Patent Publication Number: US-7908953-B2

Title: Cutting tool attached to package for wound line

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a cutting tool and, more particularly, to a cutting tool attached to a package for flexible wound line. Specifically, the present invention relates to a safe and effective cutting tool attached to a package for flexible wound line wherein the cutting tool produces a mechanical advantage in cutting the flexible line. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Monofilament lines are well known in the art and are commonly defined as strings made from a single fiber. Common examples of monofilament lines include, but are not limited to, vegetation trimmer or cutting lines, pulling lines, fishing lines, and utility lines. Such monofilament lines may be made from single component filaments or from multi-component filaments, and may be produced by any of a variety of methods known in the art, including, but not limited to, molding, extruding and/or spinning. Many types of monofilament lines are made from polymeric materials. 
     Typically, such monofilament lines are packaged in bulk form. That is, typically, the monofilament lines are produced as continuous lines of a single or multi-component filament that are wound or otherwise placed into containers for holding the monofilament lines. As such, the task of cutting the monofilament line to a desired length of line from the package is left to the user. 
     Packaging for the continuous-type monofilament line can take essentially any form known in that art, but is a typically wound onto a spool or into a box or container of some type. Such containers may be of various shapes and sizes, but serve to maintain the monofilament line in an organized, wound configuration. Many containers are commonly made of plastic and may be thermoformed or molded into any shape or size desired to contain the wound monofilament line. 
     One such plastic container or package commonly used for vegetation trimmer line or weed cutting line is known in the industry as a “donut package” due to the general appearance of the monofilament line that is wound within the cavity of the container. The cavity of the package, as well as the monofilament line wound within it, resembles the shape of a donut. 
     Many vegetation trimming and weed cutting devices use monofilament line packaged in these types of containers. Previously, this winding of the monofilament line in a package may have been considered suitable for the user since many rotating string trimmers or weed cutters used most, if not all, of the spooled continuous lengths of monofilament line by winding the line onto the spool within the head of the rotary string trimmer or weed cutting apparatus. However, one trend in the area of monofilament line for a rotating string trimmer and weed cutter is the increased usage of fixed line heads, wherein only a relatively short length of line, typically about 6 to 18 inches (about 20 cm to 40 cm), are inserted into the heads of the string trimmers or weed cutting apparatuses. Thus, some manufacturers of trimmer line or weed cutting line have begun to produce pre-packaged, short strips of monofilament line pre-cut to lengths suitable for use in these newer vegetation trimmers or weed cutting apparatuses, all at greater cost to the manufacturer and/or at higher prices to the consuming public. 
     Thus, the need exists for ways for provide the more economical, bulk wound continuous line packages to the consuming public in a manner that will provide the user with an easy and safe means to cut the line to the lengths desired, thereby obviating the need to provide short pre-cut strips to the consuming public. 
     Heretofore, users of flexible wound monofilament line packaged in plastic containers have had to use auxiliary cutting devices such as, for example, knives, scissors, blades, or wire cutters, to cut the line to a desired length. The reliance on such auxiliary cutting devices is undesirable since the user, first, must possess a cutting device suitable for and capable of cutting the monofilament line and, second, must keep the cutting device close at hand or within the proximity of the user to enable the user to cut the line at a time of convenience when needed. In addition, many cutting devices, such as knives or blades, are known to be dangerous to the user due to the exposed sharp edges of these devices. 
     Furthermore, scissors (and even wire cutters) often do not offer the advantages that even knifes or blades may offer in cutting the line. For instance, monofilament lines having large diameters are inherently difficult to sheer with scissors, due to the toughness of the line. This is understandable given that many monofilament lines, especially those used for vegetation trimmers or weed cutters, are made to withstand and endure abrasive and sheer forces in order to provide high performance characteristics. It is known that common scissors are not strong enough or durable enough to cut the larger diameter lines. When attempting to cut a line with scissors, the line tends to slide outwardly, away from the blades of the scissors. This, in turn, causes the user of the scissors to pull on the two ends of the line so that the line is forced into the blades of the scissors. This is an unsafe action and can lead to serious bodily injury to the user, depending upon the user&#39;s use of the scissors. Moreover, pulling on the ends of the line tends to bend the line and forces the blades of the scissors to spread apart. Thus, oftentimes, scissors will not cut the larger diameter monofilament lines. Still further, scissors with plastic handles have been known to break in the user&#39;s hand, again causing bodily injury to the user. 
