Pocket safety cutter
View Patent ↗Pocket safety cutter devices include ergonomic blade housing and handle portions adapted to be safely folded together into compact closed configurations.
1. A pocket knife comprising:
a housing including an opening to a channel within the housing;
a handle pivotally connected to the housing, the handle including a recessed portion sized to receive the housing when the housing is pivoted toward the handle, the handle including a cam member;
a blade carrier within the channel;
a lifter member mechanically coupled to the blade carrier such that the lifter member and the cam member operatively interface to provide a cam/lifter mechanism that pushes the blade carrier toward the opening when the housing is pivoted to an open position; and
a spring operatively connected between the blade carrier and the housing such that the blade carrier is biased along the channel toward a blade retracted position.
2. The pocket knife of claim 1 , further comprising:
a blade mechanically coupled to the blade carrier.
3. The pocket knife of claim 1 , wherein the cam member is fixed in position in relation to the handle.
4. The pocket knife of claim 1 , wherein the spring is adjacent to the lifter member.
5. The pocket knife of claim 1 , wherein the spring is parallel to the lifter member.
6. The pocket knife of claim 1 , wherein the housing is shaped such that a portion of the housing extends from the recessed portion when the housing is pivoted into the handle to a closed position.
7. The pocket knife of claim 1 , wherein the housing and the handle each include complementary exterior surfaces that provide the pocket knife with a profile shape that is substantially symmetrical when the housing is pivoted into the handle to a closed position.
8. The pocket knife of claim 1 , wherein the housing and the handle each include complementary exterior surfaces that define a curved top edge of the pocket knife when the housing is pivoted out of the handle to an opened position.