Abstract:
Cable and wire cutters of new design have an outside cutter member containing an arcuate cavity within which an inside cylinderical cutter member rotates about a common pivot axis so separate cutting slots in the outside and inside cutter members cross during the cutting operation within the circumference of the inside cutter thereby remarkably improving the mechanical advantage in these new cutters as compared to the prior art because cutting of the work piece occurs closer to the common pivot axis of the cutting slots than has been possible with prior known cable and wire cutters. A variety of specific embodiments of the new cutter design are disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to new, improved cable and wire cutters. More particularly, it concerns cable and wire cutters of unique design that permit the cutting to be performed more easily and quietly than with prior known types of such cutters. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The construction of prior art cable and wire cutters has depended upon the positioning of two cutting members adjacent a solid pin upon which such members pivot. The diameter of the pivot pin must be sufficiently large to carry the load caused by the shearing action of the cutting members. The result is that the work piece being cut is located a significant distance from the pivot point and this, in turn, requires long handles or force multipliers to develop the force in the cutting members necessary to cut the work piece. Thus, the mechanical advantage of a simple cutter is the distance from the pivot point to the point of applied force, roughly the handle length, divided by the length from the center of the work piece to the center of the pivot, e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,338. As the distance from the center of the work piece to the center of the pivot point increases, both the force required to make the cut and the load on the pivot increase. 
     In order to reduce the length of handles required to develop the force necessary to cut cables and wires, so-called compound cutters comprising force multipliers, e.g., gear or cam systems have been developed as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,378,636, 4,677,748, 5,184,404 &amp; 5,689,888. 
     The present invention has provided an improvement in the art of construction of cable and wire cutters by the discovery of a new design that locates the cutting surfaces extremely close to their pivot point. 
     OBJECTS 
     A principal object of the invention is the provision of cable and wire cutters that are substantially different from previous styles of such cutters that have been built in the past. 
     Further objects include the provision of cable and wire cutters that: 
     (1) Have the ability to get their cutter notches closer to the pivot point of the two opposing cutter blades then has been possible with related cutters of the prior art. 
     (2) Locate the opposing cutting surfaces within the pivot joint of the cutters. 
     (3) Are capable of cutting wire or cable without creating any appreciable snipping sound or like noise so that use of the new cutters does not compromise night security. 
     (4) Operate in cutting cable to bring the cutting surfaces against the cable in a manner that does not squash the cut ends of the cable. 
     (5) Have one of the cutting members of the cutter serve as the pivot element thereof. 
     (6) Have the pivot element thereof with a diameter greater than the cable or wire to be cut by the cutter. 
     (7) Are of a design that allows them to be combined with a knife or other tool readily to make combination tools. 
     (8) Are capable of being combined with gears, cams or like power multiplying mechanisms. 
     (9) Can be structured in a “pull-to-cut” configuration to provide maximium cutting force to the work piece at the start of the cut. 
     (10) Function when used to cut cable or wire with a shearing action as opposed to a crushing action. 
     Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed descriptions given herein; it should be understood, however, that the detailed descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent from such descriptions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objects are accomplished in accordance with the invention by the provision of cable and wire cutters of new design comprising an outside cutter member containing an arcuate cavity within which an inside cylinderical cutter member rotates about a common pivot axis so separate cutting slots in the outside and inside cutter members cross during the cutting operation within the circumference of the inside cutter. Such construction remarkably improves the mechanical advantage in the new cutter as compared to the prior art because cutting of the work piece occurs closer to the common pivot axis of the cutting slots than has been possible with prior known cable and wire cutters. 
     The new cable and wire cutters of the invention basically comprise a first cutter member, a second cutter member and force means to rotate the first cutter member relative to the second cutter member about a common pivot axis to cut a work piece. 
     The first cutter member contains an arcuate cavity defined by a first periphery that is at least partially circular having a first radius “A”. One end of the radius “A” is at the common pivot axis. 
     There is a first slot, sized to receive the work piece, in the first cutter member that extends through the first periphery into the arcuate cavity radially toward the pivot axis. 
