Patent Abstract:
A folding survival knife that includes structural elements to implement any combination of a bottle opener/pan holder/quick opening feature, wire breaker/choil, jimping/wire strippers, hex nut driver/lashing point, pry bar/scraper, glass breaker in a single blade configuration.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    One or more embodiments of the invention are related to the field of knives. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the invention implement a folding survival knife with integrated tools that may include a bottle opener/pot lifter/quick opening feature, wire breaker/choil, jimping/wire strippers, hex nut driver/lashing point, pry bar/scraper, glass breaker. Embodiments may be constructed from materials that can withstand hostile environments. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Standard knives generally include a long, yet thin blade with a handle. The blade generally includes one cutting edge, and an opposing non-cutting edge. Some knives have cutting edges on both sides of the blade. Knives also are built in folding varieties and generally have a pivot on one or both ends of the handle. However, most knives are non-folding and have one cutting edge. Folding knives are generally more portable and tend to enclose the sharp cutting edge of the knife when folded for safety reasons. Some folding knives include multiple types of blades including saws, can openers, screw drivers, and other tools, but generally only provide one function per blade or only provide cutting blades that have no other function. 
         [0005]    Hunting knives generally include thicker and hence more robust blades than standard knives and may include and cross-guards to protect the hand while cutting. Survival knives came into service during World War II and evolved during the Viet Nam war to include serrations on the top portion of the knife blade. The serrations could be used to cut through the fuselage of aircraft to rescue crewmen for example. 
         [0006]    Modern survival knives are limited in the number of functions they provide since the number of elements utilized to create a survival knife is limited to a blade, optionally with serrations and a handle. There are no known survival knives that include a single robust blade configuration of a survival knife with structural elements on the single blade or frame such as a bottle opener/pot lifter/quick opening feature, wire breaker/choil, jimping/wire strippers, hex nut driver/lashing point, pry bar/scraper, glass breaker. 
         [0007]    Generally, survivalists and military personnel in hostile or hazardous environment carry a multitude of other tools along with a survival knife. In minimalistic survival scenarios, carrying a multitude of tools is not possible. In such hostile environments, life may depend on having a survival tool such as a knife that is robust and capable of performing other functions. For at least the limitations described above there is a need for a folding survival knife with integrated tools. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    One or more embodiments described in the specification are related to a folding survival knife with integrated tools. Embodiments of the invention include a knife blade that is highly durable with a thick top cross section. This thick top enables the blade to endure being struck when using the knife blade as a wood splitting wedge. 
         [0009]    An indentation on the top of the blade enables a bottle cap opener, and also enables use of the knife as a pot lifter. The indentation can also be used in combination with an indentation on the cutting edge of the blade as lashing points to enable the blade to be utilized as a spear, axe or dead drop trap when lashing the blade to a pole for example. In addition, the indentation can be used as an aid for quickly opening the blade when the indentation catches on the inside of a pocket for example. 
         [0010]    The indentation on the cutting edge of the blade enables a wire breaker. This indentation is also known as the wire break notch. The wire break notch is situated near the handle and also acts as a “choil” that allows sharpening for the entire blade length. The wire break notch may be aligned to indent towards the bottle cap opener indentation and visa versa so that the top and bottom indentations cooperate in the lashing configuration. 
         [0011]    Jimping slots on the top of the blade near the handle enable thumb contact with the blade that provides better control. In addition, the jimping slots generally vary in size so that they can be used as wire strippers and for different diameters of wire insulation. 
         [0012]    One or more hexagonal hole may be included on the blade or frame. Each hexagon hole enables the knife to be utilized as a hex nut wrench. The hexagonal hole may also be located in the center portion of the frame near the blade or in the rear portion of the frame, furthest way from the tip. Locating the hexagonal hole on the frame allows the knife to be utilized as a wrench in the open or folded configuration. In one or more embodiments, the hexagonal hole or frame may be magnetized to hold bits. If more than one hexagonal hole is implemented, then different sizes of hexagonal holes may be provided. In one or more embodiments, square or other shape holes may be provided in the blade or frame to enable the embodiments to rotate any type of nut or connector element. 
         [0013]    Lashing points may also be implemented as holes in the blade or frame. Lashing points may be located anywhere on the knife as desired. In one or more embodiments, the lashing points may be placed anywhere on the knife blade or frame or anywhere else that does not comprise strength. In addition, the hexagonal hole(s), bottle opener, jimping slots and wire breaker may also be utilized to lash the knife frame to another object. 
