Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is directed to a hand-held instrument, which may comprise, in various exemplary embodiments thereof, a folding (manual, assisted opening, automatic, etc,) knife, a fixed blade knife, or any other hand-held tool comprising a handle, and at least one active region (e.g., a cutting, a saw blade, etc.), and which also advantageously comprises at least one novel user-operable protective element, that when placed, by the user, into an active position that is generally perpendicular to the handle of the instrument, is configured for protecting at least a portion of the user's hand while the instrument is held and/or utilized, and that when placed into a retracted position that is generally parallel to the handle of the instrument, streamlines the instruments longitudinal profile. In accordance with the present invention, the inventive apparatus is advantageously provided with at least one actuating element selectively operable by the user, that when activated, causes a corresponding at least one protective element to automatically extend into the active position. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, in which the novel instrument comprises an automatic opening blade that exists a predefined region within the handle thereof in response to the user's activation of an opening element, the novel instrument is advantageously provided with an actuating mechanism connected to at least one protective element that is operable to automatically cause the at least one protective element to extend into its active position in conjunction with the blade's automatic opening movement.

First Claim