GB2173141A

GB2173141A - Safety cutter box for sheet material

Info

Publication number: GB2173141A
Application number: GB08606472A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Edward Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-03-30
Filing date: 1986-03-17
Publication date: 1986-10-08
Also published as: GB2173141B; GB8508369D0; GB8606472D0

Abstract

A safety cutter box for the dispensing of sheet material, as used in both domestic and trade use, in which the material is cut by a cutter blade 19 mounted to operate without danger to the user's hands. The cutter blade is attached to a roller 18 rotatable by passage of the material over it to bring the cutter blade into a working position. Weights 20 return it to a safe non-working position on the completion of the cutting action. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety cutter box for sheet material This invention relates to the dispensing of sheet material, such as cling film and aluminium foil, as used in both domestic and trade use. These materials are supplied in cardboard boxes known as cutter boxes, in view of the fact that they have attached to them, a metal cutter of the serrated type for the cutting of the said sheet material.

It is appreciated that there is a disadvantage with these cutters in that being in an exposed position, they can present a hazard to the user's hands, and various methods have been used to try and eliminate this hazard. It is the object of this invention to overcome or at least reduce this hazard to a further degree of safety, and accordingly in the present invention, although it employs a metal cutter, it is not possible for the user to touch the metal cutter by hand accidently.

This invention also employs a box to contain the sheet material, and being combined with the said metal cutter can be described as a cutter box. The box comprising a front wall a rear wall, a base and a lid, two side walls and a cutter assembly. The said side walls, will be split diagonallythrough their centres. One half of each side wall will be rigidly fixed to the base and the rear wall, while the other half of each side wall will be similarly fixed to the lid and the front wall.

The resulting two halves of the box will be hingedly fitted together at the front of the base, and the lower edge of the front wall. The said two halves of the box, being almost identical except for a slight variation at the join of the lid and the front wall. This variation will be in the form of a cutout at the said join of the lid and the front wall, and the said cutout will accomodate the aforementioned cutter assembly.

The said assembly comprising a cutter blade, a cutter roller into which is provided a slot of sufficient length width and depth to accomodate the said blade and two strips of single ply cardboard, preferably one strip bent double, between which the said blade will be sandwhiched. Two return weights which will be attached to the said cutter roller at 90" to the said blade. Also provided in the cutter assembly, will be two axle pins two stop pins and two secureing plates. The purpbse of the aforementioned items being as follows. The cutter blade for the severance of the sheet material, the cutter roller to carry the blade to a working and a none working position. The axle pins to permit the cutter roller to rotate, and the stop pins to achieve the aforementioned working and none working positions.

The working position is arrived at by the pressure of the sheet material on the cutter roller which causes the said cutter roller to rotate, and on reaching the said working position, is held there by the stop pins, as long as the pressure on the cutter roller is maintained. The none working position is attained by the release of the pressure on the cutter roller, and the gravitational action of the two return weights the said pressure being released on the completion of the cut. The secureing plates to secure the whole assembly to the lid and the front wall, in the aforementioned cutout.

Also provided, attached to the side walls and across the joint of the said side walls, will be twocatchment hooks, two catchment pins, and two wire staples. The purpose of the hooks and pins, being to hold the box in a closed position, after being loaded with a roll of sheet material. The purpose of the staples being to control the movement of the hooks.

On the lid of the box will be provided a fence to hold the sheet material in an easily accessible position, after emerging from the box between the rear of the lid and the top of rear wall, so providing a gap between the lid and the sheet material which allows for the easy collection of the sheet material between the forefingers and thumbs.

In the event of the blade becoming dull and blunted there will be provision for the fitting of a replacement blade, the said blade being totally enclosed in a cardboard envolope for safety in fitting.

The operation of dispensing the sheet material will now be described together with the fitting of a replacement blade, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the box in it's ready use position.

Figure 2 shows the box in an open position for loading.

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of the cutter roller through the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of the box through the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows the principle of the invention.

Figure 6 shows the arrangement of the cutter assembly.

Figures 7 and8 show the arrangement of the replacement blade.

