Patent ID: 6951055

Claim:
A utility knife, comprising: a handle having a first exterior side and a second exterior side generally opposite said first exterior side; a blade carrier pivotally connected to said handle for pivoting between a retracted position generally adjacent said handle and an extended position extending generally outwardly from said handle; a blade carried in said blade carrier; said blade carrier defining a receptacle configured for readily removable receipt of said blade; a blade retainer generally opposite said receptacle and configured for extending adjacent said blade and for retaining said blade in said receptacle; a threaded fastener for selectively fastening said blade retainer to said blade carrier; said threaded fastener configured, upon a user holding said handle in the user's hand, for engagement by at least one of the digits of the user's hand to move said blade carrier between said retracted position and said extended position; a locking member carried by said handle for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position, said locking member being configured for automatically moving to said locking position for locking said blade carrier in said extended position upon said blade carrier being moved to said extended position; a spring configured for forcing said locking member towards said locking position; an actuator connected to said locking member configured for moving said locking member against the force of said spring to said unlocking position, said actuator extending outwardly from said first exterior side of said handle and said second exterior side of said handle; said handle defining a storage compartment configured for receipt of at least one blade; a closure member configured for retaining said at least one blade in said storage compartment; and said closure member being movable to allow selective access to said at least one blade in said storage compartment.