Cutter for plastic strap

Abstract: A manually-operable tool (10) for cutting or severing plastic strapping (26) comprises a housing (12) comprising a base portion or foundation (34), and an upstanding web and rib member (36,38). An insertion slot (28), for permitting insertion of plastic strapping (26) to be cut or severed, is defined between a lower edge portion of the upstanding web member (38) and an upper surface portion of the base portion or foundation (34). A cutting blade (20) is adjustably mounted upon the upstanding web member (38). A manually-manipulable handle (14) is pivotally mounted upon the housing (12), under the influence of a biasing spring (18) such that the handle (14) is normally disposed at an opened inoperative position, and includes a spring-biased pusher element (22) which is pivotally mounted upon the handle (14). The pusher element (22) is biased into engagement with the base portion or foundation (34) of the housing (12) by means of its own biasing spring (30) so as to in effect close or cover the entrance to the insertion slot (28). When plastic strapping (26) is to be cut or severed, the strap (26) is inserted into the insertion slot (28) by engaging the pusher element (22) and thereby causing the pusher element (22) to be moved out of the way against the biasing force of its biasing spring (30). Upon the plastic strapping (26) passing the pusher element (22), the pusher element (22) returns to its normally biased position wherein the pusher element (22) now engages the plastic strapping (26). Manipulation of the handle (14) toward the closed position causes the pusher element (22) to push the plastic strapping (26) into engagement with the cutting edge of the cutting blade (20) whereby the plastic strapping (26) is cut or severed.

Description: The present invention relates generally to manually-operable cutting tools, and more particularly to a new and improved manually-operable cutting tool for cutting plastic strapping wherein the tool is uniquely structured so as to enable an operator to easily position the tool beneath the plastic strapping, and wherein further, the tool is compact, the tool develops a proper cutting force, and the tool is easy to operate so as to be capable of being easily manipulated by means of one hand so as to readily and efficiently sever plastic strapping having different thickness dimensions. Manually-operable cutting tools for severing plastic strapping are of course well-known, such as, for example, a conventional scissors-type cutter or the like wherein a pair of oppositely disposed blade members are manipulated by means of a pair of oppositely disposed handles. In the conventional manner, pivotal closure of the oppositely disposed handles with respect to or toward each other similarly actuates the oppositely disposed blade members to be pivotally moved with respect to or toward each other. Such conventional tools, however, have several operational disadvantages or drawbacks. Firstly, such tools are not particularly compact and are sometimes cumbersome. Secondly, in view of the fact that the blade members are in effect externally exposed or accessible, such tools present or raise safety concerns or issues. Thirdly, in view of the scissors-type manipulation mode characteristic of such tools, the tools sometimes do not develop the proper cutting forces, particularly, for example, when the material to be cut has a significant thickness dimension, and in addition, the tools are not especially ergonomically beneficial so as to readily enable an operator to perform one-handed cutting operations. US-A-4831734 discloses a cutting appliance, particularly for use in cutting medical dressings, comprising a housing, a cutting blade slidably mounted on the housing and a handle for clamping strip of material between the handle and the housing by projections extending from both the handle and the housing. A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved manually-operable cutting tool for cutting or severing plastic strapping wherein the tool would be substantially compact in size, wherein the tool would readily facilitate the positioning or disposition of the tool beneath plastic strapping to be cut or severed, wherein the tool would enable the generation of proper cutting forces, wherein the tool would enable or easily facilitate a one-handed cutting or severing operation to be performed, and wherein the cutting blade or the cutting edge of the cutting blade would be effectively enclosed within an interior portion of the tool such that the cutting edge of the cutting blade does not present any safety hazards. According to this invention a manually-operated cutting tool for cutting a strip of material such as plastic strapping, comprising a housing having a base portion, an upstanding web portion integrally attached to said base portion, and an insertion slot defined within said housing between said base portion and a lower end portion of said upstanding web portion for permitting insertion of the strip of material into said housing; a cutting blade mounted upon said housing, and a handle mounted upon said housing for movement between a first inoperative position at which said handle permits the strip of material to be disposed adjacent said cutting blade, and a second operative position at which said handle forces the strip of material into contact with said cutting blade whereby said cutting blade cuts the strip of material, wherein said handle comprises fingergrip portions and said housing comprises a palm-support portion, characterised by a pusher