HK1180275B - Folding knife with opening mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding knife, according to one embodiment, includes a knife blade, a first liner plate, a second liner plate, a first handle plate and a second handle plate. The knife blade includes a cutting edge and a point formed on a first end. A second end of the knife blade is pivotally retained by first ends of first and second liner plates. A push button is retained in the knife blade. A liner lock is formed in the second liner plate. A lock pin is pressed into an end of the liner lock and a lock hole is formed in the second end of the knife blade to receive the lock pin. The first and second handle plates cover the first and second liner plates. The push button may be replaced with a thumb disc. A second embodiment includes spring assisted opening and a third embodiment includes automatic opening.

Description

Folding knife with opening mechanism

The application has application date of 2008, 11 and 26 and application numbers of: 200810190817.4, divisional application of the patent application entitled "folding knife with opening mechanism".

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to folding knives and, more particularly, to a folding knife having an opening mechanism for releasing a blade from a closed position.

Background

U.S. patent No.4979301 to Walker discloses a locking mechanism for a folding blade knife. The Walker knife patent includes a folding blade knife configured so that the blade can be opened and closed with a single hand. The locking lever is pivotally mounted within an elongated slot in the blade. The locking lever has a release button formed on one end and a lock button formed on the other end. U.S. patent No.7293360 to Steigerwalt et al discloses a blade opening mechanism. The Steigerwalt et al patent includes an opening assist mechanism that functions to drive the blade from the closed position to the open position.

Onion, U.S. patent publication No.2005/0229401, discloses a locking mechanism for a folding knife. The Onion patent includes a folding knife with a locking mechanism. One locking feature is formed by a second locking member slidably mounted on the blade engaging at least a portion of the first locking member on the handle to lock the blade in the open position. The second locking element and the blade may be designed such that a single thumb-operated action may be used to simply lock or release the blade with a single hand.

Accordingly, there is a strong need in the art for a folding knife with a thumb-release opening device for releasing the blade from the closed position with a single hand and closing the blade from the open position with a single hand.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one embodiment, the folding knife includes a thumb release for releasing the blade from the closed position. A folding knife with a thumb release opening device (thumb release knife) may include a blade, a first liner, a second liner, a first handle plate, and a second handle plate. The blade may include a cutting edge formed on at least one side, and a tip formed at the first end. The second end of the blade may be pivotally retained by the first ends of the first and second liners. The button may be retained on the blade and located substantially at the second end of the blade.

A liner lock may be formed in the second liner to hold the blade in the open position. The locking pin may be pressed into an end of the liner lock and a locking hole may be formed in the second end of the blade to receive the locking pin. The lock pin and the lock hole hold the blade in the closed position. A gasket may be disposed between the first and second liner plates at the second ends of the first and second liner plates. The first and second handle plates are held opposite the first and second liner plates, respectively, such as by fasteners. Depressing the button moves the liner lock away from the blade, pulling the lock pin out of the lock hole, thereby allowing the blade to rotate to the open position.

The button may be replaced by a thumb disc. The thumb disk may be pivotally retained generally on the second end of the cutter blade. Pivoting the thumb disc causes the edge of the thumb disc to move the liner lock away from the blade and pull the lock pin out of the lock hole, thereby allowing the blade to be rotated to the open position.

A second embodiment of the folding knife comprises a spring-assisted opening device. The first resilient arm may be formed by the top of the first liner and the second resilient arm may be formed by the top of the second liner. The push cylinder may be held between the ends of the first and second resilient arms. The push cylinder rides on the push profile of the blade so that the blade must be partially opened before the first and second resilient arms will exert sufficient force on the second end of the blade to provide opening assistance.

A third embodiment of the folding knife comprises an automatic opening device. A third embodiment of the knife may include a blade, a first liner, a second liner, a first handle plate, and a second handle plate. The second end of the blade may be pivotally retained by the first ends of the first and second liners. A biasing mechanism may be disposed between the first and second liner plates at the second ends of the first and second liner plates. The biasing mechanism (e.g., a spring) rotates the blade from the closed position to the open position when the thumb disc is rotated (or when the button is pressed if the cutter includes a button instead of the thumb disc).

Accordingly, some embodiments of the present invention include a thumb release for releasing the blade from the closed position with a single hand and for closing the knife from the open position with a single hand.

