Locked Blade Patents (Class 30/160)
  • Patent number: 6378214
    Abstract: A folding knife having a blade with a tang, and a handle with an end to which the tang is pivotally connected. The blade is rotatable relative to the handle about a pivot axis between an open position in which the blade is extended away from the handle and a closed position in which the blade is at least partially received within the handle. The folding knife may also include a post slidably held by the blade to slide along at least a portion of the blade between a retracted position and a locking position. When the blade is open and the post is in the locking position, the handle and post block pivoting of the blade from the open position toward the closed position. Additionally, the folding knife may be provided with an oversized tang portion and a spring mechanism that allow the knife blade to be easily pivoted into the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Kai U.S.A. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
  • Patent number: 6374500
    Abstract: A collapsible barbecue tool assembly includes a barbecue tool, a handle and a latch mechanism mounted in the handle. The handle includes an elongated cavity for slidably receiving a blade portion of the barbecue tool. The blade portion of the tool has one or more locating elements. The latch mechanism releasably engages one of the locating elements so that the tool is movable to and between a collapsed position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: World Kitchen, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Stein, Bruce E. Ancona, Daniel Winigrad
  • Patent number: 6370778
    Abstract: A folding knife having a handle and a blade attached to the handle, the blade being connected for movement between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the handle, and the blade a first locking profile, such as a notch. A locking member is provided having a second locking member, such as a projection, the projection being configured to be engageable with the notch when the blade is in the extended position. A pivotal connector is connected to the handle and to the locking member for allowing the locking member to pivot with respect to the handle. The locking member is movable between a locking position, wherein the second locking profile is in locking engagement with the first locking profile for locking the blade in the extended position, and an unlocking position, wherein the blade is movable with respect to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: Matthew W. Conable
  • Patent number: 6360443
    Abstract: A folding blade knife which may comprise a handle member, and including at least one upper handle member and at least one lower handle member defining a channel. The knife may further include a blade member pivotally mounted, via a pivotal member, to the handle member and within the channel. An actuator may be slidably mounted to the at least one upper handle member and joined to the blade member back end, for actuation by a user, such that when the user exerts a force against the actuator to slide the actuator with respect to the handle member, the user-exerted force is transmitted to the blade member back end to rotate the blade member. A pin slot may be formed within the at least one handle member at the handle member front end and arched around the pivotal member. An actuator slot may be formed within the at least one upper handle member at the handle member front end, having a linear portion and an arc portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Inventor: Cesar Remus
  • Patent number: 6338431
    Abstract: A folding knife having a blade with a tang, and a handle with an end to which the tang is pivotally connected. The blade is rotatable relative to the handle about a pivot axis between an open position in which the blade is extended away from the handle and a closed position in which the blade is at least partially received within the handle. The folding knife may also include a post slidably held by the blade to slide along at least a portion of the blade between a retracted position and a locking position. When the blade is open and the post is in the locking position, the handle and post block pivoting of the blade from the open position toward the closed position. Additionally, the folding knife may be provided with an oversized tang portion and a spring mechanism that allow the knife blade to be easily pivoted into the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Kai U.S.A. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
  • Publication number: 20020000042
    Abstract: A folding knife locking mechanism is provided which prevents the inadvertent closure of a knife blade by utilizing a releasable tang which is compressed between the heel end of the folding knife blade and a stop pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Louis S. Glesser, Peter H. Jhones, Vince Ford
  • Patent number: 6308420
    Abstract: The folding knife includes an elongated handle forming a spacing therebetween. An elongated blade having a working end and a tang at the opposite end within a common plane, a pivot including a pivot axis connecting the tang to the handle to permit the blade to pivot selectively into an open position at which the blade extends outwardly from the handle and into a closed position in which the blade is nested into the spacing. The blade is provided with a cam, that may be a rolling cam, secured to the blade eccentric to the pivot axis and spaced from the plane that includes the blade. An operating spring is secured at one end to the handle and has abutting contact with the cam remote from the end in the handle thus forming force vectors that are arranged selectively to resist the pivoting of the blade to an open position and when in an open position resisting the pivoting of the blade to a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Taylor Cutlery LLC
    Inventor: Rocky Lee Moser
  • Patent number: 6305085
    Abstract: A clasp knife has a handle lying generally in a plane and forming an elongated recess extending longitudinally in the plane, open laterally of the plane, and having an outer longitudinally open end formed with a retaining formation. A pivot pin at the outer end defines an axis substantially parallel to the plane and transverse to the recess. A blade lying generally in a plane including the axis has a cutting edge extending generally perpendicular to the axis adjacent the axis, pivots on the pin about the axis between a closed position received in the recess and an extended position with the blade plane generally coplanar with the handle plane, moves limitedly axially relative to the handle between a pair of end positions, and has a formation fitting complementary with the handle formation in one of the end positions. A spring braced axially between the blade and the body urges the blade into the one end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Inventors: Harald Stallegger, Sami Stinner
