Patent Description:
A second aspect of the invention, according to claim <NUM>, concerns to a cutting-wheel handle holder comprising the cutting tool of the first aspect of the invention.

A third aspect of the invention, according to claim <NUM>, concerns to a cutting assembly comprising the cutting tool of the first aspect and the cutting-wheel handle holder of the second aspect of the invention.

A fourth aspect of the invention, according to claim <NUM>, concerns to a ceramic cutting device comprising the cutting assembly of the third aspect of the invention.

Manual ceramic cutting devices are generally constructed from a base for accurate positioning of a ceramic piece to be cut, where width and length can be adjusted on that base, and comprises a double rail or parallel longitudinal bars that allow the guided displacement of a pivoting head containing a tool-holder which holds a cutting tool, also with an adjustable positioning, which comprises a handle and a cutting-wheel mounted at an end thereof and made of a hard metal.

Such manual devices, unlike electrical devices, do not produce the section of the ceramic piece, but produces only a cutting line or cutting groove of little deepness, similarly to glass cutting, in which the operator needs to apply a breaking effort in order to separate the desired portions, well over the cutting groove that prevents the appearance of chips in the surface of the ceramic piece edges.

The cutting technique requires the operator to determine the Cartesian lines he/she wants to follow to cut, and define these values in synchrony with the position of the cutting-wheel, and sliding it with a certain pressure along the entire length of the cutting line.

To that end, it is necessary that the pivoting head that holds the cutting-wheel assembly, be able to tilt to such a degree, in both directions, such that the cutting-wheel handle can be moved within a through hole of the holder in both directions with the purpose of not touching the ceramic piece, for the introducing/retrieval operation, or to approximate to the ceramic piece for the cutting operation.

The manual cutting devices for ceramic materials, such as tiles and floors, using a carbide cutting wheel, present some drawbacks as to the correct positioning of the cutting-wheel and thus of the cutting-wheel handle.

Some of the cutting elements of the prior art comprise a ceramic cutting tool with a semi-cylindrical handle, whereas along its length has a flat chamfered face and below the cutting-wheel, the handle being inserted and adjusted in its height in the through hole of the handle holder. The positioning of said handle to the handle holder is not very easy and quick, since once introduced in the through hole it must be rotated until the chamfered face faces the threaded end of the actuating lever of the ceramic cutting device, and, even more important, the fixation of the handle to the handle holder is not very firm, because the circular external face thereof can slide along the internal face of the through hole of the holder, even if the threaded end of the actuating lever is firmly pressing the chamfered face of the handle, as the force exerted during the cutting operation is of a very high magnitude and, with use, causes an axial deviation of the handle thus causing a lack of parallelism between the rotation plane and the cutting line.

That lack of parallelism compromises the cutting efficiency as can chip the breaking surface and also shorten the life of the cutting element, noting that the cost of ceramic coating is very high. The shortening of the useful life of the cutting element is not either a desirable factor, since such cutting devices have a substantial cost.

The preamble of claim <NUM> and claim <NUM> is shown in <CIT>.

Other cutting devices are known from <CIT> or <CIT>.

Different profiles for the cutting-wheel handle have been disclosed in some patent document, which could provide respective partial solutions to the above mentioned problems is provided.

One of said handle profiles is disclosed in <CIT>, where the profile is still semi-cylindrical with a chamfered face, but with three longitudinally extending rebates extending over substantially the entire length of handle, which purpose is that of reducing a frequency of vibration during scoring of the ceramic piece. Although, said handle profile, when the handle is inserted in a through hole with a matching inner profile, improves the above mentioned positioning and fixation of the handle, the mechanical stress distribution through the three rebates and through the three corresponding matching rebates of the handle holder through hole makes that, with use, some wearing is produced causing some gaps between the handle external faces and the through hole internal faces, which causes the above cited axial deviation of the handle and, thus the lack of parallelism between the rotation plane and the cutting line.

Therefore, the geometry for the handle proposed in <CIT> is not very suitable for overcoming the above mentioned problems, surely because that was not the intention of the inventors of said handle, as the real intention was to reduce a frequency of vibration during scoring.

A different cutting-wheel handle profile is shown in European Community Design EM700000002200105-<NUM> and in Mexican design MX702013000002715-<NUM>, the latter claiming priority form the former. Said handle profile is an orthogonal profile having one longitudinal rebate extending over the length of handle and arranged at one of the eight faces of the profile, particularly on a face which is in a plane orthogonal to the rotation plane of the cutting wheel.

