The present invention generally involves a folding knife. In particular embodiments, the folding knife may be manually operated, single action, or double action.
Pocket knives provide a convenient tool for cutting that may be easily carried by a user. A folding knife is a particular style of pocket knife that has a blade pivotally connected to a handle. The handle generally includes a pair of scales that sandwich the blade between them, and the blade pivots with respect to the scales to transition between retracted and deployed positions. When retracted, a cutting edge of the blade resides between the scales, and the scales protect the cutting edge from inadvertent contact that might damage the cutting edge or cause personal injury. When deployed, the blade extends from the scales to expose the cutting edge for use.
A manually operated folding knife requires a user to physically rotate the blade with respect to the handle to reposition the blade between the retracted and deployed positions. A single action folding knife includes a spring that engages with the blade to automatically deploy the blade, and the user must apply force to the blade to overcome the spring force to manually pivot the blade with respect to the handle to return the blade to the retracted position. A double action folding knife includes a spring that engages with the blade to automatically deploy and retract the blade.
Folding knife designs often balance competing goals of aesthetics, safety, and ease of operation, maintenance, and repair. The appearance of the blade and handle generally provide the aesthetic characteristics of a folding knife. An actuator and/or lock incorporated into the handle enhances safety by preventing inadvertent movement of the blade between the deployed and retracted positions. However, the additional components associated with the actuator and/or lock often complicate the assembly, maintenance, and repair of the folding knife and the ability to readily substitute blades or scales to change the aesthetics of the pocket knife. Therefore, the need exists for an improved folding knife design that can securely hold the blade in the retracted and deployed positions without complicating the assembly, maintenance, and repair of the folding knife or the ability to change the blade and/or handle to alter the aesthetic characteristics of the folding knife.
Aspects and advantages of the invention are set forth below in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
One embodiment of the present invention is a folding knife that includes a first scale and a second scale opposed the first scale. A first liner is between the first and second scales, and a second liner is between the first and second scales and opposed to the first liner. A blade has a tang and a cutting edge, and the tang of the blade pivotally connects the blade between the first and second liners. The blade has a retracted position in which the cutting edge is between the first and second scales and a deployed position in which the cutting edge is outside the first and second scales. An actuator is at least partially between the first and second liners, and a spring is between the first and second liners. A dowel at least partially between the first and second liners holds the spring in compression against the actuator so that the spring biases the actuator toward the tang of the blade.
An alternate embodiment of the present invention is a folding knife that includes a handle, a first liner inside the handle, and a second liner inside the handle and opposed to the first liner. A blade has a tang and a cutting edge, and the tang of the blade pivotally connects the blade between the first and second liners. The blade has a retracted position in which the cutting edge is inside the handle and a deployed position in which the cutting edge is outside the handle. An actuator is at least partially between the first and second liners, and a spring is between the first and second liners and in compression against the actuator so that the spring biases the actuator toward the tang of the blade.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a folding knife includes a handle, a first liner inside the handle, and a second liner inside the handle and opposed to the first liner. A blade has a tang and a cutting edge, and the tang of the blade pivotally connects the blade between the first and second liners. The blade has a retracted position in which the cutting edge is inside the handle and a deployed position in which the cutting edge is outside the handle. An actuator is at least partially between the first and second liners, and the actuator has a first position engaged with the tang of the blade and a second position that allows movement of the blade between the retracted position and the deployed position. A spring is between the first and second liners, and a dowel at least partially between the first and second liners holds the spring in compression against the actuator so that the spring biases the actuator toward the tang of the blade.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon review of the specification.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to present embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar designations in the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the invention. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
The present invention is a folding knife with a blade that folds into a handle of the folding knife. Embodiments of the present invention include a modular actuator/lock that allows the blade to be retracted and deployed while also locking the blade in one or both of the positions, thereby enhancing the safety and ease of operation of the folding knife. In addition, the modular design of the actuator/lock enables a user to change the blade and/or handle without disassembling the actuator/lock, thereby enhancing to ability to assemble, maintain, and repair the folding knife and/or alter the aesthetic characteristics of the folding knife. Although various embodiments are illustrated as a manual folding knife, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments of the present invention may include a single or double action folding knife, and the present invention is not limited to a particular configuration or action unless specifically recited in the claims.
