Abstract:
An art design knife that provides for enhanced manual gripping stability and safety comprised of a front cover, a rear cover, a hatch, a magazine feed spring, a blade transport component, and a blade magazine. In addition to blade replacement convenience, the blade magazine contains a quantity of spare blades to thereby increase art design knife utility and, furthermore, enhance the industrial practical value of art design knife structures.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1) Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention herein relates to precision cutting tools, specifically an art design knife providing for stabler and safer manual utilization that is comprised of a front cover, a rear cover, a hatch, a magazine feed spring, a blade transport component, and a blade magazine. In addition to convenient blade replacement capability, the said blade magazine contains a quantity of spare blades to thereby increase art design knife utility and, furthermore, enhance the industrial practical value of art design knife structures.  
         [0003]     2) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Conventional art design knives typically have internally disposed extension and retraction mechanisms, wherein the wear that normally occurs between a keeper spring and single-sided wave-contoured engagement slots diminishes stationary engagement capability, which during utilization results in a loss of blade positioning stability and easily causes serious wounds. Furthermore, since the spare blades of conventional art design knives are kept external to the body of the implement itself, when a blade is to be replaced, a considerable amount of time is often wasted searching for spare blades. In view of the existent shortcomings of the conventional product still awaiting improvement, the inventor of the invention herein based on specialized knowledge and design experience gained by engagement in the related fields conducted extensive research inspired by an original idea that culminated in the successful design of an art design knife of improved structure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The primary objective of the invention herein is to provide an art design knife in which the blade transport component is stably and smoothly engaged in detent blocks between a front cover and a rear cover to effectively increase blade imrovability and safety. Additionally, the blade magazine of the invention herein contains a quantity of spare blades and is integrated within art design knife to further facilitate blade replacement convenience.  
         [0006]     To enable the examination committee to further understand the advantages, objectives, and functions of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the invention herein are accompanied by the brief description of the drawings below and followed by the detailed description of the invention herein. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is an isometric drawing of the invention herein.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded drawing of the invention herein.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an isometric drawing of the front cover  1  of the invention herein, as viewed from an exterior perspective.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is an isometric drawing of the front cover  1  of the invention herein, as viewed from an interior perspective.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is an isometric drawing of the rear cover  2  of the invention herein, as viewed from an exterior perspective.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is an isometric drawing of the rear cover  2  of the invention herein, as viewed from an interior perspective.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is an isometric drawing of the hatch  3  of the invention herein, as viewed from an exterior perspective.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is an isometric drawing of the hatch  3  of the invention herein, as viewed from an interior perspective.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is an isometric drawing the magazine feed spring mount  6  of the invention herein.  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is an isometric drawing of the magazine feed spring  5  of the invention herein.  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is an exploded drawing of the hatch  3 , the magazine feed spring  5 , and the magazine feed spring mount  6  of the invention herein.  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is an isometric drawing of the hatch lock button  4  of the invention herein, as viewed from an exterior perspective.  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is an isometric drawing of the hatch lock button  4  of the invention herein, as viewed from an interior perspective.  
         [0020]      FIG. 14  is an exploded drawing of the front cover  1  and the hatch lock button  4  of the invention herein.  
         [0021]      FIG. 15  is an isometric drawing of the blade magazine  8  of the invention herein, as viewed from an interior perspective.  
         [0022]      FIG. 16  is an isometric drawing of the blade magazine  8  of the invention herein, as viewed from an exterior perspective.  
         [0023]      FIG. 17  is an isometric drawing of the blade transport component  7 , as viewed from an lateral perspective.  
         [0024]      FIG. 18  is an isometric drawing of the blade transport component  7 , as viewed from a top perspective.  
         [0025]      FIG. 19  is a partial cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein when the blade is in the retracted state.  
         [0026]      FIG. 20  is a partial cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein when the blade is in the extended state. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the art design knife  10  of the invention herein is comprised of a front cover  1 , a rear cover  2 , a hatch  3 , a hatch lock button  4 , a blade transport component  7 , a blade magazine  8 , blades  91 , a push button  92 , a blade lock button  93 , an upper grip cushion  94 , and a lower grip cushion  95 , of which:  
         [0028]     The front cover  1 , referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the said front cover  1  is a case member of one-piece construction having a semicircular indentation  11  formed in its top anterior section and a slide track indentation  12  disposed along the interior of its top medial section, with the said slide track indentation  12  having a plurality of rectangular detent blocks  121  evenly arrayed along its bottom edge; an elongated indentation  13  is formed in the top posterior section of the said front cover  1  and, furthermore, another elongated indentation  18  is formed at its bottom posterior section; additionally, the said front cover  1  has an opening  14  formed in the side of its anterior section and there are pivot holes  141  disposed at each of two upper and lower corners at the front side of the said opening  14 ; the said front cover  1  has a oval-shaped reinforcement plate  15  situated at its medial section; an elongated hole  16  is formed at the center of the said reinforcement plate  15  and, furthermore, the said reinforcement plate  15  has a post  17  disposed inside its rear edge and a threaded hole  171  is tapped into the center of the said post  17 , and a round hole  19  is formed through the trailing end of the said front cover  1 .  
