Patent Application
20080295339
The present invention relates to a hand-operated, multi-function cutting tool. The present invention relates more particularly to a hand-operated, multi-function cutting tool, such as a pair of snips, having internal cutting edge(s) for cutting objects in a shearing manner and external cutting edge(s) for cutting objects in a non-shearing manner.
It is generally known to provide a hand-operated tool such as a snips, shears, scissors or the like having a pair of pivoting members with sharpened internal edges that slide past one another to cut an object placed between the sharpened edges. However, such known tools are typically not also designed for cutting in a knife or saw like manner using a sharpened exterior edge.
It is also generally known to provide a hand-operated tool such as a knife having a blade portion with one or two sharpened edges that operated to cut objects by sliding or pressing the sharpened edge against an object. However, such known tools are typically not also designed for cutting objects in a scissor-like manner. It is also generally known to provide “multi-tool devices” that include a knife and a scissors, but are usually combined with other tools that require a user to separately open the knife and/or the scissors from a folded/stowed configuration to access/use the knife and scissors. Thus, there is a need for a pivoting cutting tool that eliminates the need to carry a separate knife, and/or having to separately open/access a knife from other tools in a multi-tool device.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a hand-operated, multi-function cutting tool, such as a pair of snips, having a pair of pivotally connected blades with internal sharpened edges for cutting objects in a scissor like manner. It would also be desirable to provide a hand-operated, multi-function cutting tool having a pair of pivotally connected blades with external sharpened edges for cutting objects in a knife or saw-like manner. It would also be desirable to provide a hand-operated, multi-function cutting tool with an external sharpened smooth/fine edge and an external sharpened serrated edge. It would also be desirable to provide a hand-operated, multi-function cutting tool having a jaw with a flat surface arranged to engage an opposing blade in an anvil-like manner, with the jaw including an external sharpened edge. It would be further desirable to provide a hand-operated, multi-function cutting tool that includes a lock device for maintaining the blades in a closed position, such as when use of the tool in a knife or saw like manner is desired.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a hand-operated, multi-function cutting tool having any one or more of these or other desirable features.
According to one embodiment, a hand-operated multi-function cutting tool includes a first elongated member having a handle portion, a midportion, and a blade portion, the blade portion having a first cutting edge along a top of the blade portion and a second cutting edge along a bottom of the blade portion. A second elongated member is provided having a handle portion, a midportion, and a blade portion, the blade portion having a first cutting edge along a top of the blade portion and a second cutting edge along a bottom of the blade portion. A pivot unites the midportions for scissor movement of the handle portions and the blade portions about the pivot.
According to another embodiment, a hand-operated multi-function cutting tool includes first and second opposed elongated members. Each member has a blade segment at a front end portion thereof, a handle segment at a rear end portion thereof, and a midportion where the members cross over each other. Each blade segment includes an internal cutting edge and at least one of the blades includes an external cutting edge. A pivot joint unites the midportions for scissor movement of the handle segments and blade segments about the pivot joint between an open position and a closed position, so that the internal cutting edges are configured to cut an object in a shearing manner and the external cutting edge is configured to cut an object in a non-shearing manner.
According to a further embodiment, a hand-operated multi-function cutting tool includes first and second opposed elongated members. Each member has a jaw at a front end portion thereof, a handle segment at a rear end portion thereof, and a midportion where the members cross over each other. A pivot joint unites the midportions for scissor movement of the handle segments and jaws about the pivot joint between an open position and a closed position. One jaw includes an internal anvil surface and the other jaw includes an internal cutting surface that engages the anvil surface when the handle segments are in the closed position. At least one of the jaws having an external cutting surface.
