UTILITY KNIFE WITH RETRACTABLE BLADE GUARD

摘要

A fixed blade utility knife has a housing (24) provided with a lower handle portion (18), an upper lever portion (20); and a nosepiece (22) at one end thereof which seats one end of the handle and lever. The lever is pivotably supported on the nosepiece, and a blade holder (80) in the nosepiece is pivotably supported on the handle. The blade is seated in the holder and extends outwardly of the nosepiece, and a blade guard (14) of generally U-shaped cross section extends about the cutting edge and is slidable in the nosepiece to extend outwardly to sheathe the cutting edge and to be withdrawn into the nosepiece to expose the cutting edge. A manipulative element (76) slidably seated in the nosepiece is engaged with the blade guard to effect its sliding movement. Pivoting of the lever into an open position releases the blade from engagement in the holder so that it may be easily replaced.