     The second cutter member comprises a cylinderical part defined by a circular second periphery having a second radius “B” nearly equal to radius “A” with one end of the radius “B” being positioned at the common pivot axis. 
     There is a second slot, sized to receive the work piece, in the cylindercial part that extends through the second periphery radially toward the common pivot axis. 
     Retaining means holds the cylinderical part in the arcuate cavity for rotation about the pivot axis via the force means to pass the first slot across the second slot to cut the work piece. 
     To rephrase the above in a broad sense, the new cable and wire cutters of the invention comprise a first cutter member and a second cutter member. The second cutter member has a circular periphery defined by a given radius and a given inside end, which circular periphery is greater than the periphery of cable or wire to be cut by said cutter. Also, the first cutter member has a partially circular cavity defined by another radius slightly longer than the given radius and another inside end. Further, the given inside end is coincident with said another inside end whereby the partially circular cavity of the first cutting member serves as the pivot element for the second cutter member. As a result, the pivot element is extremely robust and is located very close to the position at which cutting of the cable or wire occurs whereby a smaller force needs to be applied to the cutter members in order for them to cut the workpiece than has been required in prior know cutters capable of handling a given size of cable or wire. 
     In a first embodiment of the new cutters, the force means comprises a first handle extending from the first cutter member plus a second handle extending from the second cutter member and the first handle is moved toward the second handle to rotate the first slot across the second slot to cut the work piece. Preferrably, the first handle is essentially straight and defined by a first inner end attached to the first cutter member, a first outer end and an elongated midsection integrally joining the first inner end to the first outer end while the second handle is essentially straight and defined by a second inner end attached to the second cutter member, a second outer end and an elongated midsection integrally joining the second inner end to the second outer end. 
     In a second embodiment of the new cutters with a “pull-to-cut” configuration, the force means comprises a first handle extending from the first cutter member plus a second handle extending from the second cutter member and the first handle is moved away from the second handle to rotate the first slot across the second slot to cut the work piece. Preferably, the first handle is U-shaped defined by an first arcuate inner end attached to the first cutter member, an first arcuate outer end and an elongated midsection integrally joining the first acurate inner end to the first arcuate outer end while the second handle is U-shaped and defined by a second arcuate inner end attached to the second cutter member, a second arcuate outer end and an elongated midsection integrally joining the second arcuate inner end to the second arcuate outer end. 
     In a third embodiment of the new cutters, the force means comprises a extension arm fixed at its inner end to the first cutter member with a lever arm pivoted at its inner arm to the outer end of the extension arm. The force means further comprises a crank arm pivoted (a) at its inside end to the second cutter member, (b) pivoted at its outside end to the lever arm between the inner and outer ends of the lever arm and (c) pivoted along its central portion at an adjustable position along the central portion of the extension arm. The central adjustable positioning of the crank arm relative to the extension arm enables the force applied to the second cutter member in movement relative to the first cutter member by the crank arm to be varied. 
     In a fourth embodiment of the new cutters, the force means comprises a knife blade fixed at its inner end to the first cutter member and lever arm fixed at its inner arm to the second cutter member. A handle for the knife blade is slidable along the lever arm between (1) a closed position where its inner end encloses the first and second cutter members and operatively engages the knife blade and (2) an opened position where it functions as an extension of the lever arm for movement of the second cutter member relative to the first cutter member for the cutting of cables or wires. This embodiment of the new cutters serves as a multifunctional military combat weapon, i.e., as a combination combat knife and wire cutter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings in which generic parts of the illustrated matter are indicated by arrowhead lines associated with the designation numerals while specific parts are indicated with plain lines associated with the numerals and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cable and wire cutter of the invention shown cutting a section of wire. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cutter shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is plan view of a portion of a first embodiment of the cable and wire cutters of the invention 
     FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the portion shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the portion shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line  6 — 6  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line  7 — 7  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line  8 — 8  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 9 is an end view taken for the right side of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 10 is plan view of another portion of the first embodiment of the cable and wire cutters of the invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a lateral view of the portion shown in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the portion shown in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is an end view viewed from the right side of the portion shown in FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 14 is an obverse view of retainer means comprising part of the first embodiment of the cable and wire cutters of the invention. 
