Abstract: Utility cutter assemblies, components for use in the assemblies, and related methods of manufacturing are provided. More specifically, utility cutter assemblies, components for use in the assemblies, and related methods of manufacturing that incorporate antimicrobial materials are provided.

Abstract: A hand-held cutting tool includes a handle and a cutting head with an embedded tool having multiple operative surface portions, the embedded tool consisting of a single unitary metal piece, the multiple operative surface portions thereof including a cutting edge and a tape splitter portion, the embedded tool being molded or otherwise secured within the cutting head such that the tape splitter portion distally extends from the cutting head and a portion of the cutting edge is exposed. The embedded tool includes a top flat surface section which is part of and defined by an uppermost structural reinforcing portion of the single unitary metal piece; and the tape splitter portion is recessed in relation to the uppermost structural reinforcing portion relative to the cutting edge of the blade.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a housing with a blade carrier configured for holding a blade, and a handle coupled to the housing via an engagement interface configured to allow a user of the cutter apparatus to selectively interfit together the housing and the handle in multiple different cutter apparatus configurations, wherein the engagement interface includes a coupler configured to permit the housing and the handle to be repositioned further apart in a housing/handle reconfiguring mode in which the coupler permits the handle to be rotatably repositioned in relation to the housing or vice versa while substantially limiting longitudinal movement of the housing relative to the handle.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a housing and a blade holder coupled to the housing, wherein the housing includes a distal portion (e.g., a blade storage compartment) that is both slidably and pivotally coupled to portions of the housing and configured to serve as a cover for the blade holder. The cutter apparatus can also include a cover release device configured to facilitate repositioning the cover between a locked position at which the cover is secured to the housing and a released position at which at least a portion of the cover is free to pivotally reposition away from the housing providing access to the blade holder.

Abstract: A hand-held cutting tool includes a handle and one or more embedded blade cutters at a distal end portion of the handle, the cutter(s) each having a channel within which a blade with a cutting edge is secured/held, one of the channels including a protrusion shaped to laterally redirect an item to be cut in relation to a side wall of the channel and/or being provided in part by a wing portion of the cutting tool.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a housing and a blade holder coupled to the housing, wherein the housing includes a distal portion (e.g., a blade storage compartment) that is both slidably and pivotally coupled to portions of the housing and configured to serve as a cover for the blade holder. The cutter apparatus can also include a cover release device configured to facilitate repositioning the cover between a locked position at which the cover is secured to the housing and a released position at which at least a portion of the cover is free to pivotally reposition away from the housing providing access to the blade holder.

Abstract: A hand-held cutting tool includes a handle and one or more embedded blade cutters at a distal end portion of the handle, the cutter(s) each having a channel within which a blade with a cutting edge is secured/held, one of the channels including a protrusion shaped to laterally redirect an item to be cut in relation to a side wall of the channel and/or being provided in part by a wing portion of the cutting tool.

Abstract: A hand-held cutting tool includes a handle and a cutting head with an embedded tool having multiple operative surface portions, the embedded tool consisting of a single unitary metal piece, the multiple operative surface portions thereof including a cutting edge and a tape splitter portion, the embedded tool being molded or otherwise secured within the cutting head such that the tape splitter portion distally extends from the cutting head and a portion of the cutting edge is exposed. The embedded tool includes a top flat surface section which is part of and defined by an uppermost structural reinforcing portion of the single unitary metal piece; and the tape splitter portion is recessed in relation to the uppermost structural reinforcing portion relative to the cutting edge of the blade.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a housing with a blade carrier configured for holding a blade, and a handle coupled to the housing via an engagement interface configured to allow a user of the cutter apparatus to selectively interfit together the housing and the handle in multiple different cutter apparatus configurations, wherein the engagement interface includes a coupler configured to permit the housing and the handle to be repositioned further apart in a housing/handle reconfiguring mode in which the coupler permits the handle to be rotatably repositioned in relation to the housing or vice versa while substantially limiting longitudinal movement of the housing relative to the handle.

