GB2229128A

GB2229128A - Scissors for both right and left handed use

Info

Publication number: GB2229128A
Application number: GB8905784A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tatsushige Mayama
Original assignee: NT Inc
Current assignee: NT Inc
Priority date: 1989-03-14
Filing date: 1989-03-14
Publication date: 1990-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-14
Also published as: GB8905784D0; DE3909357A1; FR2645789A1; GB2229128B; FR2645789B1

Description

Z.

SCISSORS FOR BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT HANDED USE The present invention relates to improvements in scissors which can cut the object, such as paper, cloth or the likes, with opposing upper and lower edges of the blades.

PRIOR ART Shown in Figs. 26 and 27 are scissors of conventional design.

1 The scissors 100 shown in Fig. 26 are exclusively for right handed use, and comprise a front blade 102 having an upper edge 101, a rear blade 104 having a lower edge 103, a connecting means 105 which connects the front andrearblades 1029 104 in such a manner that the front and rear blades 102,104 are allowed to slidably pivot in relation to each other, a front handle 107 integrally connected to the front blade 102 with a hand receiving portion 106 always taking an upper position, and a rear handle 109 integrally connected to the rear blade 104 with a hand receiving portion 108 always taking a lower position.

The scisors 200 shown in Fig. 27 are exclusively for left handeduse, and comprise a front blade 202 having a lower edge 201, a rear blade 204 having an upper edge 203, a connecting means 205 which connects the front and rear blades 202, 204 in such a manner that the front and rear blades 202,204 are allowed to slidably pivot in relation to each other, a front handle 207 integrally connected to the front blade 202 with a hand receiving portion 206 always taking a lower position, and a rear handle 209 integrally connected to the rear blade 204 with a hand receiving portion 208 always taking an upper position.

4.

As explained above, there have been two different types of scissors, one for right handed use and the other for left handed use, according to the prior ars. The right handed use type is, generally, more easily available. Difficulty in finding the left handed type on the market has inconvenienced the left handed person.

Furthermore, even the right handed person sometimes finds it convenient to use the left handed use type in certain work situations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is provided to solve the problem of the conventioa-1 sc-Issors. A primary objective of the invention is to provide scissors for both right and left handed use.

The scissors according to the present invention are characterized in that the scissors comprise a front blade having upper and lower edges, a rear blade having upper and lower edeges, a connecting means which connects the front and rear blades in such a manner that the front and rear blades are allowed to slidably pivot in relation to each other, a front handle secured to the front blade in such a manner that a finger receiving portion on the front handle is allowed to take an upper or lower position alternatively, and a rear handle secured to the rear handle in such a manner that a finger receiving portion on the rear blade is allowed to take an upper or lower position alternatively.

For right handed use, the finger receiving portion on the front handle takes the upper position while the finger receiving portion on the rear handle takes the lower position.

When using the scissors, the thumb of the right hand is inserted into 1 the finger receiving portion on the front handle while fingers other than the thumb are placed in the finger receiving portion on the rear handle.

Thereafter, when the front and rear handles are moved up and down, the front and rear blades correspondingly pivot on the connecting means with the result that the object, such as cloth, paper or the like, placed between the front and rear blades is cut with the upper and lower edges of the front and rear blades respectively.

On the othe'r haffid, for left handed use, the finger receiving portion on the front handle takes the lower position while the finger receiving portion on the rear handle takes the upper position.

When using the scissors, fingers other than the thumb of the left hand are inserted into the finger receiving portion on the front handle while the thumb of the left hand is placed in the finger receiving portion on the rear handle.

Thereafter, when the front and rear handles are moved up and down, the front and rear blades correspondingly pivot on the connecting means with the result that the object placed between the front and rear blades is cut with the lower and upper edges of the front and rear blades respectively.

The scissors according to the present invention have the following advantages over the conventional scissors.

(1) The present inventionis for both right and left handed use since the scissors include the front blade, the rear blade, the connecting means, the front handle and the rear handle, with the front and rear blades each having the upper and lower edges, and further the finger receiving portion on each of the front and rear handles can take an upper or lower position alternatively.

(2) Since the finger receivirig portion on each of the front and rear handles can take an upper or lower position, the scissors can be compact in non-use.

M A pai"of the opposing upper and lower edges in right handed use can be different, in shape, from the other pair in left handed use so that the scissors prepared for the right and left handed use can be employed for different purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a front view of the scissors, prepared for right handed use, according to a first embodiment of the present invention. X Fig. 2 is a plan view of the scissors of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional side view of the scissors taken along the line III- III in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the scissors of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a main part of the scissors in the state of Use.

z Fig. 6 is a side view of the scissors of Fig. 1 prepared for left handed use.

