US 4,047,298 AGranted

Combination sheath and rigid handle for knife blades and the like

OwnerDonald T. Philipparinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An improved and simplified combination sheath and rigid handle for small, elongate tools such as knife blades, saws, small chisels and the like is disclosed herein. The structure of the invention is combined with a tool such as a knife blade having a butt end which is provided with a pair of side-by-side hinge elements having axes which are disposed transversely of the longitudinal center line of the knife blade or other tool. Swingably connected to such hinge elements are a pair of cooperating sheaths and handle members such as elongate bars or plates of somewhat greater length than the knife blade or tool, and of width greater than the width of the tool for protecting the same in one of the operative positions of the device. These bar or plate members, near the free ends thereof, when swung rearwardly in opposing relation to form a handle, have interlocking elements which prevent lateral or other shifting of the two plates when positioned in opposing relation to form a handle and rigidify the combination tool. To protect the tool or user when not in use, the bar or plate elements are swung reversely forward in opposing relation, forming an enclosure covering the sides and edges of the knife blade or the like. A retaining means is also provided for holding the free ends of the two bars or plates in opposed relation in both the positions of a sheath and of a rigid handle.

Claims4

Dependent claims

In combination with a knife blade or the like having relatively broad sides and an attachment butt with substantially parallel, broad attachment surfaces,

a combination handle and protective sheath for said knife blade comprising a pair of elongate, substantially flat members having widths somewhat greater than the maximum width of said knife blade and hingedly attached at corresponding ends to the respective surfaces of the butt of said blade and thereby spacing said elongate members apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of said knife blade,
the attachment surfaces of said butt having outstanding hinge elements affixed thereto with the axes of said elements being disposed transversely of said butt surfaces,
the hinged attachment ends of said substantially flat members having hinge elements formed therein for complemental positioning respectively with the outstanding hinge elements of said blade butt to operatively and hingedly interconnect said butt and members for swinging of said members forwardly in opposition to the sides of said knife blade and rearwardly of said butt to opposed position jointly constituting a handle for said blade,
one of said members adjacent its unhinged end carrying a pin projecting in opposition to the other elongate member when said members are swung fully rearwardly to jointly form said handle,
and said opposing elongate member having a recess near its unhinged end for receiving and interlocking with said pin.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.