Power-assisted folding knife

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10870210-B2
Application number	US-201616467222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2016
Priority date	Dec 30, 2016
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

The present invention provides a power-assisted folding knife, comprising a handle, a blade, a locking mechanism, an assisting mechanism and a second assisting mechanism. The blade is rotatably connected to the handle. The locking mechanism and the second assisting mechanism are provided inside the handle. The assisting mechanism is connected to the handle and the blade respectively. When the blade is in a folded position, the assisting mechanism and the second assisting mechanism are used for locking or unlocking the blade. When the blade is in an unfolded position, the locking mechanism is used for locking or unlocking the blade. When the power-assisted folding knife is unfolded, the assisting mechanism and the second assisting mechanism provide assisting force for the blade and/or the handle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A power-assisted folding knife, comprising:
a handle,
a blade rotatably connected to the handle,
a locking mechanism used for locking or unlocking the blade when the blade is in an unfolded position,
wherein the power-assisted folding knife further comprising:
a first assisting mechanism connected to the handle and the blade respectively,
a second assisting mechanism provided inside the handle,
when the blade is in a folded position, the first assisting mechanism and the second assisting mechanism are used for locking or unlocking the blade,
when the power-assisted folding knife is unfolded, the first assisting mechanism and the second assisting mechanism provide assisting force for the blade and/or the handle;
wherein the first assisting mechanism comprises a linkage rod, one end thereof is connected to the blade, and the other end thereof is connected to the handle;
wherein the linkage rod comprises:
a body,
a first curved portion provided at one end of the linkage rod, and
a second curved portion provided at the other end of the linkage rod;

wherein the body comprises:
a first linear portion, perpendicularly connected to the first curved portion,
a second linear portion, perpendicularly connected to the second curved portion, and
a bent portion, connecting the first linear portion and the second linear portion.

2. The power-assisted folding knife according to claim 1 , wherein the blade comprises:
a blade shank rotatably connected to the handle,
a first mounting hole passing through the blade shank, a first rotating shaft provided at the joint of the handle and the blade shank and movably mounted inside the first mounting hole, and
a second mounting hole passing through the blade shank, the first curved portion of the linkage rod being movably mounted inside the second mounting hole.

3. The power-assisted folding knife according to claim 2 , wherein the handle comprises:
a mounting slot,
an elastic member provided inside the mounting slot,
a sliding member slidable inside the mounting slot and connected to the elastic member,
a third mounting hole passing through the sliding member, the second curved portion of the linkage rod being movably mounted inside the third mounting.

4. The power-assisted folding knife according to claim 3 , wherein during an unfolding process of the power-assisted folding knife, after a straight line where the first linear portion has crossed over the first rotating shaft, the torque generated by the elastic force of the elastic member causes the blade to rotate in an unfolding direction, so as to provide assisting force required for unfolding the power-assisted folding knife.

5. The power-assisted folding knife according to claim 3 , wherein during a folding process of the power-assisted folding knife, after a straight line where the first linear portion has crossed over the first rotating shaft, the torque generated by the elastic force of the elastic member causes the blade to rotate in a folding direction, so as to achieve locking of the power-assisted folding knife.

6. The power-assisted folding knife according to claim 3 , wherein the handle comprises:
an elastic member mounting plate with the mounting slot provided therewithin, and
a first fixed mounting plate, a second fixed mounting plate, fixed to both sides of the elastic member mounting plate respectively,
a first slot provided in the first fixed mounting plate, the body of the linkage rod positioned inside the first slot.

7. The power-assisted folding knife according to claim 6 , wherein the second assisting mechanism comprises:
a second rotating shaft perpendicularly fixed to the elastic member mounting plate and/or the second fixed mounting plate,
a rotating member rotatably mounted to the second rotating shaft.

8. The power-assisted folding knife according to claim 7 , wherein
the rotating member comprises a turning piece having a middle portion thereof rotatably mounted to the second rotating shaft,
the first fixed mounting plate is provided with a second slot communicated with the first slot,
the turning piece is positioned within the second slot,
during the unfolding process of the power-assisted folding knife, the torque generated by the turning piece pushing the body of the linkage rod causes the blade to rotate in the unfolding direction until the straight line where the first linear portion has crossed over the first rotating shaft, so as to provide assisting force required for unfolding the power-assisted folding knife.

9. The power-assisted folding knife according to claim 8 , wherein the rotating member further comprises:
a press piece provided at one end of the turning piece adjacent to the first rotating shaft, being perpendicular to the turning piece,
a limit piece provided at the other end of the turning piece distant from the first rotating shaft, being perpendicular to the turning piece,
wherein the press piece and the limit piece are provided at both sides of the turning piece respectively.

10. The power-assisted folding knife according to claim 9 , wherein
the blade further comprises a cutting edge,
the blade shank is provided with an L-shaped indentation on a side thereof corresponding to the cutting edge,
when the blade is positioned in the folded position, the limit piece is snap-fitted to the L-shaped indentation, the kinetic moment generated by the elastic member and the resisting moment generated by the limit piece causing a moment balance of the blade, so as to lock the blade.

11. The power-assisted folding knife according to claim 9 , wherein
the handle is provided with a limit key at one end thereof adjacent to the first rotating shaft,
the limit key is fixed to the second fixed mounting plate and corresponds to the blade,
the blade further comprises a spine edge,
the blade shank is provided with a second L-shaped indentation on a side thereof corresponding to the spine edge,
when the blade is positioned in the unfolded position, the limit key is snap-fitted to the second L-shaped indentation, the kinetic moment generated by the elastic member and the resisting moment generated by the limit key causing a moment balance of the blade so as to lock the blade.

12. The power-assisted folding knife according to claim 9 , wherein the handle comprises:
a first outer shell fixed to a side of the first fixed mounting plate opposite to the elastic member mounting plate, and a second outer shell fixed to a side of the second fixed mounting plate opposite to the elastic member mounting plate; and
a press piece exit provided on a corresponding one of the first and second outer shells on a side corresponding to the press piece, the press piece passing through the press piece exit and protruding from the corresponding outer shell.

Assignees

• Hangzhou Great Star Ind Co Ltd
• Hangzhou Great Star Tools Co Ltd

Inventors

• Wang Weiyi

Classifications

• B26B1/046 Primary

  with a locking member acting in axial direction parallel to the pivot axis of the blade · CPC title

• B26B1/06

  with loosely-inserted spring · CPC title

• B26B1/04

  lockable in adjusted position · CPC title

• B26B1/044

  by a spring tongue snapping behind or into the tang of the blade from a side part of the handle · CPC title