Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the disclosure are described, including various embodiments of the disclosure with reference to the figures, in which:
In the following description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of the various embodiments disclosed herein. The systems and methods disclosed herein can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In addition, in some cases, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail in order to avoid obscuring aspects of the disclosure. Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more alternative embodiments.
This disclosure describes various embodiments of a foldable scoring base with an integrated media trimmer. According to various embodiments, a scoring base comprises an upper scoring board and a lower scoring board connected via a pivot member. The lower scoring board may be configured to rotate with respect to the upper scoring board from an unfolded position to a folded position. The pivot member may include one or more hinges, riveted brackets, and/or alternative pivotable fasteners.
According to various embodiments, the scoring base includes a section of lineal scoring grooves configured to facilitate the scoring of various media. A scoring implement, such as a bone folder, may be used to score a medium. For example, the point of the scoring implement may be traced along a lineal scoring groove formed in the scoring base in order to score a medium placed on the scoring base. The lineal scoring grooves on the lower scoring board may be aligned with respect to the lineal scoring grooves on the upper scoring board when the lower scoring board is in an unfolded position. According to one embodiment, the lineal scoring grooves of the upper and lower scoring board are aligned perpendicular to a parting line dividing the upper and lower scoring boards. According to an alternative embodiment, the lineal scoring grooves of the upper and lower scoring boards may be aligned with respect to one another and parallel to the parting line dividing the upper and lower scoring boards.
According to various embodiments, one of the upper scoring board and the lower scoring board may include a storage slot configured to receive an envelope guide. Additionally, the upper scoring board may include a depression configured to receive a scoring implement, such as a bone folder. According to various alternative embodiments, the scoring base may include one or more additional pockets, depressions, or other features configured to receive and/or store additional implements or tools. For example, the scoring base may include a slot configured to receive a ruler, clamp, magnet, blade sharpener, extra blade, and/or scissors.
The underside of the scoring base may include legs, magnets, levers, clamps, suction cups, and/or other support mechanisms to support the scoring base. The top face of the lower scoring board may include permanent or removable feet configured to support the scoring base while the lower scoring board is in a folded position. The scoring base may also include or be constructed of ferromagnetic materials in order to facilitate the use of magnetic clamps and/or ruler for aligning and/or securing media relative to the scoring base.
A catch or latch may be configured to selectively secure the lower scoring board in a folded position with respect to the upper scoring board. For example, a magnetic latch may comprise a magnet fitted to the underside of the lower scoring board and a complementary ferromagnetic material fitted to the underside of the upper scoring board.
According to various embodiments, the scoring base includes an integrated media trimmer comprising a cutting arm, a blade holder, and a cutting blade. The blade holder may be slidably coupled to the cutting arm and configured to secure a rotary blade or a fixed-blade. According to various embodiments, the media trimmer may be configured to cut any of a wide variety of media, such as paper, cloth, corkboard, leather, plastics, metal, foil, canvas, cardstock, cardboard, acetate, drafting film, illustration board, black core artist mat board, laminates, and/or tissue paper. According to an alternative embodiment, the media trimmer may comprise a cutting arm configured as a guillotine-style cutting blade.
A top end of the cutting arm may be pivotably secured to the upper scoring board and configured to rotate from a cutting position, in which a bottom end of the cutting arm is coupled to the lower scoring board, to a storage position, in which the bottom end of the cutting arm is coupled to the upper scoring board. Moreover, according to various embodiments, the cutting arm may be configured to secure a scoring implement within the previously described depression when the cutting arm is rotated to the storage position.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
As used herein, the term “media” signifies any type of material that may be trimmed, cut, scored, marked, folded, embossed, and or creased. Types of media include, but are not limited to, paper, cloth, corkboard, leather, plastics, metal, foil, canvas, cardstock, cardboard, acetate, drafting film, illustration board, black core artist mat board, laminates, and tissue paper.
In some cases, well-known features, structures or operations are not shown or described in detail. Furthermore, the described features, structures, or operations may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. The embodiments of the disclosure will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The components of the disclosed embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the systems and methods of the disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, as claimed, but is merely representative of possible embodiments.
Lower scoring board 107 may be rotatably coupled to upper scoring board 105 via one or more pivot members, such as a hinge or pivotable fastener. An elongated hinge may remain hidden beneath parting line 109 while lower scoring board 107 is in an unfolded position, as illustrated. According to various embodiments, there is a minimal or non-existent gap between lower scoring board 107 and upper scoring board 105 at parting line 109.
As illustrated, upper scoring board 105 and lower scoring board 107 may each include a section of lineal scoring grooves 120 and 130 aligned with respect to one another and perpendicular with respect to parting line 109. Lineal scoring grooves 120 and 130 may be spaced at equal distances or in any of a variety of patterns. Additionally, each of the grooves may be the same depth and/or width or, alternatively, the grooves may be arranged according to a pattern and may include grooves of various widths and/or depths.
According to one embodiment, each groove may be spaced in intervals of some fraction of an inch or a specified number of millimeters. Lineal scoring grooves 120 and 130 may provide a guide for a user to trace a scoring implement, such as bone folder 150, in order to score, fold, and/or create a crease in a medium placed on scoring base 100.
