( 1 9 ) United States

( 1 2 ) Reissued Patent
Onion
( 1 0 ) Patent Number:
( 4 5 ) Date of Reissued Patent:
USO0 RE4 2 9 0 6E
US RE4 2 ,9 0 6 E
Nov . 1 5 , 2 0 1 1
( 5 4 ) FOLDING KNIFE WITH SAFETY LOCK
( 7 5 ) Inv entor: Kenneth J . Onion, Kaneohe, HI ( US)
( 7 3 ) Assig nee: Kai U. S. A. , Ltd. , Tual atin, OR ( US)
( 2 1 ) Ap p 1 . No. : 1 1 / 1 5 4 ,9 9 s
( 2 2 ) Fil ed: J un. 1 5 , 2 0 0 5
Rel ated US. Patent Documents
Reissue of :
( 64 ) Patent No. : 6,5 9 1 ,5 0 4
Issued: J ul . 1 5 , 2 0 0 3
Ap p l . No. : 0 9 / 9 0 4 ,1 9 4
Fil ed: J ul . 1 2 , 2 0 0 1
US. Ap p l ications:
( 63 ) Continuation- in- p art of ap p l ication No. 2 9 / 1 4 3 ,65 6,
? l ed on J un. 1 8 , 2 0 0 1 , noW Pat. No. Des. 4 7 4 ,669 , and
a continuation- in- p art of ap p l ication No. 0 9 / 7 5 0 ,2 3 5 ,
? l ed on M ar. 5 , 2 0 0 1 , noW Pat. No. 6,4 2 7 ,3 3 4 , said
ap p l ication No. 0 9 / 9 0 4 ,1 9 4 is a continuation- in- p art of
ap p l ication No. 0 9 / 5 9 1 ,1 8 3 , ? l ed on J un. 8 , 2 0 0 0 , noW
Pat. No. 6,3 7 8 ,2 1 4 , and a continuation- in- p art of ap p l i
cation No. 0 9 / 4 8 3 ,0 7 5 , ? l ed on J an. 1 4 , 2 0 0 0 , noW Pat.
No. 6,3 3 8 ,4 3 1 .
( 60 ) Prov isional ap p l ication No. 60 / 1 7 3 ,2 3 3 , ? l ed on Dec.
2 8 , 1 9 9 9 , p rov isional ap p l ication No. 60 / 1 3 8 ,3 1 8 ,
? l ed on J un. 9 , 1 9 9 9 , p rov isional ap p l ication No.
60 / 1 3 0 ,4 0 1 , ? l ed onAp r. 1 9 , 1 9 9 9 .
( 5 1 ) Int. C1 .
3 2 63 1 / 0 2 ( 2 0 0 6. 0 1 )
( 5 2 ) US. Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 60 ; 3 0 / 1 61
( 5 8 ) Fiel d of Cl assi? cation Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 3 3 1 ,
3 0 / 5 1 9 , 3 0 8 . 2 , 1 5 3 * 1 61 ; 7 / 1 1 8 * 1 2 0 ; 1 3 2 / 2 62 ;
D8 / 9 9
See ap p l ication ? l e f or comp l ete search history .
( 5 6) Ref erences Cited
U. S. PATENT DOCUM ENTS
5 7 6,8 62 A * 2 / 1 8 9 7 Lebol d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
7 2 9 ,3 7 8 A * 5 / 1 9 0 3 M intZer . . 3 0 / 1 61
8 2 1 ,1 7 6 A * 5 / 1 9 0 6 Lel and . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
9 1 5 ,2 69 A * 3 / 1 9 0 9 Chemienes 3 0 / 1 60
9 4 6,1 3 2 A * 1 / 1 9 1 0 Hul l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 5 9
9 7 8 ,1 65 A * 1 2 / 1 9 1 0 J ohnson . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
1 ,0 5 6,4 0 4 A * 3 / 1 9 1 3 De LorenZo 3 0 / 1 61
1 ,1 8 9 ,0 0 5 A * 6/ 1 9 1 6 Seel y . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 3 0 8 . 2
1 ,2 3 1 ,0 5 8 A * 6/ 1 9 1 7 Pansa . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
1 ,2 63 ,4 4 0 A * 4 / 1 9 1 8 Lenardic . 3 0 / 1 61
1 ,3 7 3 ,9 9 3 A * 4 / 1 9 2 1 Boe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
1 ,4 1 5 ,8 8 7 A * 5 / 1 9 2 2 M cWil l iams . . 3 0 / 1 61
1 ,4 2 8 ,2 9 6 A * 9 / 1 9 2 2 Nef t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 5 3
1 ,4 5 4 ,665 A * 5 / 1 9 2 3 Bobek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
( Continued)
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUM ENTS
DE 1 1 0 4 3 8 6 * 4 / 1 9 61
( Continued)
Primary Examiner * J ason Daniel Prone
( 7 4 ) Attorney , Ag ent, or Firm * Seed IP LaW Group PLLC
( 5 7 ) ABSTRACT
A f ol ding knif e hav ing a saf ety l ockmov eabl y mounted on a
handl e of the knif e. The saf ety l ock may sl ide to a l ocking
p osition to p rev ent the bl ade f rom op ening out of the handl e
by obstructing the p ath of the bl ade as the bl ade is urg ed f rom
a cl osedp osition to an op enp osition. The saf ety l ockal so may
sl ide aWay f rom the l ocking p osition, in Which the saf ety l ock
does not obstruct the p ath of the bl ade.
