Global Patent Index - EP 1100656 A1

EP 1100656 A1 20010523 - AUTOMATIC SPRING RETRACTABLE UTILITY KNIFE

Title (en)

AUTOMATIC SPRING RETRACTABLE UTILITY KNIFE

Title (de)

MEHRZWECKMESSER MIT FEDERBELASTETER ZURÜCKZIEHUNG

Title (fr)

COUTEAU UNIVERSEL A RETRACTION AUTOMATIQUE A RESSORT

Publication

EP 1100656 A1 20010523 (EN)

Application

EP 99938928 A 19990730

Priority

  • US 9917436 W 19990730
  • US 9474198 P 19980731
  • US 10324998 P 19981006
  • US 32389399 A 19990602

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO0006345A1] To automatically retract the blade after cutting, a flat serpentine spring (108) is integrally formed with a thumb piece (110) which is slidably received in a slot (100S) formed along the upper edge of a housing/handle (100). The housing (100) has a finger rest projection (118) on the lower edge to facilitate cutting while the blade (IC1) is projected with the thumb. The two halves (102, 104) of the housing (100) snap together using a block-like projection (102B) formed on one half (102), and a pair of tabs (104E) formed on the other (104). The tabs (104E) which are resilient, slide along the sides of the projection (102B) until recesses (102D) on each of the side of the projection (102B) are reached. Inwardly extending ridges (104R) on the ends of the tabs (104E) enter the recesses (102D) to provide a click lock. An aperture (104D) between the tabs (104E) allows pressure to be applied to the top of the projection (102B) to separate the two halves (102, 104) for blade reset/re-adjustment. The blade carrier (106), which is adapted to support two different types of blades (IC1, IC2), is slidably mounted in the housing (100) so that it and the thumb piece (110) are free of detents or click-locks. The carrier's upper and lower edges have a number of apertures (106B1, 106B2) to permit setting in different orientations and adjustable positioning with respect to an engaging projection (110A) on the base of the thumb piece (110). This, and the ability to set at least one of the blades (IC1, IC2) in a plurality of different positions on the carrier (106), allows blade projection adjustment.

IPC 1-7

B26B 1/08

IPC 8 full level

B26B 5/00 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

B26B 5/003 (2013.01)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

DOCDB simple family (publication)

WO 0006345 A1 20000210; AU 5330799 A 20000221; EP 1100656 A1 20010523; EP 1100656 A4 20030102

DOCDB simple family (application)

US 9917436 W 19990730; AU 5330799 A 19990730; EP 99938928 A 19990730