US 5,044,079 AGranted

Folding knife with open lock feature having improved spring element

AssigneeCamillus Cutlery Co.

InventorPhilip W. Gibbs

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Abstract

A knife having at least one blade or other implement foldable about a pivot axis at one end of the handle. A separate lock lever is associated with each blade or implement and has an end portion engaging a notch in the blade adjacent the pivot point to prevent movement of the blade away from the open position until the lock is manually released. The lock levers are mounted for limited pivotal movement at an intermediate position and urged toward engagement of the one end portion with the blade notch when the blade is moved to its open or erected position by respective beam springs. The improved beam springs are mounted upon linings in a position laterally spaced from their respective lock levers. The beam spring end opposite the mounted end is curved and extends laterally through a hole in its associated lining and contacts its associated lock lever. The lock levers are released from the blade notches by pressing upon portions of the lock levers arranged in transverse grooves which are longitudinally offset along the back of the knife at the end opposite the end at which the blades are pivotally mounted.

Claims18

Dependent claims

In a folding knife having a handle portion and at least one blade having a tang portion pivotally mounted for movement about an axis at one end of said handle for movement of said blade between closed and open positions, a locking and release mechanism for releasably securing said blade in the fully open position, said mechanism comprising, in combination:

(a) a lock lever mounted in said handle for limited pivotal movement with respect thereto about a pivot axis parallel to said blade tang pivot axis, and having a first end portion configured for engagement in a notch in the tang portion of said blade which is aligned with said lock lever first end portion when said blade is in its fully open position, wherein said lock lever and said blade are in substantially co-planar longitudinally aligned relation;
and
(b) a beam spring mounted in said handle, and having a first end portion anchored to said handle in a plane laterally spaced from the plane in which said lock lever and said blade lie, and a second end portion laterally extending from said first end portion, said second end portion contacting said lock lever at a position on the opposite side of said lock lever pivot axis from said lock lever first end portion and exerting a biasing force urging said lock lever toward rotation in a direction moving said lock lever first end portion into engagement with said notch in said blade tang portion, said spring second end portion being flexibly movable against said biasing force by manual pressure exerted on a predetermined portion of said lock lever.

A folding knife comprising:

(a) at least one blade having a tang portion with a notch therein;
(b) a handle portion including at least one lining externally covered by a cover piece of substantially the same outline as said lining;
(c) a pivot pin extending through said tang portion to mount said blade adjacent one end of said handle portion for pivotal movement with respect thereto between open and closed positions;
(d) at least one lock lever mounted in parallel relation between said cover pieces at an intermediate position between said one end and a second, opposite end portion of said handle for limited, pivotal movement between first and second positions, wherein a first end portion of said lock lever is respectively in and out of engagement with said notch in said blade tang portion when said blade is in its open and closed positions;
(e) at least one beam spring having an anchored end and a free end wherein said anchored end of said beam spring is in a position laterally spaced from said lock lever;
(f) said free end of said beam spring laterally extending from said anchored end and contacting said lock lever at a position thereon on the opposite side of the pivotal mounting of said lock lever from said first end portion urging said lock lever toward said first position, said lock lever being movable to said second position by manual pressure exerted on a second end portion thereof;
and
(g) at least one groove extending laterally across said handle portion adjacent the end opposite said one end of said handle, said second end portion of said lock lever being disposed in said groove wherein it is accessible for exertion of said manual pressure.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.