Cutting tool for cardboard boxes

A cutting tool for opening cardboard boxes and the like comprising:

• handle means that includes first and second symmetrical side members, said first and second side members each having a rounded end, an arcuate half ogival end, and inner and outer flat and parallel side surfaces connected by rounded edge surfaces, said inner side surfaces having a flat surface area larger than said outer side surfaces;
• said first and second side members each having a elongated adjustment opening cut therethrough in a position near the ogival ends thereof such that the adjustment openings will be aligned to provide an adjustment slot completely through said handle means when said first and second side members are secured together in an aligned position;
• said first and second side members each having a rectangular adjustment groove formed in the inner side surfaces thereof adjacent said adjustment opening, said adjustment grooves extending to the arcuate ends of said first and second side members and being positioned so that when the first and second side members are aligned the adjustment grooves are aligned to provide a recess for the noncutting edge of a single edge razor blade;
• hollow fastener means pivotally connecting the rounded ends of said first and second side members together such that the inner flat surfaces thereof are juxtaposed when said first and second side members are aligned;
• a single edge razor blade having a positioning hole formed therein, said blade being slidably mounted between said first and second side members so that the cutting edge of said razor blade can be exposed at the arcuate end of said handle means to enclose the cutting edge of the razor blade when the tool is not in use;
• adjustment means mounted through the adjustment slot in said handle means and engaging the razor blade for moving the razor blade to a selected position for cutting, or to a blade enclosed position, and securing said first and second side members together with sufficient force to retain the razor blade in the selected position, said adjustment means including a screw mounted through the adjustment slot in said handle means and the positioning hole in said razor blade, said screw being oriented so that the screw head is positioned adjacent to the outer flat surface of said first side member and the threaded end of the screw is adjacent to the outer flat surface of said second side member, and an adjusting washer having a threaded central opening threadably mounted on said screw and positioned adjacent to the outer flat surface of said second side member for clamping the two sides of the handle means together to retain the razor blade in a selected position and a nut threaded on said screw for pressing the adjusting washer against the handle means to retain the razor blade in its selected position;
• and
• a rectangularly shaped, thin guide member having a centrally disposed mounting hole rotatably mounted on said screw and positioned between said adjusting washer and the outer flat surface of said second side member, whereby said guide member can be positioned in a guiding position or a nonguiding position, said guide member also functioning as a lid prying device, scraper, and screw driver.