Locked Blade Patents (Class 30/161)
  • 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: 5815927
    Abstract: A folding knife having a blade pivot connecting a blade to a handle for pivotal movement between an extended position outside of the blade cavity and a retracted position substantially within the blade cavity. A spring biased plunger having a first end and second end opposite the first end is provided, and the first end of the plunger includes a pivotal connector pivotally connecting the plunger to the handle within the blade cavity. The second end of the plunger is pivotally connected to the blade for orbital movement about the blade pivot as the blade moves between the retracted and extended positions. A pivotable locking member is connected to the handle for selectively locking the blade in the extended position. Further, an engagement portion is provided for opening the blade using a downward motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventor: Walter W. Collins
  • Patent number: 5806119
    Abstract: A tool holder for golfers that includes a movable housing pivotally and slidably movable relative to a fixed housing. The movable housing is locatable in a closed position encasing a plurality of instruments that are designed to be used by an exterior structure. The movable housing is also to be locatable in an open position and lockable in this position permitting the tool holder to be used as a torque applying tool. The tool holder also includes a plurality of additional instruments any one of which can be located in an outwardly extending position relative to the fixed housing with the movable housing then positionable in the closed position which will fix in position the protruding instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Robin S. Wood
  • 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: 5781998
    Abstract: A folding knife is provided which has a blade, a main handle and a tail handle. The tail handle is pivotably engaged to the main handle. When the knife is in a work configuration, a free end of the tail handle is swung to engage a blade end of the main handle and, together with the main handle, the tail handle forms a grip from which the blade extends. Both the main handle and the tail handle have grooves, such that when the tail handle is swung away from the main handle into an open position, the handles together form a sheath for the blade. With the main handle and the tail handle so configured, the blade of the folding knife can be longer than the grip and yet still be sheathed when the blade is swung into the sheath formed by the main handle and the tail handle for storage. The knife preferably has a tip encasing assembly attached to the tail handle which prevents the blade from being accidentally disengaged from the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: James D. Stamper
  • Patent number: 5781950
    Abstract: A multi-purpose folding tool which features a unique supplemental tool locking and release mechanism, inwardly tapered handles to provide external plier jaw storage, thereby leaving greater room for supplemental tool storage inside the handles, a box-beam handle construction for greater strength, downwardly opening handles to facilitate ease of use, and laminated plier jaws which are riveted together for even greater strength and overall integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Imperial Schrade Corp.
    Inventors: David A. Swinden, John Denis Lemaire
  • 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: 5765247
    Abstract: A hand tool such as a knife or a combination tool includes multiple blades, each independently rotatable on a common axle between a closed position within a handle of the tool and an open position extending from the handle. Each blade is positively but releasably locked into its open position. Those blades which remain closed are biased toward the closed position when the opened blade is locked into position and also as it is opened and closed. A single locking, releasing, and biasing mechanism serves all of the blades in one handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Buck Knives, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett P. Seber, Randolph J. Morton, Gabriel Alejandro Draguicevich, Roy L. Helton, Jr., Gregory F. Rubin
  • Patent number: 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: 5745997
    Abstract: A multi-purpose folding tool including a pair of folding scissors, in which a scissors blade is movable about a pivot shaft, between a stowed position and a deployed position in which a stop prevents the blade from moving further with respect to the handle because of pressure on the handle in the direction needed to close the scissors blades in a cutting stroke. A rocker is moved by a spring in the tool handle and which in turn urges a movable scissors blade toward an open position. In one embodiment two handles are folded about respective scissors blades to house the blades, and four springs hold the handles together with the folded scissors stowed within the handles. When the blades are deployed one of the springs holds each blade in position with respect to the handle while the other spring urges the blades toward an open position, through action of a rocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard G. Berg, Benjamin C. Rivera
  • 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: 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: 5692304
    Abstract: A locking device for a folding tool includes a spring member extending from a handle over a tool hub. The hub is formed with a notch shaped with obliquely directed sides and a stop wall spaced from the notch. The portion of the hub including the notch and the stop wall forms a bearing surface. The spring member includes a v-shaped bend that substantially matches the notch and a finger extending from the bend. In an extended position, the tool is secured by the engagement of the bend in the notch and the abutment of the finger on the hub on the bearing surface and stop wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ivory Joe Campbell
  • 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: 5685079
