Patent ID: 9744682
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: B26B,B26D,Y10T

Claim:
1. A heated utility knife for heating a material to be cut in order to soften the material before cutting the material, said heated utility knife comprising: a knife portion comprising a cutting blade defining a distal cutting edge; said cutting blade being retractable within and extendable from a slotted cavity defined by a housing comprised of an upper portion and lower portion; a housing further comprising a first side component member and a second side component member; and a heat source configured to direct heat a flame to a region adjacent and below said cutting blade, said heat source comprising a head portion disposed below said cutting blade; said heat source further comprising a reservoir configured to carry a measure of combustible fuel therein, said reservoir being in intermittent fluid communication with said head portion to supply said fuel to said head portion for production of heat by said heat source; said heat source further comprising at least one control switch configured to regulate the flow of combustible fuel supplied to said head portion, said control switch being integral to the housing; said first and second component members being removably joined to surround and containing said knife portion, said heat source, said head portion, said at least one control switch, and said reservoir; and said head portion having a nozzle oriented to direct said flame to an area proximate said adjacent said cutting edge; whereby pulling said cutting edge across a material to be cut allows heat from said heat source to be directed to the material to be cut to soften the material prior to cutting.