Abstract:
A rotary mower has a lift frame comprising swiveling linkages that allow rotation of the deck with respect to a three point hitch. The lift frame further has a pair of angled legs rotatably affixed to the lift frame, each angled leg having an upper end and a lower end, the lower ends rotatably affixed to pivot brace brackets rigidly affixed to the deck. Each angled to of the lift frame is rotatably affixed to One or more pivot bars near the upper end of tile angled leg. Each end pivot bar extends upwardly between the angled leg and an upper end of the lift frame. A shield covers the pivot bars to protect the users.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 12/603,408 tiled on Oct. 21, 2009, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/107,159 filed on Oct. 21, 2008, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of tractor-based, rotary-driven power equipment, and more particularly relates to a rotary cutter. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The cutter is attached to and is pulled behind a tractor that powers the cutter. In this regard, a gearbox on the cutter connects to the power take-off (PTO) of the tractor, which provides rotation to the gearbox. The gearbox translates the rotation from the PTO to rotary cutting blades that cut grass and other ground vegetation. 
         [0004]    Prior art rotary cutters typically comprise flat cutting decks and rigid frames that attach the cutting decks to the tractor. The flat shape of the decks required that large flat plates of metal be used for the deck base. The cutter according to the present disclosure comprises a concave cutting deck whose concave shape provides rigidity of the deck. The concave deck is comprised of three curved deck plates welded to two supports running longitudinally down the deck. The deck design does not require a large contiguous metal plate, but rather uses smaller deck plates, thus reducing the cost of the decking materials. 
         [0005]    In a prior art cutter, the lift arm assembly, which connects to a three point hitch of a tractor, is rigidly affixed to the deck. A three point hitch is an attachment on the rear of a tractor known by persons of skill in the art for attaching equipment to the tractor. A prior art cutter which is rigidly affixed to the tractor does not commonly flex or rotate to maintain the cutting blades in close proximity to the grass. 
         [0006]    The cutter according to the present disclosure comprises a pivoting brace frame that allows flexing of the deck in two different ways. First, the cutter uses swiveling linkages to make the two connections between the cutting deck and bottom two legs of the three point hitch. These linkages permit rotation of the deck with respect to the bottom legs. The swiveling linkages allow the entire cutting deck to move with respect to the hitch, and allow side-to-side pivoting of about 10-15 degrees. Due to the swiveling linkages, when the cutter mows through a ditch, for example, one linkage may rotate up and the other down, so the deck will tilt and maintain the blade in closer proximity to the grass. 
         [0007]    Second, the lift frame comprises a top pivot that allows the hitch to rotate in the longitudinal direction, such that the lift frame can pivot backwards. 
         [0008]    For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts a prior art rotary cutter. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective w of an exemplary cutter in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3   a  is a top view of an exemplary cutting deck in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3   b  is a top view of an exemplary gearbox plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3   c  is a side view of the gearbox plate of  FIG. 3   b.    
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the exemplary cutter deck illustrated in  FIG. 3   a.    
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the exemplary cutter deck illustrated in  FIG. 3   a.    
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the exemplary cutter illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary cutter illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the exemplary cutter illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the exemplary cutter illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  depicts a prior art cutter  10 . The cutter  10  comprises a cutting deck  11  which is formed from a single flat base  12  of sheet metal. The base  12  is generally horizontal and is supported on its side and front edges with an edge support frame  19 . The base  12  is further reinforced with two transverse ribs  13 . The transverse ribs  13  are comprised of vertically-oriented strips of sheet metal welded to the flat base  12 . The base  12  is further reinforced by a rear support bracket  15 . The rear support bracket  15  is comprised of a vertically-oriented strip of sheet metal formed in a partial trapezoidal shape and welded to the flat base  12 . 
         [0022]    The base  12  is further reinforced by two front support brackets  17 . The front support brackets  17  are comprised of vertically-oriented sheets of sheet metal welded to the flat base  12 . The front support brackets  17  further abut the transverse ribs  13  and are welded to the ribs  13  at the rear edge  18  of the front support brackets  17 . 
