A pair of scissors especially designed for children incorporates various ergonomic features to facilitate usage by a child. The shank and handle of one scissor are disposed at an offset angle to the blade. An assist leaf is pivotally mounted to one of the handles and is movable to engage the other handle to establish a minimum opening angle for the blades. The assist leaf in its functional position is resilient and imparts a slight spring reaction force upon application of a compressive force between the thumb and fingers. The minimum opening angle facilitates usage by the child since the opening and closing force on the scissors is lessened. The leaf is pivotal to a retracted position when the blades are in a fully closed position.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to scissors adapted for use by children. More particularly, this disclosure relates generally to ergonomic scissors.

For scissors to which the present disclosure relates, a number of related prior art scissors have been especially configured for use by children. Typically, such scissors are light weight and dimensioned to accommodate the hands, fingers and thumb of a child. Such scissors are also colorfully configured and/or are shaped and decorated to appeal to children.

SUMMARY

Briefly stated, a pair of ergonomic children's scissors comprises a first scissor having a first blade extending from a first shank mounting a first handle with a thumb opening and a second scissor having a second blade extending from a second shank mounting a second handle with a finger opening. The second blade is disposed at an angle relative to said second shank. A connection assembly pivotally connects the first scissor to the second scissor about a first pivot axis. An assist is selectively positionable to define an established blade opening acute angle of the first and second blades.

The first and second handles are comprised of soft overmold material. The assist is mounted to the first handle and engages the second handle to define the blade opening acute angle. The assist is pivotal about a second axis parallel to the first axis. In one embodiment, the assist comprises an arcuate leaf. The assist is received in a recess of the first handle when the first and second blades are in a closed position. The assist has an angular stop. The blade opening acute angle is approximately 30°.

A pair scissors are pivotally joined by a connection assembly. The first scissor has a first blade and a first shank mounting a handle with a thumb opening. The first blade and the first shank are generally co-linear. The second scissor has a blade and a second shank mounting a handle with a finger opening. The second blade has a second blade axis and the second shank has a second shank axis relative to the second blade axis disposed at an offset angle. In one embodiment, the offset angle is approximately 30°. An assist is mounted to a first handle and is pivotal about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis. The assist is engageable against the second handle to define an established opening angle of the blades and assist in the pivotal or reciprocating motion of the blades.

The first and second handles further comprise soft overmold material. A series of shallow indentations extend away from the blade opening and the finger opening of the first and second handles. The opening angle is preferably between 15° and 45°. In one embodiment, the opening angle is approximately 30°.

In one embodiment, the ergonomic children's scissors comprises a first scissor having a first blade and a first shank mounting a handle with a thumb opening and having a recess. The first blade and the first shank are generally co-linear. A second scissor has a second blade and a second shank mounting a handle with a finger opening. The second shank is disposed at an offset crank angle to the second blade axis. The offset angle is preferably in the range of 15° to 45°. An assist is pivotally mounted to the first handle and pivotal about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis. The assist pivots from a first position received in the recess to a second position engageable against the second handle to define an opening angle of the blade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the figures, a pair of children's ergonomic scissors is generally designated by the numeral10. Ergonomic scissors10comprises a first scissor20and a second scissor40which are pivotally joined at a pivot assembly60.

First scissor20includes a blade22that is somewhat dull at its cutting edge24and contoured or beveled at the opposite edge26. A shank23integrally extends from the blade. The blade22and the shank23are generally co-linear or only slightly angled to each other. An overmold28integrally extends rearwardly over the shank23(partially illustrated) to form a rear handle30. The handle30defines a thumb opening32. The thumb opening32is dimensioned to accommodate a thumb of a child. The representative dimensions inFIGS. 3-5are in millimeters.

The handle30is preferably formed of a soft molded material, such as polypropylene (PPE) and preferably has a smooth two-color contour which tapers very gradually from a central portion toward the thumb opening. Numerous shallow indentations34extend from proximate the opening32of both sides of the first scissor onto the handle to form an interrupted surface to facilitate an effective grip for the child. The medial portion of the first member includes an opening (not illustrated) for receiving a pivot connecting assembly60, as will be later described.

The second scissor40has a crank-like configuration which forms a forward blade42which has a generally dull cutting edge44and an opposite contoured or beveled edge46. The cutting edge44cooperates with cutting edge24to implement the cutting function. The second scissor40has a medial opening (not illustrated) which receives the pivot assembly60.