  • Patent number: 6266885
    Abstract: A collapsible barbecue tool assembly includes a barbecue tool, a handle and a latch mechanism mounted in the handle. The handle includes an elongated cavity for slidably receiving a blade portion of the barbecue tool. The blade portion of the tool has one or more locating elements. The latch mechanism releasably engages one of the locating elements so that the tool is movable to and between a collapsed position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Ekco Housewares, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Stein, Bruce E. Ancona, Daniel Winigrad
  • Patent number: 6260461
    Abstract: A security cutter comprising a body for fixing onto a support, a saw blade supported by the body for movement between a normal position contained wholly within the body and an operating position extending out from the body, a spring urging the saw blade towards the operating position, and a releasable lock for locking the saw blade in the normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Chiu Nang Mok
  • Patent number: 6256888
    Abstract: Knife structure employing a push button and a slide block drivingly connected with the push button. An engaging plate is disposed in the knife grip and controlled by the push button. The knife blade is formed with multiple locating notches for the engaging plate to engage therein and permit unfolding the knife blade in a stage by stage manner to provide convenience and safety in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Janchy Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Tian Shuen
  • Patent number: 6256887
    Abstract: A knife has a locking arm with a laterally displacing spring bias that retains the locking arm in a notch on the blade of the knife when the knife is in the open position. A lateral displacement of the locking arm is required to close the knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: Warren J. Osborne
  • Patent number: 6233830
    Abstract: A utility knife handle including a housing with an interior cavity that houses a locking mechanism, a blade storage area, and a blade carriage mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a biased locking member that is slidably provided within a first housing portion and an engagement member provided on a second housing portion pivotally connected to the first housing portion. The housing has a closed position in which the locking member is engaged with the engagement member and an open position in which the locking member is slid out of engagement with the engagement member and the first and second housing portions are rotated to allow access to the interior cavity of the housing. The blade storage area includes a blade receiving portion with a magnet therein for holding stored blade within the blade storage area. The blade carriage mechanism has a blade carriage slidably disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and adjustable to a plurality of distinct locked positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: General Housewares Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Lamond, Richard Andrew Whitehall, Adam Sanchez
  • Patent number: 6170161
    Abstract: A collapsible barbecue tool assembly includes a barbecue tool, a handle and a latch mechanism mounted in the handle. The handle includes an elongated cavity for slidably receiving a blade portion of the barbecue tool. The blade portion of the tool has one or more locating elements. The latch mechanism releasably engages one of the locating elements so that the tool is movable to and between a collapsed position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Ekco Housewares, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Stein, Bruce E. Ancona, Daniel Winigrad
  • Patent number: 6154965
    Abstract: A knife of which the blade is brought into or out of a haft by revolving against the haft, having a locking system fixing the blade to the haft in usable condition by a hand, is provided with a function that not only bringing the blade into or out of the haft but also the action and the release of the locking system can be done only by one hand. The operation knob 11 is attached to a part of the blade 9 where a thumb of a hand holding the haft 2 can operate the operation knob 11. The action and the release of the locking system are determined in accordance with a direction of the force added to the operation knob 11 toward the direction of the blade 9 being brought into or out of the haft 2. The operation knob 11 is added force by a thumb of a hand holding the haft 2 toward the direction of the blade 9 being brought into or out of the haft 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Susumu Sakai
  • Patent number: 6145202
    Abstract: This invention relates to a mechanism in a folding knife that urges the blade to move to an open and alternatively to a closed position. The knife generally cnsists of a blade member having a tang extending outwardly from the blade; a handle having at least one recessed portion; a bar pivotally connecting the tang and the handle; and a bias element engaging the blade wherein the bias element is housed within the recessed portion of the handle. Generally, in the present invention, the blade must be moved manually a certain distance whereupon the mechanism serves to complete the movement of the blade without the application of further outside force by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Kai U.S.A. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Onion
  • Patent number: 6122829
    Abstract: A folding tool includes an elongate handle and a blade pivotally attached to the handle. The blade is movable between a closed position in which it is received within a groove, between the side walls of the handle, and an open position in which the blade extends away from the handle and is exposed. The blade has a tang portion which is received within the groove of the handle when the blade is in its open position. A blade locking pin is part of a sliding lock assembly and extends generally transversely with respect to the length of the handle and blade. The pin is movable along a pair of elongate holes, between a first position in which the pin engages the tang portion to lock the blade in its open position and a second position in which the pin is spaced away from the tang and allows the blade to move to its closed position. A spring is biases the pin to its first position and is further provided for manually moving the pin to its second position from its biased first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Mentor Group, L.L.C.
