BRACELET WITH INTEGRATED KNIFE

Abstract

A bracelet or flexible band comprised of a flexible member that on one end is interconnected to a knife and on another end, is connected to a sheath that selectively receives the knife in the locking fashion. When needed, the knife is rotated within the sheath to facilitate release thereof from a lock that is integral with the sheath. Once removed from the sheath, the knife can be used for self-defense, cutting rope or cord in an emergency situation, or for general utility cutting tasks.

Claims

1. A flexible band with in integrated knife, comprising: a sheath having a first end and a second open end; a knife comprised of a blade extending from a blade base, the blade base having a first end for interconnection to the blade and a second end, the blade base also having a handle guard extending therefrom; a flexible band having a first end operatively interconnected to the first end of the sheath, and a second end operatively interconnected to the second end of the blade base; wherein the sheath includes a selectively deflectable arm that ends in a detent positioned adjacent the second open end of the sheath; and wherein the detent has a first position of use where the handle guard is positioned between the second open end of the sheath and the detent, and a second position of use where the detent is deflected such that the handle guard is free to move away from the second open end of the sheath.

2. The flexible band of claim 1, wherein the flexible band is made of at least one of paracord, leather, metal, cloth, rubber, or a similar flexible material.

3. The flexible band of claim 1, wherein at least one of the blade and blade base includes a gripping surface on the top surface thereof.

4. The flexible band of claim 1, wherein the sheath has a cavity configured to selectively receive the blade, the cavity having a ceiling and a floor, wherein a tip of the blade is spaced from the floor when the blade is fully inserted in the sheath.

5. The flexible band of claim 4, wherein movement of the detent from the first position of use to the second position of use is achieved by rotating the blade base to move the tip near the floor.

6. The flexible band of claim 1, wherein the detent includes a socket for selective receipt of a bulge extending from the handle guard when the detent is in the second position of use.

7. The flexible band of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of at least one of the blade base and the sheath comprises an arcuate profile.

8. A flexible band with an integrated device, comprising: a sheath having a first end and a second open end; a device comprised of a first end configured to selectively fit within the sheath, and a second end with a protrusion extending therefrom; a flexible band having a first end operatively interconnected to the first end of the sheath, and a second end operatively interconnected to the second end of the second end of the device; wherein the sheath includes a selectively deflectable arm that ends in a retaining member positioned adjacent the second open end of the sheath; and wherein the retaining member has a first position of use where the protrusion is positioned between the second open end of the sheath and the retaining member, and a second position of use where the retaining member is deflected such that the device is free to move from of the sheath.

9. The flexible band of claim 8, wherein the flexible band is made of at least one of paracord, leather, metal, cloth, rubber, or similar flexible material.

10. The flexible band of claim 8, wherein the device is a knife, a can opener, a bottle opener, a flint, a solid-state memory device; a flashlight, an RFID device, a whistle, a near-field communication device, a key, a finger nail file, a tool, a compass, or a writing utensil.

11. The flexible band of claim 8, wherein the sheath includes at least one of a compass, a watch, a light, a reflector, a whistle, an RFID or similar near-field communication device, a screen, and a flint.

12. The flexible band of claim 8, wherein the device is a knife, and wherein the sheath possesses an internal configuration with a first surface and a second surface, wherein the blade has a tip spaced from the second surface when the knife is fully inserted into the sheath.

13. The flexible band of claim 12, wherein movement of the detent from the first position of use to the second position of use is achieved by rotating the knife to move the tip near the second surface.

14. The flexible band of claim 12, wherein an outer surface of at least one of the device and the sheath comprises an arcuate profile.

15. A sheath, comprising: a first surface; a second surface spaced from the first surface; a third surface interconnecting the first surface and the second surface; a fourth surface interconnecting the first surface and the second surface; wherein the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface define an internal volume; an arm deflectably attached to the fourth surface; and a detent interconnected to an end of the arm, the detent adapted to selectively engage a portion of a device that is adapted to fit within the volume to lock the device within the sheath.

