Knife and sheath

Abstract

A knife and an associated sheath are provided. The knife and the sheath are adapted to being moveable between a released condition, in which the knife is removably insertable in a first orientation relative to the sheath, and a stowed condition in which knife is lockable with the sheath in a second orientation twisted relative to the first orientation. The sheath has a resilient element arranged to urge the knife to twist between the first orientation and the second orientation thereby, releasably locking the knife in the stowed condition.

Description

KNIFE AND SHEATHInventor: Michael ChijoffCross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 2023903649, filed November 14, 2023, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference as if fully disclosed herein.Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates to a knife and a sheath. In particular, the invention relates to a knife and an associated sheath adapted to releasably interlock with one another when the knife is stowed in the sheath.Background

[0003] Knives may be carried within a sheath for ease of transportation and to protect the user from a blade of the knife when not in use. Typically, a sheath may include an opening with a slot or space to receive the blade of the knife and the knife body may extend from the sheath. The sheath may include a buckle or clip to hold the knife in place. However, a problem may exist with the buckle or clip becoming loose or the user forgetting to fastener the buckle or clip.

[0004] As such, sheaths arranged to lock with the knife when inserted into the sheath have been developed. One example of such a sheath includes a resilient part that extends from the sheath which snap fits with an external edge of an inserted knife to keep it within the sheath. This resilient part is external to the sheath and, to release the lock, the resilient part must be directly hand actuated which is inconvenient and poses a safety problem. This resilient part may also be caught during use and accidentally released.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need and desire for a knife and a sheath with improved locking therebetween, especially when such a knife and sheath are used in an extreme situation such as search and rescue or military operations.

[0006] The invention disclosed herein seeks to overcome one or more of the above identified problems or at least provide a useful alternative.Summary

[0007] In accordance with a first broad aspect there is provided, a knife and an associated sheath, the knife and the sheath being adapted to moveable between: a released condition, in which the knife is removably insertable in a first orientation relative the sheath, and a stowed condition in which knife is lockable with the sheath in a second orientation twisted relative to the first orientation, the sheath having a resilient element arranged to urge the knife to twist between the first orientation and the second orientation thereby releasably locking the knife in the stowed condition.

[0008] In an aspect, the knife includes a blade and a handle, and the sheath includes a body with an aperture arranged to at least partially receive the blade.

[0009] In yet another aspect, the aperture includes an entry section arranged to orient the blade in the first orientation against the resilient element and a stowed section arranged to receive the blade in the second orientation.

[0010] In yet another aspect, the knife and the sheath include respective interference surfaces adapted to interfere with one another in stowed condition to inhibit removal of the knife from the sheath in the second orientation.

[0011] In yet another aspect, the twisting of the knife from the second orientation to the first orientation allows the interference surfaces to pass one another.

[0012] In yet another aspect, twisting of the knife from the second orientation to the first orientation energizes the resilient element.

[0013] In yet another aspect, the body of the sheath includes opposing faces, opposing sides a tip end and an insertion end, wherein the resilient element is as a tab on at least one of the opposing faces.

[0014] In yet another aspect, the body of the sheath includes opposing faces, opposing side edges, a tip end and an insertion end, wherein the resilient element is provided in the form of two resilient tabs located at each of opposing faces.

[0015] In yet another aspect, the resilient tabs are outwardly displaced relative to surrounding surfaces of opposing faces in the insertion condition.

[0016] In yet another aspect, the resilient tabs are relatedly inwardly displaced relative to surrounding surfaces of opposing faces in the stowed condition.

[0017] In yet another aspect, the interference surfaces include a nook of the knife and a projection within the aperture arranged to be received by the nook in the second orientation.

[0018] In yet another aspect, the entry section includes first orientation surfaces arranged to guide the blade into the first orientation, and the stowed section includes second orientation surfaces arranged to guide the blade in the second orientation.

[0019] In yet another aspect, the stowed condition of the handle of the knife is adjacent the insertion end of the sheath.

[0020] In yet another aspect, the insertion end and handle of the knife are shaped to interface with one another.

