UTILITY KNIVES

[0001 ] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/788,447, filed March 15, 2013, and 61/803,502, filed March 20, 2013, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to utility blades and utility knives, and more specifically, to the design of utility scraper blades and utility knives for housing one or more blades.

[0003] A utility knife is a common hand tool used for cutting, scraping, peeling, and various other tasks. A conventional utility knife includes a utility razorblade secured to the knife handle. The razorblade is generally replaceable and separable from the knife handle. Many utility knives do not include a protective guard for the razorblade. In such cases, the utility razorblade is continuously exposed which presents a continuous risk of injury to users and risk of damage to surrounding objects.

[0004] The present disclosure is directed towards a utility knife that comp ises a slide mechanism to retract the blade into a housing connected to the knife handle for storage. The blade can be extended out of the housing during use and retracted into the housing for storage during times of non-use. The utility knife of the present disclosure comprises a housing that may be fixedly connected to the handle, telescopically movable in and out of the handle, or pivofally connected to the handle. The utility knife of the present disclosure may also comprise a housing capable of holding a plurality of blades. Such utility knives may have a switching mechanism for selecting a particular blade for use and sliding the selected blade out of the housing.

[0005] The present disclosure is also directed to a utility blade adapted for scraping while the blade is mounted on a utility knife. The utility scraper blade of the present disclosure is designed for use with any standard utility knife, as well as the utility knives disclosed herein.

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure is a utility knife comprising a handle body having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, and an housing including a proximal end connected to the distal end of the handle body and a distal end substantially opposite the proximal end, the housing defining a first internal space. The housing comprises a blade casing disposed within the first internal space, the blade casing configured to house a plurality of blades therein, and wherein the blade casing is selectively movable between a first position and a second position. The housing further comprises a slide mechanism configured to engage a blade in the blade casing and reciprocatingly extend the selected blade out of the first internal space to expose at least a portion of the blade and to retract the blade into the first internal space.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a scraper blade comprising a planar body having a substantially parallelogram shape. The planar body comprises a longitudinally extending upper edge, a longitudinally extending lower edge and two lateral edges, wherein opposing edges of the planar body are substantially parallel to each other and angles formed between adjacent edges of the planar body are either less than or greater than 90°, and further wherein the laterally extending edges of the planar body are sharper than the other edges and are configured for scraping. [0008] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is a scraping device comprising a planar blade having a substantially parallelogram shape and comprising a longitudinally extending upper edge, a longitudinally extending lower edge and two lateral edges, wherein the laterally extending edges of the planar blade are sharper than the other edges and are configured for scraping. The scraper device further comprises a utility knife having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end comprises a handle body for grasping the support frame, and the distal end comprises a housing having a positioning member, and wherein at least a portion of the planar blade comprises one or more alignment structures configured to attach to the positioning member of the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a utility knife according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure with the blade in a first mode;

[0010] FIGS. 2A-2F are side perspective views of utility scraper blades, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[001 1] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the utility knife shown in FIG. 1 with the blade in a second mode;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of a utility knife according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a utility knife according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the dual housing of a utility knife according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [0015] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Reference will now be made to certain embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0017] In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise. Also, the use of "or" means "and/or" unless stated otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the term "including", as well as other forms, such as "includes" and "included," is not limiting. The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a utility knife 10 showing the components housed within the utility knife. Utility knife 10 comprises a handle body 12 having a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16. Utility knife 10 further comprises a housing 18 having a proximal end 22 and a distal end 20. Proximal end 22 of housing 18 is connected to distal end 16 of handle body 12. In one exemplary embodiment, proximal end 22 of housing 18 may be fixedly connected to distal end 16 of handle body 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1. It is contemplated that housing 18 may be movable, e.g., pivotally or slidab!y movable with respect to handle body 12. [0019] Handle body 12 is generally elongate, and may be economically configured to provide a comfortable and/or non-slip grip by a user using utility knife 10. In some embodiments, handle body 12 may look and feel like a handle of a combat or hunting knife and may include one or more finger grooves or grips. In certain embodiments, handle body 12 may comprise one or more belt clips to facilitate carrying of the utility knife by a user.