2 Cl aims, 3 Drawing Sheets
US RE4 2 ,9 0 6 E
Pag e2
U. S. PATENT DOCUM ENTS 5 ,4 61 ,7 8 6 A * 1 0 / 1 9 9 5
*
1 ,5 1 2 ,68 9 A * 1 0 / 1 9 2 4 Hermann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 5 4 9 3 7 8 l A * 2 / 1 9 9 6
5 ,4 9 5 ,67 4 A 3 / 1 9 9 6 . .
1 ,5 1 5 ,68 8 A * 1 1 / 1 9 2 4 Lov e . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 3 0 8 . 2 * -
5 ,5 0 2 ,8 9 5 A 4 / 1 9 9 6 Lema1 re . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 5 8
1 ,5 5 2 ,3 61 A * 9 / 1 9 2 5 Trombl ey 3 0 / 1 61 * -
. 5 ,5 1 1 ,3 1 0 A 4 / 1 9 9 6 Sess1 ons et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
1 ,61 4 ,9 4 9 A * 1 / 1 9 2 7 Fl nl ey . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 3 0 8 . 2 * -
. 5 ,5 1 5 ,61 0 A 5 / 1 9 9 6 Lev 1 n etal . . 3 0 / 1 61
1 ,7 0 1 ,7 7 1 A * 2 / 1 9 2 9 D1 Stef ano . . 3 0 / 1 62 *
5 ,5 3 7 ,7 5 0 A 7 / 1 9 9 6 Seber et al . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
1 ,7 4 3 ,0 2 2 A * 1 / 1 9 3 0 Carman . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
. 5 ,68 9 ,8 8 5 A 1 1 / 1 9 9 7 Wal ston . 3 0 / 1 60
2 ,1 9 3 ,7 0 8 A * 3 / 1 9 4 0 Berg kv l stet a1 . 3 0 / 1 61 *
. 5 ,69 2 ,3 0 4 A 1 2 / 1 9 9 7 Camp bel l . 3 0 / 1 61
2 ,2 4 3 ,0 3 0 A * 5 / 1 9 4 1 Fl scher . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 62 *
5 ,7 2 2 ,1 68 A 3 / 1 9 9 8 Huang . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
2 ,3 0 4 ,60 1 A * 1 2 / 1 9 4 2 Schrade 3 0 / 1 5 9 *
5 ,7 3 7 ,8 4 1 A 4 / 1 9 9 8 M cHenry et al . . 3 0 / 1 61
2 ,4 61 ,9 4 1 A * 2 / 1 9 4 9 Sutton . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
. 5 ,7 5 5 ,0 3 5 A 5 / 1 9 9 8 Weatherl y . . 3 0 / 1 61
3 ,60 0 ,8 3 5 A * 8 / 1 9 7 1 Hendrl cks 3 0 / 1 5 9 *
. . 5 ,7 8 1 ,9 9 8 A 7 / 1 9 9 8 Stamp er . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 5 3
3 ,8 68 ,7 7 4 A * 3 / 1 9 7 5 M 1 or1 . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
5 ,8 0 2 ,7 2 2 A 9 / 1 9 9 8 M axey et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 60
4 ,0 4 0 ,1 8 1 A * 8 / 1 9 7 7 J ohnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 * -
. 5 ,8 1 5 ,9 2 7 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 8 Col l 1 ns . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,1 3 3 ,1 0 6 A * 1 / 1 9 7 9 ACl Cl l S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 60 *
5 ,8 2 2 ,8 66 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 8 Pardue . . . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,1 4 5 ,8 0 8 A * 3 / 1 9 7 9 Wal sh . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
5 ,8 2 6,3 4 0 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 8 Hul l . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,2 1 8 ,8 1 9 A * 8 / 1 9 8 0 Phel p s . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 5 7 * -
5 ,8 8 7 ,3 4 7 A 3 / 1 9 9 9 Gl bbs . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,2 4 0 ,2 0 1 A * 1 2 / 1 9 8 0 SaWby et al . . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
