Abstract:
The Utility Tool includes a handle, a blade holder, and blade with the blade offset from the handle to facilitate making corner cuts with one edge of the resulting cut being coplanar with one side of the corner.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The application listed below is the only application related to this application. This application claims benefit of the earlier filing date under 35 USC 119(e) of provisional application No. 61/857,552 filed on Jul. 23, 2013. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    No invention claimed in this application was made under Federally sponsored research or development. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The present invention relates to tools and utility knives and blades for utility knives. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0008]    Various types of utility tools and utility knives are known in the art. There remains a need, however, for a utility tool that allows the user to cut along conjoined surfaces without having to angle the blade of the tool. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a tool. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The Utility Tool comprises: a handle having a longitudinal axis, and a blade container comprising a blade, the blade defining a blade plane, wherein the blade plane is offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle and the longitudinal axis and blade plane are non-intersecting. The objective of the Utility Tool is to provide a means to make a cut in a corner with at least one side of the cut being as coplanar as possible with one side of the corner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the Utility Tool in use. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a conventional utility knife in use. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2   a  is a chart showing the approximate angle between a conventional knife and a wall near a corner. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the Utility Tool. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3   a  is a side view of a slide assembly for a blade. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3   b  is a an end view of a slide assembly for a blade. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4   a  is a section view of the Utility Tool 
           [0017]      FIG. 4   a   1  is a section view of the a portion of the Utility Tool showing the locking mechanism. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4   a   2  is detail view of the locking mechanism. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4   b  is an illustration of some positions of the blade holder relative to the handle of the Utility Tool. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4   c  is an exploded view of the Utility Tool. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4   d  is a perspective exploded view of the Utility Tool. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4   e  is a perspective exploded view of the locking mechanism of the Utility Tool. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5   a  is a cutaway view showing a blade storage chamber of the Utility Tool. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5   b  is a perspective view of the handle portion of the Utility Tool. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5   b   1  is a section view of the handle showing the blade storage chamber of the Utility Tool. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5   c  is a perspective view of the handle portion showing an alternative storage chamber of blades of the Utility Tool. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5   c   1  is a perspective view of the blade storage slide assembly of the Utility Tool. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5   d  is a cutaway view showing an alternative blade storage chamber of the Utility Tool. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5   e  is a cutaway view showing flashlight assembly. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5   f  is an exploded view showing a flashlight assembly and retraction mechanism of the Utility Tool. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6   a  is a perspective view of the Utility Tool. 
           [0032]      FIG. 6   b  is a perspective view of the Utility Tool showing the cutting head assembly aligned with the handle of the Utility Tool. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6   c  is a top view section view of the Utility Tool showing the assembly for aligning the cutting head assembly with the handle of the Utility Tool. 
           [0034]      FIG. 6   c   1  is a top view of the Utility Tool showing the assembly for aligning the cutting head assembly and the path from offset position to the aligned position. 
           [0035]      FIG. 6   d  is a vertical section view of the Utility Tool showing the assembly for aligning the cutting head assembly with the handle of the Utility Tool. 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the Utility Tool. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7   b  is a rear view of an alternative embodiment of the Utility Tool. 
           [0038]      FIG. 8   a  is a plan view of the double offset reversible blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0039]      FIG. 8   a   1  is a perspective view of the double offset reversible blade of the Utility Tool showing the offset in a slanted configuration. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8   b  is a plan view of the single offset blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0041]      FIG. 8   b   1  is a perspective view of single offset blade of the Utility Tool with a non-slanted offset configuration. 
           [0042]      FIG. 8   c  is a plan view of the single offset blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0043]      FIG. 8   c   1  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a single offset blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0044]      FIG. 8   d  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a single offset blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0045]      FIG. 8   d   1  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a single offset blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0046]      FIG. 8   e  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a single offset blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0047]      FIG. 8   e   1  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a single offset blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0048]      FIG. 8   f  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a single offset blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0049]      FIG. 8   f   1  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a single offset blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0050]      FIG. 8   g  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a single offset blade, with an angled section, of the Utility Tool. 
           [0051]      FIG. 8   g   1  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a single offset blade, with an angled section, of the Utility Tool. 
           [0052]      FIG. 8   h  is a plan view of a no offset blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0053]      FIG. 8   h   1  is a side view of a no offset blade of the Utility Tool. 
           [0054]      FIG. 9   a  is a top view of a left-handed Utility Tool with detachable head assembly. 
