Patent ID: 9566716
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: B26B,B26D

Claim:
1. A cutting assembly configured to cut tubing, the cutting assembly comprising: first and second arms pivotally coupled together such that the first arm can pivot relative to the second arm; a blade releasably coupled to the first arm and oriented such that a longitudinal axis of the blade is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first arm; a mounting unit configured to support the blade in the cutting assembly and inhibit rotational movement of the blade relative to the first and second arms; and a release mechanism coupling the mounting unit to the first arm, and operable to selectively couple the blade to the first arm so that the blade is selectively removable from the first arm without decoupling the first arm and the second arm, the release mechanism defining a hinge assembly about which the first and second arms pivot; wherein the release mechanism is moveable between a first position in which the release mechanism couples the blade to the first arm and a second position in which the release mechanism allows the blade to be removed from the first arm; wherein the release mechanism includes a sleeve moveable relative to the first and second arms and to the blade, and wherein the sleeve is positioned within an opening of the blade when the release mechanism is in the first position and wherein the sleeve is positioned out of the opening of the blade when the release mechanism is in the second position; and wherein the sleeve defines at least part of the hinge assembly about which the first and second arms pivot.