A rear angled shank43(partially illustrated) integrally extends rearwardly from the blade42in an integral fashion and is preferably bifurcated. The offset angle A between the blade42and the shank43, as best illustrated inFIG. 16is preferably approximately 30° and may have an angle in the range of approximately 15°-45° to provide the desired ergonomic function. An overmold48of soft material, such as PPE, covers the shank end portion to form a rear handle50of the second scissor. The handle50defines an oblong arcuate finger opening52for accommodating the fingers of a child. Numerous shallow indentations54extend from proximate the finger opening52onto the outer surface of the overmold48on both sides of the handle to form an effective grip surface. The handle50preferably has a soft, smooth two-color configuration.

With reference toFIG. 16, it is preferred that the angle A between the axis X of the blade42and the handle of the central axis Y of shank43is disposed at a substantially 30° acute angle, as indicated in theFIG. 16drawing. The foregoing approximate 30° acute angle is believed to provide an optimal pivot angle for facilitating the reciprocating opening and closing of the scissors due to the manual manipulation by a child.

With reference toFIGS. 4 and 12, the pivot assembly60, which may include a fastener or pin62(shown in phantom) of various forms, connects through the openings (not illustrated) of the first scissor20and the second scissor40, respectively, and is secured by various forms to pivotally join the scissors. A light torsion spring (not illustrated) may be received in cooperative recesses surrounding the openings, respectively. The torsion spring preferably surrounds the central fastener pin62. The spring includes ends which are anchored at openings or anchors, respectively, in opposed adjacent sides of the first and second scissors proximate the pivot. The optional spring functions to assist the child by providing a small spring force to open the scissors to facilitate cutting. Alternative or no spring configurations may be provided.

With reference toFIGS. 8-16, an assist assembly which functions to establish a minimum acute opening angle B (FIG. 16) for the scissors and a small spring blade opening force is generally designated by the numeral100. The opening angle B between blades22and42may vary, but in one preferred embodiment, is approximately 30°, and is preferably between 15° and 45°, although other angles are possible and may be suitable for use by a child. The preset minimum opening angle B functions to facilitate reciprocating pivotal motion of the blades22and42particularly so that a fully closed position is not required and the child can continue to impart a small angular reciprocating motion to the blades without exertion of a significant opening or closing force.

A first handle30has an inner exterior surface132traversed by a contoured recess134. A boss136at the forward end of the recess receives a pivot pin138. At one proximal end, an arcuate leaf-like member140includes a protruding connector142which receives the pivot pin. The recess134is generally contoured and dimensioned to receive the assist member140. The member140is angularly pivotal from the recess about the pivot axis of pin138(which is parallel to the pivot axis of the scissor members) in the direction of theFIG. 15arrow.

The rear portion of the handle30surface includes a limit, or stop39which limits the pivoting of the leaf member140. It will be appreciated that the leaf member140is pivotally positionable from a retracted position totally captured in the recess to an extended position wherein the distal end144of the leaf member engages a surface152of the handle50.

The engagement substantially defines a minimum acute angle of the scissor blades subject to the slight resistance of the leaf member140, as best shown in the drawings ofFIGS. 8-10 and 15. The pivot angle of the leaf member140may be slightly varied, but is optimally stably positioned at the extreme forward pivotal position of the leaf member. This pre-established blade opening allows for the child to easily open and close the scissors through appropriate exertion of force in the finger openings and the thumb opening and thus allow the child to cut a paper disposed between the blades. The leaf member140is slightly resilient to provide a spring assist when the child moves the thumb and fingers together. A slight spring-like reaction force is imparted by the assist member140upon application of a compressive force to the handles. In one embodiment (not illustrated), various detents may be integrally formed on the handle surface152to provide for various angle adjustments to the leaf member, and thus slightly vary the acute opening angles for the blades.

It will be appreciated that when the scissors are not used and are placed in the blade closed position, such as illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, the leaf member140is rearwardly pivoted into the handle recess134. For more advanced usage by a child, the leaf member140can be maintained in the retracted position, and the child can operate the scissors in a more normal fashion.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing scissors10provides an ergonomic pair of scissors which are especially adapted for use by children. The operation of the scissors by the child can be performed in a very comfortable and effective fashion by the child.

While preferred embodiments of the foregoing have been set forth for purposes of illustrating the children's ergonomic scissors, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.