Patent ID: 7770502

Claim:
A system for cutting material, comprising: (a) a cutting device, wherein the cutting device further includes: (i) a substantially flat base, wherein the base is adapted to receive paper and other flat material for cutting, and wherein the base further includes a front edge, a rear edge, a left side, and a right side; (ii) a manually-operated cutting blade assembly pivotally attached to either the right or left side of the base near the rear edge thereof, wherein the cutting blade assembly further includes an elongated cutting arm having a handle grip formed at one end thereof, and wherein the elongated cutting arm is positioned over a predetermined line of cut on the base; (iii) a sighting device mounted on the front edge of the base on the same side as the elongated cutting arm, wherein the sighting device further includes: a) a protective housing, the protective housing further including a removable arcuate front cover, a side cover, and a removable lower cover; and b) an adjustable light source mounted within and protected by the housing, wherein the adjustable light source further includes: i) a top portion having two concave sides, wherein the two concave sides secure the light source therein; ii) a middle portion that receives the top portion, wherein the middle portion further includes a stabilizing peg and plurality of screws and biasing members adapted to allow lateral or horizontal movement of the middle portion and top portion to adjust the light source; iii) a bottom portion adapted to receive the middle portion, wherein the bottom portion is adjustably mounted to housing assembly; and wherein the adjustable light source projects a fixed line of visible light along the predetermined line of cut for facilitating proper placement of the paper or other material on the base prior to and during cutting; and (iv) a switch located within the housing; and (v) a switch actuator adapted to cooperate with the switch to activate and deactivate the light source, wherein the switch actuator is located in the handle grip and, wherein the light source is activated when the elongated cutting arm is raised and deactivated when the elongated cutting arm is lowered; and (b) material to be cut, wherein the material to be cut further includes paper, posterboard, cardboard, and combinations thereof.