US1665955A - Knife structure - Google Patents

Description

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT,v OFFICE.

Anno z. Gn'rnvvoon, oF 'rEMrLr .jy,l oKTnluaonrA.

KNIFE STRUCTURE. ,I

Application med Aprn as, 1927. kseran Na. 187,347'.

An important object of the invention -is to provide a knife of that-.type wherein the handle is formed in twosections swlngable upon the blade from positions where they align with the blade and provide an eXtensi-on of the tang thereof to positions where they house the blade, wherein a single catch may be employed for holding` the handle sections in either of said positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby, when the knife is in the closed position and the catch 1s relieved, the handle sections will automatically move toward the open position.

These and other objectskI attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illus tration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein A Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a knife constructed in accordance with my invention in the open or operative position;

Figure 2 is an edge elevation thereof in vsaid position;

Figure 3 is a side elevation partially broken away showing a knife in the closed position j y vFigure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1; f

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. j

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral `10 generally designates a knife blade, which may be of anyusual or preferred construction and 11 the tang of the blade. This tang has directed therethrough transversely spaced pivots 12 upon which aremounted handle sections 13 and 14. lEach handle section is in the form of a U'shaped channel, the arms 14 of which at one end are extended beyond the connection 15 therebetween for engagement with the pivots 12. The extension of these arms provides a slot 16, permitting rotationof the handle sections 13 and 14 about these pivots from the position sh-owrr in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 3 without interference by projecting guards 17,

. the tang.

which may be formed at the forward end of They ends18 of the wall 15 are so spaced from the pivots 12 that when the handle sections are in the open position in Figure 1, they' engage solidly against the end face19 ofthe tang, as the connections 15 come into engagement withone another and renderthe handle sections rigid tothe blade, as long as the outer ends thereof are main tained in engagement with one another. j

Meansrjfor maintaining these handle secvv tions in engagement with one another comprises a lever 20 inserted in the channel of the member '14 and pivoted to the walls f thereof adjacent the outer or free end of this handle member. One end of this lever is projected through a slot 21 formed in the connection 15 of the member 14 and the opposite end thereof projects beyond theouter edges of the arms'. Opposite edge faces of this lever are formed at their extremities as latch jaws 22 and 23 and the latch jaw 227 when the handle sections are in their handle forming positions, extends through a slot 24 formed in the connect-ion 15 of the handle section 13 adjacent the free end thereof and` is held in engagement with one wall thereof by virtue ofa spring 25, which constantly urges the leverabout its pivot inone direction. Movement of the lever in this direction islimited by astop 26 carried by the handle section 14. When the handle sections 13 and 14 are' in their housing forming positions, the latch jaw 23 engages a latch bar 24a extending transversely of the channel of the section 13 adjacent the free end thereof and holds these sections in this position. The channels of each of the menibers 13 and 14 has secured therein springs 27 which, when the handle sections are in the housing forming position, engage against the inner or tang end of the blade 10 and are compressed thereby, so that when the lever 20 is oscillated to release the latch jaw 23 from the bar 24, these springs will automatically shift the handle sections toward their open position, greatly eXpedit-ing the operation of opening the knife.

It will be obvious that since the handle portions when in their handle forming position engage the shank of the knife and bind thereagainst, a very solid construction is provided, which will prevent the blade from having any movement with relation to the handle vvithoutthe necessity of providing additional clamping means therefor.

The single latch structureemployed simpli fies the' construction of the `knife and `enables the same to be cheaply produced.

Since the constructioii hereinbefore s et. forth is capable of a certain' range 'of' change and modification without materially depts;151;T ing from the spirit of the invention, I do not limit myself to such 'specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

Iclaim:-' j c In a knife, a blade having aftang, a pair ofi transversely spaced pivots carried hyl the tang,y a. channeled handle section 'mounted on 'each `pivot and swingable "thereabont from 'a =position where' the 'channel thereof houses aiportion of the bladle'to a position where it 'alignswith the `tang,` the 'connection between the arms of the channel i'nfthe last named position o'f the sections'engaging the Wall ofthe tang, means for locking the free ends of said handle sectionsto one an other in either of 'said positions,` comprising a lever pivoted in the channel of one of the sections adjacent they freel end thereof and having its' ends extended to opposite sides ofthe sect-ion7 said ends being formed at opposite 'faces of the lever as latch jaws, the other of the sections having a bar extended transversely of its channel with which one of the latch jaws engages when the sections are yin the firsty named position and having an openingI formed in the connection be tween the arms of the channel against one wal-l of which the other of J[he latch jaws engages when the handle sections are in the last named position.l

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix inysignature.

Anno z. GATEwoon.

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