Foldable knife with disposable blades

• US 7,797,835 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Min Zheng Zeng
• Original Assignee: Min Zheng Zeng
• Inventors: Zeng, Min Zheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; Stephen
• Application Number:
  US12/027,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20090199408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 301/51, 301/53, 301/54, 301/55, 301/56, 301/60, 301/61, 301/62, 301/64
• US Class Current: 30/153
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 1/02 with pivoted blade
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 5/001 with blades being slid out of handle immediately prior to use

Abstract

A foldable knife includes a handle, a frame pivotally connected to the handle, a cartridge pivotally connected to the frame, a leaf spring attached to the frame, a blade-driving device, a blade-positioning element and a button. The frame includes a slot. The cartridge includes a slot through which the leaf spring reaches at least one blade when the cartridge is disposed in the frame. The blade-driving device includes a plate and a switch. The plate is in firm contact with the blade. The switch includes a portion located outside the frame and another portion inserted through the slot of the frame and connected to the plate. A blade-positioning element is movably connected to the frame. A button includes a portion for pushing the blade-positioning element and another portion inserted through the aperture of the frame for contact with a user'"'"'s finger.

Claims

1. A foldable knife comprising:

a handle;

a frame pivotally connected to the handle and formed with a slot defined therein and an aperture defined therein;

a leaf spring attached to the frame;

a cartridge pivotally connected to the frame and formed with a slot through which the leaf spring reaches at least one blade when the cartridge is disposed in the frame; and

a blade-driving device comprising;

a plate in firm contact with the blade against the leaf spring; and

a switch comprising a portion located outside the frame and another portion inserted through the slot of the frame and connected to the plate;

a blade-positioning element movably connected to the frame; and

a button comprising a portion for pushing the blade-positioning element and another portion inserted through the aperture of the frame for contact with a user'"'"'s finger.

2. The knife according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises two pivots inserted into an internal side of the handle, thus pivotally connecting the frame to the handle.

3. The knife according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises a lug formed on an edge, and the frame comprises an axle inserted in the lug, thus pivotally connecting the cartridge to the frame.

4. The knife according to claim 1, wherein the plate comprises a connective portion connected to the switch.

5. The knife according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises a tab operable for pivoting the cartridge.

6. The knife according to claim 5, wherein the frame comprises a cutout for receiving the tab.

7. The knife according to claim 1, wherein the plate comprises at least one contact in firm contact with the blade against the leaf spring.

8. The knife according to claim 1, wherein the blade-positioning element comprises at least one rib for insertion into at least one cutout defined in the blade, thus positioning the blade.

9. The knife according to claim 1 comprising a switch-restraining element formed with a portion pivotally connected to the frame and another portion exposed from the frame for restraining the switch.

10. The knife according to claim 9 comprising a spring for keeping the switch-restraining element partially exposed from the frame.