Patent ID: 7305770
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: B26B

Abstract:
1. A utility knife for holding a cutting blade having at least one retaining notch therein, comprising: an outer housing having a forward opening; a blade carriage having a blade-receiving bay; said blade carriage moveable in said housing to move said cutting blade disposed in said bay from a retracted position to a deployed position, said cutting blade extending through said forward opening in said deployed position; a locking mechanism operative to releasably couple said cutting blade to said carriage; said locking mechanism connected to said carriage for movement therewith relative to said housing; said locking mechanism moveable between a locked position operative to couple said cutting blade to said carriage for movement therewith and an unlocked position wherein said cutting blade can be removed from said carriage; said locking mechanism biased toward said locked position; said locking mechanism having a protrusion; said protrusion configured to engage the cutting blade's retaining notch in said locked position and disengage from said retaining notch in said unlocked position; said protrusion having an underside disposed toward the cutting blade when said cutting blade is disposed in said blade-receiving bay; and a first actuator moveably coupled to said housing and operative to engage with the underside of said protrusion and move said locking mechanism from said locked position to said unlocked position.