GB2050226A

GB2050226A - Improvements in cutting tools

Info

Publication number: GB2050226A
Application number: GB8014745A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-05-11
Filing date: 1980-05-02
Publication date: 1981-01-07
Also published as: GB2050226B

Abstract

A cutting tool comprising a first handle 1 having a fixed blade or anvil 9 located at one end thereof. A second handle 2 is pivotally connected to the first handle at a first pivot point 4 and a blade member 3 which is pivottally connected to the second handle 2 at a location 7 on the cutting end relative to the first pivot point 4. The blade member carries or is formed with a tailpiece 10 which lies in overlapping relationship with the first handle 1 and is connected for pivotal and sliding movement relative thereto at a location 5 on the side of the first pivot point 4 remote from the cutting end. Such arrangement provides a generally parallel cutting action. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in cutting tools The invention relates to cutting tools of the type to be held by hand, e.g. a secateur, and to provide a generally parallel and/or slicing action in a simple and inexpensive manner.

Acc'ording to the invention there is provided a cutting tool comprising a first handle having a fixed blade or anvil located at one end thereof, a second handle pivottally connected to the first handle at a first pivot point and a blade member which is pivottally connected to the second handle at a location on the cutting end relative to the first pivot point, the blade member carrying or being formed with a tailpiece which lies in overlapping relationship with the first handle and is connected for pivotal and sliding movement relative thereto on the side of the first pivot point remote from the cutting end.Preferably both said handles are formed of U shaped transverse crosssection, the second handle is located within the first handle at the first pivot point, the blade member is located within the second handle where it is pivotally attached thereto and the tailpiece is located within the first handle. The tailpiece may be formed with a slot and a pin or roller carried by the first handle locates in such a slot to provide the pivotal and sliding movement. Alternatively a link is pivottally connected to the tailpiece at one end thereof and pivotally connected to the handle at the other end thereof to provide said pivotal and sliding movement. A spring may be located to normally urge the handles apart.

The foregoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood from the following description of two preferred embodiments thereof, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a secateur, and Figure 2 is a modified version of the secateur of Fig. 1 Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a secateur comprising a first handle 1 having a U shaped transverse cross-section and having an anvil or blade 9 rigidly attached at the cutting end thereof. A second handle 2 which also has a U shaped transvers cross-section is pivottally connected to handle 1 at pivot point 4 and is housed within handle 1 at such location. A blade member 3 is pivottally connected to second handle 2 at pivot point 7 and is housed within handle 2 at this location.

Blade member 3 locates through the slot 8 formed in handle 1. The blade member 3 is formed with a tailpiece 10 which is housed within first handle 1. Tailpiece 10 is formed with a slot 6 and a pin or roller 5 which spans the handle 1 is located in slot 6. A tension spring 11 is located between tailpiece 10 and handle 2 to urge the handles apart.

In operation: when handles are closed, handle 2 rotates about pivot 4, pivot 7 describes a downward arc, carrying with it top blade 3 and the tailpiece 10 moves to the left as shown as the slot 6 move across pivot 5.

With such action blade member 3 engages anvil or blade 9 with a slicing action generally parallel therewith.

By varying the geometry, the slice action can be increased, reduced or virtually eliminated. By varying the angle and or shape of the slot the flight of the top blade can be varied to suit the application.

Referring now to Fig. 2 there is shown a similar secateur to that of Fig. 1 except that slot 6 in tailpiece 10 and pin or roller 5 are replaced by a link 1 2 which is pivottally connected between handle 1 and tailpiece 1 0.

The operation of this embodiment is the same as that for Fig. 1.

The tool may employ either one blade and an anvil or two meeting blades or two blades which pass in scissor fashion. Whilst the drawing Fig. 1 shows the layout for a secateur with a slice action, the tool could be enlarged to provide a small branch lopper or could be modified to provide a surgical bone cutter, which would have meeting blades, by rearrangement of relative pivots to eliminate the slice action.

1. A cutting tool comprising a first handle having a fixed blade or anvil located at one end thereof, a second handle pivottally connected to the first handle at a first pivot point and a blade member which is pivottally connected to the second handle at a location on the cutting end relative to the first pivot point, the blade member carrying or being formed with a tailpiece which lies in overlapping relationship with the first handle and is connected for pivotal and sliding movement relative thereto on the side of the first pivot point remote from the cutting end.

