# US 12,179,374 B2 · Pivoting ramped blade lock

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,179,374 B2
- Document ID: US12179374B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/688,272
- Filed: 2022-03-07
- Published: 2022-12-15
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-06-11
- Assignees: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
- Applicants: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
- Inventors: Stephen Rowlay; Ralf Strauss
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179374B2

## CPC

- B26B 5/00: Hand knives with one or more detachable blades
- B26B 5/003: {comprising retraction means for the blade or the blade holder}
- B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H)

## Abstract

A knife includes a handle, a neck configured to hold a blade, and a lever configured to selectively release the blade from the neck. The lever is coupled to a blade lock arm configured to extend along a side of the blade. A ramped surface pushes the blade lock arm into the blade to press the blade against a side of the neck to clamp the blade to the side of the neck when the blade lock arm is in a blade locked position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A knife comprising:
a handle;
a neck connected to the handle and configured to hold a blade; and
a lever configured to selectively release the blade from the neck;
wherein the lever is coupled to a blade lock arm configured to extend along a side of the blade;
wherein a ramped surface of the knife pushes the blade lock arm onto the blade to press the blade against a side of the neck to clamp the blade to the side of the neck when the blade lock arm is in a blade locked position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The knife of claim 1, wherein the neck is pivotally mounted to the handle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The knife of claim 1, wherein the ramped surface is formed on the neck.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The knife of claim 1, wherein the ramped surface comprises a detent configured to receive a protrusion of the knife to provide a tactile feel to a user when the blade lock arm is in the blade locked position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The knife of claim 4, wherein the protrusion is formed on the blade lock arm, and the ramped surface is formed on the neck.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The knife of claim 1, wherein a detent of the knife is configured to provide a tactile feel to a user when the blade lock arm is in a blade unlocked position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The knife of claim 6, wherein the detent is formed on the neck.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The knife of claim 1, wherein the lever is coupled to a blade notch engaging flange, and configured such that movement of the blade lock arm into the blade locked position moves the blade notch engaging flange into a blade notch of the blade.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The knife of claim 1, wherein the lever is pivoted at a pivot axis.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The knife of claim 9, wherein the neck comprises a pivot pin and the lever comprises a pivot aperture that receives the pivot pin.