    Abstract: A folding knife is disclosed having a unique locking mechanism which prevents the blade from being closed when the knife is in use. The locking mechanism provides a rolling lock carried by the knife mechanism having a lever that is movable between two positions. In an unlocked position, the blade may be rotated between the extended and closed positions. With the lever in the locked position, the blade is held in the extended position. The blade provides a base having a cam surface and a notch in that surface. The rolling lock provides a cylindrical body having a notch. When the rolling lock lever is in the unlocked position and the blade is extended, the notch in the cylindrical body of the rolling lock occupies the same space as the notch in the cam surface of the blade, allowing the cam surface of the base of the blade to rotate through the notch in the rolling lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventors: Robert L. Brothers, Bruce R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5661908
    Abstract: This disclosure concerns a foldable saw. It includes a main body, an upper cover disposed on an upper wall of the main body, a lower cover disposed on a lower wall of the main body and a rear cover. This foldable saw has receptacles for receiving spare saw blades which can be taken out to replace the original one. Also, this foldable saw can store several saw blades and these saw blades can be changed for different purposes when it is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Tsai-Yuan Chen
  • 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: 5615484
    Abstract: A cam lock for the folding blade of a knife is disclosed herein wherein the heel of the knife is pivotally carried between opposite sides at one end of a handle. The handle includes an elongated slot defined between opposing surfaces of the handle for receiving the blade in its folded or storage position. A self-biasing cam lock assembly having components carried on the heel of the blade and the handle maintains the blade in its operative extended, unfolded position or in its folded storage position. The cam lock assembly includes an L-shaped cam member secured to the blade heel having an arcuate surface terminating at one end in a linear surface and a cut-out at its opposite end. Rectilinear slide members are carried on the handle having a spring bias yieldably urging the pin and slide member into engagement with either the cut-out or the linear surface respectively to maintain the blade in either of its two positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Spyderco, Inc.
    Inventor: Leon Pittman
  • 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: 5581834
    Abstract: A combination knife and tool set device having a handle member in which a blade and tool members are pivotally connected. A swinging lock lever is provided for locking the blade in an extended position through entry of the locking member into the blade cavity and abutment thereof against the end of the blade. Retraction of the blade is enabled by one-handed operation of both the locking lever and the blade. Tool members are provided in a tool member cavity at the other end of the handle and may be pivoted outwardly and locked in a variety of extensions and locked in place by a threaded locking set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Walter W. Collins
  • 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: 5519908
    Abstract: The present invention provides a combination tool (21) having a knife blade (39), a rasping blade (33) and a knife blade sharpener (47) combined into a single handle member (23). Preferably, the knife blade (39) is extendable and retractable from and into the handle member (23), respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the knife blade sharpener (47) is biased upward against the knife blade (39) but fixed longitudinally. Accordingly, the knife blade sharpener (47) abrasively contacts the knife blade (39) thereby removing debris from the knife blades (39) and maintaining the knife blade (39) in a sharpened configuration. The rasping blade (33) is preferably positioned in a rasping blade housing (29) secured to the handle member (23) opposite the knife blade (39) and the knife blade sharpener (47).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Inventors: Wayne Steinman, Thomas M. Van Eaton
  • Patent number: 5515610
    Abstract: A folding knife has a generally elongate blade having a tang portion formed with an integral normally unstressed cantilever spring. A cam pin is provided within the blade receiving space within the handle which is disposed along a curvilinear path defined by a locus of points traveled by a free end of the spring as the blade pivots from the closed to the open positions. The cam pin serves to engage and obstruct the free end of the spring between a first point on the curvilinear path when the blade approaches the open position and a second point on that path when the blade reaches the fully open position. The spring, while obstructed is deflected by the cam pin toward the blade into a gap defined by an end edge of the blade and the spring. Such deflection enables the spring to move past the cam pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Inventors: Yakov Levin, Erika Polyakova
  • Patent number: 5511310
    Abstract: A foldable hand tool, such as a pocket folding knife, includes a knife blade and a handle for storing the knife blade, and a pivotally biased lock bar to secure the blade in extended position. The knife also includes a pair of non-slip ridges mechanically interlocked with the handle in a region of the handle proximate to the blade when the blade is in stored position. The ridges, which project outwardly from the handle, are contoured to permit suitable engagement by the fingertips of a user's hand, thereby reducing slippage when the blade is extended from the stored position. The handle is formed of two keyed sections firmly assembled together by cooperation of a lock bar biasing spring with coaxially aligned holes formed in the keyed regions of the handle sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Fiskars Inc.
