US 12,233,562 B2Granted

Folding knife

AssigneeMagpul Industries Corp.

InventorsMichael T. Mayberry, Danny R. Smith, Thomas Ward, Deniece Hopkins, Timothy Eric Roberts, Timothy James Galyean

Life of this patent

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Abstract

This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for a locking folding knife having a handle lock and a safety switch arranged around and rotatable around a pivot axis of the knife. In an engaged position the switch overlaps at least a portion of the handle lock and prevents it from moving into an unlocked position. A spring, such as a wire form spring, can be arranged within a pocket of the switch, and when the switch is moved between engaged and disengaged positions the spring can be compressed generating a rotational bias on the switch urging the switch toward either the engaged or disengaged position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A locking folding knife comprising:

a handle;
a first pivot axis;
a blade having a cutting edge and a tang, the blade is pivotably coupled to the handle such that the blade is pivotable relative to the handle about the first 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;
a locking mechanism comprising a lock in the handle, or in a liner, and the lock being biased to a locked position, wherein the locked position prevents the blade from rotating towards the retracted position;
a switch located in a switch cutout recess in the handle or liner, wherein the switch is operable to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein when the switch is in the engaged position, the switch blocks movement of the lock from the locked position, and wherein when the switch is in the disengaged position, the lock is free to move from the locked position;
and
a spring having two ends, a first curved end arranged within a pocket of the handle, and a second end arranged within an internal sub-pocket of the switch, wherein the second end is curved, and wherein the sub-pocket is surrounded by the switch.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/340,661Filed 7 Jun 2021 · continuation
Priority: 18 Dec 2018
Published: US 2021/0331335 A128 Oct 2021
Granted: 25 Feb 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

B26B 1/044
Lockable in adjusted position: by a spring tongue snapping behind or into the tang of the blade from a side part of the handle
B26B 1/048
Lockable in adjusted position: with a locking member being slidable or movable along the handle
B26B
Hand-held cutting tools not otherwise provided for

Family

Application62/781,518Us provisional application · filed 18 Dec 2018
Application62/785,730Us provisional application · filed 28 Dec 2018
Application16/268,608Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 6 Feb 2019
Application16/897,494Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Jun 2020
US 2021/0331335 A1Pre-grant publication · published 28 Oct 2021
US 11,052,551 B2Parent of this continuation
US 11,453,133 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application16/897,494Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2020/0189127 A1Published application
US 2020/0368925 A1Published application
US 12,233,562 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.