     Therefore, the need exists for a cutting tool suitable for cutting flexible wound line that can be attached to the package for the flexible wound monofilament line. The need further exists for a cutting tool that is safe and effective in cutting all polymeric monofilament lines up to at least 0.180 inches in diameter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     At least one or more of the foregoing aspects of the present invention, together with the advantages thereof over the known art relating to cutting tools and packaging, which shall become apparent from the specification and drawings that follows, are accomplished by the invention as hereinafter described and claimed 
     The present invention provides a cutting tool attached to a package for flexible wound line. The cutting tool is adapted to cut the flexible line upon its removal from the package. The cutting tool includes a base member having a groove adapted to receive the flexible line when the cutting tool is in use and a blade recessed within the groove, the blade being adapted to cut the flexible line when the line is forced into the blade during use of the cutting tool. The cutting tool further includes an arm member acting in complementary relationship to the base member so as to produce and apply mechanical advantage in a manner that forces the flexible line received within the groove against the blade to thereby sever the flexible line. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the present invention provides, in combination with a package containing flexible wound line, a cutting tool having a groove adapted to receive the flexible line upon its removal from the package and a blade adapted to cut the flexible line, the blade being recessed within the groove. The cutting tool further includes an arm member acting in complementary relationship to the base member so as to produce and apply mechanical advantage in a manner that forces the flexible line received by the groove against the blade to thereby sever the flexible line. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cutting tool to be attached to a package in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the cutting tool with the cutting tool closed; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the cutting tool with the cutting tool open; 
         FIG. 4  is a side plan view of the cutting tool of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side plan view of the cutting tool of  FIG. 3  with a cross-sectional view of a piece of line disposed within the cutting tool; 
         FIG. 6  is a right end view of the cutting tool with the cutting tool partially open; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a package having a flexible line extending therefrom and having the cutting tool attached in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     One representative form of a package embodying the concepts of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the numeral  10  in the  FIG. 7 , wherein the package  10  is illustrated as a plastic, thermoformed container commonly referred to in the monofilament line industry as a “donut package” inasmuch as the cavity within the package is said to resemble a donut. Such a package  10  may be made of one-piece (clamshell) or two-piece construction, wherein the package includes opposed portions  12  and  14  that generally form a housing or container defining a cavity  16  for storing flexible wound line M. Opposed portions  12  and  14  may be thermoformed, cut from pieces of material, or otherwise molded from the same mold and, thereby have the same identical shape and size, or may be cut, molded or thermoformed from different molds and, thereby, not have the same identical shape or size. In one embodiment, the opposed portions may be different such that one portion  12  is thermoformed, cut or molded with a substantially flat outer planar wall  18  radially extending from its center to its outer periphery forming the cavity  16 , while the other portion  14  is thermoformed, cut or molded with a substantially indented or recessed wall  20  at its center but that extends substantially transversely, as at wall  22 , and then radially outwardly, as at wall  24 , to define the cavity  16  of the package  10 . In one embodiment, the opposed portions  12  and  14  may be affixed together at walls  18  and  20  or near their centers to provide a spool-like effect to the package for flexible wound line M, inasmuch as the flexible line is essentially wound around the spool-like centers of the portions  12  and  14 . Such packages of this type can typically hold from ⅓ to 1 pound of line. 