element pivotally mounted upon said handle movable between a first position at which said pusher element permits the strip of material to be inserted into said slot of said housing in preparation for a cutting operation by said cutting blade, and a second position at which said pusher element engages the strip of material so as to force the strip of material into engagement with said cutting blade as said handle is moved from said first inoperative position to said second operative position, whereby said manually-operable cutting tool is able to be manipulated by an operator in accordance with a one-handed operation. When plastic strapping is to be cut or severed, the strap is in effect inserted into the insertion slot by engaging the pusher element and thereby causing the pusher element to be moved out of the way against the biasing force of its biasing spring. Upon the plastic strapping passing by the rear end portion of the pusher element, the pusher element returns to its normally biased position wherein the pusher element now engages the rear edge portion of the plastic strapping. Manipulation of the handle by an operator in accordance with a one handed operation, toward the closed position causes the pusher element to push the plastic strapping into engagement with the cutting edge of the cutting blade whereby the plastic strapping is cut or severed. A particular embodiment of a cutting tool in accordance with this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which FIGURE 1. is a side elevation, of a manually-operable cutting tool showing the cooperative parts thereof in preparation for a cutting operation to be performed upon plastic strapping; FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the housing component of the cutting tool shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the housing component of the cutting tool as shown in FIGURE 2; FIGURE 4 is a cross-section through the housing component shown in FIGURE 2 as taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 5 is a cross-section through the housing component shown in FIGURE 2 as taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 6 is a cross-section through the housing shown in FIGURE 2 as taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the handle of the cutting tool shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 8 is an end elevation of the handle of the cutting tool shown in FIGURE 7; FIGURE 9 is a cross-section through the handle of the cutting tool shown in FIGURE 7 as taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7; FIGURE 10 is a cross-section of the handle of the cutting tool shown in FIGURE 7 as taken along the line 10-10 of FIGURE 7; FIGURE 11 is a side elevation of the pusher component of the cutting tool shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 12 is a plan of the pusher component of the cutting tool shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 13 is a side elevation of the cutting blade component of the cutting tool shown in FIGURE 1; and FIGURE 14 is an end elevation of the cutting blade component shown in FIGURE 13. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE 1 a manually-operable cutting tool constructed is generally indicated by the reference character 10. The cutting tool 10 will firstly be generally described in order to provide an overall appreciation of the construction and operation thereof, and subsequently, details of the various component parts of the tool 10 will then be described such that an appreciation can be obtained with respect to the operational interrelationship defined between the component parts of the tool. More particularly, cutting tool 10 is seen to comprise a housing 12 upon an upper forward end of which a handle 14 is pivotally mounted as at 16, and a first spring 18 is interposed between the housing 12 and the handle 14 such that the handle 14 is normally biased to an inoperative position as shown in FIGURE 1 wherein the tool 10 is disposed in a non-cutting mode. A cutting blade 20 is mounted upon a lower rear portion of the housing 12, and the handle 14 is seen to have a pusher element 22 pivotally mounted upon a lower end portion thereof as at 24. Plastic strapping to be cut or severed by means of the tool 10 of the present invention is disclosed at 26, and it is seen that the lower end portion of the tool housing 12 is provided with a slot 28 into which the plastic strapping 26 is to be moved, as denoted by the arrow I, so as to encounter the cutting blade 20 whereby the plastic strapping 26 can be severed. A second set of springs 30, only one of which is shown, are mounted upon the lower end portion of the handle 14 and is engaged with the pusher element 22 so as to normally bias the pusher element 22 to a position at which the pusher element 22 effectively blocks or covers the open end of the slot 28. As can be appreciated, however, when the plastic strapping 26 is to be inserted into the slot 28, the plastic strapping 26 is moved in the denoted direction I whereupon the plastic strapping 26 encountering the pusher element 22, the pusher element 22 is effectively moved upwardly against the biasing force of the second springs 30 whereby the plastic strapping 26 can be inserted into the slot 28. Upon the strapping 26 clearing or passing by the rear end portion of the pusher element 22, the second springs 30 will bias the pusher element 22 back to its normally biased position at which the rear end portion of the pusher element 22 now engages the rear or right edge portion of the strapping 26 as viewed in FIGURE 