2. A cutting tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein both said handles are formed of U shaped transverse cross-section, the second handle is located within the first handle at the first pivot point, the blade member is located within the second handle where it is pivottally attached thereto and the tailpiece is located within the first handle.

3. A cutting tool as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the tailpiece is formed with a slot and a pin or roller carried by the first handle locates in such slot to provide the pivotal and sliding movement.

4. A cutting tool as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein a link is pivottally connected to the tailpiece at one end thereof and pivottally connected to the handle at the other end thereof to provide said pivotal and sliding

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in cutting tools The invention relates to cutting tools of the type to be held by hand, e.g. a secateur, and to provide a generally parallel and/or slicing action in a simple and inexpensive manner. Acc'ording to the invention there is provided a cutting tool comprising a first handle having a fixed blade or anvil located at one end thereof, a second handle pivottally connected to the first handle at a first pivot point and a blade member which is pivottally connected to the second handle at a location on the cutting end relative to the first pivot point, the blade member carrying or being formed with a tailpiece which lies in overlapping relationship with the first handle and is connected for pivotal and sliding movement relative thereto on the side of the first pivot point remote from the cutting end.Preferably both said handles are formed of U shaped transverse crosssection, the second handle is located within the first handle at the first pivot point, the blade member is located within the second handle where it is pivotally attached thereto and the tailpiece is located within the first handle. The tailpiece may be formed with a slot and a pin or roller carried by the first handle locates in such a slot to provide the pivotal and sliding movement. Alternatively a link is pivottally connected to the tailpiece at one end thereof and pivotally connected to the handle at the other end thereof to provide said pivotal and sliding movement. A spring may be located to normally urge the handles apart. The foregoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood from the following description of two preferred embodiments thereof, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a secateur, and Figure 2 is a modified version of the secateur of Fig. 1 Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a secateur comprising a first handle 1 having a U shaped transverse cross-section and having an anvil or blade 9 rigidly attached at the cutting end thereof. A second handle 2 which also has a U shaped transvers cross-section is pivottally connected to handle 1 at pivot point 4 and is housed within handle 1 at such location. A blade member 3 is pivottally connected to second handle 2 at pivot point 7 and is housed within handle 2 at this location. Blade member 3 locates through the slot 8 formed in handle 1. The blade member 3 is formed with a tailpiece 10 which is housed within first handle 1. Tailpiece 10 is formed with a slot 6 and a pin or roller 5 which spans the handle 1 is located in slot 6. A tension spring 11 is located between tailpiece 10 and handle 2 to urge the handles apart. In operation: when handles are closed, handle 2 rotates about pivot 4, pivot 7 describes a downward arc, carrying with it top blade 3 and the tailpiece 10 moves to the left as shown as the slot 6 move across pivot 5. With such action blade member 3 engages anvil or blade 9 with a slicing action generally parallel therewith. By varying the geometry, the slice action can be increased, reduced or virtually eliminated. By varying the angle and or shape of the slot the flight of the top blade can be varied to suit the application. Referring now to Fig. 2 there is shown a similar secateur to that of Fig. 1 except that slot 6 in tailpiece 10 and pin or roller 5 are replaced by a link 1 2 which is pivottally connected between handle 1 and tailpiece 1 0. The operation of this embodiment is the same as that for Fig. 1. The tool may employ either one blade and an anvil or two meeting blades or two blades which pass in scissor fashion. Whilst the drawing Fig. 1 shows the layout for a secateur with a slice action, the tool could be enlarged to provide a small branch lopper or could be modified to provide a surgical bone cutter, which would have meeting blades, by rearrangement of relative pivots to eliminate the slice action. CLAIMS

4. A cutting tool as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein a link is pivottally connected to the tailpiece at one end thereof and pivottally connected to the handle at the other end thereof to provide said pivotal and sliding movement.

5. A cutting tool as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a spring is provided so as normally to urge the handles apart.

6. A cutting tool as claimed in claim 5 wherein a tension spring is connected between the tailpiece and the second handle adjacent the first pivot point.

7. A cutting tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing.

8. A cutting tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing.