Pocket cutter for plastic strap

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6571477
  • Patent Number
    6,571,477
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 11, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 3, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A tool for cutting strapping comprises a housing and a slot defined in a base of the housing. A blade is mounted upon the housing, and a handle is pivotally mounted upon the housing between a position remote from the blade and a position adjacent to the blade. A pusher is pivotally mounted upon the handle and is biased into engagement with the base by a spring so as to normally close the entrance to the slot. When strapping is to be cut, the strapping is inserted into the slot causing the pusher to be moved out of the way against the biasing force of its spring. Upon the strapping passing the pusher, the pusher returns to its original position whereby the pusher now engages the strapping. Manipulation of the handle toward the blade causes the pusher to push the strapping into engagement with the blade thereby cutting the strapping.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to manually-operable cutting tools, and more particularly to a new and improved manually-operable cutting tool for cutting plastic strapping wherein the tool is uniquely structured so as to enable an operator to easily position the tool beneath the plastic strapping, and wherein further, the tool is compact, the tool develops a proper cutting force, and the tool is easy to operate so as to be capable of being easily manipulated by means of one hand so as to readily and efficiently sever plastic strapping having different thickness dimensions.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Manually-operable cutting tools for severing plastic strapping are of course well-known, such as, for example, a conventional scissors-type cutter or the like wherein a pair of oppositely disposed blade members are manipulated by means of a pair of oppositely disposed handles. In the conventional manner, pivotal closure of the oppositely disposed handles with respect to or toward each other similarly actuates the oppositely disposed blade members to be pivotally moved with respect to or toward each other. Such conventional tools, however, have several operational disadvantages or drawbacks. Firstly, such tools are not particularly compact and are sometimes cumbersome. Secondly, in view of the fact that the blade members are in effect externally exposed or accessible, such tools present or raise safety concerns or issues. Thirdly, in view of the scissors-type manipulation mode characteristic of such tools, the tools sometimes do not develop the proper cutting forces, particularly, for example, when the material to be cut has a significant thickness dimension, and in addition, the tools are not especially ergonomically beneficial so as to readily enable an operator to perform one-handed cutting operations.




A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved manually-operable cutting tool for cutting or severing plastic strapping wherein the tool would be substantially compact in size, wherein the tool would readily facilitate the positioning or disposition of the tool beneath plastic strapping to be cut or severed, wherein the tool would enable the generation of proper cutting forces, wherein the tool would enable or easily facilitate a one-handed cutting or severing operation to be performed, and wherein the cutting blade or the cutting edge of the cutting blade would be effectively enclosed within an interior portion of the tool such that the cutting edge of the cutting blade does not present any safety hazards.




OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION




Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved manually-operated cutting tool for cutting or severing plastic strapping.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved manually-operated cutting tool for cutting or severing plastic strapping wherein the tool overcomes the various operational disadvantages or drawbacks characteristic of PRIOR ART manually-operated cutting tools.




An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved manually-operated cutting tool for cutting or severing plastic strapping wherein the tool is relatively compact in size, wherein the tool generates proper cutting forces so as to enable the cutting of materials having different thickness dimensions, and wherein the tool enables the cutting or severing operation to be accomplished by means of a one-handed operation.




A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved manually-operated cutting tool for cutting or severing plastic strapping wherein the tool is able to be readily or easily positioned beneath the plastic strapping so as to be readied for the cutting or severing operation, and wherein the cutting edge portion of the cutting blade is disposed internally within the tool so as not to present any safety hazards for operator personnel.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved manually-operable cutting tool wherein the tool comprises a housing comprising a base portion or foundation, and an upstanding web or rib member attached to the base portion or foundation at the rear end thereof such that an insertion slot, for permitting insertion therewithin of plastic strapping to be cut or severed, is defined between a lower edge portion of the upstanding web or rib member and an upper surface portion of the base portion or foundation. A cutting blade, having a vertically oriented cutting edge, is mounted upon a lower end portion of the upstanding web or rib member and has a lower end portion thereof supported within the base portion or foundation of the housing such that a portion of the cutting blade edge is disposed within the insertion slot so as to in effect be exposed to the plastic strapping when the same is inserted into the insertion slot so as to be cut or severed. A manually-manipulable handle is pivotally mounted upon the housing, under the influence of a biasing spring such that the handle is normally disposed at an opened inoperative position, and includes a spring-biased pusher element which is pivotally mounted at a forward end portion thereof upon the handle. The pusher element also has a rear end portion thereof which is biased into engagement with the base portion or foundation of the housing by means of its own biasing spring so as to in effect close or cover the entrance to the insertion slot.




