Multifunction safety knife

• US 9,102,068 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allway Tools Incorporated (Linzer Products Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allway Tools Incorporated (Linzer Products Corporation)
• Inventors: Gringer, Donald, Cheng, Yuan Fang
• Primary Examiner(s): MICHALSKI, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US14/087,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20140075762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 5/003 comprising retraction means for the blade or the blade holder
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 5/005 specially adapted for cutting cardboard, or wall, floor or like covering materials

Abstract

There is provided in a preferred embodiment of the present invention a multifunction safety knife having two cutting positions. The knife includes a head having a protected lower opening and a frontal opening. A bottom cutting edge of a blade is exposed by the protected lower opening and a front cutting edge of the blade is selectively exposed by the frontal opening. The head further includes a pointed hook for puncturing film prior to cutting a length of it.

Claims

1. A multifunction safety knife assembly, including a blade, comprising:

a housing having a head and a body, the head including a frontal opening and a lower protected opening,

the lower protected opening including a lower section adapted to expose the blade;

a channel, having a first end and a second end, defined at the first end by the lower protected opening, where the second end is positioned in the head of the assembly to allow length of the channel to expose the full height of the blade while maintaining structural stability of the head;

a biasing element enclosed in the body, the biasing element attached at one end to the housing;

a blade carrier attached to an opposite end of the biasing element, the blade carrier holding the blade, the blade having a front cutting edge and a bottom cutting edge, wherein the bottom cutting edge of the blade is exposed by the protected lower opening, and the front cutting edge of the blade is selectively exposed by the frontal opening; and

a first element fixed to the blade carrier, the first element controlling the selective exposure of the front edge of the blade by the frontal opening;

wherein the blade is positioned in the lower section of the lower protected opening when the front cutting edge of the blade is not exposed by the frontal opening and the blade is positioned in both the lower section and the upper section of the lower protected opening when the front cutting edge of the blade is exposed by the frontal opening wherein the biasing element is adapted to urge the blade between a first position

where the bottom cutting edge of the blade is exposed and the front cutting edge of the blade is enclosed, and a second position where both the front cutting edge and the bottom cutting edge of the blade are exposed.

2. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 1, wherein the head is in the shape of a hook.

3. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 1, wherein the head includes a rearward facing point.

4. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second latch fixed to the blade carrier.

5. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 1, wherein the frontal opening is marginally wider than the blade.

6. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 1, wherein the head includes a front surface being offset from the length of the knife by approximately forty-five degrees.

7. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 1, wherein the protected lower opening is adapted to prevent a finger from contacting the bottom edge of the blade.

8. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 1, wherein the rearward facing point forms a front of the head having an approximately forty-five degree angle relative to the length of the knife assembly.

9. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 1, wherein the head includes channel indents adapted to minimize resistance caused by cut film.

10. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 1, wherein the blade experiences wear to the front cutting edge when used in the first position and experiences wear to the bottom cutting edge when used in the second position.

11. A multifunction safety knife assembly comprising:

a housing having a head and a body;

a biasing element fixed to the housing at one end and a blade carrier at its opposite end, the blade carrier securing a blade; and

a head having a hook point, wherein the hook point is adjacent to a channel having a lower opening where a cutting edge of the blade is exposed;

wherein the channel is sized and shaped to provide exposure of substantially all of the height of the blade wherein the biasing element is adapted to urge the blade between a first position

where the bottom cutting edge of the blade is exposed and the front cutting edge of the blade is enclosed by said hook point, and a second position where both the front cutting edge and the bottom cutting edge of the blade are exposed.

12. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 11, wherein the head is reinforced by additional material for further strength.

13. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 11, wherein the body has a curvature that provides increased structural stability when used to cut film.

14. The multifunction safety knife assembly of claim 11, wherein the head is rounded creating a flat surface enabling the hook point to fit underneath plastic film or wrapping.