Throughout the drawings, lineal scoring grooves 120 and 130 are illustrated as perpendicular with respect to parting line 109; however, according to one alternative embodiment, lineal scoring grooves 120 and 130 may be aligned with respect to one another and parallel to parting line 109. According to such an embodiment, the two sections of lineal scoring grooves 120 and 130 may be aligned such that parting line 109 does not disrupt the spacing and/or pattern of the grooves.
Media trimmer 101 may include a cutting arm 110, a blade holder 115, an upper ring 117 near the top end of cutting arm 110, and a lower ring 118 near the bottom end of cutting arm 110. According to various embodiments, the top end of cutting arm 110 may be rotatably secured to upper scoring board 105. The bottom end of cutting arm 110 may be selectively coupled to lower scoring board 107 in a cutting position, as illustrated. According to various embodiments, the bottom end of cutting arm 110 may be pivoted with respect to the top end of cutting arm 110 and moved from the cutting position to a storage position. In the storage position, the bottom end of cutting arm 110 may selectively engage depressions 170 on upper scoring board 105.
According to the illustrated embodiment, blade holder 115 is slidably coupled to cutting arm 110 and may be configured to secure a fixed-blade and/or a rotary blade. The blade may be sharpened as it is used to extend the useable life of the blade. Alternatively, cutting arm 110 may be configured as a guillotine-style blade configured to pivot up and down with respect to the plane of scoring base 100 in order to cut media. According to various embodiments, media trimmer 101 may be configured to cut, score, and/or trim any of a wide variety of media, including paper, cloth, corkboard, leather, plastics, metal, foil, canvas, cardstock, cardboard, acetate, drafting film, illustration board, black core artist mat board, laminates, and/or tissue paper.
Additionally, upper scoring board 105 may include a depression 155 configured to receive a scoring implement, such as bone folder 150. According to one embodiment, bone folder 150 may snap securely into depression 155. According to another embodiment, bone folder 150 may be secured within depression 155 by positioning cutting arm 110 in the storage position, as is discussed in greater detail below.
Lower scoring board 107 may include one or more storage slots 160. According to various embodiments, storage slot 160 may be configured to receive any of a wide variety of tools, such as an envelope guide, a ruler, clamp, magnet, blade sharpener, extra blade, and/or scissors. According to the illustrated embodiments, storage slot 160 is configured to secure a triangular envelope guide; however, the shape and size of storage slot 160 may be modified to accommodate alternative tools. Alternatively or additionally, upper scoring board 105 may include a storage slot.
According to various embodiments, the top end of cutting arm 210 may be rotatably secured to upper scoring board 205 via a spring loaded locking pin and ring assembly. The locking pin and ring may allow cutting arm 210 to rotate about a pivot point without detaching from upper scoring board 205. A spring may provide a downward force on cutting arm 210 in order to engage bosses located on the underside of cutting arm 210 at the top and bottom ends with depressions 221 located on lower scoring board 207 and depressions (not visible in
Cutting arm 210 may be unlocked and free to pivot about the pin and ring assembly by pulling up on upper ring 217 and lower ring 218.
According to an alternative embodiment, cutting arm 210 may be fixed along the top edge of upper scoring board 205. That is, cutting arm 210 may be fixed along the edge of upper scoring board 205 that is opposite parting line 209. According to such alternative embodiments, cutting arm 210 may not be configured to pivot from a cutting position to a storage position. Scoring base 200 may also be adapted to allow for media to be cut, scored, and/or trimmed by media trimmer 201 in the fixed position.
As previously described, cutting arm 410 may include a blade holder 415 and upper ring 417 and lower ring 418. With cutting arm 410 pivoted to a storage position, depressions 423 in upper scoring board 405 and depressions 421 in lower scoring board 407 may be visible.
While lower scoring board 507 is in the folded position, the section of lineal scoring grooves 520 on upper scoring board 505 may be divided from the section of lineal scoring grooves 530 on lower scoring board 507 at parting line 509. Additionally, blade guide 573 may be divided at parting line 509. According to various embodiments, one or more catches or latches may selectively maintain lower scoring board 507 in a folded position with respect to upper scoring board 505. For example, one or more magnetic latches may maintain lower scoring board 507 folded beneath upper scoring board 505.
A foldable scoring base 500 with an integrated media trimmer 501 may be transported and stored efficiently by positioning the media trimmer 501 in the storage position, securing the bone folder beneath cutting arm 510, storing an envelope guide within storage slot 560, and folding scoring base 500 in half. According to one embodiment, a handle may be positioned on one side of scoring base 500 to facilitate transportation.
Support lattices 635 may be configured to provide structural support to scoring base 600. The illustrated support lattices 635 merely provide an exemplary embodiment of a support lattice and may be modified or adapted in order to provide adequate support and/or minimize the amount of material used. Legs 625 may be attached to scoring base 600 in various locations to provide adequate support. According to various embodiments, legs 625 may be configured with a height equal to that of the surrounding edges of upper scoring board 605 and lower scoring board 607.