16. The sheath of claim 15, wherein the portion of the device is a protrusion that includes a bulge that is adapted to be selectively received within a socket provided in the detent.

17. The sheath of claim 16, wherein the device is a knife comprising a blade extending from a blade base, and wherein the end of the arm is interconnected to the fourth surface, the fourth surface having a gap that is adapted to receive a portion of the blade as it is removed from the sheath.

18. The sheath of claim 17, wherein the detent includes a groove adapted to receive a portion of the blade when the blade is removed from the sheath.

19. The sheath of claim 15, wherein the third surface is textured.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of these inventions.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracelet of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the bracelet;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the bracelet;

[0022] FIG. 3A is front elevation view showing a knife removed from a sheath;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bracelet in a second, open position of use wherein a blade has been removed from the sheath;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional front elevation view showing the knife removed from the sheath;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional front elevation view showing the interaction between the knife and sheath as the knife is initially positioned within the sheath with the handle guard clear of a locking detent;

[0026] FIG. 7 is a detailed view showing the interaction between the handle guard and the positive locking detent;

[0027] FIG. 8 is a front elevation view showing the blade positioned within the sheath and in the locked position;

[0028] FIG. 9 is a detailed view of FIG. 8;

[0029] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating how knife release is initiated;

[0030] FIG. 11 is a front elevation view showing the knife seated in the sheath and positively locked, a portion of the sheath is shown transparent;

[0031] FIG. 12 is a front elevation view showing the knife at an initial phase of removal from the sheath, wherein an arm is fully deflected, a portion of the sheath is shown transparent;

[0032] FIG. 13 is a front elevation view showing the knife at an intermediate phase of removal from the sheath, wherein the arm is deflected and the bulge on the handle guard has cleared the nose on the detent, a portion of the sheath is shown transparent;

[0033] FIG. 14 is front elevation view showing the knife at a final stage of removal from the sheath, wherein the arm is in a relaxed, un-deflected position, a portion of the sheath is shown transparent;

[0034] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a bracelet of another embodiment of the present invention that incorporates a watch; and

[0035] FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the combination watch and bracelet shown in FIG. 15.

[0036] To assist in the understanding of one embodiment of the present invention the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein:

TABLE-US-00001 No. Component. 2 Bracelet 6 Flexible band 10 Flexible band first end 14 Flexible band second end 18 Sheath 22 Knife 26 Blade base 28 Handle 30 Handle guard 34 Detent 36 Socket 38 Outer surface 42 Sheath first end 46 Hook 50 Sheath second, open end 54 Blade 58 Upper edge 62 Ceiling 66 Floor 70 Tip 74 Arm 82 Apex 86 Loop 90 Handle guard end 94 Bulge 98 Nose 102 Upper surface 106 Lower surface 110 Watch

[0037] The drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] FIGS. 1-7 show a bracelet 2 of one embodiment of the present invention. The bracelet 2 is comprising a flexible band 6 having a first end 10 and a second end 14. The first end 10 of the flexible band 6 is interconnected to a sheath 18 and the second end 14 is interconnected to a knife 22. The flexible band 6 of one embodiment of the present invention is formed of braided paracord. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other flexible bands, straps, bow strap, or harness may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0039] The knife 22 when positioned within the sheath as shown in FIGS. 1-3, forms an article adapted to fit around a user's wrist, ankle, or waist; or be incorporated into any strap, such as a bow strap. A bracelet 2 is provided in the figures provided herein. The clasp of the bracelet comprises the sheath 18 that selectively receives the knife 22. The knife 22 can cut items for everyday utility, in an emergency, or be used for self-defense.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the knife 22 includes a blade 54 interconnected to a blade base 26. The blade base 26 and a portion of the flexible band 6 define a handle 28 interconnected to the blade. The blade base 26 includes a handle guard 30 selectively locked by a movable detent 34 associated with the sheath. A socket 36 of the detent 34 and an outer surface 38 of the sheath trap the handle guard to lock the blade within the sheath. The sheath 18 has a first end 42 which may have a hook 46, or another device, for selective receipt of the first end of the flexible band 6. A second end 14 of the flexible band is tied or otherwise interconnected to the blade base 26. The sheath 18 may have a curved inner surface, i.e., the surface configured to contact the user's body, and the blade base 26 may have a complementary arcuate surface (see also, FIG. 3A). The curved surface or surfaces enhance user comfort and ergonomics. Further, these surfaces may incorporate a cushion to increase comfort.

