Abstract:
A ring cutting device for cutting a ring lodged on a human finger and a device for separating and extracting a cut ring that is still on a wearer&#39;s finger. The ring cutting device can be operated by a single hand and includes an elongate power and drive portion that fits comfortable in a user&#39;s hand, a finger guard portion having a ring guard and a biasing system, a housing having a protective shield and a mount for mounting the finger guard portion, and a cutting portion having a rotatable circular saw blade that is mechanically coupled to the rotary drive mechanism of the power and drive portion. The power and drive portion includes a rotary drive mechanism that is mechanically coupled to a rotary drive motor the power and a light source for illuminating the ring during a cutting operation. The biasing system is mechanically coupled to the ring guard which includes a notched area for seating the ring before cutting and is disposed orthogonal or substantially orthogonal with respect to the longitudinal axis of the power and drive portion. Rotation of the circular saw blade is about the longitudinal axis of the power and drive portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A tool for cutting a ring to remove it from a finger is often necessary, e.g., under emergency circumstances, or when the ring finger is swollen, inflamed, or otherwise injured. Referring to  FIG. 1 , U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,730 discloses a first-generation electric-powered ring cutting tool  10  for removing a ring from a finger. The cutting tool includes a rotatable saw blade  22 , a high speed electrical drive motor  20  for driving the saw blade  22 , a starting capacitor  25  for selectively starting the drive motor  20 , and a pivoting lever arm  30 , all of which are contained in or coupled to an elongate housing  10 . 
         [0004]    The lever arm  30  is pivotably attached to the housing  10  at a pivot point  31 , which separates the lever arm  30  into a first, butted end  32 , which has a thumb seat  35  and a second, indented end  33 , which contains a squared notch  34  that is structured and arranged to support the ring and to maintain the ring in a steady position during the cutting operation. In operation, a user&#39;s thumb applies pressure to the thumb seat  35  at the butted end  32  of the pivoting lever arm  30 , causing the butted end  32  to translate and engage a switch arm  14  to activate the motor  20 . Application of downward pressure to the first, butted end  32  further causes the indented end  33  to rotate generally about the pivot point  31  upward toward the saw blade  22 . The indented end  33  provides a stand-off distance between the saw blade  22  and the finger when the saw blade  22  is cutting through the ring. 
         [0005]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the axis of rotation  29  of the drive shaft  23  of the saw blade  22  and the drive motor  20  are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  15  of the housing  10  such that the direction of the cut is parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  15  of the housing  10 . The direction of rotation of the indented end  33  of the lever arm  30  is also parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  15  of the housing  10 . 
         [0006]    An improved method of ring cutting, an ergonomic ring cutting device, a ring cutting device that is faster and safer, and the desire for greater operating safety has necessitated a second generation electric ring cutting tool. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A ring cutting device for cutting a ring lodged on a human finger is disclosed. The device includes an elongate power and drive portion that fits comfortable in a user&#39;s hand, a finger guard portion having an L-shaped ring guard and a biasing system, a base portion having a protective shield and a mount for mounting the finger guard portion, and a cutting portion having a rotatable circular saw blade that is mechanically coupled to the rotary drive mechanism of the power and drive portion. The power and drive portion includes a rotary drive mechanism that is mechanically coupled to a rotary drive motor and an optional light source for illuminating the ring and work area during a cutting operation. 
         [0008]    The biasing system is mechanically coupled to the base portion to self-adjust the ring guard portion. The ring guard, which is disposed orthogonal or substantially orthogonal with respect to the longitudinal axis of the power and drive portion, includes a notched area for seating the ring before cutting. Rotation of the circular saw blade is about the longitudinal axis of the power and drive portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof and from the claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic of an electric ring cutting device in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic of an electric ring cutting device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded schematic view of the electric ring cutting device of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a detail of the self-adjusting design of the ring guard portion; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a separation and extraction device; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  shows an end-on view of the embodiment of a separation and extraction device shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5C  shows a plan view of the embodiment of a separation and extraction device shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6A  shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of an end element for the separation and extraction device of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6B  shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of an end element for the separation and extraction device of  FIG. 5A ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  shows a plan view of another an embodiment of a separation and extraction device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  a single-handed electric-powered ring cutting device  90  is shown. The device  90  includes a finger guard portion  40 , a cutting portion  50 , a base portion  60 , and a power and drive portion  70 . 
         [0021]    The power and drive portion  70  is an elongate, cylindrically-shaped or substantially cylindrically-shaped device that is designed to be held in and operated using a single hand. The power and drive portion  70  is structured and arranged to accommodate a bi-directional electric drive motor (not shown), e.g., a rotary motor, and a power source, e.g., at least one removable and/or rechargeable battery (not shown), an AC power outlet cord (not shown), and the like, within its cylindrical body  72 . 
         [0022]    At a proximal end of the power and drive portion  70  is a rotating drive mechanism  55 , e.g., a rotor shaft, that includes a center opening  57  for attaching the cutting portion  50  to the rotating drive mechanism  55 . In a first embodiment, the rotating drive mechanism  55  and center opening  57  constitute a conventional hex-drive component. The rotating drive mechanism  55  can be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical in shape and is mechanically coupled to the rotary drive motor. 
         [0023]    Also at the proximal end of the power and drive portion  70  is an optional light source  76 , e.g., a light bulb, a light-emitting diode (LED), and the like, for the purpose of illuminating the cutting area when the cutting portion  50  is in operation. The light source  76  is adapted to automatically turn ON when the rotating drive mechanism  55  is operating and to turn OFF when the rotating drive mechanism  55  is not operating. Optionally, a selector switch (not shown) can be provided on the cylindrical body  72  to turn ON/OFF the light source  76 . 
         [0024]    A power (ON/OFF) button  74  is provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical body  72 . The ON/OFF button  74  is a selector switch that, when turned ON, delivers power to the rotary drive motor and to the light source  76  selectively. A drive direction switch  75  is also provided and adapted to operate the rotary drive motor selectively in a forward (clockwise) direction or a reverse (counter-clockwise) direction. Prior art devices typically have mechanically blocked the blade operating from in a reverse direction. However, enabling the blade to operate in a reverse direction facilitates clearing blade jams. 
         [0025]    The base portion  60  includes a first housing portion  63  and second housing portion  64 , which can be releasably attached to each other using a plurality of fastening devices  61 , e.g., screws, bolts, and the like, that are disposed through a corresponding plurality of openings  62  provided for that purpose. When the first housing portion  63  and second housing portion  64  are mated, the inner surface  65  of the hollow base portion  60  has a substantially cylindrical shape having openings  66   a  and  66   b  at both ends. The inner diameter of the base portion  60  is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the power and drive portion  70  so that when the power and drive portion  70  is inserted between the two housing portion  63  and  64  and the fastening devices  61  are tightened, the base portion  60  forms a tight, interference fit with the power and drive portion  70 . 
         [0026]    The rear opening  66   b  is sized to accommodate the power and drive portion  70  while the front opening  66   a  is sized to accommodate the rotating drive mechanism  55  and, moreover, to allow light from the light source  76  to pass through the front opening  66   a,  to illuminate the finger guard  40  and the cutting portions  50  during a cutting operation. 
         [0027]    The base portion  60  includes a protective blade shield  69  that is disposed at the forward end of the base portion  60  and that is integrated into the second housing portion  64 . The protective blade shield  69  provides some protection against harm that can be caused by a rotating saw blade  59 . The base portion  60  also includes a mount  67  that is integrated into or onto the protective blade shield  69 . The mount  67  is structured and arranged to accommodate the ring guard portion  40 . More specifically, the mount  67  includes an opening  68  through which a portion of the ring guard portion  40  can translate freely. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a detail of the ring guard portion  40  is shown. The ring guard portion  40  includes an L-shaped or substantially L-shaped ring guard and a biasing device. The leg of the L-shaped ring guard is the ring guard  47  itself while the stem of the L-shaped ring guard is a translating portion  46 . The translating portion  46  is adapted to fit into and to translate within the opening  68  in the mount  67  without resistance. An opening  71  at the top of the translating portion  46  is provided for releasably attaching the biasing portion to the top of the translating portion  46 . 