When plastic strapping is to be cut or severed, the strap is in effect inserted into the insertion slot by engaging the pusher element and thereby causing the pusher element to be moved out of the way against the biasing force of its biasing spring. Upon the plastic strapping passing by the rear end portion of the pusher element, the pusher element returns to its normally biased position wherein the pusher element now engages the rear edge portion of the plastic strapping. Manipulation of the handle toward the closed position causes the pusher element to push the plastic strapping into engagement with the cutting edge of the cutting blade whereby the plastic strapping is cut or severed.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:





FIG. 1

is a side elevational, partially schematic, view of a new and improved manually-operable cutting tool constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention and showing the cooperative parts thereof in preparation for a cutting operation to be performed upon plastic strapping;





FIG. 2

is a side elevational view of the housing component of the cutting tool shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is an end elevational view of the housing component of the cutting tool as shown in

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4

is a cross-sectional view of the housing component shown in

FIG. 2

as taken along the line


4





4


of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 5

is a cross-sectional view of the housing component shown in

FIG. 2

as taken along the line


5





5


of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 6

is a cross-sectional view of the housing component shown in

FIG. 2

as taken along the line


6





6


of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 7

is a side elevational view of the handle component of the cutting tool shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 8

is an end elevational view of the handle component of the cutting tool shown in

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 9

is a cross-sectional view of the handle component of the cutting tool shown in

FIG. 7

as taken along the line


9





9


of

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 10

is a cross-sectional view of the handle component of the cutting tool shown in

FIG. 7

as taken along the line


10





10


of

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 11

is a side elevational view of the pusher component of the cutting tool shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 12

is a top plan view of the pusher component of the cutting tool shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 13

is a side elevational view of the nut-cutting blade component of the cutting tool shown in

FIG. 1

; and





FIG. 14

is an end elevational view of the nut-cutting blade component shown in FIG.


13


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to

FIG. 1

thereof, a new and improved manually-operable cutting tool constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention and showing the cooperative parts thereof is disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference character


10


. The cutting tool


10


will firstly be generally described in order to provide an overall appreciation of the construction and operation thereof, and subsequently, details of the various component parts of the tool


10


will then be described such that an appreciation can be obtained with respect to the operational interrelationship defined between the component parts of the tool. More particularly, cutting tool


10


is seen to comprise a housing


12


upon an upper forward end of which a handle


14


is pivotally mounted as at


16


, and a first spring


18


is interposed between the housing


12


and the handle


14


such that the handle


14


is normally biased to an inoperative position as shown in

FIG. 1

wherein the tool


10


is disposed in a non-cutting mode. A cutting blade


20


is mounted upon a lower rear portion of the housing


12


, and the handle


14


is seen to have a pusher element


22


pivotally mounted upon a lower end portion thereof as at


24


. Plastic strapping to be cut or severed by means of the tool


10


of the present invention is disclosed at


26


, and it is seen that the lower end portion of the tool housing


12


is provided with a slot


28


into which the plastic strapping


26


is to be moved, as denoted by the arrow I, so as to encounter the cutting blade


20


whereby the plastic strapping


26


can be severed. A set of second springs


30


, only one of which is shown, are mounted upon the lower end portion of the handle


14


and is engaged with the pusher element


22


so as to normally bias the pusher element


22


to a position at which the pusher element


22


effectively blocks or covers the open end of the slot


28


.




As can be appreciated, however, when the plastic strapping


26


is to be inserted into the slot


28


, the plastic strapping


26


is moved in the denoted direction I whereupon the plastic strapping


26


encountering the pusher element


22


, the pusher element


22


is effectively moved upwardly against the biasing force of the second springs


30


whereby the plastic strapping


26


can be inserted into the slot


28


. Upon the strapping


26


clearing or passing by the rear end portion of the pusher element


22


, the second springs


30


will bias the pusher element


22


back to its normally biased position at which the rear end portion of the pusher element


22


now engages the rear or right edge portion of the strapping


26


as viewed in

FIG. 1

, the pivotal movements of the pusher element being noted by the double arrowhead U-D. Accordingly, when the handle


14


is pivotally moved inwardly or toward the left as viewed in

FIG. 1

, the pivotal movements of the handle


14


being denoted by means of the double arrowhead I-O, the pusher element


22


will force the strapping


26


toward the left into engagement with the cutting edge


32


of the cutting blade


20


whereby strapping


26


is cut thereby completing a strapping cutting operation.