1, the pivotal movements of the pusher element being noted by the double arrowhead U-D. Accordingly, when the handle 14 is pivotally moved inwardly or toward the left as viewed in FIGURE 1, the pivotal movements of the handle 14 being denoted by means of the double arrowhead I-0, the pusher element 22 will force the strapping 26 toward the left into engagement with the cutting edge 32 of the cutting blade 20 whereby strapping 26 is cut thereby completing a strapping cutting operation. With reference now being made to FIGURES 2-6, the details of the housing 12 will now be described. As can best be appreciated from FIGURES 2-4, the housing 12 is seen to comprise a horizontally disposed base or foundation 34 and a rearwardly disposed, upstanding support member or rib 36 which is integrally connected at its lower end portion to the base or foundation 34. A laterally central or axially disposed web member 38 is in turn integrally connected to the upstanding support member or rib 36, and it is seen that the lower end portion of the web member 38 is spaced from the base or foundation 34 so as to define the aforenoted slot 28 into which the strapping 26 to be cut can be inserted. A pivot pin support or boss 40 is integrally formed at the upper forward end of the web 38 so as to pivotally support the handle 14 thereon, and a recessed socket or pocket portion 42 is defined within an upper forward edge portion of the web 38 for accommodating one end of the first spring 18 which is adapted to be interposed between the web portion 38 of the housing 12 and the handle 14 so as to normally bias the handle 14 toward its opened position which is relatively remote from the upstanding support member or rib 36 of the housing 12. The forwardmost end portion of the base or foundation 34 is provided with a relatively sharp wedge-shaped portion 44 so as to enable the tool 10 to be inserted underneath the strapping 26 to be cut as well as to guide the strapping 26 into the slot 28. Lastly, as best seen or appreciated from FIGURES 4 and 6, a right side portion of the web member 38, as well as a corresponding portion of the base or foundation 34, is provided with a recessed region 46 which has a substantially rectangular configuration so as to house or accommodate the cutting blade 20. In addition, a substantially oval-shaped aperture 48 is defined within the web member 38 and at a substantially central portion of the recessed region 46 so as to provide for vertical adjustment of the cutting blade 20 as will be described more fully in detail hereinafter. With reference now being made to FIGURES 7-10, the structure of the handle 14 will now be described in detail. As may best be appreciated from FIGURE 8, the handle 14 is seen to essentially comprise a bifurcated structure which comprises a pair of laterally separated side wall members 50,52 which are integrally connected together by means of an end wall member 54. A recessed pocket or socket 56 is defined within the end wall member 54 and is adapted to receive the opposite end of the first spring 18, and it is to be appreciated that the first spring 18 will be confined between the side wall members 50,52. It is also seen that the upper ends of the side wall members 50,52 are each provided with an aperture 58,60 wherein the apertures 58,60 will be axially aligned with the pivot pin support or boss 40 so as to permit a pivot pin, not shown, to be axially disposed there-through by means of which the handle 14 is pivotally mounted upon the housing 12 as at 16. The lateral separation of the side wall portions 50,52 of the handle 14 defines a central or axial space 62 therebetween within which the forward edge portion 64 of the housing web 38 is able to be freely accommodated when the handle 14 is pivotally moved with respect to the housing 12 in the opposite directions noted by the double arrowhead 1-0. In order to comfortably or ergonomically assist the pivotal movement of the handle 14 with respect to the housing 12, the forward vertical portion of the handle 14 is provided with fingergrip portions 66. This structure also corresponds to the provision of the upstanding support member or rib 36 of the housing 12 which will likewise ergonomically fit or be disposed within an operator's palm whereby the tool 10 can be easily or readily manipulated by means of one hand. It is still further noted that the web portion 38 of the housing 12 is provided with a substantially arcuate, oval-shaped aperture 68, and each one of the side wall portions 50,52 is also provided with an aperture, only one of which is shown at 70, through which a pin 72 can be disposed such that the pivotal movement of the handle 14 with respect to the housing 12 is limited or confined within a predetermined range of movement. With reference continuing to be made to FIGURES 7-9, the lower end portion of the handle 14 further comprises a skirt portion which is defined by means of two downwardly dependent side wall portions 74,76 as best seen in FIGURES 8 and 9, and it can be appreciated that the downwardly dependent side wall portions 74,76 are laterally separated from each other so as to define therebetween a space 78 within which the pusher element 22 can be accommodated as can also be appreciated from FIGURE 1. As seen in FIGURE 7, each one of the dependent side wall portions 74,76 is also provided with an aperture, only one of which is shown at 80, whereby a pivot pin, not shown, can be inserted or mounted by means of which the pusher element 22 is pivotally mounted upon the handle 14 as at 24. The lower end portion of the handle 