Patent ID: 7591617

Claim:
A rotary cutting tool comprising: a) a shaft having a central longitudinal axis, a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end is adapted to be inserted into and held by a toolholder and wherein the second end has two flexible extending portions disposed opposite one another, extending substantially along the longitudinal axis, and defining shaft slots therebetween; b) a receptacle structure defined by the two extending portions and a bottom wall disposed between and wherein the interior surfaces of the extending portions define a conical shape; c) a replaceable cutting insert adapted to be removably attached to the second end of the shaft, wherein the cutting insert comprises a cutting tip with at least one cutting edge configured to cut an object, a body portion and a fixing peg extending therefrom adapted to be removably received within the receptacle structure, wherein at least a portion of the fixing peg has a conical shape matable with the interior surfaces of the extending portions of the receptacle structure through a resilient friction fit; and (d) at least one protrusion and at least one matching recess, each located in one of either the extending portions or the fixing peg, wherein the protrusion/recess combination provides a detachable snap connection between the receptacle portion and the fixing peg, wherein a portion of the fixing peg has a non-conical surface suitable to engage a matching non-conical surface within the receptacle structure to non-rotatably secure the insert within the shaft.