Fig. 7 is a front view of a main part of the scissors of Fig. 6 in the state of use.

Fig. 8 is a vertical, sectional side view of the scissors according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a front view of a main part of the scissors according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is,a front view of a main part of the scissors according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 ia a plan view of a main part of the scissors of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a vertical, sectional front view of a main part of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a side view of the scissors of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a front view of the scissors, prepared for right handed use, in the state of use according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 15 is a side view of the scissors of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a front view of the scissors of Fig. 14, prepared for left handed use, showing the state of use.

Fig. 17 is a front view of the scissors, prepared for right handed use, #1 in the state of use according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 18 is a side view of the scissors of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a front view of the scissors of Fig. 17, prepared for left handed use, showing the state of use.

Fig. 20 is a front view of the scissors, prepared for right handed use, in the state of use according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 21 it;-a si-de view of the scissors of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a front view of the scissors of Fig. 20, prepared for left handed use, showing the state of use.

Fig. 23 is a front view of the scissors, prepared for handed use, in the state of use according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 24 is a side view of the scissors of Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a front view of the scissors of Fig. 23, prepared for left handed use, showing the state of use.

Fig. 26 is a front view of the conventional scissors solely for right handed use.

Fig. 27 is a front view of the conventional scissors solely for left handed use.

- -4- tl/ DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to the drawings.

A first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7 is explained first.

1 Scissors according to the first embodiment comprise a front blade 2, a rear blade 3, a connecting means 4, a front handle 5 and a rear handle 6. The front blade 2 has upper and lower edges 7, 8.

According to this embodiment, the front blade 2 is made from steel used for makingcutting tools and roughly in the shape of an elongated tringle. The front blade 2 has on the uppermost side the upper edge 7 which runs down to the tip of the blade 2 and on the lowermost side the lower edge 8 which also runs down to the tip of the front blade 2.

The rear blade 3 has upper and lower edges 9, 10.

According to the embodiment, the rear blade 3 has the same shape as the front blade 2, but is placed reversely. The rear blade 3 has on the uppermost and lowermost sides the upper and lower edges 9, 10 respectively which run down to the tip of the rear blade 3.

The connecting means 4 links the front and rear blades 2, 3 in such a manner that the front and rear blades are allowed to slidably pivot in relation to each other.

According to this embodiment, the connecting means 4 comprises an opening ( not shown) running through the backward portion of the front blade 2, an internally threaded opening ( not shown) running through 4 1 the backward portion of the rear blade 3 and a threaded screw 11 which engages with the openings.

The front handle 5 is sec"rei T- the front blade 2, permitting a finger receiving portion-12 on the front handle 5 to take an upper or lower position alternatively.

According to this embodiment; the front handle 5 comprises a steel bar 13 which is positioned longitudinally relative to the front blade 2 and whose forward end portion is welded to the front side of the backward end porti?p of-,the front blade 2, a groove 14 provided circumferentially each at the forward end and backward end portions of the bar 13, a finger holding means-15 which is a semi-circle and made from synthetic resin, a bore 16 which is provided at each end of the semi-circular finger holding means 15 and rotatably engages with the groove 14, the finger receiving portion 12 in the shape of a half circle formed by the bar 13 and the finger holding means 15, and stoppers 17 formed on both sides of each end of the finger engaging means 15.

The rear handle 6 is secAred r. the rear blade,3, permitting a finger receiving portion 18 on the rear handle 6 to take an upper or lower position alternatively.

According to this embodiment, the rear handle 6 is substantially the same as the front handle 5 and comprises a steel bar 19 which is positioned longitudinally in relation to the rear blade 3 and whose forward erfd portion is welded to the rear side of the baCkyard end z 1 111 portion of the rear blade 3 in such a manner that the bar 19 does not interfere with the bar 13, a groove 20 provided circumferentially each at the forward end and backward end portions of the bar 19, a finger holding means 21 which is a semi-circle and made from synthetic resin, a bore 22 which is provided at each end of the semi-circular finger holding means 21 and rotatably engages with the groove 20, the finger receiving portion 18 in the shape of a half circle formed by the bar 19 and the finger holding means 21, and stoppers 23, 23 which are formed on both sides of each end of the finger engaging means 21 and one of which is engaged with the opposing stopper 17 on the front handle 5.

Next, the operation of the invention is explained below.

