Abstract:
A cutting apparatus has a unidirectionally-locking blade cover that automatically snaps back over the exposed blade after each cut, and a dependent, index finger operated unlocking trigger.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The field of the invention is cutting devices and apparatus, knives and utility knives. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE SUBJECT MATTER 
   Industries that utilize cutting devices and apparatus in everyday and/or routine activities, such as opening boxes and bags, cutting and sizing cardboard, rope, heavy paper, fabric, plastic bags and the like and any other activity or task that requires the use of a cutting device or apparatus requires or mandates that the cutting device or apparatus meet certain minimum safety criteria, and ultimately, wants a cutting device or apparatus that maximizes safety features for the operator, while allowing the operator to easily perform the desired tasks with the cutting device or apparatus. 
   There are many reasons that industries want safer cutting devices and safer conditions for employees, including a) minimizes workplace accidents, b) minimizes lost time on the job of employees, c) acts as a possible marketing tool for the employer to potential employees, d) reduces risk from an insurance standpoint and could contribute to lower insurance premiums or additional coverage and e) reduces liability-based legal actions and arbitrations. 
   There have been many attempts to manufacture a safer utility knife or cutting device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,501 issued to Owens et al. on Mar. 9, 1999 describes one such attempt to create a safer utility knife. The Owens utility knife comprises a blade cover that shields the operator from an exposed blade edge when the utility knife is not in use. The operator exposes the cutting surface of the blade by depressing two buttons on the side of the utility knife that are connected to the blade cover. Once the buttons are depressed, they can be pulled back away from the blade, thus pulling back the blade cover and exposing the cutting surface of the blade. However, once the cutting surface of the blade is exposed, only a conscious movement by the operator of depressing the buttons and pulling them towards the cutting surface can pull the blade cover over the cutting surface of the blade protecting the operator from further exposure to the cutting surface. 
   In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/804,451 filed on Mar. 12, 2001, which is commonly assigned and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, Votoloto improved on the Owens utility knife by providing a blade cover that can be pulled back from the cutting surface of the blade by using a trigger lever. If the trigger lever is depressed too quickly, such as what might occur in a panic situation, an intercept member causes disengagement of the blade cover from the trigger lever, thus causing the blade cover to return to a position where the cutting surface of the blade is covered by the blade cover. While the Votolato utility knife is an advancement in safety for utility knives and cutting tools, there are still aspects of that knife that could be improved. For example, there is no automatic function that closes the blade cover over the cutting surface in non-panic-type of situations, such as completion of a cutting job. 
   In addition to safety requirements, companies that utilize cutting devices and apparatus also would like to see certain ergonomic, sanitary and aesthetic features incorporated into the cutting device or apparatus, as mentioned previously herein. With respect to the sanitary requirement, industries that rely on the cutting device to be sanitary are the food service, food preparation and food sales industries, along with any other industries or companies where utility knives could contact food or food preparation surfaces. Another requirement or focus would be to eliminate loose razor blade contamination of food, food stuff, food preparation areas, food processing batches, pharmaceutical batches, chemical batches and other products that are easily contaminated by loose razor blades and razor blade pieces. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a cutting device or apparatus that a) is safe to use by the operator, b) reduces workplace accidents and the risk of workplace accidents, c) is ergonomically safe and effective, d) is sanitary for use around and in preparing consumer products, e) is aesthetically pleasing in an environment, such that it will be regularly used, and f) eliminates or greatly minimizes contamination of consumer products by loose blades and loose blade pieces. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A cutting apparatus has been produced that eliminates the common occurrence of raw razor blades contaminating everything from food and food products to garbage cans to shelves in retail stores. Furthermore, the cutting apparatus comprises a guard assembly that, when activated, opens the blade cover and allows only one cut to be made with the exposed blade before the unidirectionally-locking blade cover snaps back over the exposed blade and locks into a closed position, thus preventing laceration-related accidents. In addition, if the operator continues to activate the guard assembly (squeezing, pulling and/or depressing the trigger and/or releasing the trigger and continuing to hold it in the released position during and after the cut has been made) after one cut has been made with the exposed blade, the unidirectionally-locking blade cover will still snap back over the exposed blade, despite the position of the trigger. Once the blade cover snaps back over the exposed blade and locks into the closed position, the locking device is activated and acts to hold the blade cover securely over the blade until the blade assembly is further activated by releasing the trigger from the depressed position and depressing or pulling the trigger once again. 
