Patent Application
20050109183
The present application is related, generally and in various embodiments, to a device used for guiding a blade at a start of a cut. In the telecommunication and other industries, personnel working at certain jobsites are routinely required to cut pipe to various lengths. For example, electricians are often required to cut conduit to various lengths when provisioning new buildings.
Personnel often use a hacksaw to cut thin-walled conduit to a desired length. However, the blade of the hacksaw can easily drift laterally from the desired cut location when the cut is initiated. When personnel use a hacksaw to cut rigid conduit or large diameter conduit, the drifting of the blade at the start of the cut can be more pronounced. If the cut is not sufficiently precise, the resulting length of pipe can be longer or shorter than the length of pipe that is needed. Inaccurate cuts lead to increased material costs and decreased productivity.
To reduce the chance of the blade drifting when the cut is initiated, many personnel tend to work at a much more deliberate pace at the start of the cut. However, this approach increases the amount of time spent starting a cut, thereby contributing to decreased productivity.
In one general respect, this application discloses embodiments of a device for guiding a blade at a start of a cut. According to various embodiments, the device includes a body member that includes a first surface, a second surface and a third surface bounded by the first and second surfaces. The second surface is opposite the first surface. The third surface includes a curved portion configured to receive a pipe.
According to other embodiments, the device includes a body member and a stabilizer member connected to the body member. The body member includes a first surface, a second surface and a third surface bounded by the first and second surfaces. The second surface is opposite the first surface. The third surface includes a curved portion configured to receive a pipe. The stabilizer member includes a first portion, a second portion connected to and extending away from the first portion and a third portion connected to and extending away from the second portion.
Other embodiments of the disclosed invention will be or become apparent to one skilled in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional embodiments be included within this description, be within the scope of the disclosed invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
The first surface 14 of the body member 12 is planar. The planarity of the first surface 14 serves as a blade guide for starting a cut through a pipe 20 (shown in
The third surface 18 includes a curved portion 22 configured to receive the pipe 20. The first, second and third surfaces 14, 16, 18 collectively define a first leg 24 and a second leg 26. The body member 12 is elastic such that the first and second legs 24, 26 return to their original position after being flexed.
The body member 12 also defines an opening 28 that extends from the first surface 14 to the second surface 16. The opening 28 is a cylindrically-shaped opening sized to allow a portion of a key ring to pass therethrough and serves to allow the device 10 to be stored on the key ring.
According to various embodiments, the body member 12 is fabricated from a metal. In one aspect, the body member 12 is magnetized. According to other embodiments, the body member 12 is fabricated from a plastic.
As shown in
According to various embodiments, the first portion 32 of the stabilizer member 30 is connected to the second surface 16 of the body member 12 and is oriented substantially parallel to the second surface 16 of the body member 12. The second portion 34 of the stabilizer member 30 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first portion 32 of the stabilizer member 30. The third portion 36 of the stabilizer member 30 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the second portion 34 of the stabilizer member 30 and substantially parallel to the first portion 32 of the stabilizer member 30.
According to various embodiments, the stabilizer member 30 is connected to the body member 12 with a fastener 38 such as a rivet. According to other embodiments, the stabilizer member 30 is formed integral with the body member 12.
According to various embodiments, the stabilizer member 30 is fabricated from a metal. In one aspect, the stabilizer member 30 is magnetized. According to other embodiments, the stabilizer member 30 is fabricated from a plastic.
In use, the first and second legs 24, 26 of the body member 12 are flexed apart to receive the pipe 20. When the pipe 20 is received by the body member 12, the first surface 14 of the body member 12 is positioned proximate the desired cut location. The curved portion 22 of the third surface 18 of the body member 12 partially surrounds and forms a friction fit with the outer surface 42 of the pipe 20. In addition, the third portion 36 of the stabilizer member 30 is in contact with the outer surface 42 of the pipe 20. Once the body member 12 and the stabilizer member 30 are in contact with the pipe 20 as described above, the first surface 14 of the body member 12 can serve as a blade guide for starting a cut in the outer surface 42 of the pipe 20. For example, a planar side portion of a hacksaw blade can be aligned and in contact with the first surface 14 of the body member 12 when the hacksaw blade is used to start a cut in the outer surface 42 of the pipe 20.
While several embodiments of the disclosed invention have been described, it should be apparent, however, that various modifications, alterations and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to persons skilled in the art with the attainment of some or all of the advantages of the disclosed invention. For example, according to various embodiments, a portion of the body member 12 adjacent the opening 28 is bent. It is therefore intended to cover all such modifications, alterations and adaptations without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed invention as defined by the appended claims.
