Abstract:
A pocket implement magazine includes, first and second longitudinally extending, spaced apart, parallel structural members providing an interior space therebetween, with a pivot pin extending between the first and second structural members. A pivot implement is rotatably received in the interior space by the pivot pin, the pivot implement having a functional area, with an associated operational latch hole, opposite a rotational end, with an associated storage latch hole. The pivot implement is capable of rotating from a closed to an open position and back to the closed position. A latch assembly communicates with the pivot implement and selectively allows for rotation of the pivot implement and selectively locks the pivot implement in the closed or open position. This latch assembly includes, a latch housing, a rotation handle operable to cause rotation of the latch housing, a spring disposed within the latch housing, a latch biased by the spring to extend exteriorly of the latch housing and engage the operational latch hole of the pivot implement, when the pivot implement is in the open position and engage the storage latch hole, when the pivot implement is in the closed position. The present invention also provides for the quick identification of individual implements through the use of labels placed on either the face of the pocket implement magazine&#39;s lateral sides or on the latch assemblies.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/550,194 filed Apr. 17, 2000 now abandoned. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention is directed to pocket knives. More particularly, the present invention is directed to pocket knifes that have readily identifiable implements that can be easily opened. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A pocket knife is a tool that holds one or more implements stored in a retracted position when not in use. When an implement is selected for use, it is typically pivoted outwardly and rotated about 180°. The types of implements generally included in a pocket knife are well known in the art and may include knife blades, screwdrivers or other tools, files, combs, bottle openers, scissors, cuticle trimmers, and corkscrews, among others. 
   Generally, the implements are difficult to open to the use position. The motion of the implements is stiff so that the implements remain in a fixed position during use. To aid in opening of the implements, either nail marks or indentations in the implements have been provided to allow a user to partially release the implement in order to then grasp and rotate it to its use position. Unfortunately, persons with weak, long, or damaged fingernails have difficulty manipulating such implements. Implement manipulation can be particularly difficult for women who grow long fingernails, or who wear artificial fingernails. 
   Additionally, as more implements are added to a pocket knife, it becomes more difficult for a person to select a desired implement. Many times the correct implement is selected only after trial and error. This problem stems from the fact that similar implements are difficult to distinguish when they are in a stored position within the pocket knife. 
   What is needed in the art is a pocket knife with implements that can be readily identified. Also needed in the art, is a pocket knife with implements that are readily opened without the use of fingernails. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In general the present invention provides a pocket implement magazine including, at least two longitudinally extending, spaced apart, parallel lateral sides providing an interior space therebetween, each lateral side having an exterior face. At least one pivot implement is disposed in the interior space and is capable of being rotated from a closed to an open position and back to the closed position. At least one label is provided on the exterior face of at least one of the lateral sides and positioned thereon near where the at least one pivot implement may be manipulated to rotate between the open and closed positions. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention also provides a pocket implement magazine including, first and second longitudinally extending, spaced apart, parallel structural members providing an interior space therebetween, with a pivot pin extending between the first and second structural members. A pivot implement is rotatably received in the interior space by the pivot pin, the pivot implement having a functional area, with an associated operational latch hole, opposite a rotational end, with an associated storage latch hole. The pivot implement is capable of rotating from a closed to an open position and back to the closed position. A latch assembly communicates with the pivot implement and selectively allows for rotation of the pivot implement and selectively locks the pivot implement in the closed or open position. This latch assembly includes, a latch housing, a rotation handle operable to cause rotation of the latch housing, a spring disposed within the latch housing, a latch biased by the spring to extend exteriorly of the latch housing and engage the operational latch hole of the pivot implement when the pivot implement is in the open position and engage the storage latch hole when the pivot implement is in the closed position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1A  to  1 D show the front, rear, top, and bottom views of a pocket knife according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 2A  to  2 D show expanded views of the latch assembly of the pocket knife of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A  to  1 D; 
       FIGS. 2E and 2F  schematically show the implement open and close mechanics; and 
       FIGS. 3A  to  3 D show expanded views of the latch assembly with an optional means of making the internal mechanics of said latch assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Provided is a pocket knife. More generally, a pocket knife may be called an implement magazine, which may include other implements in addition to a knife blade. Throughout this disclosure, the more common term “pocket knife” is used, but the term pocket knife is not limited to implement magazines containing only knife implements. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1A  to  1 D, it can be seen that the pocket knife of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral  10 . Pocket knife  10  has two longitudinally extending, spaced apart, substantially parallel lateral sides  12 ,  14  providing an interior space therebetween. Lateral sides  12 ,  14  provide the exterior surface of the pocket knife  10 , and, as such, they may be inscribed with optional lettering or symbols. A plurality of structural members  16  are disposed within this interior space, substantially parallel to lateral sides  12 ,  14 . In the Figures, three structural members  16  are shown, but as known in the art the number of structural members  16  can be varied depending upon the number of implements to be retained in a pocket knife  10 . 
