Relief guard for hand tools

A cutter comprising a first cutting portion having a first cutting edge, a second cutting portion having a second cutting edge and pivotally coupled to the first cutting portion, a relief aperture defined by the first and second cutting portions adjacent the first and second cutting edges, and a relief guard coupled to the first and second cutting portions to at least partially cover the relief aperture such that an object to be received between the first and second cutting portions is restricted from entering the relief aperture.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is in the field of hand tools. More specifically, the present invention is directed to hand tools for cutting and having a relief guard.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, severing hand tools, such as shears and cutters, are configured to sever objects, such as wires, when the objects are positioned between the cutting edges. However, it is difficult to position a wire to between the cutting edges with high accuracy and repeatability, especially at high volume operations. This is largely due to over-insertion of an object beyond the cutting edges and into a stress relief aperture adjacent the cutting edges. There remains a continuing need for improved hand tools enabling a user to position an object between the cutting edges with increased accuracy and repeatability.

SUMMARY

Various aspects of the disclosure relate to cutters comprising a first cutting portion having a first cutting edge, a second cutting portion having a second cutting edge and pivotally coupled to the first cutting portion. The cutters may further include a relief aperture defined by the first and second cutting portions adjacent the first and second cutting edges. The cutters may further include a relief guard coupled to the first and second cutting portions to at least partially cover the relief aperture such that an object to be received between the first and second cutting portions is restricted from entering the relief aperture.

Additionally, various aspects of the disclosure relate to hand tool kits including a hand tool and a plurality of relief guards configured to be coupled to the hand tool. The hand tool may include a first cutting portion having a first cutting edge and a second cutting portion having a second cutting edge and pivotally coupled to the first cutting portion. The hand tool may further include a relief aperture defined by the first and second cutting portions adjacent the first and second cutting edges. Each of the relief guards may differ by at least one of a length, an angle, and a width, and configured to at least partially cover the relief aperture such that an object to be received between the first and second cutting portions is restricted from entering the relief aperture.

While multiple inventive examples are specifically disclosed, various modifications and combinations of features from those examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. Accordingly, the disclosed examples are meant to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The disclosure, however, is not limited to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a cutter20in a closed position, according to some examples.FIG. 2Ashows the cutter20ofFIG. 1absent a relief guard160, viewing from the front, according to some examples.FIG. 2Bshows the cutter20ofFIG. 1, including a catch192, viewing from the side, according to some examples.FIG. 3shows the cutter20ofFIG. 1in the opened position absent the relief guard160, according to some examples.FIG. 4shows a cross-sectional view (A-A section) of the cutter20ofFIG. 3with the relief guard160, according to some examples.FIG. 5shows the cutter20ofFIG. 1having an object300positioned between the cutting edges148,152and adjacent the relief guard160, according to some examples. It is to be understood that the features described for the cutter20in the present disclosure may by adapted to any other hand tool known to one skilled in the art. The cutter20includes a distal end24, a proximal end28, a first arm member32(also described as a first jaw member32), and a second arm member36(also described as a second jaw member36). Each of the arm members32,36includes a handle portion40,44extending from the proximal end28, a cutting portion48,52extending from the distal end24, and a pivot portion56,60between the handle and cutting portions, respectively. Each of the arm members32,36may further include a spring64,68, respectively, to bias the cutter20into an opened position (seeFIG. 3). Each of the arm members32,36may further include a handle cover72,76, respectively. Each of the arm members32,36includes a pivot opening80,84at the pivot portion56,60, respectively, and configured to receive a pivot member88to pivotally couple the arm members.

As shown, each of the arm members32,36has a front surface92,96and a back surface100,104, respectively, at the cutting portions48,52. The front surfaces92,96may be configured to be mirrored (e.g., mirrored from a cutting plane) and may be flat, and/or slanted (e.g., by at least 15°), or curved, and may define a front cutting pocket120(seeFIG. 4). Additionally or alternatively, the back surfaces100,104may be configured to be mirrored (e.g., mirrored from a cutting plane) and may be flat, and/or slanted, or curved, and may define a back cutting pocket124(seeFIG. 4). Each of the arm members32,36has a front edge128,132, and a back edge136,140, in which the distance (i.e., height) between the front and back edge is greater near the pivot portion56,60than near the distal end24of the cutter20(FIG. 4). The front edges128,132and back edges136,140may meet at the distal end to form a tip144. Each of the arm members32,36has a cutting edge148,152at the cutting portion48,52. The cutting edges148,152are configured to mate in the closed position and may extend from the distal end24or the tip144. The cutting edges148,152may be linear and define a cutting line in the closed position. The cutting line may further define the cutting plane in which the cutter20on one side of the cutting plane is generally mirrors the cutter on the other side of the cutting plane.

