Sliding scale release for an automatically opening tool

An automatically opening tool, comprising:

• a frame having a length along a longitudinal axis, a width perpendicular to the length along a horizontal axis, and a height perpendicular to the length and width, the frame having a first wall extending along the longitudinal axis from a rear proximal position to a forward distal position and having a first outside surface facing in the direction of the horizontal axis;
• a first scale mounted at the first outside surface in a sliding arrangement along the longitudinal axis;
• a tool having a distal tip and a proximal base coupled to the frame and displaceable between a closed, retracted configuration wherein the distal tip points towards the rear proximal direction and an open extended configuration wherein the distal tip points towards the forward distal direction;
• a rotationally biased shaft mounted on the frame, the tool coupled to a shaft, wherein the shaft has a stepped configuration with a major diameter and a minor diameter, smaller than the major diameter, the major diameter portion of the shaft includes symmetric V-shaped notches on opposite sides thereof and the minor diameter portion of the shaft extends through the base of the tool, to pivotally couple the tool to the frame and to bias the tool from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration;
• the V-shaped notches being part of a selectively releasable locking mechanism coupled to the first scale and adapted to selectively lock the tool in the extended configuration and the retracted configuration and to unlock the tool when the locking mechanism is released by sliding the first scale along the longitudinal axis.

An automatically opening tool, comprising:

• a frame defining a tool receiving area and having a first wall with an outside surface and an inside surface opposite the outside surface, a length along a longitudinal axis of the frame, a top side and a bottom side defining a height perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a width along a horizontal axis, perpendicular to the length and the height;
• a tool coupled to the frame and displaceable between a closed, retracted configuration wherein the tool is positioned at least substantially within the tool receiving area and an open extended configuration wherein the tool is positioned at least substantially outside the tool receiving area;
• a biasing mechanism coupled to the frame and the tool, the biasing mechanism adapted to bias the tool from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration;
• a selectively releasable locking mechanism having a projection selectively and releasably received in a notch, adapted to selectively lock the tool in the extended configuration and the retracted configuration and to unlock the tool when the locking mechanism is released;
• a first scale coupled to the frame with an attachment device extending through an opening in the frame from the outside surface past the inside surface, to retain the first scale in sliding engagement with the frame, the first scale coupled to the locking mechanism, the scale and locking mechanism adapted such that sliding the scale with respect to the frame along the longitudinal axis unlocks the locking mechanism.