Locking mechanism for a folding knife

[0001] This application is a Divisional of and claims the filing benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 and §121 of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/807,088, Aug. 27, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,286,357, and claims the filing benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/243,961, filed Sep. 18, 2009 and claimed in U.S. Ser. No. 12/807,088, both of which previously filed applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] The present invention pertains generally to knives, and more particularly to a locking mechanism for a folding knife.

[0003] A folding knife is a cutting tool in which the blade is connected to the handle through a pivot, allowing the blade to fold into the handle. To prevent injury to the user's hand caused by accidental closing, folding knives typically have a locking mechanism. Different locking mechanisms are favored by various individuals for reasons such as perceived strength (lock safety) and ease of use (ergonomics). Knife manufacturers will also consider costs to make the components, tolerances, durability and possible warranty claims.

[0004] Inventors have come up with various designs of locking mechanisms for folding knives Several of the latest inventions focus on improving the ergonomics of operation, especially on opening and closing the blade with one hand, by building a thumb stud into the forward portion of the handle. However most of these designs are complicated in structure, requiring a large number of parts, and use small unreliable omega springs. As a result, the knives are difficult to manufacture, and result in higher production cost compared to older and simpler designs.

[0005] The present invention is directed to a locking mechanism for a folding knife. The knife has a spring assisted locking lever and ambidextrous thumb posts which projects through openings on the handle for unlocking the blade. The knife enables easy and safe one hand use (opening and closing the blade), and at the same time keeps the number of parts and manufacturing complication to a minimum. The knife is safer for the operator to use, because the mechanism is designed in a way that when unlocking the blade, the operator naturally has all of his fingers out of the way of the blade path. As a result, accidental snap-closing or cutting of fingers are unlikely to happen.

[0006] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a folding knife includes a handle, the handle including (1) a first wall spaced apart from a second wall, (2) a central longitudinal axis, (3) a front end, and (4) an opposite rear end. The first wall has a first slot disposed near the front end of the handle, the first slot being completely surrounded by the first wall. The first slot has a first slot axis which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the handle. The second wall has a second slot disposed near the front end of the handle, the second slot being completely surrounded by the second wall. The second slot has a second slot axis which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the handle. A blade has a tip and an opposite base, the base is pivotally connected to said first and second walls of said handle so that said blade can be placed in (1) an extended position, and (2) a fully folded position between the first and second walls of the handle. The base of the blade has a notch. A locking lever is disposed between the first and second walls, the locking lever including a front end, a middle section, and a rear end, the middle section is pivotally connected to the first and second walls. A spring is disposed between the first and second walls near the rear end of the handle, the spring contacting the rear end of the locking lever and urging the front end of the locking lever toward the central longitudinal axis of the handle. A thumb post is slidably disposed within the first and second slots, the thumb post extending completely through the handle, and the thumb post longitudinally movable along the first and second slots.

[0007] In accordance with another embodiment, the thumb post resides in abutting relationship with the front end of the locking lever, wherein the spring causes the thumb post to be urged toward the central longitudinal axis of the handle. The thumb post is received by the notch in the base of the blade when the blade is in the extended position, and the thumb post retains the blade in the extended position.

[0008] In accordance with another embodiment, the thumb post is not connected to the locking lever.

[0009] In accordance with another embodiment, the spring is the only spring included in the folding knife.

[0010] In accordance with another embodiment, the locking lever has a front end which has a hole and a tab. The thumb post is received by the hole in the locking lever and projects outward in opposite directions therefrom. The tab is received by the notch in the base of the blade when the blade is in the extended position, the tab retaining the blade in the extended position.

[0011] Other possible embodiments, in addition to the possible embodiments enumerated above, will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the locking mechanism for a folding knife.