   Lateral sides  12 ,  14  as well as the plurality of structural members  16  are secured to one another by a securing means to maintain the entire unit in a fixed relationship. Generally, as shown in the Figures, the securing means can be pins, such as implement stop pins  18  and implement pivot pins  20 , or the securing means can be provided through other structures forming an integrated unibody design. Particularly, with respect to Figures. Implement stop pins  18  may also serve as stops for rotation of implements, as will be later explained. Implement pivot pins  20  extend between two or more structural members  16  and serve as implement holding and pivot points about which the implements rotate as they unfold into a use position. In  FIGS. 1A-1D , there are two implement stop pins  18  and four implement pivot pins  20 , but the actual number of pins depends upon the size of the pocket knife and the number of implements. Spacer sleeves may be mounted over pins  18  and  20  to fix the dimensions between structural members  16 . 
   The exemplary implements of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A-1D  include pivot implements  22 A-G and non-pivot implements  24 A and  24 B. As mentioned above, one or more implements  22  or  24  are disposed within the interior space formed by lateral sides  12 ,  14 . The pivot implements  22  are anchored within the interior space by implement pivot pins  20 . The pivot implements  22  may be rotated from a closed position, within the interior space, to an open position for use. Pivot implements selected for this embodiment include cuticle trimmers  22 A, scissors  22 B, file and cleaner  22 C, comb  22 D, knife  22 E, combination bottle opener and flat head screwdriver  22 F, and cuticle care  22 G (a cuticle pusher and cleaner, which can be metal or an orange stick). Non-pivot implements selected for this embodiment include pin light  24 A, and tweezers  24 B. 
   Generally, a pivot implement  22  is rotated about 180° into an open or use position; however, the pivot implements  22  can be rotated to any position desired by a user. For instance, as is well known, pocket knives may include a corkscrew implement that is rotated 90° to its position of use. As for the non-pivot implements  24 , these may include implements that are permanently mounted in the interior space of the pocket knife, such as pin light  24 A, with a battery source (not shown). Pocket knives may also contain non-pivot implements  24  that are selectively stored in a cavity within the lateral sides  12 ,  14  of the pocket knife. These types of non-pivot implements  24  are pulled out of the recessed cavity for use, and, as a non-limiting example, may include tweezers  24 B stored in the cavity. 
   In one embodiment, the implements, both pivot  22  and non-pivot  24 , are labeled so that the desired implement  22  or  24  can be chosen without trial and error. One method of identifying the implements  22  or  24  includes placing labels  25  on the exterior face of the lateral sides  12 ,  14 . The label  25  is placed on the face of the lateral sides  12 ,  14  near where the implement  22  or  24  is either attached to or selectively stored in the pocket knife  10 . A user can then determine where each implement  22  or  24  is located relative to the pocket knife  10  as a whole. The labels  25  maybe applied as a decal, or may be printed, engraved, stamped, inlaid, or otherwise placed on the exterior face of the lateral sides  12 ,  14 . 
   Optionally, a key chain K can be attached to a stop pin  18  or structural member  16 . The key chain may be terminated with a key ring, for attaching keys, or it may be terminated with a clip. The clip can allow a user to attach the pocket knife to an article, such as a belt, a belt loop, or purse strap, for easy access. In place of the key chain, a lanyard may be substituted. 
   In another embodiment, explained next below, pivot implements  22  can be opened by applying leverage to a rotation handle  34  or  134  of a latch assembly  32  or  132  to rotate the pivot implement  22  into an open position. In such an embodiment, another method of identifying the implements includes labeling the rotation handles  34 . Yet another method includes placing labels  25  on the free end of such latch assemblies  32 ,  132  by projecting the latch assembly through a lateral side  12  or  14 . These methods will become more apparent from the disclosure of latch assembly  32  and latch assembly  132  herein below. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2E and 2F , wherein adjacent structural members  16  have been removed in order to better display a generic pivot implement  22  and its opening and closing functions, it will be seen that each pivot implement  22  includes a rotational end  26  disposed on one side of the associated implement pivot pin  20 , and a functional area  27  disposed on the other side thereof. A storage latch hole  28  is provided in rotational end  26 , a set distance from implement pivot pin  20 , and an operational latch hole  29  is provided in functional area  27  at the same offset distance. Rotational end  26  also includes an implement gear tooth  30 . Storage latch hole  28 , operational latch hole  29 , and implement gear tooth  30  cooperate with a latch assembly  32  to achieve rotation of pivot implement  22  from its storage position to its use position. 