. . 5 ,9 5 3 ,8 2 1 A 9 / 1 9 9 9 M earns . . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,2 68 ,9 60 A * 5 / 1 9 8 1 Re1 nschre1 ber 3 0 / 1 61 *
5 ,9 66,8 1 6 A 1 0 / 1 9 9 9 Roberson . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 5 6
4 ,2 7 4 ,2 0 0 A * 6/ 1 9 8 1 Coder . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
6,1 2 2 ,8 2 9 A 9 / 2 0 0 0 M cHenry et al . . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,3 2 2 ,8 8 5 A * 4 / 1 9 8 2 Osada . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 62 *
. 6,1 2 5 ,5 4 3 A 1 0 / 2 0 0 0 J hones . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,3 5 1 ,1 2 6 A * 9 / 1 9 8 2 Sl monson 4 3 / 5 * -
. 6,1 4 5 ,2 0 2 A 1 1 / 2 0 0 0 On1 on . 3 0 / 1 60
4 ,4 0 4 ,7 4 8 A * 9 / 1 9 8 3 W1 ethof f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 ,,
. 6,2 60 ,4 61 B1 7 / 2 0 0 1 M ok . . . 3 0 / 1 60
4 ,4 5 1 ,9 8 2 A * 6/ 1 9 8 4 Col l 1 ns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
. 6,4 3 4 ,8 3 1 B2 8 / 2 0 0 2 Chen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,5 0 2 ,2 2 1 A * 3 / 1 9 8 5 Pl ttman 3 0 / 1 60 *
. 6,4 3 8 ,8 4 8 B1 8 / 2 0 0 2 M cHenry et al . . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,67 0 ,9 8 4 A * 6/ 1 9 8 7 R1 ckard 3 0 / 1 61 * -
6,5 9 1 ,5 0 4 B2 7 / 2 0 0 3 On1 on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 60
4 ,7 3 0 ,3 9 4 A * 3 / 1 9 8 8 Sonner,J r. 3 0 / 1 61 *
. 6,67 5 ,4 8 4 B2 1 / 2 0 0 4 M cHenry et al . . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,8 0 5 ,3 0 3 A * 2 / 1 9 8 9 Gl bbs . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
. 6,8 4 8 ,1 8 4 B2 2 / 2 0 0 5 Cheng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 5 5
4 ,8 1 1 ,4 8 6 A * 3 / 1 9 8 9 Cunnl ng ham 3 0 / 1 61 * -
7 ,0 5 1 ,4 4 0 B2 5 / 2 0 0 6 Breml cker et a1 . . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,8 3 7 ,9 3 2 A * 6/ 1 9 8 9 El sener . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
7 ,1 2 4 ,5 1 0 B2 1 0 / 2 0 0 6 Frazer . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
4 ,9 4 7 ,5 5 2 A * 8 / 1 9 9 0 Barnes . . 3 0 / 1 61 * -
7 ,3 4 0 ,8 3 8 B2 3 / 2 0 0 8 On1 on 3 0 / 1 5 9
4 ,9 7 4 ,3 2 3 A * 1 2 / 1 9 9 0 Cassady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 5 5 * -
7 ,5 8 1 ,3 2 1 B2 9 / 2 0 0 9 Kal n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 5 3
4 ,9 7 9 ,3 0 1 A * 1 2 / 1 9 9 0 Wal ker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
RE4 1 ,2 5 9 E 4 / 2 0 1 0 M cHenry et al . . 3 0 / 1 61
5 ,0 2 5 ,5 5 7 A * 6/ 1 9 9 1 Perreaul t . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
. 7 ,7 5 2 ,7 5 9 B2 7 / 2 0 1 0 Perreaul t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61
5 ,0 4 4 ,0 7 9 A * 9 / 1 9 9 1 Gl bbs . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 60 *
7 ,7 7 4 ,9 4 0 B2 8 / 2 0 1 0 Frank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 5 7
5 ,0 60 ,3 7 9 A * 1 0 / 1 9 9 1 Neel y . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 *
7 ,9 4 1 ,9 2 7 B1 5 / 2 0 1 1 Demko .
