Folding knife with selectively hidden blade release

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12246464-B2
Application number	US-202117550557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2021
Priority date	Dec 15, 2020
Publication date	Mar 11, 2025
Grant date	Mar 11, 2025

Abstract

Certain embodiments of a folding knife are disclosed. In one embodiment, an example knife may include a handle and a blade carrier. The blade carrier may be rotatable about the handle and may include a left and a right cap. A blade may be removably disposed within the blade carrier. The knife may further include a blade release mechanism. In one embodiment, the blade release mechanism may include a compression spring and a lift bar. In another embodiment, the blade release mechanism may further include a wheel. In yet another embodiment, the blade release mechanism may include a leaf spring and a slide bar. When the blade carrier is rotated such that the knife is not in a cutting position, at least a portion of the blade release mechanism is exposed. When the blade release mechanism is activated, the blade may be removed from within the blade carrier.

First claim

The claimed subject matter is:

1. A knife, comprising:
a handle;
a blade carrier rotatable about the handle, wherein the blade carrier comprises at least a left cap and a right cap;
a blade removably disposed within the blade carrier; and
a blade release mechanism disposed within the blade carrier and comprising a wheel, a lift bar, and a spring, wherein a portion of the blade release mechanism is visible only when the blade carrier is rotated by a predetermined angle so that the wheel is accessible and operable to move the lift bar from a first position to a second position to release the blade from the blade carrier.

2. The knife of claim 1 , wherein the spring is a compression spring.

3. The knife of claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises a blade storage mechanism configured to have an open position and a closed position.

4. The knife of claim 3 , wherein the blade storage mechanism is sized and shaped to store the blade when the blade is removed from the blade carrier.

5. The knife of claim 1 , wherein the blade is releasable when the wheel of the blade release mechanism is actuated.

6. The knife of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one of the lift bar, or the wheel of the blade release mechanism is of a different color than the handle.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is 45 degrees with respect to the handle.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein in the second position the lift bar is in contact with the spring.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein in the second position, a first end of the lift bar is positioned higher than an opposing second end of the lift bar in a vertical direction.

10. A device, comprising:
a handle;
a blade carrier rotatable about the handle, further comprising:
a left blade carrier; and
a right blade carrier;

a blade release mechanism disposed within the blade carrier, further comprising:
a spring;
a wheel; and
a bar; and

a blade removably disposed within the blade carrier, wherein the blade is removable from the blade carrier when the blade release mechanism is engaged, wherein a portion of the blade release mechanism is only visible once the blade carrier is rotated to a predetermined angle so that the wheel is accessible and operable to move the bar from a first position to a second position to release the blade from the blade carrier.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the spring is a compression spring, and wherein the bar is a lift bar.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the handle further comprises a blade storage mechanism configured to have an open position and a closed position.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined angle is 45 degrees with respect to the handle.

14. The device of claim 10 , wherein in the second position the bar is in contact with the spring.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein in the second position, a first end of the bar is positioned vertically higher than a second opposing end of the bar.

Assignees

• Stanley Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Ebert Kara Nicole
• Strauss Ralf
• Parker Gregory David

Classifications

• B25G1/08

  with provision for storing tool elements · CPC title

• B26B5/00 Primary

  Hand knives with one or more detachable blades · CPC title

• B26B1/02 Primary

  with pivoted blade · CPC title