Locked Blade Patents (Class 30/160)
  • Patent number: 11951641
    Abstract: A blade assembly for a folding knife includes a blade and a bearing assembly. The blade includes a cutting portion and a tang portion. The tang portion comprises a pivot opening, a first recess, and a second recess. The bearing assembly is coupled to the blade and includes a first bearing member, a second bearing member, and a sleeve. The first bearing member is disposed within the first recess of the tang portion, the second bearing member is disposed within the second recess of the tang portion, and the sleeve extends through the first bearing member, the second bearing member, and the pivot opening of the tang portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Onion, Frank Huang
  • Patent number: 11883967
    Abstract: A locking foldable knife with a locking assembly that reliably locks a blade in an extended position for use is disclosed. The locking assembly utilizes the surface area of a shaped peripheral edge at a second end of a blade, together with, confirming structures of a locking bar, and one or more stops to reliably lock a blade in an extended position. A locking assembly also locks a blade in a folded position in one or more embodiments of the locking foldable knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Good Sportsman Marketing, LLC
    Inventor: Dillon Douglas
  • Patent number: 11820028
    Abstract: A folding knife includes a movable piece that is attached to a blade and a handle so as to be relatively rotatable by a specific rotation angle with respect to the blade, and to rotate with respect to the handle together with the blade outside the specific rotation angle; a notch or a recess formed at a position near a rotating shaft portion on the back side of the blade; a protrusion that is formed at a position on the movable piece and in a shape corresponding to the notch or recess of the blade; and a rotation mechanism including the rotating shaft portion that allows the movable piece to rotate with respect to the blade only within a specific rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SPYDERCO, INC.
    Inventor: Junpei Makari
  • Patent number: 11787073
    Abstract: A switch lock apparatus includes a top plate; an insert; a spring; a lock plate; and a bottom plate. The top plate and the bottom plate are rotationally fixably attached. The spring separates a top surface of the lock plate and a bottom surface of the top insert. The insert, the spring, and the lock plate are rotationally fixably attached. The bottom plate includes a space for lodging a portion of the lock plate. The lock plate is substantially rotationally fixably attached when the portion is lodged in the space. The lock plate is rotationally movable with respect to the bottom plate when the portion is not lodged in the space. The insert is attached to a blade portion of a knife. At least one of the top plate and the bottom plate is attached to a handle portion of the knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Rexford Knives, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Rexford
  • Patent number: 11766790
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a tool or knife blade based on the locking liner lock. A hinge replaces the typical flex point at the base of the lockbar which allows the lockbar to be made of materials other than those required to be resilient. This allows materials that are lightweight, non metallic, and many other possibilities. As well very strong non resilient materials can be used which would avoid some of the mechanical failures that resilient materials have shown by bending due to downward force on the top of the tool or knife. This mechanical failure will not only destroy the ability of a knife to lock in the open position but the event will cause the blade to rotate toward the closed position and can cut the operators hand. That is a safety issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: LEROI KRAMER PRICE
    Inventor: Leroi Kramer Price
  • Patent number: 11685065
    Abstract: An apparatus including left and right handle portions; a first blade portion; a first device; and a fastener. The fastener may be configured to connect in a first state, first ends of the left handle portion, the right handle portion, and the first blade portion to each other, with the first blade portion sandwiched between the left and right handle portions. The first device may be configured to connect second ends of the left and right handle portions and an intermediate part of the first blade portion. In at least one embodiment, in the first state the left and right handle portions, and the first blade portion are fixed to each other so that their orientation with respect to one another cannot be changed without disconnecting the fastener so that it no longer connects the first ends of the left and right handle portions, and the first blade portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: MASTER CUTLERY LLC
    Inventor: Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11498229
    Abstract: A folding knife includes a handle, a blade, a pivot element, and a locking mechanism. The handle includes a first side portion and a second side portion disposed on either side of the blade. The pivot element extends from the first side portion and through the opening of the blade such that the blade can pivot about the cylindrical portion from a storage position to a use position. The locking member is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, relative rotational movement between the first and second side portions of the handle is restricted. In the unlocked position, the first and second side portions of the handle can rotate relative to each other, and the first and second side portions of the handle can be separated when a non-circular opening of the handle aligns with a non-circular portion of the pivot element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventor: Chu-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 11292141
