Abstract:
A retractable/disposable craft knife with a unitary blade and flexible beam assembly is described. The knife includes an elongated housing which, with the blade and flexible beam assembly inserted therein, holds the assembly under flexural tension. The interior wall of the elongated housing forms a guideway for the unitary blade and flexible beam assembly and provides for the positive alignment of the blade and flexible beam assembly. The blade and flexible beam assembly moves back and forth along the guideway. The craft knife hereof is shown with a safety latch and in another embodiment with a transparent housing. Ergonomics features are discussed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a retractable/disposable craft knife, and, more particularly, to a knife housing into which a unitary blade and flexible beam assembly is readily retracted and from which the assembly is readily extended. Upon exhausting the service life of the blade, the knife is disposable. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Craft knives are used for a multiplicity of purposes and for most effective use the blade must always be sharp. Convenience, safety, economics, and ergonomics all are factors which also are considered in craft knife utilization. 
   It is convenient to have a craft knife which is both retractable and disposable. While many craft knives have disposable blades few are manufactured sufficiently economically that the entire knife, upon exhausting the service life of the blade, becomes disposable. 
   In some occupations, craft knives are used repetitively throughout the workday increasing the importance of ergonomic construction. In terms of craft knives, ergonomic design includes a construct that, when naturally held, results in a blade position normal to the cutting plane and one that enables downward pressure to be readily controlled by the user. 
   Frequently, a craft knife is a household item and, when retractable, carried about in pocket or purse. Thus, safety considerations include a retraction-extension mechanism that has a safety latch, and, when the safety latch is engaged, stays securely sheathed without unexpected or undesired extensions. While the parameter of disposability is of high interest, the within disclosure includes a description of a blade insert or refill blade and beam assembly for the unique product herein described. 
   In preparing for this disclosure, several patents became known to inventors hereof. By way of background, the patents to Scheminger et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,143 (Original Classification 30/335; issued Mar. 21, 1989); Abidin et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,175 (Original Classification 606/182; issued, Aug. 13, 1996); and, Wallays, U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,018 (Original Classification 16/114R; issued Aug. 10, 1999) are noted. 
   Scheminger et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,143—The Scheminger et al. patent describes a knife having an adjustable blade length, the tang of which slides into and out of a sliding chamber within the handle thereof. The portion of the handle surrounding the tang is of a resilient deformable material having a high coefficient of friction which, upon being grasped, secures the adjustable blade in the position of use. 
   Abadin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,175—The Abidin et al. patent describes a disposable, guarded finger scalpel, the technical advance of which was in response to the need to reduce exposure to the AIDS virus during surgical procedures. Upon squeezing the sides of the scalpel between the thumb and forefinger, a blade is advanced out of an opening. After making an incision, the release of pressure by the user results in the contaminated blade being withdrawn into the scalpel housing. The device of the invention provides a lock-off so that, after use, the contaminated blade is secured within the housing. 
   Wallays. U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,918—Wallays &#39;918 discloses a multi-use handle for adaptive use with a variety of inserts, which inserts, in turn, serve as a cutting wheel, brush, or scraper. Each implement clips into the forward end of the handle and has a locking component within the receiving chamber of the handle. 
   These patents are representative of the present state-of-the-art, but do not singly or in combination exhibit the characteristics of the craft knife and insert therefor presented, infra. The citing of the above patents is not intended as an admission that any such patent constitutes prior art against the claims of the present application. Applicant does not waive any right to take any action that would be appropriate to antedate or otherwise remove any listed document as a competent reference against the claims of the present application. 
   Other technical problems are overcome or resolved by the invention disclosed herein. The innovative approach becomes apparent in the description which follows. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a retractable/disposable craft knife with a unitary blade and flexible beam assembly. The knife includes an elongated housing which, with the blade and flexible beam assembly inserted therein, holds the assembly under flexural tension. The interior wall of the elongated housing forms a guideway for the unitary blade and flexible beam assembly. As the housing of the craft knife has certain asymmetrical characteristics (see infra), the housing provides for the positive alignment of the blade and flexible beam assembly. 
   The guideway is the interior wall of the elongated housing and leads to an aperture at one end of the elongated body. The aforementioned blade and flexible beam assembly is adapted to move reciprocally back and forth along the guideway. The unitary blade and flexible beam assembly has a slide control portion at one end and a blade portion at the other which are, in turn, connected by an integral beam portion. The slide control portion is flexibly movable toward and away from the longitudinal axis of the housing. 
   The blade portion has a blade integrally molded into a thermoplastic body at the apertured end of the housing which, upon reciprocal movement, extends beyond the housing and through the aperture and retracts into and fully within the housing. The beam portion acts as a guideway follower, aligns the blade with the aperture during the reciprocal movement, and stops the blade at a work position, at a closed position, and at a safety latched position. 
