Patents by Inventor Matthew J. Lerch

Matthew J. Lerch 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).

  • Patent number: 8607460
    Abstract: A single spring arm assisted knife includes a base frame and a blade. A spring arm is formed as an integral portion of the base frame. A frame lock is also formed as an integral portion of the base frame. One end of the blade is pivotally retained by one end of the base frame at a blade pivot point. A thumb stud is secured to the blade. A stop pin is pressed into the base frame, adjacent the blade pivot point. A roller is pivotally retained on one end of the spring arm. An assist cam surface is formed on the one end of the blade to receive the roller. A second embodiment of the single spring arm assisted knife includes a spring arm which is not an integral portion of the base frame, but is attached to the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventors: Matthew J. Lerch, Kenneth A. Steigerwalt
  • Patent number: 8042276
    Abstract: A folding knife with thumb release opening includes a knife blade, a first liner plate, a second liner plate, a first handle plate and a second handle plate. The knife blade includes a cutting edge and a point formed on a first end. A second end of the knife blade is pivotally retained by a first end of first and second liner plates. A push button is retained in the knife blade. A liner lock is formed in the second liner plate. A lock pin is pressed into an end of the liner lock and a lock hole is formed in the second end of the knife blade to receive the lock pin. The first and second handle plates cover the first and second liner plates. The push button may be replaced with a thumb disc. A second embodiment includes spring assisted opening and a third embodiment includes automatic opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventors: Matthew J. Lerch, Kenneth A. Steigerwalt
  • Patent number: 7918028
    Abstract: A folding knife with thumb release opening includes a knife blade, a first liner plate, a second liner plate, a first handle plate and a second handle plate. The knife blade includes a cutting edge and a point formed on a first end. A second end of the knife blade is pivotally retained by a first end of first and second liner plates. A push button is retained in the knife blade. A liner lock is formed in the second liner plate. A lock pin is pressed into an end of the liner lock and a lock hole is formed in the second end of the knife blade to receive the lock pin. The first and second handle plates cover the first and second liner plates. The push button may be replaced with a thumb disc. A second embodiment includes spring assisted opening and a third embodiment includes automatic opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Steigerwalt, Matthew J. Lerch
  • Publication number: 20110047800
    Abstract: A folding knife with thumb release opening includes a knife blade, a first liner plate, a second liner plate, a first handle plate and a second handle plate. The knife blade includes a cutting edge and a point formed on a first end. A second end of the knife blade is pivotally retained by a first end of first and second liner plates. A push button is retained in the knife blade. A liner lock is formed in the second liner plate. A lock pin is pressed into an end of the liner lock and a lock hole is formed in the second end of the knife blade to receive the lock pin. The first and second handle plates cover the first and second liner plates. The push button may be replaced with a thumb disc. A second embodiment includes spring assisted opening and a third embodiment includes automatic opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Matthew J. Lerch, Kenneth A. Steigerwalt
  • Patent number: 7603778
    Abstract: A knife having two modes of operation includes a blade member, a first side plate, a second side plate, a spacer, a mode lever, and a linear spring. The spacer is disposed between the first and second side plates in an upper area thereof. A pivoting end of the blade member is pivotally retained between first ends of the first and second side plates. The mode lever is pivotally retained between the second ends of the first and second side plates, below the spacer. The linear spring is pivotally retained between the first and second side plates, below the spacer such that one end thereof engages one of two positions on the mode lever. A release button must be depressed to allow the blade member to pivot outward into an extended position in either mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Inventor: Matthew J. Lerch
  • Publication number: 20090133267
    Abstract: A folding knife with thumb release opening includes a knife blade, a first liner plate, a second liner plate, a first handle plate and a second handle plate. The knife blade includes a cutting edge and a point formed on a first end. A second end of the knife blade is pivotally retained by a first end of first and second liner plates. A push button is retained in the knife blade. A liner lock is formed in the second liner plate. A lock pin is pressed into an end of the liner lock and a lock hole is formed in the second end of the knife blade to receive the lock pin. The first and second handle plates cover the first and second liner plates. The push button may be replaced with a thumb disc. A second embodiment includes spring assisted opening and a third embodiment includes automatic opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Steigerwalt, Matthew J. Lerch
  • Patent number: 7380340
    Abstract: A folding tool with inlay release preferably includes a blade, a lock side plate, a release side plate, a cantilever spring and a release inlay. One end of the blade is pivotally retained between the lock side plate and the release side plate. One end of the cantilever spring is attached to the lock side plate and the other end is biased to contact the one end of the blade. A rocker bar is pivotally retained in the release side plate. One end of the rocker bar captures a biased end of the cantilever spring. The release inlay is used to pivot the other end of the rocker bar to release the one end of the rocker bar to allow the blade to be released from a closed position. A slide lock prevents the rocker bar from being released by the release inlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventor: Matthew J. Lerch
  • Patent number: 7243430
    Abstract: A folding knife with opening and closing assistance preferably includes a blade, a first frame, a second frame, a coil spring, an open lock pin and a closed lock pin. One end of the blade is pivotally retained between one end of the first and second frames. The open lock pin is preferably retained in the second frame. An open lock notch is formed in a first end of the blade such that the blade may be locked in an open position with the open lock pin. The closed lock pin is radially spring loaded between the first and second frames. A closed lock notch is formed in the first end of the blade to receive the closed lock pin. The blade is locked in a closed position, when the closed lock pin is retained in the closed lock notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Matthew J. Lerch