         [0029]    The biasing portion provides a generally upward biasing force to the ring guard portion  40  for the purpose of self-adjustment. For that purpose, the biasing portion includes a biasing spring  43 , a reaction plate  42 , and a fastening device  41 . The outer diameter of the biasing spring  43  is greater than the greatest dimension of the opening  68  in the mount  67  but smaller than the outer diameter of the reaction plate  42 . The inner diameter of the biasing spring  43  is greater than the outer diameter or outer periphery of the translating portion  46 , to allow the translating portion  46  to translate along the longitudinal axis of and within the biasing spring  43 . 
         [0030]    The translating portion  46  is disposed within the opening  68  and within the biasing spring  43 . The fastening device  41  is attached to the opening  71  in the translating portion  46  so that the reaction plate  42  and the biasing spring  43  are releasably attached to the same. When not in use, the biasing spring  43  biases the saw blade ring guard  47  so that the teeth, i.e., the outer peripheral surface, of the saw blade  59  are contained within the trough portion  48  of the ring guard  47 . When the ring guard  47  is disposed between the annulus  95  of the ring  100  to be cut and the wearer&#39;s finger, the biasing spring  43  forces the annulus  95  of the ring  100  towards the saw blade  59 . 
         [0031]    The ring guard  47  of the L-shaped ring guard is fixedly attached to or permanently integrated into the distal end of the translating portion  46 . The ring guard  47  includes a trough portion  48  that is sized to accommodate the least dimension, i.e., the thickness, of the saw blade  59 . The ring guard  47  also includes a notched area  49  that is structured and arranged to accommodate and to provide some degree of confinement or seating to a ring  100 . 
         [0032]    The cutting portion  50  includes a rotable, circular saw blade  59 , e.g., a standard saw blade, a diamond-coated blade, and the like, and means for releasably attaching the rotary saw blade  59  to the rotating drive mechanism  55  of the power and drive portion  70 . Advantageously, the means for releasably attaching the rotary saw blade  59  to the rotating drive mechanism  55  are designed for ease of removal and replacement. When properly attached, the rotary saw blade  59  will be disposed immediately below the protective blade shield  69  and the least dimension of the saw blade  49  will be in registration with and seated in the trough portion  48  of the ring guard  47 . 
         [0033]    In addition to the saw blade  59 , the cutting portion  50  includes a hex-drive connector pin  53 , i.e., a hex insert, a cylindrical spacer  54 , a cylindrical top portion  52 , and a fastening device  58 . A first end of the hex drive connector pin  53  is adapted to be inserted into the hex-drive opening  57  of the rotating drive mechanism  55  and to provide a tight, interference fit therewith. A second end of the connector pin  53  includes an elongate, D-shaped post  51  that is adapted to be inserted into and through an opening in the cylindrical spacer  54  and a D-shaped opening in the saw blade  59 . 
         [0034]    A locking device  56 , e.g., a cylinder screw, is adapted to be inserted into a small opening on the peripheral face of the cylindrical spacer  54  and to exert a force against the flat face of the D-shaped post  51 , to lock the cylindrical spacer  54  onto the connector pin  53 . Furthermore, a fastening device  58 , e.g., a screw, a bolt, and the like, is mechanically coupled to an opening  79  in the tip of the D-shaped post  51 . 
         [0035]    Although the ring cutting device  90  has been described assuming a single rotary saw blade, the invention is not to be construed as being limited thereto. For example, the ring cutting device  90  can include a multi-blade, e.g., a twin-blade, cutting portion  50 . The twin-blade embodiment would include a pair of rotary saw blades  59  that are separated by a spacing washer (not shown). Such an embodiment would produce a wider cut through the ring, e.g., approximately ¼ inch but dependent on the thicknesses of the saw blades  59  and of the spacing washer. 
         [0036]    Having described an electric ring cutting device, a method of cutting a ring from a finger will now be described. First, the ring guard  47  of the ring guard portion  40  is routed between the ring  100  to be removed and the wearer&#39;s finger. More particularly, the ring  100  is disposed within the notched portion  49  of the ring guard  47 . Once the ring  100  is secured in the notched portion, the ON/OFF switch  75  of the power and drive portion  70  can be moved to the ON position, causing the saw blade(s) to rotate. 
