Patents by Inventor Kenneth J. Onion
Kenneth J. Onion has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9597809Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of easily disassembled folding knives. In some embodiments, a folding knife includes a blade and a handle including first and second side portions. The first and second side portions can include respective locking elements which can be used to retain the side portions from lateral separation from one another. In some cases, the locking elements of one side portion include relatively narrow neck portions with relatively wide, non-circular head portions connected to the neck portions, and the locking elements of the other side portion include a recess and a corresponding non-circular opening. In some cases, folding knives can be provided with washers, liner lock mechanisms, and various other features.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: GB II CorporationInventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Patent number: 9586328Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of easily disassembled folding knives. In some embodiments, a folding knife includes a blade and a handle including first and second side portions. The first and second side portions can include respective locking elements which can be used to retain the side portions from lateral separation from one another. In some cases, the locking elements of one side portion include relatively narrow neck portions with relatively wide, non-circular head portions connected to the neck portions, and the locking elements of the other side portion include a recess and a corresponding non-circular opening. In some cases, folding knives can be provided with washers, liner lock mechanisms, and various other features.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: GB II CorporationInventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Publication number: 20160067871Abstract: A knife includes a handle and a blade coupled to the handle so as to be movable between an open position in which the blade extends from the handle, and a closed position, in which the blade is received within the handle. An assisted opening mechanism is operatively coupled between the blade and the handle, and is configured to provide an opening-assist to the blade. An engagement mechanism is also provided, which is switchable between an engaged condition, in which the assisted opening mechanism is enabled, and a disengaged condition, in which the assisted opening mechanism is disabled such that it does not provide an opening assist to the blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Patent number: 9079320Abstract: A knife includes a handle and a blade coupled to the handle so as to be movable between an open position in which the blade extends from the handle, and a closed position, in which the blade is received within the handle. An assisted opening mechanism is operatively coupled between the blade and the handle, and is configured to provide an opening-assist to the blade. An engagement mechanism is also provided, which is switchable between an engaged condition, in which the assisted opening mechanism is enabled, and a disengaged condition, in which the assisted opening mechanism is disabled such that it does not provide an opening assist to the blade.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2006Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: KAI U.S.A., LTD.Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Patent number: 8966768Abstract: Disclosed herein is a folding tool having a handle, a tool element and a ball bearing assembly. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the handle of the folding tool includes a first, second side panel and a first, second side panel liner wherein the ball bearing assembly is positioned between the first side panel liner and the second side panel liner. The ball bearing assembly includes a first bearing race and a second bearing race each race having a ball housing. A plurality of balls reside partially within each ball housing and are positioned to contact an adjacent side surface of the tang of the tool element thereby allowing the plurality of balls to roll along opposing sides of the tang as the tool element is pivoted from the open position to the closed position. In some embodiments, the tool element is a knife blade.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: GB II CorporationInventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Publication number: 20140245615Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of easily disassembled folding knives. In some embodiments, a folding knife includes a blade and a handle including first and second side portions. The first and second side portions can include respective locking elements which can be used to retain the side portions from lateral separation from one another. In some cases, the locking elements of one side portion include relatively narrow neck portions with relatively wide, non-circular head portions connected to the neck portions, and the locking elements of the other side portion include a recess and a corresponding non-circular opening. In some cases, folding knives can be provided with washers, liner lock mechanisms, and various other features.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2014Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: GB II Corporation, dba Columbia River Knife & Tool CompanyInventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Publication number: 20140245616Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of easily disassembled folding knives. In some embodiments, a folding knife includes a blade and a handle including first and second side portions. The first and second side portions can include respective locking elements which can be used to retain the side portions from lateral separation from one another. In some cases, the locking elements of one side portion include relatively narrow neck portions with relatively wide, non-circular head portions connected to the neck portions, and the locking elements of the other side portion include a recess and a corresponding non-circular opening. In some cases, folding knives can be provided with washers, liner lock mechanisms, and various other features.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2014Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: GB II Corporation, dba Columbia River Knife & Tool CompanyInventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Patent number: 8776381Abstract: A folding knife having a handle, a blade pivotably coupled to the handle, and a liner includes a liner lock and a first pivot member that is a post, pin, rod, or other structure having a shape adapted to be slidably received in the second arcuate opening of the blade. The liner further includes a first arcuate opening that has an enlarged end portion and an axis approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle adapted for slidably receiving the second pivot member of the blade. A tang of the blade includes the second pivot member, and the second arcuate opening that has an enlarged end portion and an axis approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade. An extended tang portion, or flipper, extends downward from the tang. The handle also includes an opposing liner arranged alongside the liner in the handle with the blade positioned therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Patent number: 8307555Abstract: A knife includes a handle and a blade coupled to the handle so as to be movable between an open position in which the blade extends from the handle, and a closed position, in which the blade is received within the handle. A detent mechanism is configured to resist movement of the blade from the closed position toward the open position while less than a threshold bias is applied to the blade toward the open position, but to release the blade to move toward the open position when at least the threshold bias is applied to the blade toward the open position. The threshold bias is of such a degree that, when the blade is released by the detent mechanism, sufficient energy is imparted by the bias to the blade to carry the blade from the closed position to the open position.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2011Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Publication number: 20120234142Abstract: Disclosed herein is a folding tool having a handle, a tool element and a ball bearing assembly. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the handle of the folding tool includes a first, second side panel and a first, second side panel liner wherein the ball bearing assembly is positioned between the first side panel liner and the second side panel liner. The ball bearing assembly includes a first bearing race and a second bearing race each race having a ball housing. A plurality of balls reside partially within each ball housing and are positioned to contact an adjacent side surface of the tang of the tool element thereby allowing the plurality of balls to roll along opposing sides of the tang as the tool element is pivoted from the open position to the closed position. In some embodiments, the tool element is a knife blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Publication number: 20120227268Abstract: A folding knife having a handle, a blade pivotably coupled to the handle, and a liner includes a liner lock and a first pivot member that is a post, pin, rod, or other structure having a shape adapted to be slidably received in the second arcuate opening of the blade. The liner further includes a first arcuate opening that has an enlarged end portion and an axis approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle adapted for slidably receiving the second pivot member of the blade. A tang of the blade includes the second pivot member, and the second arcuate opening that has an enlarged end portion and an axis approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade. An extended tang portion, or flipper, extends downward from the tang. The handle also includes an opposing liner arranged alongside the liner in the handle with the blade positioned therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2012Publication date: September 13, 2012Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Patent number: 8186065Abstract: A folding knife having a handle, a blade pivotably coupled to the handle, and a liner includes a liner lock and a first pivot member that is a post, pin, rod, or other structure having a shape adapted to be slidably received in the second arcuate opening of the blade. The liner further includes a first arcuate opening that has an enlarged end portion and an axis approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle adapted for slidably receiving the second pivot member of the blade. A tang of the blade includes the second pivot member, and the second arcuate opening that has an enlarged end portion and an axis approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade. An extended tang portion, or flipper, extends downward from the tang. The handle also includes an opposing liner arranged alongside the liner in the handle with the blade positioned therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Publication number: 20110203115Abstract: A knife includes a handle and a blade coupled to the handle so as to be movable between an open position in which the blade extends from the handle, and a closed position, in which the blade is received within the handle. A detent mechanism is configured to resist movement of the blade from the closed position toward the open position while less than a threshold bias is applied to the blade toward the open position, but to release the blade to move toward the open position when at least the threshold bias is applied to the blade toward the open position. The threshold bias is of such a degree that, when the blade is released by the detent mechanism, sufficient energy is imparted by the bias to the blade to carry the blade from the closed position to the open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Patent number: 8001693Abstract: A knife includes a handle and a blade coupled to the handle so as to be movable between an open position in which the blade extends from the handle, and a closed position, in which the blade is received within the handle. A detent mechanism is configured to resist movement of the blade from the closed position toward the open position while less than a threshold bias is applied to the blade toward the open position, but to release the blade to move toward the open position when at least the threshold bias is applied to the blade toward the open position. The threshold bias is of such a degree that, when the blade is released by the detent mechanism, sufficient energy is imparted by the bias to the blade to carry the blade from the closed position to the open position.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2006Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Publication number: 20100242288Abstract: A folding knife having a handle, a blade pivotably coupled to the handle, and a liner includes a liner lock and a first pivot point that is a post, pin, rod, or other structure having a shape adapted to be slidably received in the second arcuate opening of the blade. The liner further includes a first arcuate opening that has an enlarged end portion and an axis approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle adapted for slidably receiving the second pivot point of the blade. A tang of the blade includes the second pivot point, and the second arcuate opening that has an enlarged end portion and an axis approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade. An extended tang portion, or flipper, extends downward from the tang. The handle also includes an opposing liner arranged alongside the liner in the handle with the blade positioned therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Patent number: 7774939Abstract: A folding knife includes a handle having a locking surface, a blade coupled to the handle and configured to rotate, relative to the handle, between a closed position and an open position, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a locking post coupled to the blade and configured to move along a slot between a locking and a releasing position, with a biasing member configured to bias the post in the direction of the locking position. The post includes studs positioned above and below the plane of the blade. The studs may be rotatable around the axis, and the slot is positioned such that, when the blade is in the open position, the post may be moved toward the locking position until a face of the stud engages a locking surface of the handle, thereby locking the blade in the open position.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: KAI U.S.A., Ltd.Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Patent number: 7716839Abstract: A knife is provided including a first side and a second side where the first side may be removably coupled to the second side. The knife further includes a blade removably secured to the handle and rotatable about a pivot point between an open position and a closed position. A manually-releasable fastening device disposed on the handle is adapted to secure the first side to the second side and to secure the blade to the handle, while remaining attached to the handle.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2005Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: KAI U.S.A., Ltd.Inventors: Kenneth J. Onion, Craig Green
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Patent number: 7506446Abstract: A folding knife with a locking mechanism, and a method of assembly of the locking mechanism are disclosed. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism is formed from a second locking element slidably mounted on the blade to engage at least part of a first locking element on the handle and lock the blade in the open position. The second locking element and blade may be configured to allow simple, one-handed locking and unlocking of the blade with a single thumb-actuated motion. The second locking element also may be configured to allow one-handed opening and/or closing of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2004Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: KAI U.S.A., Ltd.Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Patent number: RE42906Abstract: A folding knife having a safety lock moveably mounted on a handle of the knife. The safety lock may slide to a locking position to prevent the blade from opening out of the handle by obstructing the path of the blade as the blade is urged from a closed position to an open position. The safety lock also may slide away from the locking position, in which the safety lock does not obstruct the path of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2005Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Kai U.S.A., Ltd.Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
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Patent number: D730137Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Darex, LLCInventors: Kenneth J. Onion, Daniel T. Dovel, Matthew S. Ferdinand, Steven L. Baker