CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/330,537, filed May 3, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
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The present disclosure relates generally to containers for storing knife blades as for use in a utility knife or for storing saw blades. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to such a device that is multi-purpose storing knife blades new and ready for use as well as those already used and for discarding.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
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It can be appreciated that knife blade containers have been around for years. As long as there have been knives with replaceable blades there have been containers for storing the same. New blades which are sharp and ready for use are stored in a container and when the blade in the knife requires replacement a new blade is retrieved and the dulled blade requires to be discarded. Containers known in the art facilitate the storage of new and used blades together in the container. Other options for storing the blades include storage areas within the knife itself where the new and used blades can be stored.
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In recent decades, developments in the art of knife blades have resulted in knife blade products that permit multiple-blades together in tandem as a blade magazine. These blade magazines are installed into an utility knife and when a blade in use is no longer sharp enough the user can break of the dull blade portion and expose a sharp blade portion that is ready for use. The discarded blade portion however is then discarded into a separate container or discarded directly into refuse.
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One major concern with blades for use with a utility knife is that they pose a safety risk due to the inherent sharpness of the item whether new and highly sharpened or dulled after use. There is a need for a convenient and effective solution for a user to store the knife blades in a proper manner so that protection from personal injury may be improved. Another concern is that when the blades are to be discarded after use, without the appropriate provision for discarding of the blade the user typically discards the used blade into the household refuse. Without appropriate precautions for covering the sharp blade the discarded blade poses even a further risk to anyone handling the household refuse. Generally, from the time that the blades are produced in the factory to the time they are discarded at the end of their useful life they pose a risk of personal injury. There exists a need for a better solution for utility knife blade storage from the time they are produced to the time they need to be discarded. As specific to consumer, from the time the user purchases the units from the retail store to the time the blades are discarded from their household. Provisions are needed for such protection of such products and the risks they pose.
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Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an improved knife blade container that better facilitates safe and responsible management of knife blades, new or used in a manner that is more convenient and effective for the utility knife user.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
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In view of the above it is an object of the present disclosure to obviate or mitigate at least one disadvantage in the prior art, the present disclosure provides a multi-cavity knife blade container for storage of new blades and disposal of used blades.
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Thus in the disclosure, the improved knife blade container provides knife blade safety management from the time they are packaged in the manufacturing facility to the time they are to be discarded into their end of life destination.
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To attain this, the present disclosure generally comprises a container that stores blades for use with an utility knife to protect anyone from the sharpness of the blades. The container provides the ability to store both new blades and discarded blades. The container may be configured to serve also as the retail package as they are packaged in the factory and subsequently displayed in the retail store. The consumer shall visibly see the product inside while being protected from the blades inside. Dual use as a container and a retail package serves to reduce waste in packaging that may otherwise be discarded into community landfills.
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At the time when the user has a dull blade that needs to be discarded the improved blade container is able to store these discarded blades separate from the new blades so the user does not mix the new blades with the used blades causing handling more than necessary. The container may have the used blade storage portion sealed so the used blades cannot be accessed. This is particularly useful as a safety precaution for when the new blades are all consumed and the used blades are ready for disposal.
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The container, when used with the multiple blade magazine type blades, facilitates the snapping off or the detachment of the dull blades into safe storage. The dull portion of the blade magazine is inserted into an opening in the container and the container provides the needed structure to allow easier blade snap-off or detachment and permitting the used blade portion to fall into the container without the users hands coming in contact with blade.
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The present disclosure may include a dual purposed apparatus integrated with it so that the container can be hung for retail presentation or storage after purchase but also storable onto a belt allowing convenient access to the blades.
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There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the various features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter.
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In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the knife blade container in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarding as limiting.
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In one aspect, there is provided an improved knife blade container that will overcome at least one of the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
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Another aspect of the disclosure to provide a container that enables storage for new blades for use with a utility type knife and used blades after the function of the blade has been fulfilled.
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Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide security necessary for the new blades prior to use and for the used blades when discarding after use.
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Another aspect of the disclosure is to facilitate the detachment of the used portion of a multiple-blade magazine and hands-free storage thereafter.