Two of the flat faces of the profile shown in said designs are parallel to each other and to the rotation plane of the cutting wheel, although none of the transversal ends of said parallel faces abuts to any other portion of the handle, i.e. no portion of the handle profile extends beyond each of said parallel faces in a direction orthogonal to said parallel faces. No curved portions are included in the handle profile shown in said designs.

Such a profile lacks of the benefits provided by curved portions, i.e. that of a better mechanical stress distribution, while doesn't either constitutes an optimal solution to the above mentioned problems related to the axial deviation of the handle and, thus the lack of parallelism between the rotation plane and the cutting line, as the orthogonal profile, with use, can be worn and thus slightly rounded.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide an alternative to the state of the art which covers the gaps found therein, particularly those associated to the existing cutting-wheel handle profiles, with respect to the axial deviation thereof and the parallelism between the rotation plane and the cutting line.

To that end, the present invention relates, in a first aspect, to a cutting tool for a ceramic cutting device, said cutting tool comprising, as known from the above indicated European and Mexican designs:.

Contrary to the known cutting assemblies, particularly contrary to the one comprising a cutting-wheel handle with the orthogonal profile disclosed in the above mentioned designs, in the cutting tool of the first aspect of the present invention, in a characteristic manner, the outer contour of the uniform cross-section of the cutting-wheel handle also includes points arranged following at least one curved line segment of the edge of a circle enclosing an area into which said opposed straight rows lie.

For an embodiment, the outer contour of the uniform cross-section of the cutting-wheel handle includes points arranged following two curved line segments of the edge of said circle.

For another embodiment, the two curved line segments and/or the two opposed straight rows are arranged symmetrically with respect to a symmetry line parallel to the opposed straight rows.

According to another embodiment of the cutting tool of the first aspect of the invention, the outer contour of the uniform cross-section of the cutting-wheel handle also includes points arranged following at least a straight line segment, which, for a variant if said embodiment, is orthogonal to the two opposed straight rows and/or joins respective first ends of the two opposed straight rows.

Preferably, the first ends of the curved line segments are respectively joined to second ends of the opposed straight rows through respective joining tilted straight line segments which are tilted with respect to the opposed straight rows, and second ends of the curved line segments are joined by a respective recessed segment lying in the area enclosed by the circle.

For an embodiment of the cutting tool of the first aspect of the invention, the points arranged following each of the two opposed straight rows are joined only through points which also follow the respective straight row, thus forming a straight line segment. Therefore, the cutting-wheel handle has, along the length thereof which has the above mentioned uniform cross-section, two respective opposed external flat surfaces, each including a plurality of said straight line segments stacked upon each other.

For an alternative embodiment, the points arranged following each of the two opposed straight rows are joined through points which don't follow the respective straight row but which are arranged such that the average profile of the points following the straight row and the ones joining said points is a substantially straight path, such that the portion of the outer contour of the uniform cross-section including the straight row is a line which is not straight but follows a straight path. In other words, said "not straight line" is a line with topographic irregularities (rough, wavy, embossed, fringed, etc.) which follows a substantially straight path. Therefore, the cutting-wheel handle has, along the length thereof which has the above mentioned uniform cross-section, two respective opposed external surfaces having said topographic irregularities, each including a plurality of said not straight lines stacked upon each other. Said topographic irregularities provide a better frictional engagement with the corresponding inner face of the contour of the through hole of the cutting-wheel handle holder into which the cutting-wheel handle is to be mounted.

Generally, the end of the cutting-wheel handle on which the cutting wheel is mounted is a forked end having two parallel legs with respective opposed aligned through holes traversed with a shaft supporting the cutting wheel such that the cutting wheel can freely rotate about the shaft along said rotation plane.

In order to make said opposed through holes aligned with a high accuracy, higher than the one achieved with the conventional cutting-wheel handles, a new process is provided comprising sequentially drilling both holes during the same drilling step while firmly holding the cutting-wheel handle by clamping the same by the two respective opposed external surfaces (which are flat or with topographic irregularities, depending on the embodiment), which are parallel or substantially parallel to each other, such that the orthogonality of the rotation axis, i.e. of the alignment axis of the opposed through holes, is guaranteed, which assures the parallelism of the cutting line with the guided displacement of a support on which the cutting-wheel handle is mounted, during the ceramic cutting operation.