         [0029]     The rear cover  2 , referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the said rear cover  2  is a case member of one-piece construction having a semicircular indentation  21  formed in its top anterior section and a slide track indentation  22  disposed along the interior of its top medial section, with the said slide track indentation  22  having a plurality of rectangular detent blocks  221  evenly arrayed along its bottom edge; an elongated indentation  23  is formed in the top posterior section of the said rear cover  2  and, furthermore, another elongated indentation  28  is formed at its bottom posterior section; additionally, the said rear cover  2  has an upper level and lower level abutment plate  24  and  25  protruding along the inside of its anterior section, the said upper level abutment plate  24  has a notch  241  formed in its forward extremity and the said lower level abutment plate  24  has a support element  26  disposed at the lower edge of its front portion; the said rear cover  2  has a threaded mounting hole  27  situated in the center of its posterior section, and a round hole  29  formed through the trailing end of the said rear cover  2 .  
         [0030]     The hatch  3 , referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , is shaped such that it corresponds to the profile of the opening  14  in the said front cover  1  and there are pintles  31  disposed at each of the upper and lower corners at the front side of the said hatch  3 ; the said front hatch  3  has an arced depression  32  and a securing slot  33  at the outer edge of its rear side; additionally, the said hatch  3  has threaded holes  34  tapped into the front and rear of its interior side and, furthermore, each threaded hole  34  has a curved mounting groove  35  at its upper and lower extent.  
         [0031]     The magazine feed spring mount  6 , referring to  FIG. 9 , has a locating plate  61  at its center and a hole  62  is formed in the said locating plate  61 ; a retaining brace plate  63  is formed by bending the upper edges at the each of the two ends of the said magazine feed spring mount  6  and, furthermore, a curved footing element  64  is folded at their left and right sides.  
         [0032]     The magazine feed spring  5 , referring to  FIG. 10 , is of a pressure stamped metal construction and consists of contact elements  51  fabricated by bending down each of its two left and right sides and then articulating an outward bend at their extremities and, furthermore, punch forming a plurality of flat spring elements  52  postured at a downward angle in the center of the said magazine feed spring  5 .  
         [0033]     As indicated in  FIG. 11 , two magazine feed spring mounts  6  are first inserted into the curved mounting grooves  35  of the hatch  3  and then a screw  97  is placed into each hole  62  of the magazine feed spring mounts  6  and fastened to the threaded holes  34  of the hatch  3 ; the contact elements  51  at the two sides of the magazine feed spring  5  are inserted into and ensconced by the retaining brace plates  63  such that the plurality of flat spring elements  52  of the magazine feed spring  5  are forced outward to achieve their function and capability.  
         [0034]     The hatch lock button  4 , referring to  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , is of an oval shape and has an arced groove  41  and a concavity  42  at one end of its exterior side and a check plate  43  at one end of its interior side; furthermore, the said hatch lock button  4  has a raised block  44  disposed in the center of its interior side and a threaded hole  45  is tapped in the center of the said raised block  44 .  
         [0035]     As indicated in  FIG. 14 , the said mounting block  46  consists of a solid rectangular construct having a threaded hole  47  through one side and a cylindrical recess  48  formed partially through another side, with a coil spring  49  placed into the said cylindrical recess  48 ; the raised block  44  of the said hatch lock button  4  is inserted into the elongated hole  16  at the center of the front cover  3  reinforcement plate  15 , then a screw  96  is placed into the threaded hole  47  of the mounting block  46  and fastened to the hatch lock button  4  by means of the threaded hole  45  in its raised block  44 , thereby configuring the coil spring  49  and the mounting block  46  such that the hatch lock button  4  slides back and forth resiliently on the front cover  1  reinforcement plate  15 .  
