Source: {"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"}

The present invention relates to a folding knife. In particular, the present invention relates to a folding knife having a cantilever spring to assist a user in opening the knife and a plunge lock to lock the knife in an open position.
Folding knives typically include a handle and one or more blades pivotally attached to the handle, the blades having a compact closed position and an extended open position. Additional features are added to folding knives in order to make such knives more useful and easier to operate. Such features may include a mechanism used to assist the user in opening the knife, a mechanism used to lock the blade into an open position, and a mechanism to bias the blade into the closed position. Adding additional features increases the cost and complexity of the folding knife. Cost considerations may outweigh the desire for additional features for folding knives that are intended for sale at moderate prices. Accordingly, there is a need for a mechanism that provides additional features that does not unacceptably raise manufacturing costs. Further, there is a need for such a mechanism that performs multiple desired functions using the same parts.
The components required to effectuate features such as an assisted opening function or a blade lock function utilize space in a folding knife that may otherwise be used for other purposes. Accordingly, there is need for a simplified mechanism that provides desirable features but does not utilize a great deal of space within a knife handle.
It would be desirable to provide a folding knife that includes a mechanism that provides one or more of these or other advantageous features. Other features and advantages will be made apparent from the present specification. The teachings disclosed extend to those embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the aforementioned needs.