Foldable Patents (Class 30/255)
  • Publication number: 20140033542
    Abstract: A cutting tool is provided which may include a first blade and a second blade rotatably coupled to the first blade. The cutting tool may include a first handle rotatably coupled to the first blade, the first handle rotatable between a deployed position and a folded position, and a second handle rotatably coupled to the second blade, the second handle rotatable between a deployed position and a folded position. The cutting tool may also include a first rotation lock configured to hold the first handle fixed relative to the first blade. The first handle may be configured to be rotatable relative to the first blade in response to the first rotation lock being disengaged. The first rotation lock may be configured to be held in the disengaged position in response to the first handle being disposed between the deployed position and the folded position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: LEATHERMAN TOOL GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Melissa L. Covel, Tony Steven Peterson
  • Publication number: 20130205601
    Abstract: A pair of gardening shears include two opposite cutters (10), two handles (30) connected with the cutters respectively, and two pivot units (20) each pivotally connected with a respective one of the cutters and a respective one of the handles. Thus, each of the handles is pivotable relative to a respective one of the cutters by a respective one of the pivot units to change the angle between each of the handles and the respective cutter and to change the pitch angle of each of the handles freely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Shih-Piao Wu
  • Patent number: 8096053
    Abstract: The present invention is a nail clipper. It has a slender body formed by an upper press lever and a lower press lever which are movably engaged, an upper cover and a lower cover which are respectively fitted onto the outer surfaces of the upper press lever and the lower press lever to form a slender etui, a lower blade which is movably pivotally engaged with one end of the upper press lever by means of a first pivotal axle, and an upper blade which is movably pivotally engaged with one end of the lower press lever by means of a second pivotal axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Wai Yip Wong
  • Patent number: 7658011
    Abstract: A lopper includes a slender rod and a pruning means mounted on a top of the rod. The slender rod includes an inner tube and an outer tube telescoped mutually such that the inner tube is shiftable in the outer tube for changing the length it jutting out from the outer tube. An extension-control unit is provided at the border region between the inner tube and the outer tube for positioning the inner tube. A fist actuating unit and a second actuating unit are provided at the outer surface of the outer tube. The fist and second actuating units are connected with the pruning means through a first rope, a second rope and a third rope so that when a user pulls the first or second actuating unit, a shear assembly of the pruning means can be closed to cut branches and leaves of plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Natura Innovation Ltd.
    Inventor: Su-Hua Shan
  • Patent number: 7607231
    Abstract: A multipurpose tool includes bypass shears with handles that fold around the shears into a compact configuration in which the blades of the shears are hidden. A sharp-edged cutter is removable from the shears for resharpening or replacement, in one version of the tool. A blade safety lock holds the blades closed and is automatically engaged as the handles are folded. The handles are comfortably shaped and may include overmolded elastomeric cushioning portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn A. Klecker, John P. Nenadic
  • Patent number: 7596870
    Abstract: A multipurpose tool includes bypass shears with handles that fold around the shears into a compact configuration in which the blades of the shears are hidden. A sharp-edged cutter is removable from the shears for resharpening or replacement. A blade safety lock holds the blades closed and is automatically engaged as the handles are folded. The handles are comfortably shaped and may include overmolded elastomeric cushioning portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Klecker, Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 7493697
    Abstract: A lawn mower comprises an operation arm, a driven shaft rotatably supported inside the operation arm and having two opposite ends, a cutter operatively connected to one end of the driven shaft, a power source operatively connected to the other end of the driven shaft for generating a drive power to be transmitted to the cutter through the driven shaft, wherein said power source is selective from an engine and an electric motor, an arm side joint case provided on the end of the operation arm, a power source side joint case provided on a housing of the power source and detachably and selectively connected to the arm side joint case, and a centrifugal clutch incorporated in the arm side joint case and having a first member connected to the driven shaft, a second member detachably and selectively connected to the power source and a third member provided to engage the first member and the second member according to the centrifugal force applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20080307658
    Abstract: A scissors is provided. The scissors according to current application has a specially designed first blade. The specially designed first blade has a tapered bump at the central part, on which a hinge hole is developed. The tapered bump on the first blade allow the second blade of the scissors to cross over the first blade with an angle. Therefore, the second blade's wide edge crosses over the first blade's wide edge with an angle and sweeps wide surface of the first blade with an angle. Such angled cross over of the blades provides a more precise cut of customer's hair as a barber intended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventor: Dong Ho Jun
  • Patent number: 7377043
    Abstract: A shearing apparatus includes a pair of scissors including a first blade, a second blade, a first slide on the first blade and a second slide on the second blade. A first handle defines a groove for receiving the first slide, a first portion through which the pair of scissors can be retracted into and extended from the first handle, a second portion, a slot and two apertures in communication with the slot. A second handle is pivotally connected to the first handle. The second handle defines a groove for receiving the second slide. A positioning device is connected to the pair of scissors. The positioning device is normally located in one of the apertures to position the pair of scissors and can be pushed and then moved between the apertures along the slot to move the pair of scissors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Apex Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eric Tsai