     It will be appreciated, however, that other forms of packages or containers may be used in conjunction with the concepts of the present invention, and the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described herein and illustrated in the drawings, the breadth of the invention being determined by the scope and spirit of the attached claims. For example, the package  10  may alternatively be cut, extruded, molded or thermoformed into any desired container shape or size known in the art. The package may be made from hard plastic, thin plastic, thermoformed plastic, molded plastic, cut plastic, paper, cardboard or even may be made from metal or aluminum or combinations of any of these. Still further, the package may be made so that the monofilament line M contained therein is wound onto a spool, or may be made such that no spool is necessary for the wound line. Alternatively, the package may be made as a loop package. Loop packages typically contain 3 to 50 feet of line. In contrast, spools may be used to hold up to 5 pounds of line. Essentially any size or shape container will be suitable as the package  10  provided it can contain and store flexible wound line M as shown in the drawings. However, in one embodiment, the package is made of non-metal. In another embodiment, the package is made solely of polymeric materials. 
     Flexible wound line M may be essentially any line known in the art, including but not limited to, vegetation trimmer or cutting line, fishing line, pulling line, utility line, and the like. While it is preferably monofilament line, it will be appreciated that multi-filament lines, e.g., yarns, ropes, etc., may also be included as flexible wound line. Similarly, while the line is preferably polymeric, it will be appreciated that line made from non-polymeric materials, e.g., wire, cable, etc., may also be included as flexible wound line. Still further, tubing or other continuous filaments having a hollow core may also be included as flexible wound line for the purposes of this invention. However, in one embodiment, the present invention is a package containing a flexible wound line that is devoid of filaments having hollow cores. In another embodiment, the present invention is a package containing flexible wound line that is devoid of multi-filaments. And in yet another embodiment, the present invention is a package containing polymeric flexible wound line. 
     Advantageously, a cutting tool, designated generally by the numeral  30  in the drawings, is attached to the package  10 . By the term “attached,” it is meant that the cutting tool  30  may be coupled in some manner to the package, either by fastening means or connecting means. For purposes of this invention, fastening means refer to those means that directly affix the cutting tool  30  to the package  10 . Examples of such fastening means include, but are not limited to, the means shown in the drawings and described in greater detail below. Other examples of fastening means may include adhesives, tapes, screws, or other fasteners that maintain and affix the cutting tool  30  directly to the package  10 . In contrast, connecting means refers to those means that provide a conduit to or tie the cutting tool  30  to the package  10  in a manner that does not necessarily require that the cutting tool  30  be directly affixed to the package  10 , but instead, maintains the cutting tool  30  in close proximity to the package  10 . Examples of such connecting means may be a chain, a rope or string having one end tied or otherwise secured to the cutting tool  30  and the other end tied or otherwise secured to the package  10 . 
     The cutting tool  30  may be made from any material known in the art. In one embodiment, the cutting tool in made entirely of plastic. In another embodiment, the cutting tool in molded entirely of plastic except for the blade. In yet another embodiment, the cutting tool is molded from a combination of materials, including plastic, metal and aluminum. 
     The cutting tool  30  of the present invention includes a base member  32  and an arm member  34  acting in complementary relationship with and, optionally, connected to the base member  32 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the base member  32  is attached to the package  10 . In a more specific embodiment, the base member  32  is affixed to the package  10  by fastening means. In another embodiment, the base member  32  is coupled to the package  10  by connecting means. It will be appreciated that the manner as to how the arm member  34  and base member  32  are attached depends significantly upon the relationship of the members in performing their functions as more particularly described below. 
     The base member  32  may take any shape and be of any size suitable for its use and positioning on the package  10 , and may be made from any material known in the art. The base member  32  should preferably not be too large in size as to dwarf the package, although this would be preferred for aesthetic reasons, not necessarily for functional reasons. As shown in the drawings, one embodiment of the present invention provides that the base member  32  may be affixed to the package  10  by the use of one or more legs  36  that may be forced through at least the wall  18  of the package  10  and, if so constructed, walls  18  and  20  of the package  10 . It will be appreciated that the cutting tool  30  does not have to be affixed to the package  10  where shown in  FIG. 7 , it being within the scope of the invention to locate the cutting tool  30  on the package  10  essentially anywhere it is desired and practical. 
