Patent ID: 6557262
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: B26B,B44C

Abstract:
A cutting apparatus comprising:a blade housing having a forward end, a rear end, an internal blade cavity including a blade opening to the outside of the housing, and an upper surface including an actuator slot in communication with the internal blade cavity; a blade holder adapted for removably retaining a cutting blade having a cutting edge, the blade holder being pivotally mounted within the housing for pivotal movement within the blade cavity about a pivot axis between a fully retracted position in which the cutting edge of a cutting blade retained by the blade holder does not protrude from within the blade cavity through the blade opening to the outside of the housing and a cutting position in which at least a portion of the cutting edge extends through the blade opening to the outside of the housing; a biasing member that normally biases the blade holder toward the fully retracted position; and a blade actuator cooperating with the blade holder and extending upwardly through the actuator slot for access from outside the housing such that application of an external force on the blade actuator moves the blade holder toward a cutting position in opposition to the force provided by the biasing element.