Abstract:
A pen-shaped cutting apparatus and a method for its use is disclosed. The cutting apparatus has a body and a cutter head pivotally mounted thereto. The cutter head includes a swivel-mounted cutter housing that includes a cutter protruding slightly from a lower surface of the cutter housing. The cutting apparatus enables continuous non-linear cutting of an underlying surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a cutting apparatus, and specifically to a pen-shaped cutting apparatus having a swivel-mounted cutter at a cutting end thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a cutting apparatus having a generally pen-shaped body and a cutting head pivotally mounted to the body. The pen-shaped body comprises a handle and a housing received in a channel of the handle. The cutting head is pivotally mounted to the pen-shaped body at the proximal end of the housing and comprises a dome-shaped shroud and a cutting member. The cutting member is rotatably mounted to the shroud. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method for non-linear cutting is disclosed having the steps of: (i) providing a cutting apparatus having a pen-shaped body and a cutting head pivotally mounted thereto, the cutting head comprising a dome-shaped shroud and a cutting member; and (2) pressing the cutting head against an underlying surface; and (3) guiding the cutting apparatus in a desired path of cutting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order to clearly show and make better comprehension of these and other features and advantages of the present invention, the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to a specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side elevational view of a cutting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a top plan view of the cutting apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a front elevational view of the cutting apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of  FIG. 3  of the cutting apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the cutting apparatus according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the handle of the cutting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the handle of the cutting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of  FIG. 7  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of a housing of the cutting apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 10A-C  are several views of a cutting housing of the cutting apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of a shroud of the cutting apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of a shroud of the cutting apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of  FIG. 12  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is a close-up cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of  FIG. 12  showing the blade according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which show, respectively, a perspective view and an exploded view of a cutting apparatus, indicated generally at  10 , constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cutting apparatus  10  comprises a generally pen-shaped body  12  and a cutting head  16  pivotally mounted to the body. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the pen-shaped body comprises a handle  5  preferably made of a plastic material and having a distal end and a proximal end, and a mount housing  6  for pivotal attachment of the cutting head  16 , and a grip. The handle  5  is formed with opposing recessed areas  20  having apertures  22  extending transversely therethrough. The handle further includes opposing posts  24  formed in a distal portion of the recessed areas  20 . Handle  5  likewise includes a channel  26  extending through the proximal portion thereof. 
     The mount housing  6  comprises two housing portions  6 A,  6 B. The housing portions are received in channel  26  of the handle and each includes a toothed upper edge  28  for aid in gripping the pen. Each housing portion  6 A,  6 B has one or more apertures  29  that are operably configured to align with apertures  22  of the handle  5  as the housing portions are received in channel  26  of handle  5 . The handle  5  and housing portions  6 A and  6 B further include threaded apertures  31  to receive screws  14  to secure the grip housing to the handle  5 . Each housing portion  6 A and  6 B further includes an interior recessed portion  40  at a proximal end of each housing portion. Each recessed portion has a bore  42  extending transversely therethrough. 
     The grip comprises a pair of grip members,  8 A and  8 B, that are mounted to the opposing recessed areas  20  of the handle. Grip member  8 A includes a plurality of posts  30  on an interior surface thereof. The posts  30  are received in a corresponding number of female members  32  formed on an interior surface of grip member  8 B. The posts and female members extend through the apertures  22  of the handle  5  and apertures  29  of the housing portions  6 A and  6 B. Grip members  8 A and  8 B each further include a receiving member  34  for receiving one post  24  of the handle  5 . The mating of posts  30  to female members  32  and posts  24  in receiving members  34  secure the grip portions to handle  5 . 
     The housing portions  6 A and  6 B and the handle  5  are preferably made of a thermoplastic, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Grip members  8 A and  8 B are made of a pliable plastic, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, to provide a softer, gripping surface to hold the pen. The handle further is ergonomically shaped to facilitate cutting. 
     The cutting head  16  is pivotally mounted to the pen-shaped body  12  at the proximal end of the housing portions  6 A and  6 B. The cutting head  16  comprises a dome-shaped shroud  3  and a cutting member  50  rotationally mounted to the shroud. Preferably, the shroud  3  is transparent such that the user can see the cutting member  50  during use of the cutting member. The shroud  3  includes a mount portion  52  having a transverse aperture  54  and a generally vertical aperture  56 . The mount portion  52  is operably configured to be received within the two interior recessed portions  40  of housing portions  6 A and  6 B. A pin  13  extends through aperture  42  of the housing portions and through aperture  54  of mount portion  52  to secure the cutting head  16  to the body  12 . Cutting head  26  is thus pivotably received on body  12  and has an axis of rotation along the longitudinal length of pin  13 . The cutting head  16  pivots for a relatively small arc, between 10 degrees and 30 degrees of rotation, around the axis of rotation. The combined interior recessed portions of  40  of the housing members define an opening slightly larger than the dimension of mount portion  52 , which provides a stop for the amount of rotation. 
     The cutting member  50  comprises a cutter housing  2  that secures blade  1 . The cutter housing  2  comprises a first and second cutter housing portion,  2 A and  2 B, respectively, each having an upper surface  62 , a lower surface  64 , and an exterior side surface  66  extending between the upper surface and lower surface. The cutter housing portions  2 A and  2 B include a blade mount  58  for securing blade  1  at an angle such that a portion of the blade extends at an angle slightly below the lower surface  64 . Preferably the blade is mounted approximately 30 degrees from vertical and the portion of the blade protrudes approximately 0.006 in. below the lower surface of the cutter housing. The second housing portion  2 B includes a pin bore  60  on its upper surface  62 . The exterior surface of both the first and second housing portions  2 A,  2 B, each comprise an indicia  68  corresponding to the exit point of blade from the cutter housing portions. The cutter housing  2  is rotatably mounted to the shroud  3  through a pin  4  that extends through the generally vertical aperture  54  of the shroud and secured in pin bore  60 . The cutter housing  2 , and thus blade  1 , are rotatable about the longitudinal axis of pin  4 . The blade preferably is ceramic, such as zirconium dioxide. 
     In operation, a user holds the cutting apparatus in one hand squeezing opposite sides of the gripping member, while applying slight downward pressure on the toothed upper surface such that the blade of the cutting member engages an underlying surface. The cutting apparatus is then moved along the underlying surface with the cutting apparatus cutting at a position indicated by the indicia. The cutter housing  2 , and thus blade  1 , is fully rotatable and can easily cut circles or other non-linear shapes, as well as linear shapes. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.