Patent Publication Number: US-2018036896-A1

Title: Bead snipper

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/377,563, filed Aug. 8, 2014, which is a national phase application of, claims priority from, and incorporates by reference the disclosure of PCT Application No. PCT/US2014/044690, filed Jun. 27, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/840,321, filed on Jun. 27, 2013, and is also incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A typical bead snipper may include a cutting member that is coupled to a press button and is housed in a chamber that has an opening for accepting therethrough a stem and is horizontally aligned to a groove that is directionally perpendicular to the opening and within which the cutting member is pressed in while cutting the stem. During operation, the user does not have a visible idea of a length of a generated bead and has to keep pushing the stem into the chamber after each cut in order to generating additional beads. 
     A conventional bead snipper includes a housing that has on one back end an opening for sliding a stem into a chamber of the housing, a push lever positioned on the top of the housing for cutting when pressed the stem into beads. The conventional stem snipper further includes a sliding button positioned one side of the housing for controlling a length of the beads to be produced through a cutting process of the stem. However, during the cutting process of a stem, the user does not have a visible idea of a length of a generated bead, and the bead snipper also requires that the user keeps pushing the stem into the housing to generate additional beads. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for, among other things, a bead snipping device that gives the user a mechanism advantage making it easier for the user to cut the stems and tubes. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein is an apparatus that enables a user to keep snipping a stem to generate beads while the stem is moved automatically after each cutting operation. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus for cutting a stem to generate beads is provided. The apparatus includes a base member having a stem guide formed on a top surface of the base member. A cutting chamber is positioned on the top surface of the base member. The cutting chamber includes a cutting member for cutting the stem, a back end opening for sliding the stem therethrough, and front end opening for dispensing the generated beads. Measurement markings are positioned along a length side of the stem guide. An actuation member is coupled the cutting member, thereby enabling the cutting member to cut the stem when actuated by a user. 
     In an additional embodiment, the apparatus includes a stem advancement mechanism configured to automatically advance the stem through the cutting chamber after each cutting operation. The stem advancement mechanism can be coupled to the cutting member so that the stem advancement mechanism automatically advances the stem after the cutting member rises above the stem guide following a cutting operation. The stem advancement mechanism can be coupled to the actuation member so that the stem advancement mechanism automatically advances the stem after the actuation member rises back from a pressed position. 
     In an additional embodiment, the apparatus further includes a biasing member configured to return a lower cutting end of the cutting member to a predetermined position above the stem guide after the user stops actuating the actuation member. The biasing member can be cooperatively engaged to the cutting member. The biasing member also can be cooperatively engaged to the actuation member. 
     In yet another embodiment, the base member include protrusions extends vertically above the top surface and lengthwise along the stem guide to prevent the generated beads from sliding out of the stem guide. 
     Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the present disclosure may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following attached detailed description and drawings. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the present disclosure and the following detailed description of figures are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the present disclosure as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bead snipping device in accordance with the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bead snipping device of  FIG. 1  on which a stem is shown being cut; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another example embodiment of the bead snipping device of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another example embodiment of the bead snipping device of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     These drawings illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. No attempt is made to show structural details of the present disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the disclosure and the various ways in which it may be practiced. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following attached description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the present disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the present disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of ordinary skills in the art to practice the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     As stated above, typical bead snipping device/apparatus require that a user persistently pushes a bead stem towards a cutting feature/element of the device in order to keep generating beads via cutting operations. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a device used for the purpose of cutting stems, such as Perl stems, to produce Perl beads, and gives the user a mechanical advantage making easier for the user to cut the stems and tubes while providing the user a measurement feature to generate desirable sized beads, and may not require that the user keeps handling manually the stem during the bead generating process. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary embodiment of a snipping device  100  used for cutting or snipping bead materials, such as a bead material used in crafting, is shown. The bead material may be beads, stems, rods, and the like. For example, the bead material may be Perler Beads® or stems used in crafting. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , snipping device  100  includes a base  102 , a cutting chamber  104 , and an actuation member (e.g., a cutting or press arm)  106 . Base  102  may include a top surface  108  in which a stem material guide  110 , such as a groove, a channel, or a bore, is routed. Alternatively, stem material guide may be a tube formed on top surface  108 . Stem material guide  110  is formed to maintain, position, and guide the stem material that is desired to be cut into segments or pieces, such as beads. As shown, stem material guide  110  is rounded on the bottom  110   a  and at both open ends, i.e., loading end (not shown) and dispensing end  110   b . In one embodiment, base  102  may include protrusions extended vertically above top surface  108  and lengthwise along stem material guide  110  to prevent stems from sliding out of stem material guide  110 . 
     In one embodiment, the loading end of stem material guide  110  may be topped by a down facing groove  112  formed at a bottom end of cutting chamber  104  to form a cylindrical channel  114  for the stem. As such, at the loading end of stem material guide  110 , cylindrical channel  114  provides a loading opening through which the bead material stem can be loaded into snipping device  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , base  102  further includes measurement markings  110   c  located adjacently lengthwise to stem material guide  110  to enable the user to accurately cut the stems into different sized beads. As such, measuring stops of the stems enables the user to consistently cut the bead material stem into desired sizes. 
     In one embodiment, base  102  may be sized and shaped to be aesthetically pleasing and to be and remain in a stable position on a supporting surface during the stem cutting operations. For example, base  102  may rest freely on a horizontal surface of a table or a desk or be attached to an angled surface of a wall. Base  102  may include gaskets, feet, or a bottom layer to provide shock absorbance during cutting operations. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , base  102  is configured to manually advance bead material stem  202  by grasping a back end  202   a  of bead material stem  202  and pushing forward bead material stem  202  after each cut so that a front end of a remaining uncut portion of bead material stem  202  is lined up next to a desirable length indicator of measurement markings  110   c.    