         [0023]    A lift arm assembly  16  rigidly connects to the front support brackets and provides connectivity to a standard three point hitch for connection to a tractor (not shown). The lift arm assembly  16  does not rotate with respect to the deck  11 , 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  depicts a front perspective view of a concave cutter  20  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The cutter  20  comprises a cutting deck  22  which is comprised of a top base  29  comprised of three plates: side plates  23  and  25  and center plate  24 . The plates  23   25  are welded to two longitudinal supports  26  and  27 , which provide structural stiffness to the deck  22 . As is further discussed herein, the plates  23 - 25  are curved to form a concavely-shaped deck  22 . 
         [0025]    Two side blade guards  21   a  and  21   b  ( FIG. 3   a ) are disposed on the sides of the deck  22 . In one embodiment, the side blade guards  21   a  and  21   b  are comprised of a generally vertically-oriented strip of metal welded to the top base  29  along the sides of the deck  22 , as further discussed herein. In other embodiments, the side blade guards  21   a  and  21   b  are comprised of an I-beam welded to the top base  29  along the sides of the deck  22 . 
         [0026]    A gearbox  40  connects to the cutting blades (not shown) on the underside of the deck  22 . A shaft  41  connects the gearbox  40  to a tractor (not shown) to transfer rotation from the tractor to the blade through the gearbox  40 , in this regard, the shaft  41  extends from the gearbox  40  and connects to the PTO (not shown) of the tractor (not shown). As is known by persons of skill in the art, a power take-off is a splined driveshaft on a tractor or truck that is used to provide power to an attachment or separate machines. The PTO provides rotation to the shaft  41  of the gearbox  40 , which imparts rotation to the cutting blades (not shown). 
         [0027]    The cutter  20  further comprises a lift frame  28  rotatably affixed to the deck  22 . The lift frame  28  connects the cutter  20  to the tractor (not shown). The lift frame  28  comprises a stiff generally A-shaped frame with two legs  42  and  43  rotatably affixed to the deck  22 . The lift frame  28  provides a standard three-point hitch connection to the tractor, as further discussed herein. 
         [0028]    A pivot bar assembly  44  and a pivot brace assembly  45  connect a top end  46  of the lift frame  28  to the deck  22 . In this regard, the pivot bar assembly  44  is rotatably connected between the top end  46  of the lift frame  28  and the pivot brace assembly  45 . The pivot brace assembly  45  is rotatably connected to the longitudinal supports  26  and  27  of the deck  22 . A pivot shield  49  covers the pivot bar assembly  44 . 
         [0029]    A wheel support frame  47  supports a wheel  48  which movably supports the deck  22 . The wheel support frame  47  connects to the longitudinal supports  26  and  27  of the deck  22 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3   a  depicts a top view of the deck  22 . In embodiment, the deck  22  is in the shape of a six-sided polygon with a front edge  30 , generally parallel side edges  31  and  32 , angled edges  33  and  34 , and rear edge  35 . In one embodiment, the longitudinal supports  26  and  27  comprise hollow tubing with a generally rectangular cross section. The left side plate  23  and the center plate  24  are welded to the left longitudinal support  27  and the right side plate  25  and the center plate  24  are welded to the right longitudinal support  26 . An opening  54  in the center of the center plate  24  receives the gearbox  40  ( FIG. 2 ). Four (4) small openings  55  surrounding the opening  54  receive fasteners (not shown) for affixing the gearbox  40  to the center plate  24 . 
         [0031]    A gearbox support plate  130  is disposed on the underside of the deck  22  and provides additional structural support for the gearbox  40 . The gearbox support plate  130  is a generally rectangular plate (when viewed from the top view) extending between and welded to the left longitudinal support  27  and the right longitudinal support  26 . The gearbox support plate  130  has downwardly extending legs (not shown), as illustrated in  FIG. 3   b.    
