Abstract:
A hand-held conduit-cutting device is disclosed. The device uses a battery powered, motor driven reciprocating saw blade to cut electrical conduit and other tubing. The apparatus can be angled to a variety of positions to make positioning the conduit-cutting device easier for cutting the conduit or other tubing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention generally relates to the field of tube cutting devices and, in particular, to a hand-held, battery-operated tool for cutting tubing and electrical conduit.  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Electricians and plumbers must cut tubing to provide lengths suitable for use in installing electrical conduits and plumbing systems. While there have been powered cutters for many years, commercially available machines can hardly be considered to be portable. Proposals for hand held tools have had shortcomings that presumably resulted in a lack of commercialization.  
         [0005]     Conduit cutting can be quite difficult and awkward, especially if the cutting must be performed at the job site, and the location of the operation is quite confined. Often, the person making the cut must hold some other item, such as an element covering the conduit being cut, or the like while the cutting operation is being carried out. In such an instance, the cutting operation may require two people, which can be wasteful.  
         [0006]     In many instances, the conduit or tubing may be in the ceiling requiring the operator to lift the cutting tool over the operator&#39;s head throughout the duration of the procedure.  
         [0007]     While the art has many tube cutters, and even has several examples of hand-held tube cutters, none of the devices presently known in the art is capable of performing cutting operations at a variety of angles while being held in a user&#39;s hand, and while further permitting the user to have his other hand free.  
         [0008]     Therefore, there is a need for a conduit-cutting device that can be operated by a single user with one hand and that can also perform other operations associated with a conduit cutting operation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a conduit-cutting device that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.  
         [0010]     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a conduit-cutting device that can be operated by a single user with one hand.  
         [0011]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a motorized conduit-cutting device that can be adjusted to a variety of angles. A related object is to provide a conduit-cutting device having a variable speed motor. A further related object is to provide a conduit-cutting device that is portable.  
         [0012]     The present invention relates to a portable conduit-cutting device for cutting conduit that comprises tubing made of metal or other semi-rigid material. While various sizes of such tubing may be cut, the embodiment described herein is designed to cut conduit having a diameter of from ¼ inch to 1 inch. The portable conduit-cutting device of the present invention may be powered by a battery mounted in a housing comprising part of the assembly.  
         [0013]     An important object of the present invention is to provide a conduit-cutting device that is sufficiently automatic that an operator can cut off sections of conduit using only one hand to operate the device, allowing a second hand for holding or positioning the conduit as necessary. The portable conduit-cutting device of the present invention can be preliminarily set by an operator for a cutting operation, and thereafter the operator can hold the device and operate it using only one hand.  
         [0014]     In accordance with the above objects, a conduit-cutting device is disclosed. The device uses a battery powered, motor driven reciprocating saw blade to cut electrical conduit and other tubing. The apparatus can be angled to a variety of positions to make positioning the conduit-cutting device easier for cutting the conduit or other tubing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are considered in more detail, in relation to the following description of embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a side elevational view of a conduit cutting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a top plan view of a conduit cutting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     The invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated claims may be better understood by referring to the following description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers are used for like parts. This description of an embodiment, set out below to enable one to practice an implementation of the invention, is not intended to limit the preferred embodiment, but to serve as a particular example thereof. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and specific embodiments disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other methods and systems for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent assemblies do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.  
         [0019]     Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a conduit-cutting device, indicated generally as  10 , according to the present invention. The cutting device  10  comprises a handle portion  13  and a pivotable cutting portion  15 . The handle portion  13  includes a trigger switch  18  and a housing  21  for a battery  24 . The cutting portion  15  includes a blade  27  operationally connected to a reciprocating motor  30 , and an opening  33  that enables a piece of conduit tubing to be urged into the opening  33  while cutting.  
         [0020]     In some embodiments, the motor  30  enables variable speed operation of the blade  27 . The motor  30  is powered by battery  24  through trigger switch  18  that controls power to the motor  30 . The battery  24  is connected to the motor  30  through the switch  18 . In a preferred embodiment, the battery  24  is a Lithium polymer rechargeable battery or a Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable battery. Other types of batteries can be used. A charging port for the battery  24  may also be provided.  
         [0021]     The cutting portion  15  is pivotably connected to the handle portion  13  by means of a hinge  36  so that the cutting portion  15  can be conveniently adjusted to enable cutting of conduit at any desired position. A release lever  39  on the handle portion  13  operationally engages the cutting portion to lock or release the pivotable cutting portion  15  from its in-line position. In a preferred embodiment, the release lever  39  enables the cutting portion to be locked in any desired angled position from 0° to 90°.  
         [0022]     To ensure complete cutting of a conduit, a viewing window  42  may be provided in the cutting portion  15 . An operator can view the conduit through the viewing window  42  to see that the blade  27  has penetrated completely through the conduit. In some embodiments, a light  45  may be included to illuminate the viewing window. The light  45  should also be powered by the battery  24  and operate simultaneously with operation of the blade  27 . In some embodiments, the light  45  can operate independently of the blade operation.  
         [0023]     An accessory bolt-cutting device  48  may also be provided. The bolt cutting device  48  comprises a substantially crescent-shaped holding plate  51  pivotally attached to the cutting portion  15 . The holding plate  51  includes a plurality of apertures  54  sized and configured to enable bolts of varying sizes to be engaged by at least one of the apertures  54 . In a preferred embodiment, the apertures  54  may be internally threaded to hold a bolt in place. A pin  57  is provided on the holding plate  51  to enable an operator to rotate the plate about hinge  60 , so the blade  27  can engage the bolt for cutting. In use, an operator places a bolt in an appropriate aperture  54  and rotates the holding plate until the bolt engages the blade  27 . The motor is started to begin operation of the blade  27  and the operator continues to urge the bolt against the blade  27  to cut through the bolt. In a preferred embodiment, the holding plate  51  may be biased to return to the disengaged position by a spring or other means.  
         [0024]     The invention has been described with references to preferred embodiments. While specific values, relationships, materials and steps have been set forth for purposes of describing concepts of the invention, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the basic concepts and operating principles of the invention as broadly described. It should be recognized that, in the light of the above teachings, those skilled in the art can modify those specifics without departing from the invention taught herein. Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is intended to include all such modifications, alternatives and other embodiments insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or equivalents thereof. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein. Consequently, the present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.