Retractable utility knife

• US 8,984,755 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympia Tools International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Olympia Tools International Incorporated
• Inventors: De, Huang Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Laura M
• Application Number:
  US13/526,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20120311870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 30151-162, 303/35, 30337-339
• US Class Current: 30/162
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 1/08 with sliding blade with detachable blades B26B5/001
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 5/001 with blades being slid out of handle immediately prior to use

Abstract

A retractable knife includes a handle and a utility blade having a first side and a second side. The retractable knife further includes a blade holder comprising a first plate and a second plate configured to cover at least a portion of said first and second sides of said utility blade, and for supporting said utility blade. The blade holder may be telescopically movable relative to said handle between an extended position and a retracted position, and wherein the blade holder extends out from the handle in said extended position. A blade release member may be mounted on the blade holder.

Claims

1. Retractable knife comprising:

an elongate handle defining an axis;

a blade holder mounted within said handle for sliding movement relative to said handle between a retracted position and an extended position in which at least a portion of the blade holder extends beyond the handle, said blade holder configured to receive at least a portion of a blade provided with one edge formed with a cutting edge and an opposing edge formed with a notch;

a manually operable blade lock formed on said blade holder and comprising a release member mounted on said blade holder, said release member comprising a substantially circular disk rotatably mounted on said blade holder for rotation about an axis normal to said handle axis of said elongate handle, said disk having a first portion on said blade holder and positioned to be actuated by a finger of a user contacting an outer circumference of the disk while holding said handle, and a second portion movable with said first portion and movable between a locking position in which said second portion is received within the notch of a blade and a releasing position in which said second portion is removed from the notch to a position beyond the notch, and biasing means for normally moving said disk to move said second portion to said locking position, said handle being formed of spaced substantially parallel rails or plates, extending along a predetermined direction; and

spacing means for maintaining said rails or plates spaced from each other a desired spacing for accommodating said blade holder for said sliding movements while maintaining a gap or a space between said plates through which debris can pass, whereby actuation of said release member by the finger of the user to overcome said biasing means moves said second portion to said releasing position for releasing the blade so that the blade can be withdrawn from said receiving means.