With reference now being made to

FIGS. 2-6

, the details of the housing


12


will now be described. As can best be appreciated from

FIGS. 2-4

, the housing


12


is seen to comprise a horizontally disposed base or foundation


34


and a rearwardly disposed, upstanding support member or rib


36


which is integrally connected at its lower end portion to the base or foundation


34


. A laterally central or axially disposed web member


38


is in turn integrally connected to the upstanding support member or rib


36


, and it is seen that the lower end portion of the web member


38


is spaced from the base or foundation


34


so as to define the aforenoted slot


28


into which the strapping


26


to be cut can be inserted. A pivot pin support or boss


40


is integrally formed at the upper forward end of the web


38


so as to pivotally support the handle


14


thereon, and a recessed socket or pocket portion


42


is defined within an upper forward edge portion of the web


38


for accommodating one end of the first spring


18


which is adapted to be interposed between the web portion


38


of the housing


12


and the handle


14


so as to normally bias the handle


14


toward its opened position which is relatively remote from the upstanding support member or rib


36


of the housing


12


. The forwardmost end portion of the base or foundation


34


is provided with a relatively sharp wedge-shaped portion


44


so as to enable the tool


10


to be inserted underneath the strapping


26


to be cut as well as to guide the strapping


26


into the slot


28


. Lastly, as best seen or appreciated from

FIGS. 4 and 6

, a right side portion of the web member


38


, as well as a corresponding portion of the base or foundation


34


, is provided with a recessed region


46


which has a substantially rectangular configuration so as to house or accommodate the cutting blade


20


. In addition, a substantially oval-shaped aperture


48


is defined within the web member


38


and at a substantially central portion of the recessed region


46


so as to provide for vertical adjustment of the cutting blade


20


as will be described more fully in detail hereinafter.




With reference now being made to

FIGS. 7-10

, the structure of the handle


14


will now be described in detail. As may best be appreciated from

FIG. 8

, the handle


14


is seen to essentially comprise a bifurcated structure which comprises a pair of laterally separated side wall members


50


,


52


which are integrally connected together by means of an end wall member


54


. A recessed pocket or socket


56


is defined within the end wall member


54


and is adapted to receive the opposite end of the first spring


18


, and it is to be appreciated that the first spring


18


will be confined between the side wall members


50


,


52


. It is also seen that the upper ends of the side wall members


50


,


52


are each provided with an aperture


58


,


60


wherein the apertures


58


,


60


will be axially aligned with the pivot pin support or boss


40


so as to permit a pivot pin, not shown, to be axially disposed therethrough by means of which the handle


14


is pivotally mounted upon the housing


12


as at


16


. The lateral separation of the side wall portions


50


,


52


of the handle


14


defines a central or axial space


62


therebetween within which the forward edge portion


64


of the housing web


38


is able to be freely accommodated when the handle


14


is pivotally moved with respect to the housing


12


in the opposite directions noted by the double arrowhead I-O. In order to comfortably or ergonomically assist the pivotal movement of the handle


14


with respect to the housing


12


, the forward vertical portion of the handle


14


is provided with fingergrip portions


66


. This structure also corresponds to the provision of the upstanding support member or rib


36


of the housing


12


which will likewise ergonomically fit or be disposed within an operator's palm whereby the tool


10


can be easily or readily manipulated by means of one hand. It is still further noted that the web portion.


38


of the housing


12


is provided with a substantially arcuate, oval-shaped aperture


68


, and each one of the side wall portions


50


,


52


is also provided with an aperture, only one of which is shown at


70


, through which a pin


72


can be disposed such that the pivotal movement of the handle


14


with respect to the housing


12


is limited or confined within a predetermined range of movement.




With reference continuing to be made to

FIGS. 7-9

, the lower end portion of the handle


14


further comprises a skirt portion which is defined by means of two downwardly dependent side wall portions


74


,


76


as best seen in

FIGS. 8 and 9

, and it can be appreciated that the downwardly dependent side wall portions


74


,


76


are laterally separated from each other so as to define therebetween a space


78


within which the pusher element


22


can be accommodated as can also be appreciated from FIG.