    Abstract: A power-assisted folding knife, including: a blade holder; a blade arranged in the blade holder; a handle rotatably connected to the blade holder; a locking mechanism for locking the blade holder in an unfolded position and/or a folded position; the power-assisted folding knife further includes a power-assisting mechanism connected to the blade holder and the handle, for providing assisting power when unfolding a power-assisted folding knife. The power-assisted folding knife uses an assisting mechanism for providing assisting power when unfolding a folding knife, so as to facilitate easier unfolding of the folding knife and to allow single hand operation; the blade holder can be locked in an unfolded position and/or a folded position to ensure safe use of the power-assisted folding knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: Hangzhou Great Star Tools Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Weiyi Wang
  • Patent number: 11052551
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for a locking folding knife having a handle lock and a safety switch arranged around and rotatable around a pivot axis of the knife. In an engaged position the switch overlaps at least a portion of the handle lock and prevents it from moving into an unlocked position. A spring, such as a wire form spring, can be arranged within a pocket of the switch, and when the switch is moved between engaged and disengaged positions the spring can be compressed generating a rotational bias on the switch urging the switch toward either the engaged or disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Magpul Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Michael T. Mayberry, Danny R. Smith, Jr., Thomas Ward, Deniece Hopkins, Timothy Eric Roberts, Timothy James Galyean
  • Patent number: 10894329
    Abstract: A switchblade includes a casing that defines a cavity. A blade having a cutting edge has a retracted position in which the cutting edge is inside the cavity and a deployed position in which the cutting edge is outside the cavity. A spring is operably connected to the blade to bias the blade to the deployed position. An actuator is releasably engaged with the blade, and operation of the actuator allows the blade to move between the retracted position and the deployed position. A safety lever that extends through at least a portion of the casing lever has a lock position that prevents operation of the actuator and an unlock position that permits operation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Microtech Knives, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Mandeville
  • Patent number: 10882197
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of easily disassembled folding knives. In some embodiments, a folding knife includes a blade, a handle including first and second side portions, and a pivot mechanism including respective locking elements which can be used to retain the side portions from lateral separation from one another. In some cases, the locking elements of one end of the pivot mechanism include relatively narrow neck portions with relatively wide, non-circular head portions connected to the neck portions, and the locking elements of a second side of the pivot mechanism include a recess and a corresponding non-circular opening. In some cases, folding knives can be provided with secondary locking mechanisms, liner lock mechanisms, and various other features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: GB II Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
  • Patent number: 10870208
    Abstract: A folding utensil is provided including an active part defining a first longitudinal axis and configured to perform a folding utensil function; a handle defining a second longitudinal axis and including a seat for the active part; and an articulated quadrilateral loosely connecting the active part to the handle defining for the folding utensil a use configuration and a configuration of non-use and including two rocker arms hinged to the handle and to the active part so that the folding utensil passes from one configuration to another by varying the mutual inclination between the longitudinal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Inventors: Alberto Gariboldi, Fiammetta Ravot
  • Patent number: 10792823
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a folding knife are disclosed. In one embodiment, a folding knife is provided that has a handle having a slot having at least one top surface and a blade pivotably connected to the handle, wherein the blade has a tang having a contoured peripheral surface and an open block engagement tang surface, wherein the blade has an axis of rotation. The blade further has a locking block translatable on a plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the blade, wherein the locking block has an engagement surface positioned to contact at least one of the contoured peripheral surface and the open block engagement tang surface when the blade is in an open position, and wherein the locking block has at least two bearing surfaces engaging the at least one top surface along two lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Inventor: Jerry P. Busse
  • Patent number: 10688672
    Abstract: A folding knife assembly includes a blade system which is disposable between an open configuration and a closed configuration using a single hand. The blade system includes a fixed blade member and a movable blade member, wherein the fixed blade member and moveable blade member are cooperatively structured to operatively engage one another when the blade system is disposed in an open configuration. The folding knife assembly also includes a positioning system structured to facilitate disposition of the blade system between an open configuration and a closed configuration. A locking system is provided and is structured to operatively engage at least a portion of the positioning system to releasably secure the blade system in the open configuration, and to operatively disengage the positioning system to permit disposition of the blade system into a closed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Gregory Perez
