Abstract:
A cutting device is provided. The cutting device has a body which forms the structure of the device. A slot is formed by the body along the length of its bottom face. The slot is inset as a channel along the length of the bottom face, extending from front to back of the body. A cutting blade spans the channel at a distance above the bottom face and below a top of the channel. In a method of use, a material may be positioned in the slot, and the body may be drawn across the material (or material drawn through slot). The blade may then cut the material as it passes through the channel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to cutting. More particularly the present invention relates to a cutting device for plastic stripping that provides a level cut relative to a height of the strip. 
         [0003]    Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    When constructing interior elements that require careful and thorough sealing, measurement to precise tolerances is vital. For example, when constructing a shower door assembly, it is necessary that a plastic sealant strip be the right size. Too small and there will be a gap between door, sides, and bottom. Too large, and the shower door will not close properly, which also causes a gap. Through these gaps, water can leak, causing damage, mold, and the like. Adding to this difficulty is that practically, when constructing shower assemblies, no two are the same, and each will inevitably require a slightly differently sized sealant strip. 
         [0005]    Therefore, what is needed is a device that may cut elongate material, such as plastic shower seal strips, to an even and precise height. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases, interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem, and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article. 
         [0007]    In one aspect, a cutting device is provided. The cutting device has a body which forms the structure of the device. A slot is formed by the body along the length of its bottom face. The slot is inset as a channel along the length of the bottom face, extending from front to back of the body forming an open front and rear to the channel. A cutting blade spans the channel at a distance above the bottom face and below a top of the channel. The cutting blade may be permanently affixed or removable from the channel. In one aspect, an opening is defined by a side of the body providing access to the slot. The cutting blade may pass through this opening to access the slot. In an embodiment of use, a material may be positioned in the slot, and the body may be drawn across the material (or material drawn through slot). The blade may then cut the material as it passes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  provides a frontal elevation view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  provides a side view of an embodiment of the present invention in use. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  provides a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. 
         [0013]    Generally, the present invention concerns a level cutting device. The device comprises a body having a straight and flat bottom face, a slot is recessed into this flat bottom edge along the entire length of the body. An elongate piece plastic stripping (or other material) may fit within this slot and may slide through it. In one embodiment, one or a plurality of thin openings may be formed along the length of the body in a side, such that the openings provide communication to the slot. This opening or openings may be sized such that a blade (such as a razor blade and the like) can be placed in the opening, spanning the slot. As positioned, any plastic strip, or other material passing through the slot will be cut at the height of the blade. Because of the even and flat bottom face, the device can be placed flat, and during cutting, an even and continuous height will be ensured so long as the bottom face remains in place on a continuous surface. 
         [0014]    The present invention may be used to cut any material having an elongate shape that is sized to fit within the cutting slot. Typically however, elongate strips may be cut. This material may hereinafter be referred to as a “plastic strip,” though it is to be understood that any material may be cut without straying from the scope of the present invention. More typically, plastic elongate strips having extension, lips, edges, flanges, and the like along their length can be cut easily and effectively with the present invention. Specific examples of items to be cut with the present cutting device include plastic shower door strips, and plastic strips having lipped or flanged protrusions along their length. 
         [0015]    Even cutting of a height of a plastic shower door strip may be particularly important because of the need to have very precise sizing. As such, even small variations in height can render the product useless for sealing a shower door. Accordingly, the present invention allows a user to cut the shower door strip to a completely straight and even height for optimal installation and sealing. 
         [0016]    The body of the cutting device may be made of any material resilient and rigid enough to support a cutting blade in the slot that may be handled by a person during the cutting. Examples of which the body of the cutting device may be made include, but are not limited to: metals, plastics, composite materials, wood, ceramics, and the like. 
         [0017]    The blade of the cutting device similarly may be made of any material capable of cutting the plastic strips intended to be cut by the device. Examples of which the blade of the cutting device may be made include, but are not limited to: metals, plastics, ceramics, and the like. 
         [0018]    The blade may be positioned within the slot in a number of different manners, and may be removable or permanently attached to the slot walls (optionally omitting the body side openings to provide access to the slot). In one embodiment, the opening may be sized to receive a standard sized razor blade. In this embodiment, a user may buy razor blades such as a flat razor or box cutting razor at a store, and may use it by passing the razor through the opening in the body. In another embodiment, the razor may be pivotably attached to the body (by, for example, a hinge) such that it can be urged into and out of an opening when cutting or not cutting. In such embodiments, the razor may also be lockable in place when pivoted into position. In yet another embodiment, a blade may be built into the body and permanently attached therein by connection to one or both walls of the slot. In one embodiment, the blade may be angled downwardly towards the body bottom edge so as to resist an upward lifting of the body during cutting. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, a handle may extend from the body to provide a more ergonomic hand holding area and to provide a user with a better gripping surface. The handle may be of any shape and size to accommodate holding, such as a bar, protrusion, depression, and the like. Further, it should be understood that aside from the flat bottom face and slot, the body may have any shape and sizing without straying from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0020]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention is provided. In this view, the bottom flat face of the body  10  is shown facing upward. A slot  11  is defined along part of a width and the entire length of a bottom face of body  10 . While the slot  11  is shown herein as having a rectangular cross section, it should be understood that any shape and cross sectional orientation may be used, so long as the intended elongate plastic strip portion to be cut can fit within the slot. In the embodiment shown, six openings  13  are formed at varying heights along a side of body  10 . These openings  13  may be arranged in any number of shapes. As shown in the figure, the openings  13  are aligned in a triangular shape, with two openings  13  aligned along the length of the body  10 . Each opening  13  provides access to an interior space defined by the slot  11 . Blade  12  can be placed within each one of these openings  13 , such that a portion of the blade  12  can extend through opening  13  into the slot  11 , spanning the slot  11 . As such, a material passed through the slot  11  will be cut by the blade  12 . Blade  12  will be positioned in one of the six openings  13  depending on a desired cutting height. However it should be understood that different numbers of openings may be used, depending on embodiment. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of a side view of the cutting device. In this view, an end of the body  10  is shown. The flat bottom face is shown facing upward, and the slot  11  can be seen defined along the entire length of the body  10 .In this view, blade  12  can be seen passing through opening  13  and into the slot  11 . As configured, any elongate strip passing through slot  11  having a protrusion that extends higher than a distance from the bottom face of the body  10  to the blade  12  will be cut, thereby providing a flat, even height of the elongate strip. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of the cutting device in use cutting an elongate strip. In this view, body  10  is in an operating position having the flat bottom face facing downward (however it should be understood that the device may be used in any orientation without straying from the scope of the present invention). Body is drawn in the direction of the arrow along the plastic strip  31 . Blade  12  is positioned within opening  13  at the lowest opening (corresponding to a shorter height of the cut strip). As the body  10  is drawn along the strip  31 , the height of the strip is reduced to the cut level. The cut portion of the strip  32  can be seen extending from the back of the body after passing through slot  11 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  provides a side view of an embodiment of the cutting device in use cutting an elongate strip. In this view, plastic strip  31  may be drawn through slot  11  (or body  10  may be drawn over strip  31 ). During this drawing, blade  12  within slot  11  (not shown in this view) may cut the protrusion of the strip to the blade  12  height. Because the flat bottom of the body  10  stays on the operating surface (such as the table, floor, etc.) the blade  12  is maintained at a consistent height, thereby providing an even cut of the plastic strip  31  to the shortened cut form  32 . 
         [0024]    While several variations of the present invention have been illustrated by way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, or the inventive concept thereof. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth.