path of the belt causes the first sharpening stone to contact the blade; 
   inserting the blade into the opening in the front panel;   activating the motor to drive the first sharpening stone around the elliptical path and to cause the first sharpening stone to contact the blade; and   withdrawing the blade from of the device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 setting a timer for a sharpening period; and   deactivating the motor.