    Inventors: William J. McHenry, Jason L. Williams
  • Patent number: 6105255
    Abstract: A folding knife with a blade having a bottom end edge and a handle grip portion. The blade is pivotally mounted at one end of the handle grip portion. The handle grip portion has a hollow slot. The folding knife includes a leaf spring with first and second ends and a protruding member. The first end of the leaf spring is connected to the handle grip portion and the leaf spring substantially extends along a length of the slot and the second end of the leaf spring is configured to abut against the bottom end edge of the blade and lock the blade firmly in place when the blade is fully extended out of the handle grip portion. The device includes a steel ball positioned on the protruding member and a cover plate having a through bore. The cover plate is mounted on the handle grip portion securing the steel ball between the protruding member and outer edges of the through bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Kantas Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yang-Fu Cheng
  • Patent number: 6101723
    Abstract: An eccentric pivot pin with two distinct centers of axis is provided for use with a folding knife to reduce the time to assemble the various components of the folding knife and the alignment between the folding knife blade and a blade locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Spyderco, Inc.
    Inventor: Vince Ford
  • Patent number: 6047476
    Abstract: A collapsible barbecue tool assembly includes a barbecue tool, a handle and a latch mechanism mounted in the handle. The handle includes an elongated cavity for slidably receiving a blade portion of the barbecue tool. The blade portion of the tool has one or more locating elements. The latch mechanism releasably engages one of the locating elements so that the tool is movable to and between a collapsed position and an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Ekco Housewares, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Stein, Bruce E. Ancona, Daniel Winegrad
  • Patent number: 5964036
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cutting instruments, and more particularly folding knives which have a blade which travels between a first extended position coextensive with the knife handle and a second closed position with the knife blade at least partially recessed within a portion of the knife handle. More specifically, the present invention relates to secondary locking mechanisms to substantially prevent the knife blade from closing if the primary locking mechanism fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Spyderco, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Anthony Centofante
  • Patent number: 5933893
    Abstract: A multi-purpose tool housing is provided having an implement that is rotatably stowable in an individual housing opening. The opening includes a separate lock plate that engages the end surfaces of a pivot plate that extends from an inner end portion of the implement. The end surfaces are angularly oriented to permit the lock plate to not only secure the implement in a storage mode, but also secure the implement in predetermined angular orientations for convenience of use. A spring biased plunger, flexible bands and spring members operate between the housing and implement to automatically move a portion of the implement out of the housing opening to a predetermined access orientation. Thereafter, a user may readily grasp the implement and rotate it to the desired use position. When scissors are being used with a flex strip between the scissors handles, a bumper part coacts with the lock plate to hold the handles together for storage against the flexural bias of the flex strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Stephen J. Padden
  • Patent number: 5896665
    Abstract: An improved folding knife and one-handed opening system. The key improvement consists of a manual opening lever (100) moving alongside the blade (40) operated by the thumb by pressing upwards on the thumb bar (120). Because the manual opening lever (100) rotates about the fastener-bearing (60), it can be returned to its out-of-the-way initial position after opening the knife. Thus, this invention provides a simple one-handed opening system which does not intrude into the working area of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: David G. Harris
  • Patent number: 5875552
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multistage pocket-knife being characterized in a pair of spring-supported balls rotatably received in ball holes formed on two side members of a knife handle and through holes formed on two lining members positioned adjacent to the side members. A blade of the knife is formed with several round holes near a rear edge thereof. Whereby, when the blade is in a folded position in the handle, the pair of balls extend a part thereof into one of the round holes on the blade and thereby firmly hold the blade in place without easily turning out of the handle even when the knife collides with something or falls accidentally. And, when the blade is in a process of extending or folding, the pair of balls engage into other round holes sequentially, permitting the blade to be safely extended or folded in more than one stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Chia Yi Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-fu Chen
  • Patent number: 5839194
    Abstract: A folding knife which includes a latchable blade. The blade is pivotable about a pivoting axis or bolt between two halves of a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Inventor: Urs Bezold
  • Patent number: 5826340
