Frame lock patented?

D

dulleddown

Joined
Sep 2, 2007
Messages
155
Hi Guys,

I was just noticing that on my Kershaw Chive (frame lock, Oct 2004) that there's three seperate patent numbers listed on the handle. I have no idea what they're for; but am guessing the blade-closed lock, the clip design (?), and the A/O design, but who knows...

Anyhow, from what I've read, Chris Reeve invented "the" frame lock, and debuted it on the Sebenza. I'm just wondering if anyone knows if he patented the design as well, or if someone else jumped on it (stole it), or if it's still unpatented (no freakin' way).

Given that so many manufacturers use this lock design, I wonder if that means that CRK has royalty cheques rolling in on a daily basis, or how that whole arrangement must work. Anyone?
 
I don't think it has a patent. It's like the liner lock. M.Walker invented the concept and everybody uses it.
 
Who invented the lockback ? Would Opinel get bummed if someone else made a ringlock ?
What about the axis ? who made it first , CS or Benchmade , someone else ?
Is there a patent on the slipjoint , non locking ?

I dont see how anyone in good conscience could patent a type of lock so nobody else could use it.

Is this apples and oranges - who invented the remote control for the TV ?

See what I'm getting at ? :)
 
rebeltf said:
Who invented the lockback ? Would Opinel get bummed if someone else made a ringlock ?
What about the axis ? who made it first , CS or Benchmade , someone else ?
Is there a patent on the slipjoint , non locking ?

I dont see how anyone in good conscience could patent a type of lock so nobody else could use it.

Is this apples and oranges - who invented the remote control for the TV ?

See what I'm getting at ? :)
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure William/Henry made the Axis and sold the rights to BM. And anyone who wants to use the Axis needs to pay BM royalties. I don't see anything wrong with someone keeping a patent to themselves, it's their patent. It's that security that an inventor has the choice that drives the creation of new ideas and concepts.
 
dulleddown said:
Hi Guys,

I was just noticing that on my Kershaw Chive (frame lock, Oct 2004) that there's three seperate patent numbers listed on the handle. I have no idea what they're for; but am guessing the blade-closed lock, the clip design (?), and the A/O design, but who knows...

Anyhow, from what I've read, Chris Reeve invented "the" frame lock, and debuted it on the Sebenza. I'm just wondering if anyone knows if he patented the design as well, or if someone else jumped on it (stole it), or if it's still unpatented (no freakin' way).

Given that so many manufacturers use this lock design, I wonder if that means that CRK has royalty cheques rolling in on a daily basis, or how that whole arrangement must work. Anyone?
Click to expand...
"Google" the patent number. That should tell you what the three patents pertain to.
For example, on the CRKT m16-01k, there's the patent no. 5,596,808, which equates to the following:
"A knife has a folding blade, a blade lock in the form of a leaf spring, and a safety for preventing unlocking of the lock. One form of safety has a carrier in the form of an elongate arm mounted on the knife handle. A stud is positioned on an inside surface of one end of the arm. A contact surface is formed on an outside surface of the arm opposite from the stud. The other end of the arm is pivotably attached to the handle of the knife. The arm may be swung from a release position, unobstructive of the lock, to a safety position in which the presence of the stud prevents unlocking the lock. The carrier may be spring biased toward the release position, and may have limited travel away from the handle to the release position. The carrier may also be a slide or a rotating disk".
 
Our Chive actually has 5 different patents attached to it. The frame lock is not one of them.

I doubt you will find public information on royalties paid out with any patent.
 
Kaizen1 said:
I'm pretty sure William/Henry made the Axis and sold the rights to BM. And anyone who wants to use the Axis needs to pay BM royalties. I don't see anything wrong with someone keeping a patent to themselves, it's their patent. It's that security that an inventor has the choice that drives the creation of new ideas and concepts.
Click to expand...

I hear ya. :)
 
1st off: I don't think there's an "in good conscience" when it comes to patenting ideas or technology. It's good business, and I'm sure someone holds a patent on the frame-lock, mono-lock, integral-lock, or whatever it's called. It's a kick-ass idea, and someone should get a lot of credit for it. Just my 2cents though.

FYI, Robert Adler invented the remote control and did quite well financially as a partial result of it. Zenith, who he worked for, is the company that felt the real benefit of that invention. He went on to invent a ton of stuff though. Very smart guy. Died earlier this year. That's enough of my Cliff Claven impersonation for today. Sorry, rebeltf.


2nd of all: Thomas W, thanks... your (well, mine actually) Chive is an awesome little knife. I love it, despite it being all dinged up from spending so much time in my pocket and hand.

I wasn't really looking for "how much so and so makes on royalties" as yeah, that's none of my business, but I was just wondering who got there first, and what the set up might be on others using the technology. Whether it'd be a one time use fee, or per unit, or per model that uses it or whatever.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top