Abstract:
The present invention is to provide a safety folding knife comprising a blade having an end pivotally coupled to an end of a handle, such that the other end of the blade can be rotated out of or into the handle. The handle includes an elastic stop plate therein, which has an end fixed onto the handle and the other end tilted and extended towards a side of the blade. When the blade is turned fully out of the handle, the other end of the elastic stop plate can be abutted against the end of the blade so as to maintain the blade in a fully opened state, and a resisting block installed inside the handle then moves and firmly blocks the elastic stop plate to avoid the blade from being accidentally turned backward to the handle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a folding knife, more particularly to a safety handle having a resisting block for blocking an elastic stop plate and making sure that the elastic stop plate can firmly abut against an end of a blade, which is fully turned out of a handle and is unable to be turned into the handle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    As the system of a five-day work week was introduced to Taiwan in recent years, people in Taiwan pay more and more attentions to leisure activities in holidays and start going out for outdoor activities such as fishing, barbeque or hiking. For outdoor activities, various types of knives available in the market are usually used for cutting food, fishing line or firewood or opening cans. In particular, there is a type of folding knives, not just being popular only, but also providing an easy carry, and thus the folding knives become a favorable tool of outdoor enthusiasts. A folding knife for outdoor activities is used as an example for illustrating the invention as follows: 
         [0003]    With reference to  FIG. 1  for a conventional folding knife  10 , the conventional folding knife  10  comprises a handle  11  and a blade  12 , wherein the handle  11  is formed by combining a first handle portion  111 , a metal plate  112  and a second handle portion  113  together, and a position proximate to an end of the blade  12  is pivotally installed between the first handle portion  111  and the metal plate  112 , such that the other end of the blade  12  can be turned outwardly from a side of the handle  11  to the outside of the handle  11  or turned inwardly and accommodated into the handle  11 . The metal plate  112  includes a stop plate  114 , and if the blade  12  of the folding knife  10  is accommodated in the handle  11 , the stop plate  114  will movably abut against a side of the blade  12 . After the blade  12  is turned outwardly and completely from the handle  11 , an end of the stop plate  114  will be movably tilted towards the first handle portion  111  and abutted against an end of the blade  12 , such that when a user is using the conventional folding knife  10 , the stop plate  114  can abut and support the blade  12  to prevent the blade  12  from being turned and folded into the handle  11  suddenly. Therefore, users can use the conventional folding knife  10  at ease. 
         [0004]    Although the aforementioned conventional folding knife  10  is simple structured and used extensively by outdoor enthusiasts, its application still has substantial drawbacks. Since the conventional folding knife  10  relies on the stop plate  114  to abut and support the blade  12 , the stop plate  114  of the conventional folding knife  10  may be deformed or shifted due to an excessive force applied by the user, and the blade  12  cannot be abutted by the stop plate  114  anymore. As a result, the blade  12  will lose its abutting force suddenly when the folding knife is unfolded completely, and the blade  12  will be turned with a large force towards the handle  11 , and the user&#39;s finger or palm may be clamped or cut by the blade  12 , or the user&#39;s safety may be jeopardized. Obviously, the structural strength of the conventional folding knife  10  is not strong enough, and the design of the conventional folding knife  10  still has a safety concern. 
         [0005]    From the description above, the conventional folding knife has a low structural strength and simply relies on the stop plate to abut and support the blade, so that the conventional folding knife may lose its abutting force suddenly in its use, and the blade may be turned suddenly to cut the user due to the deformation or displacement of the stop plate. Therefore, it is an important subject for related designers and manufacturers to design and manufacture a safety folding knife with a blade that can be turned outwardly to the outside of the handle, such that when the elastic stop plate abuts against an end of the blade, a resisting block can be released from the containing slot on the internal side of the handle, and driven by the elastic force of an elastic element to turn to a position capable of abutting against an internal side of the handle and a side of the elastic stop plate, such that the elastic stop plate can be blocked by the resisting block to maintain a status of abutting against an end of the blade and overcome the problem of folding the blade back into the handle easily or cutting the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In view of the aforementioned shortcomings of the conventional folding knife having a low structural strength or cutting the users easily when an excessive force is applied to the blade, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally designed and developed a safety folding knife in accordance with the present invention to improve the stability and safety of using the folding knife. 