         [0032]    Two front brackets  52  and  53  connect the two legs  42  and  43  ( FIG. 2 ) of the lift frame  28  to the deck  22  via swivel linkages  70  ( FIG. 7 ). The two front brackets  52  and  53  comprise generally thin rectangular brackets welded to the front of the longitudinal supports  26  and  27 , respectively. The front brackets  52  and  53  are each formed by welding two (2) pieces of flat bar material to each side of the longitudinal supports  26  and  27 . The front brackets  52  and  53  form all-shape when viewed from the from of the deck  22  ( FIG. 5 ). 
         [0033]    Two side blade guards  21   a  and  21   b  run along the sides of the deck  22  in one embodiment. Specifically, one side blade guard  21   a  is welded to the side edge  32  and angled edge  34 , and another side blade guard  21   b  is welded to the side edge  31  and angled edge  33 . The side blade guard in this embodiment is thus a piece of metal formed to abut the parallel and angled edges of the deck  22 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3   b  is a top view of the gearbox support plate  130  of  FIG. 130 . In this embodiment, the gearbox support plate  130  comprises a generally flat top surface  144  that is affixed to the bottom surface (not shown) of the deck  22  ( FIG. 3   a ). A central opening  140  is aligned with the opening  54  ( FIG. 3   a ) on the e center plate  24  ( FIG. 3   a ) and receives the gearbox  40  ( FIG. 2 ). Four (4) small openings  141  surrounding the opening  140  are aligned with the openings  55  ( FIG. 3   a ) in the center plate  24  ( FIG. 3   a ) for receiving fasteners (not shown) for affixing the gearbox  40  ( FIG. 3   a ) to the center plate  24  ( FIG. 3   a ). 
         [0035]    The top surface  144  of the gearbox support plate  130  comprises short edges  143  and long edges  142  as shown. The short edges  143  connect fit between and are welded to the longitudinal supports  26  and  27  ( FIG. 3   a ). The long edges  142  extend downwardly and form legs  145 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 3   c.    
         [0036]      FIG. 3   c  is a side view of the gearbox support plate  130  of  FIG. 3   b . The legs  145  extend downwardly at an angle and acid structural support to the plate  130 . 
         [0037]    Two pivot brace brackets  50  and  51  connect the pivot brace assembly  45  ( FIG. 2 ) and the wheel support frame  47  ( FIG. 2 ) to the deck  22 , as further discussed herein. In one embodiment, the pivot brace brackets  50  and  51  comprise a short angle iron welded to the longitudinal supports  26  and  27 , respectively, 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  depicts a left side view of the deck  22  of one embodiment of the present disclosure. The side blade guard  21   a  extends downwardly from the edges  32  and  34  of the deck  22 . In embodiment, the side blade guard  21   a  is a thin strip of sheet metal. The side blade guard  21   a  shields the blade (not shown) and may protect users from flying debris. The side blade guard  21   a  further prevents the blade from contacting the ground. The side blade guard  21   a  comprises a skid  150 , which is a flat bar that is welded to the bottom of the side blade guard  21   a  and extending up an angled front edge  151  of the side blade guard  21   a.  The skid  150  prevents the bottom edge and the angled front edge  151  of the side blade guard  21   a  from cutting into the ground when the cutter is in use. 
         [0039]    The pivot brace bracket  51  extends upwardly from the longitudinal support  27  and comprises openings  56   a  and  56   b  that receive fasteners (not shown) for connecting the pivot brace assembly  45  ( FIG. 2 ) to the bracket  51 , and for connecting the wheel support frame  47  ( FIG. 2 ) to the bracket  51 , respectively. The pivot brace bracket  50  ( FIG. 3   a ) similarly extends from the longitudinal support  26  and is a mirror image of the pivot brace bracket  51 . 
