Patent Publication Number: US-9902519-B2

Title: Cutting tool and method of operating same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/312,290 filed Dec. 6, 2011, entitled “CUTTING TOOL AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a cutting tool, and more specifically, to methods and systems for cutting fasteners. 
     Fasteners such as tie wraps, also known as “zip ties,” are commonly used for a variety of purposes in industrial settings. For example, such tie wraps are commonly used to secure electrical wires in bundles. It is common, particularly in routing electrical wires, to use tie wraps to bind bundles of wires together. The binding of wire bundles allows similar groupings of wires to be grouped together to facilitate installation of the wires. Further, tie wraps prevent wires from tangling and enables better wire management. 
     Known tie wraps include a strap having a securing mechanism integral therewith. A distal end of the tie wrap is passed through an opening in the securing mechanism. The securing mechanism contains a tab that engages teeth spaced along the length of the strap. The tab engages successive teeth as the strap is pulled through the securing mechanism. Moreover, the tab acts as a ratchet to effectively prevent the strap from being removed after it is installed. 
     Tie wraps are sometimes removed after installation of the wire bundles and/or during later maintenance operations. Typically, personnel use conventional wire cutters, razor knives, or similar cutting tools to remove the tie wraps. During removal of the tie wraps, insulation covering one of the wires may be moderately nicked or cut with the cutting tool. Damaged insulation may require repair or require the wire and/or the bundle of wires to be replaced, this damage leads to costly and/or time-consuming outages or delays. Further, in some instances, conventional cutting tools have exposed blades that may result in minor injuries that require attention and further delays. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, a cutting tool is provided. The tool includes a support having a first side and a second side. The tool further includes a handle coupled to at least one of the first side and the second side. The handle includes a blade, wherein the handle is configured to move the blade between a first position and a second position. An alignment guide is coupled to the support, wherein the alignment guide includes a channel configured to receive the blade positioned in the second position. 
     In another aspect, a tool for use in cutting a tie wrap bound about at least one wire is provided. The tool includes a support having a first side and a second side. The support further includes a slot defined through the first side and the second side. The tool includes a handle rotatably coupled to the first side. The handle includes a blade axle and a blade coupled thereto, wherein the blade axle extends into the slot. The handle is configured to rotatably move the blade from a first position to a second position. An alignment guide includes a channel configured to receive the blade positioned in the second position and to align the blade to at least partially cut the tie wrap. 
     In a further aspect, a method of operating a cutting tool to cut a tie wrap bound about at least one wire is provided. The method includes applying a guide member of the tool to a tie wrap. The method also includes positioning a portion of the tie wrap within a channel of the guide member. The method includes moving the at least one wire and maintaining the at least wire away from tie wrap. The blade is moved into the channel to at least partially cut the tie wrap with the blade as the blade moves into the channel. 
     The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various embodiments or may be combined in yet other embodiments further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary cutting tool that may be used to cut a fastener. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates side view of a support of the cutting tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of a handle of the cutting tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an alignment guide of the cutting tool shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of the alignment guide shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the cutting tool coupled to the fastener shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a partial view of  FIG. 6  illustrating the cutting tool and the fastener. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a front view of  FIG. 6  illustrating the cutting tool and the fastener. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a flowchart that illustrates an exemplary method of operation of an exemplary cutting tool. 
