1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to folding knives, and in particular to a scabbard for a folding knife which enables the knife to be opened with one hand as the knife is withdrawn from the scabbard. 2. Description of the Prior Art
While there are many disclosures in the prior art of folding knives designed to be easily and quickly opened, there has been no prior art found that discloses a scabbard which operates in conjunction with a knife to enable the user to withdraw the knife from the scabbard with one hand and simultaneously open the knife as it is being withdrawn. The following patents are exemplary of folding knives designed to be easily and readily opened.
U.S. Pat. No. 616,689 discloses a pocket knife having a folding blade with no thumb slits or notches therein. The blade is opened by means of a pivoted finger-piece.
U.S. Pat. No. 689,513 discloses a pocket knife having a folding blade with no thumb slits or notches therein which can be opened by a pivoted finger-piece at the end of the knife handle.
U.S. Pat. No. 847,474 discloses a pocket knife having a folding blade containing a lever for readily opening the blade without using the thumb nail. The lever is pivoted to the side of each of the blades near the tang and folds down by the side of the blade when not in use. The lever has a laterally projecting flange with which the ball of the thumb can be engaged when the blade is to be opened.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,416,277 discloses a pocket knife having a handle which contains a folding knife blade, and a member for engaging the folding knife blade and pivoting the knife blade to the open position. The member is pulled outwardly from one end of the knife to engage the folding blade in a rack and pinion arrangement which causes the blade to rotate from the folded position to the extended, or open, position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,095,337 discloses a finger actuater for attachment to a conventional folding knife blade. The actuater is a resilient steel saddle arrangement fitted tightly over a knife blade which can be engaged by the thumb to open a blade while the other fingers of the hand hold the handle in the palm. The actuator enables the user to open the knife blade with one hand.