At a glance
| Patent number | CN209566147U (application CN201920270619) |
| Type | China utility model (实用新型) - protects product shape and structure |
| Original title | Ceramic utility knife (一种陶瓷美工刀) |
| Patent owner | Xiamen Jialian Technology Development Co., Ltd. |
| Inventors | Zheng Wei |
| Filing date | 2019-03-04 |
| Grant date | 2019-11-01 |
| Status (China) | In force - no termination recorded; a China utility model lasts at most 10 years from filing (to 2029-03-04) |
| Patent family | Chinese filings only - no US, European, Japanese, PCT or other filings listed |
| Cited by | 3 later documents |
| Source | Google Patents (search for CN209566147U) |
What the claims cover, in plain language
Claim 1 - a utility knife with a handle, a slider and a blade; the slider runs in a guide track in the handle and the blade moves with it. The track and blade are ceramic. The blade is a strip with a semicircular hole edge at the end that sticks out of the track and several round hole edges spaced evenly along its length.
Claims 2-3 - score lines on one face of the blade divide each round hole into two arcs, the left arc not shorter than the right; there are 3-10 score lines and holes, evenly spaced. Claim 4 - anti-slip zones on both faces of the handle, with offset finger stops on its top and bottom, the top one nearer the blade. Claims 5-6 - blade and track are zirconia, handle and slider are plastic; the blade is 0.6-0.7 mm thick.
This is a simplified reading for orientation only. The legal scope is defined by the exact claim wording in the official Chinese document.
What this means for US production
This patent was filed only in China. It is still in force in China, so making or selling this design in China would need the owner’s permission while it lasts (at most until 2029-03-04). It has no US or other foreign counterpart and does not restrict the design outside China.
Two points to settle early:
- Other patents may exist. Utility knives, snap-off blades and ceramic safety cutters are patented by large US tool brands and ceramic-blade specialists, and this patent has itself been cited by a major US tool maker’s filing; a freedom-to-operate (FTO) review of the blade geometry and handle is needed before tooling.
- Blade grinding. Sharpening round holes and a half-circle in a thin zirconia strip is the core process; edge quality and snap behavior are proven on sample lots.
Customization and manufacturing
What can be customized
| Area | Options |
|---|---|
| Blade | Width, number of holes (3-10), hole diameter, thickness 0.6-0.7 mm |
| Ceramic | White or black zirconia; detectable grade for food plants |
| Handle | ABS or glass-filled nylon, overmolded grip, colors and logo |
| Slider | Free slide, auto-retract spring, lock positions |
| Extras | Belt clip, lanyard hole, spare blade cartridge in the handle |
| Packaging | Blister card, display box, bulk packs for warehouses |
Things to plan for (US market)
- California Prop 65 - handle plastics, colorants and overmold rubbers are screened; warnings if needed.
- Retail packaging - clamshells and blister cards must keep the blade covered; many retailers have their own sharp-tool packaging rules.
- Workplace programs - safety managers often require auto-retract blades for OSHA-driven cut-prevention programs; specify the slider type accordingly.
- Food-plant use - ceramic is not metal-detectable; a detectable compound or blade-control procedure is needed for food-safety audits.
How a project runs
- Inquiry - blade size, slider type, channel and quantity.
- Design - blade hole pattern, score line depth, track and handle geometry.
- Prototype - blade samples for cut tests on tape, film and strapping, plus snap tests.
- Pilot run - drop tests, edge-life tests, packaging trials.
- Production - ceramic pressing, sintering and grinding; handle molding; assembly.
Quantities & timeline
The zirconia blade and track need pressing tools, sintering and precision grinding of the holes and notch; the handle and slider need injection molds. Grinding setup and edge-life testing take most of the development time. Send us your blade size, slider type, quantity and target price and we will reply with options.
Patent drawings
Drawings reproduced from the public patent document for reference.
