Powered Utility Knife

Abstract

A powered utility knife blade includes a blade body defining an engagement notch defined by a distal edge of the blade, and a cutting edge opposite the distal edge. The cutting edge extends from a first curved or inclined end onto a second curved or inclined end opposite the first curved end. A loading assist aperture is defined by the blade between the distal edge and the cutting edge

1 . A powered utility knife blade comprising a blade body defining an engagement notch defined by a distal edge of the blade; a cutting edge opposite the distal edge, the cutting edge extending from a first curved or inclined end onto a second curved or inclined end opposite the first curved end; and a loading assist aperture defined by the blade between the distal edge and the cutting edge.  
   
   
       2 . The powered utility knife blade according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first side edge extending from the first curved or inclined end of the cutting edge to a first end of the distal edge and a second side edge extending from the second curved or inclined end of the cutting edge to a second end of the distal edge, opposite the first end of the distal edge, wherein the configuration is substantially trapezoidal in shape.  
   
   
       3 . The powered utility knife blade according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge is selected from the group consisting of one or more of: a razor cutting edge, a saw tooth cutting edge, and a serrated cutting edge.  
   
   
       4 . The powered utility knife blade according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement notch, and the loading assist aperture are positioned symmetrically about a vertical centerline of the utility knife blade.  
   
   
       5 . The powered utility knife blade according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting edge of the blade defines contrasting cutting edges on opposite sides of a vertical centerline of the utility knife blade.  
   
   
       6 . A utility knife blade configured for use in the blade carriage of a retractable blade, powered utility knife, the blade, in use, defining a cutting edge extending from a utility knife body; 
 the blade carriage comprising at least three upstanding wall portions defining a blade-receiving recess, the wall portions comprising:    a knife cutting edge wall,    a top edge wall generally parallel to the knife edge wall, and    a side edge pushing wall, 
 the knife cutting edge wall and the top edge wall being disposed generally within the utility knife body when the blade is in use, and  
 the side edge pushing wall disposed in a plane intersecting planes of the knife edge wall and the top edge wall and extending relatively closer to the knife cutting edge wall, and  
   a side edge hook portion extending transversely to the knife cutting edge wall and the top edge wall, and extending inwardly of the plane of the side edge pushing wall, into the utility knife blade receiving recess;    said utility knife blade comprising a generally planar body defining    a top edge configured to nest with the top cutting edge wall of the utility knife blade receiving recess,    a bottom cutting edge configured to nest with the knife cutting edge wall of the utility knife blade receiving recess,    a first side edge configured, in a first orientation of the blade in the utility knife blade receiving recess, to be extended from the utility knife body, and    an opposite, second side edge, in at least a lower region relatively closer to the bottom cutting edge, configured, in the first orientation of the blade in the utility knife blade receiving recess, to nest with the side edge pushing wall, and in at least an upper region relatively closer to the top cutting edge, defining a recessed (notched) region extending inwardly of a plane of the second side edge and configured to accommodate the side edge hook portion of the utility knife blade carriage.    
   
   
       7 . The utility knife blade of  claim 6 , wherein the blade body further defines an aperture disposed generally on a vertical central axis of the utility blade body.  
   
   
       8 . The utility knife blade of  claim 6 , wherein the utility knife blade is configured to be for use in the first orientation and in a second orientation, reversed about a vertical central axis of the utility blade body, with the second side edge extended from the utility knife body and the first side edge, in at least a lower region relatively closer to the bottom cutting edge, configured, in the second orientation of the blade in the utility knife blade receiving recess, to nest with the side edge pushing wall, and in at least an upper region relatively closer to the top cutting edge, defining a recessed (notched) region extending inwardly of a plane of the first side edge and configured to accommodate the side edge hook portion of the utility knife blade carriage.  
   
   
       9 . The utility knife blade of claim  19 , wherein the bottom cutting edge of the blade defines contrasting cutting edges on opposite sides of the vertical center axis.  
   
   
       10 . A utility knife blade configured for use in a blade holder of a fixed blade, powered utility knife, the blade, in use, defining a cutting edge extending from a utility knife body; 
 the blade holder comprising at least three upstanding wall portions defining a blade-receiving recess, the wall portions comprising:    a knife cutting edge wall,    a top edge wall generally parallel to the knife edge wall, and    a side edge pushing wall, 
 the knife cutting edge wall and the top edge wall being disposed generally within the utility knife body when the blade is in use, and  
 the side edge pushing wall disposed in a plane intersecting planes of the knife edge wall and the top edge wall and extending relatively closer to the knife cutting edge wall, and  
   a side edge hook portion extending transversely to the knife cutting edge wall and the top edge wall, and extending inwardly of the plane of the side edge pushing wall, into the utility knife blade receiving recess;    said utility knife blade comprising a generally planar body defining    a top edge configured to nest with the top cutting edge wall of the utility knife blade receiving recess,    a bottom cutting edge configured to nest with the knife cutting edge wall of the utility knife blade receiving recess,    a first side edge configured, in a first orientation of the blade in the utility knife blade receiving recess, to be extended from the utility knife body, and    an opposite, second side edge, in at least a lower region relatively closer to the bottom cutting edge, configured, in the first origination of the bladee in the utility knife blade receiving recess, to nest with the side edge pushing wall, and in at least an upper region relatively closer to the top cutting edge, defining a recessed (notched) region extending inwardly of a plane of the second side edge and configured to accommodate the side edge hook portion of the utility knife blade holder.    
   
   
       11 . The utility knife blade of  claim 10 , wherein the blade body further defines an aperture disposed generally on a vertical central axis of the utility blade body.  
   
   
       12 . The utility knife blade of  claim 11 , wherein the aperture defines mirror images on opposite sides of the vertical center axis.  
   
   
       13 . The utility knife blade of  claim 10 , wherein the utility knife blade is configured to be for use in the first orientation and in a second orientation, reversed about a vertical central axis of the utility blade body, with the second side edge extended from the utility knife body and the first side edge, in at least a lower region relatively closer to the bottom cutting edge, configured, in the second orientation of the blade in the utility knife blade receiving recess, to nest with the side edge pushing wall, and in at least an upper region relatively closer to the top cutting edge, defining a recessed (notched) region extending inwardly of a plane of the first side edge and configured to accommodate the side edge hook portion of the utility knife blade carriage.  
   
   
       14 . The utility knife blade of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom cutting edge of the blade defines mirror image cutting edges on opposite sides of the vertical center axis.  
   
   
       15 . The utility knife blade of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom cutting edge of the blade defines contrasting cutting edges on opposite sides of the vertical center axis.