   In  FIGS. 1C ,  1 D, and  2 A, it can be seen that a latch assembly  32  is associated with each pivot implement  22 . Particularly, latch assembly  32  is retained either between two structural members  16  or between a structural member  16  and a lateral side  12  or  14 . Each latch assembly  32  includes a handle  34  and a latch  36 , which extends through a bore (not shown) in an adjacent structural member  16  to engage storage latch hole  28  when the associated pivot implement  22  is in the stored position. For reasons that will become apparent more fully below, latch  36  is spring biased to extend exteriorly of latch housing  38 , although this spring bias may be overcome to force latch  36  to move inside of latch housing  38 . With particular reference to  FIG. 2A , latch assembly  32  includes mounting rims  40 , which, according to the location of a particular latch assembly  32 , engage with holes drilled into either adjacent structural members  16  or a structural member  16  and an adjacent lateral side  12  or  14  to hold the latch assembly  32  therebetween. If desired, bearing plate washers (not shown) can be installed at these drilled holes to assist the rotation of latch assembly  32  therein. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 2A-2D , latch  36  is mounted on a latch slide plate  42 , which is biased to the position shown in  FIGS. 2C and 2D  (i.e., with latch  36  extending exteriorly of latch housing  38 ) by a spring  44 . Latch slide plate  42  is retained in latch housing  38  by latch retaining ring  46 , which is connected to latch housing  38  by thread connections. Latch slide pins  48  are installed into latch housing  38  by threaded connections, or other means, such as, brazing, welding, soldering, or adhesive bonding, and serve to guide the axial movement of latch  36  as it loads or unloads spring  44  as will be described below. The portion of latch  36  extending exteriorly of latch housing  38  engages with storage latch hole  28 , when implement  22  is in the stored position, and engages with operational latch hole  38 , when implement  22  is in its operative position. 
   More particularly, latch  36  is beveled such that, as shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 C, and  2 D, it provides a sloped surface  50  and a lock surface  52 . As seen in  FIG. 2B , latch  36  is preferably cylindrical such that lock surface  52  is rounded. Surface  52  is called a “lock” surface because it serves to selectively lock the pivot implement  22  associated therewith in the use and storage positions. That is, when latch assembly  32  and an associated pivot implement  22  are in the stored position as shown in  FIGS. 1C and 1D , the pivot implement  22  cannot be rotated to the use position because, upon an attempt to rotate the pivot implement  22  about implement pivot pin  20 , storage latch hole  28  must necessarily move downwardly, and, in the stored position, lock surface  52  of latch  36  prevents such movement. 
   Referring back to  FIGS. 2E and 2F , the operation of a latch assembly  32  is generally depicted. As mentioned, the latch assembly  32  may be rotated. Rotation is achieved by manipulation of handle  34 , in the direction of arrow A. During rotation, latch  36  rotates within storage latch hole  28 , latch  36  being on the axis of rotation for latch assembly  32 . During such rotation, sloped surface  50  and lock surface  52  of latch  36  begin to switch positions, and, eventually, implement  22  may rotate about implement pivot pin  20  because downward movement of storage latch hole  28  will cause the upper surface thereof to push against sloped surface  50  instead of lock surface  52 , and will force latch  36  against spring  44  and into latch housing  38 . More particularly, latch assembly  32  includes a latch gear tooth  54 , which is shown in phantom in  FIG. 2E , as it lies behind pivot implement  22 . As can be envisioned from  FIG. 2E , upon rotation of latch assembly  32  by means of handle  34 , latch gear tooth  54  contacts implement gear tooth  30  and, upon any further rotation of latch assembly  32 , causes pivot implement  22  to rotate slightly about its associated implement pivot pin  20 , and partially unfold. As already mentioned, this partial unfolding is possible do to the fact that, upon rotation of latch assembly  32 , sloped surface  50  of latch  36  gradually switches positions with lock surface  52 . 
   Once the associated pivot implement  22  is partially unfolded, it is easily grasped and further pivoted around implement pivot pin  20  to its use position. Upon reaching the use position, as shown in  FIG. 2F , operational latch hole  29  engages latch  36 , which, in its rotated position, now has its lock surface  52  engaging the downward side of operational latch hole  29 . Pivot implement  22  is therefore locked in the use position because, in order to pivot implement  22  around implement pivot  20  and into the storage position, operational latch hole  29  must necessarily move upwardly, and it cannot be moved in this manner, due to the fact that such movement is prevented by lock surface  52 . Thus, the generally functioning of a latch assembly  32  should now be appreciated. Additionally of note in  FIGS. 2E and 2F , implement stop pins  18  help define the positioning of an implement  22  in both the storage and use position. 
