A decoupled lock is disclosed. One embodiment provides a knife having a handle pivotably attached to a knife blade, the knife blade having a closed position within the handle and an open position extended from the handle, and a decoupled lock having a blade engagement portion to lock the blade and a user interface portion to disengage the blade engagement portion, wherein the blade engagement portion is biased toward a locked position and the user interface portion disengages the blade engagement portion when the blade is in the open position and is decoupled from the blade engagement portion with the blade in the closed position. Other embodiments are described herein.

A locking mechanism for a tool or knife blade based on the locking liner lock. A hinge replaces the typical flex point at the base of the lockbar which allows the lockbar to be made of materials other than those required to be resilient. This allows materials that are lightweight, non metallic, and many other possibilities. As well very strong non resilient materials can be used which would avoid some of the mechanical failures that resilient materials have shown by bending due to downward force on the top of the tool or knife. This mechanical failure will not only destroy the ability of a knife to lock in the open position but the event will cause the blade to rotate toward the closed position and can cut the operators hand. That is a safety issue.

A locking mechanism for a tool or knife blade based on the locking liner lock. A hinge replaces the typical flex point at the base of the lockbar which allows the lockbar to be made of materials other than those required to be resilient. This allows materials that are lightweight, non metallic, and many other possibilities. As well very strong non resilient materials can be used which would avoid some of the mechanical failures that resilient materials have shown by bending due to downward force on the top of the tool or knife. This mechanical failure will not only destroy the ability of a knife to lock in the open position but the event will cause the blade to rotate toward the closed position and can cut the operators hand. That is a safety issue.

Folding knife embodiments are disclosed herein comprising a blade operable to pivot relative to a handle, between an open position and a closed position, about a pivot axis extending through a tang portion of the blade having at least one locking recess. The knife can have a locking mechanism comprising a rod that extends along the pivot axis through the tang portion and a locking member coupled to the rod which engages the at least one locking recess of the tang portion when the blade is in at least one of the open position or the closed position. The knife can further comprise a push button coupled to the rod, wherein depression of the push button is configured to eject the locking member from the locking recess in the blade, thereby unlocking the blade.

A bolster-actuated folding knife may have a folding knife blade whose opening and closing is controlled by an actuator on the knife's handle. This bolster-actuator may rotate in either of two rotational directions about the same pivot as the knife blade. When a user rotates the bolster-actuator in one direction, the bolster's pin may impinge via direct contact with the knife blade forcing the knife blade fully open. When a rotates the bolster-actuator in the opposite direction bolster-actuator rotation and thus bolster pin deflection may cause the knife's locking tab to disengage from a cutout in the knife blade, unlocking the knife blade from its fully locked-open position and urging the knife blade to close. Thus, the bolster-actuated folding knife may provide a convenient means to open and close a locking, folding knife with only one hand, and without substantial interference with the knife's aesthetic appeal.

A folding knife with user selectable knife locking mechanism is disclosed. The knife locking mechanism is selectable between a frictional lock mode and a frame lock mode. The frictional lock mode retains an extended blade of the folding knife with a frictional interference to limit the blade from inadvertent retraction. The frame lock mode prevents the extended blade from being retracted into the main body. A tension piece is resiliently moveable to selectively protrude within the interior cavity. A lock mode selector slide is movably carried on the tension piece and is operable to select between the friction lock mode and the frame lock mode.

A foldable cutting device is disclosed. The foldable cutting device has a handle configured with a blade holder chamber, a blade holder having a first end formed with a blade channel configured to receive a blade, a second end pivotally connected to the handle, and movable between a closed position in which the blade holder rests within the blade holder chamber and an open position in which the first end of the blade holder extends away from the handle, and a release mechanism for assisting in the opening of the blade holder comprising one or more tension components configured to bias the blade holder towards the open position when the blade holder is manually moved from the closed position.

A foldable cutting device is disclosed. The foldable cutting device has a handle configured with a blade holder chamber, a blade holder having a first end formed with a blade channel configured to receive a blade, a second end pivotally connected to the handle, and movable between a closed position in which the blade holder rests within the blade holder chamber and an open position in which the first end of the blade holder extends away from the handle, and a release mechanism for assisting in the opening of the blade holder comprising one or more tension components configured to bias the blade holder towards the open position when the blade holder is manually moved from the closed position.

A folding knife with an improved locking mechanism for a blade pivoting from a closed position to a secure open locked position. A spring urged release locking arm is slidably disposed within the knife handle by guide pins. A locking arm projection is engaged on a blade shank retainment locking pin allowing selective repositioning of the locking pin during operation releasing the blade from closed retained position to fully open and extended lock position upon locking arm movement.

A knife having a latchless locking mechanism having a handle half with a left handle portion and a right handle portion held apart to form a blade groove. The left handle portion and the right handle portion each include a liner including a pivot slot and a first lock pin disposed between the first left handle portion and the first right handle portion. A blade having a tang that is pivotally and slidably coupled to the handle half with a pivot pin, the tang including a tang slot configured to accept the locking pin and a hook portion extending over the tang slot, the hook portion configured to capture the lock pin when the blade is in a locked position and thereby prevent rotation of the blade from the first locked position to the open position. A latchless locking system is also provided.