The box is loaded with a roll of sheet material by releasing the two catchment hooks 26 from the catchment pins 28 by a slight thumb pressure on the said hooks 26 and allowing the front half of the box, 11, 12 and 16 together with the cutter assembly 18 19 20 21 and 22 to fall forward and downwards on the hingeing means 23. The roll of material 24 is placed inside the box 10 and the end of the roll is pulled out and held above the top of the rear wall 14, while the front half of the box 11 12 and 16 is pushed upwards and back until the catchment pins 28 are engaged in the catchment hooks 26. The end of the roll of material is now brought forward to lie over the fence 25. The box is now ready for use.

The end of the material 24 is collected between the forefingers and thumbs, and is pulled in a horizontal direction, until the required length is reached. It is then pulled in a downward direction so that it bears on the cutter roller 18 causing the required pressure on the said cutter roller. The continued pull in the downward direction causes the cutter roller to rotate, bringing with it the cutter blade 19 until it is brought to rest on the stop pins 22. In this position the cutter blade edge 19A is in contact with the sheet material, and a continued downward pull to either left or right results in the material being cut. On completion of the cut the pressure on the cutter roller 18 is released and the cutter roller 18 is carried back to it's none working position, by the gravitational action of the two return weights 20.The cutter blade 19 and the cutter blade edge 19A are now in a shielded position, pointing towards the inside of the box, and cannot be touched by hand accidently. The severed end of the sheet material roll 24 now lies over the fence 25 and is kept clear of the box lid 11 providing a gap between the said lid 11 and the said sheet material 24 allowing for easy collection of the said sheet material 24 between the forefingers and thumbs in readiness for the next cut.

The fitting of a replacement cutter blade 19 in the event of the old- cutter blade 19 becoming dull and blunted, is achieved by the extraction of the old cutter blade 19, from the cutter roller 18 with the aid of a pair of tweezers or small pliers. After the extraction of the old cutter blade 19 and the strips of cardboard 29 the replacement blade 19 and the cardboard envolope 29, as illustrated in Figure 8 can be inserted by hand, the cutter blade edge 19A being totally enclosed by the glued joint 30 at the top and ends of the said cardboard envolope 29. The replacement attachment is pushed down into the slot provided in the cutter roller 18, as illustrated in Figure 7. The top half of the cardboard envolope 29 is then removed by a tearing action along the perforation 31 in the said envolope 29. The cutter edge 19A is then exposed, and the release of any pressure on the cutter roller 18, either hand or otherwise, will permit the said cutter roller 18 and the said cutter blade 19 to return to the safe none working position, ready for further use.

The cutter box 10 as described herein before can be secured through it's rear wall 14 to a wall, or through it's base to a bench top as desired, so providing for easier dispensing of the sheet material 24 in that both of the user's hands are left free.

The cutter assembly 17 18 19 20 21 and 22 as described herein before is not restricted to use with the cutter box 10 only, but can be incorperated in various designs of sheet material holders, as can be conveniently designed to incorperate the said cutter assembly 17 18 19 20 21 and 22.

Claims

1. A cutter assembly for the dispensing of sheet material, such as cling film and aluminium foil of a self retracting type for improved safety in use. The said assembly comprising a cutter blade, a cutter roller into which is provided a slot to accomodate the said cutter blade, together with two strips of cardboard, preferably one strip bent double, between which the said blade is sandwhiched. Two return weights attached to the cutter roller at 90 to the cutter blade, by which the self retraction of the cutter roller and the cutter blade, to a none working position is achieved by the gravitational action of the two return weights. A working position and a none working position, being achieved automati caliy by the actual dispensing of lye material.The working position is achieved by the pressure of the material on the cutter roller, and the safe none working position by the release of the pressure on the cutter roller, the said release being achieved by the completion of the cut.

2. A cutter assembly as described in claim 1, in which the cutter blade cannot be touched by hand accidently.

3. A cutter assembly as described in claim 1 and claim 2 in which a dull and blunted cutter blade can be replaced with a new one.

4. A cutter assembly as described in claim 2 and claim 3 which can be incorperated into various designs of sheet material holders.

5. A cutter assembly as described in any previous claim, attached to a cutter box, the said box comprising a front wall a rear wall a base a lid, and two side walls. The said side walls being spiit diagonally through their centres to allow the resulting two halves of the box to be hingedly fitted together at the front of the base, and the lower edge of the front wall, which allows for the repeated loading of the sheet material.

6. A cutter box as described in claim 5 in which provision is made for the easy collection of the sheet material in preperation for the next dispensing cut, with reference to 25 in Figures 1, 2 and 4 in the accompanying drawings.