5 ,0 9 2 ,0 4 5 A * 3 / 1 9 9 2 Boy detal . 3 0 / 1 61 2 0 0 4 / 0 0 8 8 8 65 A1 ,, 5 / 2 0 0 4 0 -
5 ,0 9 5 ,62 4 A * 9 9 2 Ennis " " " ~ 3 0 / 1 61 2 0 1 1 / 0 1 0 7 60 3 A1 * 5 / 2 0 1 1 Gm? 1 " " 1 ' 1 ' " 3 0 / 1 61
5 ,1 1 1 ,5 8 1 A * 5 / 1 9 9 2 Col l ins 3 0 / 1 61 mol e 3 ' " " " " " " " " "
5 ,2 9 3 ,69 0 A * 3 / 1 9 9 4 Cassady 3 0 / 1 61 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUM ENTS
5 ,3 2 5 ,5 8 8 A * 7 / 1 9 9 4 Rog ers 3 0 / 1 61 *
5 ,3 3 1 ,7 4 1 A * 7 / 1 9 9 4 Tay l or, J r. 3 0 / 1 5 8 FR 1 0 69 8 62 7 / 1 9 5 4
5 ,4 0 0 ,5 0 9 A * 3 / 1 9 9 5 Col l ins 3 0 / 1 61 _ _
5 ,4 2 5 ,1 7 5 A * 6/ 1 9 9 5 Rog ers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 / 1 61 * cl ted by examl ner
US. Patent Nov . 1 5 , 2 0 1 1 Sheet 1 0 1 3 US RE4 2 ,9 0 6 E
FIG. 1
US. Patent Nov . 1 5 , 2 0 1 1 Sheet 2 of 3 US RE4 2 ,9 0 6 E
US. Patent Nov . 1 5 , 2 0 1 1 Sheet 3 of 3 US RE4 2 ,9 0 6 E
#Ht" ! _ l ~ - ~ _ - 1
IIIIIIHHH w H @2 1 5 , FIG. 5
TL\
2 2
US RE4 2 ,9 0 6 E
1
FOLDING KNIFE WITH SAFETY LOCK
M atter encl osed in heav y brackets [ ] ap p ears in the
orig inal p atent but f orms no p art of this reissue sp eci? ca
tion; matter p rinted in ital ics indicates the additions
made by reissue.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
APPLICATIONS
This ap p l ication cl aims p riority [ to] f rom and is a CIP of
US. Desig n Pat. Ap p l ication Ser. No. 2 9 / 1 4 3 ,65 6, ? l ed J un.
1 8 , 2 0 0 1 f or a POCKET KNIFE, [ and a] now US. Pat. No.
Des. 4 7 4 ,669 . The p resent ap p l ication cl aims p riority f rom
and is a CIP of 0 9 / 7 5 0 ,2 3 5 ? l ed M ar. 5 , 2 0 0 1 now US. Pat.
No. 6,4 2 7 ,3 3 4 , which cl aims benef it of Prov isional ap p l ica
tion No. 60 / 1 7 3 ,2 3 3 ? l ed Dec. 2 8 , 1 9 9 9 . The p resent ap p l i
cation cl aimsp riority f rom and is a CIP of 0 9 / 5 9 1 ,1 8 3 ? l ed
J un. 8 , 2 0 0 0 now US. Pat. No. 6,3 7 8 ,2 1 4 , which cl aims
bene? t of US. Prov isional Patent Ap p l ication Ser. No.
60 / 1 3 8 ,3 1 8 , ? l ed J un. 9 , 1 9 9 9 and al so cl aims p riority f rom
and is a CIP of 0 9 / 4 8 3 ,0 7 5 ? l ed J an. 1 4 , 2 0 0 0 now US. Pat.
No. 6,3 3 8 ,4 3 1 , which cl aims benef it of Prov isional ap p l ica
tion No. 60 / ] 3 0 ,4 0 ] ,? l ed Ap r. 1 9 , 1 9 9 9 . The p resent ap p l i
cation cl aimsp riority f rom and is a CIP of O9 / 4 8 3 ,0 7 5 ? l ed
J an. 1 4 , 2 0 0 0 now US. Pat. No. 6,3 3 8 ,4 3 1 , which cl aims
bene? t of Prov isional ap p l ication No. 60 / ] 3 0 ,4 0 ] ,? l ed Ap r.
1 9 , 1 9 9 9 .
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The p resent inv ention rel ates g eneral l y to kniv es, and more
p articul arl y to a f ol ding p ocket knif e with a saf ety l ockto hol d
a bl ade of the knif e in a cl osed p osition. The saf ety l ock is
mov eabl y mounted on a handl e of the knif e, and may sl ide to
a l ocking p osition, in which the saf ety l ockp rev ents the bl ade
f rom op ening out of the handl e by obstructing the p ath of the
bl ade as the bl ade is urg ed f rom a cl osed p osition in the handl e
to an op en p osition out of the handl e. The saf ety l ockal so may
sl ide away f rom the l ocking p osition, in which the saf ety l ock
does not obstruct the p ath of the bl ade so that the bl ade may
f reel y mov e f rom the cl osed p osition to an op en p osition.