  • Patent number: 10493613
    Abstract: Provided is a tool that includes a handle assembly including a top portion and a bottom portion. The tool also includes a lock plate disposed between the top and bottom portions and having a deflectable arm having a free end biased towards the top portion, a fixed end opposite the free end, an inner edge, an outer edge, and a detent near the free end and the inner edge. The tool additionally includes a blade having first and second ends, an indent in a bottom surface of the blade near the first end for engaging the detent in a closed position, and a ramp on the bottom surface near the indent defining a reduced thickness portion of the blade that reduces in thickness from the indent towards an edge of the blade to reduce contact between the detent and the blade during rotation of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SWIMC LLC
    Inventors: Victor J. Levand, Sharad Gaurav, Sarah Bridget Mulroy, Joshua R. Robertson, Edward Ray Goodwin, Randi Boss, Michael C. Lambertson
  • Patent number: 10357887
    Abstract: A handle having illuminating features, such as on a utility tool, the handle having a housing made up of a first housing section and a second housing section that mate with each other to define a cavity, the first housing section having a plurality of slots through which an internally positioned set of LEDs can emit. The second housing section may similarly have a plurality of protrusions and a second set of LEDs to transmit light. Translucent diffusers may be positioned between the LEDs and their respective housing sections. The utility tool may have additional tools that are spring-loaded to facilitate opening the tools and maintaining the tools in a closed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: SIYA, INC.
    Inventor: Sudhir Mundhra
  • Patent number: 10160122
    Abstract: A folding knife having a blade pivotably connected to a handle. The blade has a tang including a contoured peripheral surface and an open block engagement tang surface, and an axis of rotation. The handle has a slot having at least one top surface. The knife has a locking block translatable on a plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the blade. The locking block has an engagement surface positioned to contact at least one of the contoured peripheral surface and the open block engagement tang surface when the blade is in an open position. The locking block has at least two bearing surfaces engaging the at least one top surface along two lines, with the at least two bearing surfaces positioned so that a force applied by the blade to the engagement surface is directed along a line between the at least two bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Inventor: Jerry P. Busse
  • Patent number: 10035272
    Abstract: A folding knife has an elongated frame defining a major plane and having a pivot element at a pivot end and defining a pivot axis and the frame defining a blade receptacle, an elongated blade occupying the major plane having a tip end and a base end, a spine edge and a cutting edge, and opposed major faces, the base end connected to the pivot element, the blade being operable to pivot between a stowed position in which the blade is received in the blade receptacle and an extended position in which the tip end of the blade extends away from the frame, and the blade having a lock feature proximate the base end, a button lock element connected to the frame proximate the pivot element and operable to selectably engage the lock feature when the blade is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: HOGUE TOOL & MACHINE, INC.
    Inventor: James David Bruhns
  • Patent number: 9975259
    Abstract: The invention discloses a folding knife, comprising: a blade, whose upper part is configured with a lockup switch mounting hole; a handle, whose lower part is configured with a stopping slot; a lockup switch provided in the lockup switch mounting hole and having a lockup part located on the first side of the blade, the lockup part has a lockup position at which it is clapped in the stopping slot when the blade and the handle are buckled up and an unlock position at which it is released from the stopping slot when the blade is separated from the handle. The folding knife of the invention enables safe locking after the blade is folded in the handle by making use of the lockup switch having a lockup part, the structure of the folding knife is simple and easy to implement, and safety performance of the folding knife is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignees: Power Source Industries Co. Ltd., Nextorch Industries Co., Ltd., Wave Power Source Police Equipments Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Guanpeng Liu
  • Patent number: 9943970
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a folding knife is provided. More specifically, the locking mechanism is a rotational wedge locking mechanism that maintains the folding knife's blade in an extended position and prevents the blade from inadvertently closing when the knife is in use in the extended position. The rotational wedge locking mechanism also impedes the folding knife from inadvertently opening when the blade is in a closed position of storage. The rotational wedge locking mechanism generally comprises a lock pin, a means for moving the lock pin, and a biasing member, which work in conjunction with the tang of the blade and the back spacer to securely retain the folding knife in an open or closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Spyderco, Inc.