    Abstract: A two-piece handle is provided having a male handle half and a female handle half, each of which may be formed separately by molding, machining, or other processes. The male handle half includes a projection near the rear of the handle, and has a first hole in the projection for receiving a leaf spring rod. The female handle half has an integral spring holder which includes a recess for receiving the projection of the male handle half. The spring holder has a second hole for receiving a leaf spring rod through it which intersects with the recess. When the projection of the male half is fitted into the recess of the female half, the first hole and the second hole line up sufficiently to enable the insertion of the leaf spring rod. When the leaf spring rod has been inserted, it aids in retaining the male handle half in an assembled state with the female handle half, while also serving a spring for the blade locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Buck Knives
    Inventor: Stephen J. Hull
  • Patent number: 5822866
    Abstract: An automatic folding knife including a safety stop to prevent the blade from being released from either an extended position or a closed position. A safety stop is operated by a control element located on and movable along the back of the handle of the knife, while a button that operates a latch to release the blade is located on a side of the knife handle. The safety stop includes either a lever or a disk movable by the control element into an engaged position blocking movement of the latch button and thus preventing the latch from releasing the blade. A detent holds the safety stop either in its engaged position or in a disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Mentor Group, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Melvin M. Pardue
  • Patent number: 5819414
    Abstract: Folding knives having a longitudinal sheath handle with a channelled body portion into and out of which a blade pivots about an axis normal to a common plane of the handle and blade between a sheathed position within the handle through an arc to a use position external of the handle and a lock to automatically lock the blade in such use position upon completion of the unsheathing movement, which lock is manipulated for manual return of the blade from its use position to its sheathed position are improved by addition of a double action feature provided by an actuator unit that is cocked by manual rotation of the blade from the use position back into the sheathed position and a trigger to uncock the actuator unit for automatic quick forced rotation of the blade from its sheathed position all the way to its use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventor: Anthony L. Marifone
  • Patent number: 5802722
    Abstract: A one handed knife including a handle having upper and lower handle portions, the upper handle portion including an arcuate recess extending therethrough and the lower handle portion including a blade lock release extending therefrom. A blade is pivotally connected between the upper and lower handle portions and includes a thumb pin extending therefrom. A tension bar having a first and second ends is slideably connected at its first end to the upper handle portion and its second end extends through the arcuate recess and is connected to the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventors: Michael Maxey, Helga Maxey
  • 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: 5769094
    Abstract: A folding knife having a cantilevered leaf spring member with an engagement tab at the free end thereof. The engagement tab engages with a notch defined in a pivoting blade carrier pivotally connected to the knife handle member. Carried within the blade carrier is an interchangeable blade insert. When the blade is moved to an extended position, it is automatically locked in that position through engagement of the engagement tab with the notch in the blade carrier. Retraction of the blade requires pulling upwardly on ears provided adjacent the engagement tab to remove the engagement tab from the notch, such that the blade can be pivoted into a blade compartment provided in the handle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventors: R. B. Jenkins, Jr., Walter W. Collins
  • Patent number: 5755035
    Abstract: A liner lock folding knife with an improved liner lock mechanism which can be manufactured satisfactorily by mass production techniques and conventional machine tools. A locking face surface engaged by a contact end of a locking finger is a concave partial cylinder whose central axis of curvature is located in a position offset with respect to the blade, in the direction toward the side of the handle from which the locking finger extends. The concave surface of the locking face has a radius of curvature smaller than the radius of curvature of the path of the contact end of the locking finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Benchmade Knife Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James S. Weatherly
  • Patent number: 5737841
    Abstract: A pocket knife includes a handle having a body portion and a blade pivotally attached to the body portion of the handle. The blade is movable between a closed position in which the blade is received within a groove of the handle and an open position in which the blade extends away from the handle and is exposed. The blade has a blade portion and a tang portion which is received within the groove of the handle when the blade is in its open position. A pin extends in a direction generally transverse with respect to the direction of the handle and blade, and is movable between a first position in which the pin engages the tang portion of blade for locking the blade in its open position, and a second position in which the pin is spaced away from the tang portion of the blade for allowing the blade to move to its closed position. A spring is provided for biasing the pin to its first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventors: William J. McHenry, Jason L. Williams
  • Patent number: 5722168
