U.S. patent number RE42,906 [Application Number 11/154,998] was granted by the patent office on 2011-11-15 for folding knife with safety lock.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kai U.S.A., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kenneth J. Onion.
United States Patent |
RE42,906 |
Onion |
November 15, 2011 |
Folding knife with safety lock
Abstract
A folding knife having a safety lock moveably mounted on a
handle of the knife. The safety lock may slide to a locking
position to prevent the blade from opening out of the handle by
obstructing the path of the blade as the blade is urged from a
closed position to an open position. The safety lock also may slide
away from the locking position, in which the safety lock does not
obstruct the path of the blade.
Inventors: |
Onion; Kenneth J. (Kaneohe,
HI) |
Assignee: |
Kai U.S.A., Ltd. (Tualatin,
OR)
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Family
ID: |
25418742 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/154,998 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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29143656 |
Jun 18, 2001 |
D474669 |
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09750235 |
Mar 5, 2001 |
6427334 |
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09591183 |
Jun 8, 2000 |
6378214 |
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09483075 |
Jan 14, 2000 |
6338431 |
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60173233 |
Dec 28, 1999 |
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60138318 |
Jun 9, 1999 |
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60130401 |
Apr 19, 1999 |
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Reissue of: |
09904194 |
Jul 12, 2001 |
6591504 |
Jul 15, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
30/160;
30/161 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B26B
1/046 (20130101); B26B 1/044 (20130101); B26B
1/048 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B26B
1/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;30/331,519,308.2,153-161 ;7/118-120 ;132/26.2 ;D8/99 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1104386 |
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Apr 1961 |
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DE |
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1069862 |
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Jul 1954 |
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FR |
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Primary Examiner: Prone; Jason Daniel
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Seed IP Law Group PLLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority .[.to.]. .Iadd.from and is a CIP
of .Iaddend.U.S. Design Pat. Application Ser. No. 29/143,656, filed
Jun. 18, 2001 for a POCKET KNIFE, .[.and a.]. .Iadd.now U.S. Pat.
No. Des.474,669. The present application claims priority from and
is a .Iaddend.CIP of 09/750,235 filed Mar. 5, 2001 now U.S. Pat.
No. 6,427,334, which .Iadd.claims benefit of Provisional
application No. 60/173,233 filed Dec. 28, 1999. The present
application claims priority from and .Iaddend.is a CIP of
09/591,183 filed Jun. 8, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,214, which
.Iadd.claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 60/138,318, filed Jun. 9, 1999 and also claims priority from
and .Iaddend.is a CIP of 09/483,075 filed Jan. 14, 2000 now U.S.
Pat. No. 6,338,431.Iadd., which claims benefit of Provisional
application No. 60/130,401, filed Apr. 19, 1999. The present
application claims priority from and is a CIP of 09/483,075 filed
Jan. 14, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,431, which claims benefit of
Provisional application No. 60/130,401, filed Apr. 19,
1999.Iaddend..
Claims
I claim:
.[.1. A folding knife comprising: a blade including a distal end
and a tang; a handle configured to include a hollow region for
receiving the blade, said blade being pivotally coupled to the
handle via a pin to position the knife between an open position and
a closed position; and a lock mounted to the handle, wherein said
lock is configured to slide in a slotted hole in the handle to
transition between an operable position and an inoperable position,
where in the operable position said lock is configured to obstruct
a path of the distal end of the blade to prevent the knife from
being placed in the open position..].
.[.2. The knife of claim 1, wherein said lock is configured to use
friction to maintain a position in the slotted hole..].
.[.3. The knife of claim 2, wherein the friction on the lock is
adjustable..].
.[.4. A folding knife comprising: a blade including a distal end
and a tang; a handle configured to include a hollow region for
receiving the blade, said blade being pivotally coupled to the
handle via a pin to position the knife between an open position and
a closed position; a lock mounted to the handle, said lock
configured to obstruct a path of the distal end of the blade to
prevent the knife from being placed in the open position; and a
bias element configured to assist a user in opening the
knife..].
.[.5. The knife of claim 4, wherein the bias element is configured
to exert a force in opening the knife..].
.[.6. The knife of claim 1, wherein the tang is configured to
protrude from the handle when the knife is in the closed
position..].
.[.7. A folding knife comprising: a blade including a distal end
and a tang; a handle including a hollow region configured to
receive the blade, said blade being pivotally coupled to the handle
via a pin; a bias element housed in the handle and configured to
assist the blade in extending from the hollow region of the handle;
and a user-manipulable safety lock configured to prevent the blade
from moving out of the hollow region of the handle..].
