Patent Publication Number: US-2021187764-A1

Title: Nipper

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 62/952,851, filed Dec. 23, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to fishing equipment, and more particularly to a nipper for cutting fishing line. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When fishing, people commonly encounter a need to cut fishing line. For example, after a fishing line is tied in a knot to secure the fishing line to a hook or lure, excess fishing line is typically removed by cutting the fishing line adjacent the knot. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a nipper scissors usable by a person for cutting a fishing line comprises a first jaw including a first cutting edge and a first jaw pivot hub. The first cutting edge extends forward of the first jaw pivot hub. The first jaw pivot hub includes first jaw keying structure. The nipper scissors comprises a first lever including a first lever pivot hub and a first arm. The first arm extends rearward of the first lever pivot hub. The first lever pivot hub includes first lever keying structure. The first lever keying structure is mated with the first jaw keying structure to form a first keyed connection between the first lever pivot hub and the first jaw pivot hub. A second jaw includes a second cutting edge and a second jaw pivot hub. The second cutting edge extends forward of the second jaw pivot hub. The second jaw pivot hub includes second jaw keying structure. A second lever includes a second lever pivot hub and a second arm. The second arm extends rearward of the second lever pivot hub. The second lever pivot hub includes second lever keying structure. The second lever keying structure is mated with the second jaw keying structure to form a second keyed connection between the second lever pivot hub and the second jaw pivot hub. A fastener pivotably connects the first jaw hub to the second jaw hub and defines a pivot axis about which the first and second cutting edges are pivotable upward and downward with respect to each other for moving the cutting edges toward each other to a closed arrangement and away from each other to an open arrangement. The first and second cutting edges extend forward of the pivot axis, and the first and second arms extend rearward of the pivot axis. The first keyed connection connects the first cutting edge and the first arm for conjoint pivoting of the first cutting edge and the first arm about the pivot axis in which downward pivoting of the first arm causes upward pivoting of the first cutting edge. The second keyed connection connects the second cutting edge and the second arm for conjoint pivoting of the second cutting edge with the second arm about the pivot axis in which upward pivoting of the second arm causes downward pivoting of the second cutting edge. The first and second cutting edges are biased away from each other toward the open arrangement. The first arm includes a first finger bed facing upward and the second arm includes a second finger bed facing downward. The first finger bed is sized and shaped for receiving a first fingertip of the person. The second finger bed is sized and shaped for receiving a second fingertip of the person. The first finger bed is arranged with respect to the second finger bed to permit the person to pinch the first and second finger beds toward each other between the first and second fingertips to move the cutting edges from the open arrangement to the closed arrangement. 
     In another aspect, a nipper scissors usable by a person for cutting a fishing line comprises first and second blades. The first blade includes a first cutting edge. The second blade includes a second cutting edge. The second blade is pivotable toward the first jaw to move the second cutting edge toward the first cutting edge. The nipper scissors includes a first lever connected to the first blade. A second lever is connected to the second blade. The second lever is pivotable toward the second lever to pivot the second blade toward the first blade. A poker is connected to the first lever. The poker has a pointed free end configured to remove paint from an eyelet of a hook. The poker is shielded by first and second guards alongside the poker on opposite sides of the poker. The poker and guards are pivotable with respect to the first lever between a stowed position and a deployed position. 
     Other objects and features of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective of a nipper of the present disclosure in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the nipper; 
         FIG. 3  is a section of the nipper taken in a plane including line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a section of the nipper taken in a plane including line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective of the nipper; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective of a second lever, a second jaw, and a second fastener portion of the nipper; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom exploded perspective of a first lever, a first jaw, and a first fastener portion of the nipper; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective of a retainer of the nipper. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a nipper of the present disclosure is indicated by  10 . In one example, the nipper may be used for cutting fishing line. 
     The nipper  10  includes a pair of jaws  12 A,  12 B and a pair of levers  14 A,  14 B connected to the jaws for moving the jaws to cut an object between the jaws. The jaws  12 A,  12 B and levers  14 A,  14 B are pivotable about a pivot connection (defining pivot axis PA) including a fastener  16  connecting the jaws and levers. The jaws  12 A,  12 B extend forward from the pivot connection, and the levers  14 A,  14 B extend rearward from the pivot connection. 
