Patent Publication Number: US-2022234226-A1

Title: Cygnus Medical LLC

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit from currently pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/140,611 titled “Multipurpose Shears” and having a filing date of Jan. 22, 2021, all of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present specification relates to a shearing device for use in the medical field, as well as camping, hunting, and fishing and more particularly a multipurpose collapsible shearing device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Cutting tools such as shears, scissors or multipurpose tools are common tools for cutting a variety of materials ranging from clothing to textiles and plastics. The size and shape of the cutting tool depends on the material and the thickness of the material being cut. Shears are key pieces of equipment for medical personnel including but not limited to emergency medical response, rescue and veterinary professionals. In many instances, the scissors utilized by such medical personnel have been developed for specific applications such as emergency medical technician (“EMT”) shears, bandage and veterinary scissors. EMT shears, for example, are designed to cut through heavy fabrics such as denim or seatbelt material. Veterinary scissors, another type of specialized scissors, having one smooth blade and one serrated blade, are designed for cutting through cartilage and soft bone. 
     Shears can also be a key piece of equipment for hunters and trappers. An animal harvested in the field by a hunter must be quickly skinned and eviscerated and it is common practice for hunters to skin and clean the animal at the site of the kill. The hunter cuts through the layer of hide, hair and other connective tissue so that it can be peeled away from the meat. After the hide and hair are removed, another cut is made through the layer of meat to permit it to be separated from the visceral lining containing the viscera. 
     It is advantageous to cut the hide from the inside of the animal toward the outside to avoid pushing hair, dirt, and other contaminants into the meat of the animal. At the same time, it is important to avoid puncturing the viscera of the animal to prevent the contents of the stomach or bowel from contaminating the meat. To achieve both of these criteria, hunting knives will frequently include a “gut hook” or “skinning gut hook.” The gut hook includes a hook-shaped, backwardly facing, slot on the back side of the knife blade that has a non-sharpened portion to pull the hide away from the viscera and a sharpened portion to cut the hide. The hook is pushed through the layer to be cut and drawn toward the user doing the cutting so that the hide or meat is cut by the sharpened interior of the slot. 
     In medicine, hunting, and many other pursuits, convenient storage and storage space are other important concerns for any tools that are used to carry out the pursuit. Multi-tools and folding knives, saws and other implements have been developed in an attempt to address this concern. For blades including a partially sharpened hook, the extending hook portion of the blade can be inconvenient to sheath, store, or fold. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a foldable cutting implement that can be safely and conveniently stored. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one or more embodiments a system of foldable shears is provided, comprising a first blade having a first sharp side and a first blunt side, the first blade coupled to a first handle about a hinge, the first handle having a first inner face, a first outer face, a first inner length and a first outer length. A second blade coupled to a second handle via the hinge, the second handle having a second outer face, a second inner face, a second inner length, and a second outer length. A recess on the first blunt side forming a backward facing hook. The first blade and the second blade are configured to fold about the hinge to substantially overlap with the first handle and the second handle such that the first inner length is adjacent to the second inner length and the first outer length is adjacent to the second outer length. The first blunt side of the first blade substantially aligns with the second inner length of the second handle when the shears are folded. The second inner length defines a plane, and the hook does not extend beyond the plane when the shears are folded. 
     The second handle further comprises a first projection extending inwardly from the second handle and wherein the first projection resides at least partially in the recess when the shears are folded. The first blade comprises a first blade stop, the second blade comprises a second blade stop, the first inner face comprises a spring biased first blade lock and the second handle comprises a spring biased second blade lock, wherein the first blade lock contacts the first blade stop to prevent the first blade from rotating past a desired point relative to the first handle and wherein the second blade lock contacts the second blade stop to prevent the second blade from rotating past a desired point relative to the second handle. The first blunt side is at least partially serrated. The first blade comprises a first cavity and the second blade comprises a correspondingly shaped second cavity configured to operate as an oxygen wrench. The at least one of the handles comprises a hex tool insert. A portion of the second handle is a spring latch to allow the second handle to operate as a carabiner. The first handle and the second handle comprise an angle change for improved ergonomics. 