   When it is desired to move a pivot implement  22  from its use position to its storage position, handle  34  is manipulated in the opposite direction such that latch  36  again reverses positioning so that implement  22  may be pivoted around implement pin  20 , with operational latch hole  29  engaging sloped surface  50  of latch  36  to force latch  36  into latch housing  38  and allow pivot implement  22  to rotate to the storage position. 
   Latch gear tooth  54  is also beveled, like latch  36 , but is smaller in size. It is also mounted on latch slide plate  42 , and is placed thereon such that its contact surface  56  contacts implement gear tooth  50  to cause the partial opening of pivot implement  22 , and, upon returning latch assembly  32  to the storage position, its sloped surface  58  contacts implement  22  in its locked open position, and latch gear tooth  54  loads spring  44  and is pushed inward so that it may pass implement  22 , as shown in phantom in FIG.  2 E. 
   With reference to  FIG. 3A-3D , an alternative embodiment of a latch assembly is provided and designated by the numeral  132 . Therein, parts functioning similarly to parts of the latch assembly of  FIGS. 2A-2D  receive like numerals increased by 100. Thus, latch assembly  132  includes handle  134 , a beveled latch  136 , having a sloped surface  150  and lock surface  152 , a latch housing  138 , and mounting rims  140 . 
     FIGS. 3A-3D  show an optional structure for spring latch assembly  32 , which substitutes coil spring  144  for the plate spring  44  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 2A-2D . Coil spring  144  exerts force on latch slide plate  142  to biased latch  136 , which is integral with latch slide plate  142 , to a position external of latch housing  138 . Latch  136  and latch slide plate  142  are also integral with a slide member  160 , which has extending therefrom a slide pin  162 . This integral structure of latch  136 , latch slide plate  142 , slide member  160 , and slide pin  162 , communicate with latch slide  164 , with slide pin  162  being received in guide slots  166  of latch slide  164  to provide stops for axial and rotational movement of this integral unit. Latch slide plate  142  is also modified with penetration slots  168 , which allow latch slide plate  22  to move axially along latch slide  164 . In this alternate embodiment, latch housing  138  provides a mounting bore  170  for latch slide  164 , and threads  172  of latch slide  164  engage mounting bore  172  to retain latch slide  164  and the integral structure of latch  136 , latch slide plate  142 , slide member  160  and slide pin  162  in connection with latch housing  138 . It will be appreciated that, while latch slide  164  engages mounting bore  172  with threaded engagement, other means, such as brazing, welding, soldering or adhesive bonding may be employed. 
   Latch assembly  132  also contains a latch gear tooth  154  having a contact surface  156  and sloped surface  158 . The functioning of latch assembly  132  is substantially identical to the functioning of latch assembly  32 . That is, a latch assembly  132  is associated with a pivot implement  22  and is disposed on the other side of a structural member  16  adjacent thereto. Latch assembly  132  is retained in its position by mounting rims  140  received in bores in structural members and/or lateral sides  12 ,  14 ,  16 . Latch  136  engages the storage latch hole  28  of the pivot implement, when the pivot implement  22  is in the storage position. The lock surface  152  of latch  136  prevents pivot implement  22  from being pivoted to its use position. In order to open a pivot implement  22 , handle  134  is rotated such that lock surface  152  and sloped surface  150  of latch  136  begin to reverse positions, and latch gear tooth  150 , particularly its contact surface  156 , is moved towards contact with implement gear tooth  30 . When latch gear tooth  154  engages implement gear tooth  30 , sloped surface  150  of latch  136  is position such that pivot implement  22  may be rotated around implement pivot pin  20 , because storage latch hole  28  presses against sloped surface  150  and forces latch  136  into latch housing  138 , and latch  136  no longer impedes the rotation of implement  22 . As mentioned above with respect to latch assembly  32 , this process is essentially reversed to close a pivot implement  22  to the storage position. 
   Generally, the pocket knife can have any desired dimension. The dimensions will be determined by the size and number of implements chosen to include in the pocket knife. Generally, a pocket knife has dimensions that allow it to be placed in a pocket. Pocket size is not limiting if the pocket knife is not carried within a pocket. Preferably, a pocket knife will have a length of about 2½ inches to about 4 inches, a height of about ⅝ inches to about 1⅛ inches, and width of about ½ inches to about 1 inch. More preferably, the pocket knife has a length of about 3.5 inches, a heights of about ⅞ inch, and a width of about ¾ inch. 
   The materials for fabricating the pocket knife can be fabricated from any structural metal. Typically, the metal for the implements will be a stainless steel. Typically, the pin light will preferably be fabricated from plastic to save on weight and cost; however, the pin light may be fabricated from a metal. 
   The above embodiments show the pocket knife with the preferred structural members. As an alternative, more implements can be added to the pocket knife by adding additional structural members, thereby allowing more implement to be disposed between the structural members. 
   It should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but includes variations, modifications and equivalent embodiments defined by the following claims.