         [0036]     The blade magazine  8 , referring to  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16 , is a container structure having an upper support member  81 , a rear support member  82 , and a lower support member  83  respectively disposed on three sides; the interior of the said blade magazine  8  consists of a frame plate  84 , a stop tab  85  angled inward at the front edge of the said lower support member  83 , and a gap  86  left between the said stop tab  85  and the frame plate  84  that is capable of accommodating the passage of a single blade; additionally, a elongated opening  87  is formed in the said frame plate  84  and there is a beveled face  88  along the front edge of the said elongated opening  87 .  
         [0037]     The blade transport component  7 , referring to  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18 , consists of a sliding support plate  71  horizontally situated at its upper anterior section, a vertical plate  72  along the underside of said sliding support plate  71 , with a beveled face  73  on the front edge of the said vertical plate  72 , an impelling block  74  extending inward from the said vertical plate  72  near the center of the said sliding support plate  71 , and a lip  75  formed along the rear section at the other side of the said sliding support plate  71 ; additionally, the said blade transport component  7  has a push button support plate  76  at the upper edge of its rear section, a fastening hole  77  is formed in the center of the said push button support plate  76  and, furthermore, the said blade transport component  7  also consists of two positioning tabs  78  extending outward from its rear section.  
         [0038]     The said blades  91  consist of a quantity of orderly stacked individual blades that are placed inside the said blade magazine  8 ; the said push button  92  has a protruding post at its bottom aspect that is inserted and fixed in the fastening hole  77  of the blade transport component  7 ; the said blade transport component  7  is brought against the top edge of the blade magazine  8  and, at the same time, the blade transport component  7  and the blade magazine  8  are placed into the abutment plates  24  and  25  of the rear cover  2 ; additionally, the blade lock button  93  is secured into the semicircular indentation  11  in the upper edge of the front cover  1 , the said upper grip cushion  94 —a one-piece component constructed of a soft plastic material—is secured into the elongated indentation  13  formed in the top posterior section of the front cover  1 , the said lower grip cushion  95 —also a one-piece component constructed of a soft plastic material—is secured in the elongated indentation  18  formed in the bottom posterior section of the front cover  1  and, furthermore, the two pintles  31  of the said hatch  3  are movably conjoined to the pivot holes  141  of the front cover  1 , the hatch  3  is closed over the front cover  1  opening  14 , and the hatch lock button  4  is engaged into the front cover  1 ; the front cover  1  and the rear cover  2  are then placed together and a screw  98  is inserted through the threaded hole  171  of the front cover  1  and fastened to the threaded mounting hole  27  inside the rear cover, thereby enabling assembly into a complete art design knife structure.  
         [0039]     As indicated in  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 , the positioning tabs  78  at the rear section of the blade transport component  7  of the invention herein engage a notch among the plurality of detent blocks  221  arrayed in the rear cover  2  and when the push button  92  is depressed, the positioning tabs  78  at the rear section of the blade transport component  7  are moved downward and become disengaged from the rear cover  2  detent blocks  221 , following which the button  92  is pushed outward horizontally such that the push button  92  causes the blade transport component  7  and a blade  91  to slide outward, with the push button  92  released when the blade  91  has slid to an appropriate position; the said push button  92  returns upward upon release due to the elasticity of the blade transport component  7  and the positioning tabs  78  simultaneously ascend to engage a notch among the plurality of detent blocks  221  along the rear cover  2 , thereby achieving a safe and stable blade forwarding operation; to retract the blade  91 , the push button  92  is utilized to perform the reverse of the said procedure.  
         [0040]     To replace blades, the said push button  92  is pressed outward to the very front end, at which time the beveled face  73  along the forward interior side of the said blade transport component  7  vertical plate  72  slides into contact with the beveled face  88  along the front edge of the blade magazine  8  elongated opening  87  and with the vertical plate  72  of the blade transport component  7  consequently moved outward, the said impelling block  74  is disengaged from the notch in the upper edge of the blade  91 , thereby ejecting the blade  91 ; the remaining quantity of orderly stacked blades  91  in the said blade magazine  8  are shoved toward the uppermost blade  91  by the magazine feed spring  5  (not shown in the drawings) at the interior side of the hatch  3  which also pushes the blades  91  to the lowest level of the blade magazine  8 , the said blade transport component  7  returns in the opposite direction and the impelling block  74  engages the notch in the upper edge of the next blade  91 , thereby completing the blade replacement operation.  
         [0041]     In summation of the foregoing section, since the present invention is capable of achieving its claimed objectives and, furthermore, the disclosed structure possesses exceptional practical value and functions, the invention herein is submitted to the examination committee for review and the granting of the commensurate patent rights.