Said clamping is performed with a clamp having two opposed and relatively movable fingers, and preferably by abutting the free ends of said fingers against at least a portion of the tilted surfaces of the cutting-wheel handle formed by the above mentioned joining tilted straight line segments stacked upon each other, said abutting providing an even higher firmness for the holding of the cutting-wheel handle.

A second aspect of the invention concerns to a cutting-wheel handle holder, having a body comprising:.

wherein the through hole, or a through hole of an adapter plug inserted there through, has a cross-section with a contour matching the contour of the cross-section of the cutting-wheel handle of the first aspect of the invention, where the faces of the contour of said through hole can be flat or have topographic irregularities, depending on the embodiment.

A third aspect of the invention concerns to a cutting assembly comprising the cutting tool of the first aspect and the cutting-wheel handle holder of the second aspect of the invention, wherein the cutting-wheel handle is mounted or to be mounted into the through hole of the body of the cutting-wheel handle holder.

A fourth aspect of the invention concerns to a ceramic cutting device comprising:.

The specific geometry of the cutting-wheel handle and of the through hole of the body of the cutting-wheel handle holder provides an engagement of the handle to the handle holder with a higher accuracy than with the known handle geometries, without the need of performing an axial adjustment, such that the cutting-wheel is perfectly aligned longitudinally and perpendicularly with respect to the base of the ceramic cutting device and thus with the ceramic piece to be cut supported on said base.

The implementation of the above described drilling process, closely associated to said specific geometry of the cutting-wheel handle, increases even more said alignment, as the obtained drilled holes supporting the shaft of the cutting-wheel are perfectly aligned with each other.

Therefore, the lack of parallelism between the rotation plane and the cutting line is completely overcome with the present invention.

The previous and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, which must be considered in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, in which:.

Different views of the cutting tool <NUM> of the first aspect of the invention are shown in the enclosed Figures, said cutting tool <NUM> comprising:.

Although <FIG> and <FIG> show a top view of the handle and not its cross-section, the contour thereof coincides with the contour of its cross-section along most of the length of the handle, so the different segments of the cross-section contour have been indicated in <FIG> and <FIG>, as said segments are also included in said contour of the top view of the handle.

Particularly, regarding <FIG>, the contour there shown includes two opposed and parallel straight line segments S1, S2 formed by the two opposed straight rows, as for said embodiments all the points forming each of said straight line segments S1, S2 follow the respective straight row. Moreover, <FIG> and also <FIG> show the above mentioned curved line segments S3, S4, which are joined to each other by recessed segment J3 (lying in the area enclosed by the above mentioned circle) and joined to line segments S1, S2 (or to lines L1, L2) by tilted segments J1, J2, and also show a further straight line segment S5 orthogonal and joining the two opposed straight line segments S1, S2, or the two opposed lines L1, L2 for the embodiment of <FIG>.

As indicated above, and shown in the Figures, most of the length of the handle <NUM> has a uniform cross-section, i.e. a plurality of identical cross-sections stacked upon each other, thus a plurality of each of said line segments S1, S2 (or lines L1, L2), S3, S4, S5, J1, J2, J3 are stacked upon each other forming respective surfaces Za, Zb, 5a, 5b, <NUM>, W1, W2 and <NUM>, as best shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

For the shown embodiments, the tilted line segments J1, J2 (and therefore, tilted surfaces W1, W2) are tilted about <NUM>° with respect to segment S5, and the recessed segment J3 (and, therefore, recessed surface or groove <NUM>) has a V-shape and is formed out of an arch portion of about <NUM>°. Other angular values are also possible, for other embodiments (not shown), and also a recessed surface <NUM> with a different shape than the one shown is also possible, for other embodiments.

The embodiment of <FIG> differs from the one of <FIG> in that, instead of two opposed straight line segments it includes two opposed wavy lines L1, L2, which waves follow a straight path. In other words, as graphically shown in the right detail of <FIG>, for line L2, each of said lines L1, L2 includes points v (at the valleys of the waves) arranged following respective straight rows joined through points k (at the peaks of the waves) which don't follow the same straight row than points v, but which are arranged such that the average profile Ap of all of the points, v and k, is a substantially straight path, such that the portion of the outer contour of the uniform cross-section including the straight row is a line L1, L2 which is not straight but follows a straight path or straight trajectory.