Abstract: A hand-held cutting tool includes a handle, at least one cutting head with an embedded blade, the at least one cutting head being connected to the handle, and a clip connected to the handle within a recess thereof, the clip including a resilient member extending generally lengthwise along the handle. Each of the cutting head(s) is connected to the handle at an end thereof (i.e., at one or the other of two ends of the handle along a lengthwise portion thereof). The clip is connected at a base portion thereof to the handle at a location within (e.g., an interconnection location or juncture of) the recess. The clip is only connected to or in contact with the handle at the location independent of whether the resilient member (of the clip) flexes or otherwise repositions in relation to the base portion of the clip.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a housing with a blade carrier configured for holding a blade, and a handle coupled to the housing via an engagement interface configured to allow a user of the cutter apparatus to selectively interfit together the housing and the handle in multiple different cutter apparatus configurations, wherein the engagement interface includes a coupler configured to permit the housing and the handle to be repositioned further apart in a housing/handle reconfiguring mode in which the coupler permits the handle to be rotatably repositioned in relation to the housing or vice versa while substantially limiting longitudinal movement of the housing relative to the handle.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a housing and a blade holder coupled to the housing, wherein the housing includes a distal portion (e.g., a blade storage compartment) that is both slidably and pivotally coupled to portions of the housing and configured to serve as a cover for the blade holder. The cutter apparatus can also include a cover release device configured to facilitate repositioning the cover between a locked position at which the cover is secured to the housing and a released position at which at least a portion of the cover is free to pivotally reposition away from the housing providing access to the blade holder.

Abstract: A hand-held cutting tool includes a handle, at least one cutting head with an embedded blade, the at least one cutting head being connected to the handle, and a clip connected to the handle within a recess thereof, the clip including a resilient member extending generally lengthwise along the handle. Each of the cutting head(s) is connected to the handle at an end thereof (i.e., at one or the other of two ends of the handle along a lengthwise portion thereof). The clip is connected at a base portion thereof to the handle at a location within (e.g., an interconnection location or juncture of) the recess. The clip is only connected to or in contact with the handle at the location independent of whether the resilient member (of the clip) flexes or otherwise repositions in relation to the base portion of the clip.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a housing, a blade carrier configured to support a front blade, the blade carrier being coupled to and repositionable in relation to the housing, an auxiliary tool configured to be deployable from another portion of the housing, and a selector repositionable in relation to the housing and configured for mutually exclusively facilitating the user-controlled actions of setting a maximum blade depth to which the front blade is extendable from the housing and activating the auxiliary tool. The selector includes, for example, a biasing component for selectively engaging stop surfaces and a counter-biasing component configured to disengage the one or more biased engagement portions from the stop surfaces in response to a user of the cutter apparatus initiating an action of repositioning the selector along the path.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a housing shaped to be hand-held, a slider configured to support a front blade, the slider being mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to be moved longitudinally along the housing, and a blade guard mechanically coupled to the housing and configured to be extended and retracted adjacent to the front end of the housing, wherein the slider and the blade guard are configured to move in tandem.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a housing and a blade holder coupled to the housing, wherein the housing includes a distal portion (e.g., a blade storage compartment) that is both slidably and pivotally coupled to portions of the housing and configured to serve as a cover for the blade holder. The cutter apparatus can also include a cover release device configured to facilitate repositioning the cover between a locked position at which the cover is secured to the housing and a released position at which at least a portion of the cover is free to pivotally reposition away from the housing providing access to the blade holder.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a housing shaped to be hand-held, a blade holder configured to support a blade, and multiple actuators for extending the blade from the housing, the actuators including a safety actuator (e.g., a blade guard) that drives at least one of the other actuators while repositioning to extend the blade. The multiple actuators include, for example, a slider and a blade guard configured such that the slider when pushed forward repositions independently of the blade guard to extend the blade from the housing and such that the blade guard when pushed forward repositions the blade as the blade guard is deployed.