This saf ety l ock is p articul arl y usef ul in kniv es hav ing an
assisted op ening mechanism, such as those discl osed in US.
Pat. Nos. 5 ,8 0 2 ,7 2 2 , 5 ,8 1 5 ,9 2 7 , and 6,1 4 5 ,2 0 2 , the discl o
sures of which are incorp orated herein by ref erence. An
understanding of some p rior l ocking mechanisms f or kniv es
al so may be obtained f rom US. Pat. Nos. 1 ,1 8 9 ,0 0 5 , 1 ,7 4 3 ,
0 2 2 , 4 ,1 3 3 ,1 0 6, 4 ,4 5 1 ,9 8 2 , 4 ,9 4 7 ,5 5 2 , 4 ,9 7 4 ,3 2 3 , 4 ,9 7 9 ,3 0 1 ,
5 ,0 60 ,3 7 9 , 5 ,0 9 2 ,0 4 5 , 5 ,2 9 3 ,69 0 , 5 ,64 7 ,1 2 9 , and 5 ,8 2 2 ,8 66,
the discl osures of which are incorp orated herein by ref erence.
The adv antag es of the p resent inv ention wil l be understood
more readil y af ter a consideration of the drawing s and the
Detail ed Descrip tion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric v iew of a knif e according to one
embodiment of the p resent inv ention, incl uding a bl ade, a
handl e, and a saf ety l ock, with the bl ade shown in sol id l ines
in a cl osed p osition and in broken l ines in an op en p osition,
and with the saf ety l ock shown in sol id l ines in a l ocking
p osition and in broken l ines in an unl ocked p osition, with
arrows demonstrating p ossibl e mov ement of the bl ade and
saf ety l ock.
5
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
2
FIG. 2 is an exp l oded, isometric v iew of the knif e of FIG.
1 .
FIG. 3 is an exp l oded, isometric v iew of a p ortion of the
knif e of FIG. 1 al ong l ine 3 i3 of FIG. 2 .
FIG. 4 is a f ront v iew of the knif e of FIG. 1 .
FIG. 5 is a top v iew of the knif e of FIG. 1 .
FIG. 6 is a bottom v iew of the knif e of FIG. 1 .
FIG. 7 is an end v iew of the knif e of FIG. 1 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST M ODE
OF THE INVENTION
Ref erring to the drawing s, and more sp eci? cal l y to FIG. 1 ,
a f ol ding knif e 1 0 according to one embodiment of the p resent
inv ention is shown. Knif e 1 0 incl udes a handl e 1 2 and a bl ade
1 4 p iv otal l y coup l ed to handl e 1 2 , as described in more detail
bel ow. Pref erabl y , handl e 1 2 is assembl ed f rom a ? rst side
p iece 1 6 and a second side p iece 1 8 that de? ne a hol l ow reg ion
2 0 f or receiv ing bl ade 1 4 when bl ade 1 4 is in a cl osed p osition
rel ativ e to handl e 1 2 . This cl osed or f ol ded p osition is shown
in sol id l ines in FIG. 1 .
When bl ade 1 4 is in the cl osed p osition, a saf ety l ock 2 2
may sl ide al ong a p ath 2 4 to a l ocked p osition to p rev ent a
distal end 2 6 of bl ade 1 4 f rom p iv oting out of handl e 1 2 to an
op en p osition. A sol id arrow L shows the p ref erred mov ement
of saf ety l ock2 2 . Saf ety l ock2 2 may al so sl ide to an unl ocked
p osition to al l ow bl ade 1 4 to p iv ot f reel y between cl osed and
op en p ositions as indicated by a dashed arrow B.
Bl ade 1 4 may f urther incl ude a tang 2 8 with a p rotruding
p ortion 3 0 l ocated op p osite distal end 2 6, and a thumb stud
3 2 , both el ements usef ul in aiding a user in the op ening of
knif e 1 0 , as described in more detail bel ow. Knif e 1 0 may
f urther incl ude a disp l aceabl e l ining p ortion 3 4 that may l ock
bl ade 1 4 in a f ul l y extended p osition. This is achiev ed by a
bias that causes l ining p ortion 3 4 to mov e into the p ath of
bl ade 1 4 once bl ade 1 4 has mov ed to a substantial l y op en
p osition. Cl osing bl ade 1 4 req uires mov ing l ining p ortion 3 4
out of the p ath of bl ade 1 4 . These f eatures are f urther
described in US. Pat. Nos. 6,1 4 5 ,2 0 2 and 5 ,8 0 2 ,7 2 2 .
