Lever-actuated folding knife
US5331741A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jul 26, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 10, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB26B1/02
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A folding knife designed to be easily opened with one hand and having a thumb-actuated opening lever to pivot the blade from closed to opened positions. The thumb-actuated lever in a first preferred embodiment has an opening lever driving a sector gear that engages a drive gear for opening the blade. The opening lever remains within the plan-view outline of the knife body at all times. In another disclosed embodiment, the opening lever drives a cam which, in turn, causes a second lever to pivot within the body of the knife. Gear teeth on this second lever engage and rotate a blade drive gear, causing the blade to pivot between closed and opened positions. The opening lever in still another disclosed embodiment includes a thumb-operated slider having a cam surface engaging a follower to pivot a blade opening lever.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.