     In some embodiments, package  10  may have puncture points (not shown) prefabricated into them for ease of forcing the legs  36  through the package wall. In other embodiments, the legs  36  may be formed and take a shape suitable for puncturing the wall of the package without prior manipulation of the package wall. For example, as shown, each leg  36  may be shaped with a pointed conical end  38  that extends from a narrower, cylindrical body  40 , such that, upon pressing the pointed conical end  38  through the wall of the package, the wall is captured between the fatter side of the conical end and the bottom of the base member. The resiliency and strength of the plastic wall and the design of the leg  36  prevents removal of the leg  36  from the wall once positioned through the package  10 . Nevertheless, care should be taken so as to not rupture or tear the package beyond that necessary for securing the legs  36  of the base member  32  through the package  10 . 
     In at least one embodiment, the legs  36  may be adequate to secure the cutting tool  30  to the package  10 . In other embodiments where the package walls are extremely thin, it may be desirable to ensure the security of the cutting tool  30  to the package  10  by means of a securing strap  42  adapted to receive the legs  36  of the cutting tool  30  after it has passed through the package wall. The strap  42  may be made of any rigid material known in the art and may take any shape desired provided it fits within the parameters of the package  10 . In one embodiment, the strap  42  is a rigid but flexible and resilient band of plastic, metal or aluminum, and has apertures  46  adapted to receive the legs  36  of base member  32  from cutting tool  30 . Like the package wall, the strap  42  is flexible and resilient enough, and the apertures small enough, to allow the conical end  38  of the leg  36  to be forced through the aperture  46  and capture it between the fatter side of the conical end and the package wall. If necessary, in order to provide further strength to the package wall, the package wall may have a prefabricated ridge  44 . Likewise, the strap  42  may have a complementary ridge (not shown) adapted to be congruent with the ridge  44  of the package  10 . 
     In the embodiment shown in the drawings, base member  32  has an elongated body portion  50  with four prongs  52 A,  52 B,  52 C and  52 D extending upwardly proximate to one end  54  of the base member  32 . The void between the first pair of prongs  52 A and  52 C and between the second pair of prongs  52 B and  52 D define a groove  56  in the base member  32 , which groove  56  is substantially orthogonal to the axis of the elongated body portion  50  of the base member  32 . Within the groove, a blade  58  is adapted to be received with a cutting edge  60  facing upwards toward the arm member  34 . 
     Similarly, there may be a void between prongs  52 A and  52 B and between prongs  52 C and  52 D that define a recess  62  extending transverse to the groove  56  and adapted for receiving the arm member  34  upon closing of the arm member  34  against base member  32  as described below. The recess  62  does not extend significantly deep into the body portion  50  of the base member  32 , being defined generally by the height of the extended prongs  52 A-D. However, the depth of the groove  56  is deeper than the depth of the recess  62  and may extend into body portion  50 . This depth of the groove  56  enables the blade  58  to be positioned in line with the recess  62 , transversely within the groove  56  and essentially parallel to the axis of the elongated body portion  50  such that the cutting edge  60  of the blade  58  does not rise significantly above the height of the body portion  50  within the recess  62 . Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the blade  58  and, particularly, the cutting edge  60  of the blade is not accessible to the hands or fingers of the user, providing for a safer use of the cutting tool. 
     In an embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings, prong  52 D may be substantially elongated so as to extend further than end  54  of the base member  32 . By elongating prong  52 D, a connecting pin  64  may be provided on the prong that extends inwardly across the axis of the base member  32 . Connecting pin  64  may be generally cylindrical in shape and may include a tooth  66  proximate its extended end. Connecting pin  64  is one means by which arm member  34  may be connected to base member  32 . It will be appreciated that any connecting means known in the art may be used to operatively connect arm member  34  to base member  32 , the embodiment shown being just one example of such means. 
