CN219504822U - Knife - Google Patents

Abstract

A knife includes a handle, a neck configured to hold a blade, and a lever configured to selectively release the blade from the neck. The lever is coupled to a blade locking arm configured to extend along a side of the blade. When the blade lock arm is in the blade lock position, the sloped surface pushes the blade lock arm into the blade to press the blade against the side of the neck, thereby clamping the blade to the side of the neck.

Description

Knife

Technical Field

The present utility model relates generally to tools, and more particularly, to a knife, such as a knife having a detachable or replaceable blade (e.g., a multi-function knife). It is to be understood that the teachings herein may be applied to other tools having replaceable blades, including but not limited to files or saws (e.g., reciprocating saws) as a manual tool or a power tool.

Background

While aspects of the disclosed utility model are applicable to a variety of tools, in some embodiments, including those shown, the tools may be multi-function knives. Many utility knives are configured to receive blades as known in the art. In some such knives, the blade has a generally trapezoidal and generally symmetrical configuration with one or more mounting notches for engagement with a conventional multi-function knife, wherein the blade has a body with one or more mounting notches formed in a first linear edge and a cutting edge opposite the first linear edge, and the cutting edge is disposed on the longest edge of the trapezoid. Some blades of utility knives are constructed with detachable sections that can be broken off and may have a tang portion that is retained by the knife, wherein the blade can be replaced once all of the blade sections are detached or discarded.

Among other things, the present utility model relates to various improvements to mechanisms for securing blades to tools, such as mechanisms for securing blades of utility knives to utility knives.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one embodiment, a knife includes a handle, a neck configured to hold a blade, and a lever configured to selectively release the blade from the neck. The lever is coupled to a blade locking arm configured to extend along a side of the blade. When the blade lock arm is in the blade lock position, the sloped surface pushes the blade lock arm into the blade, pressing the blade against the side of the neck, clamping the blade onto the side of the neck.

These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present utility model, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. In one embodiment of the utility model, the structural components shown herein are drawn to scale. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the utility model. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the structural features shown or described in any one of the embodiments herein may be used in other embodiments as well. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Drawings

Features of a knife according to one or more embodiments are shown in the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements. The accompanying drawings form a part of this original disclosure, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a utility knife of the present disclosure, with the front portion of the blade retention neck omitted, showing engagement between the blade retention lever and the blade;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the utility knife of FIG. 1 with the blade further omitted and the blade retention lever pivoted to the blade release position;

fig. 3 shows a further enlarged and oblique perspective view of the view of fig. 2 to further illustrate features therein.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1, the knife 100 includes a blade release mechanism 105, the blade release mechanism 105 including a pivoting lever arm 110, the pivoting lever arm 110 being rotatable about an axis 120 (e.g., at an axial projection 130, the axial projection 130 being, for example, a pivot pin received in a bore 140 of the lever arm 110) to lock or unlock the mounting of the blade 150 to the blade retention neck 160 of the knife 100. While in the illustrated embodiment, the neck 160 may be folded into the handle 165 of the knife 100, in other embodiments, the neck 160 may extend integrally from or define the end of the handle 165.

In some embodiments, the lever arm 110 is coupled to the blade recess engagement flange 170 such that when the lever arm 110 is pivoted to the blade locking position, such as the position shown in fig. 1, the blade recess engagement flange 170 is pivoted into the blade recess 180 of the blade 150. When lever arm 110 is pivoted to the blade unlocked position, such as the position shown in fig. 2, discussed in more detail below, blade recess engagement flange 170 will pivot out of blade recess 180 so that blade 150 may be pulled forward out of blade retention neck 160 (e.g., between the illustrated side and the side omitted from the illustrated view, which may be secured together by any suitable mechanism, including but not limited to the illustrated threaded fastener 190).

In some embodiments, the insert pocket engagement flange 170 may be subordinate to or may be omitted from other insert retention features coupled to the lever arm 110 that are configured to retain the insert 150 in the insert retention neck 160 of the tool 100. For example, as shown in fig. 2, in one embodiment, the blade lock arm 200 may extend from the lever arm 110 and may include a blade gripping end 210. The respective inclined portions 220 formed in the blade holding neck 160 may be shaped to correspond to the pivotal movement of the lever arm 110 and the blade locking arm 200 such that when the lever arm 110 is moved to the blade locking position, the inclined portions 220 close a gap between a visible surface of the neck 160 and an opposite side of the neck (omitted from the figures) to push the blade clamping end 210 or other feature of the blade locking arm 200 against the blade 150 to clamp the blade 150 into the neck 160 (e.g., with a clamping force between the blade clamping end 210 or other surface of the blade locking arm 200 and the omitted side of the neck 160). In one embodiment, the blade lock arm 200 may deflect to provide a clamping force onto the blade 150 through the blade clamping end 210 and against the omitted side of the neck 160 while still allowing for tolerance variations, including, but not limited to, one or more gaps between the omitted side of the neck 160 and the visible side of the neck 160, the formation of the bevel 220, or tolerance variations in the manufacture of the blade lock arm 200 or portions thereof.

