Folding Knife Safety Mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020290221-A1
Application number	US-202016814642-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 10, 2020
Priority date	Mar 11, 2019
Publication date	Sep 17, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A folding knife with a locking mechanism is provided. The folding knife includes a locking spring that interfaces with a recess in the blade to bias the blade from being pivoted out of the handle. A button interfaces with the locking spring to actuate the locking spring interfacing with the blade.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A folding knife comprising:
a handle; an internal cavity defined by the handle; a blade rotatably coupled to the handle, the blade rotating with respect to the handle into and out of the internal cavity between a retracted position and an extended position, the blade defining a recess; a sliding lock slidably coupled to the handle; and a locking spring coupled to the handle, a first end of the locking spring interfaces with the recess when the blade is in the retracted position, the locking spring interfaces against the sliding lock and biases the sliding lock away from a tip of the blade when the blade is in the retracted position.

2 . The folding knife of claim 1 , wherein the blade rotates about a rotational axis with respect to the handle, and wherein the recess defines a first surface that is radially aligned with respect to the rotational axis.

3 . The folding knife of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the locking spring interfaces against the first surface of the recess to bias the blade towards the retracted position.

4 . The folding knife of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the locking spring interfaces against a tang of the blade.

5 . The folding knife of claim 1 , wherein the locking spring comprises a second end opposite the first end, the second end is rigidly coupled to the handle, and wherein the first end pivots with respect to the second end.

6 . The folding knife of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the locking spring does not interface with the blade when the blade is in the extended position.

7 . The folding knife of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a top and a bottom opposite the top, wherein the locking spring comprises a middle portion that protrudes towards the bottom of the handle, and wherein the middle portion of the locking spring interfaces against the sliding lock.

8 . A folding knife comprising:
a handle comprising a top and a bottom opposite the top; an internal cavity defined by the handle; a blade rotatably coupled to the handle, the blade rotating with respect to the handle into and out of the internal cavity between a retracted position and an extended position out of the bottom of the handle, the blade defining a recess; a locking spring coupled to the handle, the locking spring comprises a middle portion that protrudes towards the bottom of the handle, a first end of the locking spring is within the recess when the blade is in the retracted position; and a sliding lock slidably coupled to the handle, wherein the sliding lock interfaces against the middle portion of the locking spring.

9 . The folding knife of claim 8 , wherein the blade rotates about a rotational axis with respect to the handle, and wherein the recess defines a first surface that is radially aligned with respect to the rotational axis.

10 . The folding knife of claim 9 , wherein the first end of the locking spring interfaces against the first surface of the recess to bias the blade towards the retracted position.

11 . The folding knife of claim 8 , wherein the first end of the locking spring interfaces against a tang of the blade.

12 . The folding knife of claim 8 , wherein the locking spring comprises a second end opposite the first end, the second end is rigidly coupled to the handle, and wherein the first end pivots with respect to the second end.

13 . The folding knife of claim 8 , wherein the first end of the locking spring does not interface with the blade when the blade is in the extended position.

14 . The folding knife of claim 8 , wherein the middle portion of the locking spring interfaces against the sliding lock.

15 . A folding knife comprising:
a handle; an internal cavity defined by the handle; a blade rotatably coupled to the handle, the blade rotating with respect to the handle into and out of the internal cavity between a retracted position and an extended position, the blade defining a recess; a locking spring coupled to the handle, the locking spring defining a first end and a second end, the first end of the locking spring is within the recess of the blade when the blade is in the retracted position, the second end of the locking spring defining a V-shape; and a sliding lock slidably coupled to the handle.

16 . The folding knife of claim 15 , wherein the blade rotates about a rotational axis with respect to the handle, and wherein the recess defines a first surface that is radially aligned with respect to the rotational axis, and wherein the first end of the locking spring interfaces against the first surface of the recess to bias the blade towards the retracted position.

17 . The folding knife of claim 15 , wherein the first end of the locking spring interfaces against a tang of the blade.

18 . The folding knife of claim 15 , wherein the locking spring comprises a second end opposite the first end, the second end is rigidly coupled to the handle, and wherein the first end pivots with respect to the second end.

19 . The folding knife of claim 15 , wherein the first end of the locking spring does not interface with the blade when the blade is in the extended position.

20 . The folding knife of claim 15 , wherein the handle comprises a top and a bottom opposite the top, wherein the locking spring comprises a middle portion that protrudes towards the bottom of the handle.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Hangartner Scott M

Classifications

• B26B1/042

  by a spring biased locking lever pivoting around an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the blade · CPC title

• B26B1/06

  with loosely-inserted spring · CPC title

• B26B1/048 Primary

  with a locking member being slidable or movable along the handle · CPC title