           [0055]      FIG. 9   b  is a top view of the Utility Tool with attached handle and right-handed detachable head configuration. 
           [0056]      FIG. 9   b   1  is a cutaway view of handle and right-handed detachable head attached assembly showing locking mechanism. 
           [0057]      FIG. 9   c  is a top view of a right-handed version of the Utility Tool with detachable head assembly. 
           [0058]      FIG. 9   d  is a plan view of a conventional utility knife head assembly with locking mechanism. 
           [0059]      FIG. 9   d   1  is a side view of a conventional utility knife head assembly with locking mechanism. 
           [0060]      FIG. 10   a  is a top view of a blade holder of the Utility Tool showing a blade fastening plate. 
           [0061]      FIG. 10   a   1  is a detailed view of the interlock between the blade fastening plate and the blade holder. 
           [0062]      FIG. 10   a   2  is a detailed view of a second interlock between the blade fastening plate and the blade holder. 
           [0063]      FIG. 10   b  is a side view of the blade fastening plate. 
           [0064]      FIG. 10   b   1  is a detailed view of a second interlock between the blade fastening plate and the blade holder. 
           [0065]      FIG. 10   c  is perspective view of the blade fastening plate. 
           [0066]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a non retracting blade carrier with blade retaining plate. 
           [0067]      FIG. 11   a  is a perspective view of the double offset reversible blade. 
           [0068]      FIG. 11   b  is a perspective view of blade carrier and blade guard. 
           [0069]      FIG. 11   c  is a perspective view of a blade carrier. 
           [0070]      FIG. 11   d  is a perspective view of a double offset reversible blade in a blade carrier. 
           [0071]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a blade container. 
           [0072]      FIG. 12   a  is a perspective view of a latching spring. 
           [0073]      FIG. 12   b  is a perspective view of a blade carrier with pushbutton. 
           [0074]      FIG. 12   b   1  is an end view of a blade carrier with pushbutton. 
           [0075]      FIG. 12   c  is a perspective view of a single offset blade. 
           [0076]      FIG. 12   d  is a perspective view of a blade fastening plate 
           [0077]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the blade holder and latching assembly. 
           [0078]      FIG. 13   a  is a side view of the blade carrier and latch assembly. 
           [0079]      FIG. 13   a   1  is a side view of the blade carrier and latch assembly with single offset blade. 
           [0080]      FIG. 13   b  is a perspective view of a single offset blade. 
           [0081]      FIG. 13   c  is a section view of a single offset blade in a blade carrier with the latch engaged. 
           [0082]      FIG. 14  a is a top view of a standard ground cutting edge of a blade for the Utility Tool. 
           [0083]      FIG. 14  a is a top view of a right-handed edge ground cutting edge of a blade for the Utility Tool. 
           [0084]      FIG. 14  a is a top view of a left-handed edge ground cutting edge of a blade for the Utility Tool. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0085]    The Utility Tool comprises: a handle having a longitudinal axis, and a blade container comprising a blade, the blade defining a blade plane, wherein the blade plane is offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle and the longitudinal axis and blade plane are non-intersecting. 
         [0086]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a PRIOR ART utility knife  5  is shown therein. As will be appreciated, due to the configuration of the PRIOR ART utility knife  5 , the minimum angle between the blade and the adjacent surface  3  is approximately 21°. 
         [0087]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , however, the minimum angle between the utility Tool  10  and an adjacent surface  3  is as small as 0°, allowing the user to cleanly and accurately cut. By way of example, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , the Utility Knife  10  can be used to cleanly cut and separate adjoined surfaces along the line of contact. 
         [0088]    With further regard to  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, the utility Tool has a handle  12  and a blade container  14 . Within the blade container  14  resides a blade  16 . The blade container  14  is offset from the handle  12 , thereby allowing the user to cut in close proximity to an adjacent surface  3 . 
         [0089]    Turning to  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, the blade container  14  has a blade refractor  18  for retracting and deploying the blade  16  from the blade container  14 . In some embodiments, the blade retractor  18  is coupled to a movable shuttle plate assembly (not shown), for example as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,948,961; 4,089,112; 4,663,845; which are herein incorporated by reference, for deployment and retraction of the blade  16 . 
         [0090]    Further, the handle  12  can include a blade storage cavity  20  for storing extra blades  16 . In some embodiments, an end cap  22  slides with respect to the handle  12  to permit access to the blade storage cavity  20 . 
