Patent Publication Number: US-2010107424-A1

Title: Blade release mechanisms for utility knives

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/195,922 entitled “Blade Release Mechanisms For Utility Knife” which was filed on Oct. 14, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a blade release system for use with a blade holding compartment, the system comprises: a blade holding compartment comprises at least two side walls forming an internal blade cavity for holding a blade, the blade holding compartment comprises a cavity situated on an external surface on one of the side walls of the blade holding compartment, the blade holding compartment comprises an aperture leading from the cavity on the external surface of one of the side walls to the internal blade cavity; and a blade release device comprising a slidable portion having first and second opposing sides and at least one spring, and the device comprises a blade contacting portion situated on the first side of the slidable portion and adapted to fit through the aperture and contact a blade during a locked position, and the spring is extended to secure the blade contacting portion to the blade during the locked position, and the slidable portion is moved in a direction to contract the spring to thereby release the blade contacting portion from the blade to thereby release the blade from the blade holding compartment. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are various patents covering utility knife type devices. These patents do not provide for any easy mechanism for releasing the blade and do not provide a way to effective remove and replace the blade. 
     The present invention provides for utility knives with a new and improved blade release mechanism. The present invention overcomes numerous problems presented by the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present invention provides for a utility knife with a blade release device, the knife comprises: a handle comprising at least two side walls forming an internal space; a blade holding compartment connected to the handle, and the blade holding compartment comprises at least two side walls forming an internal blade cavity for holding a blade, at least a portion of the blade holding compartment designed to be situated within the space of the handle during a closed position, the blade holding compartment comprising a cavity situated on an external surface on one of the side walls of the blade holding compartment, the blade holding compartment comprising an aperture leading from the cavity on the external surface of one of the side walls to the internal blade cavity; and a blade release device comprising a slidable portion having first and second opposing sides and at least one spring, the device also comprises a blade contacting portion situated on the first side of the slidable portion and adapted to fit through the aperture and contact a blade during a locked position, the spring is extended to secure the blade contacting portion to the blade during the locked position, and the slidable portion is moved in a direction to contract the spring to thereby separate the blade contacting portion from the blade to thereby release the blade from the blade holding compartment. 
     In another embodiment, the device further comprises an actuator situated on the second side of the slidable portion, and the actuator is designed to move the slidable portion to release the blade. 
     In yet another embodiment, the knife further comprises at least one blade. In still another embodiment, the slidable portion comprises an extended portion. In still yet another embodiment, the device further comprises a second spring, the spring is designed to contact the extended portion of the slidable portion, and the second spring is extended to assist in securing the blade contacting portion to the blade during the locked position, and the slidable portion is moved in one direction to contract the first and second springs to thereby separate the blade contracting portion from the blade and thereby release the blade from the internal cavity of the blade holding compartment. 
     In a further embodiment, the slidable portion of the device comprises upper and lower portions, and the device further comprises a platform situated on the upper portion of the slidable portion. In yet a further embodiment, the blade contacting portion is connected to the platform. In still a further embodiment, the first spring is situated adjacent to the platform. In still yet a further embodiment, the device further comprises a third spring, and the third spring is situated atop the platform. 
     In another further embodiment, the blade holding compartment further comprises a cover plate for covering the cavity on the external surface of one of the side walls of the blade holding compartment. In another embodiment, the plate cover comprises at least one aperture, and the device further comprises an actuator situated on the second side of the slidable portion, and the actuator is designed to move the slidable portion to release the blade; and at least a portion of the actuator designed to fit through the aperture of the cover plate allowing user access to the actuator. 
     In yet another embodiment, the slidable portion is moved in an upward direction to contract the first spring and thereby release the blade from the internal cavity of the blade holding compartment. In still another embodiment, the blade holding compartment is pivotally connected to the handle. 
     In still yet another embodiment, the blade holding compartment comprises at least one channel and the handles comprises at least one protrusion adapted to slide within the channel to thereby allow the blade holding compartment to be slid within the internal space of the handle during the closed position and to be slid away from the internal space of the handle during an opened position. 
     In a further embodiment, the blade holding compartment comprises at least one protrusion and the handles comprises at least one channel adapted to slide within the channel to thereby allow the blade holding compartment to be slid within the internal space of the handle during the closed position and to be slid away from the internal space of the handle during an opened position. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention provides for a blade release system for use with a blade holding compartment, the system comprises: a blade holding compartment comprises at least two side walls forming an internal blade cavity for holding a blade, the blade holding compartment comprises a cavity situated on an external surface on one of the side walls of the blade holding compartment, the blade holding compartment comprises an aperture leading from the cavity on the external surface of one of the side walls to the internal blade cavity; and a blade release device comprising a slidable portion having first and second opposing sides and at least one spring, and the device comprises a blade contacting portion situated on the first side of the slidable portion and adapted to fit through the aperture and contact a blade during a locked position, and the spring is extended to secure the blade contacting portion to the blade during the locked position, and the slidable portion is moved in a direction to contract the spring to thereby separate the blade contacting portion from the blade to thereby release the blade from the blade holding compartment. 
     In yet another embodiment, the system further comprises at least one blade. In still another embodiment, the blade comprises at least one indentation. In still yet another embodiment, the blade contacting portion comprises at least one protrusion, the protrusion contacts the indentation of the blade during the locked position and the protrusion disengages the indentation of the blade to thereby release the blade from the internal cavity of the blade holding compartment. 
     In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a knife with blade release system comprising: a handle comprising at least two side walls forming an internal space; a blade holding compartment comprising at least two side walls forming an internal blade cavity for holding a blade, the blade holding compartment comprising a cavity situated on an external surface on one of the side walls of the blade holding compartment, the blade holding compartment comprising an aperture leading from the cavity on the external surface of one of the side walls to the internal blade cavity, the blade holding compartment is situated within the internal space of the handle during a closed position, the blade holding compartment is situated outside the internal space of the handle during an opened position; a blade; and a blade release device comprising a slidable portion having first and second opposing sides and at least one spring, the device comprises a blade contacting portion situated on the first side of the slidable portion and adapted to fit through the aperture and contact a blade during a locked position, the first spring is extended to secure the blade contacting portion to the blade during the locked position, and the slidable portion is moved in a direction to contract the first spring to thereby separate the blade contacting portion from the blade to thereby release the blade from the blade holding compartment. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a knife comprising: a handle comprising at least two side walls forming an internal space; a blade holding compartment connected to the handle, the blade holding compartment comprising at least two side walls, a first side wall having a cavity for holding a blade, a second side wall having a cavity for holding a blade release device, at least a portion of the blade holding compartment is designed to be situated within the space of the handle during a closed position, the blade holding compartment comprising an aperture leading from the cavity on the first side wall to the cavity on the second side wall; and a blade release device comprising a slidable portion having first and second opposing sides and at least one spring, the device comprises a blade contacting portion situated in the cavity of the second side wall and adapted to fit through the aperture and contact a blade during a locked position, and the first spring is extended to secure the blade contacting portion to the blade during the locked position, and the slidable portion is moved in a direction to contract the first spring to thereby separate the blade contacting portion from the blade to thereby release the blade from the blade holding compartment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the blade holding compartment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1  showing one of the side walls having a cavity with the blade release device; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1  showing the second side wall having a cavity for the blade; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the blade release device in a locked position; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the blade release device wherein the slidable portion is being moved to contract the springs and release the blades. 
     