     
    
    
     Although specific features of various embodiments may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Any feature of any drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments described herein relate to a resilient cutting process. Generally, the embodiments relate to a cutting tool for cutting a fastener that contains an object, such as a bundle of wires. The cutting tool is utilized to cut a plurality of fasteners such as, but not limited to, strings, adhesives, wires and tie wraps. Moreover, the cutting tool is utilized to cut fasteners used in a variety of environments such as, but not limited to, industrial, military and consumer environments. In one application, the cutting tool described herein is utilized to cut a tie wrap disposed about a bundle of wires. It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are not limited to tie wraps, and further understood that the description and figures that utilize tie wraps and wires are exemplary only. The present invention is compatible with known tie wraps while providing a cutting process that is safe, ergonomic and non-damaging to wires contained by the fastener being cut. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cutting tool  10  coupled to a fastener such as, but not limited to, a tie wrap  12 , extending about at least one wire  14 . In the exemplary embodiment, tie wrap  12  includes a strap  16  having a securing mechanism  18  formed integrally therewith and extending across a lateral axis  20  and a longitudinal axis  22  of strap  16  between side  24  and opposing side  26  of strap  16 . Strap  16  has a thickness  28  defined between a top surface  30  and a bottom surface  32 . A distal end (not shown) of tie wrap  12  is passed through securing mechanism  18 . Mechanism  18  includes a tab (not shown) that engages teeth (not shown) spread along length of strap  16 . Tab engages successive teeth as strap  16  is pulled, under tension, through securing mechanism  18  to bundle wires  14  together. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, tool  10  at least partially cuts tie wrap  12  to facilitate removing tie wrap  12  from wire  14 . More specifically, to facilitate maximizing its effectiveness, tool  10  cuts tie wrap  12  without damaging wire  14  and without injury to the user (not shown). Tool includes a support  34 , a handle  36 , a blade  38 , an alignment guide  40  and a bias  42 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of tool support  34 . Support  34  is coupled to handle  36  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to enable cutting processes. Support  34  includes a first side  44 , a second side  46 , and a pivot opening  47  defined through first side  44  and second side  46 . A slot  48  is defined in support  34  by an arcuate surface  50 . More particularly, slot  48  is defined by a first end  52 , a second end  54 , and opposing sides  56  that extend between first end  52  and second end  54 . To facilitate cutting tie wrap strap  16 , slot  48  is sized, shaped and orientated to enable guiding blade  38  as handle  36  moves blade  38  during cutting processes as described herein. In the exemplary embodiment, slot  48  facilitates depth control of blade  38  during cutting processes. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of tool handle  36 . As illustrated, blade  38  and bias  42  are coupled to handle  36 . Handle  36  includes an actuator arm  58  and a pivot pin  60 . Actuator arm  58  enables handling of tool  10  by the user. In the exemplary embodiment, actuator arm  58  includes an end  62  that facilitates ergonomic handling of tool  10 . In the exemplary embodiment, end  62  has a generally cylindrical shape which facilitates tool  10  being used by the user&#39;s fingers. Alternatively, end  62  may have any shape that enables handle  36  to function as described herein. Pivot pin  60  is coupled to actuator arm  58  and extends through support pivot opening  47  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to couple handle  36  to support  34 . In the exemplary embodiment, pivot pin  60  rotatably couples handle  36  to support  34  about support pivot opening  47 . 
     Handle  36  also includes a blade axle  64  that is coupled to a side  65  of handle  36  and extends outward therefrom. Blade axle  64  is configured to extend into slot  48  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to facilitate moving blade  38  as described herein. In the exemplary embodiment, blade axle  64  is circular-shaped to facilitate coupling to blade  38 . Alternatively, blade axle  64  may have any shape that enables blade  38  to function as described herein. 
     Blade  38  is coupled to blade axle  64  to enable at least a portion  114  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) of tie wrap  12  to be at least partially cut as described herein. Blade  38  includes an inner mounting surface  66  and an outer cutting surface  68 . Inner mounting surface  66  is coupled to blade axle  64 . In one embodiment, inner mounting surface  66  is rotatably coupled to blade axle  64 . Blade  38  is rotatably coupled to blade axle  64  to facilitate increasing usable cutting surface  68  to improve blade life by allowing the entire cutting surface  68  to be rotatably used during cutting processes. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a portion  70  of outer cutting surface  68  extends beyond handle  36 . In the exemplary embodiment, blade  38  is a circular blade having a diameter with a size range from about 10 mm (0.40 in.) to about 40 mm (1.6 in.). More particularly, in the exemplary embodiment, blade  38  has a diameter with a size range between about 18 mm (0.71 in.) to about 28 mm (1.1 in.). Blade  38  is variably selected to have a size that accommodates for at least partially cutting a plurality of different sized tie wrap straps  14 . Any size blade  38  may be used that enables tool  10  to function as described herein. 
