Patent Publication Number: US-2019184588-A1

Title: Wearable cutting apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/599,190 filed on Dec. 15, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to packing accessories, and in particular box and tape splitting tools. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Store clerks, warehouse clerks, and others often are repeatedly manipulating boxes and other packages, including relocating the packages, and opening the packages for removal or display of contents. 
     Among other things, the present application relates to improvements to work gloves and other wearable implements facilitating opening of packaging material. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an embodiment, a glove comprises a flexible area configured to be worn on a hand of a user, the flexible area being positioned to be secured on a palm of the hand. The glove also comprises a reinforced area coupled to the flexible area, the reinforced area configured to engage a thumb of the hand and extend towards the palm of the hand. The glove further comprises a protrusion on the reinforced area, the protrusion comprising a blade. The protrusion orients the blade at an angle with respect to the reinforced area. 
     The objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. In one embodiment of the invention, the structural components illustrated herein are drawn to scale. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In addition, it should be appreciated that structural features shown or described in any one embodiment herein can be used in other embodiments as well. As used herein, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features of wearable implements in accordance with one or more embodiments are shown in the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like elements. The drawings form part of this original disclosure in which: 
         FIGS. 1A-C  illustrate a first embodiment of a box opening glove having a forearm oriented thumb blade; 
         FIGS. 2A-D  illustrate a second embodiment of a box opening glove having a serrated omnidirectional thumb blade; 
         FIGS. 3A-E  illustrate a third embodiment of a box opening glove having grasp engageable thumb and index finger blades; 
         FIGS. 4A-B  illustrate a fourth embodiment of a box opening glove having a fingertip oriented little finger side-palm blade; 
         FIGS. 5A-E  illustrate a fifth embodiment of a box opening glove having a serrated omnidirectional little finger side-palm blade; 
         FIGS. 6A-D  illustrate a sixth embodiment of a box opening glove having a thumb activated retractable little finger side-palm blade; 
         FIGS. 7A-C  illustrate a seventh embodiment of a box opening glove having a serrated omnidirectional interphalangeal joint blade; 
         FIGS. 8A-D  illustrate an eighth embodiment of a box opening glove having a thumb activated retractable index finger blade; 
         FIGS. 9A-E  illustrate a ninth embodiment of a box opening glove having a back of hand mounted tape dispenser; 
         FIGS. 10A-B  illustrate a ring having an interphalangeal joint blade; 
         FIGS. 11A-C  illustrate a hand brace having a little finger side-palm blade; 
         FIG. 12A-B  shows illustrative views of where a thumb blade may be mounted relative to a hand wearing embodiments of gloves of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 13A-B  illustrate potential angles for mounting a blade adjacent to or relative to a finger of a hand wearing embodiments of gloves of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 14  illustrates potential angles for mounting a blade relative to the side of the palm adjacent to the little finger of a hand wearing embodiments of gloves of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 15  illustrates how an index finger blade may be oriented in some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 a - c   , a box opening glove  100  may include a thumb blade  110 . As shown in  FIG. 1 a   , the glove  100  may include a reinforced structure  120  in the glove  100  (e.g., a “spine” along the thumb mid-joint, distal from the fingers and palm), which may provide generally rigid support on a generally flexible area of the glove  100 . In an embodiment, the reinforced structure  120  may be embedded into or sewn or otherwise fixed onto the glove  100 , but may have a protrusion  130  which orients the blade  110  into a desired position. For example, in an embodiment the thumb blade  110  may be mounted as a drag-blade, such that a user holding a package may engage the blade into the packaging, and pull their arm towards themselves to cut the package with the blade  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 b   , in an embodiment the blade  110  may be mounted at approximately at an angle relative to the thumb of the glove  100 . For example, relative to a reference plane defined by a thumbnail of a hand in the glove  100 , where at the thumb extending away from the fingers along the plane is taken as 0°, and extending outward from the thumbnail perpendicular to the plane is taken as 90°, it may be appreciated that the blade  110  may be mounted approximately between −10° and 45°. In an embodiment, the blade  110  may be mounted between approximately 25° and 45°. In an embodiment, the blade  110  may be mounted at approximately 35°. In an embodiment, such positioning may optimize balance, comfort, and control of distal movements on thumb exterior while minimizing unwanted blade interactions. As shown in  FIG. 1 c   , in an embodiment the protrusion  130  may include a letter-opener style safety sheath which may limit the size of a substrate that can be exposed to the blade  110 , and may guide packaging tape, twine, or plastic ties towards the blade  110 . 
