SAFETY UTILITY BLADES, ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING

• US 20170217029A1
• Filed: 02/03/2016
• Published: 08/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klever Kutter LLC
• Original Assignee: Klever Kutter LLC
• Inventors: Jacobs, Matthew J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,969,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/28 cutting tools sawing tools B23D63/00, B23D65/00; files or rasps B23D73/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/40 shearing tools
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 5/00 Hand knives with one or more detachable blades
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 9/00 Blades for hand knives

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to safety blades for use in utility knives, related assemblies and methods of manufacturing. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to safety blades for use in utility knives, related assemblies and methods of manufacture which limit user exposure to associated cutting edges.

Claims

1. A safety utility knife assembly, comprising:

a handle having a blade retainer receptacle;

a blade retainer having a blade release mechanism and a blade catch, wherein the blade retainer includes a first half and a second half; and

a replaceable safety blade having a blade tab and a blade securing aperture, wherein a cutting edge of the replaceable safety blade extends perpendicular to a longitudinally extending axis of the handle, wherein the replaceable safety blade is secured to the safety utility knife when the blade catch is engaged with the blade securing aperture, and wherein the replaceable safety blade is removable from the safety utility knife, when a user presses on the blade release mechanism and the blade catch is disengaged from the blade securing aperture.

2. The safety utility knife assembly as in claim 1, further comprising a first blade throat configured to limit access to a first cutting edge of the replaceable safety blade when the replaceable safety blade is secured within the safety utility knife assembly.

3. The safety utility knife assembly as in claim 2, further comprising a second blade throat configured to limit access to a second cutting edge of the replaceable safety blade when the replaceable safety blade is secured within the safety utility knife assembly.

4. The safety utility knife assembly as in claim 3, wherein the first and second cutting edges define a single, continuous cutting edge.

5. The safety utility knife assembly as in claim 1, wherein the replaceable safety blade includes contiguous piece of metal that is selected from the group consisting of:

carbon steel, heat treated metal, heat treated carbon steel and stainless steel.

6. The safety utility knife assembly as in claim 1, wherein the cutting edge has a triangular shaped cross section.

7. The safety utility knife assembly as in claim 1, wherein the blade retainer includes a first wedge and a second wedge.

8. A method of manufacturing a replaceable safety blade for use within a safety utility knife assembly, the method comprising;

providing a strip of blade material;

forming a rough blade shape from the strip of blade material, wherein the rough blade shape comprises a blade tab and a blade securing aperture;

forming a blade cutting edge in the rough blade shape.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the blade tab extends perpendicular to, and away from, the blade cutting edge.

10. The method as in claim 8, wherein the strip of blade material is selected from the group consisting of:

carbon steel, heat treated metal, heat treated carbon steel, stainless steel and ceramic.

11. The method as in claim 8, wherein the blade cutting edge has a triangular shaped cross section.

12. The method as in claim 8, wherein the blade securing aperture is centered with respect to opposing ends of the replaceable safety blade.

13. The method as in claim 8, wherein each end of the safety utility blade includes at least a portion that extends perpendicular to the cutting edge.

14. The method as in claim 13, wherein each end of the safety utility blade includes at least a portion that extends at an angle with respect to the cutting edge.

15. A safety utility knife assembly, comprising:

a handle and a blade retainer having a blade release mechanism, a blade catch, and a finger/thumb blade access; and

a replaceable safety blade having a blade securing aperture, wherein a cutting edge of the replaceable safety blade extends perpendicular to a longitudinally extending axis of the handle, wherein the replaceable safety blade is secured to the safety utility knife when the blade catch is engaged with the blade securing aperture, and wherein the replaceable safety blade is removable from the safety utility knife, when a user presses on the blade release mechanism and the blade catch is disengaged from the blade securing aperture.

16. The safety utility knife assembly as in claim 15, further comprising a first blade throat configured to limit access to a first cutting edge of the replaceable safety blade when the replaceable safety blade is secured within the safety utility knife assembly.

17. The safety utility knife assembly as in claim 16, further comprising a second blade throat configured to limit access to a second cutting edge of the replaceable safety blade when the replaceable safety blade is secured within the safety utility knife assembly.

18. The safety utility knife assembly as in claim 17, wherein the first and second cutting edges define a single, continuous cutting edge.

19. The safety utility knife assembly as in claim 15, wherein the replaceable safety blade includes contiguous piece of metal that is selected from the group consisting of:

carbon steel, heat treated metal, heat treated carbon steel and stainless steel.

20. The safety utility knife assembly as in claim 15, wherein the cutting edge has a triangular shaped cross section.