[0021] In accordance with a second broad aspect there is provided, a knife and an associated sheath, the knife including a blade and a handle and the sheath including a body with an aperture arranged to at least partially receive the blade, wherein the aperture includes an entry section arranged to orient the blade in a first position against a resilient element associated with the body and a stowed section arranged to receive the blade in a second position twisted relative to the first position with the resilient element urging the blade toward the second position.

[0022] In accordance with a third broad aspect there is provided, a method of securing a knife with a sheath, the method including: inserting the knife into the sheath ina first orientation in which the knife is removably insertable into the sheath and energized against a biasing element of the sheath, and continuing to insert the knife toward a stowed condition in which knife is moved to a second orientation twisted relative to the first orientation with the biasing element urging the knife into the second orientation thereby releasably locking the knife in the stowed condition.

[0023] In accordance with a fourth broad aspect there is provided, a method of removing a knife from a sheath, the method including: in a stowed condition, twisting the knife relative to the sheath from a second orientation to a first orientation against a biasing element of the sheath such that the knife is moved toward a released condition; in the released condition, drawing the knife from the sheath in the first orientation in which interfering surfaces of the knife and the sheath are disengaged thereby allowing removal of the knife from the sheath.Brief Description of the Figures

[0024] The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, by reference to the accompanying figures, in which;

[0025] Figure l is a top perspective view illustrating a knife and a sheath;

[0026] Figure 2 is a top view illustrating the knife and the sheath;

[0027] Figure 3 is a bottom view illustrating the knife and the sheath;

[0028] Figure 4 is a side view illustrating the knife and the sheath;

[0029] Figure 5 is an end view illustrating the knife and the sheath;

[0030] Figure 6 is an opposing end view illustrating the knife and the sheath;

[0031] Figure 7 is a top perspective view illustrating the sheath;

[0032] Figure 8 is an end view illustrating the sheath;

[0033] Figure 9 is a side illustrating the sheath;

[0034] Figure 10 is an opposing end view illustrating the sheath;

[0035] Figure 11 is a bottom view illustrating the sheath;

[0036] Figure 12 is a top perspective view illustrating the knife;

[0037] Figure 13 is an end view illustrating the knife;

[0038] Figure 14 is a side illustrating the knife;

[0039] Figure 15 is an opposing end view illustrating the knife;

[0040] Figure 16 is a bottom view illustrating the knife;

[0041] Figure 17 is a top view illustrating the knife being inserted into the sheath, with a top surface of the sheath removed to reveal the internal configuration;

[0042] Figure 18 is a top view illustrating the knife inserted within the sheath, with the top surface of the sheath removed to reveal the internal configuration;

[0043] Figure 19 is top view illustrating the knife adjacent to its sheath;

[0044] Figure 20 is an end sectional explanatory view illustrating the knife in an insertion position or orientation being interested into the sheath;

[0045] Figure 21 is an end sectional explanatory view illustrating the knife in a locked position or orientation inserted within the sheath; and

[0046] Figures 22a to 22d illustrate steps of interesting the knife into the sheath between the insertion position or orientation and the locked position or orientation.Detailed Description

[0047] Referring to Figures 1 to 21 there is shown a knife arrangement 10 including a knife 12 and an associated sheath 14. The knife 12 and the sheath 14 are adapted to moveable between: a released or insertion condition, best shown in Figure 20, and a stowed condition, best shown in Figure 21.

[0048] In the released or insertion condition the knife 12 is removably insertable in a first orientation relative to the sheath 14, and in the stowed condition the knife 12 is lockable with the sheath 14 in a second orientation twisted relative to the first orientation, the sheath 14 having a resilient element 16 adapted to urge the knife 12 to twist from the first orientation toward the second orientation thereby releasably lockingthe knife 12 in the stowed condition. The twisting or rotation angle is about an elongate or lengthwise axis of the knife 12.

[0049] In more detail, the knife 12 includes a blade 18 and a handle 20, and the sheath includes a body 22 with an aperture or passage 24 arranged to at least partially receive the blade 18. The aperture 24 of the body 22 includes an entry section 26 arranged to orient the blade in the first orientation against the resilient element 16 and a stowed section 28 arranged to receive the blade 18 in the second orientation.