When the scissors 1 are employed for right handed use, the finger receiving portion 12 of the front handle 5 takes the upper position while the finger receiving portion 18 of the rear handle 6 takes the lower position ( Figs. 1-5).

The thumb of the right hand is inserted into the finger receiving portion 12 of the front handle 5 while the fingers other than the thumb are inserted into the finger receiving portion 18 of the rear holder 6. Thereafter, when the front and rear handles 5, 6 are moved up and down, the front and rear blades 2, 3 correspondingly pivot on the connecting means 4 with the result that the object ( not shown), such as cloth, paper or the like, placed between the front and rear blades 2, 3 is cut with the upper and lower edges 7, 10 of the front and rear blades 2, 3 respectively.

- R - 1 When the front and rear handles 5, 6 are moved up and down, one of the ne of the stoppers 17, 17 of the front handle 5 and the opposing stoppers 23, 23 on the rear handle 6 interfere with each other, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby preventing the excessive downward.movement of the front handle 5 relative to the rear handle 6.

On-the other hand, when the scissors 1 employed for left handed use, the finger holding means 15 is rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 4 at 180 degrees on the bar 13 of the front handle 5 while the finger holding means 21 is rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 4 at 180 degrees on the bar 19 of the rear handle 6 with the result that finger receiving portion 12 of the front handle 5 takes the lower position while the finger receiving portion 18 of the rear handle 6 takes the upper position, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Then, the fingers of the left hand other than the thumb are inserted into the finger receiving portion 12 of the front handle 5 while the thumb of the left hand is inserted into the finger receiving portion 18 of the rear handle 6.

Thereafter, when the front and rear handles 5, 6 are.moved up and down, the front and rear blades 2, 3 correspondingly pivot on the connecting means 4 with the result that the object placed between the front and rear blades 2, 3 is cut with the lower and upper edges 8, 9 of the front and rear blades 2, 3 respectively.

When the front and rear handles 5, 6 are moved up and down, one of the stoppers 17, 17 on the front handle 5 and the opposing one of the - 1D_ l e stoppers 23, 23 on the rear handle 6 interfere-swith each other, as shown in Fig. 6, thereby preventing the excessive downward movement of the rear handle 6 relative to the front handle 5.

Since the finger holding means 15 of the front handle 5 and the finger holding means 21 of the rear handle 6 can pivot relative to the bars 13, 19 respectively, the finger holding means 15, 21 can be positioned at the angle which permits a smooth cutting operation when the scissors are in use.

When the scissors are out of use, the finger holding means 21 of the rear handle 6 is rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 4 on the bar 19 so that finger holding means 21 of the rear handle 6 can overlap the finger holding means 15 of the front handle 5. In this manner, the scissors 1 can be compact when out of use and stored.

According to the foregoing first embodiment, the upper and lower edges 7, 8 of the front blade 2 and the upper and lower edges 9, 10 of the rear blade 3 are, all, of-acute angle. Fig. 8 shows a second embodiment of the invention wherein the lower edge 8 and upper edge 9 of the front blade 2 and rear blade 3 respectively are of the acute angle while the upper edge 7 and lower edge 10 of the front blade 2 and rear blade 3 are of an obtuse angle. In this manner, the scissors prepared for left handed use can cut paper, cloth or the like while the scissors prepared for right handed use can cut tinplate, wire or the like. Alternatively, the scissors can be structured in such a manner instead that the scissors can be pinking scissors which can leave a zig-zag cutting k_ 1 tr,,,ce when prepared for right or left handed use.

The connecting means 4 of the scissors according to the first embodiment of the invention is the screw 11. But, a rivet can be used instead.

The front handle 5 of the scissors according to the first embodiment of the invention has the bar 13 secured to the-front blade 2 to which bar 13 the finger holding means 15) is rotatably attached. But, the front handle 5 is not limited to this type. It can be a type shown in one of Figs. 9-13.

According to a third embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 9, the finger holding means 15 is secured to the bar 13 while the front blade 2 has a bracket 24 welded thereto which forms aninsertion opening 25. One end of the bar 13 is rotatably and removably inserted into the opening 25. In this case, the finger receiving portion 12 is allowed to take a required upper or lower position alternatively by rotating the bar 13 at 180 degrees with one end of the bar 13 remaining inserted in the opening 25 or by pulling the bar 13 completely out of the opening 25 and, after turning the bar 13 at 180 degrees, reinserting the bar 13 into the opening 25. In the former case,' the scissors can be provided with a means which prevents the bar 13 of the front handle s. from slipping out and being detached from the front blade 2. In the latter case, the scissors can be provided with a means which prevents the bar 13 from rotaing relative to the front blade 2.

