Patent Publication Number: US-9415521-B1

Title: Handheld drywall cutter device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various types of drywall cutting devices are known in the prior art. However, what is needed is a handheld drywall cutter device that is usable in one hand of a user, quickly and easily, cuts both sides of drywall, is depth adjustable with respect to how far from an edge of drywall to cut, removably carries existing standardized utility cutting blades at an angle to the drywall, negates the simultaneous use of a ruler, negates the need for attaching or clamping existing tools, and offers ergonomic hand grip. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to drywall cutting devices, and more particularly, to a handheld drywall cutter device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present handheld drywall cutter device, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a handheld drywall cutter device which has many novel features that result in a handheld drywall cutter device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof. 
     To accomplish this, the present handheld drywall cutter device provides a singly handheld, self-guiding device for a worker to accurately cut a given edge of drywall, quickly, easily, on both sides, straight, and without wavering. The handheld drywall cutter device also solves an old problem in drywall cutting wherein a worker typically either tries to follow a marked line or use some sort of straight edge or ruler with a utility knife. The same worker, after typically cutting one side of the drywall, snaps a desired piece away from the other. Partially cut pieces seldom break along a straight plane, and with most drywall paper covering seldom breaks away correctly, often tearing. These problems are magnified with larger pieces of drywall. Such methods are also extremely time consuming, and one of a drywall workers primary concerns is time. Loss of productivity is money lost to workers, supervisors, and company. Additionally, should a worker have to use a large cutter tool, such as a floor based tool, such tools require extensive space and do not easily allow for quick cutting, aside from the fact that handling an entire sheet of drywall is quite cumbersome. Handling drywall repeatedly is time consuming and tiring. Hand cutting and conveying straight to application or cut at application site is therefore far more desirable. 
     The present handheld drywall cutter device solves above noted problems. The lightweight handheld drywall cutter device greatly improves upon currently used and proposed devices and methods. The device includes a housing having a top side spaced apart a bottom side, a first end spaced apart from a second end, and a first side spaced apart from a second side. An outward projection can be extended outwardly from each of the first side and the second side as an ergonomic feature. Each outward projection is disposed adjacent to the bottom side, beginning at the second end and continued uninterrupted adjacent to the first end and the top side. An interiorly rounded corner can be disposed in each outward projection as further ergonomic aid. Each rounded corner is disposed proximal each of the first end and the bottom side. A recess can be continuously disposed in each of the first side and the second side. Each recess is extended from an inside of each of the outward projections to the top side and the second end. 
     A receiving channel is continuously centrally disposed through the housing between the first side and the second side and continuously disposed from the first end to the second end. The receiving channel is open on the bottom side of the housing and closed on the top side of the housing. A first inward side is continuously disposed on the first side. A second inward side is continuously disposed on the second side. The first inward side and the second inward side are parallel to each other. A plurality of equidistantly spaced apart depth slots is continuously disposed within each of the first inward side and the second inward side. The depth slots are parallel with the top side, the first inward side being a mirror image of the second inward side. A depth plate is removably and selectively disposed within a pair of the depth slots in a position parallel to the top side. Depth plate depth slot insertion provides an important, convenient and rapid ease of adjustment in determining the depth of cuts from the edge of drywall, again cutting without wavering. 
     An angled blade slot is disposed within the bottom side of each of the first side and the second side. Each blade slot is configured to removably receive a utility blade in a position wherein each blade angularly protrudes into the receiving channel. A blade retainer is removably affixed below each blade slot. A pair of spaced apart fasteners is disposed through each of the blade retainers. Fasteners can include but are not limited to screws, thumbscrews, Dzus fasteners, and any appropriate fastening devices. Each fastener is selectively secured within the bottom side of each of the first side and the second side, wherein the fasteners are configured to selectively secure each blade retainer. 
     Various design features can be used to anchor a blade angularly within each inset. An angular blade attack toward drywall is superior, with a point of a utility blade trailing the attack. A blade slot can be disposed within each inset to aid in blade retention. Each blade slot is thereby in removable receipt of an existing utility blade. Such blades are common to utility knifes and other cutting tools. A blade retainer is selectively disposed atop each inset. The blade retainer can be pivotally positioned atop each inset. Each blade retainer can have a medially disposed squared internal end and even angular internal end for fitting against a matching interior end of featured insets. A rounded end blade retainer can be disposed opposite squared and angular interior ends. Each blade retainer can have a screw slot disposed proximal to the internal end with each screw slot opened toward the receiving channel. 