14 is further provided with a pair of laterally spaced blind bores 82,82 within which the pair of second springs 30,30 for biasing the pusher element 22 are to be disposed. As was the case with the first spring 18, the pair of second springs 30,30 are effectively laterally confined between the skirt side wall portions 74,76 such that the springs 30,30 remain engaged with the pusher element 22. With reference now being made to FIGURES 11 and 12, the details of the pusher element 22 will be described. Initially, as can best be appreciated from FIGURES 1-3,5 and 6, the housing base or foundation 34 further includes an upstanding, horizontally extending rib 84 which is separated from the lower edge portion of the web member 38 and axially aligned or coplanar with the web member 38 so as to define the slot 28 therebetween. The rib 84 projects upwardly from the upper surface 86 of the base or foundation 34 upon which the pusher element 22 is adapted to ride when the handle 14 is moved inwardly with respect to the housing 12 in accordance with the arrow portion I of the double arrowhead I-0. Accordingly, the pusher element 22 is provided with unique structure which permits the pusher element 22 to achieve the aforenoted movement during a strapping cutting operation. More particularly, as was the case with the handle 14, the pusher element 22 also comprises a bifurcated structure. As best appreciated from FIGURE 12, the pusher element 22 comprises a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally separated side portions 88,88 which are integrally connected together by means of a laterally extending end portion 90. The lateral separation of the side portions 88,88 defines a central or axial space 92 therebetween within which the upstanding rib 84 of the housing base or foundation is able to be accommodated. The end portion 90 is also provided with a laterally or transversely oriented throughbore 94 for accommodating a pivot pin, not shown, whereby the pusher element is pivotally mounted upon the handle 14 as at 24. As can best be further appreciated from FIGURE 11, each one of the side portions 88,88 of the pusher element 22 comprises a rearwardly disposed end portion which comprises an undersurface portion 96 and an end surface portion 98, each surface portion 96,98 being disposed at a predetermined angular orientation with respect to the horizontal. For example, undersurface portion 96 may be disposed at an angle of 250, while end surface portion 98 may be disposed at an angle of 650. Accordingly, as can best be appreciated from the assembled view of FIGURE 1, when the pusher element 22 is operationally mounted upon the handle 14, it will be seen that each undersurface portion 96,96 will in effect be disposed horizontally upon the upper surface 86 of the base or foundation 34 while each end portion 98,98 will now be disposed vertically or perpendicular to the upper surface 86 of the base or foundation 34 whereby the end portions 98,98 can properly engage the strapping 26 so as to cause or force movement of the strapping 26 into engagement with the cutting edge 32 of the cutting blade 20. The disposition of each undersurface portion 96,96 upon the upper surface 86 of the base or foundation 34, as well as the straddling in effect of each side portion 88,88 upon the opposite sides of the upstanding rib portion 84 of the base or foundation 34, provides controlled stability to the pusher element 22 as the same rides or moves along the upper surface portion 86 of the base or foundation 34 such that proper cutting forces can be generated during a cutting operation being performed upon the strapping 26. With reference lastly being made to FIGURES 13 and 14, the details of the cutting blade 20 will now be described. As can be seen, the cutting blade 20 is provided with a forwardly disposed beveled portion 100 which defines the forwardly disposed cutting edge portion 32. In addition, the cutting blade 20 has upon a side portion thereof an integrally formed nut portion 102 having a throughbore 104 within which a suitable fastener, not shown, can be inserted. The fastener is also adapted to be inserted through the oval-shaped aperture 48 defined within the web member 38. It is also seen that the vertical height or extent of the cutting blade 20 is less than that of the recessed region 46 defined within the sidewall portion of the web member 38 and the base portion or foundation 34. In this manner, the vertical disposition of the cutting blade 20, and more particularly, that of the cutting edge 32 of the cutting blade 20, is thus able to be positionally adjusted, when the fastener, not shown, is appropriately loosened and subsequently tightened, such that new regions of the cutting blade edge 32 can be positioned or aligned with respect to the slot 28, as the cutting blade 20 experiences wear, within which the strapping 26 to be cut is disposed so as to be cut by means of the cutting blade 20. Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, there has been provided a manually-operable cutting tool, for cutting or severing plastic strapping, wherein the tool is compact in size and easily manipulable by means of an operator's single hand, and wherein further, the strapping is readily able to be inserted into the housing slot and forced into contact with the cutting blade by means of the pusher element when the handle is pivotally moved relative to the housing. The interior disposition of the cutting blade also renders the tool safe for operator personnel in that the cutting edge of the blade is not externally exposed.