It will be appreciated that the angled structure may be interchanged in other embodiments, in which the angled surface shape may be formed on the blade lock arm 200 rather than a non-angled recess being formed in the neck 160. In some embodiments, both the angled portion 220 and the blade lock arm 200 may include angled formations that cooperate to press the blade lock arm 200 against the blade 150 and clamp the blade 150 against a side of the neck 160 that is omitted from the view. It will also be appreciated that in some embodiments, the position and/or configuration of the blade release mechanism 105 may be mirrored from that seen in fig. 1-3 such that the angled portion 220 is formed on an omitted side of the neck 160, and that the blade release mechanism 105, including the blade lock arm 200 and associated structure, is similarly connected to the omitted side of the neck shown in fig. 1-3 and as such engages an opposite face of the blade 150 (i.e., the visible face of the blade 150 shown in fig. 1).

In some embodiments, the angled portion 220 may include a stop that receives a protrusion in the blade gripping end 210 (or other feature of the blade locking arm 200) to provide a tactile feel to the user when the blade locking arm 200 is in one or both of the unlocked or locked positions. For example, as shown in fig. 2, the blade gripping end 210 may be received in the first stop 230 when the lever arm 110 is in an open position that allows the blade 150 to be released from the neck 160. Thus, moving the lever arm 110 from the illustrated position will require moving or deforming the insert clamping end 210 to move the insert clamping end 210 out of the first stop 230. Similarly, when the lever arm 110 is moved into or out of the locked position shown in fig. 1, this movement will require the insert clamping end 210 to be moved or deformed to move the insert clamping end 210 out of the second stop 240.

Fig. 3 shows the view of fig. 2 from an oblique angle highlighting the inclination of the inclined portion 220 relative to the stop portion and the thickness of the insert clamping end 210, and in some embodiments the wavy shape of the insert clamping end 210 may help rise over the ridges of the stop portions 230 and 240 upon exiting the deeper recesses of the stop portions 230 and 240.

In various embodiments, the knives and blades and components thereof described herein may be formed of metal, plastic, ceramic, or any other suitable material. It is to be appreciated that the components described herein may have different configurations or arrangements, including but not limited to one or more of different material selections. For example, each of the components described herein may be constructed of a variety of materials, including but not limited to one or more of fabric, plastic, metal, rubber, elastomer, or any other suitable choice of materials. For example, in one embodiment, one or more of the components (e.g., lever arm 110 or neck 160) may be formed of aluminum (e.g., machined aluminum), iron (e.g., steel), ceramic, or any other suitable material. Similarly, portions of the knife 100 may be formed from molded plastic, metal, or a combination thereof (e.g., fasteners having plastic or stronger coupling portions of metal supports). In some embodiments, the structural and functional components may be formed of metal or hard plastic, while the gripping component positioned to engage the palm of the gripping hand to provide a comfortable gripping surface to the palm may be made of a suitable molded plastic material or elastomeric material, and may generally be formed of a suitable molded plastic material coated with a bi-material of elastomeric material (e.g., rubber-based material). In some embodiments, the material selection for the different components may be different. In various embodiments, some components may be integrally formed together, while other components may be assembled by any suitable mechanism, including but not limited to fastening, welding, snap-fitting, friction-fitting, adhesive, or other suitable securement.

Although the utility model has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the utility model is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present utility model contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present utility model claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application 63/209,921, filed on 6/11 of 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (10)

1. A knife, the knife comprising:

a handle;

a neck configured to hold a blade; and

a lever configured to selectively release the blade from the neck;

wherein the lever is coupled to a blade locking arm configured to extend along a side of the blade;

wherein when the blade lock arm is in a blade lock position, the sloped surface pushes the blade lock arm into the blade to press the blade against a side of the neck, thereby clamping the blade to the side of the neck.

2. The knife of claim 1 wherein the neck is pivotally mounted to the handle.

3. The knife of claim 1, wherein the inclined surface is formed on the neck.

4. The knife of claim 1, wherein the sloped surface comprises a stop configured to receive a protrusion to provide a tactile sensation to a user when the blade lock arm is in the blade lock position.

5. The knife of claim 4, wherein the protrusion is formed on the blade lock arm and the sloped surface is formed on the neck.

6. The knife of claim 1, wherein the detent is configured to provide a tactile sensation to a user when the blade lock arm is in the blade unlock position.

7. The knife of claim 6, wherein the stop is formed on the neck.

8. The knife of claim 1, wherein the lever is coupled to a knife notch engagement flange and is configured such that movement of the knife blade locking arm into the knife blade locking position moves the knife notch engagement flange into a knife notch of the knife blade.

9. The knife of claim 1, wherein the lever pivots about a pivot axis.

10. The knife of claim 9 wherein the neck comprises a pivot pin and the lever comprises a pivot hole that receives the pivot pin.