Abstract:
Multi-purpose shears have a distal end and an opposing proximal end. The shears include a first elongated member having a first shearing end and a first gripping end opposed to the first shearing end. The first gripping end is in contact with a user&#39;s hand. The shears include a second elongated member with a second shearing end and a second gripping end opposed to the second shearing end. The second gripping end is in contact with the user&#39;s hand. The first and second elongated members are coupled to one another by a coupling element at a pivot location, wherein the first and second shearing ends move toward or away from one another in response to actuation by the user. The shears include a bladed tool configured to have an insertion slot that is generally oriented along an axis, wherein the bladed tool includes a blade within the insertion slot.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/029,537, filed Feb. 17, 2011 and entitled, “MULTIPURPOSE SHEARS”, which is a continuation-in-part application of then co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/138,750, filed Jun. 13, 2008 and entitled “MULTIPURPOSE SHEARS”, whereby U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/138,750 claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/937,220, filed on Jun. 26, 2007, and entitled “TRAUMA SHEARS”, all of which are commonly owned. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to shears serving multiple purposes. In particular, the present disclosure relates to shears having an edge tool suitable for use in combat situations, critical care acute medical use or medical traumas requiring the removal of outerwear in a rapid manner. 
         [0003]    Shears are a form of hand-held cutting tool, which are commonly used to cut material, paper, fabric, etc. The shears include a pair of crossing arms or blades that are pivotally mounted. One end of each arm has a shearing edge while the other end typically includes a loop shaped hand grip. The arms are mounted so that the shearing edges face each other inwardly. The pivot forms a fulcrum by which operation of the hand grips leverages the blades to shear the fabric or other materials. 
         [0004]    Trauma shears are used to cut away a person&#39;s clothing to provide access for medical treatment. This tool is typically strong and durable, and is intended to shear through hems, pockets, layered fabric, straps, thick plackets, etc. Although specialization has led to refinement of a strong design capable of cutting a variety of tough materials, it has also limited the scope of applicability of such shears. 
         [0005]    In some cases, for example, the speed of cutting may be more important than the strength of the shearing effect. The repetitive snipping involved in hand shearing can be time consuming. The blades of trauma shears and their strong design may not cut through certain sheet fabrics as quickly as required. The requirement for toughness in some shears may also lead to the use of durable but duller blades, which can be ineffective or inefficient when used to slice fabric. Further, the requirement that the blades of trauma shears be suitable for use adjacent to a person&#39;s skin when underneath clothing means that the blade ends are often short or limited beyond the pivot point. This limited length can further increase the time of cutting. 
         [0006]    One approach to this problem has been for medical personnel to carry or store multiple types of shears, scissors, or knives. Trauma shears may be used for making an initial cut or cutting through seams and thick layers, while a different slicing or cutting tool might be used for cutting sheets of lighter material. Of course, time is lost while one tool is stored or set aside and the other tool is located and applied to the fabric. Some have attempted to solve such a problem by creating multi-function hand tools as may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,049, which is somewhat configured like a modified pocket knife. Even with this approach, medical personnel must still pause from cutting in order to reconfigure the multi-function tool to access a different device. 
         [0007]    Beyond a clear application for use in medical trauma or emergency services, as described above, it is contemplated that a device resolving these problems could have beneficial application for a variety of other activities, such as outdoor sports (e.g., fishing, hunting, climbing, skydiving, etc.), upholstery and other textile work, clothing assembly, crafts, etc. 
         [0008]    Thus, it would be desirable to have multi-purpose shears capable of quickly slicing sheet fabric as well as snipping through tough fabric. Of course, such a design should be safe and carry a low risk of cutting the user or any possible patient. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The present disclosure describes a pair of multi-purpose trauma shears that include structure that enables rapid and effective cutting, shearing and rending of woven fabric. 
         [0010]    In an aspect, multi-purpose shears having a distal end and an opposing proximal end to the user is disclosed. The shears comprise a first elongated member having a first shearing end and a first gripping end opposed to the first shearing end, wherein the first gripping end is configured to be in contact with a user&#39;s hand. The shears include a second elongated member with a second shearing end and a second gripping end that is opposed to the second shearing end. The second gripping end is configured to be in contact with the user&#39;s hand. The first and second elongated members are coupled to one another by a coupling element at a pivot location. Accordingly, the first and second shearing ends move away from one another about the pivot location in response to the user&#39;s hand actuating the first and second gripping ends away from another about the pivot location, and the first and second shearing ends move toward one another about the pivot location in response to the user&#39;s hand actuating the first and second gripping ends toward one another about the pivot location. The shears include a bladed tool that is coupled to the first elongated member at a location between the first shearing end and the first gripping end. The bladed tool is configured to have an insertion slot that is generally oriented along an axis, wherein the bladed tool includes a blade within the insertion slot. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1   a  illustrates a side view of multipurpose shears in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1   b  illustrates a detailed view of the multipurpose shears in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  depict aspects of the multipurpose shears in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts an aspect of the multipurpose shears in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts an aspect of the multipurpose shears in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts an aspect of the multipurpose shears having a detachably mounted housing in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts an aspect of the multipurpose shears with a detachably mounted housing in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7   a  depicts an aspect of the multipurpose shears with a detachably mounted housing in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7   b  depicts a proximal view of the housing of the multipurpose shears in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8   a  depicts a side view of an aspect of the multipurpose shears in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8   b  is a detailed view of an end of the multipurpose shears in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view an aspect of the housing of the multipurpose shears in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10   a  is a view of an aspect of the multipurpose shears with a pivotable U-shaped housing in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10   b  is a view of an aspect of the multipurpose shears with a pivotable U-shaped housing in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11   a  is a view of the multipurpose shears with an inwardly pivotable loop section in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11   b  is an end view of a partial over-molded loop and detachable U-shape housing in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The present disclosure is directed to a pair of multi-purpose shears that have an additional structure to enable a rapid, safe, and effective rending of both sheet fabric and tough or layered fabric. By definition the rending of a fabric is, “to tear or be torn violently” (Wordnetweb/Princeton.edu). “To separate into parts with force or sudden violence; to tear asunder” (1913 Webster/www.Dictionary,net). Clearly rending is without regards to measurements, lines and secondary operations, such as sewing or rejoining the pieces of fabric. 
         [0028]    In reference to  FIGS. 1   a - 8 , shears  100  may be viewed as having a first elongated member  10  or blade and second elongated member  20  or blade. First member  10  includes a first shearing end  11  and first gripping end  12  or handle, while second member includes corresponding second shearing end  21  and second gripping end  22  or handle. 
         [0029]    With initial reference to  FIG. 1   a , for the purposes of this description, the term “distal” or distally refers generally to a direction away or more distant from a user of the shears  100 , while the term “proximal” or proximally refers to a direction toward or more near to a user of the shears  100 , when a user is cutting rending fabric. Thus, the first elongated member  10  with a distal first shearing end  11  and proximal first gripping end  12 , may be distinguished by a first shearing end  11  having a downwardly facing shearing edge  11 E: its first gripping end  12  defines a first loop  12 L adapted to receive one or more fingers. The first shearing edge  11  has a radius about the height of the first elongated member  10  at the first shearing edge  11 , where if the height of the elongated member  10  is about 15 mm then the radius is about 15 mm. Similarly, in asymmetric fashion, second elongated member  20  with a distal second shearing end  21  and a proximal second gripping end  22 , may be distinguished by a second, shearing end  21  having an upwardly facing shearing edge  21 E; its second gripping end  22  defines a second loop  22 L adapted to receive a thumb. The distal second elongated member  21  also includes a lift lip  26  perpendicular and substantially adjacent to the second elongated member  21  on a back edge  21   b  the lift lip  26  may have a band cutter edge  27  that is recessed. Shearing edge  11 E and/or  21 E may have an edge that is either continuous or discontinuous, such as a serrated edge. This configuration supports right handed use; the shears  100  of the present invention should be construed as extended to configurations supporting left handed use as well. 
         [0030]    Elongated members  10 ,  20  are mounted together at pivot  30  to shear or snip fabric. Thus, this pivot  30  is located between the first shearing end  11  and the first gripping end  12  of the first member  10 , and connects the first member  10  to the second member  20  at a corresponding point between the second shearing end  21  and the second gripping end  22  of the second member  20 . Thus, for this embodiment the elongated members  10 ,  20  are pivotally mounted in an adjacent, complementary, and crossing manner so that the first shearing end  11  of first elongated member  10  is capable of pivoting higher than the second shearing end  21  of the second elongated member  20 . Conversely, the first gripping end  12  of the first elongated member  10  is lower than the second gripping end  22  of the second elongated member  20 . The shearing edge  11 E of the first elongated member  10  is adjacent and opposing the shearing edge  21 E of second elongated member  20 , In this way, opening the gripping ends  12 ,  22  relative to each, other opens the shearing ends  11 ,  21  away from each other in an opposing manner and closing the gripping ends  12 ,  22  relative to each other closes the shearing ends  11 ,  21  in an adjacent manner. 