    Inventor: Louis Sal Glesser
  • Patent number: 9908231
    Abstract: Provided is a tool that includes a handle assembly including a top portion and a bottom portion. The tool also includes a lock plate disposed between the top and bottom portions and having a deflectable arm having a free end biased towards the top portion, a fixed end opposite the free end, an inner edge, an outer edge, and a detent near the free end and the inner edge. The tool additionally includes a blade having first and second ends, an indent in a bottom surface of the blade near the first end for engaging the detent in a closed position, and a ramp on the bottom surface near the indent defining a reduced thickness portion of the blade that reduces in thickness from the indent towards an edge of the blade to reduce contact between the detent and the blade during rotation of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Sherwin-Williams Company
    Inventors: Victor J. Levand, Sharad Gaurav, Sarah Bridget Mulroy, Joshua R. Robertson, Edward Ray Goodwin, Randi Boss, Michael C. Lambertson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9833912
    Abstract: Folding knife embodiments are disclosed herein comprising a blade operable to pivot relative to a handle, between an open position and a closed position, about a pivot axis extending through a tang portion of the blade having at least one locking recess. The knife can have a locking mechanism comprising a rod that extends along the pivot axis through the tang portion and a locking member coupled to the rod which engages the at least one locking recess of the tang portion when the blade is in at least one of the open position or the closed position. The knife can further comprise a push button coupled to the rod, wherein depression of the push button is configured to eject the locking member from the locking recess in the blade, thereby unlocking the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: GB II Corporation
    Inventor: Flavio Yuji Ikoma
  • Patent number: 9815213
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Benchmade Knife Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Wes Duey
  • Patent number: 9579807
    Abstract: A foldable knife with multiple switching modes comprises a knife handle, a blade and a switch device. The knife handle has a resisting elastic plate, a positioning plate and a top cover. The resisting elastic plate has an elastic portion. The positioning plate is connected to the resisting elastic plate and has an elastic arm extended in the positioning plate. The top cover is mounted on the positioning plate and has a slide slot. The slide slot is formed on the top cover. The blade has a pressing rod and a manual pushing rod which are respectively formed on a surface of the blade towards the positioning plate. The switch device is mounted in the slide slot and has a pushing block mounted through the top cover, and the switch device is used to switch between an assisted opening mode and a manual opening mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventors: Hui-Tung Chu, Jiun-Yu Chu
  • Patent number: 9387595
    Abstract: An exemplary folding knife has a handle including an inner liner portion and an outer panel. The inner liner portion includes a locking member that is operable to move between an unlocked position and a locked position. The folding knife includes a blade having a tang portion pivotally connected to the handle. The blade is operable to pivot relative to the handle about a pivot axis extending through the tang portion between a closed position and an open position. The tang portion engages the locking member when the blade is in the open position and the locking member is in the locked position. The folding knife also includes a lever member pivotally mounted to the locking member. The lever member is operable to block the locking member from moving from the locked position to the unlocked position when the blade is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: GB II Corporation
    Inventor: Flavio Ikoma
  • Patent number: 9327413
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a folding knife is provided. More specifically, the locking mechanism is a two-piece backlock that maintains the folding knife's extended position and prevents the blade from inadvertently closing when the knife is in use in the extended position and impedes the folding knife from inadvertently opening when the knife is in a closed position of storage. The locking mechanism generally comprises a backlock, a toggle, and a biasing member. The toggle rotates between two positions and engages with the tang of the blade and the backlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Spyderco, Inc.
