Opening device for plastic packages

A hand held device for opening a selected one of two flat shrink-wrapped packages each of rectangular configuration and respectively different predetermined thicknesses, each package being characterized by a side wall having a longitudinal edge, an openable lid that closes against the longitudinal edge of the side wall, and a shrink wrapping enclosing the entire package, wherein the shrink wrapping includes a sheet member covering the juncture of the lid and the side wall edge, said device comprising:

• a plastic block having elongated slots in two opposite sides which define a central wall portion therebetween, each slot having a bottom surface formed by the central wall portion and the bottom surface of each slot being essentially a flat plane, each slot having an opening side opposite said bottom surface and having an associated pair of side walls extending away from said central wall portion to a respective one of said opposite sides, said side walls being in a spaced parallel relationship;
• each of said slots being of uniform width for slidably receiving a side of a respective one of said shrink-wrapped packages in close-fitting engagement therewith whereby the associated package may be slid longitudinally therethrough;
• each of said slots having a respectively associated cutting blade secured in said bottom surface and extending parallel to the associated side walls of said slot for making a length-wise cut through the sheet member of the shrink wrapping, the cutting edges of the two blades being oriented longitudinally of their respective slots but in opposing directions therein;
• and
• each of said cutting blades being in a laterally offset position in its associated slot extending from said bottom surface to slightly enter the otherwise closed juncture of the lid and the longitudinal edge of the side wall of the selected package and thereby easily guide the blade to make an uninterrupted incision in the shrink wrapping through the entire length of the package.