Paper cutter with structural safety latch

A paper cutter having a structural safety latch includes a sheet-supporting base having a side bearing a cutting edge. A stud is joined to the base (or cutting arm) and extends laterally therefrom transversely to the cutting edge. A blade-supporting cutting arm is pivotally mounted to the base for pivotal motion in a substantially vertical plane to cut sheets overhanging the cutting edge. The cutting arm (or base) defines a recess for receiving the stud. The recess is positioned for alignment with the stud when the cutting arm is in a closed position relative to the base. In this manner, the cutting arm is vertically moveable for cutting sheet material and laterally moveable for engaging and disengaging the recess with the stud to latch and unlatch the cutting arm when in the closed position. A safety latch for a paper cutter and a method of operating such a paper cutter is also provided.