   As described herein, a cutting apparatus comprises a) a handle assembly; b) a guard assembly coupled to the handle assembly, wherein the guard assembly comprises a unidirectionally-locking blade cover, a trigger and a locking device; and c) a removable blade assembly coupled to the handle assembly, wherein the blade assembly comprises a blade guard, a blade and a holder apparatus. 
   Also as described herein, a method of using a safety cutting apparatus comprises a) providing a surface; b) providing the safety cutting apparatus described herein; c) releasing the trigger; d) applying the blade to the surface; and e) cutting the surface, wherein cutting comprises making only one continuous cut in the surface. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIGS. 1A-1B  are contemplated embodiments of the safety cutting apparatus. 
       FIG. 2  shows a contemplated embodiment of the safety cutting apparatus. 
       FIGS. 3A-3C  shows contemplated embodiments of the safety cutting apparatus. 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  shows contemplated embodiments of the blade assembly. 
       FIGS. 5A-5B  shows contemplated embodiments of the blade assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   A cutting apparatus has been produced that eliminates the common occurrence of raw razor blades contaminating everything from food and food products to garbage cans to shelves in retail stores. Furthermore, the cutting apparatus comprises a guard assembly that, when activated, opens the blade cover and allows only one cut to be made with the exposed blade before the unidirectionally-locking blade cover snaps back over the exposed blade and locks into place, thus preventing laceration-related accidents. In addition, if the operator continues to activate the guard assembly after one cut has been made with the exposed blade, the unidirectionally-locking blade cover will still snap back and lock into place over the exposed blade, despite the position of the trigger. As used herein, the phrase “if the operator continues to activate” means that if the operator is releasing, squeezing, depressing and/or pulling the trigger or releasing the trigger and continuing to hold it in the released position during and after the cut has been made, the unidirectionally-locking blade cover will still snap back and lock into place over the exposed blade, despite the position of the trigger. Once the blade cover snaps back over the exposed blade, the locking device is activated and acts to hold the blade cover securely over the blade until the blade assembly is further activated by releasing the trigger from the depressed position and depressing, releasing, squeezing or pulling the trigger once again. 
   As described herein, a contemplated cutting apparatus  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B  and comprises a) a handle assembly  100 ; b) a guard assembly  140  coupled to the handle assembly  100 , wherein the guard assembly  140  comprises a unidirectionally-locking blade cover  145 , a trigger  150  and a locking device  155 ; and c) a removable blade assembly  180  coupled to the handle assembly  100 , wherein the blade assembly  180  comprises a blade guard  185 , a blade  190  and a holder apparatus  195 . 
   The handle assembly  200  of the cutting apparatus, as shown in  FIG. 2 , is designed to a) comfortably and ergonomically fit the hand of the operator for ease of use, b) couple with the blade assembly  280  and c) couple with the guard assembly  240 , where the blade cover  245  and trigger  250  are shown. The handle assembly  200  can be designed as shown to have venting openings  210  or “pass-throughs” throughout the handle allowing for the hand holding it to “breath”, thus resulting in a cooling effect on the hand holding it. The vents  210  in the handle assembly  200  also contribute to the light weight of the knife. In other contemplated embodiments, the handle assembly  200  may comprise a solid handle—i.e. without vents  210  or pass-throughs. In this case, a removable gripper cover (not shown) comprising a breathable material may cover the handle. For example, the breathable material may comprise holes or pores that allow the material to stay dry during long periods of use. Furthermore, the gripper cover can be removable and either disposable or washable, so that the handle stays clean during use by several operators over a period of time or during prolonged use by one user. In these embodiments, the removable gripper cover would slip onto the distal end of the handle assembly away from the blade assembly and cover the portion of the handle assembly up to the trigger and trigger opening. 