         [0007]    It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a safety folding knife comprising a handle, a blade and a resisting block, wherein the handle is composed of a first plate, a second plate and a third plate, and a position proximate to an end of the blade is pivotally coupled to a position between the first plate and the second plate and proximate to an end of the handle through a pivot, such that the other end of the blade can be rotated about the pivot, and a side of the blade can be turned outwardly to the outside of the handle or turned inwardly and accommodated into the handle. The second plate includes an elastic stop plate thereon, and an end of the elastic stop plate is fixed onto the second plate, and the other end of the elastic stop plate is tilted and extended towards the first plate. In the process of turning the blade outwardly to the outside of the handle, a side proximate to the other end of the elastic stop plate can be abutted against a side of the blade. After the blade is turned outwardly and completely to the outside of the handle, the other end of the elastic stop plate can abut against an end of the blade, such that the blade is situated at a completely unfolded state (fully opened state). Further, a first containing slot is concavely formed on a side of the third plate at a position corresponding to the second plate, and a resisting block is pivotally installed on another side of the elastic stop plate at a position proximate to the other end of the elastic stop plate and movably fixed between the elastic stop plate and the third plate, wherein an end of the resisting block is extended outside the handle and turnable and rotatable by an external force, and the resisting block is disposed at a position corresponding to the first containing slot and has a shape matched with the shape of the first containing slot. If the resisting block is rotated to the first containing slot, engaged with the first containing slot, and accommodated into the first containing slot, the other end of the elastic stop plate will become a free end and separable from an end of the blade by a force, such that the blade can be turned inwardly and accommodated into the handle. Further, an elastic element (curved metal rod or spring) is installed between the other end of the resisting block and the second plate or the third plate and provided for applying an elastic force to the resisting block, such that when the blade is turned outwardly to the outside of the handle and the other end of the elastic stop plate abuts against an end of the blade, the resisting block can be released from the first containing slot and driven by the elastic force of the elastic element. The resisting block is turned to a position capable of abutting a side of the third plate and the other side of the elastic stop plate, and the elastic stop plate is then blocked by the resisting block, so that the other end of the elastic stop plate can maintain the status of abutting against an end of the blade, and the blade cannot be turned inwardly and accommodated into the handle. 
         [0008]    Another objective of the present invention is to form a second containing slot concavely disposed on a side of the third plate and at a position proximate to the first containing slot and interconnected with the first containing slot, so that when the first plate, the second plate and the third plate are combined, the elastic element can be accommodated into the second containing slot to reduce the overall volume of the safety folding knife. 
