Knife

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12023819-B2
Application number	US-202318151264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2023
Priority date	Dec 10, 2015
Publication date	Jul 2, 2024
Grant date	Jul 2, 2024

Abstract

A folding knife including a handle, a pivot axis, and a blade having a cutting edge. The blade is pivotably coupled to the handle such that the blade is pivotable relative to the handle about the pivot axis between a retracted position and an extended position. The cutting edge is exposed in the extended position and a portion of the blade is received within the handle in the retracted position. The folding knife further includes a bearing assembly for facilitating movement of the blade between the retracted position and the extended position. The bearing assembly includes a first bearing recessed within the blade and a second bearing recessed within the handle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A folding knife comprising:
a handle comprising a first handle and a second handle coupled to the first handle;
a blade having a cutting edge, the blade is pivotably coupled to the handle between the first handle and the second handle, the blade is pivotable about a pivot axis with respect to the first handle and the second handle between a retracted position and an extended position, the cutting edge is exposed in the extended position and a portion of the blade is received between the first handle and the second handle in the retracted position; and
a groove within the blade, the groove extending around the pivot axis;
a bearing within the groove for facilitating movement of the blade between the retracted position and the extended position, the groove comprising a recessed surface facing towards the first handle, the bearing comprising a disc-shaped bearing cage, the disc-shaped bearing cage comprising a lateral surface that faces towards the first handle and away from the recessed surface; and
a stem that extends longitudinally along the pivot axis, the stem comprising an outer planar portion facing away from the pivot axis, and the outer planar portion of the stem is received within an aperture of the second handle and an aperture of the disc-shaped bearing cage.

2. The folding knife of claim 1 , the stem comprising a cylindrical outer surface facing away from the pivot axis.

3. The folding knife of claim 1 , comprising a liner interposed between the first handle and the blade.

4. The folding knife of claim 3 , comprising a spacer between the second handle and the liner.

5. The folding knife of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of engagement members partially supported by the bearing cage.

6. The folding knife of claim 5 , the plurality of engagement members extending beyond the blade to form a gap between the blade and the first handle.

7. The folding knife of claim 1 , further comprising a locking arm that is moveable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, the locking arm inhibits movement of the blade in the locked configuration, whereas movement of the blade is allowed in the unlocked configuration.

8. The folding knife of claim 7 , comprising a retaining member, the retaining member is operable to engage the locking arm to inhibit the locking arm from extending beyond the unlocked configuration.

9. The folding knife of claim 1 , wherein the stem comprises an internal threading.

10. The folding knife of claim 1 , wherein the bearing cage does not extend out of the groove.

11. A folding knife comprising:
a handle comprising a first handle and a second handle coupled to the first handle;
a blade having a cutting edge, the blade is pivotably coupled to the handle between the first handle and the second handle, the blade is pivotable about a pivot axis with respect to the first handle and the second handle between a retracted position and an extended position, the cutting edge is exposed in the extended position and a portion of the blade is received within the handle in the retracted position;
a groove in the second handle, the groove extending around the pivot axis;
a bearing within the groove in the second handle, the bearing comprising a disc-shaped bearing cage and a plurality of engagement members partially supported by the disc-shaped bearing cage; and
a stem that extends longitudinally along the pivot axis, the stem comprising an outer planar portion facing away from the pivot axis, and the outer planar portion of the stem is received within an aperture of the blade and an aperture of the disc-shaped bearing cage.

12. The folding knife of claim 11 , comprising a plurality of engagement members partially supported by the bearing cage.

13. The folding knife of claim 12 , the plurality of engagement members extending beyond the second handle to form a gap between the second handle and the blade.

14. The folding knife of claim 13 , the stem comprising a cylindrical outer surface facing away from the pivot axis.

15. The folding knife of claim 13 , wherein the bearing cage does not extend out of the groove.

16. The folding knife of claim 11 , wherein the first handle and the second handle are detachably coupled.

17. A folding knife comprising:
a handle comprising a first handle and a second handle coupled to the first handle;
a blade having a cutting edge, the blade is pivotably coupled to the handle between the first handle and the second handle, the blade is pivotable about a pivot axis with respect to the first handle and the second handle between a retracted position and an extended position, the cutting edge is exposed in the extended position and a portion of the blade is received within the handle in the retracted position; and
a first groove within the blade, the first groove extending around the pivot axis;
a first bearing within the first groove, the first bearing defining a first central aperture, the first bearing comprising a first plurality of engagement members arranged around the first central aperture, the first plurality of engagement members facilitating movement of the blade between the retracted position and the extended position;
a second groove within the second handle;
a second bearing within the second groove, the second bearing defining a second central aperture, the second bearing comprising a second plurality of engagement members arranged around the second central aperture, the second plurality of engagement members facilitating movement of the blade between the retracted position and the extended position; and
a stem received within the first central aperture of the first bearing and the second central aperture of the second bearing, the stem comprising a planar outer surface that faces towards at least one of the first bearing and the second bearing.

18. The folding knife of claim 17 , the stem comprising an internal threading and a cylindrical outer surface facing away from the pivot axis.

19. The folding knife of claim 17 , wherein the first plurality of engagement members extend beyond the blade to form a gap between the blade and the first handle.

20. The folding knife of claim 19 , wherein the second plurality of engagement members extend beyond the second handle to form a gap between the second handle and the blade.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Debaker Joseph M

Classifications

• B26B1/044 Primary

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