Abstract:
A compact cutter employs a ceramic blade. The ceramic blade may be fixed or retractable and configured to easily cut paper or other thin material without readily cutting or injuring the user. A paper cutter employs a blade that can be easily replaced without the need for auxiliary tools.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to utility knives or paper cutters, and more particularly, to portable compact utility cutters. 
         [0002]    Conventional paper cutters are found in numerous forms and dimensions. Many paper cutters are unwieldy and have cutting surfaces dangerous to the end user. It is common for paper cutters or utility knives to use metallic blades designed to have a compact form and which need to be replaced often. These metallic blades can easily cut the skin of the user and are otherwise prone to cause injury. Such blades also wear out or corrode, thereby limiting the usable life of the paper cutter. It would be advantageous to provide a paper cutter that incorporates an alternative blade that is more effective, safer, longer lasting, and easier to replace. 
         [0003]    A compact ceramic cutter comprises a blade fixed within a holder. The holder has a longitudinal guide surface. The blade is made of a ceramic material and protrudes from the longitudinal guide surface. The holder separates into two lateral sections without the need for tools to allow the user to replace the blade. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Briefly stated, one embodiment of the present invention is directed to a paper cutter that uses a fixed or retractable ceramic blade that easily cuts paper or other thin material but does not readily cut or injure the user. One embodiment is also directed to a paper cutter that employs a blade that can be easily replaced without the need for auxiliary tools. 
         [0005]    The holder may further comprise a loop dimensioned to easily and comfortably accommodate the user&#39;s finger. In one embodiment, the holder also comprises a button and a slide. The blade protrudes in an extended position from the longitudinal guide surface only when the button is depressed by the user. The blade moves along the slide to the extended position and is biased to automatically return to a retracted position when said button is not depressed by the user. The holder further has a key-ring hole to affix the compact ceramic cutter to a key-ring or a lanyard. The holder further comprises a magnet to affix the compact ceramic cutter to a metallic or magnetic surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a one embodiment of a compact ceramic cutter according to aspects of the disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a compact ceramic cutter according to aspects of the disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2B  is a side view of the compact ceramic cutter of  FIG. 2A  in a retracted state; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2C  is an opposite side view of the compact ceramic cutter of  FIG. 2B ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a compact ceramic cutter according to aspects of the disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a side view of the compact ceramic cutter of  FIG. 3A  in a retracted state; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3C  is a top view of the compact ceramic cutter of  FIG. 3B ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3D  is an opposite side view of the compact ceramic cutter of  FIG. 3B ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side plan view of a ceramic blade according to aspects of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown a representative embodiment of a compact ceramic cutter  10 . Ceramic cutter  10  contains a blade  12  fixed within a holder  14 . In the depicted embodiment, the blade  12  is embedded in the holder  14  and protrudes a desired amount from a longitudinal guide surface  16 . The holder  14  contains a loop  18  dimensioned to easily and comfortably accommodate a user&#39;s finger. The holder  14  separates into two lateral sections without the need for tools to allow the end user to replace the blade  12 . The blade  12  is depicted in greater detail in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the blade  12  cuts through paper or other thin materials without posing serious danger to the user&#39;s skin. The blade  12  is oriented such that the end user pulls the loop  18  with his or her finger along the desired cutting material. Blade  12  follows the longitudinal guide surface  16  as the blade  12  cuts through the paper or other thin material. Longitudinal guide surface  16  is arranged as a cutting guide such that the blade  12  penetrates a consistent depth as the user pulls loop  18  along the material. The blade  12  is oriented and configured such that the cutting surface cuts the material with minimal required force by the end user. The loop  18  is arranged such that the user can easily pull the cutter  10  along the material and push the cutter  10  against the material. 
         [0017]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , a recess  19  defined in the surface of the holder  14  adjacent the loop  18  provides a comfortable and natural gripping surface for the user&#39;s other fingers to provide favorable ergonomic qualities of the ceramic cutter  10 . The recess  19  is configured to ease and facilitate cutting operations, particularly when the user desires curved or other complex cutting patterns. 
         [0018]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2A-2C , ceramic cutter  20  contains a blade  12  which reciprocates within a casing  26 . A button  24  moves the blade  12  along a slide  28  between an extended position as depicted in  FIG. 2A  and a retracted position as depicted in  FIG. 2B . The button  24  locks the blade  12  in the retracted position and allows movement of blade  12  to the extended position only when the button  24  is depressed. The blade  12  is biased to automatically return to the retracted position when the user is not depressing the button  24  and holding the blade  12  in the extended position. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , the casing  26  contains a longitudinal guide  29  that assists the user during operation to maintain the blade  12  at a constant depth while cutting. In the depicted embodiment, the casing  26  also contains a key-ring hole  25 . Key-ring hole  25  allows the end user to affix the ceramic cutter  20  to a key-ring, lanyard, or the like. Referring to  FIG. 2C , the casing  26  contains a magnet  23  to affix the casing  26  to outside metallic or magnetic surfaces. Other embodiments include similar key-ring holes and magnets. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3D , a ceramic blade box cutter  30  contains a handle  32  and a button  34 . The user depresses the button  34  and moves the button  34  along a track  36  to expose a blade  12  from the handle  32  to an extended position as depicted in  FIG. 3A . When the user stops exerting a force on the button  34 , the blade  12  returns to the retracted state and is protected within the handle  12  as depicted in  FIG. 3B . In the depicted embodiment, the handle  32  also contains a key-ring hole  35 . Key-ring hole  35  allows the end user to affix the box cutter  30  to a key-ring, lanyard, or the like. Box cutter  30  also contains a grip  33  to provide an ergonomic surface for the user&#39;s hand. In one embodiment, the handle  32  is approximately 5.25 to 6.25 inches long and 0.25 to 1 inches tall. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 3C , a tab  38  allows the user to replace the blade  12  without needing auxiliary tools. When the tab  38  is depressed, a collar  39  (depicted in  FIGS. 3B and 3C ) separates from the handle  32  and the entire blade  12  is exposed. The user may adjust the blade  12  within the handle  32  or replace it with a new blade  12 . In one embodiment, when the collar  39  is separated from the handle  32  a blade storage bay (not depicted) is also exposed. The blade storage bay allows storage of spare blades  12  not currently in use. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a blade  12  has a cutting edge  42  and opposed mounting recesses  44 . The depicted blade  12  is compatible with all embodiments of the present disclosure. In the depicted embodiment, opposite longitudinal ends of the cutting edge  42  are curved for added safety. The mounting recesses  44  mate with complementary tabs (not depicted) within each ceramic cutter. The depicted blade  12  is symmetrical with dual functional cutting edge portions, allowing the user to reverse the blade to expose and sequentially use both ends of cutting edge  42 . This further increases the life of a single blade  12 . In one embodiment, the blade  12  is approximately 25 millimeters long and 6.55 millimeters tall. 
         [0023]    While preferred embodiments of the foregoing have been set forth for purposes of illustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation of the inventions herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.