Patents by Inventor Roy L. Helton, Jr.

Roy L. Helton, Jr. 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: 7080423
    Abstract: A hand tool such as a knife or a combination tool includes multiple blades, each independently rotatable on a common axle between a closed position within a handle of the tool and an open position extending from the handle. Each blade is positively but releasably locked into its open position. Those blades which remain closed are biased toward the closed position when the opened blade is locked into position and also as it is opened and closed. A single locking, releasing, and biasing mechanism serves all of the blades in one handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Randolph J. Morton, Gabriel Alejandro Draguicevich, Roy L. Helton, Jr., Gregory F. Rubin
  • Patent number: 6802094
    Abstract: A hand tool such as a knife or a combination tool includes multiple blades, each independently rotatable on a common axle between a closed position within a handle of the tool and an open position extending from the handle. Each blade is positively but releasably locked into its open position. Those blades which remain closed are biased toward the closed position when the opened blade is locked into position and also as it is opened and closed. A single locking, releasing, and biasing mechanism serves all of the blades in one handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Randolph J. Morton, Gabriel Alejandro Draguicevich, Roy L. Helton, Jr., Gregory F. Rubin
  • Patent number: 6487740
    Abstract: A hand tool such as a knife or a combination tool includes multiple blades, each independently rotatable on a common axle between a closed position within a handle of the tool and an open position extending from the handle. Each blade is positively but releasably locked into its open position. Those blades which remain closed are biased toward the closed position when the opened blade is locked into position and also as it is opened and closed. A single locking, releasing, and biasing mechanism serves all of the blades in one handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Randolph J. Morton, Gabriel Alejandro Draguicevich, Roy L. Helton, Jr., Gregory F. Rubin
  • Patent number: 6357068
    Abstract: A combination tool includes a tool head having a jaw mechanism with two jaws lying in a tool head plane. A first handle is pivotably attached to the jaw mechanism and rotatable in a first direction about a first pivot axle lying in the tool head plane, between a nested position wherein the first handle lies coplanar with and adjacent to the jaw mechanism and a deployed position wherein the first handle is coplanar with and remote from the jaw mechanism. A second handle is pivotably attached to the jaw mechanism and rotatable in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, about a second pivot axle lying in the tool head plane, between a nested position wherein the second handle lies coplanar with and adjacent to the jaw mechanism and a deployed position wherein the second handle is coplanar with and remote from the jaw mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Randolph J. Morton, Gabriel Alejandro Draguicevich, Roy L. Helton, Jr., Harold J. Carson, Harold J. Carson, Jr., Gregory F. Rubin, William P. Debley, Jr., Robson L. Splane, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6233769
    Abstract: A hand tool such as a knife or a combination tool includes multiple blades, each independently rotatable on a common axle between a closed position within a handle of the tool and an open position extending from the handle. Each blade is positively but releasably locked into its open position. Those blades which remain closed are biased toward the closed position when the opened blade is locked into position and also as it is opened and closed. A single locking, releasing, and biasing mechanism serves all of the blades in one handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Randolph J. Morton, Gabriel Alejandro Draguicevich, Roy L. Helton, Jr., Gregory F. Rubin
  • Patent number: 6170104
    Abstract: A hand tool such as a knife or a combination tool includes multiple blades, each independently rotatable on a common axle between a closed position within a handle of the tool and an open position extending from the handle. Each blade is positively but releasably locked into its open position. Those blades which remain closed are biased toward the closed position when the opened blade is locked into position and also as it is opened and closed. A single locking, releasing, and biasing mechanism serves all of the blades in one handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Randolph J. Morton, Gabriel Alejandro Draguicevich, Roy L. Helton, Jr., Gregory F. Rubin
  • Patent number: 5794346
    Abstract: The blade of a folding knife is pivoted on a D-shaped pivot axle which also serves to lock the side pieces and belt clip of the knife in place. A thumb pin used to open the blade is also D-shaped and press fit into place in the blade. The blade has transverse grooves at its base to aid in extracting the knife from a sheath. The blade is locked into place by a side-lock plate, which is held in place by ridges in the side pieces. The side pieces are preferably made of rigid plastic, but with soft inserts in the sides for improved gripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5765247
    Abstract: A hand tool such as a knife or a combination tool includes multiple blades, each independently rotatable on a common axle between a closed position within a handle of the tool and an open position extending from the handle. Each blade is positively but releasably locked into its open position. Those blades which remain closed are biased toward the closed position when the opened blade is locked into position and also as it is opened and closed. A single locking, releasing, and biasing mechanism serves all of the blades in one handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Randolph J. Morton, Gabriel Alejandro Draguicevich, Roy L. Helton, Jr., Gregory F. Rubin
  • Patent number: 5621973
    Abstract: A folding knife has a knife body and at least two blades pivotably mounted to the knife body. The blades are independently movable between a closed position within the knife body and an open position extended from the knife body. The blades are locked in the open position and released from the locking with a single hand of the user. The knife includes a blade selector feature which allows the user to select which blade is to be opened by rolling the knife about the knife longitudinal axis in the single hand of the user, and tactile coding so that the user can identify the position of the knife from its feel in the hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5546662
    Abstract: The blade of a folding knife is pivoted on a D-shaped pivot axle which also serves to lock the side pieces and belt clip of the knife in place. A thumb pin used to open the blade is also D-shaped and press fit into place in the blade. The blade has transverse grooves at its base to aid in extracting the knife from a sheath. The blade is locked into place by a side-lock plate, which is held in place by ridges in the side pieces. The side pieces are preferably made of rigid plastic, but with soft inserts in the sides for improved gripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5537750
    Abstract: A folding knife has first and second blades pivotably mounted about a common pivot pin to move between their respective open and closed positions. Preferably, the two blades pivot in opposite directions about the pivot pin. A side lock plate is positioned between the first blade and the second blade. The side lock plate includes a first finger biased toward the first blade to engage the first blade when the first blade is in its open position, and a second finger biased toward the second blade to engage the second blade when the second blade is in its open position. The fingers can be independently depressed to unlock the blades and permit them to be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5528834
    Abstract: A knife has a fixed blade, a plastic base fixed to the tang of the blade, and a rugged rubber grip fixed to the plastic base. A visible portion of the plastic base extends along a back of the knife and also forms a hilt and forwardly swept guard. A visible portion of the rubber forms a grip along the bottom and sides of the handle, and also a thumb rest along the top of the handle at the guard. The handle is formed by injection molding the plastic to the tang of the blade, and thereafter injection molding the rubber to the plastic. The plastic base has features thereon for ensuring that the rubber is strongly fixed to the plastic. The base and the grip are made of strong, tough, damage-resistant materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr., Randolph J. Morton, John Craddock, Kirby Johnson
  • Patent number: D359789
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr., Randolph J. Morton
  • Patent number: D369287
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr.
  • Patent number: D375242
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr.
  • Patent number: D376743
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr.
  • Patent number: D377443
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr.
  • Patent number: D385471
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr.
  • Patent number: D393405
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Roy L. Helton, Jr.