The handle 12 houses and supports the modular actuator/lock 14 and the blade 16 and provides the primary structure for holding the folding knife 10 during use. The handle 12 may be constructed from metal, fiberglass, carbon, polymers, or other composite materials known in the art, and the outside of the handle 12 may include various textured surfaces to facilitate handling and gripping the folding knife 10. The handle 12 may be a single-piece construction, but more commonly includes a first or left scale 18 and a second or right scale 20 opposed to the left scale 18. As shown in
The left and right scales 18, 20 connect together on opposing sides of the modular actuator/lock 14 and blade 16 using a means for releasably connecting the left scale 18 to the right scale 20. The function of the means is to releasably connect the left scale 18 to the right scale 20. The structure for performing this function may be one or more screws 24 or equivalent structure for releasably connecting one component to another. Each screw 24 may have a head end 26 and a threaded end 28. The head end 26 of each screw 24 may engage with one of the left or right scales 18, 20, and each screw 24 may extend through the spacer 22 (if present) to the opposite scale 20, 18 so that the threaded end 28 of each screw 24 threadingly engages with holes 30 in the opposite scale 20, 18. Alternately, as shown in
As shown in
The blade 16 is typically made of hardened or heat-treated steel, titanium, or other suitable material and generally includes a cutting edge 44 along one or both sides and a tang 46 at one end. In particular embodiments, the cutting edge 44 may be curved, straight, and/or serrated. The tang 46 generally refers to the unsharpened, unexposed portion of the blade 16 sandwiched between the left and right scales 18, 20. The tang 46 pivotally connects the blade 16 between the left and right liners 34, 36. As shown in
As shown in
The modular actuator/lock 14 further includes a means for releasably connecting the left liner 34 to the right liner 36 independently from the left and right scales 18, 20. The function of the means is to releasably connect the left liner 34 to the right scale 36 independently from the left and right scales 18, 20. As used herein, the phrase “independently from the left and right scales 18, 20” requires that the means releasably connects the left liner 34 to the right liner 36 regardless of the presence or absence of the left and right scales 18, 20, and the removal or disassembly of the left and right scales 18, 20, without any further action, does not release the connection between the left and right liners 34, 36. The structure for performing this function may be one or more screws 64 or equivalent structure for releasably connecting one component to another. In the embodiment shown in
Operation of the folding knife 10 will now be described with respect to
In
In
In
The modular actuator/lock 14 thus allows the blade 16 to be retracted and deployed while also locking the blade 16 in one or both of the positions, thereby enhancing the safety and ease of operation of the folding knife 10. In addition, the modular design of the actuator/lock 14 enables a user to change the blade 16 and/or handle 12 without disassembling the actuator/lock 14, thereby enhancing to ability to assemble, maintain, and repair the folding knife 10 and/or alter the aesthetic characteristics of the folding knife 10.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
The present application is a Continuation of U.S. Patent Application entitled “A Folding Knife,” Ser. No. 17/824,207 filed on May 25, 2022, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,633,867, all of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Any disclaimer that may have occurred during prosecution of the above-referenced application is hereby expressly rescinded.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1056404 | De Lorenzo | Mar 1913 | A |