In another representative embodiment, a folding knife includes at least one plate, a blade having a first end pivotally coupled to the at least one plate, a resilient arm formed on the at least one plate, the resilient arm having a free end including a first locking element. The blade includes a second locking element, the first locking element engaging the second locking element when the blade is in the closed position. The folding knife further includes means for moving the resilient arm away from the blade and releasing the first locking element from the second locking element.

In another representative embodiment, a folding knife includes a first liner and a second liner, a blade having a first end pivotally retained between first ends of the first and second liners, and a resilient arm formed in one of the first and second liners, the resilient arm having a free end including a first locking element. The blade includes a second locking element, the first locking element engaging the second locking element when the blade is in the closed position. The folding knife further includes an actuating device configured to move the resilient arm away from the blade to release the first locking element from the second locking element.

In another representative embodiment, a folding knife includes a handle, a blade having a first end pivotally connected to the handle, the blade including a first locking element. The handle comprises a resilient arm having a free end biased against a side of said first end of said blade, said resilient arm comprising a second locking element, wherein said second locking element is designed to engage with said first locking element when said blade is in the closed position. The folding knife also includes a user accessible actuator disposed on the blade and moving the resilient arm laterally away from the blade when pressure is manually applied to the actuator to move the second locking element out of engagement with the first locking element to allow the blade to pivot from the closed position to the open position.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding knife with the blade in an open position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the folding knife with the blade in an open position rotated 180 degrees from the open position of fig. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folding knife with the blade in the closed position.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the folding knife.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a folding knife.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a folding knife with the blade in the open position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a folding knife with the blade in the closed position.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the third embodiment of the folding knife with the blade in the open position, with the first knife handle plate and the first liner plate removed for illustration purposes.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the third embodiment of the folding knife with the blade in the closed position, with the first handle plate and the first liner plate removed for illustration purposes.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the third embodiment of the folding knife with the blade released from the closed position and moved to the open position, with the first knife handle plate and the first liner plate removed for illustration purposes.

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the folding knife with the blade locked in the closed position.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the folding knife with the blade in the closed position and released by depressing the button.

Fig. 13 is a partial enlarged view of fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a partial enlarged view of fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a button of the folding knife.

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the folding knife with the thumb disk and blade in the closed position.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the folding knife with the thumb disk and blade in the closed position released by pivoting the thumb disk.

Fig. 18 is a partial enlarged view of fig. 16.

Fig. 19 is a partial enlarged view of fig. 17.

FIG. 20 is an exploded side view of the thumb disk and blade of the folding knife.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, which shows a perspective view of a thumb release knife 1 in an open position, the term "thumb release" as used herein means that the knife can be released by moving a release mechanism (also referred to as an "actuation device" or "actuator") with the thumb, but other fingers can be used to manipulate the opening mechanism. Referring to fig. 2-4, the thumb release tool 1 includes a blade 10, a first liner 12, a second liner 14, a first handle plate 16, and a second handle plate 18. The blade 10 includes a cutting edge 20 formed on at least one side and a tip 22 formed on a first end. A tool pivot hole 24 is formed through the second end of the blade 10; and a backing plate pivot hole 26 is formed through the first ends of the first and second backing plates for receiving a pivot pin 28. At least three shank counterbores 30 are formed through the first and second shank plates for receiving at least three fasteners 32. A single fastener 32 is threaded into each end of the pivot pin 28. At least one washer 34 is preferably placed on opposite sides of the blade 10.

The folding knife includes a release mechanism (also referred to as an "actuation device" or "actuator") in the form of a button 36. Referring to fig. 15, the button 36 includes a button base 38, an actuating rod 40, and a fastener 42. The actuating lever 40 includes a pressing piece 44 and a push rod 46 extending from the bottom of the pressing piece 44. A rod aperture 48 is formed in the button base 38 to receive the push rod 46 and allow the bottom of the press blade 44 to contact the top of the button base 38. A threaded bore 50 is formed in the insert 10 substantially at the second end of the insert 10 to threadably receive a base thread 52 formed on the bottom end of the button base 38. A fastener clearance hole 54 and a fastener counterbore 56 are formed in the bottom end of the button base 38 to receive the fastener 42. The fastener 42 is threaded into a threaded hole 55 in the end of the push rod 46 to retain the actuation rod 40 within the button base 38.

