Patent Publication Number: US-7913397-B2

Title: Folding pocket utility knife

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/006,749 filed on Jan. 30, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a folding pocket utility knife. The present disclosure has particular applicability to folding utility knives with replaceable blades. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Utility knives having replaceable blades are used in a variety of applications, such as in carpentry, floor covering installations, hobby work, mechanical work, electrical work, etc. 
     Typical utility knives comprise a blade carrier slidably received in a handle or housing for carrying and moving knife blade into and out of the handle or housing and for selectively conducting the cutting operation. However, these knives require two hands to properly close the blade. In addition, upon opening and closing the knife, the blade is exposed in a collapsible position which results in a safety hazard before and after use. One such knife, covered by U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,207 B2, has a rear handle attached to a front blade holder. When the knife is closed, the blade holder and blade pivot into the handle. The blade remains exposed during this movement. When opening the knife the blade holder pivots out with the blade fully exposed. 
     SUMMARY 
     To overcome the above mentioned problems, the present disclosure is directed toward a foldable utility knife capable of slidably extending and retracting a blade upon opening and closing, and additionally being opened with one hand. 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed toward a folding pocket utility knife comprising a front handle, a rear handle pivotally mounted to the front handle via a pivot, wherein the rear handle contains a cavity configured to contain at least a portion of the front handle within the cavity, a blade holder mounted inside the front handle for holding a blade, and a bendable blade strap attached to the blade holder and to the rear handle. The blade strap extends around an outer circumference of the pivot to move the blade holder from a closed position where the front handle is in the cavity and the blade is completely within the front handle, to an open position where the front handle is not in the cavity and the blade extends from a terminal end of the front handle. 
     In another embodiment, the blade holder is slidably extendible along the lengthwise direction of the front handle such that the blade extends from the terminal end of the front handle at an opposite side from the rear handle when the knife is in the open position, and the blade retracts inside the front portion of the front handle when the knife is in the closed position. 
     In yet another embodiment, the blade is mounted to the blade holder by a retaining member. Additionally, the blade is removable from the blade holder. In another embodiment, the blade is removed by a blade releasing mechanism by pushing a release button on a side face of the front handle section of the knife, thereby pushing a retaining member out from a groove in the blade and allowing the blade to be removed from the front handle section. 
     In another embodiment, the utility knife further comprises a finger rest and a thumb stud configured such that a user may open the utility knife with one hand. In this embodiment, the finger rest is located on a portion of the front handle opposite the blade. Additionally, the thumb stud is located on a side face of the front handle of the knife. 
     Additional advantages and other features of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from the practice of the disclosure. The advantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     As will be realized, the present disclosure is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein elements having the same reference numeral designations represent like elements throughout, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a folding pocket utility knife in the closed position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the knife of  FIG. 1  in the open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the knife of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the knife of  FIG. 1  in the partially open position 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the knife of  FIG. 1  in the open position; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the knife of  FIG. 1  in the closed position, 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the knife of  FIG. 1  in the partially open position 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the knife of  FIG. 1  in the open position; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the knife of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the knife of  FIG. 1  in the open position; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the knife of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the knife of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; and, 
         FIGS. 13   a - j  are a collection of drawings of the knife of  FIG. 1  and its use 
         FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of a folding pocket utility knife in the closed position according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of the knife of  FIG. 14  in the open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference characters represent like elements or features throughout the various drawings, the folding utility knife of the present disclosure is indicated generally in the figures by reference character  10 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a utility knife  10  having a rear handle  11 , which may include cut-outs  11   a , pivotally mounted to a front handle  12 . The rear handle  11  has a cavity for holding at least a portion of the front handle  12  when the knife  10  is in the closed position. As shown in  FIGS. 13   a - j , inside the front handle section  12  is a sliding blade holder  14 , with a utility blade  13  attached to the sliding blade holder  14 . The utility blade  13  is a standard utility blade known to those skilled in the art. The sliding blade holder  14  is connected to the rear handle  11  by a thin stainless metal or other bendable but rigid blade strap  50 . The blade strap  50  wraps around the connecting pivot point  22 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the blade  13  held into the formed blade holder  14  with bent metal (or other material) fingers  61 . To change the blade  13 , a button  17  is pushed on a side face of the front handle section  12  of the knife  10  which pushes one of the retainer fingers  61  out from a groove  62  in the blade. Once the finger is clear from the groove  62 , the blade  13  can be slid forward and out to be changed. 
