Abstract: An adjustable safety utility knife includes an elongated ergonomically shaped handle formed of two elongate shell members each having a peripheral edge and an outer generally convex surface and an inner generally concave surface. The shell members are fastened at the peripheral edges along a vertical parting plane to form an elongated internal cavity. The handle defines a front end, a back end and an intermediate portion suitable for being gripped by a user and also defining top and bottom surfaces extending along opposite sides of the shell members along the peripheral edges. The handle has a slot-like aperture at the front end substantially aligned with the parting plane and dimensioned for passage of a flat cutting blade therethrough. A guide element within the elongated cavity guides the cutting blade between a first position for safely storing the blade fully inside the cavity and a second position for selectively extending the blade beyond the aperture to expose at least a portion thereof.

Abstract: A wrench for applying a force to a work piece comprises a handle having proximal and distal ends, top and bottom edges and a slot extending therethrough with a groove extending downward from the slot. A fixed jaw is mounted at the distal end of the handle having an inner, contact surface for contacting the work piece, and a moveable jaw is pivotally mounted at the distal end of the handle having an inner, contact surface for contacting the work piece. A spring is mounted in the handle having a distal end in contact with the moveablejaw for biasing the moveable jaw toward the fixed jaw. A slidable button is mounted on the top edge of the handle, with a spring mounted between the slidable button and the top edge of the handle. A connector is provided having a distal end fixedly attached to the moveable jaw and a proximal end fixedly attached to the slidable button by a pin. In operation, the pin rides in the slot and fits in the groove.

Abstract: An adjustable safety utility knife includes an elongated ergonomically shaped handle formed of two elongate shell members each having a peripheral edge and an outer generally convex surface and an inner generally concave surface. The shell members are fastened at the peripheral edges along a vertical parting plane to form an elongated internal cavity. The handle defines a front end, a back end and an intermediate portion suitable for being gripped by a user and also defining top and bottom surfaces extending along opposite sides of the shell members along said peripheral edges. The handle has a slot-like aperture at the front end substantially aligned with the parting plane and dimensioned for passage of a flat cutting blade therethrough. A guide element within the elongated cavity guides the cutting blade between a first position for safely storing the blade fully inside said cavity and a second position for selectively extending the blade beyond the aperture to expose at least a portion thereof.

Abstract: A spring-loaded tape cartridge in a tape measure housing includes a coilable tape rotatably mounted to position a free end of the tape to pass through an opening in the housing. The tape cartridge is biased to retract the tape into the compartment when the free end is pulled out of the housing to perform a measurement. A stop tab at the free end engages the workpiece and assures that the free end remains outside housing and available for gripping. An internal spring portion acts between the housing and the tape cartridge for applying a substantially constant frictional force on the tape cartridge. A second spring portion is provided for selectively applying increased and decreased frictional forces on the tape cartridge to supplement the substantially constant frictional forces.

Abstract: An improved utility bar includes an elongate shank which has a longitudinal axis, a prying hook at one end and a prying chisel at the other end. The prying hook has a tapered portion extending along a direction generally an angle &agr; with the longitudinal axis and a generally U-shaped portion integrally formed with the shank and the tapered portion. The tapered and U-shaped portions together form a prying footprint surface facing a direction away from the shank. The angle &agr; is selected to be greater than 90° and preferably selected within the range of 93°-110°. The prying footprint has a minimum transverse dimension which is substantially greater than the minimum cross sectional dimension of the shank.