    
    
     Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
       FIGS. 1-5  illustrate the knife  1  and blade release mechanism  10  of the present invention. The knife  1  comprising: a handle (not shown) comprising at least two side walls forming an internal space; a blade holding compartment  2  connected to the handle, the blade holding compartment  2  comprising at least two side walls  3   a  and  b,  respectively. The first side wall  3   a  has a cavity  4   a  for holding a blade  5 , and the second side wall  3   b  has a cavity  4   b  for holding a blade release device  11 . At least a portion of the blade holding compartment  2  is designed to be situated within the space of the handle during a closed position. The blade holding compartment  2  comprises an aperture  15  leading from the cavity  4   a  on the first side wall  3   a  to the cavity  4   b  on the second side wall  3   b.  The blade release device  11  comprising a slidable portion  6  having first and second opposing sides,  7   a  and b respectively, and at least one spring  8 . The device  11  comprises a blade contacting portion  9  situated in the cavity  4   b  of the second side wall  3   b  and adapted to fit through the aperture  15  and contact a blade  5  during a locked position. The spring  8  is extended to secure the blade contacting portion  9  to the blade  5  during the locked position, and the slidable portion  6  is moved in a direction to contract the spring  8  to thereby separate the blade contacting portion  9  from the blade  5  to thereby release the blade  5  from the blade holding compartment  2 . 
     The device  11  further comprises an actuator  22  situated on the second side  7   b  of the slidable portion  6 , and the actuator  22  is designed to move the slidable portion  6  to release the blade  5 . 
     The device  11  further comprises a second spring  18 . The spring  18  is designed to contact the extended portion  13  of the slidable portion  6 , and the second spring  18  is extended to assist in securing the blade contacting portion  9  to the blade  5  during the locked position, and the slidable portion  6  is moved in one direction to contract the first and second springs,  8  and  18 , to thereby separate the blade contracting portion  9  from the blade  5  and thereby release the blade  5  from the cavity  3   a  of the blade holding compartment  2 . 
     The slidable portion  6  of the device  11  comprises upper and lower portions,  6   a  and  b  respectively. The device further comprises a platform  13  situated on the upper portion  6   a  of the slidable portion  6 . The blade contacting portion  9  is connected to the platform  13 . The first spring  8  is situated adjacent to the platform  13 . The device  11  further comprises a third spring  28 , and the third spring  28  is situated atop the platform  13 . 
     The blade holding compartment  2  further comprises cover plates,  17   a  and  b  respectively, for covering the cavities,  4   a  and  b,  on side walls,  3   a  and  b,  of the blade holding compartment  2 . One of the plate covers comprises at least one aperture  19 , and the device  11  further comprises an actuator  22  situated on the second side  6   b  of the slidable portion  6 , and the actuator  22  is designed to move the slidable portion  6  to release the blade  5 ; and at least a portion of the actuator  22  designed to fit through the aperture  19  of the cover plate  17   a  allowing user access to the actuator  22 . 
     The slidable portion  6  is moved in an upward direction to contract the springs,  8 ,  18  and  28  and thereby release the blade  5  from the cavity  4   b  of the blade holding compartment  2 . 
     Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the attendant claims attached hereto, this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed herein.