         [0014]    One or more embodiments include a projection from the frame than enables a pry bar. The pry bar may be located anywhere on the knife, including near the butt of the knife In one embodiment, the projection points at about a right angle from the frame in the same direction as the cutting edge points with respect to the flat top of the blade. This configuration enables the rear portion of the frame to be struck to drive the pry bar into an object or between two objects to separate them. For example, the pry bar may be utilized in lieu of the blade, to split open objects, remove staples, chisel rock or ice or any other material instead of using and potentially damaging the blade. In other embodiments, the pry bar may point away from the handle or frame at any other angle. In addition, the projection may be utilized in any other manner, such as a chisel or pick or for any other purpose. Embodiments of the projection may take any shape so long as they project away from the handles or frame or spacer. 
         [0015]    Embodiments may be folded to provide a shorter overall length format for carrying in pockets for example and may rotate about a pivot between the blade and handle. Embodiments may utilize any type of folding mechanism including automatic, assisted, quick opening, spring assisted or manual and may include any type of locking mechanism as is utilized to describe an exemplary embodiment herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective left side view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates a left side view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a right side view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates a rear view of an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in the folded configuration. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  illustrates a right side view of the an embodiment of the invention in the folded configuration. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  illustrates a left side view of an embodiment of the invention in the folded configuration. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective left side view of an embodiment of the invention without the handle to show the internal components of the knife. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective top view of an embodiment of the invention without the locking handle to show the internal components of the knife. 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  illustrates a left side view of an embodiment of the handle. 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  illustrates a right side view of an embodiment of the handle, i.e., the inner portion of the handle. 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  illustrates a right side view of an embodiment of the locking handle. 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  illustrates a left side view of an embodiment of the locking handle, i.e., the inner portion of the locking handle. 
           [0033]      FIG. 17  illustrates a right side perspective view of an embodiment of the optional pocket clip. 
           [0034]      FIG. 18  illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of the optional pocket clip. 
           [0035]      FIG. 19  illustrates a side view of a first embodiment of space  108 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 20  illustrates a side view of a second embodiment of the spacer employing a second projection, which may be utilized as a scraper or pry bar. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    A folding survival knife with integrated tools will now be described. In the following exemplary description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to an artisan of ordinary skill that the present invention may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein. In other instances, specific features, quantities, or measurements well known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. Readers should note that although examples of the invention are set forth herein, the claims, and the full scope of any equivalents, are what define the metes and bounds of the invention. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention  100 . The distal end of blade  101  is shown in the leftmost portion of the figure. Blade  101  has two substantially flat faces, one that is visible as shown between cutting edge  102  and non-cutting edge  103  having a flat top, the other flat face is on the opposite side of the blade and which is visible in  FIG. 3 . Cutting edge  102  is situated on a first side of blade  101  where the two substantially flat faces meet at the bottom portion of the blade as shown. Cutting edge  102  may also include serrated portions depending on the intended environment or application. Non-cutting edge  103  includes a flat top that is located on a second side of the blade opposite the cutting edge as shown. 
         [0039]    Non-cutting edge  103  includes a first indentation  104  that extends toward cutting edge  102  of the blade. In one or more embodiments of the invention, indentation  104  includes a first and second wall that both slant down and back away from the distal end of the blade. The first and second wall may be any shape including linear or curved. The first and second walls meet at the inner most portion of indentation  104 . The innermost portion of indentation  104  may also be liner or curved. Generally, the second wall provides a hook like area to pry a bottle cap as the first wall rests on top of the bottle cap. First indentation  104  is configured to engage a bottle cap on a top side of the bottle cap with a first portion of the first indentation, for example the left side of the indentation as shown, and also configured to engage a bottom edge of the bottle cap with an opposing side of the first indentation, for example the right side of the indentation as shown, to enable removal of the bottle cap. The depth of indentations  104  may be any depth deep enough and wide enough to remove a bottle cap. In addition, indentation  104  may also be utilized as a pot lifter wherein opposing sides of the indentation may be utilized to lift a hot pot by the handle, or on the edge of a pan to lift the pan. In folding versions of the knife, the indentation provides an element to catch on the edge of a pocket, for example to initiate quick opening, e.g., rotation of the blade with respect to the frame that begins the process of opening the knife. In this manner, only one hand is utilized to grab and open the knife. In one or more embodiments, the flat top at non-cutting area  103  is greater than ⅛ of an inch, or at least 3/16 of an inch wide or any other dimension thicker than a standard knife. This enables the knife to be utilized as a wedge or splitter, to split wood for example. The wide flat top may be struck with a hammer or rock for example without breaking the blade. 