     In one embodiment, base  102  may include an advancing member (not shown) that enables the user to advance or push forward bead material stem  202  indirectly by pushing the advancing member. 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, cutting chamber  104  includes integrally a stem advancement mechanism (not shown) that is configured to automatically move bead material stem  202  after cutting operations. 
     In one embodiment, cutting chamber  104  includes therein a cutting member (not shown), such as a razor, a knife or the like, used to cut or snip bead material stem  202  within stem material guide  110 , which is coupled to cutting arm  106  to handle the cutting or snipping process. Moreover, cutting member may be cooperatively engaged with a biasing member (not shown) that operates to return the cutting member to a desired position above stem material guide  110 , and to raise angularly cutting arm  106  to a corresponding angle. Alternatively, biasing member may be directly engaged with cutting arm  106  and indirectly to the cutting member via cutting arm  106 . The biasing member may include a leaf spring, a compression spring, a torsion spring, and the like. 
     The cutting member may be positioned in cutting chamber  104  in a perpendicular direction to that of stem material guide  110 , which includes an opening within which the cutting member enters so that bead material stem  202  is cut on a vertical circumferential axis when cutting arm  106  is pressed downwards by the user. Alternatively, the cutting member may be positioned in an angular non-perpendicular direction in relation to stem material guide  110  to cut or snip stem material guide  110  in a non-perpendicular manner. In one embodiment, the cutting member may include a housing that receives a razor blade that can be removed or replaced. 
     As stated above, snipping device  100  includes as an actuation member  106  that is shaped a cutting/press arm. Alternatively, actuation member  106 , hereafter referred to as press arm, may be a button, a lever, and the like. Moreover, as discussed above with regard to press arm  106 , the actuation member may be cooperatively engaged with the biasing member so that a release of the actuation member by the user causes the cutting member to return to an open or ready to cut position. In lieu of being coupled to one another, the actuation member and the cutting member may be connected as an integral mechanism, which in turn is connected to the biasing member. For example, the actuation member may be a push button that is directly connected to the cutting member that includes a sharpened metal plate. As such, during a cutting operation, when the user presses downwards on the push button the cutting member is moved downwards through bead material stem  202 . 
     In one embodiment, when the biasing member is directly engaged to the actuation member, then after bead material stem  202  is cut and the user has stopped pressing the actuation member, the biasing member forces back up the actuation member and the cutting member. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , press arm  106  may be configured to be aesthetically and/or ergonomically pleasing. Press arm  106  may be formed from comfortable material, sized and shaped to provide a large contact surface for the user to press on, and may also an additional biasing member to assist in the cutting motions. 
     Press arm  106  may be oriented on snipping device  100  in a desirable direction that provides a desirable movement direction during the cutting operations. In one embodiment, press arm  106  may face the user and require the user to press down to cut bead material stem  202 . Alternatively, press arm  106  may face away from the user or be turned sideways with respect to the user, thereby allowing for other cutting motions such as pushing away or pulling towards the user. 
     As stated above, in one embodiment cutting chamber  104  may include a stem advancement mechanism that is configured to automatically move bead material stem  202  after each cutting operation, thereby removing a requirement that the user manually pushes bead material stem  202  after each cutting operation to generate additional beads. In one exemplary embodiment, the stem advancement mechanism may be adjustable by the user to enable advancement of bead material stem  202  at different lengths thereby enabling a production of beads with desirable lengths during a process of cutting bead material stem  202 . Alternatively, the stem advancement mechanism may be configured to advance bead material stem  202  based on how high press arm  106  is allowed to be biasingly raised after the user stopped pressing it. As such, the user can select a length of advancement of bead material stem  202  by choosing a corresponding biased height of press arm  106 . 
     During operation, the user holds bead material stem  202  to insert it into and push it through a back opening of cutting chamber  104  to bring a front end of bead material stem  202  to a desired position on stem material guide  110  wherein measurement markings  110   c  indicates a length of the bead to be produced by cutting bead material stem  202 . That is, the user uses measurement markings  110   c  to aide in the selection of sizes for the desired beads. The user then engages press arm  104  by applying force in a required direction, thereby causing the cutting member to move in a direction to penetrate stem material guide  110  to cut there within bead material stem  202 , and snipping the desired bead  204  off bead material stem  202 . The user then releases his/her pushing pressure on press arm  106  to which biasing member forces press arm  106  back to the open or ready to cut position. The user then advances the bead material stem  202  within stem material guide  110  to a desired position to repeat the cutting process. Alternatively, bead material stem  202  is automatically advanced within stem material guide  110  by the stem advancement mechanism by a length preselected by the user. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , to render snipping device  100  more stable during cutting operations, base  102  may include suction cup machine feet  302  and  402 . Moreover, in lieu of positioning cutting chamber  104  near a back end of base  102 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , cutting chamber  104  may be away from the back end to provide additional support to a portion of bead material stem  202  that has not yet penetrated cutting chamber  104 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , stem material guide  110  is lengthy enough after cutting chamber  104  to maintain therein a certain number of cut pieces, i.e., generated beads, of bead material stem  202 . In another embodiment, base  102  may include a hollow portion (not shown) that is positioned a certain distance from cutting chamber  104  and that is wider than stem material guide  110  to collect there within generated beads of bead material stem  202 . 
     While the present disclosure has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples given above are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the present disclosure. 
     A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the examples could be provided in any combination with the other examples disclosed herein. Additionally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” as used herein are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. Further, the term “plurality” as used herein indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Additionally, the word “including” as used herein is utilized in an open-ended manner. 
     While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all applications, modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings.