Abstract:
The preset invention is directed to an embossing tool. The embossing tool includes a drive mechanism that advances a tape, an embossing mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism cuts the tape to form a tag. The cutting mechanism also forms a mounting feature in the ends of the tag. The cutting mechanism includes a pair of dies with openings therethrough and at least one punch moveable within the openings for engaging the tape.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/324,180, filed Apr. 14, 2010, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a metal embossing hand tool, and more particularly to a metal embossing hand tool with a multifunction cutting die. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hand tools are used to emboss metal tape to create identification tags or plates. Once the metal tape has been embossed with the desired text, the tool typically cuts the tape to create a tag or plate. Prior tools have provided a device for cutting or punching a slot or hole at each end of the embossed tag or plate. 
     Typically, after the tape has been embossed and cut, the newly formed tag or plate is reinserted into the front of the tool. The front of the tool includes a number of punch openings for receiving the tag or plate to create a hole or slot. The hole or slot enables the tag or plate to be attached via screws, nails, other similar fasteners, or cable ties. One end of the tag or plate would be inserted into one of the openings and a handle would be actuated thereby punching the desired hole or slot. Next, the opposite end of the tag or plate would be inserted into the opening and the handle would be actuated to punch an identical hole or slot at the opposite end. 
     Thus, there is a need for an improved and more efficient metal embossing hand tool that simultaneously cuts the embossed tape to form a tag or plate and punches a slot to receive a cable tie or wire. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a metal embossing hand tool. The metal embossing hand tool includes a drive mechanism for advancing a metal tape, an embossing mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism simultaneously cuts the metal tape to form a metal tag and to form a mounting feature at each end of the metal tag. The cutting mechanism includes a pair of dies with openings therethrough and at least one punch that moves within the openings to engage the tape. The at least one punch includes a cut off punch that forms semi-circular ends and a mounting feature punch that forms a mounting feature on a trailing end of a first formed tag and a mounting feature on a leading end of a second formed tag. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front left side perspective view of the metal embossing hand tool of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a back left side perspective view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a back right side perspective view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front left side perspective view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 1  with the left body enclosure removed; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom left side perspective view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a back right side perspective view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 1  with the right body enclosure removed; 
         FIG. 7  is a partially exploded view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 8  taken along line  9 - 9 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 9  taken along line  10 - 10 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 9  taken along line  11 - 11 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 9  taken along line  12 - 12 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 9  taken along line  13 - 13 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 9  taken along line  14 - 14 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a front right side perspective view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 1  with the right body enclosure removed; 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 15  taken along line  16 - 16 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 16  taken along line  17 - 17 ; 
         FIG. 17   a  is a perspective view of the mounting feature created by the cutting die of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 16  taken along line  18 - 18 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 16  taken along line  19 - 19 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing tool of  FIG. 19  taken along line  20 - 20 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a back right side perspective view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 6  with the right body enclosure removed; 
         FIG. 22  is a bottom left side partial perspective view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 21  with the left body enclosure removed; 
         FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 22  taken along line  23 - 23 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 23  taken along line  24 - 24 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 23  taken along line  25 - 25 ; 
         FIG. 25   a  is a perspective view of the tape embossed and cut by the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 26  is a back left side perspective view of the metal embossing hand tool of  FIG. 1  with the left body enclosure removed and the flip up cover open for installation of the metal tape; and 
         FIG. 27  is a top right perspective view of the drive mechanism of the metal embossing tool of  FIG. 26 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate perspective views of the metal embossing hand tool  50  of the present invention. The metal embossing hand tool  50  is used to emboss characters on a stainless steel or aluminum tape  300 . Once the tape  300  has been embossed, the metal embossing hand tool  50  creates a universal mounting feature and cuts the tape off the roll with a semi-circular end  308  thereby eliminating any sharp edges. 