     Bias  42  is coupled to handle  36  to enable moving handle  36  under tension force. More particularly, bias  42  is coupled to handle  36  and adjacent pivot pin  60 . Bias  42  includes a tension member  74  such as, but not limited to, a spring coupled to handle  36 . In the exemplary embodiment, tension member  74  includes a torsion spring. Any type of spring may be used that enables tool  10  to function as described herein. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of alignment guide  40 .  FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of alignment guide  40 . Alignment guide  40  is coupled to support  34  to enable aligning blade  38  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) with tie wrap  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) during cutting processes. In the exemplary embodiment, alignment guide  40  includes a first end  76  and an opposing second end  78  and includes a first side  80  and an opposing second side  82  extending between first end  76  and second end  78 . Moreover, alignment guide  40  includes a first surface  84  and a second surface  86  extending between first side  80  and a second side  82 . Second surface  86  is configured to extend beyond support  34  and handle  36 . In an embodiment, second surface  86  is wedge-shaped. In alternative embodiments, second surface  86  can have any other shapes such as, but not limited to, round shapes and triangular shapes. Further, second surface  86  can include a plurality of sizes and shapes to facilitate variable selection to accommodate strap thickness  28  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In the illustrated embodiment, second surface  86  is curved about a central axis  87  to facilitate coupling at least a portion of second surface  86  to a curved outer surface  15  of the at least one wire  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The configuration of second surface  86  is to accommodate for contacting and moving wire  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) when alignment guide  40  is coupled to strap  16 . Any size and shape of second surface  86  may be used that enables tool  10  to function as described. 
     A channel  88  is defined by an arcuate surface  90  along a longitudinal axis  91  of alignment guide  40 . Channel  88  extends between first surface  84  and second surface  86  and between first end  76  and second end  78 . More particularly, channel  88  is defined by an end  92 , an end  94 , and opposing sides  96  extending between end  92  and end  94 . To facilitate at least partially cutting tie strap  16 , channel  88  is sized, shaped and orientated to receive blade  38  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and to enable guiding blade  38  relative to channel  88  as handle  36  moves blade  38  during cutting processes as described herein. In the exemplary embodiment, channel  88  receives and guides blade portion  70  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) that extends beyond handle  36  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
     As illustrated, alignment guide  40  includes a groove  98  formed within first side  80  and second side  82 . To facilitate positioning of tool  10  relative to tie strap  16 , groove  98  aligns handle  36  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) about strap  16  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to facilitate controlling a pre-determined depth of blade  38  during cutting processes. Groove  98  is defined by opposing sidewalls  100  and an end  102  that extends between sidewalls  100 . In the exemplary embodiment, groove  98  is located substantially perpendicular to channel  88 . Moreover, groove  98  is in flow communication with channel  88 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, groove side wall  100  has a length  104  that is variably selected to accommodate for strap thickness  28  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) when alignment guide  40  is applied to strap  16 . Groove  98  can be sized and shaped to accommodate alignment guide  40  about different sized straps  16 . Any shape and size of groove  98  may be used that enables tool  10  to function as described herein. 
     Alignment guide  40  also includes another groove  106  formed in first surface  84  and extending between first end  76  and second end  78 . Groove  106  is defined by opposing sidewalls  108  and end wall  110  extending between sidewalls  108 . Sidewalls  108  are sized and shaped to receive support  34  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and to couple to support  34 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of tool  10  coupled to tie wrap  12 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a partial view of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a partial, front view of tool  10  coupled to tie wrap  12 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a flowchart  200  that illustrates an exemplary method of operation of cutting tool  10 . Prior to a user (not shown) operating tool  10 , bias  42  applies a tension force to handle  36  to position blade axle  64  and blade  38  in a first position  112  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In first position  112 , blade axle  64  is adjacent first end of slot  48 . Further, in first position  112 , blade cutting surface  68  is maintained out of alignment channel  88  under force of bias  42 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, alignment guide  40  is applied to strap  16  via groove end wall  102  along longitudinal axis  22  of strap  16  such that strap  16  is inserted into groove  98 . Groove  98  is open to alignment guide second surface  86 , as shown for example in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , to facilitate insertion of strap  16  into groove  98  when alignment guide  40  is applied to strap  16 . Length  104  of groove sidewall  100  facilitates controlling the depth of strap thickness  28  within groove  98 . Because groove  98  is orientated substantially perpendicular to channel  88 , channel  88  is positioned along lateral axis  20  of strap  16 . Additionally, because groove  98  is in flow communication with channel  88 , a portion of strap  114  is positioned  220  within channel  88 . Channel  88  facilitates exposing strap  16  to blade  38  during cutting process. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, alignment guide  40  is applied to strap  16  via groove end wall  102  along longitudinal axis  22  of strap  16  such that strap  16  is inserted into groove  98 . Length  104  of groove sidewall  100  facilitates controlling the depth of strap thickness  28  within groove  98 . Because groove  98  is orientated substantially perpendicular to channel  88 , channel  88  is positioned along lateral axis  20  of strap  16 . Additionally, because groove  98  is in flow communication with channel  88 , a portion of strap  114  is positioned  220  within channel  88 . Channel  88  facilitates exposing strap  16  to blade  38  during cutting process. 