     FIG. 15 is the reverse view of retainer means of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 16 is a lateral view of the retainer means viewed from the left of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 17 is a lateral view of the retainer means viewed from the bottom of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the retainer means taken on the line  18 — 18  of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 19 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the cable and wire cutters of the invention showing it ready to receive a wire or cable to be cut. 
     FIG. 20 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the cable and wire cutter shown in a position of partial cutting. 
     FIG. 21 is plan view of a portion of the second embodiment of the cable and wire cutters of the invention. 
     FIG. 22 is a lateral view of the portion shown in FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 23 is a bottom view of the portion shown in FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 24 is plan view of another portion of the second embodiment of the cable and wire cutters of the invention. 
     FIG. 25 is a lateral view of the portion shown in FIG.  24 . 
     FIG. 26 is a bottom view of the portion shown in FIG.  24 . 
     FIG. 27 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cable and wire cutter of the invention that comprises force multiplier means with its lever arm in opened position and its first and second cutter members in position to receive a wire or cable for cutting. 
     FIG. 28 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 27, but with its multiplier means arranged at a different force setting. 
     FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the cutter of FIG. 27 with its multiplier means arranged at a different force setting and with the lever arm moved into the position where the first and second cutter members have performed the cutting of a wire or cable. 
     FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a cable and wire cutter of the invention configured as a multifunctional military combat weapon. 
     FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the cable and wire cutter of FIG. 30 with the handle portion of the combat weapon of FIG. 30 extended to convert the weapon into its wire and cable cutting mode. 
     FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the cable and wire cutter of FIG. 31 with the extended handle moved into position so a wire or cable can be inserted into the cutter members for cutting. 
     FIG. 33 is an exploded view of the cable and wire cutter of FIG.  30 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring in detail to the drawings starting with FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a cable and wire cutter  2  of the invention, comprising a first cutter member  4  and a second cutter member  6 , is shown cutting a wire  8 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the cutter  2  further comprises retainer means  10  and pins  12  to hold cutter member  6  rotatably positioned in cutter member  4 . It also shows that force means  14 , which serves to rotate the cutter member  4  relative to the cutter member  6 , is a first handle  16  that extends integrally from the cutter member  4  and a second handle  18  that extends integrally from the cutter member  6 . When the handles  16  and  18  are moved toward each other as shown by the arrows in FIG. 1, the cutter members  4  &amp;  6  rotate relative to each other about a pivot axis, which is close to the longitudinal axis of wire  8 , to thereby cut the wire  8 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3-9, the first cutter member  4  comprises a planar web  20  defined by a web inside surface  22 , a web outside surface  24  and a perimeter wall  26  having an outer wall surface  28  and an inner wall surface  30  upstanding from the web inside surface  22 . 
     The inner wall surface  30  and the web inside surface  22  define an oval chamber  32  having a semicylinderical end portion  34  of first radius and an opposed arcuate end portion  36 . Also, a semicircular ledge  38  extends laterally from the inner wall surface  30 , defining with the inner wall surface  30  and the web inside surface  22 , a semicylinderical cavity  40  in the semicylinderical end portion  34 , one end of such first radius being located at the pivot axis  42 . 
     A slot  44  extends through both the perimeter wall  26  and the planar web  20  providing an entrance  46  into the oval chamber  32  for the work piece  8  (see FIG. 1) and defining in the planar web  20  a cutting edge  48  and an opposed edge  50  that both extend parallel from the perimeter wall  26  toward the pivot axis  42 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 10-13, the second cutter member  6  comprises a tiered cylinder  52  defined by a base tier  54  having a second radius slightly shorter than the first radius and an integral upper tier  56  of third radius shorter than the second radius, one end of each second radius and third radius being located at the pivot axis  42 . 
     A second slot  58  extends through both the base tier  54  and the upper tier  56  providing an entrance  60 , extending toward the pivot axis into the tiered cylinder  52 , for the work piece  8 . 