    Inventors: George C. Sessions, Bradford J. Parrish
  • 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: 5461786
    Abstract: A lock blade knife having a handle portion and a blade, the handle portion having a pair of spaced side plates which enclose the blade between them together with a spring which is urged towards the blade. One end of the spring is provided with a pawl which is received in a notch at one end of the knife blade when the blade is in the open position. When the pawl of the spring engages the notch of the blade, the latter is locked in open position. One plate is provided with a T-shaped slot consisting of a vertical oval slot and a transverse intersecting slot. A lever consisting of a button attached to a piece of spring steel which is bent at right angles is received in the T-shaped slot. The spring steel includes a vertical portion which connects at right angles to a horizontal portion, the horizontal portion having a pair of horizontally extending arms which bear against the edge of the horizontal slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: Ted Miller
  • 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
  • Patent number: 5425175
    Abstract: A knife having angularly adjustable cutting positions is provided, comprising a blade having a base portion, the base portion having an outer edge including an engagement portion including a positioning mechanism for positioning the blade in multiple angular cutting positions with reference to a handle; a handle including a biased locking member for selectively engaging the positioning mechanism and fixing the blade in each of the angular cutting positions, the handle having a blade end; a spring, positioned in the handle, for biasing the locking member against the positioning mechanism; and wherein the base portion of the blade is pivotally attached to the blade end of the handle at a pivot point located within the blade end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Inventor: Carl E. Rogers
  • Patent number: 5400509
    Abstract: A folding knife having an elongated, unitary blade carrier which is received within a blade carrier cavity of a unitary molded handle. The metal construction of the blade carrier provides a rigid, hidden frame structure for strengthening the knife. The combination of the unitary handle and unitary blade carrier allow for simplified construction. Covers are also provided in the handle for concealing a blade pivot pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Inventor: Walter W. Collins
  • Patent number: 5384963
    Abstract: A knife has a hollow body, a blade movable longitudinally on the body between an extended position projecting from the body and a retracted position substantially wholly contained within the body, a biasing element engaged between the body and the blade for urging the blade into the retracted position. A latch device is transversely engageable with the body in a latched position for holding the blade in the extended position and is out of engagement with the body in a release position permitting the biasing element to draw the blade into the retracted position. An electronic circuit in the body including a microelectronic accelerometer generates an output when the body is subjected to an acceleration exceeding a predetermined acceleration threshold. An actuator between the circuit and the latch puts the latch means in the release position when the detector generates the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Martor-Argentax E. H. Beermann KG
    Inventor: Ewald H. Beermann
  • Patent number: 5337700
    Abstract: A foldable, disposable, kitty liter container having an outside enclosure, a bottom disposable litter tray and a roof top. The outside enclosure fitting snugly over the bottom litter tray, and the bottom litter tray being disposable after several uses. The outside enclosure being made of a water resistant, and odor absorbing material, is re-useable for several bottom litter trays. The enclosure has four indentations, one in each of the four top corners. These indentations are pushed inward to form a support for the separate roof top pieces of the container. Also, four pointed corner structures, at the top of the enclosure provide scratching, and playing objects for the cat. The bottom litter tray contains a unique system of tabs, slots, and creases to fold and lock the tray in a folded position. The tabs are pre-formed, and the slots are pre-cut into the material. The tabs are used to be inserted into the slots to lock the bottom tray in the folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Inventor: Bobbie L. Toft
  • Patent number: 5331741
    Abstract: A folding knife designed to be easily opened with one hand and having a thumb-actuated opening lever to pivot the blade from closed to opened positions. The thumb-actuated lever in a first preferred embodiment has an opening lever driving a sector gear that engages a drive gear for opening the blade. The opening lever remains within the plan-view outline of the knife body at all times. In another disclosed embodiment, the opening lever drives a cam which, in turn, causes a second lever to pivot within the body of the knife. Gear teeth on this second lever engage and rotate a blade drive gear, causing the blade to pivot between closed and opened positions. The opening lever in still another disclosed embodiment includes a thumb-operated slider having a cam surface engaging a follower to pivot a blade opening lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Inventor: William J. Taylor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5327651
    Abstract: A folding lock knife includes a handle member having a handle cavity arranged to receive a lock blade therewithin, wherein the lock blade includes a first end, the first end including an arcuate array of ratchet teeth arranged for selective cooperation with a lock lever having a lock lever foot received between a plurality of such teeth to selectively secure the blade member in a preselected orientation relative to handle portion of the knife assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Henry E. Favreau