         [0031]    For this embodiment, first elongated member  10  may be considered as an upper member, for convention of reference, to the extent that its first shearing end  11  pivots within an upper relative area; conversely, second elongated, member  20  may be considered a lower member as its second shearing end  21  pivots within a lower relative area. However, the present invention should be construed as also encompassing embodiments in which first and second members  10 ,  20  may rest substantially adjacent to each other when trauma shears are in a fully closed position. Gripping end  12  and gripping end  22  may contact each other in the closed position. Gripping end  12  and  22  may be constructed of a tilled polymer, more specifically a polymer of, but not limited to, polycarbonate, ABS or polypropylene with a fiberglass filler (GF) of 0-15 percent. 
         [0032]    The elongated first and second elongated, members  10 ,  20  may preferably, though not necessarily, be angled obtusely at corresponding points near the pivot  30  to enable operation, of the shears  100  while the second elongated member  20  is proximate to a flat surface, such as a table or the skin of a patient (not shown) for embodiments of shears  100  used as trauma shears. In other words, this allows operation of the shears  100  with the second shearing end  21  of the second elongated member  20  held proximate or against the surface; the second shearing end  21  of lower second elongated member  20  may be slid underneath fabric or clothing while the upper first elongated member  10  is cycled to shear or snip the material or clothing. The second shearing end  21  also has a lift lip  26  that operates in conjunction with the blunt tip  26   a  that curves upward to lift the clothing to minimize impaling of a patient ( FIG. 8   b ). Thus, in some types of operation, the elongated members  10 ,  20  form a mouth that can open and close by motion of the upper first elongated member  10  relative to second elongated member  20 . An effective angle for embodiments of shears  100  as trauma shears is 150 degrees. However, a wide variety of obtuse angles may be used, taking into consideration the application, desired leverage, wrist angle, freedom of movement relative to any surface, and freedom of operation, 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 1   a , optionally the second shearing end  21  of the lower second elongated member  20  may have a blunt tip, and also optionally may include a lift lip  26  that can be used to lift material or clothing into the mouth of the shears  100  formed by the distal shearing ends  11 ,  21 , For embodiments of shears  100  used in trauma, bluntness may prevent inadvertent scratching or puncturing of a patient. The lift lip  26  may optionally include a recessed cutting edge  27  that may be used in a pulling fashion to remove or cut strings, threads, or thin hospital-type identification bands. 
         [0034]    As may be seen in  FIG. 1   a , one or both of the distal shearing ends  11 ,  21  may be serrated to improve the grip on material or cloth during snipping. Given the value of such shears  100  during trauma or medical response, preferably such embodiments of shears  100  may be manufactured from durable and high quality materials, such as stainless steel, high carbon steel, ceramic, titanium or other composite material or coating at least for the distal shearing ends  11 ,  21 . 
         [0035]    As noted above, the shears  100  of the present invention may be adapted for use with, either the right or the left hand, as may be desired. Such adaptation from a right hand to the left generally involves a shift of asymmetric features to accommodate the thumb and fingers of the left hand. 
         [0036]    Another aspect is a generally U-shaped housing  40  positioned on one of gripping ends  12 ,  22 , at the point taming loops  12 L or  22 L.  FIGS. 1   a - 11   b  depicts a variety of embodiments. With reference to  FIG. 1   a , U-shaped housing  40  defines an insertion slot  46  defining an opening  47  at one end and at least one blade  45  having a cutting edge  45 E mounted, within U-shaped housing  40 . The at least one blade  45  is positioned within the U-shaped housing  40  so as to present a cutting edge  45 E obliquely to the insertion slot  46 , so as to cut or slice material inserted into the insertion slot  46 . The insertion slot  46  is generally configured in a direction that permits ergonomic handling of the shears  100  for both snipping (i.e., using distal shearing ends  11 ,  21 ) and for rending of fabric (i.e., using blade  45 ). For example, one embodiment of the shears  100  presents opening  47  facing in the proximal direction, relative to the first and second elongated members  10 ,  20 , so that an operator may snip in one direction and rend in the reverse direction. Thus, the insertion slot  46  can be oriented substantially tangentially to the longitudinal axis  38  of loops  12 L or  22 L, as applicable. The U-shaped member  40  is shaped to provide a percussive surface  39  substantially opposite the opening of the insertion slot  47  for testing hypo or hyper resonance of the abdominal or chest cavities or for neurological testing as a reflex hammer when used in conjunction with the user grasping the shears  100  in a closed position, positioning a finger on the lifting lip  26  of the elongate members  21 ,  11  and pivotably moving the loops  22 L,  12 L and U-shaped housing  40  in a lateral motion such that the U-shaped housing  40  percussive surface  39  strikes the area to be percussed and/or the deep tendon area. The percussive surface  39  is about 6 mm to about 10 mm thick. 
