Knife with a non-rotating retractable blade

A knife with a non-folding, retractable cutting blade, comprising:

• a blade having a first end, a second end and a substantially arcuate shaped cutting edge extending substantially therebetween;
• a handle having a front end and a rear end which defines a substantially longitudinal axis and a cavity extending therebetween for receiving said blade;
• a blade retraction means interconnected to said handle proximate to said cavity and operatively engaged with said blade to move said first end and said second end of said blade substantially simultaneously in a direction at substantially right angles to said longitudinal axis of said handle between a first extended position of use wherein said blade cutting edge is exposed for use and a second retracted position wherein said blade cutting edge is received within said handle;
• and
• a blade engagement means positioned on said knife blade and adapted for contact with a thumb of a user of said knife, wherein said knife blade moves between said first extended position of use and said second retracted position when a force is applied to said blade engagement means in a direction substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said handle by the thumb of the user.

A handheld knife having a non-rotating, retractable blade, comprising:

• a handle comprising a front end and a rear end which defines a longitudinal axis, and a cavity extending therebetween;,
• a blade having a first end, a second end and a cutting edge extending therebetween, said knife blade having a total length no greater than a length of said knife handle;
• a blade depression partially recessed within said blade and operably positioned for engagement by a thumb of a user of said handheld knife;
• a handle aperture extending from an outer section of said knife handle to said cavity, wherein said blade depression is exposed for engagement by a user's thumb;
• at least one stud operably interconnected to said blade and extending outwardly in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of said knife blade;
• and
• at least one slot positioned within said handle adjacent said cavity and aligned to operably receive said stud, wherein said knife blade reversibly travels at substantially a right angle to said longitudinal axis of said handle between a first position of use with said knife blade cutting edge exposed and a second retracted position wherein said knife blade cutting edge is received within said cavity.

A knife with a non-folding, retractable cutting blade, comprising:

• a blade having a first end, a second end, and a substantially arcuate shaped cutting edge extending substantially therebetween;
• a handle having a front end and a rear end which defines a substantially longitudinal axis and a cavity extending therebetween for receiving said blade, said handle further having an access slot positioned in a direction substantially normal to said longitudinal axis of said handle;
• and
• a blade retraction means interconnected to said handle proximate to said cavity and operatively engaged with said blade to move said blade in a direction at substantially right angles to said longitudinal axis of said handle between a first extended position of use wherein said blade cutting edge is exposed for use and a second retracted position wherein said blade cutting edge is received within said handle;
• and
• a blade aperture extending through said knife blade in opposing relationship to said handle access slot and adapted for contact with a thumb of a user of said knife, wherein said knife blade moves reversely between said first extended position of use and said second retracted position when a force is applied to said blade aperture in a direction substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said handle by the thumb of said user.