Abstract: A utility knife has a handle and a replaceable blade fixed to the handle. The blade has a cutting edge extending from the handle along an axis for a distance. The utility knife includes a movement mechanism, which may be at least partially enclosed by the handle. The movement mechanism is adapted to provide reversible motion along relative to the blade. A shield is connected to the movement mechanism and disposed adjacent to the blade, whereby the shield is movable between an extended position covering the cutting edge and a retracted position exposing the cutting edge. When in a retracted position, the shield may be inside or closely adjacent to the handle, so as to not interfere with handling of the knife.

Abstract: A utility knife has a handle and a replaceable blade fixed to the handle. The blade has a cutting edge extending from the handle along an axis for a distance. The utility knife includes a movement mechanism, which may be at least partially enclosed by the handle. The movement mechanism is adapted to provide reversible motion along relative to the blade. A shield is connected to the movement mechanism and disposed adjacent to the blade, whereby the shield is movable between an extended position covering the cutting edge and a retracted position exposing the cutting edge. When in a retracted position, the shield may be inside or closely adjacent to the handle, so as to not interfere with handling of the knife.

Abstract: An assembly capable of enclosing and sealing an intermediate section of an optical fiber includes a plurality of sealing mechanisms arranged such that the assembly can be entered to gain access to electronic components for servicing without affecting an environment occupied by optical fiber broken out of an optical fiber cable. Accordingly, physical integrity of the exposed fiber, and its associated connectors and splices, is not compromised. The assembly further includes a plurality of card cages, each of which has its own integral backplane having socket connectors which allow for connection to an adjacent card cage backplane within the assembly. During initial deployment of the assembly where less than all card cages for maximum capacity are initially required to be deployed, segmenting the backplane reduces the first installed cost of the assembly.

Abstract: An optical fiber enclosure for a pedestal environment includes a pedestal which slideably supports a closure within the pedestal along a vertical direction so that during freeze-thaw envionrmental conditions when the pedestal is raised and lowered by expanding and contracting earth the closure does not impose undue stress on optical fiber cables connected thereto. Another enclosure suitable for buried applications also includes means for slideably extending an inner closure therefrom along a vertical direction to aid a craftsperson in accessing and working on the inner closure, the buried enclosure including means for allowing one or more loops of telecommunications cable to be stored therewithin for allowing the inner closure to be removed a substantial distance therefrom.