Patent ID: 7152327

Claim:
A folding knife comprising: a) a handle comprised of first and second elongated members having substantially identical perimeter configurations defined by substantially parallel upper and lower edges, and front and rear extremities, each member having a flat interior surface, said first member having emergent from its interior surface a spacing shoulder adjacent said rear extremity, and pivot holding means adjacent its front extremity, said second handle member being pivotably joined to said spacing shoulder in a manner permitting swinging movement between a rearward open position and forward closed position wherein said interior surfaces are in facing relationship defining a compartment whose width is determined by said spacing shoulder, and motion limiting means associated with the lower edge of said second handle member adjacent its forward extremity, and b) a blade member having a cutting edge and oppositely located non-cutting back edge, a distal pointed tip, a proximal extremity having a tang portion whose thickness equals the width of said compartment, and pivot means associated with said tang portion in a manner to interact with said pivot holding means on an axis orthogonal to said upper and lower edges and parallel to said interior surfaces, the length of said blade, measured between said tip and proximal extremity being such as to fit within said compartment, whereby c) said blade member resides within said compartment in the storage state of said knife, and can be deployed to a service state by swinging said second handle member rearwardly in a plane parallel to said first handle member, swinging said blade member laterally and forwardly in a path orthogonal to said first handle member, and returning said second handle member forwardly until stopped by said motion limiting means, at which point said tang is securely embraced by abutment with the opposed interior surfaces of said handle members.