         [0040]    The front bracket  53  extends upwardly from the longitudinal support  27  at the front edge  30  of the deck  22 . The front bracket  53  comprises openings  68  and  69  for receiving fasteners (not shown) for connecting the leg  43  ( FIG. 2 ) of the lift frame  28  ( FIG. 2 ) to the bracket  53 . The openings  68  and  69  are shown on the visible leg of the U-shaped bracket  53 . Identically-aligned openings are disposed on the other leg of the U-shaped bracket  53 . The front bracket  52  ( FIG. 3   a ) similarly extends from the longitudinal support  27  ( FIG. 3   a ), 
         [0041]    As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the left side plate  25  has a curved concave shape, and its front and rear ends  131  and  132  are lower to the ground than its middle portion  133 . Although not shown in  FIG. 3   a,  this is also the case with the right side plate  23  ( FIG. 3   a ) and the center plate  24  ( FIG. 3   a ), 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  depicts a front end view of the deck  22  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the figure, the front brackets  52  and  53  form a U-shape. A front edge support  61  is affixed to the front edge  30  of the deck  22 . In one embodiment, the front edge support comprises a strip of angle iron welded to the deck  22  such that a horizontal surface (not shown) of the angle iron is welded to the deck and the vertical surface  58  extends downwardly from the deck. 
         [0043]    Trapezoidal cover plates  60  are affixed to the ends of the longitudinal supports  26  and  27  ( FIG. 3   a ) and are welded to the longitudinal supports  26  and  27 , to the deck  22  and the front edge support  61 , and also to the front edges of the brackets  52  and  53 . 
         [0044]    The plates  23   25  of the deck  22  together form a generally concave shape when viewed from the front in a somewhat similar manner that they form a concave shape when viewed from the side ( FIG. 4 ). In this regard, the right side plate  25  and the left side plate  23  taper down from a high point at their central portion (not shown) down to the edges  31  and  32 , respectively. 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  depicts a rear perspective view of the cutter  20  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The side blade guard  21   b  that runs along the edges  31  and  33 , and the side blade guard  21   a  that runs along the edges  32  and  34  do not extend to the rear edge  35  in this embodiment. A rear edge support  66  is affixed to the rear edge  35  of the deck  22 . In one embodiment, the rear edge support  166  comprises a strip of angle iron welded to the deck  22  such that a horizontal surface (not shown) of the angle iron is welded to the deck and the vertical surface  59  extends downwardly from the deck  22 . 
         [0046]    The wheel support frame  47  comprises two (2) angled legs  64   a  and  64   b  and a central support bar  65  forming an “A” shape with an opening  63  at the top of the “A” that receives the wheel assembly (not shown). The angled legs  64   a  and  64   b  are affixed to the two pivot brace brackets  50  and  51  via fasteners (not shown). A height adjuster bar  62  is adjustably fixed to the central support bar  65  on one end, and on the other end is affixed to the rear edge support  166  of the deck  22 . The height adjuster bar  62  allows the distance between the cutting blade (not shown) and the grass (not shown) to be adjusted. In this regard, the height adjuster bar  62  comprises a plurality of spaced apart openings  105  ( FIG. 7 ) in which a fastener  102  ( FIG. 7 ) may be received to affix the height adjuster bar  62  to the central support bar  65 . Reducing the distance between the deck  22  and the central support bar  65  by choosing an opening that is lower on the height adjuster bar  62  raises the blade, and conversely, increasing the distance between the deck  22  and the central support bar  65  by choosing an opening that is higher on the height adjuster bar  62  lowers the blade. 
         [0047]    The pivot brace assembly  45  is comprised of two angled legs  66  and  67  rotatably affixed to the two pivot brace brackets  50  and  51  at their lower ends. At their top ends, the angled legs  66  and  67  are affixed to the pivot bar assembly  44 . The pivot bar assembly  44  is comprised of two pivot bars  87  and  88  ( FIG. 7 ) rotatably affixed to the angled legs  66  and  67 . The pivot shield  49  covers the pivot bars. 
