# US 2014/0154963 A1 · Rotatable Hand-Held Blade-Sharpening Apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154963 A1 - Document ID: US20140154963A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,032 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Spyderco, Inc. - Applicants: Spyderco, Inc. - Inventors: Peter H. Jhones - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154963A1 ## CPC - B24D 15/081: {with sharpening elements in interengaging or in mutual contact} - Y10T 29/4984: Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts - B24D: TOOLS FOR GRINDING, BUFFING OR SHARPENING (abrading-bodies specially designed for tumbling apparatus, e.g. abrading-balls B24B31/14; honing tools B24B33/08; lapping tools B24B37/11) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A sharpening apparatus is provided. The sharpening apparatus includes a foldable case, a first sharpening tool, and a second sharpening tool. The first and second sharpening tools are associated with the foldable case and are rotatable between a storage position and a sharpening position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A blade-sharpening apparatus, comprising: a foldable case positionable between a folded and an unfolded position; at least one sharpening tool having a first end and a second end, the first end of the at least one sharpening tool interconnected to the case, the at least one sharpening tool rotatable between a storage position and a sharpening position, the rotation of the at least one sharpening tool coupled to the positioning of the case. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The blade sharpening apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second sharpening tool having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second sharpening tool interconnected to the case, the second sharpening tool rotatable between a storage position and a sharpening position, the rotation of the second sharpening tool coupled to the positioning of the case. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 1, wherein the case comprises a first cover plate rotatably interconnected to a second cover plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a pin extending through an aperture in a first end of the first cover plate, a first end of the second cover plate, the first end of the first sharpening tool, and first end of the second sharpening tool to interconnect the first and second sharpening tools to the case. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the case is in the folded position, the first and second cover plates substantially enclose the first and second sharpening tools. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sharpening tool comprises a sharpening rod removably interconnected to a holder, wherein the holder has a first end rotatably interconnected to the case and a second end configured to receive an end of one of the sharpening rods. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 6, wherein the sharpening rod has a triangular cross-section, and wherein the second end of each holder includes predetermined geometry adapted to receive and selectively orient one of the sharpening rods. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sharpening tool may be selectively locked in the sharpening position to retain a substantially fixed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one hand guard with a first end which rotates about a common axis shared with said at least one sharpening tool, and having a second end which rotates to a position outside of a perimeter edge or of said first cover or said second cover. ### Claim 10 A blade-sharpening apparatus, comprising: a first cover plate having a first end and a second end; a second cover plate having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second cover plate interconnected to at least one of the first end of the first cover plate or a hinge mechanism, at least one of the first or second cover plates rotatable between a folded and an unfolded position; a first holder having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first holder interconnected to at least one of the first cover plate, the second cover plate, or a hinge mechanism, the first holder rotatable between a storage position and a sharpening position; a first sharpening rod removably interconnected to the second end of the first holder; a second holder having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second holder interconnected to at least one of the first cover plate, the second cover plate, or a hinge mechanism, the second holder rotatable between a storage position and a sharpening position; and a second sharpening rod removably interconnected to the second end of the second holder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 10, wherein when in the unfolded position, the first and second cover plates extend away from each other and act as a base of the blade-sharpening apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 10, wherein when in the folded position, the first and second cover plates substantially enclose the first holder, the first sharpening rod, the second holder, and the second sharpening rod. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 10, wherein the rotation of the first and second holders is coupled to the rotation of at least one of the first or second cover plates so that rotation of the at least one of the first or second cover plates from the folded position to the unfolded position rotates the first and second holders from their respective storage positions to their respective sharpening positions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first end of each holder includes a tab configured to interact with the first end of at least one of the first or second cover plates to couple the rotation of the first and second holders to the rotation of the at least one of the first or second cover plates. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first and second holders may be selectively locked in their respective sharpening positions to retain a substantially fixed position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 10, further comprising at least one hand guard having an end interconnected to at least one of the first and second cover plates so that the at least one hand guard is rotatable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 16, wherein the rotation of the at least one hand guard is coupled to the rotation of the at least one of the first and second cover plates so that rotation of the at least one of the first or second cover plates from the folded position to the unfolded position rotates the at least one hand guard from a storage position to a guard position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first and second sharpening tools are oriented at a predetermined angle relative to each other when in their respective sharpening positions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The blade-sharpening apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a pin extending through an aperture in the first ends of the first cover plate, the second cover plate, the first holder, and the second holder to interconnect the first and second holders to the first and second cover plates. ### Claim 20 A method of assembling a foldable blade-sharpening apparatus, comprising: providing a foldable case configured to rotate between a folded and an unfolded position, a first sharpening tool having a first end and a second end, and a second sharpening tool having a first end and a second end; interconnecting the first end of the first sharpening tool to the foldable case so that the first sharpening tool is rotatable between a first position of storage and a second position of sharpening; interconnecting the first end of the second sharpening tool to the foldable case so that the second sharpening tool is rotatable between a first position of storage and a second position of sharpening; and coupling the rotation of the first and second sharpening tools to the rotation of the foldable case, wherein the first and second sharpening tools are oriented in a substantially common plane in the first position of storage and oriented in two distinct planes, each at a predetermined angle, in the second position of sharpening. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising: providing a first and second hand guard each having a first end and a second end; interconnecting the first end of the first hand guard to the foldable case so that the first hand guard is rotatable between a first position of storage and a second position of use; and interconnecting the first end of the second hand guard to the foldable case so that the second hand guard is rotatable between a first position of storage and a second position of use, wherein the first and second hand guards are coupled to rotate to a common plane when the foldable case is moved from an unfolded position to a folded position and the outer-most ends of the first and second hand guards are positioned outside of a peripheral edge of said foldable case.