1231058 | Pansa | Jun 1917 | A |
1614949 | Finley | Jan 1927 | A |
2461941 | Sutton | Feb 1949 | A |
2854745 | Braverman | Oct 1958 | A |
3783509 | Lake | Jan 1974 | A |
4089112 | Richards | May 1978 | A |
4451982 | Collins | Jun 1984 | A |
4523379 | Osterhout | Jun 1985 | A |
4573268 | Call | Mar 1986 | A |
4744146 | Schmidt | May 1988 | A |
4947552 | Barnes | Aug 1990 | A |
5029354 | Boyd, Jr. | Jul 1991 | A |
5060379 | Neely | Oct 1991 | A |
5095624 | Ennis | Mar 1992 | A |
5111581 | Collins | May 1992 | A |
5502895 | Lemaire | Apr 1996 | A |
5511311 | Collins | Apr 1996 | A |
5617635 | Berns | Apr 1997 | A |
5722168 | Huang | Mar 1998 | A |
5737841 | McHenry | Apr 1998 | A |
5815927 | Collins | Oct 1998 | A |
5819414 | Marifone | Oct 1998 | A |
5839194 | Bezold | Nov 1998 | A |
6079106 | Vallotton | Jun 2000 | A |
6085423 | Marifone | Jul 2000 | A |
6101724 | Halligan | Aug 2000 | A |
6145202 | Onion | Nov 2000 | A |
6148522 | Dobandi | Nov 2000 | A |
6154965 | Sakai | Dec 2000 | A |
6378214 | Onion | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6668460 | Feng | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6675484 | McHenry | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6684510 | Collins | Feb 2004 | B1 |
6751868 | Glesser | Jun 2004 | B2 |
7032315 | Busse | Apr 2006 | B1 |
7080457 | Sullivan | Jul 2006 | B2 |
7086158 | Halpern | Aug 2006 | B1 |
7246441 | Collins | Jul 2007 | B1 |
7305729 | Dehner | Dec 2007 | B2 |
7305769 | McHenry | Dec 2007 | B2 |
7340837 | Busse | Mar 2008 | B1 |
7395599 | Onion | Jul 2008 | B2 |
7506446 | Onion | Mar 2009 | B2 |
RE41259 | McHenry et al. | Apr 2010 | E |
7694421 | Lin | Apr 2010 | B2 |
7797838 | Chu | Sep 2010 | B2 |
7941927 | Demko | May 2011 | B1 |
7979990 | Hawk | Jul 2011 | B2 |
8028419 | VanHoy | Oct 2011 | B2 |
8375590 | Duey | Feb 2013 | B2 |
8413338 | Freeman | Apr 2013 | B2 |
8671578 | Frazer | Mar 2014 | B1 |
8935855 | Qui | Jan 2015 | B2 |
9346176 | Collins | May 2016 | B2 |
9573262 | Sheahan | Feb 2017 | B2 |
9815213 | Duey | Nov 2017 | B2 |
10071489 | MacNair | Sep 2018 | B2 |
10160122 | Busse | Dec 2018 | B2 |
10189170 | Marfione et al. | Jan 2019 | B2 |
10632632 | Demko | Apr 2020 | B1 |
10661457 | France | May 2020 | B2 |
10737401 | Coves et al. | Aug 2020 | B1 |
10751890 | Marione | Aug 2020 | B1 |
11220013 | Valerio, II | Jan 2022 | B1 |
11633867 | Crawford | Apr 2023 | B1 |
20030070299 | Frazer | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20040045170 | Glesser | Mar 2004 | A1 |
20040154169 | McCann | Aug 2004 | A1 |
20050044717 | Nishihara | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050252010 | Freeman | Nov 2005 | A1 |
20060143929 | Lake | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20060272157 | Zeng | Dec 2006 | A1 |
20070204468 | Cheng | Sep 2007 | A1 |
20080222896 | Marfione | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20090056146 | Duey | Mar 2009 | A1 |
20100192381 | Sakai | Aug 2010 | A1 |
20120180320 | Lo | Jul 2012 | A1 |
20120304470 | Freeman | Dec 2012 | A1 |
20130133205 | Lo | May 2013 | A1 |
20150343650 | Valdez | Dec 2015 | A1 |
20150367520 | MacNair | Dec 2015 | A1 |
20160207207 | Tom | Jul 2016 | A1 |
20170120461 | Tom | May 2017 | A1 |
20180021963 | Liao | Jan 2018 | A1 |
20180169875 | Valdez | Jun 2018 | A1 |
20190061181 | France | Feb 2019 | A1 |
20200001476 | Allen | Jan 2020 | A1 |
20200101631 | Moon | Apr 2020 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
10 2006 054 422 | Apr 2008 | DE |
2 732 637 | Oct 1996 | FR |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 17824207 | May 2022 | US |
Child | 18183624 | US |