1


. As seen in

FIG. 7

, each one of the dependent side wall portions


74


,


76


is also provided with an aperture, only one of which is shown at


80


, whereby a pivot pin, not shown, can be inserted or mounted by means of which the pusher element


22


is pivotally mounted upon the handle


14


as at


24


. The lower end portion of the handle


14


is further provided with a pair of laterally spaced blind bores


82


,


82


within which the pair of second springs


30


,


30


for biasing the pusher element


22


are to be disposed. As was the case with the first spring


18


, the pair of second springs


30


,


30


are effectively laterally confined between the skirt side wall portions


74


,


76


such that the springs


30


,


30


remain engaged with the pusher element


22


.




With reference now being made to

FIGS. 11 and 12

, the details of the pusher element


22


will be described. Initially, as can best be appreciated from

FIGS. 1-3

,


5


and


6


, the housing base or foundation


34


further includes an upstanding, horizontally extending rib


84


which is separated from the lower edge portion of the web member


38


and axially aligned or coplanar with the web member


38


so as to define the slot


28


therebetween. The rib


84


projects upwardly from the upper surface


86


of the base or foundation


34


upon which the pusher element


22


is adapted to ride when the handle


14


is moved inwardly with respect to the housing


12


in accordance with the arrow portion I of the double arrowhead I-O. Accordingly, the pusher element


22


is provided with unique structure which permits the pusher element


22


to achieve the aforenoted movement during a strapping cutting operation. More particularly, as was the case with the handle


14


, the pusher element


22


also comprises a bifurcated structure. As best appreciated from

FIG. 12

, the pusher element


22


comprises a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally separated side portions


88


,


88


which are integrally connected together by means of a laterally extending end portion


90


. The lateral separation of the side portions


88


,


88


defines a central or axial space


92


therebetween within which the upstanding rib


84


of the housing base or foundation is able to be accommodated. The end portion


90


is also provided with a laterally or transversely oriented throughbore


94


for accommodating a pivot pin, not shown, whereby the pusher element is pivotally mounted upon the handle


14


as at


24


.




As can best be further appreciated from

FIG. 11

, each one of the side portions


88


,


88


of the pusher element


22


comprises a rearwardly disposed end portion which comprises an undersurface portion


96


and an end surface portion


98


, each surface portion


96


,


98


being disposed at a predetermined angular orientation with respect to the horizontal. For example, undersurface portion


96


may be disposed at an angle of 25°, while end surface portion


98


may be disposed at an angle of 65°. Accordingly, as can best be appreciated from the assembled view of

FIG. 1

, when the pusher element


22


is operationally mounted upon the handle


14


, it will be seen that each undersurface portion


96


,


96


will in effect be disposed horizontally upon the upper surface


86


of the base or foundation


34


while each end surface portion


98


,


98


will now be dis-posed vertically or perpendicular to the upper surface


86


of the base or foundation


34


whereby the end surface portions


98


,


98


can properly engage the strapping


26


so as to cause or force movement of the strapping


26


into engagement with the cutting edge


32


of the cutting blade


20


. The disposition of each undersurface portion


96


,


96


upon the upper surface


86


of the base or foundation


34


, as well as the straddling in effect of each side portion


88


,


88


upon the opposite sides of the upstanding rib portion


84


of the base or foundation


34


, provides controlled stability to the pusher element


22


as the same rides or moves along the upper surface portion


86


of the base or foundation


34


such that proper cutting forces can be generated during a cutting operation being performed upon the strapping


26


.




With reference lastly being made to

FIGS. 13 and 14

, the details of the cutting blade


20


will now be described. As can be seen, the cutting blade


20


is provided with a forwardly disposed beveled portion


100


which defines the forwardly disposed cutting edge portion


32


. In addition, the cutting blade


20


has upon a side portion thereof an integrally formed nut portion


102


having a throughbore


104


within which a suitable fastener, not shown, can be inserted. The fastener is also adapted to be inserted through the oval-shaped aperture


48


defined within the web member


38


. It is also seen that the vertical height or extent of the cutting blade


20


is less than that of the recessed region


46


defined within the sidewall portion of the web member


38


and the base portion or foundation


34


. In this manner, the vertical disposition of the cutting blade


20


, and more particularly, that of the cutting edge


32


of the cutting blade


20


, is thus able to be positionally adjusted, when the fastener, not shown, is appropriately loosened and subsequently tightened, such that new regions of the cutting blade edge


32


can be positioned or aligned with respect to the slot


28


, as the cutting blade


20


experiences wear, within which the strapping


26


to be cut is disposed so as to be cut by means of the cutting blade


20


.




Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, there has been provided a manually-operable cutting tool, for cutting or severing plastic strapping, wherein the tool is compact in size and easily manipulable by means of an operator's single hand, and wherein further, the strapping is readily able to be inserted into the housing slot and forced into contact with the cutting blade by means of the pusher element when the handle is pivotally moved relative to the housing. The interior disposition of the cutting blade also renders the tool safe for operator personnel in that the cutting edge of the blade is not externally exposed.




Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.



Claims
  • 1. A manually-operated, hand-held cutting tool, capable of being manipulatively operable by an operator's single hand, for cutting a strip of material, comprising:a housing for engaging a first portion of an operator's hand when said hand-held cutting tool is held within the operator's hand; an elongated insertion slot, comprising an open end and two oppositely disposed open sides, defined within said housing so as to have a predetermined longitudinal directional orientation along which a strip of material, to be cut, can be inserted into said housing through said open end and moved within said housing; a cutting blade fixedly mounted upon said housing and having a cutting edge that extends into said insertion slot for cutting the strip of material; and a handle for engaging a second portion of the operator's hand when said hand-held cutting tool is held within the operator's hand and having a portion that is extendable into said insertion slot, wherein said handle is mounted upon said housing for manual manipulable movement with respect to said housing between a first position remote from said cutting blade so as to permit the strip of material to be inserted into said insertion slot along said predetermined longitudinal directional orientation and thereby be disposed adjacent to said cutting blade, and a second position adjacent to said cutting blade such that, when said handle is moved from said first position to said second position, said portion of said handle, extending into said insertion slot, engages the strip of material and forces the strip of material to be moved along said predetermined longitudinal directional orientation and into contact with said cutting blade whereby said cutting blade cuts the strip of material.
  • 2. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises:a base portion; and an upstanding web portion integrally attached to said base portion; said insertion slot defined within said housing is located between said base portion and a lower end portion of said upstanding web portion so as to permit insertion of the strip of material into said housing such that said portion of said handle can force the strip of material into engagement with said cutting blade so as to be severed by said cutting blade.
  • 3. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 2, wherein:said portion of said handle for forcing the strip of material into engagement with said cutting blade comprises a pusher element which is pivotally mounted upon said handle between a first position at which said pusher element can permit the strip of material to be inserted into said insertion slot of said housing in preparation for a cutting operation by said cutting blade, and a second position at which said pusher element can engage the strip of material so as to force the strip of material into engagement with said cutting blade as said handle is moved from said first position remote from said cutting blade to said second position adjacent to said cutting blade.
  • 4. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 3, wherein:said base portion of said housing comprises an upstanding rib member; and said pusher element comprises a bifurcated structure having a pair of laterally separated side portions defining a space therebetween for accommodating said rib member of said base portion of said housing and for permitting movement of said pusher element along said base portion of said housing as said handle is moved from said first position remote from said cutting blade to said second position adjacent to said cutting blade.
  • 5. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 2, wherein:said handle comprises a bifurcated structure having a pair of laterally separated side wall portions defining a space therebetween for accommodating said web portion of said housing and for permitting movement of said handle from said first position remote from said cutting blade to said second position adjacent to said cutting blade.
  • 6. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:a first spring member interposed between said housing and said handle for normally biasing said handle to said first position remote from said cutting blade.
  • 7. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 6, wherein:said portion of said handle comprises a pusher element; and a second spring member is interposed between said handle and said pusher element for normally biasing said pusher element toward said insertion slot.
  • 8. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 6, wherein:an elongated aperture is defined within said housing; and a pin is mounted upon said handle and disposed within said aperture of said housing for limiting the movement of said handle with respect to said housing from said second position adjacent to said cutting blade toward said first position remote from said cutting blade under the influence of said first spring member.
  • 9. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:means for mounting said cutting blade upon said hous-ing for permitting said cutting blade to be adjustably mov-able upon said housing whereby new portions of said cutting blade are positioned for performing a cutting operation as said cutting blade experiences wear.
  • 10. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said handle comprises fingergrip portions; and said housing comprises a palm-support portion, whereby said manually-operable cutting tool is able to be manipulated by an operator in accordance with a one-handed operation.
  • 11. A manually-operated, hand-held cutting tool, capable of being manipulatively operable by an operator's single hand, for cutting plastic strapping material, comprising:a housing for engaging a first portion of an operator's hand when said hand-held cutting tool is held within the operator's hand; an elongated insertion slot, comprising an open end and two oppositely disposed open sides, defined within said housing so as to have a predetermined longitudinal directional orientation along which plastic strapping material, to be cut, can be inserted into said housing through said open end and moved within said housing; a cutting blade fixedly mounted upon said housing and having a cutting edge that extends into said insertion slot for cutting the plastic strapping material; and a handle for engaging a second portion of the operator's hand when said hand-held cutting tool is held within the operator's hand and having a portion that is extendable into said insertion slot, wherein said handle is mounted upon said housing for manual manipulable movement with respect to said housing between a first position remote from said cutting blade so as to permit the plastic strapping material to be inserted into said insertion slot along said predetermined longitudinal directional orientation and thereby be disposed adjacent to said cutting blade, and a second position adjacent to said cutting blade such that, when said handle is moved from said first position to said second position, said portion of said handle, extending into said insertion slot, engages the plastic strapping material and forces the plastic strapping material to be moved along said predetermined longitudinal directional orientation and into contact with said cutting blade whereby said cutting blade cuts the plastic strapping material.
  • 12. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 11, wherein said housing comprises:a base portion; and an upstanding web portion integrally attached to said base portion; said insertion slot defined within said housing is located between said base portion and a lower end portion of said upstanding web portion so as to permit insertion of the plastic strapping material into said housing such that said portion of said handle can force the plastic strapping material into engagement with said cutting blade so as to be severed by said cutting blade.
  • 13. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 12, wherein:said portion of said handle for forcing the plastic strapping material into engagement with said cutting blade comprises a pusher element which is pivotally mounted upon said handle between a first position at which said pusher element can permit the plastic strapping material to be inserted into said insertion slot of said housing in preparation for a cutting operation by said cutting blade, and a second position at which said pusher element can engage the plastic strapping material so as to force the plastic strapping material into engagement with said cutting blade as said handle is moved from said first position remote from said cutting blade to said second position adjacent to said cutting blade.
  • 14. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 3, wherein:said base portion of said housing comprises an upstanding rib member; and said pusher element comprises a bifurcated structure having a pair of laterally separated side portions defining a space therebetween for accommodating said rib member of said base portion of said housing and for permitting movement of said pusher element along said base portion of said housing as said handle is moved from said first position remote from said cutting blade to said second position adjacent to said cutting blade.
  • 15. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 12, wherein:said handle comprises a bifurcated structure having a pair of laterally separated side wall portions defining a space therebetween for accommodating said web portion of said housing and for permitting movement of said handle from said first position remote from said cutting blade to said second position adjacent to said cutting blade.
  • 16. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:a first spring member interposed between said housing and said handle for normally biasing said handle to said first position remote from said cutting blade.
  • 17. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 16, wherein:said portion of said handle comprises a pusher element; and a second spring member is interposed between said handle and said pusher element for normally biasing said pusher element toward said insertion slot.
  • 18. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 6, wherein:an elongated aperture is defined within said housing; and a pin is mounted upon said handle and disposed within said aperture of said housing for limiting the movement of said handle with respect to said housing from said second position adjacent to said cutting blade toward said first position remote from said cutting blade under the influence of said first spring member.
  • 19. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:means for mounting said cutting blade upon said housing for permitting said cutting blade to be adjustably movable upon said housing whereby new portions of said cutting blade are positioned for performing a cutting operation as said cutting blade experiences wear.
  • 20. A manually-operated cutting tool as set forth in claim 11, wherein:said handle comprises fingergrip portions; and said housing comprises a palm-support portion, whereby said manually-operable cutting tool is able to be manipulated by an operator in accordance with a one-handed operation.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Number Name Date Kind
501928 Fairbanks Jul 1893 A
533164 Criswell Jan 1895 A
1356941 Rece Oct 1920 A
1478684 Taylor et al. Dec 1923 A
2120375 Shaver et al. Jun 1938 A
2283029 Bakewell May 1942 A
2407924 Garfunkel Sep 1946 A
2497289 Bloomfield Feb 1950 A
3114277 Clendenin Dec 1963 A
4028802 Houghton et al. Jun 1977 A
4644646 Ladin Feb 1987 A
4831734 De Ruyter et al. May 1989 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
2581915 Nov 1986 FR