Patent Publication Number: US-7587827-B2

Title: Automatic swing-away knife sheath retaining strap

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to knife sheaths, and more particularly, to a knife sheath retaining strap that automatically swings out of the knife blade withdrawal path when the retaining strap is unfastened. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, all outdoor, hunting and other non-collapsible or non-folding knives are stored in a suitable knife sheath when not in use. Typically, the sheaths include a retaining or closure strap that is fixedly attached at a proximal end to one side of a sheath neck. A distal end of the retaining/closure strap is detachably fastenable to an opposing side of the sheath neck. A knife is typically retained in the corresponding sheath by wrapping the retaining/closure strap around a portion of a handle of the knife and fastening the retaining/closure strap distal to the sheath neck. 
     To withdraw or extract the knife from the sheath, the retaining/closure strap is unfastened, thereby releasing the knife handle and allowing the knife to be withdrawn/extracted. However, although the distal end of the retaining/closure strap is unfastened, the retaining/closure strap generally dangles loosely and remains in the path of the knife blade as the knife is withdrawn/extracted from the sheath. Thus, unless the retaining/closure strap is manually held clear of the knife blade extraction path, the knife blade is subject to cutting through or damaging the retaining/closure strap as the knife is withdrawn/extracted from the sheath. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A knife sheath is provided. In various embodiments, the knife sheath includes an automatic swing-away retention strap that includes at least one biasing device. The biasing device is adapted to automatically pivot a detachable distal end of the retention strap about a fixed proximal end of the retention strap to swing the retention strap from a fastened position to an open position. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating various preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, the features, functions, and advantages of the present invention can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present inventions or may be combined in yet other embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein; 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a knife sheath including an automatic swing-away retention strap, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the knife sheath shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating a knife partially removed from the sheath and the automatic swing-away retention strap in an open position, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric top view of the knife sheath shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the automatic swing-away retention strap in the open position such that a mouth of a sheath neck portion is opened; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric side view of the knife sheath shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the automatic swing-away retention strap in a fastened position such that the mouth of the sheath neck portion is closed; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric top view of the knife sheath shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the automatic swing-away retention strap in the fastened position wrapped around a portion of a handle of the knife retained within the sheath; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric top view of the knife sheath shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating the automatic swing-away retention strap including a biasing or tension device, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric top view of the knife sheath shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating the automatic swing-away retention strap including a biasing or tension device, in accordance with various other embodiments; and 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric top view of the knife sheath shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating the automatic swing-away retention strap including a biasing or tension device, in accordance with yet various other embodiments. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application or uses. Additionally, the advantages provided by the preferred embodiments, as described below, are exemplary in nature and not all preferred embodiments provide the same advantages or the same degree of advantages. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a knife sheath  10  for housing or retaining a knife  14  is illustrated. The knife sheath  10  generally includes a body portion  18  and a neck portion  22  extending from an open top of the body portion  18 . The knife generally includes a handle  26  coupled with a blade  30 . The sheath body portion  18  is formed to house the knife blade  30  and the neck portion  22  is formed to partially encompass a lower portion of the knife handle  26  when the knife  14  is retained within the sheath  10 . In accordance with various embodiments, the sheath  10  additionally includes an automatic swing-away retention strap  34  that securely retains the knife  14  within the sheath  10  when the retention strap  34  is placed in a closed or fastened position, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The sheath  10  further includes at least one biasing or tension device  38  connected to the retention strap  34 . The biasing device  38  is adapted to automatically move the retention strap  34  from the fastened position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to an open position (shown in  FIG. 2 ) such that the retention strap  34  is automatically placed and held away from the open top of the body portion  18 , i.e., clear of a knife blade  30  withdrawal or extraction path. Therefore, the knife  14  can be withdrawn or extracted from the sheath  10  without risk of the knife blade  30  cutting and/or damaging the retention strap  34  and without the need to manually hold the retention strap  34  clear of the knife withdrawal path. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , more specifically, the biasing device  38  is adapted to move the retention strap  34  from the fastened position (shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) to the open position (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) by pivoting a distal end  42  of the retention strap about a proximal end  46  of the retention strap in an unguided, non-channeled, swing-away fashion. For example, in various embodiments, the biasing device  38  provides a force having a moment arm that will pivot the distal end  42  about the proximal end  46  such that the distal end  42  swings outwardly away from a mouth  50  of the neck portion  22  in a radial, whipping, unguided, non-channeled fashion. 
     The distal end  42 , more particularly a distal end portion  52 , is detachably connectable or fastenable to an outer surface of a first side  54  of the sheath neck  22 . The distal end portion  52  can be detachably fastened to the outer surface of the neck first side  54  in any suitable manner, using any suitable fastener. For example, the distal end portion  52  can be detachably fastened to the neck first side  54  utilizing a post and loop fastener (shown throughout the various figures), a snap fastener, a button and slot fastener, hook and loop material, or any other suitable fastening device, mechanism or system. The proximal end  46 , more particularly a proximal end portion  56 , is fixedly attached to an outer surface of a second side  58  of the neck portion  22 . The proximal end portion  56  can be fixedly attached to the neck second side  58  in any suitable manner, using any suitable fastener. For example, the proximal end portion  56  can be fixedly attached to the neck second side  58  using one or more rivets, one or more threaded cap and post connectors, or any other suitable fastening device, mechanism or system. Or, the proximal end portion  56  can be sewn to the neck second side  58 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when in the fastened position, the retention strap  34  is curved in a first direction, i.e., has a first curvature, that closes the mouth  50  of the neck  22  and effectively forms an ‘O’ with the neck  22 . That is, if viewed from the top, when the retention strap  34  is in the fastened position, the shape of a top edge of the neck portion  22  and the shape of a top edge of the retention strap  34  having the first curvature will effectively form a closed oval-like shape or substantially a ‘O’ shape. Thus, when the knife  14  is placed in the sheath  10 , the retention strap  34  wraps around a portion of the knife handle  26 , in the first curved direction, holding the knife handle against the interior surface of the neck  22  to retain the knife  14  within the sheath  10 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , when in the open position, the distal end  42  is sufficiently adjacent the outer surface of the second side  58  of the sheath neck  22 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when in the open position, retention strap  34  is curved in a second direction, i.e., a second curvature, that is opposite the first curved direction. Thus, the mouth  50  of neck  22  is open and the retention strap  34  effectively forms an ‘S’ with the neck  22 . That is, if viewed from the top, when the retention strap  34  is in the open position, the shape of the neck top edge and the shape of retention strap top edge having the second curvature will effectively form a sine-like wave shape or substantially a ‘S’ shape. Accordingly, the retention strap  34  is placed and held clear from the open top of the sheath  10  and more particularly placed and held clear of a knife blade withdrawal path. Therefore, the knife  14  can be withdrawn or extracted from the sheath without contacting, cutting and/or damaging the retention strap  34 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the biasing or tension device  38  can be any device, apparatus, component, part or mechanism suitable for providing force to pivot the distal end  42  about the proximal end  46  such that the distal end  42  swings outwardly away from the neck mouth  50  in a radial, whipping, unguided, non-channeled fashion. For example, in various embodiments, the biasing device  38  can be one of an elastic or elastomer cord  38 A threaded through at least two first holes  62 , e.g., two or four holes  62 , in the distal end portion  52  of the retention strap  34 . The cord  38 A is also threaded through at least two second holes  66 , e.g., two or four holes  66 , in the proximal end portion  56  of the retention strap  34 . A pair of pulling arm sections  70  of the elastic or elastomer cord  38 A are stretched across an outer surface of the retention strap  34 , conforming with the first curvature, when the retention strap  34  is in the fastened position, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . When the distal end portion  52  is unfastened from the neck  22 , the pulling arm sections  70  recover, i.e., returned to a non-stretched state, and linearly extend between the first and second holes  62  and  66 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . More particularly, when the distal end portion  52  is unfastened from the neck  22 , the pulling arm sections  70  provide force to pivot the distal end  42  about the proximal end  46  such that the distal end  42  swings outwardly away from the neck mouth  50  in a radial, whipping, unguided, non-channeled fashion. Additionally, when in the opened position, a central portion  74  of the retention strap  34  has the second curvature and is looped away from the pulling arm sections  70 . 