[0050] The body 22 of the sheath 14 includes opposing faces 34, opposing side edges 36, a tip end 38 and an insertion end 40 which has the aperture 24. The aperture 24 with its entry section 26 leads to the stowed section 28 which is provided by a space 42 within the body 22. The resilient element 16 is provided in the form of two resilient tabs 44 located at each of opposing faces 34.

[0051] As best shown in Figure 20, in the released condition, the resilient tabs 44 are energized and are outwardly displaced relative to surrounding surfaces 46 of opposing faces 44 in the insertion condition And, as best shown in Figure 21, the resilient tabs 44 are relatedly inwardly displaced relative to the surrounding surfaces 46 of opposing faces 44 in the stowed condition.

[0052] The tabs 44 engaged with the blade 18 and are energized thereagainst in the released condition which urges the blade 18 toward the stowed condition and snap locks the blade 18 into the stowed condition once the blade 18 is moved into the sheath 14. It is noted that the resilient element 16 may take various forms, and may engage with any part of the knife, and is not limited to the resilient tabs 44 which engage with the blade 18 as shown in this example. The sheath 14, in particular the resilient tabs 44, may be formed of a resilient plastic material. However, of course, other suitable materials may be used.

[0053] To hold or lock the knife 12 within the sheath 14, the knife 12 and the sheath14 include respective interference surfaces 30, 32, best shown in Figures 17, 28 and 21,adapted to interfere with one another in stowed condition to inhibit removal of the knife 12 from the sheath 14 in the second orientation.

[0054] The interference surfaces 30, 32 may take various forms. However, in this example, the interference surfaces 30, 32 include a nook 37 of the knife 12 and an internal projection 39 within the aperture 24 arranged to be received by the nook 37 in the second orientation as best shown in Figure 18. Twisting of the knife 12 from the second orientation to the first orientation allows the interference surfaces 30, 32 to pass one another.

[0055] As best shown in Figures 20 and 21, to orient the knife 12 in the first and second orientations, the entry section 26 includes first orientation surfaces or guides 41 arranged to guide the blade 18 into the first orientation, and the stowed section 28 includes second orientation surfaces or guides 42 arranged to guide the blade in the second orientation. The first and second orientation surfaces 41, 43 are angled relative to one another.

[0056] In more detail, the first and second orientation surfaces 41, 43 are provided by internal projections 45, 47 which extend partly across the respective entry and stowed sections 26, 28. The internal guide projections 45, 47 provide guides to assist with the orientation of the blade 18 and provide end of travel limits or stops to assist a user to gauge the twist required, that may be about 15 to 30 degrees, to remove the knife 12. It is noted that in both of the first and second orientations, the knife 12 is angled relative to a lateral axis across the width of the sheath 14 as best shown by comparing the orientation of the knife 12 in Figures 20 and 21.

[0057] Referring to Figures 22a to 22d, a method of securing the knife 12 with the sheath 14 includes inserting the knife 12 into the entry section 16 of sheath 14 in the first orientation in which the knife is removably insertable into relative the sheath 14 and energized against the biasing element 16 of the sheath 14, and continuing to insert theknife 12 toward the stowed condition in which knife is moved to the second orientation twisted relative to the first orientation with the biasing element 16 urging and twisting the knife 12 into the second orientation thereby releasably locking the knife in the stowed condition within the stowed section 26.

[0058] During insertion, the interference surfaces of sheath 30 and interference surfaces of knife 32 pass one another, and once past, the blade 18 snap fits into the stowed section 26 and is locked or retailed therein by the interference surfaces 30, 32 and also the resilient element 16 which acts to keep or lock the blade 18 in the second orientation in which it is restricted from being pulled out of the sheath 14 by the interference surfaces 30, 32.

[0059] To remove the knife 12 from the sheath 14, the method may include in the stowed condition, twisting the knife 12 relative to the sheath 14 from the second orientation to the first orientation against the biasing element 18 of the sheath 14 such that the knife 12 is moved toward the released condition. And, in the released condition, drawing the knife 12 from the sheath 14 in the first orientation in which interfering surfaces 30, 32 of the knife 12 and the sheath 14 are disengaged thereby allowing removal of the knife 12 from the sheath 14.