         [0040]    Cutting edge  102  generally includes a second indentation  105  configured to engage a wire to enable lateral angular movement of the blade to break the wire. Second indentation  105  is referred to as a wire breaker. Second indention  105  effectively constitutes a “choil”, i.e., an unsharpened area of the knife-edge. The second indentation includes a flat portion that is not sharp in one or more embodiments, for example in the innermost portion of the indentation. 
         [0041]    In one or more embodiments of the invention, the first indentation, i.e., bottle cap opener, and second indentation, i.e., the wire breaker are indented toward one another to enable the blade to be lashed to another object, such as a stick, with a line wrapped around the stick and within the first indentation and the second indentation. In this manner it is possible to use the knife as a spear, axe or dead drop trap. 
         [0042]    In one or more embodiments of the invention, non-cutting edge  103  further comprises jimping  106  configured to provide a thumb grip on the non-cutting edge wherein the jimping is configured as two or more indentations of different size configured to grip wire insulation of different gauge to enable lateral translation movement of the blade to remove the wire insulation. 
         [0043]    Embodiments of the invention include a spacer, generally shown to the right of the knife and which holds handle  112  to locking handle  109  at a fixed distance from one another. The handle and locking handle are also held at substantially the same distance by the thickness rotational element about which the blade rotates as will be described. 
         [0044]    One or more embodiments of the invention include hexagonal hole  107  through the spacer, handle and locking handle or any other portion of the knife. The hexagonal hole for example is configured to engage a hex nut to enable rotation of the hex nut. The hexagonal size may be of any desired dimension depending on the desired application. Alternatively, the hexagonal hole may be located on the blade. In other embodiments, hexagonal hole  107  may be implemented as two or more different sized holes if desired. The hexagonal hole may be located for example near a distal end of the handle area. 
         [0045]    One or more embodiments of the invention include first pointed projection  110  coupled with the distal end of the spacer that extends substantially parallel to the longest axis of the handle. The first pointed projection is known as a “glass breaker” and is configured break glass when struck against glass. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the glass breaker may be implemented as a conical projection that ends in a point or line or curve for example. In one or more embodiments, the first pointed projection is removably coupled to the spacer. 
         [0046]    Embodiments may be constructed from any type of rugged material for the blade, frame and optional handles. Embodiment may be implemented with a blade made from 1095 Carbon steel, or Milspec black coated D2 tool steel or SLEIPNER® tool steel, Niolox, ELMAX®, or any other material having a flat top thickness of nearly 0.2 inches or more and 3 inch cutting edge or in any other dimensions. In this embodiment, the knife weighs about 5 ounces and has a full length of 7.6 inches. Handles may be made from any material including wood or canvas such as MICARTA®, or fiberglass based laminates such as G10 or FR-4. Other embodiments, may utilize titanium for the spacer or other components or any other material depending on the intended application.  FIG. 2  illustrates a left side view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  illustrates a right side view of an embodiment of the invention. Locking handle  109  and optional pocket clip  130  are visible in this figure. Locking handle  109  has a locking element that may spring toward the center portion of the blade and lock the blade in place until the locking element is pushed outwardly, i.e., out of the page as shown to enable rotation of the blade to the folded position. Pocket clip  130  is optional and allows for clipping the knife to a pocket or any other item such as a belt for example. Pocket clip  130  may be located over locking handle  109  to provide a limit of travel on locking handle  109  so that locking handle  109  does not extend outward past a desired distance. In one or more embodiments, pocket clip  130  rests on locking handle  109  and is bendable and also provides inward force when the knife is gripped to ensure that locking handle  109  engages the lower locking portion of the blade. 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the invention. As shown, first and second thumb opener  126  and  127  enable thumb assisted opening of the blade. Handle  112  may include a hidden compartment and may separated in any manner to access contents thereof. In one or more embodiments, an inner portion of the handle may be flat while the outer portion has an internal indentation for hiding items. Any other component of the knife may be utilized for a hidden compartment so long as the component may be formed with an internal space.  FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 6  illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 7  illustrates a rear view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0049]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention in the folded configuration. As shown, top face  103  of the blade is exposed while the cutting edge is tucked into the inner space provided by the spacer that holds the handle and locking handle apart.  FIG. 9  illustrates a right side view of an embodiment of the invention in the folded configuration.  FIG. 10  illustrates a left side view of an embodiment of the invention in the folded configuration. 