[0041] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the bracelet 2 in an open configuration. Here, the knife 22, which comprises a blade 54 and the blade base 26, has been removed from the sheath 18, thereby allowing the flexible band to elongate. The handle guard 30 protects the user's fingers from sliding past the blade base and unintended contact with the blade 54 and cutting edge. The blade base 26 and the blade 54 may also include a knurled upper edge 58 that enhances gripping and serves as a surface for user's thumb or forefinger to press downward on the blade 54 to prevents upward rotation of the blade that may result from band flex.

[0042] FIGS. 6-9 illustrate how the knife is locked within the sheath. The sheath 18 includes a ceiling 62 and a floor 66, wherein a blade tip 70 is spaced from the floor 66 when the knife is fully inserted within the sheath 18. As the blade 54 is initially inserted within the sheath, as shown in FIG. 6, the handle guard 30 is spaced from the detent 34. Further insertion of the blade 54 into the sheath 18 will cause the end 90 of the handle guard to come into close proximity or engage the detent as shown in FIG. 7. Still further blade insertion will engage a bulge 94 of the handle guard 30 onto a nose of the detent 98, thereby flexing the arm 74 and moving the detent 34. The final locking step is performed by rotating the knife base 26 downwardly along the second, open end of the sheath 50, which positions the handle guard 30 between the second end of the sheath 50 and the detent 34, wherein the bulge 94 is firmly seated in a socket 36 provided by the detent. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the final locking configuration, wherein arm 74 has relaxed and the detent 34 is positioned such that the bulge 94 is firmly seated in the socket 36.

[0043] FIGS. 10-14 show how the blade 54 is released from the sheath 18. More specifically, to remove the knife 22 from the sheath 18, the user presses on the upper surface 102 of the sheath and provides an opposing force to a lower surface 106 of the blade base 26 and an adjacent portion of the flexible band 6. These opposing forces (see opposing arrows on FIG. 12) cause the blade 54 to rotate within the sheath 18 and moves the tip 70 closer to the floor 66 of the sheath 18. This rotation also moves the handle guard 30 along the second, open end of the sheath 50 and, thus, moves the handle guard 30 out of the socket 36 provided by the detent 34. During this phase, the bulge 94 will engage the nose 98 which flexes the arm 74 and allows further movement of the handle guard 30 and blade base 26 from the sheath 18. That is, movement of the blade base 26 relative to the sheath 18 as shown will eventually allow the handle guard 30 to escape the detent 34, wherein the handle guard 30 is spaced from the detent 34 as shown in FIG. 14. The blade 54 may be hawk-bill, drop point, or other shape to provide an apex 82 at the upper edge thereof that selectively engages a point on the ceiling 62 to facilitate rotation of the knife within the sheath. In one embodiment, this blade release sequence generates an audible noise, such as a “pop.”

[0044] FIGS. 15 and 16 show another embodiment of the present invention, wherein a watch 110 incorporated in the flexible band 6. Here the clasp is the knife/sheath combination.

[0045] In the examples shown, a paracord flexible band is provided. The paracord terminates in a loop 86 selectively interconnected to the hook 46 on the sheath. The other end of the flexible band is tied or otherwise interconnected to the blade base 26.

[0046] While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. Further, it is to be understood that the invention(s) described herein is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.