Patent ID: 8776380

Claim:
A retractable blade knife, comprising: a body, having a proximate end and a distal end; a handle lever having a proximate end and a distal end; a blade holder assembly including a blade including at least one cutting edge; the blade holder assembly pivotably mounted to the body near the distal end of the body to pivot between a retracted position, in which the at least one cutting edge is covered by the body, and an extended position in which the at least one cutting edge is exposed for use; the handle lever mounted to the body at a pivot joint located between the proximate and distal ends of both the handle lever and the body so that the handle lever can pivot between an open position and a closed position, the distal end of the handle lever mechanically in communication with the blade holder assembly, such that, when the handle lever is urged from the open position to the closed position, the blade holder assembly pivots from the retracted position to the extended position thereby exposing the at least one cutting edge; and wherein the blade holder assembly is adapted for being pivoted past the extended position by said handle lever to a blade changing position wherein a portion of the blade holder assembly is exposed to permit removal of the blade from the blade holder portion.