[0060] Advantageously, there has been described a knife and an associated sheath that allows for an inserted knife blade be automatically locked within the sheath and prevent unwanted removal of the knife. To remove the knife from the sheath, the user may twist the knife about its axis, such as, but not limited to about 15 to 30 degrees which then allows the knife to be removed. The resilient element provides resistance to keep the blade locked within the sheath and provides user feedback in combination with the guide surfaces to assist a user with defining the range of twist required to insert and secure the knife.

[0061] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0062] The reference in this specification to any known matter or any prior publication is not, and should not be taken to be, an acknowledgment or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field to which this specification relates.

[0063] While specific examples of the invention have been described, it will be understood that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

[0064] Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

Claims

CLAIMSThe claims defining the Invention are as follows:

1. A knife and an associated sheath, the knife and the sheath being adapted to moveable between: a released condition, in which the knife is removably insertable in a first orientation relative to the sheath, and a stowed condition in which knife is lockable with the sheath in a second orientation twisted relative to the first orientation, the sheath having a resilient element arranged to urge the knife to twist between the first orientation and the second orientation thereby releasably locking the knife in the stowed condition.

2. The knife and the associated sheath according to claim 1, wherein the knife includes a blade and a handle, and the sheath includes a body with an aperture arranged to at least partially receive the blade.

3. The knife and the associated sheath according to claim 2, wherein the aperture includes an entry section arranged to orient the blade in the first orientation against the resilient element and a stowed section arranged to receive the blade in the second orientation.

4. The knife and the associated sheath according to claim 3, wherein the knife and the sheath include respective interference surfaces adapted to interfere with one another in stowed condition to inhibit removal of the knife from the sheath in the second orientation.

5. The knife and the associated sheath according to claim 4, wherein twisting of the knife from the second orientation to the first orientation allows the interference surfaces to pass one another.

6. The knife and the associated sheath according to claim 4, wherein twisting of the knife from the second orientation to the first orientation energizes theresilient element.

7. The knife and the associated sheath according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the body of the sheath includes opposing faces, opposing sides a tip end and an insertion end, wherein the resilient element is as a tab on at least one of the opposing faces.

8. The knife and the associated sheath according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the body of the sheath includes opposing faces, opposing side edges, a tip end and an insertion end, wherein the resilient element is provided in the form of two resilient tabs located at each of opposing faces.

9. The knife and the associated sheath according to claim 8, wherein the resilient tabs are outwardly displaced relative to surrounding surfaces of opposing faces in the insertion condition.

10. The knife and the associated sheath according to claim 8, wherein the resilient tabs are relatedly inwardly displaced relative to surrounding surfaces of opposing faces in the stowed condition,11. The knife and the associated sheath according to claim 4, wherein the interference surfaces include a nook of the knife and a projection within the aperture arranged to be received by the nook in the second orientation.

12. The knife and the associated sheath according to claim 4, wherein the entry section includes first orientation surfaces arranged to guide the blade into the first orientation, and the stowed section includes second orientation surfaces arranged to guide the blade in the second orientation.

13. The knife and the associated sheath according to claim 8, wherein in the stowed condition the handle of the knife is adjacent to the insertion end of the sheath.

14. The knife and the associated sheath according to claim 13, wherein the insertion end and handle of the knife are shaped to interface with one another.

15. A knife and an associated sheath, the knife including a blade and a handle and the sheath including a body with an aperture arranged to at least partially receive the blade, wherein the aperture includes an entry section arranged to orient the blade in a first position against a resilient element associated with the body and a stowed section arranged to receive the blade in a second position twisted relative to the first position with the resilient element urging the blade toward the second position.

16. A method of securing a knife with a sheath, the method including:Inserting the knife into the sheath in a first orientation in which the knife is removably insertable into the sheath and energized against a biasing element of the sheath, andContinuing to insert the knife toward a stowed condition in which knife is moved to a second orientation twisted relative to the first orientation with the biasing element urging the knife into the second orientation thereby releasably locking the knife in the stowed condition.

17. A method of removing a knife from a sheath, the method including: a. In a stowed condition, twisting the knife relative to the sheath from a second orientation to a first orientation against a biasing element of the sheath such that the knife is moved toward a released condition; b. In the released condition, drawing the knife from the sheath in the first orientation in which interfering surfaces of the knife and the sheath are disengaged thereby allowing removal of the knife from the sheath.

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