     The arm member  34  may take any shape and be of any size suitable for use in complementary operation with the base member  32 . Like the base member, the arm member  34  preferably should not be too large in size as to dwarf the package or the base member, although this would be preferred for aesthetic reasons, not necessarily for functional reasons. In one embodiment as shown in the drawings, the arm member  34  may be elongated and have a work portion  70  positioned between an elongated handle or gripping portion  72  at one end of the arm member  34  for moving the arm member  34 , and a connecting portion  74  on the other end of the arm member  34 , for operatively engaging the arm member  34  with the base member  32 . The arm member  34  may be of one-piece construction or each portion may be made from different pieces and/or materials. In one embodiment, the working portion  70  may include a slit  78  for receiving a portion of the blade  58  when the arm member  58  is closed. The work portion  70  of the arm member  34  contacts the flexible line disposed in the groove  56  when rotated toward the closed position thereby forcing the flexible line against the cutting edge  60  of the line cutting blade  58  and cutting the flexible line. The cutting edge  60  of the line cutting blade  58  is forced to pass completely through the flexible line and into the slit  78  of the work portion  70  when the arm member  34  is moved to the closed position. The handle portion  72  may be shaped in any manner known in the art and, in at least one embodiment, may be shaped for easy gripping by the user&#39;s hand or fingers. The work portion  70  may also be shaped in any manner known in the art but should be operative with the base member  32  in a manner that will allow for the cutting of flexible line by the blade  58  as further described below. The connecting portion  74  may include an opening  76  adapted to receive the connecting pin  64  of the base member  32 , to permit the rotation of the arm member  34  around the connecting pin  64 . In one embodiment as shown in the drawings, the opening  76  is essentially circular to allow relatively smooth operation and rotation of the arm member  34 , but includes an extended opening to permit the tooth  66  of the connecting pin  64  through the opening  76  when the arm member  34  is rotated to a releasing position. That is, the arm member  34  may be adapted to be connected to or released from the base member  32  by placing the opening  76  of the arm member  34  in congruent alignment with the connecting pin  64  and its tooth  66  and passing the tooth  66  through the opening  76 . Then, by rotating the arm member  34  to a working position, the tooth will have locked or otherwise secured the arm member  34  to the base member  32 . 
     The cutting tool  30  is to be utilized by the user of the flexible line to cut the flexible line M contained in the package  10  to a desired length for further use of that length of line. Thus, upon pulling a length of the line M from the package  10 , the user will rotate the arm member  34  to an open position to allow access to the groove  56  in the base member  32 . The user will then position the line M into the groove  56  of the base member  32  above the blade  58  where it is desired that the line M is to be cut. In one embodiment, the groove  56  is of sufficient width to provide for the cutting of flexible line measuring up to at least 0.180 inches in diameter. In another embodiment, a groove may accommodate the cutting of monofilament line ranging from about 0.010 inches to about 0.180 inches in diameter. 
     It will further be appreciated that any length of line may be cut. Therefore, if a short (about 6 to 18 inches) strip of monofilament line is desired for use in a fixed line head of a vegetation trimmer, then such a short strip can be cut. On the other hand, if the user desires a long length of line such is often the case with spooled line heads of vegetation trimmers, then a much longer length of line can be cut. 
     The groove  56 , therefore, includes not only the blade  58 , but is also adapted to receive the flexible line M to be cut. In at least one embodiment, the groove  56  is adapted to prevent movement of the of the line perpendicular to the direction of the cutting action. In another embodiment, the groove  56  prevents movement of the line in any direction other than in the direction of the blade, thereby holding the line in place during use of the cutting tool  30 . 
     Once the flexible line M is positioned in the groove  56 , the arm member  34  may then be rotated in the direction of arrow A toward the closed position. The work portion  70  of the arm member  34  will then contact the flexible line M, forcing the line M against the cutting edge  60  of the blade  58  and cutting the line M. 