   The ergonomic features of the craft knife enhance cutting operation by the user and reduce strain to the hand of the user during repetitive cutting operations. The outside of the housing is designed so that when the craft knife is normally held, that is between the thumb and second finger of the user the extended blade is positioned in a substantially vertical plane. Furthermore, as the craft knife housing has a substantially flat upper surface upon which the first finger of the user rests, this enables downward pressure to be readily applied. 
   A blade insert for the retractable craft knife of this invention is also described. At times, although, upon the exhaustion of the service life of the blade, the knife is designed to be disposable, the user may opt to replace the blade and beam assembly. The replaceable unit is a blade and flexible beam assembly, as described above, which is insertable into the elongated housing of the craft knife. 
   OBJECTS AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a craft knife which is a readily retracted and readily extended from the housing thereof. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sturdy, yet inexpensive to manufacture, craft knife that, after the service life of the blade has been exhausted, is disposable. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a unitary blade and beam assembly that is guided during retraction and extension by the interior wall of the housing. 
   It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a craft knife that is ergonomically designed facilitating the application of downward pressure during cutting operations. 
   It is a feature of the present invention that the unitary blade and beam assembly before insertion in the housing is slightly bowed, and, upon insertion into the housing, is held under flexural tension. 
   It is another feature of the present invention that the shape of the housing when held normally results in a substantially vertical blade position. 
   It is yet another feature of the present invention to have a safety latch position to prevent inadvertent extension of the craft knife blade. 
   It is a still further feature of the present invention to have a stabilizing fin interlocking the housing and the blade holder to minimize the effect of torque exerted upon and transmitted by the blade. 
   Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent upon review of the drawings and the detailed description which follow. In the drawings, the same parts in the various views are afforded the same reference designators. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the retractable/disposable craft knife and insert therefor of this invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the blade and beam assembly of  FIG. 1 , partially cut away to show the tang embedded in the assembly; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the invention of  FIG. 1  with the housing cut away to show the guideway and follower relationship; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational cut away view of the retractable/disposable craft knife of this invention shown in the extension/retraction mode; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the retractable/disposable craft knife of this invention with the housing cut away to show the position of the control device during the extension/retraction mode; 
       FIG. 7  is an end view of the retractable/disposable craft knife of  FIG. 5  with the end cap removed as seen during extension/retraction mode; 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of the retractable/disposable craft knife of this invention with the housing cut away to show the retracted craft knife with the safety lock disengaged; 
       FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the retractable/disposable craft knife of this invention with the housing cut away to show the retracted craft knife with the safety lock engaged; 
       FIG. 10  is a partial perspective view of the retractable/disposable craft knife of this invention showing the safety latch engaged; 
       FIG. 11  is an end view of the retractable/disposable craft knife of  FIGS. 8 and 9  with the end cap removed as seen during the working and safety latching modes; 
       FIG. 12  is a view of the retractable/disposable craft knife of this invention held by the user and showing the ergonomic features thereof; 
       FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of the second embodiment, similar to  FIG. 1  with the housing constructed from transparent thermoplastic material with the craft knife shown in the fully extended position; and 
       FIG. 14  is another side elevational view of the craft knife of  FIG. 13 , but shown with the blade and flexible beam assembly in the retracted position. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The retractable/disposable craft knife of this invention is designed so that the parts are readily manufacturable by well-known processes, such as injection molding. As these processes yield inexpensive components, after the service life of the blade is exhausted, the final assemblage is disposable. When disposal is not desired, as an alternative, blade and blade holder inserts or refills may be employed. The description below is written to encompass the separate manufacture thereof. The craft knife described hereinbelow has two different embodiments, namely—a retractable/disposable craft knife with a safety lock and a retractable/disposable craft knife, similar to the first embodiment, but with a transparent housing. In the course of describing the first embodiment, the blade and beam insert is described. 
   In the first embodiment of the present invention, the craft knife, referred to generally by the reference designator  10 , is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 12 . The perspective view,  FIG. 1 , shows the craft knife in the extended condition. The craft knife  10  is constructed with an elongated housing or sheath  12  and a blade and flexible beam assembly  14 . The housing  12  has an aperture  16  in one end of the housing and at the opposite end a slide control access port  18 . The access port  18  has two stops, a rear stop or port  20  which is constructed so that when the slide control  22  is moved to coact therewith, the blade and flexible beam assembly  14  is fully retracted into the housing. 
