Patent Publication Number: US-2023146615-A1

Title: Finger-Operated Cutting Device

Description:
CROSS—REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/277,203 filed Nov. 9, 2021. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to small cutting tools, and, more particularly, this invention relates to a finger-mounted snipping and cutting device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
     Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, small pruning tools typically required a whole-hand grip with action like making a fist. For any other action with that same hand, the pruning tool must be put down. 
     Others have attempted to create a small cutting device with mainly finger action. Soucie in U.S. Pat. No. 10,029,376 discloses scissors modified for a thumb ring to aid cutting. Earnst in U.S. Pat. No. 3,374,541 teaches a device for cutting flower stems and the like. Godby in U.S. Patent 519,999, Roberts in U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,006, and Kerns in U.S. Pat. No. 1,775,562 all disclose fruit-picking snips with a ring attachment to the users thumb and use of just one finger opposite the thumb. Alber in US Published Patent Application 2006/0144031 discloses a finger-operated fruit picker cutter with finger and thumb activation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    provides a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    provides a second perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    provides an end view detail of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is an side elevation view of an alternative cutting blade design of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    is a side elevation view of a detail of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of even yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  9    is a generally frontal perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  10    is a generally side perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG.  10   . 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a small cutting implement operated by action of a thumb and one, two, or three fingers. It includes an elongated upper cutting blade with concave curvature and a lower cutting blade with convex curvature, both connected with a pivot pin at one end, additionally having a finger saddle operably engaged with the upper cutting blade; and a thumb pad operably engaged with an opposing cutting blade. 
     Detailed Description of a Presently Preferred and Various Alternative Embodiments of the Invention 
     Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, very similar components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures. 
     Referring initially to  FIG.  1   , it provides a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention generally shown as  10 . Two cutting blades  12  and  14  converge at one end on a pivot stud  20 . A torsion spring  22  returns the blades to the open position when no pressure is applied. The upper cutting blade  12  is fixed to a base plate  28  of the finger saddle  18 . The curved edges  26  of the finger saddle  18  hold the users index and middle finger comfortably in place. A hook and loop strap  24  provides an adjustable means of holding the finger saddle snugly on the fingers. This also allows the cutting implement to be fit over a pair of gloves. For cutting, the user&#39;s thumb presses on the thumb pad  16  while the two fingers push down on the saddle  18  to give the two blades the cutting action much like scissors. The location of curved edges  26  and base plate  28  could be reversed. 
       FIG.  2    provides a second perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating an important feature. The two-finger saddle  18  readily disengages from the base portion  28  via the flange slots  29 . The flange slots could instead be on the base portion  28 . Since there is also no thumb ring as in the prior art, this disengagement feature makes it simple and quick to remove the cutting blades to free up the thumb and fingers to do something else, and then quickly return to the cutting device. It would also be acceptable for the base portion  28  and the two-finger saddle  18  to be one monolithic part. The thumb pad preferably has a concave non-slip surface. 
       FIG.  3    is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention with no finger saddle on one side. There are the two thumb pads  16 , so the tool is reversible and two-finger pressure can still be applied to the side opposite the thumb. The blades  12  and  14  have a curved tip  32  so as to make the jaw wider and easier to guide in the piece to be cut. 
       FIG.  4    is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the upper blade  12  is attached to a flange or similar under two connected finger cots or a two finger portion  36  of a glove or the like as opposed to a rigid finger saddle. The lower blade  14  is operated by a thumb pad  16  such that the two blades  12  and  14  can be pushed into a cutting operation by just the two fingers and a thumb. This contrasts with the fist-making action of most scissors and small pruners. 
       FIG.  5    provides an end view detail of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The blades are connected at one end to a pivot pin  20 . A torsion spring  22  returns the blades to the open position making it more ergonomic for the user in that they only have to actively operate in one direction as opposed to scissors and the like wherein the user must supply the action to both open and close the jaws. 
       FIG.  6    is a side elevation view of an alternative cutting blade design of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The upper blade  12  has a concave curved cutting edge  46  and the lower blade  14  has a convex cutting edge  48 . The curved portion of the upper blade  12  is configured to mitigate slipping motion of what is being cut. 
       FIG.  7    is a side elevation view of a detail of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The finger saddle  26  has a bent portion(s)  27  so it can flex proximal the tip to better match the natural resting position of an index  FIG.  24   . As above, the saddle is held on the fingers with a hook and loop strip, or other removable attachment means. 
       FIG.  8    is a perspective view of even yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention  10 . In this variation, the finger saddle consists of two semi-flexible split rings  40  which are attached to the base plate  28  opposite the upper cutting blade  12 . 
       FIG.  9    is a generally frontal perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG.  10   . The flexible and split ring nature of the finger saddle allows for easy on-off engagement with fingers  50  of various sizes, both with and without gloves. The at least two split rings  40  are fixed to the base plate  28  such as to enable substantial pressure to be put on the upper cutting blade  12 . These two split rings  40  enable the base plate  28  with attached upper cutting blade  12  to be suspended from the two fingers  50 . 
       FIG.  10    is a generally side perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG.  10   . Shown in this view is how four fingers can be employed to apply pressure on the base plate  28 . 
     While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same, it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     For gardeners and other hobbyists, it is commonplace to frequently use a small scissor-like cutting device intermittently with non cutting activities. There is a long-felt need for a small finger-operating cutting tool that can be readily at hand when a cut is needed. 
     It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a multiple-purpose cutting/pruning tool that, instead of being held, is worn and operated by a thumb and at least two fingers on either hand, even if the fingers are in gloves. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a snipping tool that can remain attached to two fingers when not cutting presently to permit the thumb, palm, and some fingers to engage otherwise. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a small ergonomic pruning tool that causes less fatigue to the user over an extended period of time. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to enable cutting of stems and branches in tight spots. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a wearable pruning tool with permanent or replaceable blades of various shapes that prevent stems or twigs from sliding out during the cutting motion.