       FIGS. 2 a - d    illustrates a box opening glove  200  having a serrated thumb blade  210 . As shown, in an embodiment the glove  200  may include a reinforced structure  220  in the glove  200  (e.g., a “spine” along the thumb mid-joint, distal from the fingers and palm), which may provide generally rigid support on a generally flexible area of the glove  200 . In an embodiment, the reinforced structure  220  may be embedded into or sewn or otherwise fixed onto the glove  200 , but may be configured to orients the blade  210  into a desired position. 
     In an embodiment, the blade  210  may be mounted at approximately at an angle relative to the thumb of the glove  200 . For example, relative to a reference plane defined by a thumbnail of a hand in the glove  200 , where at the thumb extending away from the fingers along the plane is taken as 0°, and extending outward from the thumbnail perpendicular to the plane is taken as 90°, it may be appreciated that the blade  210  may be mounted approximately between −10° and 45°. In an embodiment, the blade  210  may be mounted between approximately 25° and 45°. In an embodiment, the blade  210  may be mounted at approximately 35°. In an embodiment, such positioning may optimize balance, comfort, and control of distal movements on thumb exterior while minimizing unwanted blade interactions. As shown in  FIG. 2 c   , and enlarged in  FIG. 2 d   , in an embodiment the blade  210  may be generally flat with a serrated configuration which may minimize potential for puncture wounds and unintended cuts, and may facilitate utilizing saw-teeth to rip through packaging materials such as strapping tape by utilizing a natural pulling motion. In an embodiment, the blade  210  may be omnidirectionally configured, facilitating either pulling or pushing the blade  210  to cut packaging material. 
       FIGS. 3 a - e    illustrate another embodiment of a box opening glove. Specifically, box opening glove  300  includes grasp engageable finger blade  310  and grasp engageable thumb blade  320 . While the box opening glove  300  includes both blade  310  and blade  320 , it may be appreciated that in some embodiments the glove  300  may have either the blade  310  or the blade  320  (and the associated structures disclosed herein) mounted thereon. With regard to embodiments including the finger blade  310 , it may be appreciated that in some embodiments finger blade  310  may be fixed by a blade mount  330  relative to the proximal phalanges of the finger, while a protruding portion of the blade  310  may be selectively received in a blade cover  340  fixed relative to the middle and/or distal phalanges of the finger when the fingers are extended from the palm. It may be appreciated that in some embodiments the blade cover  340  may form a rigid channel which surrounds at least the sharpened portions of the blade  310  (e.g., channeled plates forming a grove in between which the blade  310  may selectively be received based on extension or contraction of the fingers). As shown in  FIG. 3 b   , when the fingers are curled into the palm, a protruding portion of the blade  310  may extend forward of the middle and distal phalanges, as these finger portions and the blade cover  340  fixed thereto are pulled away from the blade  310 . In other embodiments, the finger blade  310  may be fixed relative to the middle phalanges of the finger, while the blade cover  340  may be fixed relative to the distal phalanges of the finger. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 e   , in an embodiment the blade  320  may be fixed to the distal phalanx, e.g., by a blade mount  350 , while a protruding portion of the blade  320  may be configured to be selectively received in a blade cover  360  (e.g., channeled plates forming a grove in between which the blade  320  may selectively be received based on extension or contraction of the thumb relative to the palm). Accordingly, by pulling the thumb towards the palm, the blade  320  may extend out of the blade cover  360 , and be exposed. It may be appreciated that in other embodiments, the blade  320  may be fixed relative to either the proximal phalanx or the distal interphalangeal joint associated with the thumb, and again may be exposed in a desired manner through movement of the thumb relative to the palm. It may further be appreciated that in some embodiments the blade  310  or the blade  320  may be sharpened for facilitating cutting by pulling the hand towards the user, pushing the hand away from the user, or both (e.g., sharpened on opposing sides or to a tip). 
