Patent ID: 6560873
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B26B

Abstract:
In combination with a utility knife having a spine, a body moveably mounted to the spine, a blade mount on the spine, a blade mounted in the blade mount, a pivotally mounted safety hood having a safety mode covering the blade mount and an operating mode exposing the blade mount, an improvement comprising:a spring biased hood return and lock assembly; said lock assembly having a body mounted manual release switch having a first axis of movement for the hood; said assembly having a spring to urge the hood to the safety mode and having a catch to secure said hood in the safety mode until activation of the manual release switch by depressing the manual switch along the first axis of movement releases same, thereby providing an automatic safety mode when the hood is not riding on a working surface; wherein the automatic safety mode functioning to automatically lock the hood in the safety mode upon a return to the safety mode, regardless of the manual release switch's position which could be depressed or released, thereby enabling a user to slice open a box with about a 45 degree or less angle of downward movement and provide an automatic safe covering of the blade when the blade travels beyond the box regardless of the manual release switch's position; and wherein a subsequent return of the hood to the operating mode requires another depression of the manual release switch along the first axis of movement.