Automatic spring retractable utility knife

A utility knife comprising:

• first and second halves which cooperate to define a manually grippable housing;
• a blade which is selectively projectable from a first end of the manually grippable housing;
• and
• a connection structure which releasably interconnects the first and second halves, and which comprises:
• a shaped projection fixedly attached a rearward portion of the first half;
• and
• at least one resilient tab disposed on the second half to extend along at least one side of an opening defined in the second half to receive said shaped projection,
• wherein said resilient tab is configured to resiliently engage the shaped projection and releasably lock the first and second halves together.

A utility knife comprising:

• a manually grippable housing comprising first and second halves, the first and second halves cooperating to define an enclosed space therebetween;
• and
• connection means for permitting the first and second halves to be releasably connected to one another, said connection means comprising:
• a shaped projection which is rigid with the first half, said shaped projection configured to be insertably receivable within a corresponding opening in said second half;
• and
• at least one resilient tab formed on the second half, said resilient tab extending along at least one side of said corresponding opening configured to receive said shaped projection and said resilient tab configured to engage the shaped projection and detachably lock the first and second halves together, and
• wherein the connection means further comprises a slot formed at an end of one of the first and second halves and distal from the connection means and a tongue member which is formed on the other of the first and second halves and which is receivable in the slot.