       FIGS. 4 a - b    illustrate still another embodiment of a box opening glove  400  having a side-palm blade  410  (e.g., a blade located on the side of the glove  400  adjacent to the palm). As shown, in an embodiment the blade  410  may be mounted on the pinkie side of the glove  400 , distal from the thumb, and may in some embodiments be oriented facing the fingertips of the glove  400 . In an embodiment, a low-profile channel sewn through the palm of the glove  400  may hold a handle support  420  for the blade  410 . In an embodiment, the channel holds the handle  420  tight so as to create a desired pressure and control movement of the blade  410  when not in use. In an embodiment, the blade  410  and handle  420  (together as a knife assembly) may be fixed into the glove  400 , while in other embodiments the knife assembly may be removable from the channel, so as to facilitate alternate uses of the knife assembly. In an embodiment, the channel may be oriented on the glove so as to facilitate a desired orientation of the blade  410  relative to the glove  400  when the knife assembly is held in the glove  400 . As shown in  FIG. 4 b   , by closing the fingertips around the palm of the glove, a user may squeeze the handle  420  and provide greater rigidity and support to the blade  410 . For example, in an embodiment a low-profile offset (from bias) positioning of the blade  410  by the channel and handle  420  configuration outside of Hypothenar muscles may minimize unwanted blade interactions. In an embodiment, the handle  420  or another structure may provide a “letter-opener” style safety hood  430  over the blade  410 , limiting an angle or possible amount of blade exposure. 
       FIGS. 5 a - e    illustrates another embodiment of a box opening glove  500 . As shown, in an embodiment the box opening glove  500  includes a side-palm blade  510  (e.g., a blade located on the side of the glove  500  adjacent to the palm). As further shown, in an embodiment the blade  510  may be a serrated blade, and may facilitate cutting omnidirectionally (e.g., through both pushing and pulling of the glove  500 ). In an embodiment, the blade  510  may be mounted at approximately along a plane parallel to the extension of the palm, outside of the hypothenar muscles. In an embodiment, where at the hypothenar muscle extending away from the fingers along the plane is taken as 0°, and extending outward from the fingernails perpendicular to the plane is taken as 90°, it may be appreciated that the blade  510  may be mounted approximately between −10° and 45°. In an embodiment, the blade  510  may be mounted between approximately 25° and 45°. In an embodiment, the blade  510  may be mounted at approximately 35°. Accordingly, in an embodiment, such as that illustrated, the blade  510  may be adjacent the little finger side of the glove  500 . It may be appreciated that the blade  510  may be mounted in a relatively rigid blade mount  520  which may orient the blade  510  appropriately relative to the remainder of the glove  500 . In some embodiments, the glove  500  may include a blade cover  530 , which may selectively cover the blade  510  when use is not desired. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the blade cover  530  may include a strap  540  and hook and loop fastener components  550 , such that the strap  540  may be positioned over the blade  510  and fixed to the glove  500  with the hook and loop fastener components  550 . It may be appreciated that hook and loop fastener components  550  may be positioned so as to secure the strap  540  in either a position with the blade exposed or a position with the blade covered in various embodiments. In various embodiments, either the hooks or the loops may be associated with either the strap  540  or the body of the glove  500 . It may be appreciated that in other embodiments one or more magnets and/or corresponding magnetically attractable metal may be utilized instead of or in addition to the hook and loop fastener components  550 . In an embodiment, the weighting of the magnet or metal on the strap  540  may facilitate a user flicking their hand so as to disengage or reengage the strap  540  covering the blade  510 . 
       FIGS. 6 a - d    illustrate a yet another embodiment of a box opening glove  600  having a little finger side-palm blade  610  (e.g., a blade located on the side of the glove  600  adjacent to the palm). As shown in an embodiment the blade  610  may be retractable into a housing  620  which may be sewn into or slidable into a pocket on the glove  600 . In an embodiment, the sewn-in orientation or the pocket configuration may be oriented to hold the housing  620  in position when the blade  610  is not in use. As further shown, in an embodiment the housing  620  may include an actuator  630  which may be configured so as to extend the blade  610  when the actuator  630  is depressed. It may be appreciated that in some embodiments the actuator may be on or adjacent to an end of the housing  620  distal from the opening of the housing  620  through which the blade selectively protrudes. In an embodiment, such as that shown, the actuator  630  may be positioned to be actuated by the thumb of a user wearing the glove. Accordingly, in an embodiment the act of making a fist may expose the blade when squeezed. In an embodiment, the blade  610  may include both a safety lock as well as the actuator  630 . For example, in an embodiment, the safety lock may be disengaged through the act of bringing the fingers towards palm, which may allow the actuator  630  to be depressed when the user brings the thumb against the actuator  630  to complete the closing of a fist with the glove  600 . In some embodiments, the blade  610  may be spring biased into a retracted position, such that maintaining a force on the actuator  630  may be needed to keep the blade  610  in an extended position. In some embodiments, the blade  610  may be replaceable (e.g., the housing  620  may be openable or a secondary actuator may be provided on the housing  620  so as to permit removing and replace the blade from a blade carriage coupled to the actuator  630 , for example). 
     Another embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 7 a - c   , where a box opening glove  700  includes an interphalangeal joint blade  710 . As shown, in an embodiment the blade  710  may be located on the middle finger of the glove  700 . In an embodiment the blade  710  may be mounted to a generally rigid blade support  720  which may be sewn into the glove  700 , and may orient the blade  710  at a desired angle. In an embodiment, the blade  710  may be a serrated omnidirectional blade, facilitating saw-type cuts through a desired substrate. In an embodiment, the blade  710  and blade support  720  may be mounted on an intermediate finger (e.g., the ring, middle, or index fingers of the glove  700 ) which may facilitate making a generally flat reference surface for the blade  710  when the user makes a fist. In an embodiment, such positioning may facilitate improved accuracy and balance for long drag cuts using the blade  710 . 
       FIGS. 8 a - d    illustrate an embodiment of a box opening glove  800  having an index finger blade  810 . As shown, in an embodiment the index finger blade  810  is retractable into or out of a housing  820  which may be oriented to extend along the length of the index finger (e.g., parallel to the index finger) when the index finger is extended, and generally remain parallel to the proximal phalanges (e.g., by being fixed to the glove  800  adjacent to the proximal phalanges) when the index finger is curled towards the palm. As shown, in an embodiment the housing  820  may include thereon an actuator  830  which may be positioned to be actuated by the thumb when the user&#39;s hand is closed into a fist (curling the fingers towards the palm). For example, in an embodiment the actuator  830  may be a sliding actuator, which may be engaged by the thumb sliding forward along the housing  820  to extend the blade  810  forward accordingly. In some embodiments, the blade  810  may be spring biased into a retracted position, such that maintaining a force on the actuator  830  may be needed to keep the blade  810  in an extended position. In some embodiments, the blade  810  may be replaceable (e.g., the housing  820  may be openable or a secondary actuator may be provided on the housing  820  so as to permit removing and replace the blade from a blade carriage coupled to the actuator  830 , for example). 
     It may be appreciated that in some embodiments of the gloves disclosed herein, other package work features may be further included thereon. For example,  FIGS. 9 a - e    show a glove  900 . Similar to the glove  100  described above, in some embodiment the glove  900  includes a thumb blade  910  (e.g., similar to the thumb blade  110 ) and/or may have other features similar to those described in the various embodiments of glove  100 . It may be appreciated that in other embodiments, features of other gloves disclosed herein may be integrated into the glove  900 . As further shown, in an embodiment the glove  900  includes mounted thereon a tape mount  920 . In an embodiment, the tape mount  920  includes an axle  930  (e.g., a rotatable spindle or a fixed post) which may receive thereon a roll of tape  940 . As further shown, in some embodiments, the glove  900  may include (e.g., on the tape mount  920 ) a tape cutter  950 , which may facilitate cutting a strip of tape  940   a  from the roll of tape  940  when the strip of tape  940   a  is extended therefrom. The tape cutter  950  may be of any appropriate construction or configuration, including having a serrated edge, for example. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 c - e   , in some embodiments a glove  960  may include thereon a digit extension  970  which may facilitate initial separation of tape from the roll of tape  940  to allow separating the strip of tape  940   a , such as is depicted in  FIG. 9 c   . For example, in an embodiment the digit extension  970  may comprise a rigid or semi-rigid body protruding from an otherwise fabric or flexible configuration of the glove  960 . By inserting the digit extension  970  between the terminal end and the prior wind of the roll of tape  940 , the roll of tape  940  can be unwound creating the strip of tape  940   a . It may be appreciated that in some embodiments sets of glove  900  and glove  960  may be provided together, so that functionality may complement one another. In some embodiments, the digit extension  970  may also be relatively sharpened so as to function as a tape splitter, or may have a cutting edge facilitating cutting packaging material or affixed tape as well as facilitating prying tape from the roll of tape  940 . 