[0020] Housing 18 comprises an inner space or cavity configured for housing a blade 25. In exemplary embodiments, blade 25 may be a trapezoidal-shaped razorbiade used in utility knives. In such embodiments, blade 25 comprises a lower longitudinal cutting edge 27, and an upper edge 27' having one or more notches, for example, two spaced notches, as shown in FIG. 1. This allows blade 25 to be reversed and reutilized when a first portion of cutting edge 27, extending beyond distal end 20 of housing 18 during use, has been sufficiently utilized,

[0021] In some embodiments, blade 25 may have shapes other than the trapezoidal shape. In one such embodiment, blade 25 is a utility scraper blade designed to facilitate scraping of unwanted material or debris, surface preparation, and other such tasks, while blade 25 is mounted on a utility knife. For example, a utility scraper blade 25a may have a parallelogram shape, as shown in FIG. 2A. Blade 25a comprises two longitudinally extending edges (a lower edge 27a an upper edge 27b), and two lateral edges 27c and 27d. Opposing edges of blade 25a are substantially (i.e., approximately but not necessarily exactly, for example, within manufacturing tolerances) parallel to each other. That is, upper edge 27a and lower edge 27b are substantially parallel, and lateral edges 27c, 27d are substantially parallel. In exemplary embodiments, blade 25a is shaped as either a rectangle or a square. In other exemplary embodiments, the angles formed between adjacent edges of blade 25a are either less than or greater than 90°, i.e., there are no right angles in the parallelogram shape. In some such embodiments, blade 25a is shaped as a rhombus, i.e., edges 27a, 27b, 27c, and 27d are of equal length, as shown in FIG. 2A. In other embodiments, a blade 25a' is shaped as a rhomboid, as shown in FIG. 2B, wherein the adjacent edges have unequal lengths, i.e., the length of lower edge 27a (and upper edge 27b) is not equal to the length of lateral edges 27c, 27d, and also the angles formed between the adjacent edges are either less than or greater than 90°. In exemplary embodiments, the angle formed between edged 27c and 27a is 135° and the angle between edges 27d and 27a is 45°.

[0022] One or more edges of utility scraper blade 25a is configured for scraping and other related tasks. In some embodiments, lower edge 27a, and lateral edges 27c and 27d of a blade 25a" are sharpened, whetted, and/or polished, as shown in FIG. 2C. In some other embodiments, only one of lateral edges 27c and 27d is sharpened, whetted, and/or polished. In yet other embodiments, both lateral edges 27c and 27d of a blade 25a" ^f are sharpened, whetted, and/or polished, as shown in FIG. 2D. In such embodiments, when one of the lateral edges (either edge 27c or edge 27d) becomes blunt or has been sufficiently utilized, blade 25a'" can be reversed to utilize the opposing lateral edge. It is contemplated that any number and any combination of edges may be sharpened. Sharpening of lateral edges 27c and 27d allows blade 25 to be used for scraping (with lateral edge 27c or 27d) when mounted on a standard utility knife or a utility knife of the present disclosure.

[0023] In exemplary embodiments, upper edge 27b comprises one or more notches or cut-outs 30, which help mount blade 25a in blade housing 18 of utility knife 10. in some embodiments, notches or cut-outs 30 comprise U-notcbes that are similar or identical to the notches provided in conventional trapezoidal-shaped utility razorbiades, so that scraper blade 25a can be utilized with standard utility knives. In other embodiments, notches or cut-outs 30 are custom designed for use with a utility knife of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, notches or cutouts 30 are centered along the length of the upper edge 27b This allows the notches or cut-outs 30 to line up with mounting tabs provided in a utility knife even when blade 25a is reversed to utilize an opposing lateral edge as the scraping edge,

[0024] In some embodiments, both lower edge 27a and upper edge 27b comprises notches or cut-outs 30a and 30b, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2D. In one such embodiment, notches or cut-outs 30a and 30b are centered along the length of the lower edge 27a and upper edge 27b, respectively. In another embodiment, notches or cut-outs 30b are not centered along the length of the upper edge 27b, but notches or cut-outs 30a are located at a distance A from lateral edge 27c and notches or cut-outs 30b are located at a distance A from lateral edge 27d. This allows blade 25a to be mounted on utility knives even when blade 25a is reversed to employ an opposing lateral edge as the cutting edge. For example, if notches or cut-outs 30b are configured to align with mounting tabs provided in standard utility knives but are not centered along the length of the upper edge 27b, then notches or cut-outs 30b may not line up with the mounting tabs when blade 25a is reversed to utilize the opposing lateral edge. In such situations, blade 25a may be flipped upside down so that notches or cut-outs 30a (instead of notches or cut-outs 30b) are aligned with the mounting tabs of the standard utility knife. [0025] In another embodiment, notches or cut-outs 30a and 30b are substantially aligned with each other, i.e., notches or cut-outs 30a is directly below notches or cut-outs 30b, as shown in FIG. 2E. In some such embodiments, notches or cutouts 30a and 30b, or at least the set of notches closest to lateral edge 27c, are sharpened along the radius of the notches (shown at 41 in FIGS. 2E and 2F). When blade 25a"" is mounted in housing 18 of utility knife 10, at least one of the notches or cut-outs 30a may extend out of housing 18, as shown in FIG. 2F. The notch that extends out of housing 18 may be used as a wire cutter by virtue of sharpness 41 along the radius of the notch,