   Also, as contemplated and as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the cutting apparatus  30  comprises a guard assembly  340  coupled to the handle assembly  300 , wherein the guard assembly  340  comprises a unidirectionally-locking blade cover  345 , a trigger  350  and a locking device  355  which comprises a pawl  356 . In some contemplated embodiments, the blade assembly  380  is covered by a movable, spring-loaded unidirectionally-locking blade cover  345 . A locking device  355  contained within the handle assembly  300  locks the blade cover  345  over the blade  390 . As mentioned, releasing by squeezing, pulling and/or depressing a trigger  350  on the exterior of the handle assembly  300  unlocks the blade cover  345  and allows only one cut to be made in a material or on a surface (not shown). This safety feature is activated by a) releasing—squeezing, pulling and/or depressing—the trigger  350  on the exterior of the handle assembly  300 , thus deactivating the locking device  355 ; b) pressing the unidirectionally-locking blade cover  345  against a surface in order to make a cut into a surface or material; and c) exposing the blade  390  by rotating the blade cover  345  back into the handle assembly  300 . The exposed blade is shown in  FIG. 3C . Once the cut is made and the operator pulls the blade  390  out of the material or surface, pressure is removed from the blade cover  345  and the blade cover  345  rotates back over the blade  390  and locks. The locked blade cover  345  over the blade  390  is shown in  FIG. 3B . In order to make another cut, the trigger  350  must be released—depressed, pulled and/or squeezed again. Therefore, as used herein, the “unidirectionally-locking” blade cover  345  is defined, in that the blade cover  345  only locks in place in one direction, and that direction is when the blade cover  345  is covering the blade  390 . When the blade cover  345  is unlocked and the blade  390  is exposed, the blade cover  345  is not locked into place exposing the blade  390 , but is instead held into an open position (exposing the blade  390 ) by the pressure exerted on the blade cover  345  by the surface or material being cut. 
   As mentioned and as shown in  FIG. 3A , the guard assembly  340  comprises three active parts—the trigger  350 , a locking device  355  which comprises a pawl  356 , and the blade cover  345 . In one contemplated embodiment, two springs and/or spring-like devices, one spring  357  for the blade cover and one spring  358  for the pawl, activate these parts (a “spring and pawl assembly”). The trigger  350  is activated via its own integral, molded spring arm  342 , which includes components  341 ,  342 A and  342 B. The handle assembly  300  provides the pivots and stops  343 A,  343 B necessary for mounting and limiting the travel of the active parts and springs. The blade cover  345  and the trigger  350  pivot on the handle assembly  300 ; the pawl  356  and its spring  358  pivot on the blade cover  345 . The pawl  356  links rotary motion from the blade cover  345  to the trigger  350 . The configuration and material of the pawl  356  allow it to flex sideways and spring back even though it is rigid in all other directions. A portion of the pawl  356  rides in a looped pathway on the trigger  350 . Two ramped steps on the pathway limit the pawl&#39;s  356  travel to one direction. This forces it, once it starts along the pathway, to finish a complete loop. This one-direction travel is what allows locking of the blade cover  345  to be accomplished independent of the trigger position. 
   Normally, the trigger  350  rests where the pawl  356  cannot enter the pathway. Because the pawl  356  cannot enter the pathway, or move anywhere else within the handle assembly  300 , the blade cover  345  cannot move from covering the blade  390 . Releasing the trigger  350  positions the pathway where the pawl  356  can enter it, which allows the blade cover  345  to rotate, thus exposing the blade  390  when pressure is exerted on the blade cover  345  from the surface and/or material to be cut (not shown). If the trigger  350  is released at this point, before the blade cover  345  is moved at all, the blade cover  345  relocks. If however, the blade cover  345  is pressed against a surface and/or material to make a cut, the blade cover  345  is rotated into the handle assembly  300  exposing the blade  390 . As the blade cover  345  rotates, it moves the pawl  356  and causes the pawl  356  to travel along the pathway. As it does, it flexes laterally to ride up and over the ramped steps, and springs back once past the ramped steps. 
   After the pawl  356  travels over the first step, it cannot retrace its path and enters the return segment of the pathway. Now, when pressure is taken off the blade cover  345 , its return spring rotates it back over the blade  390 . This rotation causes the pawl  356  to continue over a second step. If the trigger  350  has already been released, the pawl  356  simply returns to the locked starting position. However, if the trigger  350  has not been released, the pawl  356  could return to the unlocked starting position. To prevent this, the pathway is configured to hold the pawl  356  against the second step, which also keeps it from retracing its path. As a result, the blade cover  345  is locked, and remains so until the trigger  350  is completely released and squeezed again. 
   The blade assembly  480  is shown in  FIG. 4A  and is completely removable from the handle assembly (not shown) and comprises a blade guard  485 , a blade  490  and a holder apparatus  495 . Furthermore, the blade assembly  480  is designed to hold only one blade  490  at a time. The blade  490  is fixedly coupled to the holder apparatus  495 , and therefore, moves only when the holder apparatus  495  moves. The blade assembly  480  is disposable in relation to the cutting apparatus (not shown) and is safe to handle by the operator prior to coupling to, during coupling to and upon removal from the handle assembly (not shown). The blade guard  485  is designed to effectively cover and lock over either the cutting surface of or the entire blade  490  until the blade assembly  480  is coupled to the handle assembly (not shown). As the blade assembly  480  is being coupled to the handle assembly, the blade guard  485  retracts from covering the cutting surface of or the entire blade  490  and locks into place by coupling with a latch  496  The latch  496  holds the blade guard  485  in place and away from the cutting surface of the blade  490  until the blade assembly  480  is removed from the handle assembly. The blade guard  485  effectively eliminates all the injuries and contamination-related issues caused from raw blade handling and also from someone reaching down into a trash receptacle and getting cut by an exposed blade. And as mentioned earlier, the herein-described blade assembly and ultimately the cutting apparatus eliminates loose razor blade contamination of food, food stuff, food preparation areas, food processing batches, pharmaceutical batches, chemical batches and other products that are easily contaminated by loose razor blades and razor blade pieces. 