A bone folder, or other scoring implement, may be secured within depression 655 and an envelope guide, or other tool may be secured within storage slot 660. According to various embodiments, an envelope guide may be secured against diagonal brace 667 and prevented from falling out by cross braces 665 and 666.
According to various embodiments, a cutting arm may be secured to upper scoring board 605 via a spring retention assembly 690. The cutting arm may include a pin configured to pass through a bore in upper scoring board 605. A retaining ring may engage the pin and prevent it from being released. As illustrated, a spring may be configured to bias the cutting arm towards scoring base 600. The biasing spring may cause bosses located on the underside of the cutting arm to engage depressions on the topside of the scoring board 600. According to various embodiments, the biasing spring may be conical and configured to nest when compressed.
According to one embodiment, the right angle corner 796 of envelope guide 795 may be placed in the top left corner of lineal scoring grooves 720. Media trimmer 701 may be used to trim a medium, such as paper, to the correct dimensions. A scoring implement, such as bone folder 750 stored in depression 755, may be used to score the medium in the appropriate locations to form an envelope. According to various embodiments, with envelope guide 795 placed in the top left corner of lineal scoring grooves 720, notched hypotenuse 797 of envelope guide 795 indicates which grooves bone folder 750 should trace for a particular envelope size and/or style.
Upper scoring board 705 may include a depression 755 configured to receive a scoring implement, such as a bone folder. A hinge 780 may be configured to enable lower scoring board 707 to fold with respect to upper scoring board 705 along parting line 709. According to various embodiments, hinge 780 may be configured to provide a zero/zero parting line 709. The components of hinge 780 may be molded directly into upper scoring board 705 and lower scoring board 707.
Blade holder 815 may be slidably coupled to cutting arm 810 and configured to slide along a blade tract 819. Blade holder 815 may be configured with a blade marker 816 indicating the location of the blade secured by blade holder 815. According to various embodiments, blade marker 816 may be in the form of a logo. For example, the letter M is used in
Additionally, media trimmer 801 may include an upper ring 817 and a lower ring 818 on the two ends of cutting arm 810. According to various embodiments, an operator may utilize upper and lower rings 817 and 818 to raise cutting arm 810 relative to a scoring base in order to unlock and pivot cutting arm 810. Accordingly, any of a wide variety of alternative features that provide a suitable gripping surface for an operator to manipulate cutting arm 810 could be used in place of upper and lower rings 817 and 818.
According to various alternative embodiments, media trimmer 801 may include a cutting arm 810 and blade holder 815 configured to utilize a rotary blade. According to such embodiments, the rotary blade may be interchangeable with various styles and types of rotary blades. Additionally, blade holder 815 may be configured to self-sharpen a secured blade alone or in combination with a blade guide formed in a scoring base.
As illustrated, scoring base 900 may comprise an upper scoring board 905 and a lower scoring board 907 divided at a parting line 909. According to various embodiments, the gap separating lower scoring board 907 from upper scoring board 905 at parting line 909 may be minimal or non-existent. Upper scoring board 905 may include a section of lineal scoring grooves 920. Lower scoring board 907 may include a section of lineal scoring grooves 930, aligned with respect to lineal scoring grooves 920. According to the illustrated embodiments, lineal scoring grooves 920 and 930 are aligned with respect to one another and perpendicular to parting line 909. According to one alternative embodiment, lineal scoring grooves 920 and 930 are aligned with respect to one another and parallel to parting line 909.
Lower scoring board 907 may be rotatably coupled to upper scoring board 905 via one or more pivot members, such as a hinge or pivotable fastener. For example, an elongated hinge may remain hidden beneath parting line 909, while lower scoring board 907 is in an unfolded position with respect to upper scoring board 905. According to various embodiments, while lower scoring board 907 is in the unfolded position with respect to upper scoring board 905, lineal scoring grooves 930 on lower scoring board 907 may be seamlessly aligned with lineal scoring grooves 920 on upper scoring board 905.
Scored rosette strip 1000 may be made of paper, cardstock, construction paper, papier-mâché, and/or other types of paper or suitable materials for forming a rosette. Additionally, scored rosette strip 1000 may be configured with various colors, designs, patterns, sizes, groove spacing, and/or thicknesses. The strips between scored grooves 1020 may include different colors, designs, patterns, sizes and different fold sizes. The strips can be selected to have some similar traits and some dissimilar traits. For example, all strips can be varying shades of the same color, or varying colors within a complementary color family. The number of, the depth of, the scoring pattern of, and the distance between scored grooves 1020 may be selected to provide a desired rosette configuration.
As illustrated in
The above description provides numerous specific details for a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. One or more of the specific details may be omitted, or other methods, components, or materials may be used. In some cases, operations are not shown or described in detail.
While specific embodiments and applications of the disclosure have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the precise configuration and components disclosed herein. Various modifications, changes, and variations apparent to those of skill in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and systems of the disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/345,971 filed on May 18, 2010, titled “CUTTING TOOL,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61345971 | May 2010 | US |