  • Patent number: 6711820
    Abstract: The cutting tool, or folding scissors, has first and second knife blades and first and second handles, each of the first and second knife blades and first and second handles being positionable relative to one another. The knife blades and handles effect at least a scissors cutting function in at least one open position of the tool. In particular, the first and second knife blades and the first and second handles effect the scissors cutting function in each of a plurality of open positions of the tool. The tool also has a locking assembly that locks the first knife blade and first handle in at least one first position and that locks the second knife blade and the second handle in at least one second position, independently of the first knife blade and first handle. Combinations of the first and second positions respectively define the open positions of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Linksmart, Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-Lung Chen
  • Publication number: 20040010924
    Abstract: A foldable pair of scissors includes a first scissor, a second scissor pivotally connected with the first scissor, a first lever pivotally connected with the first scissor, a second lever pivotally connected with the second scissor, a first handle pivotally connected with the first lever and a second handle pivotally connected with the second lever. The foldable pair of scissors may include a retaining device for retaining each of the first and second handles in an extended position relative to one of the first and second levers. The retaining device may be a strip including an end secured to a side plate of the first or second handle and a free end for abutment against an end of a side strip of the first or second lever. The end of the side strip of the first or second lever may be flat for adequate engagement with the retaining device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Shen-Chi Hung, Sheng-Tsai Lee
  • Publication number: 20030163922
    Abstract: The invention relates to swing-out scissors having two scissor blades (1, 2) and an actuating lever (4) which, arranged one beside the other, can be swung in and out, in relation to a housing (6), between a storage position and a use position, it being the case that, in the use position, one scissor blade (1) is fixed in relation to the housing (6) and the other scissor blade (2) can be closed by the actuating lever (4), counter to a spring force, via a driver (17), it being the case that a further driver (19) is provided, by means of which the actuating lever (4) and the moveable scissor blade (2) can be brought into operative connection in the use position, with the result that the moveable scissor blade (2) can be moved from the closed position into the open position via the actuating lever (4), the operative connection being interrupted when the scissors are swung in and out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Ackeret, Pierre-Alain Jeandupeux, Yves Wira, Rolf Nussbaumer, Claude Kottelat
  • Publication number: 20030126748
    Abstract: Multifunction folding tool comprising at least one two lever instrument that can close and open by the rotation of one of the two levers and whose said lever is firmly held in a resting position when said instrument is open, thus increasing the convenience of use and the security of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Maurice Cachot
  • Publication number: 20030115758
    Abstract: The cutting tool, or folding scissors, has first and second knife blades and first and second handles, each of the first and second knife blades and first and second handles being positionable relative to one another. The knife blades and handles effect at least a scissors cutting function in at least one open position of the tool. In particular, the first and second knife blades and the first and second handles effect the scissors cutting function in each of a plurality of open positions of the tool. The tool also has a locking assembly that locks the first knife blade and first handle in at least one first position and that locks the second knife blade and the second handle in at least one second position, independently of the first knife blade and first handle. Combinations of the first and second positions respectively define the open positions of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Chia-Lung Chen
  • Patent number: 6195898
    Abstract: A magnetically latching butterfly knife 10 having a magnetic latch 20 coupled thereto. The magnetic latch 20 is coupled to the magnetically latching butterfly knife 10. The magnetic latch 20 is coupled to at least one of the handle components 14 and/or 15. The magnetic latch 20 has at least one magnetic component 19 and at least one magnetic attracting surface 10A (i.e. magnet or metal surface) that are able to couple to at least one of the handle components 14 and 15. At least one magnetic component 19 and at least one magnetic attracting surface 10A magnetically attract and couple to each other to be able to provide open and closed latching operations for the butterfly knife 10. The magnetic latch 20 secures the first handle component 14 and the second handle component 15 in an open latched position and also in a closed latched position. The magnetic latch 20 may be configured and coupled to the butterfly knife 10 in many ways in order to provide the open latched and closed latched positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Adam M. Lemisch
  • Patent number: 6070504
    Abstract: Cooperating jaws are pivoted together such that working end portions of the jaw members are movable toward and away from each other. The jaws have butt portions extending opposite the jaw pivot from the working end portions. Such butt portions are, in turn, pivoted to elongated handles for swinging about axes parallel to the axis of the jaw pivot. The handles are channel shaped and define recesses into which the interconnected jaw members can be swung so as to be nested in the handles or, alternatively, into which the interconnected jaw members can be retracted so as to be partially contained within the handles. The handles have forward portions interconnected by a tension spring, and cooperating cam surfaces to bias the handles to predetermined angular positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: SOG Specialty Knives, Inc.