         [0009]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a safe way of using the folding knife by simply turning the blade out from the handle completely, and the elastic element can drive the resisting block to turn the resisting block to abut against a side of the third plate and another side of the elastic stop plate automatically, so as to assure that the elastic stop plate is blocked by the resisting block and the blade is situated at a completely unfolded state. On the other hand, if a user wants to fold the blade back into the handle, the user simply slides an end of the resisting block to a position capable of engaging the containing slot and then presses the elastic stop plate to release the abutting force applied from the other end of the elastic stop plate to an end of the blade in order to fold the blade back into the handle. With the design of the safety folding knife in accordance with the present invention, the elastic stop plate can be prevented from losing its abutting force suddenly or turning towards the handle when the blade is unfolded completely due to the deformation or displacement caused by applying an excessive force by the user. Therefore, the invention can provide a way of protecting the user&#39;s safety. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a conventional folding knife; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is another schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3  for a safety folding knife  20  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the safety folding knife  20  comprises a handle  21 , a blade  22  and a resisting block  23 , wherein the handle  21  is composed of a first plate  24 , a second plate  25  and a third plate  26 , and a position proximate to an end of the blade  22  is pivotally coupled to a position between the first plate  24  and the second plate  25  and proximate to an end of the handle  21  by a first pivot  221 , such that the other end of the blade  22  can be rotated about the first pivot  221 , and a side of the blade  22  is turned outwardly to the outside of the handle  21  or turned inwardly and accommodated into the handle  21 . In this preferred embodiment, the first pivot  221  is in form of a screw passed through the third plate  26 , the second plate  25  and the blade  22  sequentially and screwed onto the first plate  24 , such that the blade  22  can be turned outwardly to the outside of the handle  21  or turned inwardly and accommodated into the handle  21 . However, the first pivot  221  also can be in form of a rivet for riveting and connecting the third plate  26 , the second plate  25 , the blade  22  and the first plate  24  as a whole. It is noteworthy to point out that the first pivot  221  of the present invention is not limited to the screw or rivet, but any other equivalent device can be used as long as it can combine the blade  22  with the handle  21  securely as a whole and turn the blade  22  outwardly to the outside of the handle  21  or turn the blade  22  inwardly and accommodated into the handle  21 . 
         [0014]    The second plate  25  includes an elastic stop plate  251  thereon, wherein the elastic stop plate  251  is made of a metal material with elasticity, and an end of the elastic stop plate  251  is fixed onto the second plate  25 , and the other end of the elastic stop plate  251  is tilted and extended towards the first plate  24 . In the process of turning the blade  22  outwardly to the outside of the handle  21 , a side proximate to the other end of the elastic stop plate  251  can abut against a side of the blade  22 . When the blade  22  is turned out completely from the handle  21 , the other end of the elastic stop plate  251  can abut against an end of the blade  22  to situate the blade  22  at a completely unfolded state. 
         [0015]    In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the resisting block  23  is pivotally installed onto the other side proximate to the other end of the elastic stop plate  251  by a second pivot  252  and movably fixed between the elastic stop plate  251  and the third plate  26  (wherein the second pivot  252  is in form of a screw or a rivet), and an end of the resisting block  23  is extended to the outside of the handle  21  and turnable and rotatable by an external force. Further, a first containing slot  261  is concavely formed at a position on a side of the third plate  26  and corresponding to the resisting block  23 , and the first containing slot  261  has a shape matched with the shape of the resisting block  23 , so that the first containing slot  261  can be provided for engaging the resisting block  23  and accommodating the resisting block  23  into the first containing slot  261 . Now, the other end of the elastic stop plate  251  becomes a free end and separable from an end of the blade  22  by an external force, such that the blade  22  can be turned inwardly and accommodated into the handle  21 . Further, an elastic element  253  is installed between the other end of the resisting block  23  and the second plate  25  or the third plate  26 , wherein the elastic element  253  can apply an external force to the resisting block  23  to turn the blade  22  outwardly to the outside of the handle  21 . When the other end of the elastic stop plate  251  abuts against an end of the blade  22 , the resisting block  23  can be released from the first containing slot  261  and driven by the elastic force of the elastic element  253  to turn to a position capable of abutting against a side of the third plate  26  and another side of the elastic stop plate  251 , such that the elastic stop plate  251  can be blocked by the resisting block  23 , and the other end of the elastic stop plate  251  can maintain its status of abutting an end of the blade  22 , and the blade  22  cannot be turned inwardly and accommodated in the handle  21 . 
