Abstract:
An improved utility knife including a handle with a razor cutting blade end and a toothed cutting wheel end. An alternate embodiment includes a necked handle with a toothed cutting wheel affixed to a retractable arm which thereby allows the toothed cutting wheel to be retracted within the handle. A measuring device retention means is located near the toothed cutting wheel such that drywall can be measured and scored at the same time.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of utility knives and in particular, a utility knife having a handle with a razor blade for general purpose cutting at one end of the handle and a toothed cutting wheel for scoring drywall at the other end of the handle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Marking and cutting drywall is a common necessary step of many construction projects. Due to the rising cost of construction labor and tools, more convenient tools that can be operated more quickly and efficiently are always needed. The need for a convenient, simple and quick means of scoring and cutting drywall is apparent. 
     In the past, in order to mark and cut drywall, one needed to use a measuring device to measure the appropriate cutting distance and second, cut through the face paper and score the drywall core along the measured cutting distance. These two steps required the use of two independent and unrelated tools. This process necessitated carrying more tools, and it also required more time to carefully mark and cut drywall. 
     Prior art devices in this area include the device shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,107,426, which discloses a utility knife device with a retractable razor blade. Other prior art discloses independent means for scoring drywall. 
     The present invention has significant advantages over those shown in the prior art. The present invention provides a means for attaching a measuring device above the toothed cutting wheel, such that the operator can hold the measuring device in one hand while operating the present invention in the other hand. This allows the operator to measure the cutting distance and score the drywall with the toothed cutting wheel of the present invention simultaneously. After the drywall has been scored, the board is snapped back and the toothed cutting wheel is then used to cut the face paper on the back side. 
     There are two main advantages of the present invention over those shown in prior art. First, the measuring device receiving means allows the operator to more quickly and accurately measure and score the drywall. Second, the convenience of housing a razor cutting blade and a toothed cutting blade in one device allows the operator to use the same device to score and cut the drywall. Thereby, the operator can quickly do the job with one device instead of two. The toothed cutting tool essentially eliminates the need for utility razor blades used in the drywall cutting procedure. In addition, since the toothed wheel is rolling as it cuts, cutting the drywall is much easier than using a non-rolling blade which creates friction and thereby becomes dull. 
     There are other advantages of the invention over the prior art that will become more apparent after reading the description and claims which follow. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is an improved utility knife comprised of a handle and a blade receiving slot opening at one end of the handle. The handle has two elongated members which are detachably secured and separable along a longitudinal plane. A blade carrier reciprocally mounted on one of the elongated members of the handle provides for movement toward and away from the slot opening. A razor cutting blade is supported on the carrier. In addition, an elongated tongue rearwardly extends from the carrier for movement thereof. A locking cam on the surface of the handle defines a plurality of locking abutments for slotable reciprocating the carrier into and out of the utility knife&#39;s handle. The elongated handle also has a blade holder area within the elongated handle for the storage of blades. A toothed cutting wheel is affixed to the end of the elongated handle opposite to the blade receiving slot opening. Lastly, a measuring device receiving means used to engage the end of a measuring device with the toothed cutting wheel is at the end of the handle opposite to the blade receiving slot opening. 
     A second embodiment includes an improved utility knife having a blade receiving necked handle. The necked handle has a first and second end. The necked handle also has first and second axis with a first passageway located at the first end of the handle and a first slot located along the first axis of the necked handle. A second passageway is located at the second end of the handle and a second slot is located parallel to the second axis of the necked handle. Both the first and second slots pass through the outer wall of the necked handle. A first blade supporting arm is cooperatively engaged within the handle and is moveable between an outer position when the first arm extends through the first passageway. The first blade supporting arm is also movable to an inner position wherein the first arm is completely retracted within the handle. The first arm includes a blade retaining means on one end and a means for extending the first arm on the opposite end thereof. The means for extending the first arm include a first knob protruding through the first slot and slidable within the first slot as the first arm is moved from a outer position to an inner position. A toothed cutting wheel is affixed to the first wheel supporting arm by a pin means. A second blade supporting arm is cooperatively engaged within the handle and moveable between an outer position wherein the second arm extends through the second passageway. The second blade supporting arm also has an inner position wherein the second arm includes a second blade retaining means and a second means for extending the second arm through the second slot. The second blade supporting arm is slidable within the second slot as the second arm is moved from an outer position to an inner position. A trapezium shaped blade is affixed to the second blade supporting arm by a trapezium blade mounting means for mounting the blade on the second retractable blade supporting arm. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the preferred embodiment with half of the knife handle removed. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the toothed cutting wheel end of the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a third embodiment with half of the handle removed. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a second embodiment with half of the handle removed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Throughout the following description reference will be made to the drawings and the same numerals will be used throughout the several views to indicate the same or like parts of the invention. 
     Referring to the drawings more in detail. The utility knife of this invention generally denoted by the numeral 10 has an elongated handle 12 and a blade receiving slot opening 14 at one end thereof. The handle 12 has two elongated members 16 and 16&#39;, detachably secured and separable along a longitudinal plane. A carrier 18 is reciprocally mounted on one of the elongated members 16 for movement toward and away from the slot opening 14. A cutting blade 20 is supported on the carrier 18. An elongated tongue 22 rearwardly extends from the carrier 18 for movement thereof. In addition, a locking cam surface 24 is on the handle 12. The locking cam surface 24 defines a plurality of locking abutments for slideably reciprocating the carrier 18 within the handle 12. 