[0028] Utility scraper blade 25a may be made of any suitable material that has sufficient hardness, strength, and corrosion and wear resistance. In exemplary embodiments, scraper blade 25a is made of a crystalline metal, such as carbon steel or stainless steel,

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, blade 25 is configured to fit within blade housing 18 of utility knife 10. Housing 18 may be formed of any suitable material. In some embodiments, housing 18 may be formed of plastic. In some other embodiments, housing 18 may be formed of a metal or a metal alloy.

[0028] In addition to providing a casing for blade 25, housing 18 may be utilized as a hand tool itself. For example, housing 18 may comprises grooves or notches to strip or cut wires. Such an arrangement provides a dual purpose utility knife, wherein blade 25 and housing 18 may be utilized simultaneously or aiternatingly for different tasks.

[0029] In exemplary embodiments, housing 18 may be utilized as a cutting tool. In such embodiments, a longitudinal edge 28 of housing 18 may comprise a cutting edge. For example, longitudinal edge 28 may be sharp like a knife blade and may be utilized as a knife blade for cutting, stripping, skinning, or other operations. In some exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of longitudinal edge 28 may comprise serrations. In other embodiments, longitudinal edge 28 may comprise a plain cutting edge. In yet other embodiments, longitudinal edge 28 may comprise a combination of serrations and plain cutting edge. In illustrative embodiments, housing 18 may look and function like a conventional knife blade without a tip and having an inner space or cavity configured for holding scraping blade 25a. Such an arrangement provides a dual purpose utility knife, wherein scraping blade 25a and housing 18 may be utilized alternatingly for scraping and cutting,

[0030] Distal end 20 of housing 18 comprises an opening, which is connected with the inner space or cavity within the blade housing. The opening at distal end 20 is configured to allow at least a portion of blade 25 to extend out of the blade housing during use and to retract back into the inner space or cavity during a non- use or storage mode,

[0031] FIG. 3 is a side view of utility knife 10 with blade 25 extended out of the housing 18 through the opening at distal end 20 of housing 18, An exemplary blade 25 is shown as an example in FIG. 3. However, scraping blade 25a may be used in place of blade 25 in utility knife 10. Utility knife 10 comprises a slide mechanism mounted on housing 18, The slide mechanism is configured to extend and retract blade 25 in and out of housing 18. The slide mechanism comprises a track device 24, a release button 26, and a sliding rod 19. In exemplary embodiments, release button 28 is mounted on the upper longitudinal edge of blade house 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and is connected to track device 24 via one or more downwardly extending posts or alignment tabs, which may be spring biased. When release button 28 is pressed downward and moved along with sliding rod 19 towards distal end 20 of housing 18, one or more of the downwardly extending posts or tabs of button 26 catches a corresponding groove on track device 24, thereby actuating track device 24 and sliding track device 24 forward within the inner space or cavity of housing 18 towards distal end 20.

[0032] In exemplary embodiments, track device 24 extends along the longitudinal axis of housing 18. Track device 24 comprises one or more alignment tabs 29 that are configured to attach to the U-notches or cut-outs of blade 25. Blade 25 is mounted through the opening provided in distal end 20 of housing 18 with track device 24 in an extended position. Tabs 29 attach to the U-notches or cut-outs of blade 25 when track device 24 is in the extended position. Blade 25 is then pulled into housing 18 with the help of track device 24. When track device 24 slides outward towards distal end 20, at least a portion of blade 25, which is connected to the track device via tabs 29, correspondingly slides out of housing 18 through the opening provided at distal end 20 of the blade housing, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The protruding section of blade 25 may then be used for cutting, scraping, or any other task performed with utility knives.

[0033] In some embodiments, housing 18 further comprises a blade release button 23, which may be configured to release blade 25 when in the extended position. Once blade 25 extends at least partially out of housing 18. blade release button 23 may be pressed, which then pushes sliding rod 19 perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of housing 18, which in turn bends track device 24 adjacent to release button 23. When track device 24 bends, one or more notches 29 disengages from blade 25, allowing blade 25 to be removed from housing 18.

