Patent ID: 7290339

Claim:
A cutting apparatus for easily opening plastic packaging comprising: a first support member, said first support member being elongate and having proximal, distal, and middle portions, said first support member being substantially rigid, said first support member having an aperture in said middle portion; a second support member, said second support member being elongate and having proximal, distal, and middle portions, said second support member being substantially rigid; means for pivotably connecting said proximal portion of said second support member to said proximal portion of said first support member; a second shaft, said second shaft being rigid, and elongate, said second shaft having a longitudinal axis through the center thereof, said second shaft having a proximal and a distal end, and a middle portion; means for rotatably securing said middle portion of said second shaft within said aperture in said middle portion of said first support member; a first cutting wheel, said first cutting wheel being disk shaped, rigid, and having a center portion, said first cutting wheel having a transverse axis through said center portion; a second cutting wheel, said second cutting wheel being disk shaped, rigid, and having a center portion, said second cutting wheel having a transverse axis through said center portion; a third cutting wheel, said third cutting wheel being disk shaped, rigid, and having a center portion, said third cutting wheel having a transverse axis through said center portion; a handle, said handle being securedly attached to said distal end of said second shaft; said first cutting wheel having a center portion being coaxially aligned with said longitudinal axis of said second shaft, and being securedly attached to said proximal end of said second shaft; means for said second and third cutting wheels being in rotatable connection with said middle portion of said second support member; whereby said first cutting wheel may engage said second cutting wheel and said third cutting wheel on opposite sides of the flange of a plastic container; further whereby a plastic flange may be lacerated by rotating said first cutting wheel.