Ref erring to FIG. 2 , the exp l oded v iew of knif e 1 0 shows
other ty p ical el ements of knif e 1 0 . Knif e 1 0 incl udes a p iv ot
p in 3 6 that al l ows bl ade 1 4 to p iv ot between op en and cl osed
p ositions and coup l es side p ieces 1 6 and 1 8 . Knif e 1 0 f urther
incl udes a sp acer 3 8 that coup l es side p ieces 1 6 and 1 8 and
tog ether with side p ieces 1 6 and 1 8 , f orms hol l ow reg ion 2 0
f or receiv ing bl ade 1 4 , as described abov e.
Knif e 1 0 may stil l f urther incl ude an assisted op ening
mechanism 4 0 that aids a user in op ening knif e 1 0 . Assisted
op ening mechanism 4 0 incl udes a bias el ement 4 2 that urg es
bl ade 1 4 toward the f ul l y extended p osition once bl ade 1 4 has
been mov ed a certain distance f rom the cl osed p osition or p ast
an eq uil ibrium p oint. Assisted op ening mechanism 4 0 f urther
incl udes an internal p l ate 4 4 that, al ong with sp acer 3 8 ,
restricts the mov ement of one end of bias el ement 4 2 . Bias
el ement 4 2 is con? g ured to transmit f orces between bl ade 1 4
and handl e 1 2 and is a p ush rod incl uding hooks on each end,
but al ternativ el y may be a p l ung er, ? exibl e cabl e, or other
suitabl e f orce- transmitting el ement. Assisted op ening mecha
nism 3 6 is described in detail in US. Pat. Nos. 6,1 4 5 ,2 0 2 and
5 ,8 0 2 ,7 2 2 .
As shown in g reater detail in FIG. 2 , distal end 2 6 of bl ade
1 4 ty p ical l y incl udes a p oint 4 6, but may incl ude a bl unt end
or other tool head. As described abov e, tang 2 8 incl udes a
p ortion 3 0 con? g ured to p rotrude f rom handl e 1 2 . This al l ows
a user to op en bl ade 1 4 f rom the cl osed p osition by p ushing
p rotruding p ortion 3 0 back into hol l ow reg ion 2 0 , thereby
urg ing bl ade 1 4 p ast the eq uil ibrium p oint of assisted op ening
US RE4 2 ,9 0 6 E
3
mechanism 4 0 . Bl ade 1 4 al so may incl ude a thumb stud 3 2
l ocated on one or both sides of bl ade 1 4 , Which al l oWs a user
to ap p l y a f orce to stud 3 2 to extend bl ade 1 4 . These f eatures
are usef ul in one- handed assisted op ening dev ices and saf ety
l ock2 2 is p articul arl y usef ul as a saf ety p recaution With these
dev ices. It Wil l be understood that saf ety l ock 2 2 may al so be
used f or p ocket tool s and kniv es that do not incl ude assisted
op ening mechanisms.
Ref erring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , saf ety l ock 2 2 is mounted in a
channel or sl otted hol e 4 8 l ocated in handl e 1 2 . Sl otted hol e
4 8 p ref erabl y is l ocated near distal end 2 6 of bl ade 1 4 . Saf ety
l ock2 2 is con? g ured to obstruct the p ath of trav el of distal end
2 6 of bl ade 1 4 When p rev enting bl ade extension, as described
abov e.
Saf ety l ock 2 2 p ref erabl y incl udes a bol t 5 0 con? g ured to
attach to a bl ockor l atch 5 2 throug h sl otted hol e 4 8 . Bl ock5 2
p ref erabl y incl udes a threaded hol e 5 4 to mate With bol t 5 0 .
Bl ock5 2 ty p ical l y is constructed of p l astic or rubber material
to minimiZe or p rev ent damag e to bl ade 1 4 When bl ade 1 4
contacts bl ock 5 2 . As l ong as bl ock 5 2 of saf ety l ock 2 2 is
obstructing the p ath of bl ade 1 4 or l imiting the mov ement of
bl ade 1 4 , saf ety l ock 2 2 is op erabl e in p rev enting the exten
sion of bl ade 1 4 and is considered l ocked.
Saf ety l ock 2 2 g eneral l y is p ositioned in one of tWo p osi
tions in sl otted hol e 4 8 on handl e 1 2 . Saf ety l ock 2 2 is shoWn
in sev eral of the ? g ures in dashed l ines in an unl ocked or
inop erabl e p osition, in Which the p ath of bl ade 1 4 is unob
structed. Saf ety l ock 2 2 is shoWn in al l of FIGS. 1 * 7 in sol id
l ines in a l ocked or op erabl e p osition that obstructs the p ath of
bl ade 1 4 .
The user may adj ust saf ety l ock 2 2 betWeen l ocked and
unl ocked p ositions by sl iding bol t 5 0 al ong sl otted hol e 4 8 .
Saf ety l ock 2 2 is hel d in a user- sel ected p osition by f riction.
The f riction may be adj usted by adj usting the tig htness of bol t
5 0 . Saf ety l ock 2 2 may f urther incl ude a Washer 5 6 betWeen
the head of bol t 5 0 and handl e 1 2 to enhance f rictional contact
betWeen handl e 1 2 and l ock 2 2 .
It is bel iev ed that the discl osure set f orth abov e encom
p asses mul tip l e distinct inv entions With indep endent util ity .
Whil e each of these inv entions has been discl osed in its p re
f erred f orm, the sp eci? c embodiments thereof as discl osed
and il l ustrated herein are not to be considered in a l imiting
sense as numerous v ariations are p ossibl e. The subj ect matter
of the inv entions incl udes al l nov el and non- obv ious combi
nations and subcombinations of the v arious el ements, f ea
tures, f unctions and/ or p rop erties discl osed herein. Simil arl y ,
Where the cl aims recite a or a ? rst el ement or the eq uiv a
l ent thereof , such cl aims shoul d be understood to incl ude
incorp oration of one or more such el ements, neither req uiring
nor excl uding tWo or more such el ements.
It is bel iev ed that the f ol l oWing cl aims p articul arl y p oint
out certain combinations and subcombinations that are
directed to one of the discl osed inv entions and are nov el and
non- obv ious. Inv entions embodied in other combinations and
subcombinations of f eatures, f unctions, el ements and/ or
p rop erties may be cl aimed throug h amendment of the p resent
cl aims or p resentation of neW cl aims in this or a rel ated
ap p l ication. Such amended or neW cl aims, Whether they are
directed to a dif f erent inv ention or directed to the same inv en
tion, Whether dif f erent, broader, narroWer or eq ual in scop e to
the orig inal cl aims, are al so reg arded as incl uded Within the
subj ect matter of the inv entions of the p resent discl osure.
1 cl aim:
[ 1 . A f ol ding knif e comp rising :
a bl ade incl uding a distal end and a tang ;
a handl e con? g ured to incl ude a hol l oW reg ion f or receiv
ing the bl ade, said bl ade being p iv otal l y coup l ed to the
1 0
2 0
2 5
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
4
handl e v ia a p in to p osition the knif e betWeen an op en
p osition and a cl osed p osition; and
a l ockmounted to the handl e, Wherein said l ock is con? g
ured to sl ide in a sl otted hol e in the handl e to transition
betWeen an op erabl e p osition and an inop erabl e p osi
tion, Where in the op erabl e p osition said l ock is con? g
ured to obstruct a p ath of the distal end of the bl ade to
p rev ent the knif e f rom being p l aced in the op en p osi
tion. ]
[ 2 . The knif e of cl aim 1 , Wherein said l ock is con? g ured to
use f riction to maintain a p osition in the sl otted hol e. ]
[ 3 . The knif e of cl aim 2 , Wherein the f riction on the l ockis
adj ustabl e]
[ 4 . A f ol ding knif e comp rising :
a bl ade incl uding a distal end and a tang ;
a handl e con? g ured to incl ude a hol l oW reg ion f or receiv
ing the bl ade, said bl ade being p iv otal l y coup l ed to the
handl e v ia a p in to p osition the knif e betWeen an op en
p osition and a cl osed p osition;
a l ock mounted to the handl e, said l ock con? g ured to
obstruct a p ath of the distal end of the bl ade to p rev ent
the knif e f rom being p l aced in the op en p osition; and
a bias el ement con? g ured to assist a user in op ening the
knif e. ]
[ 5 . The knif e of cl aim 4 , Wherein the bias el ement is con
? g ured to exert a f orce in op ening the knif e. ]
[ 6. The knif e of cl aim 1 , Wherein the tang is con? g ured to
p rotrude f rom the handl e When the knif e is in the cl osed
p osition. ]
[ 7 . A f ol ding knif e comp rising :
a bl ade incl uding a distal end and a tang ;
a handl e incl uding a hol l oW reg ion con? g ured to receiv e
the bl ade, said bl ade being p iv otal l y coup l ed to the
handl e v ia a p in;
a bias el ement housed in the handl e and con? g ured to assist
the bl ade in extending f rom the hol l oW reg ion of the
handl e; and
a user- manip ul abl e saf ety l ock con? g ured to p rev ent the
bl ade f rom mov ing out of the hol l oW reg ion of the
handl e. ]
