Abstract: A package opening arrangement comprised of a body member having a lower portion and an upper portion spaced a predetermined distance therefrom and an end portion coupling first ends of the upper portion and the lower portion together. The upper portion overlies the lower portion and a section thereof is substantially coextensive with the lower portion. The second end of the upper portion is provided with a package cutting means which may be a point. Limit means are provided on the lower portion for limiting the insertion of the second end of the upper portion into the package to be opened.

Abstract: A cutting tool for sheet material, especially for opening cardboard cartons, has a disposable blade removably fixed to a handle and a guide member of bent wire also fixed to the handle for keeping the blade in cutting engagement with the sheet material and away from the contents of the cartons. A nose of the guide member is rounded to avoid damaging the carton contents and projects ahead of the cutting edge of the blade. One arm of the guide member is above the blade tip so as to keep the blade from disengagement from the sheet material. Another arm of the guide member is below the tip of the blade for preventing cans or other cartons contents from being cut by the blade. A hard point is provided for puncturing cartons which are too tough to be punctured by the rounded nose of the guide member.

Abstract: An utility knife comprising a two part housing, a slidable blade therein, means restricting the blade to a relatively small projection from the housing, spring means normally retracting the blade to fully housed condition within the housing, an exterior thumb piece to slide the blade, frangible means on the thumb piece acting as a stop which when removed allows the blade to project to a greater degree, and means for holding a spare blade in the casing.

Abstract: A blade guard is mounted to a conventional carton cutter for longitudinal, reciprocal movement between a "safe" position outwardly of and covering the tip of the cutter blade and a retracted position spaced inwardly from and exposing the tip and a portion of the blade. The guard is normally spring biased to the safe position, yet responsive to pressure against the carton wall to retract the guard until it passes the end of the carton wall in front of the blade.

Abstract: A hand-held cutting device is provided for opening cartons, such as cardboard boxes, without damaging the contents within the carton. The cutting device comprises a handle having an elongated flat bottom surface which is adapted to slide along the outer surface of the carton during a cutting operation. A cutting blade is secured to the handle and extends outwardly through an opening in the bottom surface of the handle for engaging and cutting the carton. A guard is secured to the cutting blade across its outwardly extending end and includes a portion extending forwardly of the cutting edge of the cutting blade. This forward portion of the guard is curved towards the handle and serves to deflect the contents of the carton away from the cutting blade during a cutting operation. Preferably the upper front edge of the guard forms a second cutting edge so that the guard easily pierces the carton during the initiation of a cutting operation.

Abstract: Opening device for a package of coins. For the opening of packages of coins, there is provided a keylike device having a handle portion and two prongs at one end thereof spaced from each other and projecting from such end in generally parallel relationship to each other. One of said prongs is straight-sided and adapted for lying against the outside of a coin package when the device is in use. The other of said prongs is relatively shorter, is spaced from the first prong a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the rim of the packages with which said device is to be used and has a portion projecting from the end thereof in the direction remote from said first prong. In use, said device is placed with said first prong outside of the package and the second prong adjacent the inside of the rim of said package and the key is twisted to bring said projection against or under the free edge of said rim. Said key is then rocked to lift said rim and simultaneously further twisted to tear said package open.

Abstract: A cutter implement for cutting cardboard such as those used for opening cardboard boxes and including a guide member for guiding the implement along the box edge and wherein the cutter blade can be adjusted to extend at an angle to the guide member so as to cut into the corner of the box and not damage any of the contents of the box.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically opening and emptying a carton for reuse by folding the outer flaps of the carton away from the opening into the carton as the carton moves linearly in a first direction, folding the inner flaps of the carton away from the opening in the carton as the carton moves linearly in a second direction and separating the carton from the contents while the contents continue to move in a second direction. Upon separation, the carton is automatically transported to a remote location for reuse.

Abstract: A knife for cutting cartons comprises a movable blade carrier, and blade, mounted in a stepped guide for positive blade location at any of a plurality of selected locations, within a handle having an extended area lip feeler adjacent a handle opening such that the blade may be presented through said opening in any of a plurality of lengths corresponding essentially to the thickness or thinness of a carton wall so that the knife cuts the carton and not its contents, consistent with safety for the operator, economy of manufacture and use and compactness.

Abstract: A safety knife adapted for cutting corrugated cardboard boxes and the like which is characterized by having a cutting blade which is continuously biased toward a retracted position within the knife's handle. The blade is held within a carriage that is slidable along a groove within the handle. A tension spring attached to the carriage urges the carriage toward its retracted position at all times. A dragging means is provided for pulling the carriage out of the handle and bringing the blade into contact with a structure to be cut. In one embodiment, this dragging means includes a cantilevered wire firmly attached to the slidable carriage, with the distal end of said wire having a hook which is adapted to drag along the structure to be cut. When the blade is cutting, the wire flexes backward into a position alongside the blade where it does not interfere with the cutting action.