    Inventor: Spencer Frazer
  • Patent number: 6065213
    Abstract: A folding scissors of a type suitable for inclusion in a compact multipurpose tool, in which an operating lever securely engages one of the scissors blades to move it with respect to the other, and in which a spacer takes up excess clearance to keep the operating lever drivingly engaged with one of the scissors blades and to keep the sharp edges of the scissors properly close together during use of the scissors. Inclined mating surfaces are provided on the lever arm and on a hook on one of the scissors blades to keep the operating lever engaged with the scissors blade. A cavity is provided to receive the spacer when the scissors is in its folded configuration in order to facilitate relative movement of the parts of the scissors during the process of folding and unfolding the scissors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 5978993
    Abstract: A multipurpose folding tool including a pair of pivoted scissors blades or pliers jaws, each having a handle in the form of a channel, attached through a pivot joint permitting the handles to fold around the scissors blades or pliers jaws. Each handle includes a pair of parallel legs, separated by a deep notch defined in the base of the channel forming the handle. Parts of the scissors blades or pliers jaws pass through the notch as the handles are folded, and the channel base faces outward when the handles are extended for use of the scissors or pliers. Other blades are stowed inside the handles and have back surfaces which are coplanar, giving the tool a generally smooth overall configuration when it is folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera
  • Patent number: 5957013
    Abstract: Opposing jaw members of a hand tool are interconnected by a first pivot and have working end portions swingable toward and away from each other. The assembly of interconnected jaws is itself pivotally mounted on one or more handles that define a housing for the jaw assembly. The jaw assembly is swingable relative to the housing between a compact, closed position in which the jaws are concealed and an open, extended, working position in which the jaws are exposed. A second handle pivoted to the first handle can be manipulated to effect relative movement of the jaws when the jaws are in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: SOG Specialty Knives, Inc.
    Inventor: Spencer Frazer
  • Patent number: 5829329
    Abstract: Opposing jaw members of a hand tool are interconnected by a first pivot and have working end portions swingable toward and away from each other. The assembly of interconnected jaws is itself pivotally mounted on one or more handles that define a housing for the jaw assembly. The jaw assembly is swingable relative to the housing about a second pivot offset from the first pivot, between a compact, closed position in which the jaws are concealed and an open, extended, working position in which the jaws are exposed. A second handle pivoted to the first handle can be manipulated to effect relative movement of the jaws when the jaws are in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: SOG Specialty Knives, Inc.
    Inventor: Spencer Frazer
  • Patent number: 5809599
    Abstract: Cooperating jaws are pivoted together such that working end portions of the jaw members are movable toward and away from each other. The jaws have butt portions extending opposite the jaw pivot from the working end portions. Such butt portions are, in turn, pivoted to elongated handles for swinging about axes parallel to the axis of the jaw pivot. The handles are channel shaped and define recesses into which the interconnected jaw members can be swung so as to be nested in the handles or, alternatively, into which the interconnected jaw members can be retracted so as to be partially contained within the handles. The handles have forward portions interconnected by a link which, in an open position of the handles, is positioned between the handle pivots and the jaw pivot. For a given angle of swing of the handles, the jaws are moved through a smaller angle, i.e., a substantial mechanical advantage is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: SOG Specialty Knives, Inc.
