Retractable utility knife
AssigneeSlice Safety Cutter, Inc.
InventorRobert Joseph Gallegos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A utility knife configured with a retractable cutting blade that is extended and retracted by a blade actuation mechanism. The blade actuation mechanism employs a blade trigger assembly and a blade carriage assembly that are operably connected in variety of configurations. Certain configurations of the blade actuation mechanism utilize a rack-and-pinion arrangement between the blade trigger assembly and the blade carriage assembly, which enables the automatic retraction of the cutting blade as the cutting blade is lifted from the cutting surface.
Claims10
A utility knife with a retractable blade, comprising:
- a housing;
- a blade trigger assembly retained within the housing;
- a blade carriage assembly retained within the housing and connected to the blade trigger assembly, wherein the blade carriage assembly is formed with a blade holder configured to retain a cutting blade;
- and
- a blade release button formed on an outer portion of the housing of the utility knife, wherein the blade release button is configured to flex inward to release the cutting blade from the blade holder.
A utility knife with retractable blade, comprising:
- a housing;
- a blade actuation mechanism comprising a blade trigger assembly connected to a blade carriage assembly, wherein the blade actuation mechanism is retained within the housing;
- a blade trigger lock that is configured to toggle between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locked position is characterized by a portion of the blade lock trigger blocking movement of one or more components of the blade actuation mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.