Cutlery – Sheathed – Folding sheath
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-04
2001-03-06
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Sheathed
Folding sheath
C030S157000, C030S255000, C030S262000, C030S340000, C007S119000, C007S158000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195898
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a latched butterfly knife or a latch for a butterfly knife, and, in particular, to a magnetically latched butterfly knife or a magnetic latch for a butterfly knife.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
FIGS. 2 and 3
show a conventional prior art butterfly knife
2
. The butterfly knife
2
generally has a knife blade
3
, a first hinged component
4
, a second hinged component
5
, a first handle component
6
, a second handle component
7
, and a latch
8
. The first hinged component
4
and the second hinged component
5
are attached to the knife blade
3
. The first handle component
6
is hingedly coupled to the knife blade
3
at the first hinged component
4
, and the second handle component
7
is hingedly coupled to the knife blade
3
at the second hinged component
5
. The latch
8
includes a swinging portion
8
A and a receiving slot
8
B. The swinging portion
8
A is hingedly coupled to the end of handle component
7
at point
8
C, and the receiving slot
8
B is located in the end of the handle component
6
as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
. The latch
8
works by having the swinging portion
8
A fittingly engage into the receiving slot
8
B to be able to lock the knife
2
into an open and usable position as shown in FIG.
2
and to also be able to lock the knife
2
into a closed and stored position as shown in FIG.
3
. The butterfly knife
2
also has a handle stop
9
to help stabilize movement and skewing of the handle components
6
and
7
and the knife blade
3
when they are in the open and usable position by creating general cooperation and stability of the respective components at points A, B, and C. Other examples of butterfly type knives are disclosed in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 229,706; 365,086; 881,294; 1,270,727; 1,659,418; 1,665,955; 2,714,249; 4,047,298; 4,330,937; 4,364,174; 4,547,965; 4,555,822; 4,672,743, 4,722,140. These prior art patents are incorporated by reference herein.
A latching mechanism used in conjunction with a butterfly knife may be cumbersome to latch and/or unlatch, and the latch may become loose and not properly hold the knife in either the open or closed position (i.e. the latch may not be reliable). An improperly latched butterfly knife may be hazardous, dangerous, and cause potential injury to the user or others. Some of the prior art latches for butterfly knives require the use of moving part or parts making it more complex for the user to use. Such moving parts may be subjected to wear and tear leading to possible failure of the latch. Also, it is desired that these knives be easily and quickly opened or closed by the user, especially in instances such as emergency and/or combat situations. It is a continued need and desire to provide latches for butterfly knives or latching butterfly knives that are more simplistic, easier, and safer to use. Furthermore, devices or components for helping the user move a butterfly knife between the open latched and closed latched positions are continuously needed and desired as well.
Therefore, the present invention discloses and provides a magnetic latch for a butterfly knife and a magnetically latching butterfly knife, and the present invention overcomes the problems, disadvantages, and limitations of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Set forth is a brief summary of the invention in order to solve the foregoing problems and achieve the foregoing and other objects, benefits, and advantages in accordance with the purposes of the present invention as embodied and broadly described herein.
It is an object of the invention to provide a butterfly knife and/or a butterfly knife latch with a more simplistic, less cumbersome, and more reliable latching system.
It is another object of the invention to provide a butterfly knife with a latching system or a butterfly knife latch which provides further safety and less hazard to the user and others.
It is another object of the invention to provide a butterfly knife with a latching system or a butterfly knife latch that has less moving part or parts.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a butterfly knife with a latching system or a butterfly knife latch that is subjected to less wear and tear.
It is also another object of the invention to provide a butterfly knife with a latching system or a butterfly knife latch that is more simplistic, easier, safer, and more reliable to use and able to be moved relatively quickly between the open latched and closed latched positions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide further help or aid to the user to move a butterfly knife or a magnetically latched butterfly knife between an open latched and closed latched position.
The above objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by a magnetic latch for a butterfly knife. The magnetic latch for the butterfly knife has at least one magnetic component and at least one magnetic attracting surface (i.e. magnet or metal surface) that are able to couple to the handle components wherein the at least one magnetic component and at least one magnetic attracting surface magnetically attract and couple to each other to be able to provide open and closed latching operations for the butterfly knife.
The above objects and advantages of the invention are also achieved by a magnetically latching butterfly knife. The knife has a magnetic latch, and the magnetic latch includes at least one magnetic component and at least one magnetic attracting surface (i.e. magnet or metal surface) that couple to the handle components wherein the at least one magnetic component and at least one magnetic attracting surface magnetically attract and couple to each other to provide open and closed latching operations for the butterfly knife.
The above objects and advantages of the invention are further achieved by a method of using a magnetic latch for a butterfly knife that has a first handle component and a second handle component wherein the first and second handle components are able to be moved to an open position and a closed position. At least one magnetic component is attached to the first handle component. At least one magnetic component is magnetically coupled to the second handle component so that the first handle component and the second handle components are able to magnetically couple to each other in the open position and also in the closed position.
The above objects and advantages of the invention are also achieved by a method of using a magnetically latching butterfly knife. A butterfly knife is provided. A magnetic latch is coupled to at least a first handle component of the knife. The magnetic latch is used to magnetically couple the first handle component to a second handle component of the knife in either the open latched position or closed latched position.
The above objects and advantages of the invention are further achieved by providing a releasing component coupled to a magnetically latching butterfly knife in order to allow the user to more easily move the knife between the open latched and closed latched positions.
The preferred embodiments of the inventions are described below in the Figures and Detailed Description. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Detailed Description is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. Section 112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Section 112, paragraph 6, are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in suppor
Moy Jeffrey D.
Pryor Sean
Rachuba M.
Weiss Jeffrey
Weiss & Moy P.C.
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