   In some embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 4B , however, the blade assembly  480  is not removable from the handle assembly (not shown), but is instead fixed into the handle assembly, such that when the blade life expires and/or the blade  490  dulls, the entire cutting apparatus (not shown) can be disposed of by the operator. In these embodiments, the entire cutting apparatus becomes the blade assembly—meaning that the entire cutting apparatus is removable and disposable. In those embodiments where the blade assembly  480  is not removable from the handle assembly, there will not be a blade guard  485  coupled to the blade assembly  480 , since there is no assembly step or removal step of the blade assembly to and from the handle assembly. 
   As an example of one contemplated embodiment and as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the holder apparatus  495  of the blade assembly  480  provides spring snaps that 1) latch (latch  496 ) the blade guard  485  over the blade  490  when the blade assembly  480  is out of the handle assembly (not shown), and 2) latch (latch  497 ) the blade assembly  480  into the handle assembly. The blade guard  485  incorporates an additional latch  498  that latches the shield into the handle assembly independent of the latch  497  for the handle assembly. This additional latch  498  is to insure, as described below, that the blade guard  485  recovers the blade  490  as the blade assembly  480  is being removed from the handle assembly. A stop tab on the blade guard  485  travels in a track on the holder apparatus  495  of the blade assembly  480  and prevents the blade guard  485  from being pulled off of or detached from the blade assembly  480  in part or altogether. 
   When the blade assembly  480  is first inserted into the handle assembly, the blade assembly  480  travels freely until stops on the blade guard  485  hit the handle assembly and latch  498  engages. As more pressure is applied to the blade assembly  480 , latch  496  is over-ridden and the holder apparatus  495  of the blade assembly  480  continues to slide into the handle assembly uncovering the blade  490  as it does. When the blade assembly  480  reaches the limit of its travel, latch  497  engages locking the blade assembly  480  into the handle assembly. 
   To remove the blade assembly  480 , the user operates latch  497  and pulls the holder apparatus  495  of the blade assembly  480  out of the handle assembly (not shown). Because the blade guard  485  is still latched by latch  496 , the holder apparatus  495  moves independent of the blade guard  485 , recovering the blade  490 . When the stop tab reaches the end of its travel, latch  496  re-latches and latch  498  is over-ridden allowing the entire blade assembly  480 , with the blade  490  now recovered by the blade guard  485 , to be pulled free of the handle assembly. 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B  show another contemplated blade assembly  580  where in  FIG. 5A  the blade guard  585  is locked in the open position exposing the blade  590  and in  FIG. 5B  the blade guard  585  is covering the blade  590  in the closed position. In  FIG. 5B  the blade  590  is shown as dotted lines to indicate that its covered by the blade guard  585 . 
   In contemplated embodiments, the blade assembly will, in part or in total, be a bright florescent color to aid in finding them should the assembly be left on shelves or fall into product. In other embodiments, the blade assembly may be suitably marked with any color that will make the assembly readily visible to the naked eye when the assembly is on a shelf, in a consumer product or in a trash can. This prominent color marking or treatment results in the drastic reduction and/or elimination of the blade assemblies contaminating food, retail shelves, and other products. Prominent color marking and/or color treatment will also result in fewer injuries to consumers and the high legal and medical costs associated with those injuries. 
   In some contemplated embodiments, the blade may be set into the blade cartridge such that the blade is exposed at differing potential cutting depths. For example, in some instances, the blade may be exposed only a few millimeters, in order to cut thin surfaces. In other instances, the blade may be exposed at least a centimeter or more in order to cut corrugated cardboard surfaces or other thick surfaces. In these instances, the color coding of the blade cartridge may be set such that different colors indicate different blade cutting depths. For example, fluorescent green may indicate a cutting depth of 4 mm, while cherry red indicates a cutting depth of 1 cm, and so forth. In other instances, the number of stripes or dots on the blade cartridge may indicate cutting depth of the blade. For example, a fluorescent green blade cartridge with 4 bright orange dots may mean a cutting depth of 4 mm (1 mm corresponding for each dot, 1 stripe every 1 cm), while a cherry red blade cartridge with one bright yellow stripe means 1 cm cutting depth. This stripe and dot color coding will help those who are color blind or who otherwise have trouble distinguishing one color. 
