Abstract: A utility knife has two shells that are pivoted or hinged to each other at one end to permit opening the knife handle formed by the shells for insertion or replacement of a knife blade. The two shells are interlocked with each other by a latching mechanism, including a stationary section in one shell and a rotatable section in the other shell. The rotatable section has a spring elastic bail that engages the stationary section and an operating member for disengaging or engaging the rotatable member from the stationary stop bar. In the interlocking position the operating member is recessed in a recess in the surface of one of the shells. When the knife is used, the operator's hand provides additional safety by keeping the operating member in its recess and thus the two shells interlocked.

Abstract: A floor covering cutter for cutting floor coverings such as carpets, has a shell handle (3) consisting of several parts and a cutting blade (6) that is gripped with its cutting head at an angle of deployment with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shell handle between the shell parts of the handle that are connected with a screw. They enclose a storage area (12) for spare blades on the inside and present a gripping contour on the outside. The cutting blade is positioned with its cutting head at a slight forward angle of deployment with respect to the theoretical mid longitudinal axis (7) of the handle shell, while the handle shell, on the end opposite from the cutting blade (6), presents a steadily expanding outer cross-section (4) with flattened contours in the area adjoining the gripping surface (3). In the storage area (12) are kept blades standing on one edge. The two shell parts (1,2) are connected by a joint and held together by a knurled screw (10).