Abstract: A lifting and lowering tool includes a foot configured to be supported on a surface, a bar extending therefrom, and a movable assembly including a housing, a movable platform shaped to support a load that extends from the housing, a lifting actuator configured to incrementally move the movable assembly along the bar away from the foot, a lowering actuator configured to incrementally move the movable assembly along the bar towards the foot, and a release actuator configured to disengage the movable assembly from the bar to allow free movement of the movable assembly along the bar. In embodiments, the movable assembly engages the bar through locking plates that extend through a flange of the movable assembly. In embodiments the release actuator is spaced from the lifting actuator and the lowering actuator to prevent inadvertent actuation of the release actuator. In embodiments a flange of the movable assembly surrounds the bar.

Abstract: A blade retention mechanism is provided including a blade clamp having a lever portion and a protrusion portion coupled to a first end of the lever portion. The lever portion rotates at the first end of the lever portion between a first open position and a second closed position. The protrusion portion of the blade clamp defines an over-center cam that presses a blade into a blade holder of a knife when the lever portion is rotated into the second closed position.

Abstract: A lifting and lowering tool includes a foot configured to be supported on a surface, a bar extending therefrom, and a movable assembly including a housing, a movable platform shaped to support a load that extends from the housing, a lifting actuator configured to incrementally move the movable assembly along the bar away from the foot, a lowering actuator configured to incrementally move the movable assembly along the bar towards the foot, and a release actuator configured to disengage the movable assembly from the bar to allow free movement of the movable assembly along the bar. In embodiments, the movable assembly engages the bar through locking plates that extend through a flange of the movable assembly. In embodiments the release actuator is spaced from the lifting actuator and the lowering actuator to prevent inadvertent actuation of the release actuator. In embodiments a flange of the movable assembly surrounds the bar.

Abstract: A knife includes a handle, a neck configured to hold a blade, and a lever configured to selectively release the blade from the neck. The lever is coupled to a blade lock arm configured to extend along a side of the blade. A ramped surface pushes the blade lock arm into the blade to press the blade against a side of the neck to clamp the blade to the side of the neck when the blade lock arm is in a blade locked position.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a bar clamp includes a bar, a fixed jaw, and a movable jaw assembly having an actuator portion and a jaw portion. The movable jaw assembly is configured to move along the bar towards or away from the fixed jaw. At least one of the actuator portion and the jaw portion is configured to rotate around the bar. According to another embodiment, where a bar clamp comprises a bar, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, and a movable jaw actuator, a method of operating the bar clamp includes rotating one of the movable jaw actuator and the movable jaw about the bar while the fixed jaw and the bar remain stationary, and using the movable jaw actuator to move the movable jaw along the bar towards or away from the fixed jaw.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of a folding knife are disclosed. In one embodiment, an example knife may include a handle and a blade carrier. The blade carrier may be rotatable about the handle and may include a left and a right cap. A blade may be removably disposed within the blade carrier. The knife may further include a blade release mechanism. In one embodiment, the blade release mechanism may include a compression spring and a lift bar. In another embodiment, the blade release mechanism may further include a wheel. In yet another embodiment, the blade release mechanism may include a leaf spring and a slide bar. When the blade carrier is rotated such that the knife is not in a cutting position, at least a portion of the blade release mechanism is exposed. When the blade release mechanism is activated, the blade may be removed from within the blade carrier.

Abstract: A clamp includes a bar having top and bottom surfaces, a fixed jaw fixed to the bar, and a movable assembly movable along the bar. The movable assembly includes a movable jaw, an actuator that incrementally moves the movable assembly to apply a clamp force to a clamp load, a release lever to disengage the movable assembly to release a clamp force and permit free sliding of the movable assembly along the bar. The movable assembly may support a bearing surface formed of a low-friction material, positioned to prevent the movable assembly from binding to the bar when a clamp load is released. The release lever may be movable between a position engaging the bar, a position where the release lever disengages the bar, and another position engaging the bar, the third position being opposite the first position with the second position therebetween.

