Abstract: A liner for a folding knife includes a curved elongated spring to bias a blade of the knife to an open or closed position. The spring may extend in an arc from an origination point to a free end, within a cutout region of a body of the liner. The spring may be J-shaped in one approach. The spring may be integrally formed with the liner or formed as a separate piece which is attached to the liner. The free end may include a shoe to contact a lock stud in a handle of the knife. The origination point may be below and frontward of the shoe. The spring biases the lock stud frontward to lock the blade in the open position. To close the blade, the user moves the lock stud rearward, against a spring force of the spring, allowing the blade to rotate to the closed position.

Abstract: A folding tool with a safety lock mechanism. The tool has a handle having a first handle half and a second handle half and an implement pivotally connected between the handle halves by a pivot pin. The implement is movable between an open position and closed position. The safety lock mechanism includes a safety switch positioned between the first handle half and the second handle half and having two wing portions extending laterally from a central portion movable from a first safety on position to a second safety off position. The two wing portions configured to slide within wing grooves of the first handle half and the second handle half. The tang portion of the blade includes a scalloped pocket and/or protruding portion in the tang that is configured to contain the front end of the safety switch when the safety switch is in the first safety on position.

Abstract: A magnetic latch having a latch arm with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal pivotally mounted to a butt end of a first handle half, wherein the proximal end of the latch end includes a first magnetic element that is magnetically coupled to the first handle half to preferentially extend the latch arm axially with respect to a long axis of the first handle half, and the distal end including a coupling element. The magnetic latch further having a retention element at the butt and of a second handle half that couples to the coupling element to securely latch the first handle half and the second handle half together. A butterfly knife having a magnetic latch to securely latch the first handle half and the second handle half together, either in in the closed or open position.

Abstract: A folding tool with a safety lock mechanism. The tool has a handle having a first handle half and a second handle half and an implement pivotally connected between the handle halves by a pivot pin. The implement is movable between an open position and closed position. The safety lock mechanism includes a safety switch positioned between the first handle half and the second handle half and having two wing portions extending laterally from a central portion movable from a first safety on position to a second safety off position. The two wing portions configured to slide within wing grooves of the first handle half and the second handle half. The tang portion of the blade includes a scalloped pocket and/or protruding portion in the tang that is configured to contain the front end of the safety switch when the safety switch is in the first safety on position.

Abstract: A magnetic latch having a latch arm with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal pivotally mounted to a butt end of a first handle half, wherein the proximal end of the latch end includes a first magnetic element that is magnetically coupled to the first handle half to preferentially extend the latch arm axially with respect to a long axis of the first handle half, and the distal end including a coupling element. The magnetic latch further having a retention element at the butt and of a second handle half that couples to the coupling element to securely latch the first handle half and the second handle half together. A butterfly knife having a magnetic latch to securely latch the first handle half and the second handle half together, either in in the closed or open position.

Abstract: A folding knife has ambidextrously accessible trigger mechanism for releasing the blade from its open and locked position so that it may be moved to the closed position, and when the knife is fitted with an automatic opening mechanism, for releasing the blade from its closed and locked position to the open and locked position. When the blade reaches the open position a novel locking mechanism securely locks the blade open. The trigger mechanism comprises a button on each side of the knife handle. The user may fire the automatic opening mechanism by depressing either the right or left hand trigger button, or both simultaneously. The release mechanism may be incorporated in an auto-assist or manual knife. The locking mechanisms described herein may be incorporated into a manual opening knife or a knife with an auto-assist opening mechanism and in all cases, the knife incorporates a locking mechanism that locks the blade open in a highly secure manner.

Abstract: A folding knife has dual operational mode. In a first modality, the knife is opened and closed manually. In a second modality, the knife is fully automatic. The user is able to switch between modalities with manipulation of a slider bar in the space between handle halves. The user is able to switch from the automatic mode into the manual mode, and vice versa, only when the blade is in the open position. A torsion spring around the pivot shaft connects the blade to the handle. The spring drives the blade open in the automatic operational mode and a switch mechanism is used to alternately engage and disengaged the spring from the blade. One end of the spring is fixed to the handle and the other end interacts with a groove in the tang of the blade when the switch mechanism is in the automatic position. A spacer bar that is part of the switch mechanism has a surface that is operable to laterally displace the spring relative to the blade groove when the switch is in the manual position.

Abstract: A folding knife has ambidextrously accessible trigger mechanism for releasing the blade from its open and locked position so that it may be moved to the closed position, and when the knife is fitted with an automatic opening mechanism, for releasing the blade from its closed and locked position to the open and locked position. When the blade reaches the open position a novel locking mechanism securely locks the blade open. The trigger mechanism comprises a button on each side of the knife handle. The user may fire the automatic opening mechanism by depressing either the right or left hand trigger button, or both simultaneously. The release mechanism may be incorporated in an auto-assist or manual knife. The locking mechanisms described herein may be incorporated into a manual opening knife or a knife with an auto-assist opening mechanism and in all cases, the knife incorporates a locking mechanism that locks the blade open in a highly secure manner.

Abstract: A folding knife has dual operational mode. In a first modality, the knife is opened and closed manually. In a second modality, the knife is fully automatic. The user is able to switch between modalities with manipulation of a slider bar in the space between handle halves. The user is able to switch from the automatic mode into the manual mode, and vice versa, only when the blade is in the open position. A torsion spring around the pivot shaft connects the blade to the handle. The spring drives the blade open in the automatic operational mode and a switch mechanism is used to alternately engage and disengaged the spring from the blade. One end of the spring is fixed to the handle and the other end interacts with a groove in the tang of the blade when the switch mechanism is in the automatic position. A spacer bar that is part of the switch mechanism has a surface that is operable to laterally displace the spring relative to the blade groove when the switch is in the manual position.

Abstract: A folding knife incorporates an opening assist mechanism that functions to drive the blade from the closed to the open position. A torsion spring is retained axially on the blade axis pin and within a bushing that is stationary relative to the knife handle. One leg of the spring is fixed relative to the handle. The opposite leg of the spring extends through and rides in a partial annular groove in the bushing and acts on the blade as it is moved between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A folding knife incorporates an opening assist mechanism that functions to drive the blade from the closed to the open position. A torsion spring is retained axially on the blade axis pin and within a bushing that is stationary relative to the knife handle. One leg of the spring is fixed relative to the handle. The opposite leg of the spring extends through and rides in a partial annular groove in the bushing and acts on the blade as it is moved between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A folding knife incorporates an opening assist mechanism that functions to drive the blade from the closed to the open position. A pair of torsion springs held axially on the blade axis pin and within a pair of bushings are stationary relative to the knife handle. One leg of each spring is fixed to a bushing. The opposite leg of the spring rides in a pocket formed in the surface on the blade axially around the opening through which the blade axis pin is inserted. As the blade rotates from the closed position toward the open position, the legs of the springs rotate through and cooperate with structures formed on the bushings to transfer the spring pressure instantly to the blade to drive the blade open.

Abstract: A folding knife incorporates an opening assist mechanism that functions to drive the blade from the closed to the open position. A torsion spring is retained axially on the blade axis pin and within a bushing that is stationary relative to the knife handle. One leg of the spring is fixed relative to the handle. The opposite leg of the spring extends through and rides in a partial annular groove in the bushing and acts on the blade as it is moved between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A folding knife incorporates an opening assist mechanism that functions to drive the blade from the closed to the open position. A pair of torsion springs held axially on the blade axis pin and within a pair of bushings are stationary relative to the knife handle. One leg of each spring is fixed to a bushing. The opposite leg of the spring rides in a pocket formed in the surface on the blade axially around the opening through which the blade axis pin is inserted. As the blade rotates from the closed position toward the open position, the legs of the springs rotate through and cooperate with structures formed on the bushings to transfer the spring pressure instantly to the blade to drive the blade open.

Abstract: A folding knife incorporates an opening assist mechanism that functions to drive the blade from the closed to the open position. A pair of torsion springs held axially on the blade axis pin and within a pair of bushings are stationary relative to the knife handle. One leg of each spring is fixed to a bushing. The opposite leg of the spring rides in a pocket formed in the surface on the blade axially around the opening through which the blade axis pin is inserted. As the blade rotates from the closed position toward the open position, the legs of the springs rotate through and cooperate with structures formed on the bushings to transfer the spring pressure instantly to the blade to drive the blade open.