Patent ID: 8127869

Claim:
An earth-boring tool, comprising: a body including a face at a leading end thereof and a plurality of blades extending from the body, the body including a cone region, a nose region, and a shoulder region; a plurality of cutting elements disposed over the face, a first group of cutting elements of the plurality of cutting elements being located in the cone region and at least a second group of cutting elements of the plurality of cutting element being located in the shoulder region, the first group of cutting elements comprising a greater relative exposure than the second group of cutting elements, wherein at least some cutting elements of the plurality of cutting elements are disposed at same or substantially same radial position relative to a bit axis as one or more other cutting elements on different blades of the plurality of blades to follow same or substantially same cutting path when the bit is rotated about its axis; and wherein a summation of a lateral force generated during drilling by each cutting element of the plurality of cutting elements is directed toward a side of the body.