         [0091]    With regard to  FIGS. 4   a - 4   d , in some embodiments, the blade container  14  pivots, rotating around axis  26  as shown in  FIG. 7   a . In some embodiments, axis  26  is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  28  of the handle  12 . Returning to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   c , in some embodiments, as the blade container  14  is rotated about axis  26 , the blade  16  remains in a constant blade plane  30 . 
         [0092]      FIGS. 4   c ,  4   d , and  4   e  illustrate that a blade  16  may be attached to the blade container  14  by means of one or more flathead screws, or other suitable flathead fasteners, seated in a beveled hole such that the flathead  50  is either flush with the blade  16  surface or recessed below the blade  16  surface, to maintain a flat blade  16  surface which contacts the adjacent surface  3 . 
         [0093]    In some embodiments, the utility Tool  10  includes one or more lights  24 . In some embodiments, the light(s)  24  can be LED lights, lasers, or the like. Other types of lights are also permissible. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the light  24  is attached to the handle  12 . As further shown in  FIG. 4A , in some embodiments, a light  24  is attached to the handle  12 . Further, in some embodiments, the light  24  is oriented to illuminate the blade  16 . In this way, the light  24  can be angled at an angle a. relative to the longitudinal axis  28  of the handle  12 . In some embodiments, a. is between approximately 30° and 60°. In some embodiments, angle a is between 35° and 50°. 
         [0094]    The blade container  14  can be locked, to prevent it from rotating, by way of example via a gear, or detent and spring button, catch, or other suitable mechanism. Turning to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b , in some embodiments, the blade container  14  may swivel such that it comes into alignment with the handle  12 . This arrangement is useful, for example, when it is desirable to use the utility Tool  10  in a traditional fashion, wherein the blade  16  is aligned with the handle  12 , as shown in  FIG. 6   b.    
         [0095]    With regard to  FIGS. 6   a - 6   d , in some embodiments, the length, Lt, of the blade container  14  is approximately one-third the length, h, of the handle  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 7   a - 7   d , the blade  16  defines a blade plane  30 . In some embodiments, the blade plane  30  is offset from the longitudinal axis  28  of the handle  12 . Further, the longitudinal axis  28  of the handle  12  and blade plane  30  are non-intersecting. In some embodiments, the blade plane  30  can be angled to intersect the longitudinal axis  28 . 
         [0096]    In some embodiments, the blade container  14  is attached to the handle  12  via protrusion  32 , which extends therebetween. In some embodiments, the protrusion  32  rigidly connects the blade container  14  and handle  12  such that the blade container  14  is immovable with respect to the handle  12 . As discussed previously, however, the blade container  14  can also be movable or selectively movable with respect to the handle  12 . 
         [0097]    Shown in  FIGS. 8   a - 8   h  are embodiments of blades  16  that can be used with the utility Tool  10 . The examples of blades  16  shown in  FIGS. 8   a - 8   h  have two blade portions: a first blade portion  42  and a second blade portion  44 . The first blade portion  42  defines a first plane  46  and the second blade portion  44  defines a second plane  48 . In some embodiments, the first plane is laterally from the second plane. In some embodiments, the first and second planes  46 ,  48  are parallel to one another. 
         [0098]    With further regard to  FIGS. 8   a - 8   h , the skilled artisan will appreciate that the offset shown in these figures may be exaggerated for the purposes of illustration, and the figures, generally, are not necessarily to scale. 
         [0099]    Either offset or non-offset blades can be used with various embodiments of the utility Tool  10 . Further, in some embodiments, reversible, or double-ended, blades can be used. Non-reversible blades can also be used, in some embodiments. 
         [0100]    In some cases a blade with two offsets is employed.  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   a   1  show such a blade with two cutting surfaces facing in opposite directions thus creating a reversible blade. 
         [0101]    The shape of the cutting edge of a blade is also a consideration in making a cut as coplanar with the adjacent edge as possible. While cutting edge of the blade of  FIG. 14   a  is satisfactory for most purposes, it will be recognized that cutting edge of the blade illustrated in  FIG. 14   b  will provide superior results in this regard.  FIG. 14   c  illustrates a left-handed version of the Blade of  FIG. 14   b.    
         [0102]      FIGS. 8   a  through  8   d   1  show examples of the many blades which can be created using the offset and double offset of the present invention for specialized purposes. It will be appreciated that these blades are only a small sample of the wide variety of such blades which are contemplated within the present invention. 
         [0103]    In some embodiments, approximately 40% of the double-ended blade is exposed from the blade container  14  for cutting. 
       Sequence Listing  
       [0104]    Not Applicable