Multi-tasking utility tool

• US 8,028,421 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wagic, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wagic, Inc.
• Inventors: Barcus, Skye David, Ruiz, Idriss Mansouri-Chafik, Johnson, Ronald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAYER, HWEI SIU CHOU
• Application Number:
  US12/623,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20100064531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 30/2, 301/51, 301/62, 303/35
• US Class Current: 30/162
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 11/00 Hand knives combined with other implements, e.g. with corkscrew, with scissors, with writing implement combined table-ware A47G21/06
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 11/008 comprising electronic or electrical features, e.g. illuminating means, computing devices or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 5/001 with blades being slid out of handle immediately prior to use
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 5/003 comprising retraction means for the blade or the blade holder
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 9/00 Blades for hand knives

Abstract

A utility tool comprising a body having a first end and a second end positioned on opposite ends of the body; a removable device; as well as a first tool and a second tool configured to be selectively coupled to each other or one of either the first end and second end of the body.

Claims

1. A removable blade cartridge configured to fit within a corresponding blade cartridge bay, the blade cartridge comprising:

a. a removable blade cartridge body having a recess slot within and a knife slot in communication with the recess slot, the removable blade cartridge body further comprising an engaging mechanism which is able to be engaged when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay and disengaged when the blade cartridge body is outside of the blade cartridge bay;

b. a knife blade positionable within the recess slot and configured to slidably move between an open position and a closed position;

c. a guide assembly coupled with the knife blade, wherein the guide assembly drives the knife blade between the closed position and the open position, wherein the knife blade is restricted from moving to the open position when the engaging mechanism is disengaged and further, wherein when the engaging mechanism is engaged, the guide assembly is automatically urged to a retracted position by a guide spring such that the guide spring urges the guide assembly to retract when the user is not pushing the guide assembly and the knife blade toward a second position; and

d. a leaf member for engaging and disengaging the blade cartridge to the blade cartridge bay.

2. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the blade cartridge body further comprises:

a. a first blade member; and

b. a second blade member in communication and positioned substantially parallel to the first blade member, wherein the recess slot is located between the first blade member and the second blade member, the blade cartridge body including a thin film of material configured over the knife slot such that the knife blade pierces the thin film when moving initially from the closed position to the open position.

3. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the knife blade is moveable between the closed position to the open position only when the blade cartridge is engaged within the blade cartridge bay.

4. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 3 further comprising a safety spring for applying a first force to the guide assembly when the blade cartridge is disengaged from the blade cartridge bay, wherein the knife blade is prevented from moving when the first force is applied to the guide assembly.

5. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the guide assembly further comprises a knife switch coupled to the knife blade.

6. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 1 further comprising a thin rib coupled to the blade cartridge body for informing a user of prior use of the knife blade.

7. A removable blade cartridge configured to fit within a corresponding blade cartridge bay, the blade cartridge comprising:

a. a removable blade cartridge body having a recess slot within and a knife slot in communication with the recess slot, the removable blade cartridge body further comprising an engaging mechanism which is engaged when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay and disengaged when the blade cartridge body is outside of the blade cartridge bay;

b. a knife blade positionable within the recess slot and configured to slidably move between an open position and a closed position;

c. a guide assembly coupled with the knife blade, wherein the guide assembly drives the knife blade between the closed position and the open position, wherein the knife blade is restricted from moving to the open position when the engaging mechanism is disengaged and further, wherein the guide assembly is always biased towards a retracted position when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay; and

d. a leaf member for engaging and disengaging the blade cartridge to the blade cartridge bay.

8. A removable blade cartridge configured to fit within a corresponding blade cartridge bay, the blade cartridge comprising:

a. a removable blade cartridge body having a recess slot within and a knife slot in communication with the recess slot, the removable blade cartridge body further comprising an engaging mechanism which is able to be engaged when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay and disengaged when the blade cartridge body is outside of the blade cartridge bay;

b. a knife blade positionable within the recess slot and configured to slidably move between an open position and a closed position;

c. a guide assembly coupled with the knife blade, wherein the guide assembly drives the knife blade between the closed position and the open position, wherein the knife blade is restricted from moving to the open position when the engaging mechanism is disengaged and further, wherein the guide assembly is always biased towards a retracted position when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay; and

d. a leaf member for engaging and disengaging the blade cartridge to the blade cartridge bay.

9. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 8 further comprising a thin rib coupled to the blade cartridge body for informing a user of prior use of the knife blade.

10. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 8 wherein the guide assembly is biased towards a retracted position when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay regardless of the position of the guide assembly.

11. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 8 wherein the blade cartridge body further comprises:

a. a first blade member; and

b. a second blade member in communication and positioned substantially parallel to the first blade member, wherein the recess slot is located between the first blade member and the second blade member, the blade cartridge body including a thin film of material configured over the knife slot such that the knife blade pierces the thin film when moving initially from the closed position to the open position.

12. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 8 wherein the blade cartridge bay further comprises a guide spring, wherein the guide spring urges the knife blade to retract to the closed position.

13. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 8 wherein the knife blade is moveable between the closed position to the open position only when the blade cartridge is engaged within the blade cartridge bay.

14. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 13 further comprising a safety spring for applying a first force to the guide assembly when the blade cartridge is disengaged from the blade cartridge bay, wherein the knife blade is prevented from moving when the first force is applied to the guide assembly.

15. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 8 wherein the guide assembly further comprises a knife switch coupled to the knife blade.

16. A removable blade cartridge configured to fit within a corresponding blade cartridge bay, the blade cartridge comprising:

a. a blade cartridge body having a recess slot within and a knife slot in communication with the recess slot, the blade cartridge body further comprising an engaging mechanism which is engaged when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay and disengaged when the blade cartridge body is outside of the blade cartridge bay, wherein the blade cartridge bay comprises a guide spring which engages the engaging mechanism when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay;

b. a knife blade positionable within the recess slot and configured to slidably move between an open position and a closed position; and

c. a guide assembly coupled with the knife blade, wherein the guide assembly drives the knife blade between the closed position and the open position, wherein the knife blade is restricted from moving to the open position when the engaging mechanism is disengaged and further, wherein the guide assembly is biased towards a retracted position when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay.

17. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 16 wherein the blade cartridge body further comprises:

a. a first blade member; and

b. a second blade member in communication and positioned substantially parallel to the first blade member, wherein the recess slot is located between the first blade member and the second blade member, the blade cartridge body including a thin film of material configured over the knife slot such that the knife blade pierces the thin film when moving initially from the closed position to the open position.

18. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 16 wherein the knife blade is moveable between the closed position to the open position only when the blade cartridge is engaged within the blade cartridge bay.

19. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 18 further comprising a safety spring for applying a first force to the guide assembly when the blade cartridge is disengaged from the blade cartridge bay, wherein the knife blade is prevented from moving when the first force is applied to the guide assembly.

20. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 16 wherein the guide assembly further comprises a knife switch coupled to the knife blade.

21. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 16 further comprising a leaf member for engaging and disengaging the blade cartridge to the blade cartridge bay.

22. The removable blade cartridge according to claim 16 further comprising a thin rib coupled to the blade cartridge body for informing a user of prior use of the knife blade.

23. A removable blade cartridge configured to fit within a corresponding blade cartridge bay, the blade cartridge comprising:

a. a removable blade cartridge body having a recess slot within and a knife slot in communication with the recess slot, the removable blade cartridge body further comprising an engaging mechanism which is engaged when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay and disengaged when the blade cartridge body is outside of the blade cartridge bay, wherein the blade cartridge bay comprises a guide spring which engages the engaging mechanism when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay;

b. a knife blade positionable within the recess slot and configured to slidably move between an open position and a closed position;

c. a guide assembly coupled with the knife blade, wherein the guide assembly drives the knife blade between the closed position and the open position, wherein the knife blade is restricted from moving to the open position when the engaging mechanism is disengaged and further, wherein the guide assembly is biased towards a retracted position when the blade cartridge body is positioned within the blade cartridge bay; and

d. a leaf member for engaging and disengaging the blade cartridge to the blade cartridge bay.