Patent ID: 8567069

Claim:
A folding utility knife comprising: a handle comprising an internal space; a blade holding compartment pivotally connected to said handle, said blade holding compartment comprising at least one side wall having at least two internal cavities, said first cavity for holding a blade, at least a portion of said blade holding compartment designed to be situated within said space of said handle during a folded position, said blade holding compartment comprising a front end, a rear end and a faceplate for covering said internal cavities, said front end of said blade compartment holder and at least a portion of said faceplate forming an opening at said front end of said blade holding compartment which allows a portion of the blade to protrude from said blade holding compartment; and a blade lock and release device comprising a moveable arm having front and rear portions, said rear portion of said arm being pivotally attached adjacent to said rear end of said blade holding compartment, said front portion of said arm having at least one protrusion for engagement and disengagement with the blade said blade lock and release device further comprises a mechanism for allowing the engagement and disengagement of said arm with the blade and at least two spring, one of said spring has opposing ends, a first end of one of said springs being attached to at least a portion of said mechanism and to at least a portion of said rear end of said blade holding mechanism, said mechanism comprises a push and slide button, said push and slide button is moved in one direction to allow said protrusions of said arm to contact the indentations of the blade during a locked position, said push and slide button is moved in another direction to allow said protrusions of said arm to be moved away from the indentations of the blade to allow for the disengagement of the blade during a released position.