Abstract:
A drywall cutting apparatus is provided having a slidable mount with a top surface and a bottom surface. A channel is integrated into the bottom surface and utilized for a slidable engagement. The apparatus also includes a body having at least one side surface. The body is mounted on the top surface of the slidable mount. The apparatus further includes at least one cutting wheel mounted on the at least one side surface of the body. The at least one cutting wheel is a wheel-shaped blade that cuts as the apparatus is moved across a surface.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to a corresponding provisional patent application, filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Apr. 30, 2008, and assigned Ser. No. 61/049,104, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a drywall cutting apparatus, and more particularly, to a drywall cutting apparatus capable of being slidably mounted and rotated upon a stem of a T-square. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A conventional method of cutting a sheet of drywall involves the use of a T-square and a handheld blade. A head of the T-square is aligned with a reference edge of the drywall, and an edge of a stem of the T-square is aligned with a cut line perpendicular to the reference edge of the drywall. The handheld blade is manually slid along the edge of the aligned stem of the T-square, while holding the T-square with the other hand, cutting through the drywall at the cut line. 
         [0006]    However, when performing the conventional drywall cutting method with a metal T-square, the handheld blade is quickly dulled when continuously slid across the edge of the T-square. When the T-square is made of a softer material, such as plastic, the handheld blade may cut into the edge of the stem of the T-square, damaging the T-square. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention has been made to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a drywall cutting apparatus capable of being slidably mounted on a T-square, and which houses at least one blade for cutting drywall. 
         [0008]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a drywall cutting apparatus is provided having a slidable mount with a top surface and a bottom surface. A channel is integrated into the bottom surface and utilized for a slidable engagement. The apparatus also includes a body having at least one side surface. The body is mounted on the top surface of the slidable mount. The apparatus further includes at least one cutting wheel rotatably mounted on the at least one side surface of the body. The at least one cutting wheel is a wheel-shaped blade that cuts as the apparatus is moved across a surface. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a drywall cutting apparatus is provided having a mounting device that includes a slidable mount having a top surface and a bottom surface. A channel is integrated into the bottom surface and utilized for a slidable engagement. The mounting device also includes a body having at least one side surface. The body is mounted on the top surface of the slidable mount. The mounting device further includes at least one cutting wheel rotatably mounted on the at least one side surface of the body. The at least one cutting wheel is a wheel-shaped blade that cuts as the device is moved across a surface. The drywall cutting apparatus also has a T-square that includes a stem upon which the mounting device is slidably engaged, and an end stop that prevents the device from sliding off the stem when in use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the components of a drywall cutting apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the drywall cutting apparatus assembled in a first orientation, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the drywall cutting apparatus assembled in the first orientation and mounted on a T-square, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the drywall cutting apparatus assembled in a second orientation and mounted on a T-square, according an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar reference components are designated by the same or similar reference numerals although they are illustrated in different drawings. Detailed descriptions of constructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the components of a drywall cutting apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the drywall cutting apparatus  10  includes a main body  20 , a knob assembly  21 , an attachment screw  22 , first and second wheel screws  25   a  and  26   a , first and second cutting wheels  25   b  and  26   b , a sliding mount  30 , and a knob bolt  31 . 
         [0018]    A bottom surface of the sliding mount  30  includes a channel  34  through which a stern of a T-square  40  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) may be slidably inserted. First and second ledges  35  and  36  are formed along the length of the channel  34 , extending perpendicularly inward from the walls of the channel. The height and width of the channel  34 , in combination with the first and second ledges  35  and  36 , act in securing the sliding mount  30  to a T-square having standard dimensions. 
         [0019]    The sliding mount  30  further includes a knob bolt  31 , which is preferably permanently affixed to the center of a top surface of the sliding mount  30 . The knob bolt  31  preferably extends upwardly from, and perpendicular to, the top surface of the sliding mount  30 . The knob bolt  31  is inserted through a knob hole  21   e  in the main body  20 . The knob assembly  21  is then screwed on to the knob bolt  31  while it extends from a top surface of the main body  20 . The knob assembly  21  rotatably secures the main body  20  to the sliding mount  30 . The knob assembly  21  includes a ball handle  21   a , a support piece  21   b , and a washer  21   c . While a specific embodiment of the present invention is described, any securing mechanism may be utilized in combination with the knob bolt  31  to rotatably secure the main body  20  to the sliding mount  30 . 
         [0020]    First and second cutting wheels  25   b  and  26   b  are wheel shaped blades that are rotatably attached to a side surface of the main body  20 . First and second wheel screws  25   a  and  26   a  extend through central apertures in the first and second cutting wheels  25   b  and  26   b , respectively, and into first and second wheel holes on the side surface of the main body  20 . The first and second cutting wheels  25   b  and  26   b  roll across and cut into a sheet of drywall when the drywall cutting apparatus  10  is pushed across drywall by a user. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may include the use of one cutting wheel or a plurality of cutting wheels. Further, the cutting wheels  25   b  and  26   b  may be attached to the side surface of the main body in any manner that allows the wheels to rotate, while also extending lower than the bottom surface of the sliding mount  30 . It is also contemplated that the wheels may be fixedly secured so that they do not rotate. 
         [0021]    While only attached with the knob bolt assembly, the main body  20  may rotate on the top surface of the sliding mount  30 . The attachment screw  22  is inserted from the top surface of the main body  20  through attachment hole  23  in the main body  20  and can then be inserted into either one of attachment holes  32  or  33  of the sliding mount  30 . The attachment screw  22  prevents rotation and secures the main body  20  to the sliding mount  30  in one of two possible orientations. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may include different numbers and placements of attachment holes in the sliding mount  30 , allowing the main body  20  to be oriented in different positions. Further, alternate securing mechanisms may be utilized to secure the main body  20  in place on top of the sliding mount  30 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the drywall apparatus assembled in a first orientation, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a top view of the drywall apparatus assembled in the first orientation and mounted upon a T-square, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the drywall cutting apparatus  10  is assembled in a first orientation, in which the attachment screw  22  is inserted through attachment hole  33 . As the user slides the cutting apparatus along the length of the T-square stem  40 , using knob assembly  21 , the T-square is held in place, and the first and second cutting wheels  25   b  and  26   b  cut along a path that is parallel to an edge  41  of the T-square stem  40  without contacting the edge  41 . This allows the user to produce a straight cut in a sheet of drywall without dulling the first and second cutting wheels  25   b  and  26   b  or damaging the T-square stem  40 . The T-square stem  40  preferably includes an end stop  42  that prevents the drywall cutting apparatus  10  from sliding off the T-square stem  40  when in use. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the drywall apparatus assembled in a second orientation and mounted upon the T-square, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The main body  20  of the apparatus in the first orientation is rotated 180 degrees in order to assemble the apparatus in the second orientation. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment in which the attachment screw  22  is inserted through attachment hole  32  in the second orientation. The attachment screw  22  extends through the sliding mount  30  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) to secure and fix the drywall cutting apparatus  10  at a position along the length of the T-square stem  40 . The first and second cutting wheels  25   b  and  26   b  are oriented to cut the drywall along a cut line that is perpendicular to the T-square stem  40  as a user slides the entire T-square along an edge of the drywall. 
         [0026]    While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.