TODAY’S PATENT – UTILITY KNIFE

The UTILITY KNIFE was invented by Robert F. West (West Simsbury, CT) on the 25^th of June 1985 , bearing patent number US4524518A.

The present invention is directed to a new and improved utility knife having a knife holder assembly which is adapted to retain a detachable blade in a non-retractable mode. The holder assembly is also adapted to be locked so that opposing body sections may pivot relative to one another to thus allow the blade to be replaced and to provide access to a blade storage compartment.

An objective of this invention is to provide a new and improved utility knife which can be readily pivoted to an open position for replacing and/or repositioning a blade and which in a closed position prevents blade slippage and inadvertent separation of body segments during heavy duty use. This invention relates generally to utility knives, and more particularly, this invention relates to utility knives having a detachable blade. The foregoing utility knives further include a means intermediate the blade opening and the handle portion for pivoting the elongated mating portions relative to each other so that the blade may be replaced and/or access may be had to a blade storage area within the handle portion of the knife.