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US 2003/0145468 A1Published application
Folding knife with a substantially spherical locking mechanism
AssigneeSpyderco, Inc.
InventorLouis S. Glesser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to folding knives, and more particularly folding knives which have locking mechanisms which engage the knife blade to prevent the inadvertent closing of the knife blade.
Claims26
A locking mechanism adapted for use with a folding knife, comprising:
- a substantially spherical ball operably sized to fit within an elongated slot in a forward portion of a folding knife handle;
- a biasing means operably engaged to said substantially spherical ball on a first end and the folding knife handle on a second end, wherein said ball is biased in a forward position in said elongated slot;
- wherein when the blade of the folding knife is extended in a first position of use, said substantially spherical ball is adapted for operable engagement with a tang positioned on a heel end of the folding knife blade, wherein the blade is substantially prevented from rotating, and wherein when said substantially spherical ball is withdrawn from said tang said blade may rotate to a second closed position with at least a portion of the blade positioned within a cavity in the folding knife handle.
A folding knife with a substantially spherical ball locking mechanism, comprising:
- a handle having a front end, a rear end an upper edge and a lower edge;
- a cavity positioned between said front end and said rear end of said handle and proximate to said lower edge;
- a blade having a front end, a heel end, an upper edge and a lower edge, said heel end rotatably interconnected to said front end of said handle wherein said blade travels from a first extended position of use wherein said blade is substantially an extension of said handle, and a second closed position with at least a portion of said blade lower edge positioned within said cavity;
- an elongated slot positioned within said handle proximate to said front end and comprising a front end and a rear end;
- a substantially spherical ball positioned within said elongated slot which operably travels between said front end and said rear end of said elongated slot;
- a biasing means in operable engagement with said ball and said handle which provides a forward force on said substantially spherical ball, wherein when said substantially spherical ball engages a tang on said heel end of blade, said blade is substantially locked in said first extended position, and when said ball is retracted from engagement with said tang, said blade is unrestricted to rotate to said second closed position.
3 more elements
A folding knife with a blade locking mechanism, comprising:
- a handle having a front end, a rear end and a cavity extending therebetween positioned proximate to a lower edge;
- a blade having a front end, a heel end, an upper edge and a lower edge, said heel end rotatably interconnected to said front end of said handle wherein said blade travels from a first extended position of use and a second closed position with at least a portion of said blade lower edge contained within said cavity;
- an elongated slot positioned within said handle proximate to said front end and comprising a front end and a rear end;
- a substantially spherical ball positioned within said elongated slot which operably travels between said front end and said rear end of said elongated slot, wherein when said substantially spherical ball is in said front end of said elongated slot said substantially spherical ball engages a tang on said heel end of blade, wherein said blade is locked in said first extended position until said ball is retracted away from said tang, wherein said blade is unrestricted to rotate to said second closed position.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.