     The jaws  12 A,  12 B include pivot hubs  20  and blades  22  extending from the pivot hubs. The blades  22  include cutting edges  22 A movable upward and downward and arranged for cutting in a scissors motion responsive to upward and downward pivoting of the levers  14 A,  14 B. The cutting edges  22 A extend forward of the respective pivot hubs  20  and forward of the pivot axis PA. The blades  22  are arranged to bypass each other and move between open and closed positions in opposite opening and closing directions generally parallel to a cutting plane CP ( FIG. 3 ) and generally perpendicular to the pivot axis PA. Desirably, the cutting edges  22 A are less than 1.5 inches long, and more desirably less than 1 inch long (e.g., about 0.5 inch long). The jaw pivot hubs  20  are on opposite sides of the cutting plane CP and have key openings  20 A for connecting the jaws  12 A,  12 B to the levers  14 A,  14 B. In the illustrated embodiment, the key openings  20 A are generally rectangular and include generally linear edge portions and arcuate edge portions. 
     The levers  14 A,  14 B include arms  30  sized and shaped for reception of fingers of a user to actuate the jaws  12 A,  12 B. The arms  30  include proximal ends connected to lever pivot hubs  40 , and include distal ends opposite the proximal ends. The arms  30  are paddle-shaped and have a length L (e.g., desirably less than 2.5 inches, more desirably less than 2 inches) and width W (e.g., desirably less than 2.5 inches, more desirably less than 1.5 inches) greater than the arm thickness T (e.g., desirably less than 1 inch, more desirably less than 0.5 inch). The arms  30  include finger beds  32  having finger press surfaces  32 A that face away from each other (upward and downward) and are sized and shaped to receive a finger to permit a user to press the arms toward each other to close the jaws  12 A,  12 B. In the illustrated embodiment, the finger beds  32  are formed separately from and connected to substructure of the arms  30 . For example, the finger beds  32  can be made of a polymeric material that is softer than and has a greater coefficient of friction than the material of the arm substructure (e.g., aluminum or plastic). The finger press surfaces  32 A of the finger beds  32  are contoured for reception of fingers. For example, the illustrated press surfaces  32 A are concave (broadly, “non-convex”). The press surfaces  32 A extend generally perpendicular to the cutting plane CP and the opening and closing directions of the jaws  12 A,  12 B. The cutting plane CP intersects and generally bisects the press surfaces  32 A. A maximum distance D 1  between the distal ends of the arms (when the cutting edges are in the closed arrangement) is desirably less than four times the thickness T of an arm, and more desirably less than three times the thickness T (e.g., with D 1  measuring less than 2 inches, and more desirably less than 1.5 inches). The finger beds  32  are sized and shaped for receiving opposing fingertips of the person (e.g., thumb and forefinger). The finger beds  32  are sized and configured, and arranged with respect to each other (e.g., spaced from each other in the open arrangement of the cutting edges  22 A), to permit the person to hold the nipper  10  between opposing fingertips and to pinch the first and second finger beds toward each other between their opposing fingertips to move the cutting edges  22 A from the open arrangement to the closed arrangement. Other configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The levers  14 A,  14 B include pivot hubs  40  connected to the arms  30 . The lever pivot hubs  40  are configured for connecting the levers  14 A,  14 B to the jaws  12 A,  12 B. The arms  30  extend rearward of the pivot hubs  40 . The lever pivot hubs  40  include main bodies  40 A and keys  40 B extending inward from the main bodies. In the illustrated embodiment, the keys  40 B comprise protrusions having a generally cylindrical shape having a cross section closely resembling the key openings  20 A of the jaws  12 A,  12 B. In section, the keys  40 B have a generally rectangular shape with generally linear edge portions and arcuate edge portions. The keys  40 B are sized and shaped to closely conform to the key openings  20 A of the jaws  12 A,  12 B for keyed engagement of the keys with the key openings. The keys  40 B and key openings  20 A can be referred to broadly as keying structure. The reception of the keys  40 B in the key openings  20 A mates the respective levers  14 A,  14 B and jaws  12 A,  12 B and causes them to pivot conjointly about the pivot axis PA. The lever pivot hubs  40  are offset to opposite sides of the cutting plane CP. Other configurations (e.g., other types of keying structure) can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The lever pivot hubs  40  have openings permitting the fastener  16  to pass therethrough. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the fastener  16  passes through the keyed connections of the first and second jaws  12 A,  12 B and levers  14 A,  14 B. The fastener  16  includes a first fastener portion  16 A and a second fastener portion  16 B threaded to the first fastener portion. Threading of the fastener portions  16 A,  16 B to each other causes heads of the fastener portions to push the lever pivot hubs  40  toward each other and thus pushes the jaw pivot hubs  20  toward each other. The arrangement is such that the jaw pivot hubs  20  are pressed against each other and are sandwiched by the lever pivot hubs  40 . The keys  40 B of the lever pivot hubs  40  are shorter than the thickness of the jaw pivot hubs  20  such that the lever pivot hubs are spaced from each other and do not obstruct the lever pivot hubs from pressing the jaw pivot hubs against each other. As seen in  FIG. 3 , a gap is present between the lever pivot hubs  40 . 