   Although only two stops are shown, the craft knife of this invention could optionally include one or more additional intermediate stops for varying the amount of extension of the blade and flexible beam assembly  14 . The access port  18  further is constructed with a forward stop or port  24 , which, when the slide control  22  is moved to coact therewith, the blade and flexible beam assembly  14  is fully extended. The housing  12  includes a cap  26  which encloses the end of the housing adjacent the slide control access port  18 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3  a side view of the blade and flexible beam assembly  14  and a view of the blade and flexible beam assembly  14  mounted in housing  12  are shown, respectively. In  FIG. 2 , the uninstalled blade and flexible beam assembly is shown in the relaxed state thereof or in the as-molded condition. Although somewhat exaggerated for graphic presentation, the blade and flexible beam assembly  14  is seen, at the portion thereof containing the slide control  22  to be bowed away from the longitudinal axis  27 , line X—X. When the blade and flexible beam assembly  14  is mounted in the housing  12 ,  FIG. 3 , the beam is under flexural tension sufficient to substantially straighten the curving or bowing of the beam. 
   For purposes of the discussion which follows, the blade and flexible beam assembly  14  is considered in three portions, namely, the blade holding portion  28 , the guideway follower portion  30 , and the slide control portion  32 . Although denominated by functionality, there are no boundaries or lines of demarcation defining where one functional portion begins and the other ends. The blade holding portion unitizes the blade  34  into and with the injection molded thermoplastic or reinforced thermoplastic material of the beam  36 . The tang  38  of the blade  34  is shown with an opening  40  therethrough enabling the surrounding thermoplastic material, upon being fluid during manufacture, to flow through and securely fix the blade and tang to the assembly. 
   Variations in the configuration of the tang are well-known in the art and include tangs with bumps, grooves, slits and impressed areas to grip the material in which the blade is mounted. Additionally, while a single blade is shown some cutting and scoring applications require dual, side-by-side mounted blades which blade mounting arrangement can be accommodated by this invention. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the guideway follower portion  30  is next discussed. Here a portion of the flexible beam  36  is constructed to slidably engage the walls of the interior chamber  42  of the housing  12 . These walls form the guideway  44  correspondingly positioned to receive the T-shaped follower  46 . In the first embodiment shown here, the guideway  44  is triangular in cross-section, and, more particularly, in the form of an isosceles triangle in cross-section. The upper plate of the T-shaped beam  46  engages the upper portion of the guideway  44 . 
   The housing  12  and the blade and flexible beam assembly  14  are both tapered toward aperture  16  and, upon full extension, nest securely one within the other. This shape ensures that the blade  34  is in true alignment with aperture  16 . While the cross-sectional shape of the isosceles triangle is employed in this embodiment, any asymmetrical guideway suffices that prevents rotation of the blade  34  and maintains alignment with the aperture  16 . Other symmetrical shapes would permit unaligned insertions of the blade and flexible beam assembly  14  into housing  12  and, thus, the top-to-bottom asymmetry of this application is preferred. The nesting arrangement prevents the transmission of twisting or torque-like forces from the cutting blade to the interior of the knife. 
   The slide control portion  32  of the preferred embodiment consists of a flexible member  48  with a slide control  22  molded thereonto. As described above, the state of the blade and flexible beam assembly  14 , as installed, is under flexural tension and is biased toward achieving the normal relaxed state shown in  FIG. 2 . The flexible member  48  is constructed, during extension and retraction, to be further flexed toward line X—X. The assembly  14  is constructed to provide reciprocal movement on two levels best seen in  FIGS. 7 and 11  in which the craft knife  10  is viewed with end cap  26  removed. Upon flexing the flexible member  48 , energy is stored therein. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5 through 7 , views of the slide control portion  32  are shown. In these figures, the slide control portion  32  is shown in the extension/retraction mode. During reciprocal motion between ports  20  and  24 , the slide control knob  50  is depressed so that the anterior portion of the beam  36  rides, low in the housing  12 . In the travel between rear port  20  and forward port  24 , the flexible beam  36  is held down by shoulder  52  of control knob  50  coacting with the lip  54  of slide control access port  18 . 
   Upon reaching either port  20  or  24 , the flexural tension urges the beam toward the relaxed condition and the lower body  56  of the control knob  50  is raised or pops up into the respective port. The popping up of control knob  50  is the recovery of stored energy by the elastic return of the bent flexible member  48 . The control knob  50  is designed to have a footprint that closely approximates the opening of the ports  20  and  24  and, upon being raised into one of the ports is closely fitted therewithin. 
   In  FIGS. 3 and 8  through  11 , the slide control portion  32  is shown in the raised condition. When raised in the forward port  24 , the craft knife  10  has the blade fully extended and control knob  50  rests against bumper  57 . Here, the craft knife is in the working mode. Because of the footprint/port relationship there is little endplay when the slide control portion is in the raised condition at the forward port  24 . 