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Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide dual purpose of the container to be used as knife blade storage but also as a retail package for new knife blades.
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Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide means to stop the discarded dull blades from exiting the sealed discarded side portion of the lid via the slot located on the top angle face.
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Another aspect of the disclosure is to provide means for hanging the container on a wall while also being securable onto a user's belt.
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Yet another possible embodiment of the disclosure is to provide clipping means to allow a utility type knife to be stored directly to the container.
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In another embodiment, there is provided a substance in the discarded blade portion of the container which when safely discarded into the landfill at the end of the products usable life, oxidizes and facilitates chemical decomposition of the discarded blades to reduce the time it takes to decompose in the landfill.
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To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this disclosure may be embodied in the form of illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present disclosure will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein;
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FIG. 1 illustrates a typical knife blade for which the container would store;
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FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a knife blade container;
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FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of knife blade container in an open position;
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FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the knife blade container in an intended use
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FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a knife blade container; and
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FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a knife blade container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
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Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which an embodiment is shown in the various configurations to describe the knife blade container. It will be understood that while the disclosure is described with respect to a preferred embodiment the device may be configured differently while achieving the essence of the disclosure.
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FIG. 1 illustrates a typical knife for which the present disclosure may store. The blade magazine 10 is comprised of multiple blade portions 12 that are combined together for use in a utility knife. The leading portion of blade portions 12 is what is used for cutting when installed in the utility knife and the preceding of blade portions 12 are what are held in reserve for use once the leading portion is discarded. In between each blade portion 12 there is a break area 14 so that when the user wishes to remove any particular blade portion, the blade magazine 10 is bent to a breaking point so that the leading portion or dull portion of blade portions 12 can be removed. These blade types are well known in the art and though they are one subject of the description for the present disclosure they are not the only type of blades for which the present disclosure stores.
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FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the present disclosure wherein the improved knife blade container 20 comprises a container portion 26 and a lid portion 23. The container portion further comprises of separate compartments 26 a for storing the new knife blades ready for use in the utility knife and 26 b for storing the discarded knife blades no longer for use. In the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure the container portion 26 generally comprises a bottom portion 27, vertical walls 28 projecting from the bottom portion 27 and an open top (not shown) at the top of the vertical walls 28. A divider portion 29 divides the container portion 26 of the present disclosure so that 26 a and 26 b compartments can keep the new and discarded knife blades separated. Compartments 26 a and 26 b may be one integrated part with two compartments or two separate parts joined together. The container portion 26 is preferably transparent so that the improved knife blade container can also serve as the retail package giving the consumer the ability to view the contents inside the retail package.
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The lid portion 23 covers the otherwise open top of the container portion 26. Lid portion 23 further comprises a lid new side portion 23 a and a lid discarding side portion 23 b. The lid new side portion 23 a covers the 26 a portion of the container portion 26 and the lid discarding side portion 23 b covers the 26 b portion of the container portion 26. The lid discarding side portion 23 b further includes an opening 25 within which discarded knife blades can be inserted through and into compartment 26 b.
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The preferred embodiment of improved knife container 20 also comprises a hanging portion 30 integrated thereon to enable hanging of the device. Hanging aperture 32 is included in hanging portion 30 so that the device can be hung in the retail store but also on the wall of a workshop. The hanging portion 30 conveniently rotates in the direction shown with arrow A and can be further used as a belt attachment apparatus in a rotation position 180 degrees from the position shown in FIG. 2. The retaining portion 35 enables the device to be securely held over the belt.
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FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the present disclosure with the new knife blades 10 stored within. Lid new side portion 23 a preferably has a cover 22 that may be positioned in a closed position or an open position. The closed position keeps the new knife blades contained and the open position allows the user access to the new knife blades 10. Preferably the cover 22 can be integrated to the lid new side portion 23 using a flexible hinge 33 so that the cover may rotate to its open position, this construction also enables the lid 23 to be manufactured as a one piece injection-molded. The cover 22 also includes a closure apparatus 37 integrated thereon to keep it in closed position. The cover 22 also includes a closure apparatus 38 integrated thereon to allow a cable tie to lock the lid into a closed position to provide store security.