     The base tier  54  of the second cutter member  6  is rotatably positioned (see FIG. 1) in the semicylinderical cavity  40  of the first cutter member  4  permitting the force means  14  to rotate the first slot  44  across the second slot  58  to cut the work piece  8 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 14-18, the arcuate end portion  36  of oval chamber  32  includes retainer means  10  and pins  12  to retain base tier  54  of second cutter member  6  within semicylinderical cavity  40  of first cutter member  4 . 
     Retainer means  10  comprises a contured disc  62  defined by obverse surface  64 , reverse surface  66 , major vertical arcuate wall  68 , minor vertical arcuate wall  70  and bores  74  that mate with bores  72  in planar web  20  (FIG. 3) to receive pins  12  to fasten disc  62  into arcuate end portion  36  of oval chamber  32  (FIG.  1 ). 
     Disc  62  comprises a ledge  76  that overlaps base tier  54  of second cutter member  6  when assembled in the first cutter member  4  (FIG. 1) so the second cutter member  6  is rotatably held in the first cutter member  4  between ledge  76  and web inside surface  22  as well as between ledge  38  and web inside surface  22 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 19-26, a second embodiment of a cable and wire cutter  2 A of the invention comprises a first cutter member  4 A, a second cutter member  6 A, retainer means  10 A and pins  12  to hold cutter member  6 A rotatably positioned in cutter member  4 A. Cutter members  4 A &amp;  6 A are structured like cutter members  4  &amp;  6  as explained above. 
     FIGS. 19 &amp; 20 show that force means  14 A, which serves to rotate the cutter member  4 A relative to the cutter member  6 A, is a first handle  16 A that extends integrally from the cutter member  4 A and a second handle  18 A that extends integrally from the cutter member  6 A. When the handles  16 A and  18 A are moved away from each other as shown by comparing FIG. 19 with FIG. 20, the cutter members  4 A &amp;  6 A rotate relative to each other about a common pivot axis. Hence, in the first embodiment  2 , the handles  16  &amp;  18  are pushed together to cut wire or cable, while in the second embodiment  2 A, the handles  16 A and  18 A are pulled apart to cut wire or cable. 
     First handle  16 A is U-shaped defined by a first arcuate inner end  80  attached to the first cutter member  4 A, a first arcuate outer end  82  and an elongated midsection  84  integrally joining the first acurate inner end  80  to the first arcuate outer end  82 . Also, second handle  18 A is U-shaped and defined by a second arcuate inner end  86  attached to the second cutter member  6 A, a second arcuate outer end  88  and an elongated midsection  90  integrally joining the second arcuate inner end  86  to the second arcuate outer end  88 . 
     FIGS. 27-29 show a third embodiment  2 B of the new cutters wherein the force means  14 B comprises an extension arm  92  fixed at its inner end  94  to the first cutter member  4 B with a lever arm  96  pivoted at its inner end  98  to the outer end  100  of the extension arm  92 . The force means  14 B further comprises a crank arm  102  (a) pivoted at its inside end  104  to the second cutter member  6 B, (b) pivoted at its outside end  106  to the lever arm  96  between its inner end  98  and outer end  108  and (c) pivoted along its central portion  110  at an adjustable position along the central portion  110  of the extension arm  92 . The central adjustable positioning of the crank arm  102  relative to the extension arm  92  enables the force applied to the second cutter member  6 B in movement relative to the first cutter member  4 B by the crank arm  102  to be varied. 
     FIGS. 30-33 show a fourth embodiment  2 C of the new cutters wherein the force means  14 C comprises a knife blade  114  fixed at its inner end  116  to the first cutter member  4 C and lever arm  118  fixed at its inner end  120  to the second cutter member  6 C. The inner end  116  is structured to function as the retainer means  10 C to hold first cutter member  4 C and second cutter member  6 C functionally together. 
     The handle  122  for the knife blade  114  is slidable along the lever arm  118  between (1) a closed position (FIG. 30) where its inner end  124  encloses the first and second cutter members and operatively engages the knife blade  114  and (2) an opened position (FIG. 31) where it functions as an extension of the lever arm  118  for movement of the second cutter member  6 C relative to the first cutter member  4 C for the cutting of cables or wires. The handle  122  is held on the lever arm  118  by a cap  126 .