Safety stock carton knife tip assembly and method of making

#A unique stock carton safety knife was previously developed, as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,412,871 and 5,539,983, both incorporated by reference herein. The outer blade juncture of the knife has a blunt knob such as a sphere, as part of the patented combination. The present invention relates to a unique attachment of the knob to the blade.

#The present invention was made to achieve easy and secure attachment of the blunt knob to the blade tip of a stock carton safety knife. The blade tip has a special configuration for effective securement of the blunt knob to the blade, creating an excellent bonded joint. The configuration has a narrower central portion laterally straddled by a pair of cavities, and axially straddled by a pair of wider portions, the knob being bonded in place encompassing the central portions and the bonding material filling the cavities.

#These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the knife, emphasizing one embodiment of the blade, with the handle shown in phantom;

#FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the blade;

#FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of the blade, depicting the special joint configuration of the blade tip; and

#Referring now specifically to the drawings, the stock carton knife 10 there depicted comprises an elongated handle 12 shown in phantom lines and having at one end a protruding extend through the blade orifice 14d to secure blade 14 in place in the handle. Conventional handle protrusions (not shown) extend into blade cavities 14e to assist in locking it in place in the usual manner.

#The blade is of thin, flat metal, namely steel. The exposed end of blade 14 has a pair of blunt i.e., dull lateral edges 14a and 14b which form the front and back edges of the blade respectively, and a rounded, convex, outer end 14c with a dull edge. In lateral edge 14a is a lateral cutting notch 16 which has a laterally opening mouth 16a and a sharpened cutting edge 16′. Notch 16 is generally diagonally oriented relative to the elongated dimension of the knife, extending diagonally from mouth 16a toward outer end 14c of blade 14. Cutting edge 16′ includes a sharp inner edge 16a closer to handle 12, and a sharp outer edge 16b further away from the handle and closer to the outer end 14c. Outer edge 16b joins end 14c of the blade to form a juncture. The juncture is provided with a blunt knob 18. This knob has a width considerably greater than the blade width and although preferably is in the form of a sphere, may take other blunt configurations such as a teardrop shape. There is no sharp point at this outer edge of mouth 16a, i.e., at the juncture.

#An optional feature along the inner edge of edge 16′a is a diagonal, flat guide and safety plate 20 shown in phantom lines, extending generally parallel to edge 16′a and oriented normal to the plane of blade 14. It straddles the blade so as to protrude from the two opposite faces of blade 14, and acts as a guard plate oriented toward the handle to protect the fingers of a user of the knife, all as set forth in the above-identified patents.