     Although the elastic or elastomer cord  38 A is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  to be threaded through the first and second holes  62  and  66 , as described above, the elastic or elastomer cord  38 A can be connected to the distal and proximal end portions  52  and  56  in any other suitable manner. For example, in various embodiments, the elastic or elastomer cord  38 A can be intertwined with, or sewn, glued, stapled or riveted to the distal and proximal end portions  52  and  56 . Additionally, although the biasing device  38  is described above, and shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , as being one of an elastic or elastomer cord  38 A, it is envisioned and within the scope of this disclosure, that in various embodiments the biasing device  38  can be one of an elastic or elastomer strip or strap connected to the distal and proximal end portions  52  and  56  in any suitable manner, such as those described above with regard to the elastic or elastomer cord  38 A. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in various other embodiments, the biasing device  38  can be an elastic or elastomer cord  38 B threaded through at least one first hole  76  in the distal end portion  52  of the retention strap  34 . The cord  38 B is also threaded through at least one second hole  78  in the proximal end portion  56  of the retention strap  34 . A pulling arm section  82  of the elastic or elastomer cord  38 B are stretched across an outer surface of the retention strap  34 , conforming with the first curvature, when the retention strap  34  is in the fastened position. When the distal end portion  52  is unfastened from the neck  22 , the pulling arm section  82  recovers, i.e., returns to a non-stretched state, and linearly extends between the first and second holes  76  and  78 . More particularly, when the distal end portion  52  is unfastened from the neck  22  the pulling arm section  82  provides force to pivot the distal end  42  about the proximal end  46  such that the distal end  42  swings outwardly away from the neck mouth  50  in a radial, whipping, unguided, non-channeled fashion. Additionally, when in the opened position, the central portion  74  of the retention strap  34  has the second curvature and is looped away from the pulling arm section  82 . 
     Although the elastic or elastomer cord  38 B is shown in  FIG. 6  to be threaded through the first and second holes  76  and  78 , as described above, the elastic or elastomer cord  38 B can be connected to the distal and proximal end portions  52  and  56  in any other suitable manner. For example, in various embodiments, the elastic or elastomer cord  38 B can be intertwined with, or sewn, glued, stapled or riveted to the distal and proximal end portions  52  and  56 . Additionally, although the biasing device  38  is described above, and shown in  FIG. 6 , as being one of an elastic or elastomer cord  38 B, it is envisioned and within the scope of this disclosure, that in various embodiments the biasing device  38  can be one of an elastic or elastomer strip or strap connected to the distal and proximal end portions  52  and  56  in any suitable manner, such as those described above with regard to the elastic or elastomer cord  38 B. Further, as shown in  FIG. 6 , when the retention strap  34  is in the open position, a portion of the cord  38 B between its two ends that are connected to the retention strap  34  is spaced from the retention strap  34 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , in yet other various embodiments, the biasing device  38  can be a spring-like, resilient preformed strip or plate  86  attached to the retention strap  34 . The spring-like, resilient preformed strip  86  is preformed to have a substantially ‘U’ shape when the spring-like, resilient preformed strip  86  is in a non-flexed state. Additionally, the spring-like, resilient preformed strip  86  is attached to the retention strap  34  such that the retention strap  34  is biased to the open position. When the retention strap  34  is placed in the fastened position, the spring-like, resilient preformed strip  86  is flexed to form the first curvature. Conversely, when the retention strap  34  is unfastened, the spring-like, resilient preformed strip  86  automatically returns to the non-flexed shape forming the second curvature and places and holds the retention strap  34  in the open position. More particularly, when the distal end portion  52  is unfastened from the neck  22  the spring-like, resilient preformed strip  86  provides force to pivot the distal end  42  about the proximal end  46  such that the distal end  42  swings outwardly away from the neck mouth  50  in a radial, whipping, unguided, non-channeled fashion. 
     The spring-like, resilient preformed strip or plate  86  can be attached to the retention strap  34  in any suitable manner. For example, the spring-like, resilient preformed strip  86  can be glued, sewn, stapled, riveted or screwed to the retention strap  34 . Furthermore, the spring-like, resilient preformed strip or plate  86  can be any suitable biasing device, part or component that is preformed to bias the retention strap  34  to the open position, yet flexible and resilient such that the spring-like, resilient preformed strip  86  can be easily flexed to fastened the distal end portion  52  to the neck  22 , as described above. For example, in various embodiments, the spring-like, resilient preformed strip  86  can be a tempered, spring metal strip or plate attached to the retention strap  34 . Or, in various other embodiments, the spring-like, resilient preformed strip  86  can be one of a molded polymer or plastic strip or plate attached to the retention strap  34 . Or, in yet other various embodiments, the spring-like, resilient preformed strip  86  can be one of a molded rubber strip or plate attached to the retention strap  34 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , in still yet other various embodiments, the retention strap  34  can be a preformed molded strap molded to have the substantially ‘U’ shape when in a non-flexed state. Therefore, the biasing device  38  comprises the preformed molded retention strap  34  such that the preformed molded shape of the molded retention strap  34  biases the retention strap  34  to the open position, as described above. For example, in various embodiments, the preformed molded retention strap  34  can comprise a molded leather retention strap, molded polymer retention strap, or any other suitably resilient and flexible molded retention strap  34 . 
     Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification and following claims.