Blade locking mechanism
AssigneeMentor Group, L.L.C.
InventorYVES NEVEUX
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A folding tool (14, 60) including a locking mechanism for keeping a knife blade (2, 72) or other tool blade in an extended position or a folded position with respect to a handle (1, 62). A locking body (3, 90, 90′, 142, 150, 162) extending between the sides (16, 18, 64, 68) of the handle (1, 62) is moveable transversely, between a locking position and a releasing position. A flat locking face (42, 102) of the locking body (3, 90) engages a flat engagement surface (44, 104) on the blade (2, 72) when the blade is in the extended position. A ball detent including a projecting ball surface (98) and a mating detent cavity (112) may be used to keep the blade in its folded position with respect to the handle. Another detent includes inclined surfaces (128, 132).
Claims21
A folding tool, comprising:
- (a) a handle having a pair of sides and defining a groove between said sides;
- (b) a blade mounted on the handle and moveable about a pivot axis, between a folded position and an extended position with respect to the handle, said blade having a base portion and a transversely extending flat engagement surface located on said base portion and spaced apart from said pivot axis;
- (c) a pair of locking body holes aligned transversely opposite each other, each of said sides defining a respective one of said locking body holes;
- and
- (d) a locking body disposed in said locking body holes and extending transversely between said sides of said handle, said locking body being slidable transversely with respect to said handle between a releasing position and a locking position, and said locking body having a substantially flat locking face resting on said engagement surface when said locking body is in said locking position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.