     Notably, the cutting tool advantageously uses mechanical advantage to assist in the cutting of the line M. Due to the construction of the cutting tool  30 , and the placement of the line M and blade  58  relative to the pressing of the user&#39;s hand or fingers on the arm member and the connection point between the arm member and the base member, only a relatively small force is required by the user to create a much greater force on the line to cut it. This is because the input distance the user has to move the arm member is greater than the output distance the line has to move in order to be cut. This is the simple principal known as the Law of Conservation of Energy (work in equals work out), wherein work equals force times distance. Thus the input force (F 1 ) times the input distance (D 1 ) has to equal the output force (F 2 ) times the output distance (D 2 ). Where, as here, the input distance (D 1 ) is greater than the output distance (D 2 ), the amount of input force (F 1 ), i.e., the user&#39;s hand or fingers, is much less than the amount of output force (F 2 ), i.e., the force applied to the line by the work portion  70  of the arm member  34 . 
     As shown in the drawings, the groove  56  and, thereby, the line M to be cut, is closer to the fulcrum, the point around which the arm member rotates, i.e., the connecting pin  64 . In fact, the groove  56  is located between the fulcrum (connecting pin  64  and the effort force applied by the user. As such, this may be considered a second-class lever mechanism. Since the fulcrum is located closer to the resistance, i.e., the line M to be cut, than to the applied force, i.e., the pressing force made by the user, an increase in force (i.e., a mechanical advantage) at the groove  56  results. 
     It will be appreciated that other forms and shapes of the arm member  34  can be made that will enable the arm member to apply and produce mechanical advantage. For instance, a first class lever mechanism can be created by moving the fulcrum, i.e., the connecting pin  64 , to a position between the groove  56  and the end of the arm member  34  where the force applied by the user will be, and maintaining the connecting pin  64  closer to the groove  56 . 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, mechanical advantage may be created and applied by use of a wedge as the arm member. In one embodiment, the wedge would be slidable on and/or slidably connected to the base member, with the thinnest part of the sloped surface of the wedge resting proximate the line M held in groove  56  between the blade  58  and the wedge. If the blade is positioned below the line M, one may consider this to be an incline plane turned upside down. Alternatively, if the blade is positioned above the line, one may consider this to be a wedge with an upward slanting slope. In either event, the user would apply force to move the wedge toward the groove over a distance, thereby causing the sloped surface of the wedge to engage the line M and force it upward or downward onto the blade as a larger and larger portion of the wedge slides over the groove. Mechanical advantage is produced and applied because the distance the wedge is forcibly moved by the user is greater than the distance the line is moved into the blade. In at least one embodiment, the wedge may have fastening means for slidably engaging the base member and insuring that the wedge does not move upward (or downward) as it moves across the groove. 
     In still another embodiment, mechanical advantage may be created and applied by use of a screw as the arm member. The screw would be positioned over the groove in a manner such that as the user turns the screw tighter against the line M in the groove, the blade would cut the line M. That is, because the screw rotates a greater distance in terms of rotation than the distance the screw moves the line into the blade, mechanical advantage is produced and applied. Fastening means for maintaining the screw in position over the groove and for maintaining the position of the screw relative to the base member would also be provided. 
     Thus, it will be appreciated that several alternative embodiments and structural equivalents of the cutting tool are contemplated that enables the cutting tool  30  to produce and apply mechanical advantage to the components of the tool in cutting the line M. In each instance, however, an arm member, acting in complementary relationship with the base member, is used to create and apply the mechanical advantage. 
     In light of the foregoing, it should thus be evident that the present invention substantially improves the art of cutting tools for flexible line, and provides particular advantages for handling and cutting flexible line. While a full and complete description of the invention has been set forth in accordance with the dictates of the patent statutes, it should be understood that modifications can be resorted to without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.