         [0016]    In summation of the description above, the user simply needs to turn the blade  22  out from the handle  21  completely for using the safety folding knife  20  of the invention, and the other end of the elastic stop plate  251  can abut against an end of the blade  22  and release the resisting block  23  from the first containing slot  261  automatically. Now, the elastic element  253  will automatically drive the resisting block  23  to turn the resisting block  23  to a position capable of abutting against a side of the third plate  26  and another side of the elastic stop plate  251 , so as to assure that the elastic stop plate  251  is blocked by the resisting block  23 , and the blade  22  is situated securely at a completely unfolded state. On the other hand, if the user wants to fold the blade  22  back into the handle  31 , the user simply needs to slide an end of the resisting block  23  and turn the resisting block  23  to a position for engaging the first containing slot  261  and then presses the elastic stop plate  251  to release the abutting force applied from the other end of the elastic stop plate  251  to an end of the blade  22  in order to fold the blade  22  back into the handle  21 . With the design of the safety folding knife  20  in accordance with the present invention, the safety folding knife can prevent a sudden loss of the abutting force and prevent the blade  22  from turning back into the handle  21 , when the blade  22  is situated at a completely unfolded state due to the deformation or displacement of the elastic stop plate  251  caused by applying an excessive force by the user. Obviously, the present invention can provide a safe way of using the folding knife. 
         [0017]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the elastic element  253  of this preferred embodiment is a rod made of a metal material and bent into an arc shape, and an end of the elastic element  253  is wound or fixed by another method to the other end of the resisting block  23 , and the other end of the elastic element  253  is embedded, hooked, or fixed by another method onto the second plate  25  or the third plate  26 . Further, a second containing slot  262  is concavely formed on a side of the third plate  26  and at a position proximate to the first containing slot  261 , wherein the second containing slot  262  has a shape matched with the arc shape of the elastic element  253  and interconnected with the first containing slot  261 , such that when the first plate  24 , the second plate  25  and the third plate  26  are assembled into the handle  21 , and a side of the second plate  25  is attached onto a side of the third plate  26 , the elastic element  253  can be accommodated into the second containing slot  262 , and the second plate  25  and the third plate  26  can be attached more closely to reduce the overall volume of the safety folding knife  20 . In addition to the metal material, the elastic element  253  can be made of a plastic material such as rubber, plastic, or any other equivalent material with an elastic force of the resisting block  23  to turn the resisting block  23  to a position capable of abutting a side of the third plate  26  and another side of the elastic stop plate  251 . It is noteworthy to point out that the material of the elastic element  253  is not limited to metal or plastic only, and its shape is not limited to an arc shape only. 
         [0018]    Although the handle  21  includes the elastic element  253  in this preferred embodiment, and the resisting block  23  can be driven by an elastic force of the elastic element  253  and turned to a position capable of abutting a side of the third plate  26  and another side of the elastic stop plate  251  to block the elastic stop plate  251  by the resisting block  23 , yet manufacturers may choose not to install any elastic element  253  according to the actual application requirement. Therefore, the user simply needs to turn the blade  22  out from the handle  21  completely when using the safety folding knife  20  without the elastic element  253 , wherein the other side of the elastic stop plate  251  can automatically abut against an end of the blade  22 , such that the resisting block  23  can be released from the first containing slot  261 . Now, the user can slide an end of the resisting block  23  and turn the resisting block  23  to a position capable of abutting a side of the third plate  26  and another side of the elastic stop plate  251  to assure that the elastic stop plate  251  is blocked by the resisting block  23  in order to situate the blade  22  securely into a completely unfolded state. On the other hand, if the user wants to fold the blade  22  back into the handle  21 , the user simply needs to slide an end of the resisting block  23  and turn the resisting block  23  to a position for engaging the first containing slot  261  and then presses the elastic stop plate  251  to release the abutting force applied from the other end of the elastic stop plate  251  to an end of the blade  22  in order to fold the blade  22  back into the handle  21 . Similarly, such arrangement can prevent a sudden loss of the abutting force and prevent the blade  22  from turning back into the handle  21 , when the blade  22  is situated at a completely unfolded state due to the deformation or displacement of the elastic stop plate  251  caused by applying an excessive force by the user. The present invention can provide a safe way of using the folding knife. 
         [0019]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures including the material and shape of the elastic element and the elastic stop plate and the curvature of the elastic element, etc, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.