.[.8. A folding knife comprising: a blade including a distal end
and a tang; a handle including a hollow region configured to
receive the blade, said blade being pivotally coupled to the handle
via a pin; a bias element housed in the handle and configured to
assist the blade in extending from the hollow region of the handle;
and a safety lock configured to prevent the blade from moving out
of the hollow region of the handle wherein the safety lock includes
a block that limits the movement of the distal end of the
blade..].
.[.9. A folding knife comprising: a blade including a distal end
and a tang; a handle including a hollow region configured to
receive the blade, said blade being pivotally coupled to the handle
via a pin; a bias element housed in the handle and configured to
assist the blade in extending from the hollow region of the handle;
and a safety lock configured to prevent the blade from moving out
of the hollow region of the handle wherein the safety lock is
configured to slide in a channel in the handle..].
.[.10. A folding knife comprising: a blade including a distal end
and a tang; a handle including a hollow region configured to
receive the blade, said blade being pivotally coupled to the handle
via a pin; a bias element housed in the handle and configured to
assist the blade in extending from the hollow region of the handle;
and a safety lock configured to prevent the blade from moving out
of the hollow region of the handle wherein the safety lock is
configured to slide to a position that allows the blade to move out
of the hollow region of the handle..].
.[.11. A safety lock for locking a blade of a folding knife in a
folded position, comprising a block configured to contact the
distal end of the blade to prevent the blade from moving out of the
folded position wherein the block slides along a slotted hole to
move between an operable position and an inoperable
position..].
.[.12. The safety lock of claim 11, wherein the block uses friction
to maintain a position in the slotted hole..].
.[.13. A folding knife comprising: a blade including a distal end
and a tang; a handle including a hollow region configured to
receive the blade, the blade being pivotally coupled to the handle
and moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a
safety lock including a slidable block that slides substantially
lengthwise relative to the handle and is adapted to obstruct the
movement of the distal end of the blade when the blade is in the
closed position..].
.Iadd.14. A folding knife comprising: a blade having a tang end and
a distal end; and a handle having first and second sides defining
between them a hollow region, the blade being coupled at the tang
end to the handle and rotatable around a first axis between an open
position, in which the blade extends away from the handle, and a
closed position in which the blade is received in the hollow region
of the handle, the first side of the handle having an elongated
slot; a safety lock slidably coupled to the first side of the
handle and configured to slide along the elongated slot between a
locked position, in which, while the blade is in the closed
position, the safety lock extends between the distal end of the
blade and an opening of the hollow region, and an unlocked
position, in which the safety lock does not interfere with movement
of the blade, the safety lock including: a threaded fastener; and a
block having an aperture and a blocking portion, the threaded
fastener extending through the elongated slot and engaging the
aperture, the blocking portion extending from the first side of the
handle into the hollow region toward the second side of the handle
without contacting the second side of the handle..Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. The folding knife of claim 14 wherein the block of the
safety lock is of a non-metallic material to prevent damage to a
sharpened edge of the blade in the event of contact between the
sharpened edge and the block..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to knives, and more
particularly to a folding pocket knife with a safety lock to hold a
blade of the knife in a closed position. The safety lock is
moveably mounted on a handle of the knife, and may slide to a
locking position, in which the safety lock prevents the blade from
opening out of the handle by obstructing the path of the blade as
the blade is urged from a closed position in the handle to an open
position out of the handle. The safety lock also may slide away
from the locking position, in which the safety lock does not
obstruct the path of the blade so that the blade may freely move
from the closed position to an open position.
This safety lock is particularly useful in knives having an
assisted opening mechanism, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,802,722, 5,815,927, and 6,145,202, the disclosures of which
are incorporated herein by reference. An understanding of some
prior locking mechanisms for knives also may be obtained from U.S.
Pat. Nos. 1,189,005, 1,743,022, 4,133,106, 4,451,982, 4,947,552,
4,974,323, 4,979,301, 5,060,379, 5,092,045, 5,293,690, 5,647,129,
and 5,822,866, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
The advantages of the present invention will be understood more
readily after a consideration of the drawings and the Detailed
Description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a knife according to one embodiment
of the present invention, including a blade, a handle, and a safety
lock, with the blade shown in solid lines in a closed position and
in broken lines in an open position, and with the safety lock shown
in solid lines in a locking position and in broken lines in an
unlocked position, with arrows demonstrating possible movement of
the blade and safety lock.
FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the knife of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of a portion of the knife of
FIG. 1 along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the knife of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the knife of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the knife of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is an end view of the knife of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, and more specifically to FIG. 1, a
folding knife 10 according to one embodiment of the present
invention is shown. Knife 10 includes a handle 12 and a blade 14
pivotally coupled to handle 12, as described in more detail below.
Preferably, handle 12 is assembled from a first side piece 16 and a
second side piece 18 that define a hollow region 20 for receiving
blade 14 when blade 14 is in a closed position relative to handle
12. This closed or folded position is shown in solid lines in FIG.
1.