     A system of foldable shears, comprising a first blade having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, the first blade coupled to a first handle about a hinge, the first handle having a first inner face, a first outer face, a first inner length and a first outer length. A second blade having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, the second blade coupled to a second handle via the hinge, the second handle having a second outer face, a second inner face, a second inner length, and a second outer length. A recess on the first blade forming a backward facing hook. The first blade and the second blade are configured to fold about the hinge to substantially overlap with the first handle and the second handle such that the first inner length is adjacent to the second inner length and the first outer length is adjacent to the second outer length. The first inner face comprises a first prong configured to reside within a first groove in the first outer surface limiting the range of rotation of the first handle relative to the first blade. The second inner surface comprises a second prong configured to reside within a second groove on the first inner surface limiting the range of rotation of the second blade relative to the first blade. The second inner face comprises a third prong configured to reside within a third groove on the second outer surface limiting the range of rotation of the second handle relative to the second blade. The second inner length defines a plane and the hook does not extend beyond the plane when the shears are folded. 
     A method of assembling foldable shears can comprise providing a first handle having a first prong and a first recess accommodating a first inner face, a first blade having an outer surface with first groove and an inner surface with a second groove, a second blade having an inner surface with a prong and an outer surface with a third groove, and a second handle have a prong and a second recess accommodating a second inner face. Assembling the first handle, first blade, second blade and second handle about a hinge pin such that the first prong resides in the first groove, the second prong resides in the second groove, and the third prong resides in the third groove. The first blade comprises a first blade stop, the second blade comprises a second blade stop, the first inner face comprises a spring biased first blade lock and the second handle comprises a spring biased second blade lock, and wherein the first handle, first blade, second blade, and second handle are assembled such the first blade lock contacts the first blade stop and the second blade lock contacts the second blade stop to prevent rotation of the first blade relative to the first handle and the second blade relative to the second handle. 
     The first blade further comprises a backward facing hook and the second handle comprises an inward facing projection and wherein the method further comprises assembling the first handle, first blade, second blade and second handle about the hinge pin such that the inward facing projection resides in the hook. The first handle can comprise a first inner face, a first outer face, a first inner length and a first outer length, the second handle comprises a second outer face, a second inner face, a second inner length, and a second outer length, wherein the second inner length defines a plane, the method further comprising assembling the first handle, first blade, second blade and second handle about the hinge pin such that the hook does not extend beyond the plane when the shears are folded. 
     Aspects and applications of the invention presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description of the invention. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the. Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventor&#39;s intent and desire that the simple, plain, and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims. 
     The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above. 
     Further, the inventors are fully informed of the standards and application of the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). Thus, the use of the words “function,” “means” or “step” in the Detailed Description or Description of the Drawings or claims is not intended to somehow indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically and expressly state the exact phrases “means for” or “step for” and will also recite the word “function” (i.e., will state “means for performing the function of . . . , without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function. Thus, even when the claims recite a “means for performing the function of molding a . . . , step for performing the function of molding a . . . ,” if the claims also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means or step, or that perform the recited function, then it is the clear intention of the inventors not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are invoked to define the claimed inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function as described in alternative embodiments or forms of the invention, or that are well known present or later-developed, equivalent structures, material or acts for performing the claimed function. 
     Additional features and advantages of the present specification will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present specification will become better understood in light of the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one, or more embodiments in the unfolded, open position; 
         FIG. 2  is a front isometric view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one, or more embodiments in the unfolded closed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear isometric view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one, or more embodiments in the unfolded, closed position; 
         FIG. 4 a    is an exploded view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 4 b    is an exploded view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 4 c    is an exploded view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 4 d    is an exploded view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one or more embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  is a top sequential view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one or more embodiments; and 
         FIG. 6  is a front isometric view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one, or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one, or more embodiments in the unfolded, open position; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one, or more embodiments in the unfolded closed position; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one, or more embodiments in the folded position; and 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
     
    
    
     Elements and acts in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence or embodiment. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, and for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the invention. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant arts, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, known structures and devices are shown or discussed more generally to avoid obscuring the invention. In many cases, a description of the operation is sufficient to enable one to implement the various forms of the invention, particularly when the operation is to be implemented in software. It should be noted that there are many different and alternative configurations, devices and technologies to which the disclosed inventions may be applied. The full scope of the inventions is not limited to the examples that are described below. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , a set of folding shears  10  is provided having a first blade  12  and a second blade  22  coupled to a first handle  14  and a second handle  24  at a hinge  20 . The first blade  12  has a first substantially sharpened side  16  and a first substantially blunt side  18  and the second blade  22  has a second sharpened side  26  and second blunt side  28 . The blunt sides  18 ,  28  may include some sharpened portion such as a partially or fully sharpened hook  30  or serrations (not shown). In one embodiment, the first blade  12  has a backward facing hook  30  that has a sharpened crook  32  and a blunted extension  34  and in other embodiments the backward facing hook  30  can be omitted from the first blade  12 . 
