Cutlery – Combined cutlery or combined with ancillary feature
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-07
2001-05-22
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Combined cutlery or combined with ancillary feature
C030S125000, C030S158000, C030S160000, C030S161000, C030S340000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233830
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to hand tools, and in particular, to a utility knife handle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Utility knife handles have been constructed to hold razor blades for use during construction in order to provide and easy means for grasping the blade and manipulating the blade during use. Conventional utility knife handles provide a basic handle with some means for securing and removing the blades, such as a screw that can be used to loosen or tighten two halves of the handle. Many of the conventional utility knife handles are constructed without taking into account the comfort to the user or the easy of operation of the handle. For example, many handles require the use of a screwdriver or other tool in order to remove and replace a blade. Additionally, many conventional utility knife handles are not constructed to be ergonomically efficient or comfortable for the user to grasp and use. Many conventional utility knife handles are constructed having uniform housing dimensions that are sized for one particular size hand. Also, many conventional utility knife handles either do not provide a means for retracting the blade when it is not in use or they have retraction mechanisms that are difficult to use and ergonomically inefficient. And furthermore, many conventional utility knife handles do not provide for the storage of extra blades that is easily accessible and safe.
Consequently, a need exists for a utility knife handle that solves the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a utility knife handle that is safe, ergonomically efficient, and easy to use. The present invention achieves this result by providing a utility knife handle that has a housing with an interior cavity that houses a locking mechanism, a blade storage area, and a blade carriage mechanism.
The present invention advantageously provides a utility knife handle that has a housing with an interior cavity that houses a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a biased locking member that is slidably provided within a first housing portion and an engagement member provided on a second housing portion pivotally connected to the first housing portion. The housing has a closed position in which the locking member is engaged with the engagement member and an open position in which the locking member is slid out of engagement with the engagement member and the first and second housing portions are rotated to allow access to the interior cavity of the housing. The locking mechanism can be easily actuated by the user without the need for additional tools, thereby allowing quick and convenient access to the interior of the housing.
The utility knife handle of the present invention additionally advantageously includes a blade storage area located within the interior cavity of the housing. The blade storage area includes a blade receiving portion with a magnet therein for holding stored blade within the blade storage area. The blade storage area provides an area for storing extra blades that can be quickly accessed and provides for easy removal of the extra blades.
The utility knife handle of the present invention further advantageously includes a blade carriage mechanism having a blade carriage slidably disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and adjustable to a plurality of distinct locked positions. The blade carriage is configured to securely hold a blade. The blade carriage is biased towards a locked position, however, an actuator is provided exterior to the interior cavity that allows the user to place the blade carriage into an unlocked position whereby the blade carriage can be moved so that the blade extends through an opening in the housing. Additionally, the actuator is offset from the center axis of the housing, thereby locating the actuator in an ergonomically efficient configuration by placing the actuator in a position where the user's thumb would naturally tend to be located when the user is comfortably grasping the housing.
Additional advantages and other features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
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Lamond Donald R.
Sanchez Adam
Whitehall Richard Andrew
General Housewares Corporation
McDermott & Will & Emery
Rachuba M.
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