    Abstract: A saw includes a slot formed in one end of a handle. A saw blade is engaged in the slot and rotatably secured to the handle at a rod. The rod includes a projection of smaller size. The saw blade includes a groove of smaller size for engaging with the projection and includes an aperture for engaging with the rod so as to prevent the rod from disengaging from the saw blade when the rod is engaged in the aperture of the saw blade. The saw blade includes a number of notches for engaging with a latch so as to be adjusted to different angular position relative to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Inventor: Jung Hua Huang
  • Patent number: 5711077
    Abstract: A rotary cutter including a handle, a cylindrical head formed on one end of the handle and having a planar surface on each side, the handle and head having an interval cavity, an actuating member mounted in the cavity in the handle and head, a blade support formed on the actuating member for movement between a storage position and one of two operating positions with respect to the head, a spring mounted on the actuating member for biasing the actuating member to ta storage position and a latch assembly formed in the actuating member for electively locking the actuating member in one of the two operating positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Fiskars Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Schulz, Brian L. Adkinson
  • Patent number: 5699615
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pocket-knife mainly including a handle consisting of two side members which together define a cavity at one side of the handle to receive a blade therein. The blade is pivotally connected at a rear portion to a front portion of the handle by a pivotal pin and can be extended from the handle to an open or operative position or be folded toward the handle to a closed or storage position. A releasable locking means is disposed between the two side members for locking the blade in the open position. The pocket-knife is characterized in several rotatable balls spaced around the pivotal pin and contacting with side surfaces of the rear portion of the blade, allowing the blade to be smoothly extended or folded with help of the rotatable balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Chia Yi Enterprises Co.
    Inventor: Shun-fu Chen
  • Patent number: 5689885
    Abstract: A folding knife having a blade that is easily opened and locked in an open position. Three embodiments of a folding knife (10, 10', 10") include a lever (20, 20') that is pivotally attached to a blade (14, 14') at a point spaced apart from that at which the blade is pivotally mounted to a handle (12, 12'). When fully closed, a sharpened edge (26) of the blade is protected inside the handle. To open the blade, the lever is gripped between the thumb and forefinger and rotated about the pivot point of the lever, forcing the sharpened edge of the blade from inside the handle. The lever may then be pulled to draw the blade to a fully open position. A contoured latching surface on the lever is then engaged with a hook in a back strip (32, 32', 32") in the handle, locking the blade fully open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Andrew L. Walston
  • Patent number: 5647129
    Abstract: A tri-fold knife is provided which has a blade having a tang and bifurcated handle. The handle has a main handle which has a forward end which is pivotably attached to the tang. The main handle terminates in a butt end. A tail handle is provided with a forward engaging end and a butt end coupling which pivotably engages the butt end of the main handle. The main handle is provided with a main handle slot and the tail handle is provided with a tail handle slot which connects with the main handle slot. When the main handle forward end engages the tail handle forward engaging end, a knife handle is formed. When the tail handle is end to end with the main handle, the slots form a sheath into which the knife blade can be pivoted. Preferably, locks are provided to hold the blade with respect to the main handle when the knife is opened and the blade is exposed. A lock is also provided to hold the blade in the closed position where the blade lies in the main handle slot and the tail handle slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventor: James D. Stamper
  • 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: 5596808
    Abstract: A knife has a folding blade, a blade lock in the form of a leaf spring, and a safety for preventing unlocking of the lock. One form of safety has a carrier in the form of an elongate arm mounted on the knife handle. A stud is positioned on an inside surface of one end of the arm. A contact surface is formed on an outside surface of the arm opposite from the stud. The other end of the arm is pivotably attached to the handle of the knife. The arm may be swung from a release position, unobstructive of the lock, to a safety position in which the presence of the stud prevents unlocking the lock. The carrier may be spring biased toward the release position, and may have limited travel away from the handle to the release position. The carrier may also be a slide or a rotating disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Inventors: Ronald W. Lake, Michael L. Walker
  • Patent number: 5553386
    Abstract: A foldable saw includes an elongated handle member having opposite side walls which confine a slit therebetween and a top wall which bridges the side walls. A saw blade is formed as an elongated flat plate with a teethed edge, and has a rounded end portion mounted pivotally on the handle member such that the saw blade is pivotable between folded and unfolded positions. A locking unit is mounted on the handle member and is operable so as to engage releasably the rounded end portion of the saw blade to lock the saw blade in a selected one of the folded and unfolded positions. The saw blade has an indented section located between the rounded end portion and the teethed edge. The top wall of the handle member is formed with a through hole which extends to the slit and which is aligned with the indented section of the saw blade when the saw blade is in the folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: An-Sun Hsu