  • Patent number: 5325588
    Abstract: A knife having angularly adjustable cutting positions is provided, comprising a blade having a base portion, the base portion having an outer edge including an engagement portion including a positioning mechanism for positioning the blade in multiple angular cutting positions with reference to a handle; a handle including a biased locking member for selectively engaging the positioning mechanism and fixing the blade in each of the angular cutting positions, the handle having a blade end; a spring, positioned in the handle, for biasing the locking member against the positioning mechanism; and wherein the base portion of the blade is pivotally attached to the blade end of the handle at a pivot point located within the blade end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventor: Carl E. Rogers
  • Patent number: 5297340
    Abstract: A parting tool for parting seams and/or cutting threads or the like is disclosed. The parting tool may include an arc-shaped blade located between two tines of unequal length to effect a cut. The long tine may have a thorn-like point and the short tine may have a spherical thickening above the blade. The tines pass over into a shaft, which is fastened to one end of a shaft holder or mounting. The shaft mounting may include at its other end a pressure surface oriented perpendicularly to the blade and a rotation axle located at a defined distance in front of the pressure surface and oriented perpendicularly to the blade. The rotation axle may be rotatably supported in the lateral surfaces of a casing open within the rotation range of the shaft holder. A stop is provided within the casing for the shaft of the parting tool in the swivelled in, rest position. The stop may be a spring elastic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Hoechstmass Balzer GmbH
    Inventor: Hartwig Kahlcke
  • Patent number: 5293690
    Abstract: In a folding knife or hand tool having a handle and a blade pivotally connected to the handle, a spring loaded crossbolt 1 is fitted to the blade tang. One end of crossbolt 1 protrudes through an arcuate slot in the handle, crossbolt slot 32. A locking collar 19 on crossbolt 1 engages locking counterbores A 34 and B 36 located on the blade side of the opposite ends of crossbolt slot 32. When finger pressure is applied to the end of crossbolt 1, locking collar 19 is forced to disengage locking counterbore A 34 and retreat to a relieved area on the blade, collar relief 52. This permits the blade to be extended by forward finger pressure on crossbolt 1. When the blade is fully extended, spring pressure forces locking collar 19 into the opposite locking counterbore B 36, thus locking the blade. Reversing the sequence will close and lock the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Inventor: William E. Cassady
  • Patent number: 5210950
    Abstract: A pocket or clasp knife comprises a handle part (11) and a blade part (12). By means of a spring bar (14), which is elastically and pivotably mounted on the handle part (11) and comprises an abutment (16), the blade part (12), which comprises a counter-abutment (17), can be fixed in the extended position. In the region of the pivot axis (15) the spring bar (14) comprises an elongated slot (18) which extends through the spring bar in the direction of the pivot axis (15), with abutment faces (19, 20), fixed with respect to the handle part, being provided in the elongated slot and on opposite edges (21, 22) of the elongated slot (18) in front of and behind the pivot axis (15), such that by manually pivoting the spring bar (14) in order to bring the abutment (16) and the counter-abutment (17) out of contact, the abutment faces (19, 20) elastically spread apart the edges (21, 22) of the elongated slot (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Inventor: Christian Rankl
  • Patent number: 5153995
    Abstract: This invention relates to a folding knife including a blade having a heel pivotally mounted onto an intermediate member made of plastic or composite material, provided with a blade-spring co-operating with the blade heel, and inserted, then stuck within a recess provided in one end of a wooden handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Etablissements Joseph Opinel & Cie
    Inventor: Denis M. J. Opinel
  • Patent number: 5131149
    Abstract: A blade pivots on its tang into and out of a slot in a blade carrier. The carrier, in turn, slides in a handle between two positions. In the first position, the blade is prevented from pivoting out of the carrier by contact with the handle but in the second position the blade is free to rotate out of the slot to an extended configuration. The user slides the carrier between the two positions with a spring loaded button in the side of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Lynn C. Thompson
    Inventors: Lynn C. Thompson, Denis Lemaire
  • Patent number: 5125157
    Abstract: A handle of a knife is provided with a recess for receiving an implement, such as a tool or a toothpick. The recess is between the sideplates of the knife and above a locking bar spring. The implement has a hole for accepting a pin carried by a pivotally mounted arm. When the arm is in a first pivotal position, the pin is in engagement with the implement to hold the implement in the handle recess securely. When the arm is rotated, as by pressure exerted by a user's thumb, the arm is rotated and the pin is lifted from engagement with the implement to allow the implement to be withdrawn from the recess in the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Inventor: Durvyn M. Howard