     One embodiment, shown in  FIG. 2 , has a finger rest  15  used for one-handed opening of the knife  10 . The finger rest  15  is on the top of the front handle  12 . A view from other angles is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
       FIGS. 3-8  show opposing side views of the knife  10  during opening and closing. Upon following either the sequence of  FIGS. 3-5  or  FIGS. 6-8 , when the knife  10  is opened, the blade  13  is seen progressively extending out from the front handle  12 . This is accomplished by the blade strap  50  forcing the blade holder  14  forward, exposing the blade  13  in the front of the knife  10 . When the knife  10  is closing, the curving of the strap around the pivot  22  pulls the blade holder  14  back into the front handle  12 , thereby retracting the blade  13  into the blade holder. 
     Operation of the knife  10  is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 13   a - j . As the knife  10  is opened, blade strap  50 , such as a flexible plastic strap, unfolds around the pivot  22  and forces the blade carrier  14  out of the handle. When fully open, the locking tab  55  pivots like a seesaw, a rear end  57  snaps down into a slot  56  on the rear handle  11 , and a front end  58  pivots up to lock the blade carrier  14  in the forward open position. A close up top view of the front end  58  locking the blade carrier in the forward position is shown in  FIG. 13   j . In addition, a top view of the rear end  57  in the locking tab slot  56  is shown in  FIG. 13   b  as well. A button  16  on the front handle, side area detents into a lock position. 
     To close the knife  10 , as shown in  FIG. 13   i  the lock release button  16  is pressed, forcing the blade lock  58  ( FIG. 13   j ) to pivot in the opposite direction, and forcing the rear end of the locking tab  57  ( FIG. 13   h ) out of the locking tab slot  56  ( FIG. 13   e ), and at the same time moving the front end of the locking tab  58  away from the rear end of the blade carrier  14  ( FIGS. 13   b  and  13   g ). This allows the blade carrier  14  to slide back into the front handle  12  and the blade  13  to retract. The blade  13  is completely retracted into the front handle when the knife  10  is folded closed, as shown in  FIG. 13   c . As can be seen in  FIG. 13   b , the top view of the closed knife shows the inside portion of the front handle has a gap  63  which can accommodate the pivoted rear end  57  of the locking tab  55  when the lock release button  16  is engaged. 
     In another embodiment of the knife  10 , a keychain holder  35  is included at the end of the knife  10  opposite the pivot  22  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Another feature of the knife  10  is a pocket clip  33 , shown in  FIGS. 3-5  and  12 . The pocket clip  33  is comprised of a rigid arm attached to the rear handle and extending along the side of the rear handle  11  with sufficient space between the handle in order to be hooked onto an object such as a belt, a pocket or other similar object. 
     In another embodiment, a thumb stud  31  is used for one-handed opening of the knife  10 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the thumb stud  31  is set on the side face of the front handle  12  in an area accessible via a curved portion  11   b  of the rear handle  11 . The curved portion  11   b  provides the user access to the thumb stud  31  while the knife  10  is in a closed position.  FIG. 15  shows the knife  10  in an open position. 
     The present disclosure can be practiced by employing conventional materials, methodology and equipment. Accordingly, the details of such materials, equipment and methodology are not set forth herein in detail. In the previous descriptions, numerous specific details are set forth, such as specific materials, structures, chemicals, processes, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, it should be recognized that the present disclosure can be practiced without resorting to the details specifically set forth. In other instances, well known processing structures have not been described in detail, in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure. 
     Only a few examples of the present disclosure are shown and described herein. It is to be understood that the disclosure is capable of use in various other combinations and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concepts as expressed herein.