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(11) | EP 1 077 117 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Adjustable safety utility knife |
| (57) An adjustable safety utility knife includes an elongated ergonomically shaped handle
formed of two elongate shell members (14a,14b) each having a peripheral edge (16a,16b)
and an outer generally convex surface (18a,18b) and an inner generally concave surface
(20a,20b). The shell members are fastened at the peripheral edges along a vertical
parting plane (P) to form an elongated internal cavity (24). The handle has a slot-like
aperture (36) at the front end (26) substantially aligned with the parting plane and
dimensioned for passage of a flat cutting blade (38) therethrough. A guide element
(39) within the elongated cavity (24) guides the cutting blade between a first position
for safely storing the blade fully inside said cavity and a second position for selectively
extending the blade beyond the aperture to expose at least a portion thereof. A manually
operated button (40) arranged on the top surface is coupled to the guide element for
selectively moving the blade between the first and second positions. The handle has
a rear opening at the back end for providing access to the elongated internal cavity.
A carrier frame (50) has a blade cartridge receiving compartment (50') and dimensioned
to be removably receivable within the cavity through the rear opening between a retracted
position in which the carrier frame is at least partially moved exteriorly of the
back end to provide access of the cartridge receiving compartment. A blade cartridge
(52) for storing a plurality of flat cutting blades is receivable within the blade
cartridge receiving compartment. A carriage (139) includes a locking element for normally
locking a cutting blade mounted thereon to substantially fix the cutting blade against
relative longitudinal movements between the cutting blade and carriage. The locking
element includes an unlocking element (154) the actuation of which releases the cutting
blade to permit relative longitudinal movements between the cutting blade and the
carriage. Slip resistant elements are secured to the shell members along the top and
bottom surface between a rearwardmost operative position of the manually operated
button and the back end of the handle. |