Patent attributes
A single-action convertible utility knife and scraper includes a carriage and a slide mechanism slidably mounted within a housing. A blade support is pivotally mounted on the carriage for movements of a blade between cutting and scraper orientations. The carriage and the slide mechanism can be moved by an external button between a retracted position wherein the blade support is fully retracted within the housing, an extended position wherein the blade support is in an operative cutting or scraping position and a conversion position wherein the blade support is moved forwardly of the extended position to enable the blade support to transition from one orientation to another while clearing the housing. A bi-stable mechanism alternatingly pivots the blade support between the first and second orientations when the external button is successively advanced to move the slide mechanism forwardly beyond the extended position to incrementally advanced positions.