Abstract:
A twine cutter that is simple, flexible, inexpensive, and easy to carry is composed of injection molded plastic designed in such a manner as to be convenient for one hand cutting of twine, particularly as utilized with hay bales.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a device used as an easily employed hand operated twine cutter especially designed for hay bales.  
         [0003]     2. Background  
         [0004]     The subject invention is commonly referred to as a twine cutter and is primarily designed for use with hay bales. Hay bales come in several shapes and the most traditional is rectangular; however, in modern times “round bales” have become more utilized since they are more efficient. All such hay bales are commonly held together with several twine pieces wrapped around each bale and these must be cut and removed before feeding the hay to livestock. This use of hay is often more prevalent in winter months where the weather often complicates the process including such twine removal. The subject invention is particularly convenient to use with one hand and store in a pocket, and further it is not expensive to manufacture.  
         [0005]     In regards the subject invention the use of “twine” is employed as a generic term referring to not only the common aspect of a rope-like material used for baling hay, but also others made from nylon, plastic, sisal, cotton, hemp, or similar materials. Thus the subject invention could be employed for cutting string, strap or tape from packages or other held-together items.  
         [0006]     Related United States patents include:  
                                       No.   Inventor   Year                   5,878,498   Mundt   1999       5,709,143   Bentley   1998       5,815,930   Kojima   1998       5,485,641   Machmeier et al.   1996       3,856,341   Florek   1974                  
 
         [0007]     Referring to the above list, Mundt discloses a tool and method for manually cutting twine wrapped around a bale in the design of a modified hook with a sharpened edge for cutting. Such a hook type of tool is difficult to use and inconvenient to store in the pockets of pants, shorts, or coats, and further is essentially restricted to only hay bale usage.  
         [0008]     Bentley discloses a round baler twine cutter designed to be placed on a hay baler machine to wind twine on new-formed round bales. Conversely the subject invention works manually cutting twine from bales.  
         [0009]     Kojima discloses a non-metallic strap cutter designed primarily for two-handed use, and further designed for use with loose straps, not ones tightly engaged around an object.  
         [0010]     Machmeier et al. disclose a cutter tool designed as a form of pliers and utilized primarily with insulation for electrical products. Such pliers design is inconvenient, inefficient, and expensive to try to utilize with twine cutting.  
         [0011]     Florek discloses a hay hook and twine cutter as a large two-bladed hook with one blade for cutting and the other blade for hooking and is difficult to use and carry.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0012]     The objectives of the present invention include overcoming the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art by designing a one hand operated twine cutter that is simple, flexible, inexpensive, and easy to carry. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the twine cutter.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a view of the twine cutter when lying flat.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a hand holder side view of the twine cutter.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a blade holder side view of the twine cutter. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  identifies the main attributes of the subject invention with a perspective view that emphases the injection molding of the plastic frame so as to have wider plastic ridges for strength on the sides while leaving a strong inner support for the total frame. Referring to  FIG. 2  the twine cutter is positioned lying flat. The top  13  represents holding the cutter up with the right hand so that the right side  10  is the hand holding strut connected between the top  13  and the bottom  11 , which connects to the left side  12 , which then connects to the top strut  13 . These represent the main parts of the largely rectangular frame enclosing the opening  20 . Such connections are potentially made from a wide variety of bolts, clamps, keys, nails, pins, rivets, screws, and similar items; however, the preferred method is to injection mold the frame as a single plastic piece. The blade holder strut  14  is added on to the top strut  13  at the intersection with the left side strut  12 , and curves around to be substantially parallel with the left side  12  narrowing 10 down to a pinch for better hooking of wrapped twine, which pinch is shown more clearly in  FIG. 4 . The blade  15  is mounted permanently in the holder  14  at an approximately 45-degree angle so that it is secure for cutting of hard twine. Further the blade holder strut  14  is mounted in such a position to shelter the blade  15  in a safe manner. The inner right side  21  is designed to fit the fingers of the holding hand for better control of the cutter.  FIG. 3  emphases the ridge nature of the plastic injection molding.  
         [0018]     A twine cutter comprising a plane frame, composed of four struts making an approximate rectangular shape, enclosing a substantially rectangular opening, wherein said frame is composed of strong material to handle rough cutting, and wherein said opening serves as a hand holder for said cutter The blade holder strut composed of strong material, complete with connected high quality cutting blade, attaches to one end of said frame and is opposite the hand holder side, wherein said blade is imbedded at a diagonal angle in a recessed notch for safety.  
         [0019]     There are multiple ways to attach such a blade to the frame, such as bolting, riveting, screwing, gluing, and many more. However, the preferred method is to employ plastic, such as polystyrene, to injection mold the cutting blade and blade holder strut along with the total frame in one operation. The blade holder strut is rounded to a pinch ending and aligned nearly parallel to the one side of the frame and serves as a device for hooking under a piece of tied twine. This allows potential movement of the hay bale for better alignment for the eventual cutting of the twine by the blade. The high quality blade represents a long lasting aspect of the twine cutter and is a commercial Stanley blade or equivalent.  
         [0020]     The cutter&#39;s hand holder is designed with a wavy finger-fitting design in the inside of the frame opening opposite the blade holder for improved hand contact, and this further allows spacing of the hand holding design for small, medium and large hand sizes. Additionally the hand holder is designed with sufficient space that a large hand wearing a glove is easily accommodated. The twine cutter is conveniently six inches in height and four inches in width; however, other sizes are possible particularly when the cutter is designed for a given hand size.  
         [0021]     A twine cutter comprising a plane substantially rounded rectangular frame composed of strong injection molded rounded plastic enclosing an elongated opening, wherein said opening serves as a hand holder for the cutter. The blade holder strut, complete with connected blade, composed of injection molded rounded plastic firmly attaches to said frame on the opposite side from the hand holder, wherein the blade is imbedded in a recessed notch for safety.  
         [0022]     Preferably the frame and blade holder are injection molded as a single piece. Since the blade is made of high quality steel, it not replaceable in the injection molded configuration; however, it can be sharpened with a small file. The cutter being relatively inexpensive is then discarded and replaced with a new one once sufficient time has elapsed that the blade has worn out.  
         [0023]     The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from generic concept, and therefore such adaptations or modifications are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.