Abstract: A utility knife includes a housing and a slidable blade assembly configured to selectively receive a removable blade in a blade channel thereof and to slide relative to the housing, such that the removable blade is stored within the housing when the slidable blade assembly is in a retracted position, and a portion of the blade extends outwardly from the housing when the slidable blade assembly is in an extended position. The slidable blade assembly comprises a plurality of notch engaging protrusions configured to move to selectively enter the blade channel to engage one or more notches of the removable blade. The housing comprises a blade release actuator configured to move or permit movement of the plurality of notch engaging protrusions out of the blade channel to permit removal of the removable blade from the slidable blade assembly.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of a folding knife are disclosed. In one embodiment, an example knife may include a handle and a blade carrier. The blade carrier may be rotatable about the handle and may include a left and a right cap. A blade may be removably disposed within the blade carrier. The knife may further include a blade release mechanism. In one embodiment, the blade release mechanism may include a compression spring and a lift bar. In another embodiment, the blade release mechanism may further include a wheel. In yet another embodiment, the blade release mechanism may include a leaf spring and a slide bar. When the blade carrier is rotated such that the knife is not in a cutting position, at least a portion of the blade release mechanism is exposed. When the blade release mechanism is activated, the blade may be removed from within the blade carrier.

Abstract: A knife includes a handle, a neck configured to hold a blade, and a lever configured to selectively release the blade from the neck. The lever is coupled to a blade lock arm configured to extend along a side of the blade. A ramped surface pushes the blade lock arm into the blade to press the blade against a side of the neck to clamp the blade to the side of the neck when the blade lock arm is in a blade locked position.

Abstract: A lifting and lowering tool includes a foot configured to be supported on a surface, a bar extending therefrom, and a movable assembly including a housing, a movable platform shaped to support a load that extends from the housing, a lifting actuator configured to incrementally move the movable assembly along the bar away from the foot, a lowering actuator configured to incrementally move the movable assembly along the bar towards the foot, and a release actuator configured to disengage the movable assembly from the bar to allow free movement of the movable assembly along the bar. In embodiments, the movable assembly engages the bar through locking plates that extend through a flange of the movable assembly. In embodiments the release actuator is spaced from the lifting actuator and the lowering actuator to prevent inadvertent actuation of the release actuator. In embodiments a flange of the movable assembly surrounds the bar.

Abstract: A utility knife includes a housing and a slidable blade assembly configured to selectively receive a removable blade in a blade channel thereof and to slide relative to the housing, such that the removable blade is stored within the housing when the slidable blade assembly is in a retracted position, and a portion of the blade extends outwardly from the housing when the slidable blade assembly is in an extended position. The slidable blade assembly comprises a plurality of notch engaging protrusions configured to move to selectively enter the blade channel to engage one or more notches of the removable blade. The housing comprises a blade release actuator configured to move or permit movement of the plurality of notch engaging protrusions out of the blade channel to permit removal of the removable blade from the slidable blade assembly.

Abstract: A lifting and lowering tool includes a foot configured to be supported on a surface, a bar extending therefrom, and a movable assembly including a housing, a movable platform shaped to support a load that extends from the housing, a lifting actuator configured to incrementally move the movable assembly along the bar away from the foot, a lowering actuator configured to incrementally move the movable assembly along the bar towards the foot, and a release actuator configured to disengage the movable assembly from the bar to allow free movement of the movable assembly along the bar. In embodiments, the movable assembly engages the bar through locking plates that extend through a flange of the movable assembly. In embodiments the release actuator is spaced from the lifting actuator and the lowering actuator to prevent inadvertent actuation of the release actuator. In embodiments a flange of the movable assembly surrounds the bar.

Abstract: A folding knife includes a handle, a blade assembly, a stop member, and a locking arm. The blade assembly is rotatably interconnected with the handle and is moveable between an extended position and a closed position. In the extended position, the locking arm exerts a bias force to wedge a releasable wedge member laterally between the stop member and the blade assembly to inhibit a transition of the folding knife out of the extended position. In the extended position, an unlocking force applied to the locking arm displaces the releasable wedge member from a space between the blade assembly and the stop member to permit the transition of the folding knife out of the extended position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tool container system includes a container with base and cover pivotably attached by a hinge, base and cover locking members, and a latch moveable between unlatched and latched positions to allow or prevent movement of the cover relative to the base. The system also includes a utility knife blade retainer configured to be received in and held by the container, the retainer configured to define a generally trapezoidal shape and contact multiple faces of blades received therein. The retainer comprises an engagement feature to engage with the container to limit movement of the retainer. In another embodiment, a knife blade retainer is configured to be received in a container. The retainer includes a generally trapezoidal shape defined therein to contact multiple faces of a trapezoidal shape of blades received therein. An engagement feature engages with the container to limit movement of the retainer within the container.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tool container system includes a container with base and cover pivotably attached by a hinge, base and cover locking members, and a latch moveable between unlatched and latched positions to allow or prevent movement of the cover relative to the base. The system also includes a utility knife blade retainer configured to be received in and held by the container, the retainer configured to define a generally trapezoidal shape and contact multiple faces of blades received therein. The retainer comprises an engagement feature to engage with the container to limit movement of the retainer. In another embodiment, a knife blade retainer is configured to be received in a container. The retainer includes a generally trapezoidal shape defined therein to contact multiple faces of a trapezoidal shape of blades received therein. An engagement feature engages with the container to limit movement of the retainer within the container.

Abstract: A knife includes a handle, a neck configured to hold a blade, and a lever configured to selectively release the blade from the neck. The lever is coupled to a blade lock arm configured to extend along a side of the blade. A ramped surface pushes the blade lock arm into the blade to press the blade against a side of the neck to clamp the blade to the side of the neck when the blade lock arm is in a blade locked position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tool container system includes a container with base and cover pivotably attached by a hinge, base and cover locking members, and a latch moveable between unlatched and latched positions to allow or prevent movement of the cover relative to the base. The system also includes a utility knife blade retainer configured to be received in and held by the container, the retainer configured to define a generally trapezoidal shape and contact multiple faces of blades received therein. The retainer comprises an engagement feature to engage with the container to limit movement of the retainer. In another embodiment, a knife blade retainer is configured to be received in a container. The retainer includes a generally trapezoidal shape defined therein to contact multiple faces of a trapezoidal shape of blades received therein. An engagement feature engages with the container to limit movement of the retainer within the container.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tool container system includes a container with base and cover pivotably attached by a hinge, base and cover locking members, and a latch moveable between unlatched and latched positions to allow or prevent movement of the cover relative to the base. The system also includes a utility knife blade retainer configured to be received in and held by the container, the retainer configured to define a generally trapezoidal shape and contact multiple faces of blades received therein. The retainer comprises an engagement feature to engage with the container to limit movement of the retainer. In another embodiment, a knife blade retainer is configured to be received in a container. The retainer includes a generally trapezoidal shape defined therein to contact multiple faces of a trapezoidal shape of blades received therein. An engagement feature engages with the container to limit movement of the retainer within the container.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of a folding knife are disclosed. In one embodiment, an example knife may include a handle and a blade carrier. The blade carrier may be rotatable about the handle and may include a left and a right cap. A blade may be removably disposed within the blade carrier. The knife may further include a blade release mechanism. In one embodiment, the blade release mechanism may include a compression spring and a lift bar. In another embodiment, the blade release mechanism may further include a wheel. In yet another embodiment, the blade release mechanism may include a leaf spring and a slide bar. When the blade carrier is rotated such that the knife is not in a cutting position, at least a portion of the blade release mechanism is exposed. When the blade release mechanism is activated, the blade may be removed from within the blade carrier.