     The metal embossing hand tool  50  includes a main body  52  with a right body enclosure  54  and a left body enclosure  56 . A flip up cover  58  is pivotally attached to the right and left body enclosures  54 ,  56  such that the flip up cover  58  is positioned adjacent to the right and left body enclosures  54 ,  56  when the flip up cover  58  is in a closed position. A hand lever  64  is pivotally attached at the bottom of the main body  52  adjacent to the right and left body enclosures  54 ,  56 . The front of the metal embossing hand tool  50  includes a protective sleeve  66 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the left side of the metal embossing hand tool  50  with the left body enclosure  56  removed. The metal embossing hand tool  50  includes a drive mechanism  100 , an embossing mechanism  150  and a multifunction cutting die  200 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the left side of the metal embossing hand tool  50  with the left body enclosure  56  and the hand lever  64  removed.  FIG. 6  illustrates the right side of the metal embossing hand tool  50  with the right body enclosure  54  removed.  FIG. 7  illustrates a partially exploded view of the drive mechanism  100 , the embossing mechanism  150  and the multifunction cutting die  200  of the metal embossing hand tool  50 . 
     The drive mechanism  100  is designed to pull a stainless steel or aluminum tape  300  from a tape holder  60  and feed the tape  300  through the metal embossing hand tool  50 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the tape  300  is supplied as a continuous roll that is stored in the tape holder  60  located in the flip up cover  58 . The tape  300  extends out of an opening  62  in the tape holder  60  towards the drive mechanism  100 . 
     When the hand lever  64  or the manual advance wheel  106  (see  FIGS. 26-27 ) is activated, the metal tape  300  is pulled between the drive wheel  102  and an idler wheel  108  (see  FIG. 9 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the idler wheel  108  is mounted to a pivot  110  and is allowed to spin freely on a shoulder bolt  116 . One end of the pivot arm  110  is connected to the main body  52  by a pivot pin  112 . The other end of the pivot arm  110  is connected to a compression spring  114 . The compression spring  114  creates the force that pushes the idler wheel  108  into the drive wheel  102 . 
     The drive wheel  102  is made of a hard rubber to allow it to grip the metal tape  300  and feed it into the embossing mechanism  150 . As the rubber drive wheel  102  wears from use, the pivot arm  110  automatically adjust to keep the idler wheel  108  and the drive wheel  102  in contact to properly feed the tape  300 . Thus, the drive mechanism  100  eliminates tolerance stack-up issues because the idler wheel  108  automatically adjusts relative to the drive wheel  102 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the drive wheel  102  and the idler wheel  108  are rotated by a ratchet wheel  104 . An indexing arm  118  is connected to the hand lever  64 . As the hand lever  64  is actuated, the indexing arm  118  advances the ratchet wheel  104  one tooth at a time. Each time the hand lever  64  is actuated the tape  300  is advanced through the tool  50 . If the hand lever  64  is actuated a half stroke, only the tape  300  is fed. If the hand lever  64  is actuated a full stroke, the tape  300  is fed and the embossing pin  168  is activated (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     After the tape  300  is advanced through the drive mechanism  100 , the metal tape  300  is feed through the embossing mechanism  150 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  7 , the embossing mechanism  150  includes a top wheel holder  152  and a top wheel  154  with recessed characters  156 . The embossing mechanism  150  also includes a bottom wheel holder  164  and a bottom wheel  160  with raised characters  162 . The top wheel  154  and the bottom wheel  160  are positioned so that there is an opening  158  therebetween to receive the metal tape  300 . An embossing pin  168  is positioned below the bottom wheel  160 . The embossing pin  168  is actuated by the hand lever  64 . As discussed below with respect to  FIG. 13 , the embossing pin  168  initiates the flex on an individual raised character  162  on the bottom embossing wheel  160  when the hand lever  64  is engaged. The raised character  162  pushes the metal tape  300  into the recessed character  156  on the top embossing wheel  154  thereby embossing the character onto the metal tape  300 . 
     After the tape  300  is embossed, the drive wheel  102  advances the metal tape  300  into the multifunction cutting die  200 . The operator actuates the hand lever  64  to properly position the tape  300  for cut off. The multifunction cutting die  200  cuts the tape  300  off the continuous roll with a semi-circular end to eliminate any sharp edges. The multifunction cutting die  200  also forms a universal mounting feature on the trailing end  304  of tag  302  or plate and the leading end  306  of tape  300 . As discussed below, the universal mounting feature includes two holes or slots  312  large enough for either a cable tie or a wire (see  FIG. 17A ). The universal mounting feature also includes a raised section  310  in the middle for allowing a cable tie to thread easily through the hole or slot  312  to secure the tag  302  or plate flush with a surface. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the multifunction cutting die  200  includes an upper die plate  232  and a lower die plate  238  with a plurality of openings  234 ,  240 , respectively, for receiving a cut off punch  228  and mounting feature punches  230 . The lower die plate  238  also includes a raised portion  242  for forming the raised section  310  in the tag  302  or plate (see  FIG. 19 ). The multifunction cutting die  200  also includes an upper holder member  202 , a lower holder member  210  and a punch retainer plate  216 . A handle bracket  246  with an opening  248  at the top center of the bracket  246  is positioned on the right side and the left side of the upper and lower die plates  232 ,  238 , respectively. As discussed below, a wire handle  260  extends through the handle brackets  246  and the punch retainer plate  216 . 