         [0037]    The U-shaped housing  40  may be positioned relative to a respective one of the gripping ends  12 ,  22 . so as to orient the insertion slot  46  at an angle ranging anywhere from parallel with the mounting gripping end  12  or  22 , with the opening  47  facing in the distal direction, to perpendicular with the mounting gripping end  12  or  22  with the opening  47  facing downwardly. Preferably, though not necessarily, for embodiments of shears  100  used as trauma shears, U-shaped housing  40  is mounted on first gripping end  12  and may be rotated around the longitudinal axis  38  of loop  12 L at a desired rotational position from about 0 degrees+/−45 degrees. In another example, the U-shaped housing  40  may be positioned relative to the mounting gripping end  12  or  22  so as to orient the insertion slot  46  at an angle ranging from parallel with the shearing ends  11  or  21  with the opening  47  racing in the proximal direction to perpendicular with the mounting gripping end  12  or  22  with the opening  47  facing upwardly.  FIG. 1   a  depicts shears  100  with U-shaped housing  40  mounted on first gripping end  12  at first loop  12 L, with opening  47  facing proximally and. insertion slot  46  somewhat parallel to first gripping end  12 . For embodiments of shears  100  used as trauma shears, the Applicant has discovered this configuration to be effective, easy to use, and quick to operate. Shears  100  may also include either gripping members  12 L and  22 L including the U-shaped member  40  and at least one blade  45  molded as a continuous, single piece construction. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1   b  is an end view of the U-shaped housing  40  showing a longitudinal split that defines a loop section  40 A and a detachable section  40 B. Loop section  40 A is an integral part of grip  12 ,  22 . Detachable section  40 B allows for access to the blade(s)  45  for replacement. Also shown is a widened percussive surface  39 . Detachable section  40 B when properly oriented is removably secured to loop section  40 A by one or more fasteners. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  depict shears  100  with the orientation of U-shaped housing  40  reversed so that opening  47  faces distally. In  FIG. 2   a , U-shaped housing  40  is positioned on second loop  22 L of elongated member  20 .  FIG. 2   b  depicts U-shaped housing  40  positioned on first loop  12 L of elongated member  10 .  FIG. 3  depicts shears  100  with a different orientation such that opening  47  facing downwardly which, similarly, could be reversed such that opening  47  would face upwardly (not shown). Optionally, as also shown in  FIG. 3 , is an embodiment of shears  100  in which positioned within U-shaped housing  40  is at least one blade  45  comprising two blades  45 . Such an embodiment provides enhanced cutting or slicing effect.  FIG. 4  depicts an embodiment of shears  100  in which U-shaped housing  40  is mounted on first gripping end  12  in a manner so that insertion slot  46  is somewhat parallel to first gripping end  12 , but configured differently from the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0040]    Previous figures nave shown U-shaped housing  40  integrated into one of first and second loop  12 L or  22 L. Optionally, as shown, in  FIG. 5 , the U-shaped housing  40  may be mounted detachably or removably on one of mounting gripping ends  12  or  22  to enable removal of the U-shaped housing  40 ; in some embodiments, this may enable replacement of the at least one blade  45  positioned within the U-shaped housing  40 , or complete replacement of U-shaped housing  40 . In this embodiment, shears  100  are shown with first gripping end  12  having receiving structure  12 R. with outwardly directed receiving surfaces  12 S and replaceable U-shaped housing  40  having projecting connecting surfaces  40 C that detachably mate with receiving surfaces  12 S of receiving structure  12 R. Conversely, receiving structure  12 R might have inwardly projecting surfaces  12 S (not shown) and U-shaped housing  40  might have inwardly directed connecting surfaces  40 C for mating. 