     A pair of spaced apart fasteners can be disposed through each of the blade retainers, with each fastener selectively retained within each of the insets. Fasteners can thereby selectively anchor each blade retainer when tightened and further allow pivot of each blade retainer when loosened. Removal of the fasteners of each blade retainer can also allow blade retainer removal. 
     The device is configured to be used in one hand by a user. The user sets the depth of the cut to be made by using the device without the use of the depth plate and also by inserting the depth plate within the chosen mirror image depth slot pair. By sliding the device along the chosen edge of existing drywall, the drywall is cut on each side, and through the drywall paper, if there. The user then easily snaps the drywall along the opposing cuts and has a clean break line. Drywall can thereby be cut in any chosen location, especially without requiring movement of the drywall to any tool base or stationary tool, as has in the past often been required. 
     Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the present handheld drywall cutter device so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  is a bottom right side second end isometric view. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded bottom plan view, left side blade retainer pivotally open. 
         FIG. 3  is a second end elevation view. 
         FIG. 4  is a left side cross sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top left side second end isometric in-use view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, an example of the handheld drywall cutter device employing the principles and concepts of the present handheld drywall cutter device and generally designated by the reference number  10  will be described. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the present handheld drywall cutter device  10  includes a housing  11  having a top side  12  spaced apart a bottom side  14 , a first end  16  spaced apart from a second end  18 , and a first side  20  spaced apart from a second side  22 . An outward projection  15  is extended outwardly from each of the first side  20  and the second side  22 . Each outward projection  15  is disposed adjacent to the bottom side  14 , beginning at the second end  18  and continued uninterrupted adjacent to the first end  16  and the top side  12 . A rounded interior corner  26  is disposed in each outward projection  15 . Each rounded interior corner  26  is disposed proximal each of the first end  16  and the bottom side  14 . A recess  24  is continuously disposed in each of the first side  20  and the second side  22 . Each recess  24  is extended from an inside of each of the outward projections  15  to the top side  12  and the second end  18 . 
     A receiving channel  27  is continuously centrally disposed between the first side  20  and the second side  22  and continuously disposed from the first end  16  to the second end  18 . The receiving channel  27  is open on the bottom side  14  of the housing  11  and closed on the top side  12  of the housing  11 . A first inward side  29  is continuously disposed from the first end  16  to the second end  18  on the first side  20 . A second inward side  30  is continuously disposed from the first end  16  to the second end  18  on the second side  22 . The first inward side  29  and the second inward side  30  are parallel to each other. 
     A plurality of equidistantly spaced apart depth slots  32  is continuously disposed within each of the first inward side  29  and the second inward side  30 . The depth slots  32  are parallel with the top side  12 , the first inward side  29  being a mirror image of the second inward side  30 . A depth plate  34  is removably and selectively disposed within a pair of the depth slots  32  in a position parallel to the top side  12 . 
     An inset  36  is disposed within each of the bottom side  14  of the first side  20  and the second side  22 . An angled blade slot  38  is disposed within each inset  36 . Each blade slot  38  is configured to removably receive a utility blade in a position wherein each blade angularly protrudes into the receiving channel  27 . A blade retainer  40  is removably affixed in covering each blade slot  38 , thereby selectively retaining each blade. A pair of spaced apart fasteners  44  is disposed through each of the blade retainers  40 . Each respective fastener  44  is selectively secured within each inset  36 , wherein the fasteners  44  are configured to selectively secure each blade retainer  40 , and wherein the housing  11  is configured to be used singlehandedly. A rounded end  41  is disposed on each blade retainer  40  opposite each internal end  43 . 
     Each blade retainer  40  has an internal end  43  disposed within each inset  36 . Each internal end  43  is squared. Each inset  36  interior end  37  is squared. Each interior end  37  matches each internal end  43  wherein each internal end  43  is selectively positioned proximal to each inset  36  interior end  37  to further ensure selected blade retention as desired. A screw slot  42  is disposed proximal to the internal end  43  of each blade retainer  40 . The drywall is cut by placing the device on a chosen drywall edge and sliding along that edge, wherein straight, unwavering cuts are executed on each side of the drywall.