   In a contemplated embodiment, the blade comprises metal while the remaining components of the cutting apparatus comprise an organic or inorganic-based material, such as a particular kind of plastic, composite material or other suitable material. However, it is contemplated that every component of the cutting apparatus may comprise metal, a metal-based material, an organic-based material, an inorganic-based material, an organometallic-based material, a composite material and/or a combination thereof. Materials contemplated herein may further comprise polymers and/or monomers. It is contemplated that suitable materials are those materials that can be used to form a cutting apparatus capable of cutting or slicing into a layer or layers of matter, such as paper, cardboard, plastic, metal sheeting, wood, glass, drywall and the like. 
   As used herein, the term “metal” means those elements that are in the d-block and f-block of the Periodic Chart of the Elements, along with those elements that have metal-like properties, such as silicon and germanium. As used herein, the phrase “d-block” means those elements that have electrons filling the  3   d ,  4   d ,  5   d , and  6   d  orbitals surrounding the nucleus of the element. As used herein, the phrase “f-block” means those elements that have electrons filling the  4   f  and  5   f  orbitals surrounding the nucleus of the element, including the lanthanides and the actinides. Preferred metals include titanium, silicon, cobalt, copper, nickel, zinc, vanadium, aluminum, chromium, platinum, gold, silver, steel and stainless steel. More preferred metals include titanium, silicon, copper, aluminum, nickel, platinum, gold, silver and tungsten. Most preferred metals include titanium, aluminum, silicon, copper and nickel. The term “metal” also includes alloys, metal/metal composites, metal ceramic composites, metal polymer composites, as well as other metal composites. 
   As used herein, the term “monomer” refers to any chemical compound that is capable of forming a covalent bond with itself or a chemically different compound in a repetitive manner. The repetitive bond formation between monomers may lead to a linear, branched, super-branched, or three-dimensional product. Furthermore, monomers may themselves comprise repetitive building blocks, and when polymerized the polymers formed from such monomers are then termed “blockpolymers”. Monomers may belong to various chemical classes of molecules including organic, organometallic or inorganic molecules. The molecular weight of monomers may vary greatly between about 40 Dalton and 20000 Dalton. However, especially when monomers comprise repetitive building blocks, monomers may have even higher molecular weights. Monomers may also include additional groups, such as groups used for crosslinking. 
   As used herein, the term “crosslinking” refers to a process in which at least two molecules, or two portions of a long molecule, are joined together by a chemical interaction. Such interactions may occur in many different ways including formation of a covalent bond, formation of hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionic or electrostatic interaction. Furthermore, molecular interaction may also be characterized by an at least temporary physical connection between a molecule and itself or between two or more molecules. 
   Contemplated polymers may also comprise a wide range of functional or structural moieties, including aromatic systems, and halogenated groups. Furthermore, appropriate polymers may have many configurations, including a homopolymer, and a heteropolymer. Moreover, alternative polymers may have various forms, such as linear, branched, super-branched, or three-dimensional. 
   There are several benefits and advantages to using the cutting apparatus described herein, including but not limited to:
         inexpensive to manufacture due to minimal use of material and parts   built in safety mechanisms that allow for one single cut or slice into a material   eliminates loose razor blades and associated medical, insurance, financial and time losses because of razor blade-related accidents   minimizes many of the lacerations associated with the knives and cutting devices on the market today, especially the lacerations that result from the cutting device slipping off of the surface and into the operator&#39;s leg, arm, abdomen, etc.   ergonomically sound in that the cutting apparatus is light-weight and easy to handle based on design modifications       

   In some additional embodiments of the cutting apparatus, the apparatus comprises a tape piercing member that is located on the distal end of the handle assembly. The tape piercing member is designed to break or pierce tape found holding box flaps or other surface areas closed on most boxed items or otherwise contained items. This tape piercing member is a safe and easy way to cut open a box without having to use the blade. The tape piercing member is also used to eliminate the damage to the contents of the box or container caused by a blade opening the box or container with the contents being cut by the blade. 
   Thus, several specific embodiments and applications of the cutting apparatus have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.