         [0041]    Other detachable structures may be appropriate for other embodiments of shears  100 . For example, shears  100  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7   a  employ housing fasteners  49  for mounting a longitudinally split U-shaped housing  40  (i.e., split into two pieces such as loop section  40 A and detachable section  40 B as shown in the proximal, view of  FIG. 7   b ) onto first loop  12 L of first gripping end  12 . In this ease, U-shaped housing  40  may be adapted to surround a portion of the first loop  12 L. Optionally, such a longitudinally split configuration of U-shaped housing  40  enables the definition of storage compartment  41  within U-shaped housing  40 , which may be accessed, by removal of housing fasteners  49 . Optionally, blades  45  may be removably positioned within U-shaped housing  40 , and. such storage could be used to store replacement blades  45 , Another aspect of the present Invention is directed to a retrofit longitudinally split U-shaped housing  40  containing at least one blade  45 , which may be detachably positioned parallel to the loop  12  or rotated about +/−45 degrees (not shown) around the longitudinal axis of loop  12  or mounted onto one of loops  12 L or  22 L of conventional shears to norm shears  100 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 8   a  shows an alternative embodiment in which U-shaped housing  40  is integrated into first bop  12 L, but that such first loop  12 L is similarly longitudinally split, i.e., into two pieces (not shown), and may be fastened to or removed from corresponding first gripping end  12  of elongated member  10  by member fasteners  19 , With first loop  12 L, longitudinally split, U-shaped housing  40  is also longitudinally split, so that removal of member fasteners  19  and housing fasteners  49  enables removal of first loop  12 L from first gripping end  12  of elongated member  10 , and separation of the pieces (not shown) of first loop  12 L. Similarly, such a configuration may be adapted for use with, second loop  22 L and second gripping end  22 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  is an isometric of an embodiment of the U-shaped housing  40 . The U-shaped housing may be constructed of a filled polymer, more specifically a polymer of but not limited to, polycarbonate, ABS or polypropylene with a fiberglass filler (GF) of 0-15 percent and may be pigmented or colored, with a fluorescent or low light pigment or coloring technique. Shown is the U-shaped housing  40  with an opening  47  for the insertion slot  46 . Within the insertion slot are at least one blade  45  (two shown). The blade(s)  45  are loop section  40 A and detachable section  40 B where the detachable section  40 B is separable in a similar manner as from the loop section  40 A. When loop section  40 A and detachable section  40 B are fastened together by the bottom fastener(s)  49 , the percussive surface  39  is at a desired thickness. The U-shaped member  40  is then placed against the outside of loop  12 L or  22 L. (not shown) where U-clip  40 C is placed, from the inner loop  12 L,  22 L over and surrounding the loop  12 L,  22 L, surface and over the U-shaped housing  40  until the top fastener(s)  49  secure the U-clip  40 C and encapsulate the loop  12 L,  22 L in channel  40 D. In this manner multi trauma shears  100  may be formed by U-shaped housing  40  fastened to U-clip  40 C such that loop  12 L or  22 L is releasably captured or encapsulated within the U-shaped housing  40  and U-clip  40 C. 
         [0044]      FIG. 10   a  shows another embodiment as a pivotable U-shaped housing  1040 . The pivotable U-shaped housing  1040  is pivotably connected to the pivotable first gripping end  1012  at a distal point on pivotable first loop  1012 L, The pivot assembly  1002  is shown using a hinge pin  1005  and a series of hinge ears  1010  where the hinge ears interleaf with a hinge ear  1011  that is integral with the first gripping end  1012 , A releasable latch  1017  secures the pivotable U-shaped housing  1040  at the proximal end of the pivotable first loop  1012 L enclosing the pivotable first loop  1012 L.  FIG. 10   b  shows the pivotable U-shaped housing  1040  released in a lateral direction to the first gripping end  1012  opening pivotable first loop  1012 L. Lateral release of the latch  1017  of the pivotable U-shaped housing  1040  provides access to the Inner portion of pivotable first loop  1012 L for removably securing the pivotable multipurpose trauma shears  1000  on a loop, belt, rope, cable or hook or other object without limiting the available area within the pivotable first loop  1012 L or compromising the functionality of the pivotable U-shaped housing  1040  for rending fabric. 
         [0045]      FIG. 11   a  shows an embodiment for a second loop  1122 L with a perpendicular or lateral inwardly or outwardly pivotable loop section  1105 , Hinge assembly  1110  may be attached at a distal point or a proximal point on the pivotable second loop  1122 L and allows for rotation in either lateral direction from the second loop  1012 L. Multipurpose trauma shears  100  may also include the first gripping end  12 L as a separate construction attached to the first elongate member  10  including a loop section  40 A which is shown in  FIG. 11   b  as including a portion of the U-shaped member  40  and a substantial portion of first loop  12 L. Detachable section  40 B is removably secured to loop section  40 A and contains at least one blade  45  and is molded as a continuous, single piece detachable construction. 
         [0046]      FIG. 11   b  is an end view of the U-shaped housing  40  showing a longitudinal split that defines a loop section  40 A and a detachable section  40 B. Loop section  40 A is an integral part of first loop  12 L. Detachable section  40 B allows for access to the blade(s)  45  for replacement. Detachable section  40 B when properly oriented is removably secured to loop section  40 A by one or more fasteners  49 . 
         [0047]    The above examples should be considered to be exemplary embodiments, and are in no way limiting of the present invention. Thus, while the description above refers to particular embodiments, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.