A clearly shown in <FIG>, the uniform cross-section of the handle <NUM> is symmetric with respect to a symmetry line parallel to the opposed straight line segments S1, S2, or to the straight paths Ap for the embodiment of <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the end of the cutting-wheel handle <NUM> on which the cutting wheel <NUM> is mounted is a forked end having two parallel legs F1, F2 with respective opposed aligned through holes O1, O2 to be traversed with a shaft A (not shown in <FIG>, for clarity sake, but shown in <FIG>) supporting the cutting wheel <NUM> such that the cutting wheel <NUM> can freely rotate about the shaft A along said rotation plane.

As stated in a previous section, the particular geometry of the profile of the handle <NUM> has, among others, the advantage of collaborating in obtaining a very well aligned through holes O1, O2 and thus in assuring the parallelism of the cutting line with the guided displacement of the cutting tool.

<FIG> graphically explains why the geometry of the handle <NUM> collaborates in assuring said alignment of the through holes O1, <NUM>, as it shows two opposed relatively moveable fingers d1, d2 of a clamp firmly holding the handle, where the fingers d1, d2 exert a compression force on the two opposed parallel faces Za, Zb, while the free ends of the fingers d1, d2 abut against a portion of the tilted surfaces W1, W2 formed by the above mentioned joining tilted straight line segments J1, J2 stacked upon each other, said abutting providing an even higher firmness for the holding of the cutting-wheel handle <NUM>, for preforming a drilling process comprising sequentially drilling both holes O1, O2 during the same drilling step while firmly holding the cutting-wheel handle as described above. Of course, different processes can be carried out, different to that drilling process, which can take profit of such a firm holding of the handle <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, i.e. of the cutting-wheel handle holder, which has a body <NUM> comprising:.

As shown in <FIG>, through hole <NUM> (or, for a not shown embodiment, a through hole of an adapter plug inserted there through), has a cross-section with a contour matching the contour of the cross-section of the cutting-wheel handle <NUM> of the first aspect of the invention. Said cross-section is uniform along the length of tubular portion <NUM>.

<FIG> also show the third aspect of the invention, for an embodiment, i.e. a cutting assembly <NUM> including the cutting tool <NUM> and the cutting-wheel handle holder.

A cutting assembly, comprising the cutting tool of any of claims <NUM> to <NUM> and the cutting-wheel handle holder of claim <NUM>.

Finally, <FIG> shows an embodiment of the ceramic cutting device <NUM> of the fourth aspect of the invention, comprising:.

Claim 1:
A cutting tool for a ceramic cutting device, said cutting tool comprising:
- a cutting-wheel handle (<NUM>) which has, along at least half of its length, an uniform cross-section with an outer contour including points arranged following two opposed straight rows, each of said two straight rows running from a first endpoint to a second endpoint; and
- a cutting wheel (<NUM>) mounted on an end of the cutting-wheel handle (<NUM>) to rotate along a rotation plane, said rotation plane being parallel or substantially parallel to both of said two opposed straight rows;
wherein said outer contour of the uniform cross-section of the cutting-wheel handle (<NUM>) also includes points arranged following two curved line segments (S3, S4) of the edge of a circle enclosing an area into which said opposed straight rows lie, wherein said two curved line segments (S3, S4) and/or said two opposed straight rows are arranged symmetrically with respect to a symmetry line parallel to the two opposed straight rows;
wherein the outer contour of the uniform cross-section of the cutting-wheel handle (<NUM>) also includes points arranged following at least a straight line segment (S5) which is orthogonal to said two opposed straight rows and/or joins respective first endpoints of the two opposed straight rows; and
wherein second endpoints of the curved line segments (S3, S4) are joined by a respective recessed segment (J3) lying in the area enclosed by said circle;
characterised in that the points arranged following each of the two opposed straight rows are joined only through points which also follow the respective straight row, thus forming a straight line segment (S1, S2), and in that first endpoints of said curved line segments (S3, S4) are respectively joined to second endpoints of the two opposed straight line segments (S1, S2) through respective joining straight line segments (J1, J2) which are tilted with respect to the opposed straight rows, a first endpoint of each joining straight line segments (J1, J2) being directly connected to the first endpoint of a respective one of said curved line segments (S3, S4) and a second endpoint of the same joining straight line segment (J1, J2) being directly connected to the second endpoint of a respective one of the two opposed straight line segments (S1, S2).