When blade 14 is in the closed position, a safety lock 22 may slide
along a path 24 to a locked position to prevent a distal end 26 of
blade 14 from pivoting out of handle 12 to an open position. A
solid arrow L shows the preferred movement of safety lock 22.
Safety lock 22 may also slide to an unlocked position to allow
blade 14 to pivot freely between closed and open positions as
indicated by a dashed arrow B.
Blade 14 may further include a tang 28 with a protruding portion 30
located opposite distal end 26, and a thumb stud 32, both elements
useful in aiding a user in the opening of knife 10, as described in
more detail below. Knife 10 may further include a displaceable
lining portion 34 that may lock blade 14 in a fully extended
position. This is achieved by a bias that causes lining portion 34
to move into the path of blade 14 once blade 14 has moved to a
substantially open position. Closing blade 14 requires moving
lining portion 34 out of the path of blade 14. These features are
further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,145,202 and 5,802,722.
Referring to FIG. 2, the exploded view of knife 10 shows other
typical elements of knife 10. Knife 10 includes a pivot pin 36 that
allows blade 14 to pivot between open and closed positions and
couples side pieces 16 and 18. Knife 10 further includes a spacer
38 that couples side pieces 16 and 18 and together with side pieces
16 and 18, forms hollow region 20 for receiving blade 14, as
described above.
Knife 10 may still further include an assisted opening mechanism 40
that aids a user in opening knife 10. Assisted opening mechanism 40
includes a bias element 42 that urges blade 14 toward the fully
extended position once blade 14 has been moved a certain distance
from the closed position or past an equilibrium point. Assisted
opening mechanism 40 further includes an internal plate 44 that,
along with spacer 38, restricts the movement of one end of bias
element 42. Bias element 42 is configured to transmit forces
between blade 14 and handle 12 and is a push rod including hooks on
each end, but alternatively may be a plunger, flexible cable, or
other suitable force-transmitting element. Assisted opening
mechanism 36 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,145,202 and
5,802,722.
As shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, distal end 26 of blade 14
typically includes a point 46, but may include a blunt end or other
tool head. As described above, tang 28 includes a portion 30
configured to protrude from handle 12. This allows a user to open
blade 14 from the closed position by pushing protruding portion 30
back into hollow region 20, thereby urging blade 14 past the
equilibrium point of assisted opening mechanism 40. Blade 14 also
may include a thumb stud 32 located on one or both sides of blade
14, which allows a user to apply a force to stud 32 to extend blade
14. These features are useful in one-handed assisted opening
devices and safety lock 22 is particularly useful as a safety
precaution with these devices. It will be understood that safety
lock 22 may also be used for pocket tools and knives that do not
include assisted opening mechanisms.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, safety lock 22 is mounted in a channel
or slotted hole 48 located in handle 12. Slotted hole 48 preferably
is located near distal end 26 of blade 14. Safety lock 22 is
configured to obstruct the path of travel of distal end 26 of blade
14 when preventing blade extension, as described above.
Safety lock 22 preferably includes a bolt 50 configured to attach
to a block or latch 52 through slotted hole 48. Block 52 preferably
includes a threaded hole 54 to mate with bolt 50. Block 52
typically is constructed of plastic or rubber material to minimize
or prevent damage to blade 14 when blade 14 contacts block 52. As
long as block 52 of safety lock 22 is obstructing the path of blade
14 or limiting the movement of blade 14, safety lock 22 is operable
in preventing the extension of blade 14 and is considered
locked.
Safety lock 22 generally is positioned in one of two positions in
slotted hole 48 on handle 12. Safety lock 22 is shown in several of
the figures in dashed lines in an unlocked or inoperable position,
in which the path of blade 14 is unobstructed. Safety lock 22 is
shown in all of FIGS. 1 7 in solid lines in a locked or operable
position that obstructs the path of blade 14.
The user may adjust safety lock 22 between locked and unlocked
positions by sliding bolt 50 along slotted hole 48. Safety lock 22
is held in a user-selected position by friction. The friction may
be adjusted by adjusting the tightness of bolt 50. Safety lock 22
may further include a washer 56 between the head of bolt 50 and
handle 12 to enhance frictional contact between handle 12 and lock
22.
It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses
multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each
of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the
specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein
are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations
are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all
novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the
various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed
herein. Similarly, where the claims recite "a" or "a first" element
or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to
include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither
requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
It is believed that the following claims particularly point out
certain combinations and subcombinations that are directed to one
of the disclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious.
Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of
features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed
through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new
claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new
claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or
directed to the same invention, whether different, broader,
narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also
regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of
the present disclosure.
* * * * *