   In  FIGS. 8 through 11 , the details of safety latch  58  of control knob  50  is shown. When raised in the rear port  20 , the craft knife has the blade fully retracted and is in the portative mode. At this level, the blade and flexible beam assembly  14  is reciprocally movable to engage and disengage a safety latch feature. The control knob  50  has openings  60  on either side of front vane  62  and, with the slide control portion  32  raised, is slidable forward and back to engage and disengage the front rim  64  of rear port  20 . Rear vane  66  is constructed to urge the blade and flexible beam assembly  14  forward upon contacting finger  68  of cap  26 . Because of the footprint/port relationship there is little endplay when the slide control portion is in the raised condition at the rear port  20 . 
   The reciprocal movement to engage and disengage the safety latch  58  is a positive, but slight, movement of no more than ⅛-inch. The engagement movement slides the blade  34  forward toward aperture  16 , but with the blade remaining within housing  12 . The disengagement movement slides the blade rearward toward cap  26 , but remaining within housing  12  and places the entire control knob  50  within the opening of rear port  20 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 12 , the ergonomic aspect of the first embodiment is next discussed. In holding a pen or other similar type implement in one&#39;s hand the thumb and second finger cradle the shaft or the barrel of the pen and the first finger is on top of the barrel holding the pen in position. With the craft knife of this invention, the same relationship pertains; however, in this case, it is preferred to have the blade normal to the cutting surface. The cross-sectional shape, seen in  FIG. 4 , is analogous to that formed by the second finger, the thumb and the first finger if the pen were to be removed. Thus, to maintain the blade normal to the cutting surface, the lower angle or the apex angle of the isosceles triangle of the housing  12  is approximately 50° (with the remaining interior angles being approximately 65°). The flat top of the craft knife housing permits the user to apply a controlled and gentle downward pressure to the knife. 
   From the foregoing, it is seen that the disposability of the craft knife of this invention is enhanced by several factors, namely: (1) reducing the number of parts to be manufactured; (2) ensuring each part is simple and economic to manufacture; and, (3) minimizing assembly procedures. In the embodiment shown, there are three parts—a housing; a blade and flexible beam assembly; and, a cap. All three are structured so as to be manufactured by injection molding techniques permitting high quantities at low unit cost. With regard to manufacturing processes, the methods for unitizing the blade into the flexible beam are well known. The thermoplastic materials are inexpensive and are selected to provide optimum lubricity so as to enable the sliding of the parts during extension and retraction without undue friction therebetween. To assemble the craft knife, the cap is removed from the housing, the blade and flexible beam assembly is inserted into the guideway (while flexing the assembly toward the longitudinal axis of the housing), and the cap is replaced. In the structure described herein, the disclosed devices meet all the criteria of the disposability factors initially set forth above. 
   When disposal of the craft knife is not desired the structure is simple enough to remove the cap, discard the spent blade and beam insert, replace the same with a refill unit as shown in  FIG. 2 , and replace the cap. The craft knife is sufficiently simple for this to be accomplished by the user. Upon replacement, as the tang of the blade is unitized with the beam, clamping of the new blade to the handle is not required as it is with most present-day craft knives. 
   In the second embodiment of the present invention, the craft knife is referred to generally by the reference numeral  110  and is shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . In this embodiment reference numerals “100” higher than those in the first embodiment are used with similar components having similar references, for example, the housing in the first embodiment is referred to by the numeral  12 ; and, in this embodiment, by the numeral  112 . 
   In the second embodiment of the present invention, the craft knife  110  uses the same blade and flexible beam assembly as in the first embodiment and has a transparent housing  112 . The transparent housing  112  adds an additional safety feature to the construct by providing the user with a visual indication of the position of the blade and flexible beam assembly  114  relative to aperture  116 . 
   As in the first embodiment, the access port  118  has a rear stop  120  and, when the slide control  122  is aligned therewith, the blade and flexible beam assembly  114  is fully retracted. The access port  118  also has a forward stop  124  which, when the slide control  122  is aligned therewith, the knife is fully extended. The housing  112  includes a cap  126  adjacent to access port  118 . 
   The blade and flexible beam assembly or blade and beam insert  114  has three functional aspects, namely, the blade holding portion  128  unitizing the blade  134  and the thermoplastic material; the guideway follower portion  130  controlling the alignment of the assembly with aperture  116  in guideway  144 ; and, the slide control portion  132  governing the extension/retraction of the craft knife. As in the first embodiment, the T-shaped follower  146  has at the end opposite the blade  134  a flexible member  148  which is operated by control knob  150  to the extended, retracted or latched positions. With the transparent housing  112 , the user can visually monitor the safety catch  158  at the front rim  164  of rear port  120 . 
   Novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. For a full understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the above detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, by which it will be seen that the objects set forth above and made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope to the inventive concept taught herein and, in accordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, because many modifications may be made to the embodiments herein, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.