Patent Publication Number: US-6212780-B1

Title: Adjustable handle for scissors or the like

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cutting instrument, and more particularly to a cutting instrument, such as scissors having an adjustable handle for fitting the users&#39; fingers of various sizes. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Typical cutting instruments, such as scissors, comprise a pair of blades pivotally coupled together and each having a handle secured to one end thereof. The handles each has an opening for receiving the fingers of the users. However, the openings of the handles may not be changed or adjusted for fitting various sizes of the users&#39; fingers. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional handles for scissors. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a cutting instrument having an adjustable handle for fitting the users&#39; fingers of various sizes. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a cutting instrument comprising a pair of blades pivotally coupled together at a pivot shaft and each including a first end having a cutting edge formed thereon and each including a second end, a first handle attached to the second end of a first of the blades, a second handle attached to the second end of a second of the blades, and means for adjusting the second handle relative to the second blade. 
     The second handle adjusting means includes means for forcing the second handle to engage with the second end of the second blade. The second handle includes a slot formed therein for receiving the second end of the second blade, the second handle adjusting means includes a latch pivotally coupled to the second handle at a pivot axle, the latch includes a cam means for forcing the second handle to engage with the second end of the second blade. 
     The second handle includes a stop extended inward of the slot thereof, the second end of the second blade includes at least one recess formed therein for receiving the stop of the second handle and for securing the second handle to the second end of the second blade. 
     The first handle includes a base having a free end, a cap and means for securing the cap to the base for forming a loop for receiving a finger of a user. The first handle includes at least one aperture formed therein and includes a hole formed in the free end of the base, and the cap includes a first end engaged in the hole of the base and includes a second end engaged with the aperture of the first handle for securing the cap to the base. The first handle may include two or more apertures for receiving the second end of the cap and for adjusting the cap relative to the base and for fitting the users&#39; fingers of various sizes. 
     Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a cutting instrument in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of the cutting instrument; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the operation of the cutting instrument; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the cutting instrument; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, illustrating the operation of the cutting instrument; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view illustrating the other application of the cutting instrument; and 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the cutting instrument as shown in FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS.  1  and  2 , a cutting instrument in accordance with the present invention is particularly a pair of scissors and comprises a pair of blades  10 ,  20  pivotally coupled together at a pivot shaft  12  and each having a cutter edge  14  formed on one end and an extension  21  extended from the other end thereof. The extension  21  of the blade  20  includes one or more recesses  22  formed therein. 
     A handle  40  includes a loop  48  for receiving the middle finger or the ring finger of the user and includes a slot  41  formed therein for slidably receiving the extension  21  of the blade  20  and includes a stop  42  extended inward of the slot  41  for engaging with either of the recesses  22  of the extension  21  of the blade  20 . A latch  43  is pivotally coupled to the handle  40  at a pivot axle  44  and includes a cam  46  for engaging with the extension  21  and for forcing the stop  42  to engage with either of the recesses  22  of the extension  21  of the blade  20  and to lock the handle  40  to the extension  21  of the blade  20  (FIG.  2 ). The latch  43  form a quick-release securing mechanism for the handle  40 . The handle  40  may be easily disengaged from and adjusted relative to the extension  21  (FIG. 5) by rotating the latch  43  about the pivot axle  44  and by disengaging the cam  46  from the extension  21 . The stop  42  may be adjusted to engage with different recesses  22  for adjusting the distance between the loop  48  relative to the blade  20 , according to the users&#39; need. 
     Another handle  30  includes a cavity  38  for receiving the extension of the other blade  10  and includes a curved base  31  formed in the bottom and includes a hole  32  formed in the free end of the curved base  31  and includes one or more apertures  33  formed in the middle portion of the handle  30 . The handle  30  may be secured to the blade  10  by a force-fitted engagement or by an adhesive material or by a welding process. A curved cap  34  includes two ends each having a pin  35 ,  36  extended therefrom for engaging with the hole  32  and either of the apertures  33  (FIGS. 2-4) and for defining another loop  39  for receiving the thumb of the user. The pin may be adjusted to engage with different apertures  33  for fitting the different sizes of the thumbs of the users. The pins  35 ,  36  are preferably aligned in a pivot line for allowing the cap  34  to be rotated about the pins  35 ,  36  (FIG. 4) according to the movement of the thumb relative to the handle  30 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 6 and 7, instead of the latch  43  as that shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , a fastener  49  may be engaged through a screw hole  440  of the handle  40  and engaged with the extension  21  (FIG. 7) for securing the handle  40  to the extension  21 . The handle  40  may also be easily adjusted relative to the blade  20  by unthreading the threading the fastener  49  to the handle  40  and to engage with the extension  21 . 
     Accordingly, the cutting instrument in accordance with the present invention includes an adjustable handle for fitting the users&#39; fingers of various sizes. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.