The present disclosure relates to folding tools, and more particularly, to a folding tool having two or more implements, such as blades, that open independently and use the same locking mechanism to lock the implements in the open position. The tool further includes a retention mechanism that retains one or more implements in the closed position.
Multi-blade folding knives are invaluable tools that are used in many aspects of everyday life, and there are many types and styles of folding knives. A “manual” folding knife is a traditional type of tool in which the blade is manually movable by the user between a closed or stowed position in which the sharp edge of the blade is held safely within the handle, and an open position in which the blade is extended in an operable position.
In folding knives having a manual operation, a user opens the blade by grasping the blade or pushing a knob protruding from the blade in order to rotate the blade into the open position. Many folding knives also include mechanisms that lock the blade in the open position, primarily as a safety feature. There are many different types of these locks.
Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.
The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of disclosed embodiments.
The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “A/B” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.
The description may use the terms “embodiment” or “embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous, and are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.).
With respect to the use of any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
The present disclosure relates to a folding tool having two or more folding implements that can be locked in an open extended position and/or retained in a closed, folded position. In certain embodiments, the folding tool is a folding knife and at least one of the implements is a knife blade. The disclosed tool includes a locking mechanism, for example, an axis lock as described in U.S. Pat. No. RE 41,259, that securely locks one or both of the blades in the open extended position. The folding tool also includes a blade retention mechanism that effectively holds the blades in the closed position so that the blades are not able to swing freely when the tool is closed. This feature is especially important for a knife with two or more blades as when one blade is locked in the open extended position, or being rotated into this position, it is desirable to have the other blade remain in the closed position, both for functionality and safety.
In embodiments, a disclosed folding tool, such as a folding knife includes a handle having a first handle half and a second handle half held in a spaced apart relationship to form an implement groove, such as a blade groove, therebetween. In certain embodiments, the first handle half and the second handle half each include a sidewall and a liner. The folding tool includes two or more implements, such as knife blades, saws, etc. pivotally connected between the first handle half and the second handle half by a pivot shaft. Typically, an implement has a tang and a working portion, such as an extended blade. The tang can be thought of as the butt end and is typically where the implement attaches to the handle halves with the pivot pin. The implements are movable between an open position and closed position. In certain embodiments, movement of the blades relative to each other is facilitated by placement of a bearing or bushing between the tangs of the blades, for example a bearing or bushing disposed about the pivot shaft and between the blades. In certain embodiments the bearing is a thrust bearing.
The folding tool further includes an implement locking mechanism that locks the implements in the open extended position. In certain embodiments, the implement locking mechanism includes a lock bar that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position locks one or more of the implements in an open position, and moving the lock bar to the second position releases the one or more implements from being locked in the open position. In embodiments, the lock bar is biased to the locked position, for example using one or more springs.
A unique feature of the disclosed folding tool is the inclusion of a closed implement retention system. This closed implement retention system works to keep a closed implement in the closed position and, as described below, works with the locking mechanism to close a partially open implement. In certain embodiments, the closed implement retention system includes a detent hole, or small depression, on the tang of the implement; a detent retainer spring; and a detent ball. When the implement is in the closed position, the detent hole aligns with the detent ball thereby retaining the blade in the closed position. In embodiments, the detent ball is a single, usually metal sphere, sliding within a bored cylinder, against the pressure of a detent retainer spring, which pushes the ball against the tang that carries the detent feature. In embodiments, the detent feature is a hole, for example detent hole, of smaller diameter than the ball. When the hole is in line with the detent ball, the detent ball falls partially into the hole under detent retainer spring pressure. When an opening force is applied to the tang the detent retainer spring compresses, allowing the tang and thus the implement to move from the closed position. The detent retainer spring can be any sort of spring that is able to provide pressure on the detent hole and the detent ball, such as a compression spring or a leaf spring. In certain embodiments, the detent retainer spring is a detent arm, for example a leaf spring having a detent ball coupled thereto, for example a full ball or portion therefore such as hemisphere or portion thereof. In embodiments, the detent arm is coupled to one of the liners. In certain embodiments the detent arm and the liner are a single integral piece of material, and the detent arm is bent away from the plane of the liner to provide the force to the spring. In certain embodiments, the detent arm includes a hole or depression at the distal end wherein the detent ball is retained in the hole. In certain example the detent ball is integral with the spring, such as made form a single piece of material, or otherwise coupled together.
One of the advantages of using the axis lock and the closed blade retention system is that these mechanisms work together to close a partially open blade. By way of example, and as detailed below with respect to
In certain embodiments, the folding tool further includes a closed position stop, wherein the tang of the implement rests against the closed position stop in the closed position and does not rest against the lock bar. The inclusion of this feature keeps the closed blade from resting against the lock bar and interfering with the free movement of the lock bar. In embodiments, the tang comprises a first ramped surface that interacts with the lock bar in the open position. In embodiments, the tang comprises a second ramped surface that interacts with the closed position stop in the closed position.
With reference now to the drawings, a folding knife 10 having dual blades as disclosed is illustrated in
The knife 10 according to the present disclosure is shown in perspective exploded view in
The locking mechanism of the knife 10 includes a lock bar 26 that extends transverse to the plane of the handle 12 and which has its opposite ends extending in slots 27 in sidewalls 14 and 18, which align operationally with paired slots 29 in liners 20 and 22. The lock bar 26 is spring loaded with two U or horseshoe-shaped lock springs 60, one such spring associated with each of liners 20 and 22 and positioned between the sidewalls 14 and 18 and their associated, adjacent liners 20 and 22. A first end of each lock spring is fixed to the associated liner and the second end of the lock spring is attached to the lock bar 26 so that the lock bar is always driven in the “forward” direction by the springs—that is, in the direction from the handle 12 toward the tip of the blades 15 and 16 when the blade(s) are in the open position. The lock bar 26 and the springs that act on the lock bar 26 to lock the blades 15 and 16 in the open position, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. RE 41,259. When one or both of the blades 15 or 16 is fully open, e.g. in the open position, the lock bar 26 is driven forward and interacts with a ramped portion 32 of blade 15 and/or ramped portion 33 of blade 16 to lock the blade(s) open. An open blade stop pin 30 stops rotation of blades 15 and 16 in the open position, at which a shoulder 34 or 35 on the blades 15 and 16 abuts the open blade stop pin 30.
As disclosed, the folding knife 10 includes a closed blade retention system. As part of the closed blade retention system, the liners 20 and 22 include detent arms 40 and 42 that include a rearward end coupled to the liners 20 and 22 and a free end that retains detent balls 44 and 49. The detent balls 44 and 49 interact with detent holes 48 (only one illustrated in
The knife 10 further includes a secondary stop pin 50, the purpose of which will become apparent in the following discussion.
As shown in
As shown in
Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
This application claims the priority benefit of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/549,270, filed Aug. 23, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62549270 | Aug 2017 | US |