The liner lock (or spring arm) 60 is formed, for example, by shearing a bottom portion of the second liner 14. The retaining pin 62 is pressed into pin holes 64 in the first and second liner plates. A stop edge 66 is formed on one side of the cutter pivot hole 24 to receive the stop pin 62. A locking edge 68 is formed on the other side of the cutter pivot hole 24 to receive a locking end 70 of the liner lock 60. The locking end 70 and the stop pin 62 hold the blade 10 in the open position. Locking pin 72 is pressed into a pin hole 74 located in the end of liner lock 60. A locking aperture 76 is formed in the second end of the blade 10 to receive the locking pin 72 in the closed position. The lock pin 72 and lock hole 76 hold the blade 10 in the closed position. In alternative embodiments, the liner lock may be part of a frame forming the handle, or the liner lock may be a separate component disposed within the handle.

At the second ends of the first and second liner plates, a gasket 78 is retained between the first and second liner plates. At least four fasteners 32 are inserted through at least four shank plate counterbores 30 in the first and second shank plates and through at least four corresponding clearance holes 80 in the first and second liner plates and threaded into at least two threaded holes 82 in the shim 78.

Referring to fig. 11-14, when the head 58 of the fastener 42 contacts the bottom of the fastener's counterbore 56, the head 58 is substantially flush with the bottom of the button base 38; there is also a gap between the top of the button base 38 and the bottom of the press tab 44. The pressing piece 44 is pressed down so that the head 50 pushes the pad lock 60 outward, with the result that the lock pin 72 is pulled out of the lock hole 76. As the lock pin 72 is pulled out of the lock hole 76, the blade 10 may swing from the closed position to the open position.

Referring to fig. 16-20, the button 36 may be replaced by a thumb pad 84. The thumb plate 84 includes a half-plate 86, a tubular spacer 88, and a fastener 90. A disk slot 92 is preferably formed in the top edge of the blade 10 that is large enough to pivotally receive the half disk 86. A shim hole is formed through half disk 86 to receive a tubular shim 88. The length of the tubular spacer 88 is slightly greater than the thickness of the half disc 86. A fastener 90 is inserted through the tubular spacer 88 and is threaded into the blade 10'. The curved edge 94 of the half-disk 86 is preferably knurled to provide a gripping surface. The rear edge 96 of the half disc 86 is preferably linear. As shown in fig. 18-19, the rear edge 96 of the half disc 86 pivots toward the second handle plate 18 to force the liner plate lock 60 outward and move the lock pin 72 out of the lock aperture 76, thereby placing the blade 10 in the open position.

Referring to fig. 5-7, a second embodiment of the thumb release cutter 2 includes a resilient assisted opening device. A first resilient biasing arm 98 is formed by the top of the first liner 12 'and a second resilient biasing arm 100 is formed by the top of the second liner 14'. The first and second liner plates are made of a material having memory for the first and second resilient biasing arms. The push cylinder 102 is retained between the ends of the first and second resiliently biased arms by inserting a locating pin 104 through the push cylinder 102 and the first ends of the first and second resiliently biased arms. The push cylinder 102 rides on the push profile 106 and therefore the blade 10 'must be partially opened before the first and second resiliently biased arms will exert sufficient force on the second end of the blade 10' to provide opening assistance thereto, as disclosed in U.S. patent No.7293360, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The blade 10 of the thumb release cutters 1, 2 may be placed in the open position by: the blade 10 is pivoted by fully depressing the pressing tab 44 with the thumb or fully rotating the thumb disk 84 while pushing the pressing tab 44 or the thumb disk 84 away from the handle plates 16, 18.

Referring to fig. 8-10, a third embodiment of the thumb release cutter 3 includes an automatic opening device. The thumb release cutter 3 includes a blade 10, a first liner 12, a second liner 14, a first handle plate 16, and a second handle plate 18. The second end of the blade 10 is pivotally retained by the first ends of the first and second liners. At the second ends of the first and second liner plates, the biasing mechanism 108 is held between the first and second liner plates while acting as a spacer. The biasing mechanism 108 includes resilient fingers 110. When the thumb disc 86 is rotated to remove the lock pin 72 from the lock hole 76, the resilient finger 110 rotates the blade 10 from the closed position to the open position (without manual pressure from the user). Alternatively, the thumb disc 86 may be replaced by the button 36. Still further, biasing mechanisms other than the resilient fingers 110, such as torsion springs or spring-loaded pushrods, may also be used to achieve automatic opening of the blade 10.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims (18)

