Patent ID: 12240137

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several Figures of the drawings.

DETAILED DISCUSSION

FIGS.1-37illustrate a cutter and holder apparatus10for cutting an object12. As shown inFIGS.36and37the object may include a container14such as a cardboard box16that is sealed with packing tape18. Alternatively, the object12may include other objects such as paper products, plastic products, metallic products, polymeric products or other items that prior cutting.

The cutter and holder apparatus10comprises a body20having a first side22, a second side24and an edge26. The body20may include a circular body28. Alternatively, the body20may include square, rectangular, curved or other geometric shapes. The body20may be constructed from natural fiber material, polymeric material, metallic material, carbon fiber material, a composite material or other rigid materials.

An insert leg30is coupled to the body20. The insert leg30may include a tangential orientation32relative to the body28. Preferably, the insert leg30includes a conical shaped rod34that extends to a pointed end36. A channel38is defined between the body20and the insert leg30for positioning the insert leg30below the object12and the object12within the channel38.

A blade40is coupled to the body20and is positioned within the channel38for cutting the object12. More specifically, the blade40may be coupled to the body20and the insert leg30and is positioned within the channel38for cutting the object12. The body20, the insert leg30and the blade40may define a safety cutter device42. The safety cutter device42shields the blade50from cutting any item or individual that is not inserted within the channel38. As such the blade50is concealed between the body20and the insert leg30for preventing inadvertent cutting of an item or individual.

The body20and insert leg30may be constructed from a primary body50and a secondary body52that are independently constructed such as injection molded and thereafter coupled together with the blade40secured there between. Alternatively, the body20and the insert leg30may be constructed from an integral one piece unit54that is injected molded around the blade50. In this method, the body20may include a D-shaped aperture56wherein the blade is supported during the injection molding process.

A body link60is coupled to the body20. The body link60may include magnetic, mechanical, removable adhesive, hoop and loop or other linking devices.FIGS.6,8,30,32and34illustrate the body20having a body chamber62for housing the body link60within the body20. For example, the link chamber62may house a body magnet64or body metal66.

A base80has a first side82, a second side84and an edge86. A base link90is coupled to the base80. The base link90may include magnetic, mechanical, removable adhesive, hoop and loop or other linking devices.FIGS.6,8,30,32and34illustrate the base80having a base chamber92for housing the base link90within the base80. For example, the base chamber92may house a base magnet94or base metal96.

The body20is positioned adjacent to the base80and the body link60couples with the base link90for defining a removable couple100and temporarily coupling the body20with the base80. For example, the removable couple100may include a body metal66engaged within the body chamber62and a base magnet94engaged within the base chamber92for creating a magnetic couple102upon positioning the body20adjacent to the base80. Alternatively, the removable couple100may include a first hook and loop66engaged within the body chamber62and a base hook and loop engage within the base chamber92for creating a mechanical couple.

The base80may include a first base aperture106and a second base aperture108. A keeper120is coupled with the base. More specifically, the keeper120may engage within the first base aperture106and the second base aperture108. The keeper120may include a band122, a wristband124, a waistband126or an armband128. As such the cutter and holder device10may be conveniently transported on an individual and conveniently utilized wherein the body20is quickly removed from the base80and reinserted into the base80. For example, the wristband124may be utilized for coupling the cutter and holder device10to the arm230of an individual.

The body20may further include a tether aperture104for receiving a tether130. As such the cutter and holding device10may be conveniently transported on an individual by encircling the tether130around the neck, arm or coupled to an article of clothing and conveniently utilized wherein the body20is quickly removed from the base80and reinserted into the base80.

The body20may include a body key140. The base80may include a base receptacle180. The body key140engages with the base receptacle180for defining an alignment platform220. The alignment platform220aligns the body20with the base80and positions the body link60proximate to the base link90.

The base receptacle180may include a leg receptacle182for receiving the insert leg30of the body20. The engagement of the insert leg30within the leg receptacle182further defines the alignment platform220and further assists in aligning the body20with the base80and positions the body link60proximate to the base link90.

Furthermore, the base receptacle180may include a second leg receptacle184for receiving the insert leg30of the body20and permitting the body20to be positioned in multiple orientations within the base80. The multiple orientations of the body20within the base80may prove advantageous in that the cutter and holder apparatus10can be worn on either the left appendages of an individual or the right appendages of the individual wherein the body20has a more correct orientation for withdrawing the body20from the base80and having the blade40in the correct orientation for quick utilization for cutting the object12.

The body20includes a body protruded surface142. The base80includes a base recessed surface186. The body protruding surface142abuts with the base recessed surface186for positioning a portion of the body20within the base80and defining a low profile exterior surface222as best shown inFIGS.6,8-12,30and34. More specifically, the body may include a concave body surface144. The base80may include a convex base surface188. The concave body surface144abuts with the convex base surface188for positioning a portion of the body20within the base80and defining the low profile exterior surface222as best shown inFIGS.6,8-12,30and34.

A groove190may be located in the base. The groove190defines a cavity192between the body20and the base80during engagement of the body20with the base80. As best shown inFIGS.31and32, the cavity192receives a portion of the body20for elevating a portion of the body20from the first side82of the base80and allows grasping of the body20. More specifically, the finger232of an individual may apply a downward force upon the body20adjacent to the edge26. This force displaces a portion of the body20into the cavity192resulting in the elevation of the opposite edge26of the body20from the base80. This elevation of the opposite edge26of the body20results in exposure of the body20from the base80and makes grasping of the body20with the other hand of the individual more convenient and efficient.

The groove190may define an annular shaped groove194. The annular shaped groove194defines an annular shaped cavity196between the body20and the base80during engagement of the body20with the base80. The annular shaped cavity196permits the body20to be depressed into the annular shaped cavity196in multiple locations for elevating a portion of the body20from the first side82of the base80and allowing grasping of the body20.

A preventer200may be coupled to the base80and extend into the cavity192. As best shown inFIGS.33and34, the preventer200contacts the body20and inhibits the body20to be depressed into the cavity192in proximity to the preventer for preventing inadvertent disengagement between the body from the base. More specifically, if the finger232of an individual or other object applies a downward force upon the body20, that is above the preventer200, the preventer200will prevent this force from displacing the body20into the cavity192and resulting in a non-elevation of the opposite edge26of the body20from the base80. Preferably, the base80is positioned such that the preventer200is on the leading side of the base80. As such, the preventer200serves as a safety mechanism to prevent the inadvertent removal of the body20from the base80if a downward force is applied to the leading edge of the body20. The preventer200may include a knob202extending into the cavity192. The knob202may include a spherical dome204.

As best shown inFIGS.35and36, the body20may include a body recess150in the first side22of the body20for facilitating the handling of the body20. More specifically, the body20may include a first body recess150in the first side22of the body20and a second body recess152in the second side24of the body20for facilitating the handling of the body20.

The cutter and holder apparatus10may be utilized for providing a safe and convenient means for storing and transporting the body20. In addition, the cutter and holder apparatus10may be utilized for conveniently withdrawing the body20from the base80. The cutter and holder apparatus10may prevent the inadvertent or accidental separation of the body20from the base80by the preventer200. Furthermore, the cutter and holder apparatus10may be utilized for providing a safe and effective means for cutting the object12with the body20. Finally, the cutter and holder apparatus10may be utilized for conveniently repositioning the body20within the base80.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.