         [0048]      FIG. 7  depicts an exploded perspective view of a cutter  20  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The lift frame  28  is comprised of two legs  42  and  43 , a generally horizontal support brace  74 , and angled supports  75  and  76 . The angled supports  75  and  76  and the generally horizontal support brace  74  are welded to the two legs  42  and  43 , 
         [0049]    The lift frame  28  further comprises tabs  71  and  72  which are parallel to and offset from the legs  43  and  42 . The tab  72  comprises an opening (not shown) which aligns with an opening  77  on the leg  42 . (The tab  71  comprises an identical opening (not shown) which aligns with the opening (not shown) on leg  43 .) The opening  77  receives a fastener  79  which rotatably receives a swivel linkage  70 . In this regard, the swivel linkage  70  comprises an opening  78  through which the fastener  79  passes after the fastener passes through the opening  77  on the leg  42 . The fastener is secured by a nut  80 . When the cutter  20  is assembled, the swivel linkage  70  is thus disposed between the tab  72  and the leg  42 . The leg  43  and tab  71  are mirror imaged to the leg  42  and tab  72  and also receive a swivel linkage  70  in an identical manner. 
         [0050]    As discussed above, the swivel linkages  70  are rotatably affixed on one end to a fastener between the legs  42  and  43  and the tabs  71  and  72 , respectively. On their lower ends, the swivel linkages  70  are rotatably affixed to the brackets  52  and  53 . Specifically, the swivel linkage  70  is affixed to the bracket  53  via an opening  57  on the lower end of the swivel linkage  70 , which is received by a fastener  81  that passes through the openings  69  on both legs of the bracket  53 . A nut  82  secures the fastener within the bracket  53 . The bracket  52  has an identical attachment mechanism to its swivel linkage  70 . 
         [0051]    A fastener  111  is received by the openings  68  on the bracket  53  and is secured by a nut  82 . The purpose of the fastener  111  is to prevent the swivel linkage  70  from rotating too far; i.e., the fastener  111  acts as a stop to prevent the swivel linkage  70  from rotating upwardly beyond the fastener  111 . The bracket  52  has an identical fastener  111  for the same purpose. 
         [0052]    During operation of the cutter  20 , the swivel linkages  70  may rotate around the fasteners  81  in a plane generally perpendicular to the fasteners  81  (i.e., a plane generally longitudinally down the deck  22 ). The swivel linkages also provide some lateral swiveling. 
         [0053]    Two standard lift pins  73  known in the art are affixed to the legs  42  and  43  of the lift frame  28  and releaseably mate with the tractor (not shown). 
         [0054]    The angled leg  67  (part of the pivot brace assembly  45 ) is attached at its lower end to the pivot brace bracket  50 . In this regard, a fastener  86  is received by the opening  56   a  on the bracket  50 , and the fastener  86  rotatably affixes the leg  67  to the bracket  50 . The leg  66  is rotatably attached to the bracket  51  in the same manner. 
         [0055]    The leg  66  is affixed at its upper end to the pivot bar  87 , and leg  67  is affixed at its upper end to the pivot bar  88 . In one embodiment, a fastener  89  affixes the legs  66 ,  67  and the bars  87 ,  88  together in a spaced-apart configuration as follows: The fastener first passes through an opening  90  in the leg  67 , and then through an opening  91  in a rearward end of the pivot bar  88 , and then through an opening in a bushing  37 , and then through an opening in a spacer  38 , and then through an opening  92  in a rearward end of the pivot bar  87  and then through an opening (not shown) in leg  66  and then is secured by a nut  100 . 
         [0056]    The bushing  37  is a generally cylindrical tube that receives and surrounds the fastener  89 . In this regard, the bushing  37  fits within the openings  90  in leg  67 , the opening  91  in bar  88 , the opening in the spacer  38 , the opening  92  in the bar  87 , and the opening (not shown) in leg  66 , and provides a cylindrical surface for the legs  66 ,  67  and bars  87 ,  88  to rotate around. 
         [0057]    The spacer  38  is a generally cylindrical tube that is received by the bushing and maintains the leg  66  and bar  87  in a spaced-apart orientation from the leg  67  and bar  88 , in this regard, the spacer  38  contacts and separates the bars  88  and  87 . 
