US12466090 - Retractable knife for rapid manual deployment while fully grasped

The patent describes a folding knife designed for rapid manual deployment, allowing the user to transition the blade from a closed to an open position without changing their grip on the handle. It features a unique conveyance system with pivotable arms that facilitate the movement of the blade while maintaining user control and safety.

Claim 1

1 . A folding knife comprising: a handle comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a first side, and a second side, each of the first side and the second side extending from the proximal end to the distal end; a blade member comprising a heel portion and a cutting portion, wherein the cutting portion comprises a cutting edge, wherein the blade member translates relative to the handle to move between a storage position and a use position, wherein, in the use position, at least a portion of the cutting edge extends distally relative to the distal end of the handle, and wherein, in the storage position, the cutting edge is proximal relative to the distal end of the handle; a pair of conveyance arms comprising a rear conveyance arm and a front conveyance arm each having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portions of the rear and front conveyance arms are pivotably coupled to the first side of the handle, and wherein the second end portions of the rear and front conveyance arms are pivotably coupled to the heel portion on a first side surface of the blade member, wherein the first end portion of the front conveyance arm is closer to the distal end of the handle than the first end portion of the rear conveyance arm, wherein the front conveyance arm comprises a first concave portion oriented toward the rear conveyance arm, and the rear conveyance arm comprises a second concave portion oriented toward the front conveyance arm; and a first pivot element pivotably coupling the first end portion of the rear conveyance arm to the handle, a second pivot element pivotably coupling the second end portion of the rear conveyance arm to the heel portion of the blade member, a third pivot element pivotably coupling the first end portion of the front conveyance arm to the handle, and a fourth pivot element coupling the second end portion of the front conveyance arm to the heel portion of the blade member, wherein, in the storage position, a first vertical plane perpendicular to an axis extending through the proximal end and the distal end of the handle and intersecting the first pivot element is positioned between a second vertical plane and a third vertical plane, wherein the second vertical plane is perpendicular to the axis extending through the proximal end and the distal end of the handle and intersects the fourth pivot element, and wherein the third vertical plane is perpendicular to the axis extending through the proximal end and the distal end of the handle and intersects the third pivot element; and wherein, in the storage position, at least a section of the first end portion of the rear conveyance arm protrudes into a first recess defined by the first concave portion of the front conveyance arm, and wherein, in the use position, at least a section of the first end portion of the front conveyance arm protrudes into a second recess defined by the second concave portion of the rear conveyance arm. a handle comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a first side, and a second side, each of the first side and the second side extending from the proximal end to the distal end; a blade member comprising a heel portion and a cutting portion, wherein the cutting portion comprises a cutting edge, wherein the blade member translates relative to the handle to move between a storage position and a use position, wherein, in the use position, at least a portion of the cutting edge extends distally relative to the distal end of the handle, and wherein, in the storage position, the cutting edge is proximal relative to the distal end of the handle; a pair of conveyance arms comprising a rear conveyance arm and a front conveyance arm each having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portions of the rear and front conveyance arms are pivotably coupled to the first side of the handle, and wherein the second end portions of the rear and front conveyance arms are pivotably coupled to the heel portion on a first side surface of the blade member, wherein the first end portion of the front conveyance arm is closer to the distal end of the handle than the first end portion of the rear conveyance arm, wherein the front conveyance arm comprises a first concave portion oriented toward the rear conveyance arm, and the rear conveyance arm comprises a second concave portion oriented toward the front conveyance arm; and a first pivot element pivotably coupling the first end portion of the rear conveyance arm to the handle, a second pivot element pivotably coupling the second end portion of the rear conveyance arm to the heel portion of the blade member, a third pivot element pivotably coupling the first end portion of the front conveyance arm to the handle, and a fourth pivot element coupling the second end portion of the front conveyance arm to the heel portion of the blade member, wherein, in the storage position, a first vertical plane perpendicular to an axis extending through the proximal end and the distal end of the handle and intersecting the first pivot element is positioned between a second vertical plane and a third vertical plane, wherein the second vertical plane is perpendicular to the axis extending through the proximal end and the distal end of the handle and intersects the fourth pivot element, and wherein the third vertical plane is perpendicular to the axis extending through the proximal end and the distal end of the handle and intersects the third pivot element; and wherein, in the storage position, at least a section of the first end portion of the rear conveyance arm protrudes into a first recess defined by the first concave portion of the front conveyance arm, and wherein, in the use position, at least a section of the first end portion of the front conveyance arm protrudes into a second recess defined by the second concave portion of the rear conveyance arm.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12466090

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12466090