     In one embodiment the hook  30  is formed on the first blunt side  18  of the shears  10 . A recess  35  is formed from a portion of the first blunt side  18  by an angled portion  36  from the first blunt side  18 . The recess  35  then has a looped portion  37  that loops around and then meets the blunted extension  34  that comes to a point  38  of the hook  30  that is in line with the rest of the first blunt side  18 . At least a portion of the angled portion  36  and the looped portion  37  is sharpened to allow the hook  30  to cut. The point  38  may be sharp or may be rounded for safety and to avoid having the hook  30  catch on clothing or other objects near the site being cut. 
     When the handles  14 ,  24  are closed together, the blades  12 ,  22  of the folding shears  10  are also closed together and can be partially overlapping. When the handles  14 ,  24  are moved away from each other, the blades  12 ,  22  of the shears  10  similarly move away from each other rotating about a hinge  20 . Referring specifically to  FIG. 1 , the folding shears  10  are shown in the open position and referring specifically to  FIG. 2  the folding shears are shown in the closed position. When the first handle  14  is moved in an upward direction, the connection at the hinge  20  enables the first blade  12  to move in the downward direction, away from the second blade  22 . Similarly, moving the second handle  24  in the downward direction, the connection at the hinge  20  enables the second blade  22  in the upward direction away from the first blade  12 . The second handle  24  may have a stop  31  extending inwardly from the second handle. 
     The first handle has a first outer face  102 , a first inner face  104 , a first interior length  106 , and a first exterior length  108 . Similarly, the second handle has a second outer face  202 , a second inner face  204 , a second interior length  206 , and a second exterior length  208 . 
     The first handle  14  may be shaped to include a first hole  13  to accommodate a user&#39;s thumb while the second handle  24  is configured include a second hole  23  to accommodate a plurality of a user&#39;s fingers, or vice versa. Alternatively, both handles  14 ,  24  may be uniformly shaped to accommodate either a thumb or a plurality of a user&#39;s fingers. The handles  14 ,  24  may extend straight from the blades  12 ,  22 , or may include an angle change  11 , at the hinge  20  for improved ergonomics. As shown most clearly in  FIG. 6 , the shears  10  have essentially four adjacent planes, with the handles  14 ,  24  residing in the two outer planes and the blades  12 ,  22  in the two inner planes. The plane of the first handle  14  is adjacent to the plane of the first blade  12 , and the plane of the second handle  24  is adjacent to the plane of the second blade  22 . The planes of the blades  12 ,  22  are adjacent to each other. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 b   , the first blade  12  has a first blade stop  15  coupled to the first blade  12  and a second blade stop  25  coupled to the second blade  22 . A first blade lock  17  is situated on the first inner face  104  and spring biased inwardly away from the first handle  14 . The first blade stop  15  comes into contact against the first blade lock  17 , preventing the first blade  12  from pivoting past a certain point defined by the location of the first blade stop  15  and the first blade lock  17 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , a second blade lock  27  is situated on the second inner face  52  and spring biased inwardly away from the second handle  24 . The second blade stop  25  comes into contact against the second blade lock  27 , preventing the second blade  22  from pivoting past a certain point defined by the location of the second blade stop  25  and the second blade lock  27 . 
     The first blade  12  and the second blade  22  can comprise a first cutout  33  located in the substantially the same position on the first blade and the second blade. Alternatively, or additionally, a first handle cutout  47  may be included in the first handle  14  or the second handle  24 . The first cutout  33  or first handle cutout  47  can be used as a wrench to open and close oxygen tanks, or other objects that require use of a wrench. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 a -4 d   , the first blade  12  can further comprise a first groove  45  on the outer side of the first blade  12  and a second groove  55  on the inner side of the first blade  12 . The depth of the grooves  45 ,  55  can be about half of the thickness of the first blade  12 . In a particular embodiment, the first groove  45  and the second groove  55  substantially overlap, forming a cavity through the entire thickness of the first blade  12 . The first inner face  104  can comprise a first prong  40  configured to reside in the first groove  45 . The first prong  40  can rotate within the first groove&#39;s path limiting the rotation of the first handle  14  relative to the first blade  12 . 
     The second blade  22  can comprise a second prong  50  configured to reside in the second groove  55 . The second prong  50  can rotate within the second groove&#39;s path limiting the rotation of the second blade  22  relative to the first blade  12 . The second blade  22  can further comprise a third groove  65  and the second inner face  204  can comprise a third prong  60  that can rotate within the third groove  65  limiting the rotation of the second blade relative to the second handle  24 . 