[0032] Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, there are illustrated perspective, top plan, and exploded perspective views respectively of a folding knife generally designated as 20. FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 with the blade of the knife in an extended position. Folding knife 20 includes a handle 22 which has (1) a first wall 24a spaced apart from a second wall 24b, (2) a central longitudinal axis 26, (3) a front end 28, and (4) an opposite rear end 30. First wall 24a has a first slot 32a disposed near front end 28 of handle 22, first slot 32a being disposed within and completely surrounded by first wall 24a. First slot 32a has a first slot axis 34a which runs along the length of the slot, and which is oriented substantially perpendicular to central longitudinal axis 26 of handle 22 (refer to FIG. 1). Second wall 24b has a second slot 32b disposed near front end 28 of handle 22, second slot 32b being disposed within and completely surrounded by second wall 24b. Second slot 32b has a second slot axis 34b which runs along the length of the slot, and which is oriented substantially perpendicular to central longitudinal axis 26 of handle 22 (refer to FIG. 8). Handle 22 further includes optional first 25a and second 25b decorative grip panels which connect to first 24a and second 24b walls respectively. It is noted that in FIG. 4, (and also in FIGS. 5-6 and 8-10) the cross sectional view is toward the second wall 24b, and as such first wall 24a and grip panel 25a are not seen.

[0033] Folding knife 20 further includes a blade 36 having a tip 38 and an opposite base 40. Base 40 is pivotally connected to first 24a and second 24b walls of handle 22 by a pivot 42, so that blade 36 can be placed in (1) an extended position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and (2) a fully folded position between first 24a and second 24b walls of handle 22 (refer also to FIGS. 7). That is, blade 36 can be extended or folded into handle 22 between first wall 24a and second wall 24b in a manner well known in the knife art. Base 40 of blade 36 has a notch 44 (refer also to FIG. 5).

[0034] Folding knife 20 further includes a locking lever 46 which is disposed between first 24a and second 24b walls, locking lever 46 including a front end 48, a middle section 50, and a rear end 52. Middle section 50 is pivotally connected to first 24a and second 24b walls by a pivot 54.

[0035] A spring 56 is disposed between and connected to first 24a and second 24b walls near rear end 30 of handle 22, spring 56 contacting rear end 52 of locking lever 46 and urging front end 48 of locking lever 46 toward central longitudinal axis 26 of handle 22 in direction 58. That is, spring 56 pushes up on the rear end 52 in direction 60, thereby causing locking lever 46 to pivot about pivot 54 and force front end 48 of locking lever 46 toward central axis 26 in direction 58. It is noted that spring 56 is the only spring included in folding knife 20.

[0036] Folding knife 20 further includes a thumb post 62 which is slidably disposed within first 32a and second 32b slots, thumb post 62 extending completely through handle 22 as is shown in FIG. 2, and can be moved by either the right thumb (right handed users) or the left thumb (left handed users). Thumb post 62 is longitudinally movable along first 32a and second 32b slots. Longitudinally movable means that thumb post 62 is movable form one position in slots 32a and 32b to another longitudinally different position without tilting or rotating. For example, FIG. 8 shows thumb post 62 in one longitudinal position, and FIG. 9 shows thumb post 62 moved up to a second longitudinal position.

[0037] Through the biasing action of spring 56, thumb post 62 resides in abutting relationship with front end 48 of locking lever 46, wherein spring 56 causes thumb post 62 to be urged toward central longitudinal axis 26 of handle 22. Referring to FIG. 4, thumb post 62 is received by notch 44 in base 40 of blade 36 when blade 36 is in the extended position. In this position, thumb post 62 is received by notch 44 and retains blade 36 in the extended position. As can be seen in FIGS. 4-7, through the action of spring 56, thumb post 62 is continuously abuttingly disposed between base 40 of blade 36 and front end 48 of locking lever 46. It is further noted that thumb post 62 is not connected to locking lever 46. Not connected means that thumb post 62 is a completely separate element from locking lever 46, and is not attached in any way to locking lever 46, such as passing though a hole in locking lever 46, being an integral part of locking lever 46, being welded or press fit to locking lever 46, etc.

[0038] A blade opening stud 64 is used to move blade 36 to a folded position (refer to FIGS. 11 and 12 and the associated discussion).

[0039] FIGS. 4 through 7 are cross sectional views showing the various folding states of folding knife 20. In FIG. 4 blade 36 is in the extended position. Thumb post 62 is forced in direction 58 by the action of spring 56 into notch 44 of base 40 of blade 36 thereby preventing blade 36 from rotating about pivot 42. In FIG. 5 the user has pushed thumb post 62 away from central longitudinal axis 26 in direction 59 and out of notch 44, thereby allowing blade 36 to be rotated about pivot 42 toward handle 22. In FIG. 6 the folding action of blade 36 continues toward handle 22. In FIG. 7 blade 36 is in the fully folded position wherein blade 36 resides in handle 22. It is noted that during the folding sequence of FIGS. 4-7, thumb post 62 is continuously in contact with front end 48 of locking lever 46 and base 40 of blade 36.