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FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the present disclosure as it is used to discard used knife blades. A utility knife 38 with the blade magazine 10 is positioned above the improved knife container 26. The blade magazine 10 is then inserted in the direction indicated by arrow B into opening 25 to a depth necessary to discard the unwanted portion of the blade magazine 10. With the break area 14 of the blade magazine 10 in close proximity of, and levered within the opening 25 the blade magazine 10 is then bent to a breaking point, the opening 25 performing as a detachment apparatus. Advantageously the upper surface 24 of lid discarding portion 23 b is at a planar angle, shown as the Greek symbol Alpha in FIG. 4, that corresponds in approximation to the angle of break area 14 of the blade magazine 10 when the utility knife is held in vertical position which better facilitates the detachment. The discarded portion of the blade magazine 10 then falls through opening 25 by gravity and into the container discarded side portion 26 b. The discarding of an unwanted blade portion may be done without the user having to touch the injury-causing blade with their hand. The lid portion 23 including the lid discarded side portion 23 b includes a securing apparatus 39 to ensure that the blades remain secure and safe from causing injury inside compartment 26 b.
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FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the present disclosure wherein the lid portion contains an array of supporting ribs 40 with select portions withhaving extended angular faces. The angular extended ribs 41 overlap the opening in the lid to create an impasse making it easy for the utility knife with blade magazine to pass through the rib array from one direction but difficult for the discarded blades to pass in the opposite direction.has supporting ribs which provide the means to attach or clip a secondary part with extending angular ribs.
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FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of another possible embodiment wherein the hanging portion 42 contains securing means 43 for securing 43 or retaining and storing the utility knife when the utility knife is not in use. The utility knife is inserted into the hanging portion sliding underneath the retaining clip where adequate amounts of friction between the utility knife and retaining clips lock the utility knife in place. The hanging portion is attached to a locking post situated on the posterior of the container. The locking post provides generic means for clipping additional attachments to the new improved knife blade container.
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In another embodiment, the knife blade container may provide access to the new blade compartment on one end of the container with the opening to the discarded blade compartment located on the opposite end of the container.
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As stated in the above description means to accessing the new blades is provided with the use of a flexible hinge. Another possible embodiment could see alternative means in accessing the new blades from the container where access to the blades is obtained by sliding the lid from a closed position to an opened position.
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As stated in the above description angular ribs are molded into the underside of lid to stop or reduce the likelihood of discarded blades falling out of the container. Another possible embodiment for stopping the discarded blades from falling out of the container is to attach or clip a secondary part to the array of ribs on the underside of the lid. The secondary part would include the angular faces as described in the above descriptions.
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In another embodiment, the knife blade container may include a secondary part inserted through holes on the lip of the container which when the lid is snapped and sealed onto the container the secondary part is retained in place. The secondary part would include a flexible flange which allows the passage of the utility knife when snapping the blade however stops any discarded blades from falling out of the container.
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In another embodiment, a secondary part may be inserted into the compartment of the discarded blades. This secondary part would be made of a thin material with a sharp bend at one end. The bend prevents passage of the lighter previously discarded blades however bends to the side when the utility knife is inserted into the compartment.
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In another embodiment, the stored utility knife may fasten directly to the hanging portion or container itself with a hook and loop strap. The strap comprises of two portions one with an area for the hook portion and the other with an area for the loop portion.
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Yet another possible embodiment could see the stored utility knife fasten directly to the hanging portion or the container itself through the use of a magnet with the magnet being situated either on the container or hanging portion or the knife and a piece of metal located on the opposite. The metallic properties of the knife blade could act as the magnetic means in the above description.
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Yet another possible embodiment could see the stored utility knife being held or secured in place by gravity. By sliding the knife into retaining clips located on the hanging portion or container, gravity would keep the knife in place and contained.
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Yet another possible embodiment could see the stored utility knife fasten directly to the hanging portion or container with the use of a male and female clipping means. With either the male clip found on either the knife or container and the female clip located on the other, when assembled together the utility knife is retained in place.
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With respect to the above description then, it is realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
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Therefore the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.