Referring to the FIGURES, a hand-operated, multi-function cutting tool, shown for example as a pair of snips, is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The snips are shown to include two elongated, opposed members - each having a handle end, and a blade end, and a midportion between the handle and blade ends. The handle ends are shown to include ergonomically contoured handles, that are movable between an open position and a closed position for actuating the blades in a scissor or shearing operation to cut objects placed between the blades. The midportions are shown to include a pivot connection for operating the blades in a scissor like manner, and also to include structure for receiving a locking device. The locking device is actuatable between a “locked” position to maintain the blades in the closed position and a “use” position to permit the blades to be opened (e.g. spring-biased or “sprung-open”). The blade ends are shown to include internal (e.g. inward facing) surfaces having a sharpened edge in the form of a blade for cutting objects in a shearing manner when the blades/handles are closed, and external (e.g. outward facing) surfaces having a sharpened edge in the form of a blade (shown for example as one serrated edge and one smooth/fine edge). The blades are positioned so that in the closed position, the external sharpened edge of one blade extends outwardly beyond the internal sharpened edge of the opposite blade.
Accordingly, the snips can be used in a scissor-like manner to cut objects between the blades with the internal edges, and to cut objects in a non-scissor-like manner (e.g. in a knife-like or saw-like manner) with the external edges (with the blades in the open or closed position). It should be noted that the external edge of one or both blades may be sharpened and can have any of a wide variety of cutting surface shapes (e.g. smooth, serrated, saw-tooth, etc.). In addition, the lock device may operate in any suitable manner (e.g. slide, push-pull, lever, etc.). Further, the blade portion of one of the elongated members may be provided having a generally flat (e.g. planar, etc.) surface arranged to bear against the sharpened internal edge of the other blade portion (e.g. in an anvil-like manner). Accordingly, the embodiments illustrated in the FIGURES are shown by way of example, and any of a wide variety of blade, handle, and lock styles or shapes, and combinations thereof, will be readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing this disclosure. All such variations are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
Referring to
According to the illustrated embodiment, the internal edges 32, 62 of blade ends 30, 60 are shown to have a sharpened surface suitable for interacting with one another in a scissor-like cutting relationship when the handles 26, 56 are moved from the open position to the closed position. One or both of the external edges 34, 64 of blade ends 30, 60 include a sharpened edge (shown for example as both external edges). According to the illustrated embodiment, external edge 34 is shown as a smooth or fine sharpened edge (e.g. knife edge, etc.) and external edge 64 is shown to include a serrated edge. However, either one or both of the external edges may be provided with any suitable surface configuration or cutting profile to permit the tool to be used for cutting objects in a non-scissor-like manner (e.g. in a chopping, slicing or reciprocating manner such as a knife or a saw), without opening the handles.
The handles 26, 56 are shown attached to the tangs 24, 54 and cooperate with the midportions 28, 58 to provide a pivot connection and to receive a lock device 80. Referring more particularly to
A biasing device (such as a spring, and shown for example as a torsion spring 90) may be provided about the pivot point to urge the handles toward the open position to enhance the ease of use by a consumer. According to other embodiments, other types of springs (e.g. coil, leaf, etc.) may be used and provided at any suitable location to bias the handles to a desired position. In addition, contact pads 92 (e.g. bumpers, cushions, etc.) may be provided to cushion the impact when the handles are forced to a closed position (e.g. after severing an object in a scissor-like manner, etc.).
Referring to
Referring further to
According to any exemplary embodiment, the hand-operated, multi-function cutting tool provides a tool having elongated members with both internally directed blade(s) or jaws for cutting objects placed between the blades or jaws (e.g. in a scissor/shearing manner or a compression/crushing manner), and externally directed blade(s) for externally cutting objects in a chopping, sawing, or knife-like manner. The handles may be integrally formed with the blades or may be separately formed and attached. The tool may be provided with, or without, a lock device (for maintaining the handles in a closed position) and/or a spring-assist (for biasing the blades/jaws and handles to an open position). The blade(s) may be formed from any material suitable for the application, such as steel. The handles may be made from a material such as (among others) glass-filled nylon, die-cast zinc, or plastic, in a molding or other suitable process.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the hand-operated, multi-function cutting tool as shown schematically in the embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited.
Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating configuration and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention as expressed in the appended claims.