[0040] FIGS. 8 through 10 are enlarged fragmented cross sectional views of FIGS. 4, 5, and 7 respectively showing of blade 36 in the extended position, partially folded, and fully folded position respectively. In FIG. 8 front end 48 of locking lever 46 urges thumb post 62 in direction 58 into notch 44 in base 40 of blade 36 thereby holding blade 36 in the extended position. It is noted that thumb post 62 longitudinally moves along first 32a and second 32b slots along slot axes 34a and 34b which are perpendicular to central longitudinal axis 26. In FIG. 9 the user has longitudinally moved thumb post 62 in direction 59 away from central longitudinal axis 26 along first 32a (not shown) and second 32b slots so that thumb post 62 no longer resides in notch 44. Blade 36 then can be rotated about pivot 42 toward the fully folded position. In FIG. 10 blade 36 is in the fully folded position inside handle 22. Front end 48 of locking lever 46 urges thumb post 62 into engagement with base 40 of blade 36 to retain blade 36 in the fully folded position.

[0041] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a user preparing to fold blade 36. The user holds handle 22 and positions his/her thumb on thumb post 62 and his/her index finger on blase opening stud 64. Then as shown in FIG. 12, the user simultaneously exerts and upward force on thumb post 62 and a downward force on blade opening stud 64. Referring also to FIGS. 4-5, the upward force moves thumb post 62 out of notch 44 thereby allowing blade 36 to be folded by the user's index finger.

[0042] FIGS. 13 and 14 are exploded perspective and cross sectional views respectively of a second embodiment of the folding knife generally designated as 120. Folding knife 120 is similar to folding knife 20 with an exception of locking lever 146 and thumb post 162. In contrast to the separate thumb post 62 of embodiment 20, in embodiment 120 thumb post 162 is connected to and is an integral part of locking lever 146. Thumb post 162 longitudinally moves in first 132a and second 132b slots along slot axes 134a and 134b which are perpendicular to central longitudinal axis 126 (refer to FIGS. 13 and 18). Locking lever 146 has a front end 148 having a hole 147 and tab 149. Thumb post 162 is received by hole 147 in locking lever 146 and projects outward in opposite directions therefrom. Tab 149 is received by notch 144 in base 140 of blade 136 when blade 136 is in the extended position, and tab 149 retains blade 136 in the extended position. This is in contrast to embodiment 20 in which it is thumb post 62 which engages notch 44.

[0043] FIGS. 14 through 17 are cross sectional views similar to the FIGS. 4-7 showing the various folding states of folding knife 120. In FIG. 14 blade 136 is in the extended position. Tab 149 is forced in direction 158 by the action of spring 156 into notch 144 of base 140 of blade 136 thereby preventing blade 136 from rotating about pivot 142. In FIG. 15 the user has pushed thumb post 162 in direction 159 away from central longitudinal axis 126 moving tab 149 out of notch 144, thereby allowing blade 136 to be rotated about pivot 142 toward handle 122. In FIG. 16 the folding action of blade 136 continues toward handle 122. In FIG. 17 blade 136 is in the fully folded position wherein blade 136 resides in handle 122. It is noted that during the folding sequence of FIGS. 14-17, tab 149 is continuously in contact with base 140 of blade 136.

[0044] FIGS. 18 through 20 are enlarged fragmented cross sectional views of FIGS. 14, 16, and 17 respectively showing blade 136 in the extended position, partially folded, and fully folded position respectively. In FIG. 18 tab 149 of locking lever 146 is urged into notch 144 in base 140 of blade 136 thereby holding blade 136 in the extended position. In FIG. 19 the user has longitudinally moved thumb post 162 in direction 159 away from central longitudinal axis 126 along first 132a (refer to FIG. 13) and second 132b slots so that tab 149 no longer resides in notch 144. Blade 136 then can be rotated about pivot 142 toward the fully folded position. In FIG. 20 blade 136 is in the fully folded position inside handle 122

[0045] The possible embodiments of the locking mechanism for a folding knife described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, combinations, variations, and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result, all of which are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims. Further, nothing in the above-provided discussions of the locking mechanism for a folding knife should be construed as limiting the invention to a particular embodiment or combination of embodiments. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.