Patent ID: 6349479
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: B26B

Abstract:
A ruler for guiding a blade and for providing shielding protection from the blade for the hand of a user not holding the blade, not only when the blade is drawn along said ruler and cuts a sheet of material, but also if the blade should be lifted and accidentally dropped during use, said ruler comprising:a) a base for overlying the sheet of material to be cut and for guiding the blade; and b) a shield extending upwardly from said base for facilitating carrying and placing of said ruler and for providing shielding protection from the blade for the hand of the user not holding the blade, not only when the blade is drawn along said ruler and cuts the sheet of material, but also if the blade should be lifted and accidentally dropped during use, wherein said base has: A) a length; B) a lowermost surface that is flat for overlying the sheet of material to be cut; C) an uppermost surface that is flat, and disposed above, and parallel to, said lowermost surface thereof for having the hand of the user not holding the blade engage thereupon; D) a leading edge that has a length and is straight for guiding the blade; E) a trailing edge that is straight, and disposed behind, and parallel to, said leading edge thereof; and F) a pair of ends that are straight and parallel to each other and perpendicular to both said leading edge thereof and said trailing edge thereof, by virtue of said base being rectangular-shaped, wherein said shield extends skewly rearwardly upwardly, at a lowermost edge thereof that is straight, from said uppermost surface of said base, to an uppermost edge thereof that is straight and at an elevation above the hand of the user not holding the blade for allowing said shield to cover, and isolate, the hand of the user not holding the blade, and as a result thereof, said shield provides shielding protection from the blade for the hand of the user not holding the blade, not only when the blade is drawn along said ruler and cuts the sheet of material, but also if the blade should be lifted and accidently dropped during use, wherein said shield further has a pair of ends that extend coplanarly-upwardly from said pair of ends of said base, respectively, wherein said shield further has a front surface that is flat and extends skewly rearwardly upwardly from said uppermost surface of said base, from one end of said shield to the other end of said shield so as to extend said length of said base, in its entirety, wherein said shield further has a back surface that is disposed behind said front surface thereof, and extends from one end of said shield to the other end of said shield, wherein said back surface of said shield has a lower portion that is flat and extends vertically upwardly from said uppermost surface of said base, wherein said uppermost surface of said base has a first recess therein that is rectangular-shaped, and extends longitudinally from, and opens into, one said end of said base, to, and opens into, the other said end of said base, and laterally, at a rearmost extreme thereof, from slightly forwardly of said trailing edge of said base, to said lower portion of said back surface of said shield so as to extend over a substantial amount of said uppermost surface of said base, wherein said base further comprises a first pad of anti-skip material that is continuous and completely fills said first recess in said base for providing cushioned comfort for, and preventing the hand of the user not holding the blade from skipping along said base when stabilizing and holding said ruler down.