[0034] FIG. 4 illustrates a utility knife 10'. Proximal end 22 of housing 18 is slidably connected to distal end 18 of the handle body, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Scraping blade 25a is shown as an example in FIG. 4. However, any blade may be used with the housing 18, for example, utility razor blade 25 may be used in place of blade 25a in utility knife 10'. In such embodiments, housing 18 may be teiescopically movable relative to handle body 12 between an extended position and a retracted position. In such embodiments, housing 18 functions as a sliding knife, or telescoping knife.

[0035] In exemplary embodiments, utility knife 10' comprises a second slide mechanism to retract housing 18 into an internal space or compartment within handle body 12 when utility knife 10' is not in use, and to extend the blade housing out of the handle body when utility knife 10" is to be used. In such embodiments, utility knife 10' further comprises an opening 31 at distal end 16 of the handle body, wherein opening 31 is configured to allow housing 18 to be retracted and extended into and out of the internal space or compartment within handle body 12.

[0038] In exemplary embodiments, housing 18 may travel within an internal track or channel provided within handle body 12. !n some embodiments, housing 18 is manually pushed along the length of the handle body with a button 33 mounted on the handle body. In some other embodiments, housing 18 may be spring loaded, and may be extended and retracted with an automatic button and spring design.

[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates a utility knife 10". Proximal end 22 of housing 18 is pivotally connected to distal end 16 of the handle body, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In such embodiments, housing 18 may be pivoted relative to handle body 12 between an extended position and a retracted position. In such embodiments, housing 18 functions as a folding knife or switchblade knife. [0038] In exemplary embodiments, a folding utility knife 10" comprises an opening along a longitudinal edge 35 of handle body 12 and an internal space or compartment with handle body 12 for storing housing 18 when folding utility knife 10" is not in use. The opening along longitudinal edge 35 is configured to allow housing 18 to be folded into the internal space or compartment within handle body 12 during storage and to be extended out of the internal space during use. In exemplary embodiments, the folding action of housing 18 is controlled by a button 37 mounted on handle body 12. Blade housing 18 is propelled or deployed by pushing on button 37, which allows a coil spring or a flat spring connected to a pivot screw 39 to be released. Blade housing 18 can then pivot about pivot screw 39 allowing housing 18 to deploy.

[0039] In exemplary embodiments, handle body 12 may be pivotaMy attached to two separate blade housings 18. The opening along longitudinal edge 35 is configured to allow both housings 18 to be folded into the internal space or compartment within handle body 12 during storage and to be selectively extended out of the internal space during use. Such embodiments may have two buttons 37, one on each side of handle body 12 to selectively deploy one of blade housings 18. In such embodiments, one of housings 18 may have a scraping blade 25a and the other housing 18 may have blade 25. In some embodiments, one of housings 18 may have a marking blade for making drawings or marks on a surface prior to cutting.

[0040] In certain embodiments, folding utility knife 10 comprises a locking mechanism for locking housing 18 in the fully extended position during use. In such embodiments, housing 18 functions as a lock-blade knife, wherein the locking mechanism must be released before housing 18 can be folded. The locking mechanism improves safety by preventing accidental closure of housing 18 during use.

[0041] Additionally, in certain embodiments, folding utility knife 10 comprises a safety mechanism to prevent housing 18 from being folded when blade 25 is in the extended position. The safety mechanism improves safety by preventing accidental closure of housing 18 when blade 25 is still in the extended position.

[0042] In exemplary embodiments, housing 18 is configured to mount a plurality of blades 25. Such a blade housing is referred to as dual housing 18' hereinafter. In such embodiments, at least one of blades 25 in dual housing 18" may be a scraping blade 25a and at least one of the other blades may be a utility razorbiade 25. In some embodiments, dual housing 18' may have a marking blade for making drawings or marks on a surface prior to cutting. Blades 25 in dual housing 18' may be mounted in a casing 50 inside dual housing 18' and a button 52 may be used to move casing 50 in a direction perpendicular to the length of housing 18. Button 52 may be either magnetically biased, spring biased, both magnetically and spring biased, or biased in any other manner. When button 52 is pressed, casing 50 moves rearward in a direction perpendicular to the length of housing 18, which brings one of blades 25 into engagement with tab 29 of track device 24, allowing the selected blade 25 in casing 50 to be deployed out of dual housing 18'. When button 52 is released or detached, casing 50 moves forward in a direction perpendicular to the length of housing 18, which brings one of the other blades 25 into alignment with tab 29 of track device 24, which then allows the selected blade 25 to be extended out of the housing 18.

[0043] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein, ft is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.