1. A folding knife, comprising:

at least one plate;

a blade pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to the at least one plate;

a resilient arm formed on the at least one plate, the resilient arm having a free end including a first locking element;

the blade includes a second locking element, the first locking element engaging the second locking element when the blade is in the closed position; and

actuating means for moving said resilient arm away from said blade and releasing said first locking element from said second locking element, wherein said actuating means comprises a thumb disc pivotally retained on said blade;

wherein the first locking element comprises one of a locking pin and a locking hole and the second locking element comprises the other of the locking pin and the locking hole, the thumb disc being pivotable to remove the locking pin from the locking hole.

2. The folding knife of claim 1, wherein:

the first locking element comprises a locking pin and the second locking element comprises a locking hole.

3. The folding knife of claim 1, wherein:

the first locking element comprises a locking hole and the second locking element comprises a locking pin.

4. The folding knife of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one biasing mechanism to assist in opening the blade.

5. The folding knife of claim 1 further comprising:

a biasing mechanism for automatically opening said blade.

6. The folding knife of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one plate comprises a first liner plate and a second liner plate; and

a first shank plate is mounted on an outer surface of the first liner plate and a second shank plate is mounted on an outer surface of the second liner plate.

7. The folding knife of claim 1 further comprising:

a stop pin retained on a first end of the at least one plate; a locking edge formed on the second end of the blade, an end of one of the at least one plate engaging the locking edge.

8. A folding knife comprising

A first liner plate and a second liner plate;

a blade pivotally retained at a first end thereof between the first end of the first liner plate and the first end of the second liner plate;

a resilient arm formed in one of the first and second liner plates, the resilient arm having a free end portion containing a first locking element;

the blade includes a second locking element, the first locking element engaging the second locking element when the blade is in the closed position; and

an actuating means designed to move said resilient arm away from said blade and thereby release said first locking element from said second locking element, wherein said actuating means comprises a thumb disc pivotally retained on said blade;

wherein the first locking element comprises one of a locking pin and a locking hole and the second locking element comprises the other of the locking pin and the locking hole, the thumb disc being pivotable to remove the locking pin from the locking hole.

9. The folding knife of claim 8, wherein:

the first locking element comprises a locking pin and the second locking element comprises a locking hole.

10. The folding knife of claim 8, wherein:

the first locking element comprises a locking hole and the second locking element comprises a locking pin.

11. The folding knife of claim 8 further comprising:

at least one resiliently biased arm for assisting in opening the blade.

12. The folding knife of claim 8 further comprising:

a biasing mechanism for automatically opening the blade.

13. A folding knife, comprising:

a knife handle;

a blade having a first end pivotally connected to the handle, the blade including a first locking element;

the handle comprising a resilient arm having a free end biased against one side of the first end of the blade, the resilient arm comprising a second locking element, wherein the second locking element is designed to engage with the first locking element when the blade is in the closed position; and

a user accessible actuator disposed on said blade and configured to move said resilient arm laterally away from said blade upon manual application of pressure to said actuator to move said second locking member out of engagement with said first locking member to allow said blade to pivot from a closed position to an open position, wherein said user accessible actuator comprises a thumb disc pivotally retained on said blade;

wherein the first locking element comprises one of a locking pin and a locking hole and the second locking element comprises the other of the locking pin and the locking hole, the thumb disc being pivotable to remove the locking pin from the locking hole.

14. The folding knife of claim 13, wherein:

the first locking element comprises a locking hole and the second locking element comprises a locking pin.

15. The folding knife of claim 13, wherein:

the first locking element comprises a locking pin and the second locking element comprises a locking hole.

16. The folding knife of claim 13 further comprising:

a biasing mechanism for applying an opening force to the blade.

17. The folding knife of claim 16, wherein:

the biasing mechanism is configured to apply the opening force to assist in pivoting the blade to the open position after the blade is partially opened.

18. The folding knife of claim 16 further comprising:

the biasing mechanism is configured to apply the opening force to the blade when the second locking element is moved out of engagement with the first locking element to pivot the blade from a fully closed position to a fully open position.