Retractable cutting implement

A retractable cutting implement comprising a sleeve-like handle member, said handle member having a cavity portion comprising a first longitudinal slot, said handle member being open on the base thereof through said first slot and at one end of said first slot;

• a carrier member pivotally mounted to said hollow sleeve-like handle member at the other end thereof opposite from said one end for pivotal movement into and out of said cavity portion between a closed position and an open position for said implement, said carrier member resiliently holding within said cavity carrier member when said carrier member is pivotally moved into said cavity portion for substantially closing said cavity portion, said carrier member having a longitudinal extent substantially equivalent to said handle member longitudinal extent and comprising a substantially enclosed longitudinally extending chamber with a passage therein in communication with said one end of said first slot in said handle member;
• and a blade carriage member slidably mountable in said carrier member chamber for slidable movement toward and away from said passage, said blade carriage member having a plurality of studs at the end thereof opposite said pivotally mounted end of said carrier adapted to support a perforated cutting blade having a top edge and a bottom edge for slidable movement of said blade into and out of said first slot one end through said passage when said implement is in said closed position, at least one of said blade edges comprising a cutting edge, said carrier member opposite end having an inner edge completely pivotally insertable within said handle member cavity portion first longitudinal slot and an outer edge, said outer edge having a guide channel portion and being disposed on said carrier member for protecting a portion of the cutting edge of said cutting blade when said cutting blade is supported on said blade carriage member studs, said studs being disposed on said blade carriage member for supporting said cutting blade in a first cutting position in a first slidable position of said blade carriage member with at least a portion of said cutting edge protruding through said first longitudinal slot one end beyond said handle member cavity portion when said cavity portion is substantially closed by said carrier member pivotal movement into said cavity portion and with the remaining portion of said cutting edge being within said guide channel portion, said handle member first longitudinal slot portion together with said carrier member guide channel portion forming a protective housing for said cutting blade remaining portion to protect said cutting blade top and bottom edges in said first cutting position, said handle member having a second longitudinal slit therein, a button being disposed on said blade carriage member and extending through said chamber and into said second longitudinal slit in said closed position of said implement with said button being movable along said second slit when said blade carriage member slides within said chamber, said movement of said button effectuating said slidable movement of said blade carriage member, said second slit having a longitudinal extent sufficient to enable said slidable movement of said supported cutting blade between said first cutting position and a second retracted position of said cutting blade within said cutting implement, said cutting edge being enclosed with said cutting implement in said retracted position with said implement in said closed position thereof, whereby the remaining portion of said cutting edge of said supported cutting blade is substantially prevented from dulling in said first cutting position and substantially the entire cutting edge of said supported blade is protected in said retracted position.