US Patent 7181849 Folding knife with opening and closing actuator

In one embodiment of the present invention a laterally folding knife is described incorporating an actuator mechanism permitting the knife blade to be moved from open and closed positions without the need for a user to touch the blade. Further, the folding knife can be quickly opened or closed using a single finger or thumb. The knife blade is automatically locked in place in either open or closed position and therefore does not require a separate blade locking mechanism.