Patents by Inventor Kenneth Onion

Kenneth 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).

  • Publication number: 20070068002
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: KAI U.S.A., Ltd., dba Kershaw Knives
    Inventor: Kenneth Onion
  • Publication number: 20070068000
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Applicant: KAI U.S.A., Ltd., dba Kershaw Knives
    Inventor: Kenneth Onion
  • Publication number: 20060174490
    Abstract: A folding knife includes a handle and a blade attached thereto and configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position. A locking element is coupled to the handle, while a pawl is coupled to the blade and configured to engage the locking element as the blade rotates to the closed position, such that the blade is locked in the closed position thereby. Opening pressure on the pawl causes it to release the locking element and also causes the blade to rotate from the closed position toward the open position. The knife blade may include a flicker positioned to extend from a back portion of the handle when the blade is in the closed position. The pawl is coupled to the flicker such that pressure on the flicker causes the pawl to release the locking moves the blade toward the open position. The folding knife may also include an opening assist mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: KAI U.S.A., Ltd., dba Kershaw Knives
    Inventors: Timothy Galyean, Kenneth Onion, Craig Green
  • Publication number: 20060070243
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: KAI U.S.A., Ltd., dba Kershaw Knives
    Inventors: Kenneth Onion, Craig Green
  • Publication number: 20050229401
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventor: Kenneth Onion
  • Publication number: 20050132576
    Abstract: A folding knife is disclosed. The folding knife includes a handle; a blade connected to the handle in a manner allowing pivoting of the blade between a closed position in which the blade extends along the handle, and an open position in which the blade extends away from the handle; and a blade-assisting mechanism including a biasing assembly and a housing, wherein the biasing assembly is configured to urge the blade towards at least one of the open position and the closed position over at least a portion of the blade travel between the closed position and the open position, and the housing encloses at least a portion of the blade-assisting mechanism, and wherein the blade-assisting mechanism is configured to be removably mounted between the blade and the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventor: Kenneth Onion
  • Publication number: 20050097754
    Abstract: A folding knife is disclosed. The folding knife includes a handle; a blade connected to the handle in a manner allowing movement of the blade between a closed position in which the blade extends along the handle and an open position in which the blade extends away from the handle; and a blade-assisting mechanism configured a manually adjustable force to urge the blade towards the open position over at least a portion of the blade travel between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: KAI U.S.A., Ltd. dba Kershaw Knives
    Inventor: Kenneth Onion
  • Publication number: 20050097755
    Abstract: A folding knife is disclosed. The folding knife includes a handle; a blade pivotally connected to the handle in a manner allowing pivoting of the blade between a closed position in which the blade extends along the handle, and an open position in which the blade extends away from the handle, wherein the blade includes a tang having a first locking element; a second locking element disposed within the handle; and a third locking element configured to move between a locking position in which the third locking element engages the first locking element and the second locking element in a manner preventing pivoting of the blade relative to the handle, and an unlocking position in which the blade is free to pivot from the closed position to the open position, wherein the third locking element is configured to move free from a bias element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Timothy Galyean, Kenneth Onion