As shown, each of the arm members32,36may include a recess108,112at the cutting portion48,52near the pivot portion56,60, respectively. For example, the recesses108,112may adjacent the cutting edges148,152near the pivot portions56,60. As shown inFIG. 2A, the recesses108,112are configured to form a stress relief aperture116of the cutter20when in the closed position. Alternatively or additionally, the stress relief aperture116may be a stripping aperture156configured to remove an outer portion (e.g., wire insulation) and not an inner portion (e.g., metal wire) of an object300(e.g., electrical wire). The cutter20further includes a relief guard160configured to be coupled, such as removably coupled to the cutter, such as to the pivot portions56,60. For example, the cutter20or the pivot member88may define a securing opening164configured to receive a first securing element168(e.g., a bolt, a screw, a magnet, or a clip) to secure the relief guard160to the cutter20(e.g., the first securing element168may be manually secured (e.g., rotated) by a user. The relief guard160may define a securing opening172configured to be aligned to the first securing element168. The relief guard160may be adjusted, such as slideably adjusted relative to the cutter20, (e.g., when at least one of the securing openings164,172is a slot). The relief guard160may be coupled to the front and/or the back of the cutter20. As shown inFIG. 2B, the cutter20may further include a catch192, such as a lead catch, configured to be coupled to the cutter to contain and/or limit the length of the severed portion of an object. The catch192may be coupled to the cutter20on the same or opposite side of the relief guard160by the first securing element168or a second securing element196.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2B, the relief guard160may include a distal portion176and a proximal portion180generally in contact with the pivot portion56or60. The distal portion176may be configured to contact or be near the front92,96and/or the back100,104surfaces of the cutter20in the closed position. For example, the distal portion176of the relief guard160may take on the shape or curvature of the cutting portions48,52(e.g., to be flushly coupled) to limit interference to the front cutting pocket120and/or the back cutting pocket124. In some examples, the relief guard160has a slant, or angle in the distal direction, or longitudinal direction of about 15 degrees or more so that the relief guard160generally tracks the surface of the cutting portions48,52. The relief guard160may also have a centrally-oriented angle or curve (e.g., a valley, or inward angle to define a “v-shape” or bent with an apex angle of about 15 degrees or more, for example. Alternatively, the relief guard160may be flat such that the distal and proximal portions176,180are coplanar. The securing opening172may be defined by the proximal portion180of the relief guard160. The relief guard160is configured to be coupled or secured to the cutter20such that the relief aperture116is at least partially covered by the relief guard.FIG. 1shows the relief aperture116fully covered by the relief guard160. In various embodiments, at least one of the arm members32,36define a guard recess (not shown) at the pivot portion56,60configured to receive the relief guard160(e.g., to help align the relief guard to the cutting pocket120or124). The relief guard160may be metal, plastic, and/or composite.

As shown inFIGS. 3-5, the cutting edges148,152are apart in the opened position to define a cutting opening184configured to receive an object300to be cut (e.g., notched, severed, trimmed, or otherwise cut). The object300may be an electrical wire or a plastic part, such as a length of L-channel or other shape. The cutting opening184may extend from the distal end24or tip144along the cutting edges148,152to the relief guard160, such as to a distal edge188of the relief guard. The cutter20including the relief guard160enables the object300(i.e., object severable by the cutter) to be severable when positioned anywhere along the cutting opening184. The relief guard160help limit the insertion of the object300into the cutter20, for example, the cutting portions48,52such that at least part (e.g., entirety) of the object is positioned outside of the relief aperture116as a user actuates the cutter from the opened state to the closed state, as shown inFIG. 5.

FIG. 6shows the cutter20ofFIG. 1having a relief guard400including a first stabilizing element404and a second stabilizing element408, according to some examples. Although a pair of opposing stabilizing elements are shown, it should be understood that a single stabilizing element may be applied as desired. Relief guard400may include all features described for relief guard160and be used in a cutter substantially the same way. As shown, the first stabilizing element404(e.g., also described as a first tab) and optionally a second stabilizing element408(e.g., a second tab) may be configured to improve stability of the relief guard400such that it remains in position (e.g., coupled flush) during use, such as upon engagement with a workpiece (e.g., object300ofFIG. 5) or during transition between the opened and closed positions. As shown, each of the first and second stabilizing elements404,408is an angled projection (e.g., bent at approximately 90 degrees) engaging with sides of the first and second arm members32,36, respectively to help maintain the relief guard400in position (e.g., aligned to cutting portion48,52to cover/block the relief aperture, and optionally portions of the cutting edges).

FIG. 7shows a cutter20′, viewing from the side,FIG. 8shows a cross-sectional view (B-B section) of the cutter ofFIG. 7, according to some examples. Cutter20′ may be significantly similar to cutter20and may include any of the features described for cutter20. As illustrated, cutter20′ includes a first cutting portion48′ and a second cutting portion52′ near its distal end24′. The first cutting portion48′ has a front surface92′, a back surface100′, and a first cutting edge148′. The second cutting portion52′ has a front surface96′, a back surface104′, and a second cutting edge152′. Cutter20′ further include a relief guard160′ coupled to the first and second cutting portions48′,52′ by a first securing element168′. The relief guard160′ has a distal portion176′ and a proximal portion180′ and may generally track the front surfaces92′,96′ or back surfaces100′,104′ of the cutting portions48′,52′ when attached. In the illustrated example, the front surfaces92′,96′ are generally parallel or coplanar such that the relief guard160′ coupleable to the front surfaces may have a generally planar distal portion176′. The relief guard160′ may define an angle at the transition of the distal portion176′ and proximal portion180′. The angle may be, for example, about 15 degrees, between 5 and 40 degrees, or any of a variety of values. Alternatively or additionally, a cross-section of the distal portion176′ may be V-shaped or U-shaped.

A hand tool kit may include a hand tool, such as hand tool20, and a plurality of relief guards configured to be coupled to the hand tool. One or more of the plurality of relief guards may be similar or identical to relief guard160. The hand tool of the hand tool kit may include a first cutting portion having a first cutting edge, a second cutting portion having a second cutting edge and pivotally coupled to the first cutting portion. The hand tool may further include a relief aperture defined by the first and second cutting portions adjacent the first and second cutting edges. Each of the plurality of relief guards may differ by at least one of a length, an angle, and a width, and configured to at least partially cover the relief aperture such that an object, such as object300, to be received between the first and second cutting portions is restricted from entering the relief aperture. The hand tool kit may further include one or more catches coupleable to the hand tool of the hand tool kit by one of one or more securing elements. At least one of the one or more catches may be similar or identical to catch192. Each of the one or more catches may differ by at least one of a length, an angle, a curvature, and a width.