       FIGS. 8-14  illustrate the metal embossing hand tool  50  with the metal tape  300  extending through the drive mechanism  100 , embossing mechanism  150  and the multifunction cutting die  200  before the cutting die  200  is activated. More specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the tape  300  is positioned between the drive wheel  102  and the idler wheel  108 , the top embossing wheel  154  and the bottom embossing wheel  160  and the upper die plate  232  and the lower die plate  238 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the multifunction cutting die  200  with the tape  300  positioned in the cutting die  200 . As discussed above, the tape  300  is positioned in the opening  236  between the upper die plate  232  and the lower die plate  238 . The mounting feature punches  230  and the cut off punch  228  are positioned in the upper die plate  232  above the tape  300 .  FIG. 10  illustrates an outline of the mounting feature punches  230  and the cut off punch  228  with respect to the tape  300 . As discussed below with respect to  FIGS. 15-25 , once the wire handle  260  activates the multifunction cutting die  200 , the mounting feature punches  230  and the cut off punch  228  are pushed downwards through the tape  300  and into the lower die plate  238  to form a tag  302  or plate. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  further illustrate the multifunction cutting die  200  of the present invention. The upper die plate  232  is secured to the lower die plate  238  by a plurality of fasteners  244 , such as screws. As discussed above, a center opening  236  is formed between the upper die plate  232  and the lower die plate  238  for receiving the tape  300 .  FIG. 11  illustrates one of the mounting feature punches  230  positioned in the upper die plate  232  above the tape  300 . The punch retainer plate  216 , lower holder member  210  and the upper holder member  202  are positioned above the mounting feature punches  230  and the cut off punch  228 .  FIG. 12  illustrates the cut off punch  228  secured to the punch retainer plate  216  by fasteners  226 , such as screws. 
     The punch retainer plate  216  includes a bottom  218  with two sides  220 . The bottom  218  includes a plurality of openings  224  for receiving the mounting feature punches  230  and the cut off punch  228  and each side  220  includes an opening  222  for receiving the wire handle  260 . The lower holder member  210  is positioned on the punch retainer plate  216 . The lower holder member  210  engages the mounting feature punches  230  and the cut off punch  228  before the cutting die  200  is activated. 
     A handle bracket  246  is positioned on either side of the upper and lower die plates  232 ,  238 , respectively. The handle brackets  246  include a tab  250  with an opening  252  for receiving the fasteners  244  that secure the upper and lower die plates  232 ,  238 , respectively, together. The handle brackets  246  also include an opening  254  for receiving a fastener  256  to secure the handle brackets to the main body  52  of the tool  50 . As such, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the handle brackets  246  are secured at the bottom of the lower die plate  238 . The handle brackets  246  extend upwardly and outwardly away from the upper and lower die plates  232 ,  238 . As discussed above, the upper portion of the handle brackets  246  includes an opening  248  for receiving the wire handle  260 . 
     The upper holder member  202  includes a top  204  with two downwardly extending sides  206 . Each side  206  has a semi-circular opening  208  for receiving the wire handle  260 . The upper holder member  202  is positioned between the handle brackets  246  so that the semi-circular openings  208  are adjacent to the openings  248  in the handle brackets  246 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the wire handle  260  includes a bend  262  which creates a crank to actuate the cutting die  200 . The wire handle  260  extends through the right handle bracket  246 , the right side  206  of the upper holder member  202 , the punch retainer plate  216 , the left side  206  of the upper holder member  202  and the left handle bracket  246 . The wire handle  260  is also positioned on the lower holder member  210 . Thus, when the wire handle  260  is activated, the wire handle  260  forces the lower holder member  210 , punch retainer plate  216  and attached mounting feature punches  230  and cut off punch  228  downwards. 