    Inventor: Spencer Frazer
  • Patent number: 5722171
    Abstract: In scissors, particularly hairdresser's scissors, with two scissor blades (1, 2), connected to each other in articulated fashion by means of a single pivot (3), and two scissor handles (4, 5), each of which displays two handle sections (28, 29) and (30, 31), where the first handle section (28, 30) is connected to its corresponding scissor blade (1, 2) and the second handle section (29, 31) includes the end grip of the scissor handle (4 or 5), and where the two corresponding handle sections are connected to each other in articulated fashion to permit pivoting in the plane of the handle, it is envisaged that the two handle sections can be locked in various angular positions in relation to each other in order to allow optimum ergonomic setting, and that locking takes place in the articulated connection of the handle sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Inventor: Hardi Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5526571
    Abstract: A pivoted tool with foldable handles, such as a pair of scissors, includes a pair of opposed elongated members, each member comprising a jaw at a front end portion thereof, a handle at a rear end portion thereof, and a midportion where the members cross over each other. A pivot unites the midportions for scissor-like movement of the handles and jaws about the pivot. According to the invention, each member includes a metal plate having a forwardly extending blade which comprises one of the jaws and a rearwardly extending tang. The foldable handles and pivot are made of a moldable material molded onto the metal plate, such that the handles are molded onto the tang of the metal plate and the pivot extends through a central hole in the metal plate. The moldable material is most preferably a plastic, but other moldable substances could be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Fiskars Oy Ab
    Inventor: Erkki O. Linden
  • Patent number: 5357678
    Abstract: A scissor includes a pair of handles and a pair of cutting blades. Each of the handles is formed with a recess that extends longitudinally at the inner portion from the front end of the handle to a point adjacent the rear end of the same. The handles are connected pivotally at the front end. The cutting blades are in superposed contact with each other when the scissor is closed. The cutting blades are connected pivotally adjacent to rear ends thereof and can be retracted into the recesses of the handles. A slide unit is connected to the cutting blades and is operated so as to extend or retract the cutting blades into the recesses. The slide unit engages one of first and second rounded protrusions on the handles to retain releasably and selectively the cutting blades in the fully extended and fully retracted positions. A spring unit is provided in the recess of each handle to bias the cutting blades toward each other in order to close automatically the scissor after a cutting operation has been accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Inventor: Chih-Yeng Wei
  • Patent number: 5062173
    Abstract: A multifunction or combination tool having a screw driver, a wrench, a saw blade, a serrated blade, a metal file, and a knife blade divided into two groups, color-coded, and rotatably mounted in recesses in a two part handle, and a pair of pliers also rotatably mounted in the recesses of the handle, one pliers in each handle part so that the pliers can be rotated out of the recess and used in a range of positions at an angle from the handles as well as fully extended with or without rotating any of the remaining instruments. A latch attached to the pliers holds the two handle parts together when the pliers is not in use. The screw driver is adapted for turning both a phillips head and a flat head screw. Spring washers are used to separate the various implements and allow the compression of them to fit a set of implements into the handles of the multifunction tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Inventors: Michael C. Collins, Walter W. Collins
  • Patent number: 4794692
    Abstract: A multipurpose miniature hand tool includes two casings defining an outer housing. A roll of measuring tape, two scissor blades, and an elongated snap-off blade are extendably and retractably mounted within the outer housing. Each of the scissor blades are restricted to be movable only along one of the casings. A cap bolt extends through a lengthwise extending slide slot of each of the casings and through a pivot hole of each of the scissor blades and engages threadably with a nut for fastening tightly the casings and the scissor blades thereon. When the nut is somewhat loosed from the bolt, the nut and the bolt can slide along the slide slots of the casings together with the scissor blades, thereby permitting the scissor blades to extend partially out of the outer housing. At that time, the casings from the movable handles of a pair of scissors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Tair Chen Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Reid Wang
  • Patent number: 4791725
    Abstract: A pair of scissors having a pair of blades which are slidingly fitted between a pair of handles which are pivotally supported one on the other. The blades are drawn out when the scissors are used, and they are accommodated between the handles when the scissors are not used, thus enabling the scissors to be easily carried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Plus Corporation
    Inventor: Hidefumi Amagaya
  • Patent number: 4744272
    Abstract: A foldable gripping tool has compound folding handle assemblies including channel shaped handles and handle extensions which may be folded into nested relationship with each other, and folded over the gripping jaws of the tool to enclose the jaws into a compact nested assembly. The handle extensions provide a broad smooth surface to be grasped and squeezed by the user's hand. The handle extensions include integral tools such as a can/bottle opener and screwdrivers. The tool also includes tool blades such as a knife blade and a screwdriver/file blade, independent of the handle extensions, which are also foldable into the channel shaped handles and handle extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy S. Leatherman
  • Patent number: 4648145
    Abstract: A folding pocket tool and knife provides paired handles pivoted to swing around and be held together by a block in either the blade exposed or the folded position, doubly protrusive pivot pins at the handle free ends provide a choice of adjustable spanner wrenches; the knife blade has a tapered wrenching slot, one end-on and two offset screwdriver blades, and has also a hole for wire cutting in conjunction with jaw blades in the handles; toothed members exposed at cutouts in the handles act as jaws of nutcracker-type pliers; sockets in the free ends of the handle and in the block accept and retain standard size, standard shank punches, saws, screwdrivers, wrenches and the like; special blade and handle shapes and economy in blanking parts are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Inventor: Philip V. Miceli
  • Patent number: 4330937
    Abstract: A fish filletting knife consisting of a blade having a pair of extension members each pivoted at one end to the base of the blade, the extension members being movable between one position in which they form a carrying case enclosing the blade in order that it may be carried safely in the pocket or tackle box, and a second position in which they form a handle from which the blade extends in a use position, and a locking device operable to secure the blade rigidly relative to the extension members in either of said positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1982
    Inventor: James R. Cope