         [0037]    The biasing system keeps the ring  100  in contact with the rotating saw blade(s)  59 . So that, as the saw blades  59  cut through the ring  100 , the ring  100  is automatically biased against the saw blade(s)  59 . Once the saw blade(s)  59  has passed through the ring  100  and contacts the trough portion  48  of the ring guard  47 , the ON/OFF switch  75  of the power and drive portion  70  can be moved to the OFF position and the ring guard  47  of the ring guard portion  40  is extracted from between the ring  100  and the wearer&#39;s finger. 
         [0038]    Once cut, some cut rings  100  can be removed by working the ring  100  off of the wearer&#39;s finger. Using a pair of rotating saw blades produces a wider cut, which would make it even easier to remove. The rotating saw blades in the pair would be separated by a spacer or washer or a pre-determined thickness, to provide the wider cut. In some instances, however, a separation and extraction device may be necessary. 
         [0039]    A first embodiment of a separation and extraction device  80  is shown in  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5C . The device  80  resembles a pair of pliers, with a pair of gripping ends  82  and  84  rotatably coupled to each other at a pivot point  86 . Optionally, a spring can be provided to bias the jaws  81  and  83  of the device  80  closed. 
         [0040]    Distal from the pair of gripping ends  82  and  84  and on the other side of the pivot point  86  is a pair of pinching jaws  81  and  83  that are in contact with one another when the pair of gripping ends  82  and  84  are in a rest state as illustrated. Squeezing the gripping ends  82  and  84  together causes the gripping ends  82  and  84  to approach one another and the jaws  81  and  83  to separate and move apart from one another. 
         [0041]    At the tip of each jaw  81  and  83  are corresponding end elements  89  and  87 , which, collectively, are structured and arranged to fit between the gap in the annulus  95  of the cut ring  100 . Each of the end elements  89  and  87  is adapted to retain one of the cut ends of the annulus  95  of the ring  100 ; so that, when force is applied to gripping ends  82  and  84  and the jaws  81  and  83  separate and move apart from one another, the end elements  89  and  87  force apart the retained ends of the annuls  95 , making it easier to remove the ring  100  from the wearer&#39;s finger. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 6A , a first embodiment of an end element  87  is shown. Those of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the other end element  89  would be a reflection of the end element  87  shown in  FIG. 6A . As previously mentioned, the end elements  87  and  89  are fixedly or removably attached to the jaws  83  and  81 . The end element  87  includes a top portion  91  and a bottom portion  92  and a notched portion that includes notch faces  93  and  94 , which meet at the notch  95 . In operation, the end elements  87  and  89  are positioned so that the cut ends of the ring  100  are positioned against the notch faces  93  and  94  and when the gripping ends  82  and  84  are squeezed together, frictional contact between the notch faces and  94  and the cut ends of the ring  100  pulls the ends further apart. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 6B , a second embodiment of an end element  87  is shown. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, further including a wall  96 , which is structured and arranged to hold the ends of the ring  100 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a third embodiment of a separation and extraction device  99  is shown. As with the first embodiment  80  described herein above, the device  99  resembles a pair of pliers, with a pair of gripping ends  82  and  84  rotatably coupled to each other at a pivot point  86 . Distal from the pair of gripping ends  82  and  84  and on the other side of the pivot point  86  is a pair of pinching jaws  81  and  83  that are in contact with one another when the pair of gripping ends  82  and  84  are in a rest state as illustrated. Squeezing the gripping ends  82  and  84  together causes the gripping ends  82  and  84  to approach one another and the jaws  81  and  83  to separate and move apart from one another. 
         [0045]    At the tip of each jaw  81  and  83  are corresponding V-shaped end elements  93  and  94 , which, collectively, are structured and arranged to fit between the gap in the annulus  95  of the cut ring  100 . Each of the end elements  93  and  94  is adapted to retain one of the cut ends of the annulus  95  of the ring  100 ; so that, when force is applied to gripping ends  82  and  84  and the jaws  81  and  83  separate and move apart from one another, the end elements  93  and  94  force apart the retained ends of the annuls  95 , making it easier to remove the ring  100  from the wearer&#39;s finger. 
         [0046]    Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.