[ 8 . A f ol ding knif e comp rising :
a bl ade incl uding a distal end and a tang ;
a handl e incl uding a hol l oW reg ion con? g ured to receiv e
the bl ade, said bl ade being p iv otal l y coup l ed to the
handl e v ia a p in;
a bias el ement housed in the handl e and con? g ured to assist
the bl ade in extending f rom the hol l oW reg ion of the
handl e; and
a saf ety l ock con? g ured to p rev ent the bl ade f rom mov ing
out of the hol l oWreg ion of the handl e Wherein the saf ety
l ock incl udes a bl ock that l imits the mov ement of the
distal end of the bl ade. ]
[ 9 . A f ol ding knif e comp rising :
a bl ade incl uding a distal end and a tang ;
a handl e incl uding a hol l oW reg ion con? g ured to receiv e
the bl ade, said bl ade being p iv otal l y coup l ed to the
handl e v ia a p in;
a bias el ement housed in the handl e and con? g ured to assist
the bl ade in extending f rom the hol l oW reg ion of the
handl e; and
a saf ety l ock con? g ured to p rev ent the bl ade f rom mov ing
out of the hol l oWreg ion of the handl e Wherein the saf ety
l ock is con? g ured to sl ide in a channel in the handl e. ]
US RE4 2 ,9 0 6 E
5
[ 1 0 . A f ol ding knif e comp rising :
a bl ade incl uding a distal end and a tang ;
a handl e incl uding a hol l ow reg ion con? g ured to receiv e
the bl ade, said bl ade being p iv otal l y coup l ed to the
handl e v ia a p in;
a bias el ement housed in the handl e and con? g ured to assist
the bl ade in extending f rom the hol l oW reg ion of the
handl e; and
a saf ety l ock con? g ured to p rev ent the bl ade f rom mov ing
out of the hol l oWreg ion of the handl e Wherein the saf ety
l ock is con? g ured to sl ide to a p osition that al l oWs the
bl ade to mov e out of the hol l oW reg ion of the handl e. ]
[ 1 1 . A saf ety l ock f or l ocking a bl ade of a f ol ding knif e in
a f ol ded p osition, comp rising a bl ock con? g ured to contact
the distal end of the bl ade to p rev ent the bl ade f rom mov ing
out of the f ol ded p osition Wherein the bl ock sl ides al ong a
sl otted hol e to mov e betWeen an op erabl e p osition and an
inop erabl e p osition]
[ 1 2 . The saf ety l ock of cl aim 1 1 , Wherein the bl ock uses
f riction to maintain a p osition in the sl otted hol e. ]
[ 1 3 . A f ol ding knif e comp rising :
a bl ade incl uding a distal end and a tang ;
a handl e incl uding a hol l oW reg ion con? g ured to receiv e
the bl ade, the bl ade being p iv otal l y coup l ed to the handl e
and mov eabl e betWeen an op en p osition and a cl osed
p osition; and
a saf ety l ockincl uding a sl idabl e bl ockthat sl ides substan
tial l y l eng thWise rel ativ e to the handl e and is adap ted to
obstruct the mov ement of the distal end of the bl ade
When the bl ade is in the cl osed p osition]
2 0
2 5
6
1 4 . Af ol ding knif e comp rising :
a bl ade hav ing a tang end and a distal end; and
a handl e hav ing f irst and second sides def ining between
them a hol l ow reg ion, the bl ade being coup l ed at the
tang end to the handl e and rotatabl e around a? rst axis
between an op en p osition, in which the bl ade extends
away f rom the handl e, anda cl osedp osition in which the
bl ade is receiv ed in the hol l ow reg ion of the handl e, the
f irst side of the handl e hav ing an el ong ated sl ot;
a saf ety l ocksl idabl y coup l ed to the f irst side of the handl e
and conf ig ured to sl ide al ong the el ong ated sl ot between
a l ocked p osition, in which, whil e the bl ade is in the
cl osed p osition, the saf ety l ockextends between the dis
tal end of the bl ade and an op ening of the hol l ow reg ion,
and an unl ockedp osition, in which the saf ety l ock does
not interf ere with mov ement of the bl ade, the saf ety l ock
incl uding :
a threaded f astener; and
a bl ock hav ing an ap erture and a bl ocking p ortion, the
threaded f astener extending throug h the el ong ated
sl ot and eng ag ing the ap erture, the bl ocking p ortion
extending f rom the f irst side of the handl e into the
hol l ow reg ion toward the second side of the handl e
without contacting the second side of the handl e.
1 5 . Thef ol ding knif e of cl aim 1 4 wherein the bl ockof the
saf ety l ockis of a non- metal l ic material top rev ent damag e to
a sharp ened edg e of the bl ade in the ev ent of contact between
the sharp ened edg e and the bl ock.
* * * * *