    Inventor: Kimiyuki Sakai
  • Patent number: 9211649
    Abstract: A guard for a folding knife which guard protects the fingers of the user when the blade is open. The guards may be lifted by the movement of the blade by a link, spring, lifting pin, gears, underside of the blade or hooked by thumb stud or back of blade or by a flipping motion due to the contour of the handles. The guards may be of various shapes and may be recessed in an out-of-the-way position when the blade is closed. The guards may extend at opposite sides of the blade and opposite sides of the handle. The guards are adaptable to a wide variety of folding knife styles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Inventors: Mark Mollick, Paul Mollick
  • Patent number: 8966768
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a folding tool having a handle, a tool element and a ball bearing assembly. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the handle of the folding tool includes a first, second side panel and a first, second side panel liner wherein the ball bearing assembly is positioned between the first side panel liner and the second side panel liner. The ball bearing assembly includes a first bearing race and a second bearing race each race having a ball housing. A plurality of balls reside partially within each ball housing and are positioned to contact an adjacent side surface of the tang of the tool element thereby allowing the plurality of balls to roll along opposing sides of the tang as the tool element is pivoted from the open position to the closed position. In some embodiments, the tool element is a knife blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GB II Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
  • Patent number: 8959779
    Abstract: A multi-angle positioned foldable knife includes a knife body (1), a handle (2) and a pin (3). The knife body (1) is pivotally connected with the handle (2) through the pin (3). A cam (4) is arranged on the connecting end of the knife body (1), and snap openings (41) on the outer edge of the cam are provided to position the knife body (1) at multi-angle relative to the handle (2). A positioning button (5) is arranged on the connecting end of the handle (2), and a snap edge (51) is provided on the interior end of the button (5). The snap edge (51) can connect with a snap opening (41) on the outer edge of the cam (4). Compared with prior art, the foldable knife has simple structure, controlled angle, safe use, convenient operation, simple preparation etc. The knife body (1) can be positioned at multi foldable position. Additionally, the rotation of the knife body (1) can be achieved only by pressing the button (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kunjek Handtools & Hardware Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hao Wen
  • Patent number: 8939054
    Abstract: An improvement of a folding knife locking mechanism with an adjustable wedge to remove blade slop. The present mechanism allows for smooth opening and closing of the blade by limiting friction against the blade as it rotates. This knife has a bearing system for low friction blade rotation. Also the leaf strap lock is arranged so that it only comes into contact with the blade at the start of opening and at the end of opening, further limiting the friction forces against the blade. Provided is also an adjustment wedge to remove blade lock slop. In the manufacturing process loose tolerances can be adjusted out using the adjustment wedge. Normal use wear against the stop pins and handles can cause some looseness of the blade which can also be removed by the adjustment wedge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Grant Woodrow Hawk, Gavin D. Hawk
  • Patent number: 8938883
    Abstract: A folding knife for applying a cutting action includes a blade assembly having a guard configured to cover the cutting edge of the blade when the knife is not in use. The guard is maintained in a normally blade covered position by a resilient member. The blade guard has a guard actuator for providing at least one motion for a user to move the blade guard from the normally blade covered position to an un-guarded or cutting position. The knife further includes an actuator for unlocking the blade assembly from the closed position to a locked open position. Upon depression of the actuator, the blade assembly will automatically open to a locked open position from a locked closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Allway Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Gringer, Yuan Fang Cheng
  • Patent number: 8939053
    Abstract: An assisted opening mechanism for folding knives, which helps hold the blade in the closed position, as well as, assists in moving the blade toward the open position. The mechanism includes a bar spring seated within one of the handle sides and a contact pin extending from the blade. The bar spring is seated within a recessed cavity formed on one side of the knife handle and engages the contact pin, which extends outward from one side of the blade through an arcuate slot in the handle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Joseph R. Pardue
  • Patent number: 8863393
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a folding knife with two-stage lock release, which comprises a handle including three plates, and a blade pivotally installed between first and second plates. The second plate has an elastic stop plate installed thereon having a first engage portion, such that after the blade is turned out from the handle completely, the elastic stop plate can abut against the blade. A positioning plate including a second engage portion is movably positioned between the second and third plates, and has an end extended out from the handle, such that when the blade is unfolded completely and the positioning plate is moved and fixed to a pressed position, the first and second engage portions can be engaged with each other, and the elastic stop plate can be separated from the blade, so as to enable the blade to be turned into the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Shun-Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 8813366
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a folding knife handle, which includes a first housing pivotally connected to a blade and formed with an arcuate guide groove through which a stud of the blade passes, a pushing element movably located on the first housing and having one end exposed from the handle, a pressing element connected to the pushing element and having one end provided with a pressing plate, and a second housing assembled to the first housing to cover the pressing element. When the stud is located at a first end of the arcuate guide groove and the pressing plate doesn't press against the stud, the blade is fully received in the handle and, when the pressing plate presses against and moves the stud toward a second end of the arcuate guide groove, the stud is driven by a resilient member to move the blade fully out of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventor: Chia-Ying Chen
  • Patent number: 8793882
    Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a housing, multiple tools mechanically coupled to the housing, at least one of the tools including a cutting device, and a slider and lock wheel mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to selectively release only one of the tools at a time from being secured within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Pacific Handy Cutter, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen Kanemoto, John Andrew Duval
  • Patent number: 8752298
    Abstract: A folding knife includes a lock blade and a handle. The handle includes a transfer bar assembly and a blade opener spring. When the lock blade is closed, a spring working in conjunction with the transfer bar assembly biases the lock blade closed. When the lock blade is opened past a certain point, a blade opening spring assists in moving the lock blade into its open locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventors: Michael C. Collins, Jane Collins
  • Patent number: 8745878
    Abstract: A folding knife locking mechanism is provided which maintains the open and closed positions associated with the folding knife. A carrier assembly for the locking mechanism for changing the folding knife from the closed to the open position is also disclosed. In one embodiment, the folding knife comprises a carrier assembly for positioning a spherical locking mechanism against the tang of the knife, without the need for scales or other retaining elements typical in prior art knives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Spyderco, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric G. Glesser
  • Patent number: 8732958
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a folding knife includes a thumb post which longitudinally moves along slots in the handle of the knife. The thumb post is urged by a spring loaded locking lever into a notch in the base of the blade of the knife. When so positioned the thumb post retains the blade in an extended position. When the user pushes the thumb post out of the notch, the blade can be folded into the handle of the knife. In another embodiment the thumb post is an integral part of the locking lever, and it is a tab on the locking lever rather than the thumb post engages the notch in the base of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Yi Huang
  • Publication number: 20140115899
    Abstract: A folding knife having a back bar configured to engage the tang portion of a blade. A release member mechanism is utilized to engage the back bar to apply force thereto to at least partially disengage the back bar from the tang portion of the blade for purposes of repositioning the blade with respect to the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventor: Spencer Frazer
  • Patent number: 8707564
    Abstract: A hand saw includes a saw blade, a handle, and a blade carrier. The saw further includes a blade clamp assembly having a locking member that removably couples the saw blade to the blade carrier so that the saw blade pivots with the blade carrier about a pivot axis. An actuating button is manually movable generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the saw blade by the user between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the actuating button engages the blade carrier to retain the blade carrier and the saw blade in one of an extended position and a folded position. In the disengaged position, the actuating button is disengaged from the blade carrier so that the blade carrier and the saw blade can be pivoted between the extended and the folded positions of the saw blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Wade Burch, Michael S. Steele, Jason R. Crowe, Michael Naughton
  • Patent number: 8683702
    Abstract: A folding knife capable of preventing automatic folding, which includes a handle having first, second and third plates, and a blade pivotally connected between the first and second plates by a pivot. The second plate is provided with a resilient stopper having a first end fixed to the second plate and a second end extending toward the first plate in a slanting manner. The third plate has one side corresponding in position to the second plate and concavely provided with an engaging hole. When the blade is fully rotated out of the handle, the second end of the resilient stopper presses against one end of the blade and thereby keeps the blade fully rotated out of the handle. Thus, when a force applied to the blade is excessively large, the resilient stopper will not be shifted away from the position against the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Yen-Fen Lo
  • Patent number: 8646184
    Abstract: In a folding knife in which a release button is used to lock the blade in the open and/or closed positions, and to release the blade from being locked, the release button has a dual tapered sidewall surface on the locking portion of the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mentor Group, L.L.C.