     For each of the embodiments of gloves disclosed herein, it may be appreciated that features may be positioned on either or both of left handed gloves and right handed gloves, so as to accommodate both left and right handed users. In some embodiments, features described as being implemented on specific digits (e.g., a particular finger or the thumb) may be implemented on other fingers or the thumb. It may be appreciated that in some embodiments, otherwise as disclosed herein, the gloves may be similar to those known in the art, and may be formed from one or more of fabric, leather, plastic, rubber, and similar components, which may be assembled via any appropriate mechanism, including stitched, glued, welded, molded, or so on. 
     It may be appreciated that in some embodiments features disclosed herein may be provided on wearable structures outside of the context of gloves. For example,  FIGS. 10 a - b    illustrate a box opening ring  1000  which may be functionally generally similar to the box opening glove  700 . In particular, the box opening ring  1000  includes an interphalangeal joint blade  1010  mounted on a ring, which may be worn on a finger (e.g., the middle finger) of a hand H. The blade  1010  may be mounted on a generally rigid blade support  1020 , which may have a ring or clip member  130  on an opposing face that a finger may be inserted into. The blade support  1020  may orient the blade  1010  at a desired angle. In an embodiment the blade  1010  may be a serrated omnidirectional blade, facilitating saw-type cuts through a desired substrate. 
     Similarly, as shown in  FIGS. 11 a - c   , a hand brace  1100  (e.g., a hand wrap in the illustrated embodiment) which may be worn on the hand H, and may support on the hand H a blade  1110 . As shown, the brace  1100  may be configured to orient the blade  1110  on the side of the palm. Such configuration may be effectuated, for example, by mounting the blade  1110  on a blade mount  1120 , which may be shaped to match the contour of the side of the palm in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the brace  1100  may have attachment appurtenances (e.g., straps such as palm strap  1130  and wrist strap  1140  in the illustrated embodiment), which may further guide a user to position the blade mount  1120  in an intended location, such as on the side of the palm. As further shown, in an embodiment the blade  1110  may be a serrated blade, and may facilitate cutting omnidirectionally (e.g., through both pushing and pulling of the hand H). In some embodiments, the structure and features of the hand brace  1100  may be configured similarly to those of the glove  500 . In an embodiment, the blade  1110  may be configured by the blade mount  1120  to be mounted at an angle relative to a plane parallel to the extension of the palm. It may be appreciated that in some embodiments, where at the hypothenar muscle extending away from the fingers along the plane is taken as 0°, and extending outward from the fingernails perpendicular to the plane is taken as 90°, it may be appreciated that the blade  1110  may be mounted approximately between −10° and 45°. In an embodiment, the blade  1110  may be mounted between approximately 25° and 45°. In an embodiment, the blade  1110  may be mounted at approximately 35°. Accordingly, in an embodiment, such as that illustrated, the blade  1110  may be configured by the shaping of the blade mount  1120  and/or the straps  1130  and  1140  to be positioned adjacent to the little finger of the hand H. In some embodiments, a further strap may be provided, e.g., alongside hook and loop fastener components, magnetic and metal components, or other appropriate mechanisms, to facilitate selectively covering the blade  1110  when use is not desired. 
     In various embodiments, the blades described herein may be formed of metal, plastic, ceramic, or any other appropriate material. Similarly, embodiments having an angled blade may be angled for directional cuts utilizing pushing or pulling motions in various embodiments. Blades may be omnidirectional, including serrated, having a curved or multifaceted configuration, or sharpened on multiple faces, such as opposing faces. Regarding the mounting of blades in the various embodiments disclosed herein, it may be appreciated that the blades may be oriented with reference to either a surface on which the hand would rest, or relative to anatomical features of a hand wearing the glove or other wearable implement. For example,  FIG. 12 a    shows an illustrative view of where a thumb blade such as blade  110 , blade  210 , blade  320 , or blade  910  may be mounted. While the illustrated view is depicted for the right hand, sectioned looking from the wrist to the fingertips (with the thumbnail, and the remainder of the fingers being shown schematically within the palm for positioning), it may be appreciated that the inverse may also be appropriate for a left hand worn wearable implement. As shown, taken with 90° being normal to the top center of the proximal phalanx of the thumb (e.g., if the hand were formed as a fist with the thumb on top), the blade may be mounted between θ 1  and θ 1 * degrees. In an embodiment θ 1 =10° and θ 1 *=105°. In a more specific embodiment, θ 1 =25° and θ 1 *=75°. In a still more specific embodiment, θ 1 =30° and θ 1 *=35°. As shown in  FIG. 12 b   , when a hand (all fingers and the thumb) is resting on a table surface, the thumb is oriented at an angle relative to the other fingers. Accordingly, it may be appreciated that top normal to proximal phalanx of thumb may be at angle relative to normal to the table surface. 
       FIG. 13 a    and  FIG. 13 b    illustrate potential angles for mounting a blade adjacent to or relative to a finger (e.g., the index finger), such as was described above with reference to blade  310 , blade  710 , or blade  1010 , for example. It may be appreciated that the fingers (e.g., excluding the thumb) of the hand are generally oriented so that normal to a table that the hand is resting on and normal to the conventional top of the bones themselves are equivalent. Accordingly, normal to the top center of a finger such as the index middle phalange, as shown in  FIG. 13 a   , appears similar to normal to a table surface that the hand is resting on, as show in  FIG. 13 b   . Accordingly, regardless of the view, in some embodiments the blades such as blade  310  and blade  710  may generally extend in that generally common normal direction, or in a range of plus or minus θ 2  degrees. In some embodiments, θ 2  may be approximately 10°, such that the blade is mounted generally between 80-100° relative to a plane parallel to the table surface, or through the conventional top of the bones of the hand themselves. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates potential angles for mounting a blade relative to the side of the palm adjacent to the little finger, such as was described above with reference to blade  410 , blade  510 , blade  610 , or blade  1110 , for example. As shown, in an embodiment the blade may be mounted generally parallel to a table surface which the palm is resting on (e.g., perpendicular to normal as described in  FIG. 13 a    and  FIG. 13 b   ), or may be mounted θ 3  degrees offset from parallel (e.g., towards or away from the palm). For example, in an embodiment θ 3  may be approximately 10°. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates how an index finger blade, such as that described above with reference to blade  810 , may be oriented in some embodiments. As shown, in an embodiment the blade may be oriented normal to a reference table surface upon which the palm rests (e.g., parallel to normal to the phalanges of the index finger adjacent to the blade). In an embodiment, the blade may be oriented θ 4 ° offset from normal. In some embodiments, θ 4 ° may be approximately 10 degrees. 
     For the blade orientations described herein, it may be appreciated that in some embodiments the angles described may be made with reference to the angle of the spine of the blade, of which one or more edges relative to the spine may be sharpened be sharpened to form a tip. 
     It may be appreciated that the components described herein may be of different constructions or configurations, including but not limited to one or more being comprised of different material choices. For example, the components described herein may each be constructed from a variety of materials, including but not limited to one or more of fabrics, plastics, metals, rubbers, elastomers, or any other appropriate material choice. For example, in an embodiment one or more of the components (e.g., blades) may be formed of aluminum (e.g., machined aluminum), iron (e.g., steel), ceramic, or any other appropriate material. In some embodiments, the material choices may differ from component to component. 
     Although aspects of the invention have been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the exemplary disclosed embodiments. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.