Abstract:
A shape cutting apparatus for stamping a variety of shapes from thin sheet material. The shape cutting apparatus includes a body member having a cavity with a plurality of die bores, a plurality of die plugs designed to be inserted into the die bores, and a plunger cap designed for depressing the die plugs through a sheet member for producing shaped cutouts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to shape cutting devices and more particularly pertains to a new shape cutting apparatus for stamping a variety of shapes from thin sheet material. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art The use of shape cutting devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, shape cutting devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,278; U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,278; U.S. Pat. No. 2,655,215; U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,242; U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,006; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 407,752. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new shape cutting apparatus. The inventive device includes a body member having a cavity with a plurality of die bores, a plurality of die plugs designed to be inserted into the die bores, and a plunger cap designed for depressing the die plugs through a sheet member for producing shaped cutouts. 
     In these respects, the shape cutting apparatus according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of stamping a variety of shapes from thin sheet material. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of shape cutting devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new shape cutting apparatus construction wherein the same can be utilized for stamping a variety of shapes from thin sheet material. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new shape cutting apparatus apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the shape cutting devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new shape cutting apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art shape cutting devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a body member having a cavity with a plurality of die bores, a plurality of die plugs designed to be inserted into the die bores, and a plunger cap designed for depressing the die plugs through a sheet member for producing shaped cutouts. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new shape cutting apparatus apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the shape cutting devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new shape cutting apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art shape cutting devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new shape cutting apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new shape cutting apparatus which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new shape cutting apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such shape cutting apparatus economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new shape cutting apparatus which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new shape cutting apparatus for stamping a variety of shapes from thin sheet material. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new shape cutting apparatus which includes a body member having a cavity with a plurality of die bores, a plurality of die plugs designed to be inserted into the die bores, and a plunger cap designed for depressing the die plugs through a sheet member for producing shaped cutouts. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new shape cutting apparatus that cuts out a plurality of shapes, letters or numbers all at one time. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new shape cutting apparatus that allows the user to utilize an infinite number of die plugs to create a very universal system for making shaped cutouts out of a vast selection of sheet materials. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new shape cutting apparatus according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic end view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new shape cutting apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the shape cutting apparatus  10  generally comprises a body member  12  that has perimeter walls  14  such that the walls  14  form a cavity  16 . The cavity  16  includes a plurality of die bores  18 . The die bores  18  are positioned in a base surface  20  of the cavity  16 . The die bores  18  are designed for receiving a plurality of die plugs  22 . 
     A plunger cap  24  is designed for being received into the cavity  16  of the body member  12 . The plunger cap  24  manually biases the die plugs  22  substantially into the die bores  18 , thereby cutting a plurality of shapes  26  associated with the die plugs  22  from a sheet material  28  when the sheet material  28  is inserted into a sheet slot  30  of the body member  12 . 
     The body member  12  includes a plurality of guide slots  32 . The guide slots  32  of the body member  12  are positioned inside of the cavity  16  at a medial portion of each of a pair of side walls  34  of the cavity  16 . 
     The guide slots  32  are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the die bores  18  such that the guide slots  32  are designed for slidably receiving a plurality of guide members  36  of the plunger cap  24 . 
     The guide members  36  of the plunger cap  24  are positioned on end sides  38  of the plunger cap  24 . When the guide members  36  are received in the guide slots  32 , the plunger cap  24  is slidably received into the cavity  16  of the body member  12  while remaining substantially parallel to the base surface  20  of the cavity  16  for the purpose of contacting the die plugs  22  evenly. 
     The plunger cap  24  has a thickness substantially greater than a depth of the cavity  16 . When the plunger cap  24  is fully received into the cavity  16 , a top portion  40  of the plunger cap  24  is accessible to a user for grasping onto for removing the plunger cap  24  from the cavity  16 . 
     The sheet slot  30  of the body member  12  is located proximate a bottom surface  42  of the body member  12  along a front wall  44  of the body member  12 . The sheet slot  30  has a depth away from the front wall  44  substantially greater than a corresponding depth of the die bores  18 . The sheet material  28  passes beyond the die bores  18 , thereby ensuring that the die plugs  22  cut into a full portion of the sheet material  28  when the die plugs  22  are manually biased fully downwardly. 
     A base portion  46  of the body member  12  has a plurality of punch bores  48 . The punch bores  48  are substantially aligned with the die bores  18  such that the die plugs  22  are partially received into the punch bores  48  when the die plugs  22  are manually biased fully downwardly. 
     The die bores  18  are designed for allowing the die plugs  22  to cut the sheet material  28  into shapes  26  corresponding to the die plugs  22  such that the cutout shapes  26  thereby fall downwardly into the punch bores  48  allowing the user to retrieve them, 
     Each of the die bores  18  has a spring member  50 . The spring members  50  are designed for biasing the die plugs  22  upwardly, thereby preventing the die plugs  22  from contacting the sheet material  28  until the die plugs  22  are manually biased downwardly by the plunger cap  24 . 
     Each of the die plugs  22  has a cap portion  52 . The cap portion  52  is positioned on an upper end  54  of the die plugs  22 . A diameter of the cap portion  52  is substantially greater than a diameter of the die bores  18 . When the die plugs  22  are manually biased downwardly by the plunger cap  24 , the cap portion  52  of the die plugs  22  abut the base surface  20  at the cavity  16  thereby limiting a travel distance of the die plugs  22 . 
     In the preferred usage of this apparatus, the primary shapes are the letters of the alphabet and the numbers 0-10, but this does not limit the many variety of different sizes and shapes that the die plugs could be provided in. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.