    Inventor: James Westerfield
  • 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: 8601699
    Abstract: A utility knife includes a handle having a blade track system with a pivot point and a blade mounted in the blade track system. The blade includes a cutting/scraping edge extending along a side of the blade. In an implementation, the blade is shiftable between a closed configuration, where the cutting/scraping edge is enclosed within the handle, to a first open configuration, where the blade extends longitudinally outward from an end of the handle. The shift between the closed and first open configurations can occur by rotating the blade about the pivot point and in the blade track system. Also, the blade is shiftable along the blade track system between the first open configuration and a second open configuration, where the blade is located towards another end of the handle such that the cutting/scraping edge extends downwards from a bottom of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Blade-Tech Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Isaac Vellekamp
  • Patent number: 8595942
    Abstract: A safe utility knife is provided having a housing, a blade sliding seat, a pushing force generator, an acceleration detector, a stopper, a stopper pushing portion, and a sliding switch. When activated with a blade protruding out, and an acceleration due to a sudden dropping movement occurs, the acceleration detector moves from a low acceleration position to a high acceleration position. It also presses down the sliding switch and the stopper so that the stopper moves from a locking position to a non-locking position. The blade sliding seat is pulled by the pulling force generator to a blade storing position to protect against accidental injury. The knife can be operated by one hand and is suitable for regular blades available on the market. In addition, it can be switched to manual automatic blade returning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventor: Chun-Feng Ho
  • Patent number: 8584367
    Abstract: A pocketknife has a handle, a blade, an assistant assembly and a locking assembly. The handle has a cavity defined in the handle. The blade is mounted pivotally at one end of the handle. The assistant assembly is mounted on the handle, assists to extend the blade out or retract the blade in the cavity and has a dial, a biasing lever and a spring. The dial is mounted rotatably in the handle and is connected securely on a proximal end of the blade. The biasing lever is mounted in the handle and is mounted eccentrically and pivotally on the dial. The spring is mounted around the biasing lever and biases the biasing lever to rotate the dial in two rotational directions to retract or extend the blade. The assistant assembly assists the user to open or close the pocketknife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Hui-Tung Chu, Jiun-Yu Chu
  • Publication number: 20130291389
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a folding knife handle, which includes a first housing pivotally connected to a blade and formed with an arcuate guide groove through which a stud of the blade passes, a pushing element movably located on the first housing and having one end exposed from the handle, a pressing element connected to the pushing element and having one end provided with a pressing plate, and a second housing assembled to the first housing to cover the pressing element. When the stud is located at a first end of the arcuate guide groove and the pressing plate doesn't press against the stud, the blade is fully received in the handle and, when the pressing plate presses against and moves the stud toward a second end of the arcuate guide groove, the stud is driven by a resilient member to move the blade fully out of the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Chia-Ying CHEN
  • Patent number: 8572851
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mentor Group, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Wes Duey
  • Patent number: 8567069
    Abstract: A folding utility knife with a blade lock and release mechanism is provided, and the knife comprises: a handle pivotally connected to a blade holding compartment, the handle comprising at least two side walls forming a space, the space of the handle is designed to encase at least a portion of the blade holding compartment during a folded position, the blade holding compartment comprising at least one side wall having at least two internal cavities, the first cavity for holding a blade with at least two indentations, at least a portion of the blade holding compartment designed to be situated within the space of the handle during a folded position, the blade holding compartment comprises a front end, a rear end and a faceplate for covering the internal cavities, the front end of the blade compartment holder and at least a portion of the faceplate forming an opening at the front end of the blade holding compartment which allows a portion of the blade to protrude from the blade holding compartment; and a blade lo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: IBT Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Glenn Robinson, Michael Martinez
  • Patent number: 8499461
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a folding knife. The locking mechanism has a locking sleeve and an opposed locking bolt which are coaxial and biased to a locking position by a spring. In the locked position, either with the blade extended or folded, both a lug on the bolt and a surface on the sleeve engage a locking surface on the blade tang area. Simultaneous manual force must be applied by the user to oppositely release buttons on the opposite handles to move both the locking bolt and locking sleeve to positions to disengage them from the locking surface to allow the blade to be folded or unfolded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Mollick, Paul Mollick