     A blade holder 26 is at the end of the elongated handle 12 opposite to the blade receiving slot opening 14. A toothed cutting wheel 30 is affixed to the end of the handle 12 opposite of the blade receiving slot opening 14. A measuring device receiving means 32 used for engaging receiving and an end of a measuring device 34 is substantially coplanar with the toothed cutting wheel 30. 
     The measuring device receiving means 32 is comprised of a flange 36 which is superposed to the toothed cutting wheel 30. 
     The utility knife 10 also includes a partition means 40 between the toothed cutting wheel 30 and the blade holder 26. The partition means 40 prevents the blades stored in the blade holder 26 from contacting the toothed cutting wheel 30. 
     A second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 includes an improved utility knife 10&#39; comprised of a necked handle 50&#39; and a blade receiving slot opening 14&#39; at one end thereof. The handle has two elongated members which are detachably secured and separable along a longitudinal plane extended rearwardly from the slot openings 14&#39;. In addition, a carrier 18&#39; is reciprocally mounted on one of the elongated members for movement toward and away from the slot openings 14&#39;. A cutting blade 20&#39; is supported on the carrier 18&#39; in an elongated tongue 22&#39; which rearwardly extends from the carrier 18&#39; for movement thereof. A locking cam surface 24&#39; is also placed on the handle 50&#39;. The locking cam surface 24&#39; defines a plurality of locking abutments for slideably reciprocating the carrier 18&#39; within the handle 50&#39;. 
     A blade holder 26&#39; is at the end of the necked handle 50&#39; opposite to the blade receiving slot opening 14&#39;. A toothed cutting wheel 30&#39; is affixed to the end of the necked handle 50&#39; opposite of the blade receiving slot opening 14&#39;. A measuring device receiving means 32&#39; used for engaging the end of a measuring device 34&#39; is substantially coplanar with the toothed cutting wheel 30&#39;. Flange 36&#39; is superposed to the toothed cutting wheel 30&#39; whereby an end 34&#39; of a measuring device can be received. The measuring device may be a typical known metal tape measure or the like. FIG. 1 shows only a fragment of the tape measure. The flange 36&#39; consists of corresponding notches 52&#39; from the toothed cutting wheel end of each elongated member of the necked handle 50&#39;. The notches 52&#39; when juxtaposed thereby form the flange 36&#39;. A partition means 40&#39; lies between the toothed cutting wheel 30&#39; and the blade holder 26&#39;. The partition means 40&#39; prevents the lade stored in the blade holder 26&#39; from contacting the toothed cutting wheel 30&#39;. 
     A third embodiment for an improved utility knife 10 includes a blade receiving necked handle 50 with an outer wall 54. The necked handle includes a first and second end which have a first and second axis. A first passageway 62 is located at the first end and the first slot 64 is located along the first axis and passes through the outer wall 54. A second passageway 82 is located at the second end and a second slot 84 is located parallel to the second axis and passes through the outer wall 54. A first supporting arm 60 is cooperatively engaged within the handle 50. The first wheel supporting arm 60 is moveable between an outer position wherein the first arm 60 extends through the first passageway 62 and an inner position wherein the first arm 60 is completely retracted within the handle 50. The first wheel supporting arm 60 also includes a first wheel retaining means 66 on one end and a first means for extending 68 said first arm 60 on the opposite end thereof. The means for extending 68 the first arm 60 include a first knob 70 which protrudes through the first slot 64. The first knob 70 is slidable within the first slot 64 as the first arm 60 is moved from an outer position to an inner position. A toothed cutting wheel 30 is affixed to the first blade supporting arm 60 by a pin means 72. A second blade supporting arm 80 is cooperatively engaged within the handle 50. The second blade supporting arm 80 is moveable between an outer position wherein the second arm 80 extends through the second passageway 82 and an inner position. The second arm 80 also includes a second blade retaining means 86 and a second means for extending 88 the second arm 84. The second means for extending 88 is slidable within the second slot 84 as the second arm 80 is moved from an outer position to an inner position. A trapezium shaped blade 20 is affixed longitudinally to the second blade supporting arm 80 by a trapezium blade mounting means 92. 
     METHOD OF USE 
     As can be readily understood from the above description and the drawings, an advantageous method of using the present invention exists. As described above, the invention includes a handle 12 with a razor cutting blade 20 on one end and a toothed cutting wheel 30 on the other end of the handle 12. The toothed cutting wheel end includes a means 32 for attaching a measuring device 34. The toothed cutting wheel end also has a partition 40 that prevents stored blades from interfering with the toothed cutting wheel 30. 
     The invention is used in its preferred embodiment by attaching a measuring device 34 to the measuring device receiving means 32. The operator then holds the invention 10 in one hand and the measuring device 34 in the other hand. After measuring the desired length, the handle 12 is moved such that the toothed cutting wheel 30 will cut through the drywall&#39;s face paper and score the core of the drywall along the desired cutting distance. The drywall is then snapped back such that rotatable cutting wheel 30 may be used to cut the face paper on the back side of the drywall. 
     In the second embodiment having a necked handle 50 and a retractable toothed cutting wheel 30, the toothed cutting wheel 30 must first be moved into its outer scoring position. When the measuring device 34 is attached, the method of use is analogous to the method of use for the preferred embodiment. 
     In light of the above teachings it will be appreciated that several variations of the disclosed embodiments are possible. Those skilled in the art will no doubt be able to utilize the principles of this invention other than as specifically described above. Therefore, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.