Claims: A manually-operated cutting tool (10) for cutting a strip of material such as plastic strapping, comprising: a housing (12) having a base portion (34), an upstanding web portion (38) integrally attached to said base portion (34), and an insertion slot (28) defined within said housing (12) between said base portion (34) and a lower end portion of said upstanding web portion (38) for permitting insertion of the strip of material into said housing; a cutting blade (20) mounted upon said housing (12); and, a handle (14) mounted upon said housing (12) for movement between a first inoperative position at which said handle (14) permits the strip of material to be disposed adjacent said cutting blade (20), and a second operative position at which said handle (14) forces the strip of material into contact with said cutting blade (20) whereby said cutting blade (20) cuts the strip of material, wherein said handle (14) comprises fingergrip portions (66) and said housing (12) comprises a palm-support portion, characterised by a pusher element (22) pivotally mounted upon said handle (14) movable between a first position at which said pusher element (22) permits the strip of material to be inserted into said slot (28) of said housing (12) in preparation for a cutting operation by said cutting blade (20), and a second position at which said pusher element (22) engages the strip of material so as to force the strip of material into engagement with said cutting blade (20) as said handle (14) is moved from said first inoperative position to said second operative position, whereby said manually-operable cutting tool (10) is able to be manipulated by an operator in accordance with a one-handed operation. A manually-operable cutting tool according to claim 1, wherein: said base portion (34) of said housing (12) comprises an upstanding rib member (36); and said pusher element (22) comprises a bifurcated structure having a pair of laterally separated side portions defining a space therebetween for accommodating said rib member (36) of said base portion (34) of said housing and for permitting movement of said pusher element (22) along said base portion (34) of said housing as said handle (14) is moved from said first inoperative position to said second operative position. A manually-operable cutting tool according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: said handle (14) comprises a bifurcated structure having a pair of laterally separated side wall portions defining a space therebetween for accommodating said web portion (38) of said housing (12) and for permitting movement of said handle (14) from said first inoperative position to said second operative position. A manually-operable cutting tool according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: means mounting said cutting blade (20) upon said housing (12) for permitting said cutting blade (20) to be adjustably movable upon said housing (12) to enable new portions of said cutting blade (20) to be positioned for performing a cutting operation as said cutting blade (20) experiences wear. A manually-operable cutting tool according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a first spring member (18) interposed between said housing (12) and said handle (14) for normally biasing said handle (14) to said first inoperative position. A manually-operable cutting tool according to claim 5, wherein: a slot (68) is defined within said housing (12); and a pin (72) is mounted upon said handle (14) and disposed within said slot (68) of said housing (12) for limiting the movement of said handle (14) with respect to said housing (12) from said second operative position toward said first inoperative position under the influence of said first spring member (18). A manually-operable cutting tool according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising: a second spring member (30) interposed between said handle (14) and said pusher element (22) for normally biasing said pusher element (22) to said second position.

Inventors: FIGIEL JANUSZ, MOTHENA MARK, FIGIEL, JANUSZ, MOTHENA, MARK
Applicants: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS, ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B26B27
IPC codes: B26B27, B65B69