KNIFE WITH ILLUMINATION AND FLOATING MEANS

A knife with illumination and floating means is presented. In an embodiment, a knife is presented having a handle and blade. The handle has a waterproof battery compartment that acts as a floatation means. Also the handle has a waterproof battery compartment cover (60) and a waterproof on/off switch to turn a light that shines on the blade on or off. Also, a sheath is removably disposed to the blade via a locking arm. The sheath has a belt clip also.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the system and designated parts. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives, and similar words. Also, “connected to,” “secured to,” or similar language includes the definitions “indirectly connected to,” “directly connected to,” “indirectly secured to,” and “directly secured to.”

The term “about” or “approximately” as used herein refers to being within an acceptable error range for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which will depend in part on how the value is measured or determined, i.e. the limitations of the measurement system, i.e. the degree of precision required for a particular purpose.

The terms “person” and “user” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a human who is using the present invention and/or using an embodiment of the device disclosed herein.

In one embodiment represented byFIG. 1, the present invention10, also referred to herein as a knife with illumination and floating means10has a handle20connected to a blade30. The handle20may have a proximal end140, and an opposed distal end150. The distal end may terminate at a face160. The face may have a light40disposed thereon to illuminate the cutting surface170of the blade so that someone using the knife10can see what they are cutting if there is otherwise no light or poor lighting conditions. This way, the invention can be used as a flashlight. In one embodiment, there may be two lights40on the face, one light40may illuminate one side of the blade30, and the other light30may illuminate the other side of the blade30.

FIG. 1also illustrates a handle20having a waterproof on/off switch50that is operably connected to the light40and a power source70to turn the light40on and off. This way the user does not need to constantly hold or depress a button to keep the light illuminated.FIG. 1also illustrates a waterproof battery compartment cover60disposed near the proximal end140. The top of the handle20may also have a ridge disposed at the distal end150to lockingly engage with a locking arm120of a sheath100. Specifically the locking arm120may have an indent130which may receive a portion of the ridge90to secure the knife10within the sheath100so that the blade30does not fall out of the sheath100. The locking arm120can bend slightly away from the ridge10when the handle20is pulled away from the sheath100.

FIG. 2illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. This “top” view illustrates the waterproof on/off switch50, a light40on the face160so as to provide illumination to each side of the blade30.

FIG. 3illustrates one embodiment of the present invention10, providing mainly a rear view, showing an embodiment of the waterproof battery compartment cover60having a finger grip180that can be grabbed by the fingers of the user and can be threadably engaged with the proximal end140. The finger grip180may have a cavity190on either side so that the fingers of the user can be disposed in the cavity190so the user can grip the finger grip180, to unscrew the waterproof battery compartment cover60.

FIG. 4illustrates a sectional view of the handle20showing a power source70, specifically a battery70that is removably secured within the handle20. The power source70is operably connected to the waterproof on/off switch50and the light40so that a user can turn the light40on and off by controlling the waterproof on/off switch. The light40may be a light emitting diode (LED)40.

FIG. 5illustrates an embodiment of the present invention10, showing the blade30being partially removed from the sheath100. The ridge90is illustrated removed from the indent130and shown touching the locking arm120. A belt clip110may be disposed on the sheath100so that sheath100can be removably secured to a belt or similar structure.

The disclosures of all publications, if any cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference, each in its entirety, to the same extent as if each were incorporated by reference individually.