         [0058]    Although the embodiment of  FIG. 7  shows bars  88  and  87  as separate and discrete items, in other embodiments the bars  88  and  87  are welded together as one weldment. In this regard, the bars  88  and  87  may be welded together with a spacer bar between, with bar  88  parallel to and aligned with bar  87 . 
         [0059]    A pivot shield  49  covers the pivot bars  87  and  88  and is affixed by a fastener  99 . The pivot shield protects the user (not shown) from injury by pinching between the pivot bars  87  and  88  and the legs  66  and  67 . 
         [0060]    The forward ends of the pivot bars  87  and  88  are rotatably affixed to the top end  46  of the lift frame  28 . In this regard, a fastener  98  first passes through an opening  95   a  on the lift frame  28 , and then passes through an opening  94  on the pivot bar  88  and then passes through a bushing  93 , and then passes through an opening  96  on the pivot bar  87 , and then passes through an opening  95   b  on the lift frame  28  and is secured by a nut  97 . The bushing  93  is a generally cylindrical tube that is received by the fastener  98  and provides a cylindrical surface for the bars  87  and  88  to rotate around. 
         [0061]    Openings  108  in the top  46  of the lift frame  28  receive a standard lift pin (not shown) for connection to the three point hitch (not shown) of the tractor (not shown), 
         [0062]    The opening  54  in the deck  22  receives the gearbox  40 , which is secured to the deck  22  by fasteners  83  passing through openings  55 . 
         [0063]    The leg  64   a  of the wheel support frame  47  connects to the pivot brace bracket  50  via a fastener  85  which is received by the opening  56   b  in the bracket  50 , and by the opening  106  in the leg  64   a.  A nut  107  secures the fastener  85 . The other leg  64   b  of the wheel support frame  47  is similarly attached to the bracket  51 . 
         [0064]    The height adjuster bar  62  is affixed to the deck  22  via a fastener  103  and a nut (not shown). The height adjuster bar  62  is adjustably affixed to the central support bar  65  via a fastener  102  that passes through one of the plurality of spaced apart openings  105  in the bar  62  and then through an opening  101  in the central support bar  65 . A nut  104  secures the fastener  102 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 8  depicts a side view of the exemplary cutter  20  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In operation of the cutter  20 , the angled leg  67  of the pivot brace assembly  45  is rotatable around point “A” (i.e., the joint between the leg  67  and the bracket  50 ), in the direction indicated by direction arrow  120 . 
         [0066]    The angled leg  67  is rotatably affixed to the pivot bar  88  such that the leg  67  and bar  88  may rotate around a point “B” (i.e., the joint between the leg  67  and the bar  88 ) in the direction indicated by direction arrow  121 . Though not pictured, angled leg  66  ( FIG. 7 ) and pivot bar  87  are mirror imaged to legs  67  and bar  88  and rotate in the same manner. 
         [0067]    The pivot bar  88  and the lift frame  28  are rotatable around a point “C” (i.e., the joint between the bar  88  and the frame  28 ) in the direction indicated by direction arrow  122 . Though not pictured, pivot bar  87 , which is a mirror image to bar  88 , rotates in the same manner, 
         [0068]    The swivel linkages  70  and the lift frame  28  are rotatable around a point “D” the joint between the swivel linkage  70  and the lift frame  28 ) in the direction indicated by direction arrow  123 . 
         [0069]    The swivel linkages  70  are rotatably affixed to brackets  52  (and  53 , not shown) and in this regard are rotatable around point “E” (i.e., the joint between the swivel linkage  70  and the bracket  52 ) in the direction indicated by direction arrow  124 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 9  depicts a top view of the exemplary cutter  20  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As was discussed above with respect to  FIG. 7 , leg  66  is rotatably affixed to the pivot bar  87 , and leg  67  is rotatably affixed to the pivot bar  88 . The spacer  38  maintains leg  66  and bar  87  in spaced apart orientation with respect to leg  67  and bar  88 , as shown.