     The first blade  12  and the first handle  14  can move and lock into position independently from the second blade  22  and the second handle  24 . The second blade stop  25  can comprise a blunt end  80  for breaking glass or the like. The first handle  14  can further comprise a first inner ring  63  and the second handle can comprise a second inner ring  73  wherein the inner rings can be a rubber, plastic, or the like material to provide comfort to the user&#39;s fingers while in use. In other embodiments, the second blade  22  can have two grooves that interact with each other as described above with the first blade&#39;s first groove  45  and second groove  55  and the first blade can have one groove. 
     In some embodiments the first inner face  104  can further comprise a first window  67  for the first blade lock  17  and the second inner face can comprise a second window  69  for the second blade lock  27 . The first handle  14  can have a first recess  58  to which the first inner face  104  can be connected, attached, or pressed, retaining the first inner face within the first handle. The second handle  24  can have a second recess  71  to which the second inner face  52  can be connected, attached, or pressed, capturing the first inner face within the second handle. In other embodiments the first handle  12  and the first inner face  104  can be one piece or multiple pieces and the second handle  14  and the second inner face  52  can be one piece or multiple pieces. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , to fold the shears, the second blade lock  27  is depressed allowing the second blade stop  25  to pass over the second blade lock  27  and rotate in a downward direction as shown in  FIG. 5 b   . The first blade lock  17  may then be depressed allowing the first blade stop  15  to pass over the first blade lock  17  and rotate in an upward direction as shown in  FIG. 5   d.    
     The shears  10  are in the fully folded position when the stop  31  resides at least partially within the recess  35 . In a particular embodiment, the stop  31  substantially fills the portion of the first blunt edge  18  that is recessed such that the first blunt edge  18  and the stop  31  form a substantially complete straight line as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-10 , a portion of the second handle  24  defining the second hole  23  may be replaced with a spring latch  82  allowing the second hole  23  to operate as a carabiner. A pocket clip  84  may be coupled to one of the handles  14 ,  24  and one of the handles  14 ,  24  may also include a hex tool insert  86 . The first blade  12  has a first blade stop  115  and the second blade  22  has a second blade stop  125 . The first blade lock  17  is situated on the first inner face  104  and spring biased inwardly away from the first handle  14  and a portion of the first blade lock  17  fits into the first blade stop  115  when the shears  10  are unfolded, locking the first blade  12  in position relative to the first handle  14 . A second blade lock  27  is situated on the second inner face  52  and spring biased inwardly away from the second handle  24 . A portion of the second blade lock  27  fits into the second blade stop  125  when the shears  10  are unfolded, locking the second blade  22  in position relative to the second handle  24 . 
     A method of assembling foldable shears, the method comprising providing a first handle having a first prong and a first recess accommodating a first inner face, a first blade having an outer surface with first groove and an inner surface with a second groove, a second blade having an inner surface with a prong and an outer surface with a third groove, and a second handle have a prong and a second recess accommodating a second inner face. Assembling the first handle, first blade, second blade and second handle about a hinge pin such that the first prong resides in the first groove, the second prong resides in the second groove, and the third prong resides in the third groove. The first blade comprises a first blade stop, the second blade comprises a second blade stop, the first inner face comprises a spring biased first blade lock and the second handle comprises a spring biased second blade lock, and wherein the first handle, first blade, second blade, and second handle are assembled such the first blade lock contacts the first blade stop and the second blade lock contacts the second blade stop to prevent rotation of the first blade relative to the first handle and the second blade relative to the second handle. 
     The first blade further comprises a backward facing hook and the second handle comprises an inward facing projection and wherein the method further comprises assembling the first handle, first blade, second blade and second handle about the hinge pin such that the inward facing projection resides in the hook. The first handle can comprise a first inner face, a first outer face, a first inner length and a first outer length, the second handle comprises a second outer face, a second inner face, a second inner length, and a second outer length, wherein the second inner length defines a plane, the method further comprising assembling the first handle, first blade, second blade and second handle about the hinge pin such that the hook does not extend beyond the plane when the shears are folded. 
     In closing, it is to be understood that although aspects of the present specification are highlighted by referring to specific embodiments, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these disclosed embodiments are only illustrative of the principles of the subject matter disclosed herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the disclosed subject matter is in no way limited to a particular methodology, protocol, and/or reagent, etc., described herein. As such, various modifications or changes to or alternative configurations of the disclosed subject matter can be made in accordance with the teachings herein without departing from the spirit of the present specification. For example and not by way of limitation, the hook  30  may be present in the first blade  12  or the second blade  22  without materially departing from the principles of the subject matter of the invention. Lastly, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined solely by the claims. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to those precisely as shown and described. 
     Certain embodiments are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the methods and devices described herein. Of course, variations on these described embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described embodiments in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.