     The multifunction cutting die  200  is designed to return to the initial or home position when the wire handle  260  is pulled back. This eliminates the need for return springs in the cutting die  200 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates the tape  300  positioned between the top and bottom embossing wheels  154 ,  160 . As discussed above, the embossing mechanism  150  includes an embossing pin  168  that is pivotally connected to the hand lever  64 . The embossing pin  168  flexes the bottom embossing wheel  160 . As result, when the hand lever  64  is actuated, the spring  166  around the embossing pin  168  is compressed thereby forcing the embossing pin  168  to engage the bottom embossing wheel  160 . The embossing pin  168  presses the raised character  162  of the bottom wheel  160  into the tape  300  and the recessed character  156  of the top wheel  154  to emboss the character on the tape  300  (see  FIGS. 22-25 ). 
       FIG. 14  illustrates the tape  300  positioned between the drive wheel  102  and the idler wheel  108 . The drive arm  122  and the indexing arm  118  are secured to the hand lever  64  via a fastener  126 . The drive arm  122  includes a slot  124  for enabling the drive arm  122  to move with respect to the ratchet wheel  104 . The indexing arm  118  engages the ratchet wheel  104  which in turn actuates the drive wheel  102  and the idler wheel  108  to advance the tape  300  therebetween. Alternatively, as will be discussed with respect to  FIGS. 26 and 27 , the tape  300  may be advanced by the manual advance wheel  106 . 
       FIGS. 15-20  illustrate the multifunction cutting die  200  of the metal embossing hand tool  50  when the wire handle  260  has been actuated. Once the wire handle  260  has been actuated, the trailing end  304  of one tag  302  or plate is formed enabling the completed tag  302  or plate to exit the cutting die  200  while the leading end  306  of the next tag  302  or plate is formed (see  FIG. 17A ). 
     The actuated wire handle  260  forces the cut off punch  228  and the mounting feature punches  230  downward through the tape  300  into the lower die plate  238 . As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the mounting feature punches  230  form the mounting holes or slots  312  and the cut off punch  228  cuts the tape  300  to form semi-circular ends  308 . This eliminates sharp edges on the finished tag  302  or plate. Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , the lower die plate  238  forms the raised area  310  adjacent the mounting hole or slot  312  to maintain a cable tie received in the hole  312  or slot. 
     Once the leading end  306  of the next tag  302  or plate has been formed, the tape  300  may be embossed.  FIGS. 21-25  further illustrate the drive mechanism  100  and the embossing mechanism  150  of the metal embossing hand tool  50 . The embossing wheels  154 ,  160  are manually turned to select the desired character to be embossed. As discussed above, the metal tape  300  passes between the bottom wheel  160  and the top wheel  154 . When the hand lever  64  is actuated, the embossing pin  168  initiates the flex of an individual raised character  162  on the bottom wheel  160 . The raised character  162  pushes the metal tape  300  into the recessed character  156  on the top wheel  154  to emboss the character on the tape  300 . The embossed characters on the tape  300  may be viewed through the embossing preview window  180  in the main body  52  of the embossing hand tool  50 . 
       FIG. 25   a  illustrates the embossed tag  302  or plate with the complete leading end  306 . To complete the tag  302  or plate, the wire handle  260  would be actuated to lower the mounting feature punches  230  and cut off punch  228  to form the trailing end  304  of the tag  302  or plate. As a result, the multifunction cutting die  200  of the metal embossing hand tool  50  of the present invention creates a complete tag  302  or plate without reinserting the ends of the tag or plate into the tool to form a mounting feature. 
       FIGS. 26-27  illustrate a metal tape  300  being manually fed in the metal embossing hand tool  50 . To manually reverse the metal tape  300 , the indexing arm  118  is disengaged from the ratchet wheel  104  by pushing indexing arm  118  upwards. Once the hand lever  64  is actuated, the manual advance wheel  106  may be rotated by the operator. As the manual advance wheel  106  rotates, the drive wheel  102  and the idler wheel  108  rotate thereby advancing the metal tape  300 . As the tool is reversed the tape holder  60  rotates in a clockwise direction and the tape is fed back into the tool. It can be fed back approximately 350 degrees or approximately 5 inches. 
     Furthermore, while the particular preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the teaching of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.