Flippers are a strange animal.. the first rear flipper that I believe ever hit the scene was Laci Szabo's folding UUK...a custom knife..he never patented it or trademarked it because everyone thought it dumb..so Laci let it slide..too bad.hmmm now years later it's the rage with other knives.
As for "flippers" off the front side,,well that's a delicate issue..
Several of these custom & production guys were adamant that waves and KinOps were stupid ideas..but they now market "flippers"..Well if it rides tip up in your pocket..I guess you better go talk to Ernie..cause if it Flips open by your pocket, by engagement with your clothing its a wave..by any other name..its still a WAVE..
and Wave patent is Ernies..
If it rides Tip down and the flipper opens AFTER it's out of your pocket by rubbing or hitting another object..its a Kinetic Opener by any other name..
Guess you can stop in and talk to me..
Matter of fact I saw the ad that called the front side of a dual flipper an almost instantaneous deployment device..it encounters something and "bam" its open..
Sounds like my KinOp to me..
Thats the thing these days..
Ideas once laughed at turn out years later to be OK..
I realize its a bit off topic,,but if you want flippers check out those of us who worked out the ideas.
be safe
bram