Abstract: An improved drive rod and clutch disk for a paint brush and roller cleaning tool providing the unique combination of a hardened steel clutch disk and chrome plated drive rod. Hardening virtually eliminates enlargement of the bow tie hole in the clutch disk due to wear, preventing the cross member on the end portion of the drive rod from escaping through the clutch disk bow-tie hole during the lifetime of the cleaning tool. The chrome plated spiral drive rod minimizes galling, greatly extending the useful life of the cleaning tool in the instant invention, compared to the prior art.

Abstract: A scraping tool employing a sharp-edged blade such as a wallpaper shaving blade, utility or razor blade; comprising an integral body and handle, a controllable quick-release blade clamp and latching level to lock and unlock the clamp for access to the blade. Both the clamp and lever are pivotably connected to the body/handle component using the "snap-fit" technique. The tool includes an integral resilient member for maintaining the clamp closed whenever the tool is unlocked, such that the blade will be retained at all times, until the clamp is purposefully actuated by the user for installation or removal of the blade.

Abstract: A utility knife especially suitable for use by either right-handed or left-handed persons includes a generally symmetrical casing, as viewed from the side, having a generally pointed leading edge and two surfaces sloping back at equal angles from the point. When a standard razor-like blade is positioned in the knife, the midpoint of the blade between its sharpened cutting edge and non-sharpened opposite edge, lies on an imaginary line extending from the point at the forward end of the casing and generally through the center of the knife. The blade may be positioned with its cutting edge being on one side or the other side of the imaginary centerline. In either position, the cutting edge of the blade will project similarly from the casing when a thumb piece is pushed toward the forward end.

Abstract: A bladed tool wherein the blade has a tang encompassed by a pair of similar handle halves connected by a threaded fastener located in aligned bores in the two handle halves and projecting into the material of the handle halves in the bores, and a projection and hole construction on the handle halves to align the handle halves during assembly.