Patent ID: 6574869
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: B26B

Abstract:
A folding tool, comprising:(a) a handle having a pair of opposite ends and including a pair of elongate side walls spaced apart from each other and defining a blade receiving groove therebetween, each of said side walls defining one of a pair of elongate openings located opposite each other, said handle including a pair of liners and said elongate openings are defined by said liners and extend therethrough, and said handle further including a pair of outer plates of which one is located outwardly alongside each of said liners, each of said outer plates defining a respective cavity adjacent one of said elongate openings and each of said elongate openings communicating between said groove and the respective cavity; (b) a tool blade pivotally attached to said handle proximate one of said ends and movable about a blade pivot axis extending transversely with respect to said side walls, between a closed position and an open position of said blade, said blade having an elongate working portion and a tang, said elongate working portion being received within said groove when said blade is in said closed position and extending away from said handle when said blade is in said open position, and said tang being located between said side walls when said blade is in said open position; (c) said tang having a peripheral edge including a locking surface portion thereof; (d) a blade locking pin extending transversely with respect to said handle and having a pair of opposite end portions each extending through a respective one of said elongate openings defined in said side walls, said blade locking pin having an outer surface of which a portion is located between said side walls, and said blade locking pin being movable longitudinally of said elongate openings between a first position, in which said outer surface engages said locking surface portion of said tang when said blade is in said open position and thus locks said blade in said open position, and a second position in which said locking pin is spaced away from said locking surface portion of said tang, thus allowing said blade to move from said open position; and (e) a spring disposed between said handle and said locking pin, said spring urging said locking pin toward said first position along a path defined by said elongate openings in said side walls.