     The levers  14 A,  14 B are biased away from each other by a spring  50  such that the jaws  12 A,  12 B are normally open. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring  50  comprises a compression spring captured between the first and second arms  30  of the first and second levers  14 A,  14 B. The spring  50  is received over a protrusion  52  on an inner surface of the arm  30  of the first lever  14 A and is received in an opening  54  in the inner surface of the arm of the second lever. The protrusion is defined by a fastener  52  threaded in a threaded opening  56  in the arm  30  of the first lever  14 A. In assembly, the compression spring  50  can be installed between the levers  14 A,  14 B by passing a first end of the spring through the threaded opening  56  and then installing the fastener  52  in the threaded opening. The finger bed  32  can then be installed on the arm substructure to cover the threaded opening  56 . 
     The nipper  10  includes a retainer  60  for maintaining the nipper in a closed configuration in which the jaws  12 A,  12 B are closed and the levers  14 A,  14 B are near each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the retainer  60  comprises a pivotable latch connected to the second lever  14 B by a threaded fastener  64 . An O-ring  66  is captured between the lever  14 B and the latch  60  in an annular recess in the lever to provide frictional resistance to the latch pivoting between latched (retaining) and unlatched (non-retaining) positions. When the levers  14 A,  14 B are pressed toward each other to close the jaws  12 A,  12 B, the latch  60  can be pivoted to the latched position by overcoming the frictional resistance of the O-ring  66  such that a catch  60 A engages a recess  68  in a stud  70  extending from the first lever  14 A. In the latched position, the catch  60 A in the recess  68  prevents the levers  14 A,  14 B from moving away from each other and thus holds the jaws  12 A,  12 B closed. The frictional resistance of the O-ring  66  maintains the latch  60  in the latched position. When a user desires to use the nipper  10  again, the latch  60  can be pivoted against the frictional resistance of the O-ring  66  to the unlatched position, and the user can permit the spring  50  to push the levers  14 A,  14 B away from each other such that the jaws  12 A,  12 B open. The latch  60  includes a pivot guide  60 B in the form of a protrusion (e.g., stud) receivable in an arcuate track  74  in an inner side of the arm  30  of the second lever  14 B. A first closed end of the arcuate track  74  defines the position of the latch  60  in the latched position. A second closed end of the arcuate track  74  defines the deployed position of a poker  80 . 
     The retainer  60  includes a lanyard connector  82  including an opening configured for connecting the nipper to a lanyard (e.g., cord, strap, and/or clip, etc.) for stowing the nipper. The retainer  60  includes the poker  80  having a pointed free end for pushing paint out of an eyelet of a fishing hook to permit fishing line to be threaded through the eyelet. The poker  80  is shielded on opposite sides by first and second guards  81 . The poker  80  can be selectively deployed by pivoting the retainer  60  about the fastener to expose the poker for use. 
     After a user locates an object (e.g., fishing line) to be cut in the jaws  12 A,  12 B, the user can press the levers  14 A,  14 B toward each other to cause conjoint pivoting of the levers and their respective jaws to move the jaws in a cutting motion. The cut free end of fishing line can be threaded through an eyelet fishing hook or lure after using the poker  80  to remove paint from the eyelet, if necessary. 
     To assemble the nipper  10 , the keyed connections of the jaws  12 A,  12 B and levers  14 A,  14 B can be made, the fastener  16  can be passed through the keyed connections to maintain the keyed connections and secure the jaws and levers to each other, the spring  50  can be installed between the levers by passing the spring into the threaded opening  56 , and the spring can be retained between the levers at a desired spring preload by threading the fastener  52  into the threaded opening. The fastener  16  presses the jaws  12 A,  12 B against each other by sandwiching the jaws with the lever pivot hubs  40 . 
     It will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. The dimensions and proportions described herein are by way of example without limitation. Other dimensions and proportions can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.