  • 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: 5528831
    Abstract: A bolt knife assembly with locking member having a knife blade assembly pivotally connected to a handle and support body assembly which is secured in either a retracted or extended orientation by means of a lock nut member. An accessory member, such as a screwdriver, is releasably connectable to the handle and support body assembly. The handle and support body assembly is constructed from an ordinary threaded bolt with a support handle member mounted thereon providing comfortable handling characteristics. The knife blade assembly includes a knife blade member with a cutting blade section at one end and a pivot and lock section at the another end allowing an anchor member to pivotally connect the knife blade assembly to the handle and support body assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventor: Charles K. Fortenberry
  • Patent number: 5522138
    Abstract: A folding knife (2) including a blade (6) foldable between an elongated handle (4) wherein blade (6) has a pivotal axis at one end of handle (4). An elongated lever (2) has one end pivotally hinged to the edge of blade (6) on one side transversely spaced from the pivotal axis of blade (6) having a squared end block (60) of blade (6) extending rearwardly therefrom therein handle (4), the upper and lower side of end block (60) are flat. The opposite length of lever (20) extend parallel and spaced apart to at least the length of blade (6) adjacent a cutting edge (24) of blade (6) upon handle (4). Lever (20) is configured with a hump (26) which abuts with blade (6) rearwardly of cutting edge (24) to retain the spacing between lever (20) and cutting edge (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Inventor: Lee E. Betts, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5502895
    Abstract: A folding blade pocket knife including: an elongated handle, defining first and second lateral walls and a cross-sectionally U-shape lengthwise channel therebetween; an elongated cutting blade, sized to fit within the U-channel; a knurled rotary button, pivotally mounting an inner end of the cutting blade to a front end of the handle first wall; a liner lock assembly, including an elongated leaf spring blade, fixedly connected at a rear end thereof to a rear end of the handle second wall, and defining a front portion pretensioned toward and against a front portion of the handle first wall, whereby the leaf spring blade front portion extends transversely of the U-channel to prevent engagement of the cutting blade into the U-channel; and a slider operated cable for pulling the leaf spring blade front portion away from the handle first wall, whereby the leaf spring blade clears the U-channel to enable engagement of the cutting blade into the U-channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Inventor: Denis Lemaire
  • Patent number: 5495674
    Abstract: A knife having a casing and a blade pivotally mounted thereto includes a user actuated button slidably mounted to the casing for producing movement of the blade between fully open and closed terminal positions. The button is disposed on the end of an elongated shaft which fully extends through a spring, pawl, casing, and a blade. The spring and pawl are respectively positioned adjacent the button and between the outwardly facing surface of the casing and the spring. The pawl includes a legged portion which extends into the casing and is fixedly attached to the blade. The pawl is further operatively positioned in relation to a plurality of bosses extending upwardly in longitudinal linear relation from the outwardly facing surface of the casing. As a user slides the button in a predetermined direction, the pawl correspondingly slides and rotates about each successive boss. The sliding, rotating motion of the pawl is directly transferred to the blade, thereby moving the blade between its terminal positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Camillus Cutlery Co.
    Inventor: William J. Taylor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5490332
    Abstract: A hunting knife with a retaining member with dull sides located beneath the handle into which the blade can be retracted. This enables the knife to be handled safely, and to be placed in a holster without any sharp protruding edges which can damage the holster. Further, when the blade is extended, the dull sides of the retaining member do not damage animal organs or tissues away from the gutting area which makes it more efficient and easier to use. A keeper mechanism firmly locks the blade in its extended or retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Inventor: John M. Levin
  • Patent number: 5442855
    Abstract: The knife comprises a locking strip (2), one end of which can be fitted in an anchoring point (6) of the blade (4), and an unlocking device (1) whereby, when a push button (10) is actuated, the strip can be disengaged from the anchoring point so that the blade can pivot freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Wenger SA
    Inventor: Jacques Jobin
  • Patent number: 5437101
    Abstract: A folding knife having a blade and a longitudinally extending liner. Pivotally connected to the liner is a blade holder receiver, or shell, which receives the liner when the blade is in a retracted position, to cover and retain the blade within the liner. The liner is also received by the shell when the blade is in the extended position, and through cooperation of the shell with the blade and the liner, the blade can be locked in its extended position. The knife may be opened and closed using one hand, and a sharpening device is provided for attachment to the liner and shell for sharpening the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Inventor: Walter W. Collins