         [0050]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective left side view of an embodiment of the invention without the handle to show the internal components of the knife. Stop pin  125  engages an upper rear portion of blade  101  to limit the total rotation of the blade to approximately parallel to the longest axis of the handle. The stop pin also maintains the spacing between the handle and locking handle at the upper blade area. Pivot nut  121  enables tension of the blade rotation to be set by rotating pivot nut  121  which is threaded and engages a pivot bolt on the other side of the knife as is shown in the next figure. First washer  122  lies between the handle and blade  101  and may be made of any material such as bronze or nylon or any other material. Spacer  108  provides holes for screws  141 ,  142  and  143  to hold the handle to spacer  108 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 12  illustrates a perspective top view of an embodiment of the invention without the locking handle to show the internal components of the knife Screw sockets  151 ,  152  and  153  enable the locking handle to be screwed to the handle via the screws shown in  FIG. 11 , i.e., screws  141 ,  142  and  143  respectively. Also shown are pivot bolt  124  and second washer  123  that lie on opposing sides of the locking handle and which enable the blade to rotate from the open to folded orientation. Also shown are roto lock  128  and roto screw  129  wherein the roto lock rotates and keeps the locking element of the locking handle from extending outwardly, i.e., keeps the rear portion of the blade from rotating by ensuring the engagement of the locking element with the rear portion of the blade. Any type of locking mechanism may be utilized in any embodiment of the invention as desired. 
         [0052]      FIG. 13  illustrates a left side view of an embodiment of the handle. As shown, hole  107   a  in the handle enables hole  107  in spacer  108  to engage a hex nut. Pivot nut indentation  121   a  provides an indented area for the pivot nut.  FIG. 14  illustrates a right side view of an embodiment of the handle, i.e., the inner portion of the handle. Pocket clip indentation  130   a  provides an area for the end of the pocket clip to wrap into. 
         [0053]      FIG. 15  illustrates a right side view of an embodiment of the locking handle. As shown, indentation  109   a  provides for a thinner section of the locking element, which shown traveling to the right on the lower portion of the locking handle toward pivot bolt indentation  124   a.  The thinner section enables high strength material used to make the locking handle, such as titanium, to flex more. The locking element is generally set as a spring to extend inward when the blade rotation enables a flat portion of the blade to engage the rightmost portion of the locking element. Also shown in the locking handle is roto lock indentation  128   a.  Various other indentations for screws and screw sockets are optional and are not labeled for brevity. 
         [0054]      FIG. 16  illustrates a left side view of an embodiment of the locking handle, i.e., the inner portion of the locking handle. The locking element  109   b  is shown as a long separate element with a flat face on the left portion and with knurling or jimping on the bottom left portion to enable firm engagement of a finger to push locking element  109   b  back into a parallel configuration, i.e., parallel to the upper portion of the locking handle, which enables the left portion of the locking element to clear the lower rear portion of the blade, which enables the blade to rotate to the folded orientation. 
         [0055]      FIG. 17  illustrates a right side perspective view of an embodiment of the optional pocket clip. As shown, clip indentation  131  and clip engagement lip  132  are formed as curves in the pocket clip, for example during manufacture.  FIG. 18  illustrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of the optional pocket clip. Hole  133  enables engagement of a lashing ring or first projection point, e.g., a glass breaker or pick or any other type of implement that may couple with the spacer. 
         [0056]      FIG. 19  illustrates a side view of a first embodiment of space  108 .  FIG. 20  illustrates a side view of a second embodiment of the spacer employing second projection  111 , which may be utilized as a scraper or pry bar. One or more embodiments of the invention include second pointed projection  111  coupled to the spacer that extends substantially perpendicular to a longest axis of the handle. The second pointed projection is known as a “pry bar”, or “chisel”, or “scraper”. The second pointed projection is configured to extend between two objects to enable rotation of the knife to pry the two objects apart. The second pointed projection may also be used as a chisel by providing a force to the top portion of the distal end of the knife, directly above the downward pointing second pointed projection for example. 
         [0057]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1