     As groove  98  is placed about strap  16 , guide second surface  86  couples to wire  14  to facilitate moving and maintaining  240  wire  14  a distance away from strap  16 . With alignment guide  40  applied to strap  16 , the user moves actuator arm  58  to rotate arm about pivot pin  60 . In the exemplary embodiment, the user rotates actuator arm  58  about support  34  in a counter-clockwise direction toward alignment guide  40 . In response, blade axle  64  is moved within slot  48  to a second position  116  that is adjacent to slot second end  52 . Because of arcuate surface  50 , slot sidewalls  56  facilitates guiding blade axle  64  within slot  48  toward alignment guide  40 . The user continues to rotate actuator arm  58  to move blade axle  64  to second position  116 . As blade axle  64  is moved from first position  112  toward alignment guide  40  and to second position  116 , blade  38  travels in the same arc direction as blade axle  64 . 
     As previously noted, cutting surface  68  is maintained out of channel  88  in first position  112 . As blade  38  moves with blade axle  64  to second position  116 , blade  38  is moved into channel  88 . In the exemplary embodiment, as blade axle  64  is moved to second position  116 , blade cutting surface  68  is moved  260  into channel  88 . Because blade  38  is received by channel  88 , blade  38  is exposed to strap portion  114  that is located in channel  88 . The user continues to move actuator arm  58  to move blade axle  64  to second position  116  and to apply cutting surface  68  against top surface  30  of strap  16  to at least partially cut  280  tie wrap  12  as cutting surface  68  moves into channel  88 . 
     As cutting surface  68  cuts strap  16 , groove  98  and slot  48  enable controlling depth of cutting surface  68  into strap  16 . More particularly, because groove end  102  is coupled to top surface  30  of strap  16 , cutting surface  68  is prevented from penetrating into strap  16  beyond exposed cutting surface  70 . Moreover, because blade axle  64  follows arcuate shape of slot  48 , slot  48  facilitates limiting blade movement within channel  88  to prevent cutting surface  68  from penetrating beyond strap  16  and into wire  14 . Thus, the sizes, shapes and orientations of groove  98  and slot  48  facilitate to provide depth control for cutting surface  68  with respect to strap  16 . The depth control by at least groove  98  and slot  48  prevents cutting surface  68  from cutting through strap  16  and contacting wire  14 . 
     Since strap  16  is applied around wire  14  under tension, at least partially cutting strap  16  by cutting surface  68  facilitates breaking strap  16  to free wires  14 . More particularly, tension force of strap  16  breaks strap  16  when cutting surface  68  at least partially cuts strap  16 . Furthermore, guide second surface  86  enables moving and maintaining wire  14  away from strap  16  to minimize or prevent cutting surface  68  from contacting wire  14 . Additionally, because cutting surface  68  is received by channel  88 , cutting surface  68  is positioned to minimize or prevent user contact with cutting surface  68  to facilitate preventing injury to the user during cutting processes. 
     After strap  16  breaks and free wire  14 , the user can release actuator arm  58 . Upon release of actuator arm  58 , bias  42  applies a return force to handle  36 . In the exemplary embodiment, blade axle  64  is rotated from second position  116  to first position  112 . Blade  38  also reverses direction and rotates with blade axle  64  and out of channel  88 . 
     The subject matter described herein relates generally to cutting tools and, more particularly, to cutting tools for use in cutting tie wraps to free objects (e.g., wires) bound by a fastener (e.g., tie wraps). The tool includes a support and guide member that are positionable to facilitate aligning a blade and controlling the depth of the blade into the tie wrap during cutting procedures. The tool further prevents blade contact with the wire. As such, use of the tool described herein facilitates increasing the reliability and/or efficiency of cutting a tie wrap without damaging a wire and without injuring the user. 
     Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for using a cutting tool are described above in detail. The systems and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of systems and/or steps of the method may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein. The disclosed dimensional ranges include all sub ranges there between. Further, tool may be fabricated from any material that enables tool to function as described herein. Each component and each method step may also be used in combination with other components and/or method steps. Although specific features of various embodiments may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.