-a- V' According to a fourth embodiment shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the finger holding means 15 is secured to the bar 13. The scissors include a screw 26 fastened to the front blade 2, a bore ( not shown) running through the bar 13 and a butterfly nut 27 which is engaged with the screw 26 so that the bar 13 may be allowed to pivot relative to the front blade 2.

According to a fifth embodiment shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the finger holding means 15 is fastened to the bar 13, and the scissors 1 include upper and lower threaded bores 28, 28 provided at the thickened backward end portion of the front blade 2 and a thread 29 cut on the bar 13 to be engaged with one of the bores 28, 28 so that the bar 13 is removably fastened to the front blade 2.

According to a sixth embodiment shown in Figs. 14-16, the finger holding means 15 is roughly in the shape of a triangle and has a bore not shown) running through the reduced forward end portion thereof.

The connecting means 4 which comprises the screw 11 and a nut 30 to be engaged with the screw 11 can connect the finger holding means is to the front blade 2 in such a manner that the finger holding means 15 is allowed to pivot relative to the front blade 2. The trianguler finger holding means 15 has two distanced, upper and lower internally cut-out cavities 31, 31 at the backward end portion thereof. The front blade 2 has a protrusion 32 such as a screw which is to be engaged with one of the cavities 31, 31.

According to a seventh embodiment shown in Figs. 17-19, the finger holding mejans 15 is roughly in the shape of a triangle and has a bore - is - not shown) at the reduced forward end thereof. A fastening means 33, not the connecting means 4 as the sixth embodiment, is engaged with the bore in the triangular holding means 15 for connecting the finger holding means 15 to the front blade 2 in such a manner that the finger holding means 15 is allowed to pivot relative to the front blade 2. The triangular finger holding means 15 has two distanced, upper and love; internally cut-out cavities 31, 31 at the backward end thereof. The front blade 2 has the protrusion 32, such as a screw, which is to be engaged with one of the cavities 31, 31.

According-to an--eighth embodiment shown in Figs. 20-22, the finger holding means 15 is in the shape of an oval ring. A recess 34 is formed at the upper portion of the finger holding means 15. A bore not shown) runs through the recess 34 of the finger holding means 15 while a threaded bore 35 runs through the front blade 2. A fastening means 36, such as a screw, is engaged with both the bore in the finger holding means 15 and the threaded bore 35 in the front blade 2 so that the finger holding means 15 is removably and reversively secured to the front blade 2 by the fastening means 36.

According to a ninth embodiment shown in Figs. 23-25, the finger holding means 15 in the shape of an oval ring has a mortise 37 while the front blade 2 has at the backward end thereof a te-on 38 of a dovetail in crosssection to be engaged with the mortise 35 so that the finger holding means 15 is removably and reversively secured to the front blade 2.

- 1 k e 1 The front handle 5 is not limited to the semicircualer shape in the first embodiment. The front handle 5 can be a circle shown in Figs. 10 -13, a square ( not shown) or the like, instead.

The front handle 5 of the first embodiment has a curved shoulder portion on both sides of its each end to form the stopper 17. According to the fourth and fifth embodiments, shown in Figs. 10-13, a part of the circumferential surface of - the finger holding means 15 plays role the stopper 17.

W - li- 11 1.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

Scissors comprising:

front blade having upper and lower edges, rear blade having upper and lower edges, connecting means which connects the front blade and the rear blade in such a manner that the front blade and the rear blade are allowed to slidably pivot relative to each other, a front handle secured to the front blade and having a finger receiving portion thereon which can take an upper or lower position, and a7r-earhandle secured to the rear handle and having a finger receiving portion thereon which can take an upper or lower position.
2. Scissors as claimed in Claim 1 wherein all of the upper and lower edges of the front and rear blades are of an acute angle.
3. Scissors as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the lower edge of the front blade and the upper edge of the rear blade are of an acute angle while the upper edge of the front blade and the lower edge of the rear blade are of an abtuse angle.
4. Scissors as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the front and rear handles are secured to the backward portion of the front and rear blades respectively in such a manner that the front and rear handles are permitted to rotate on the longitudinal axis of the front and rear blades respectively for enabling the respective finger receiving portions on the front and rear handles to take the upper or lower position.
5. Scissors as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the front and rear -1,6- handles are secured to the backward portion of the front and rear blades respectively in such a manner that the front and rear handles are permitted to rotate on the axis right angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the front and rear blades for enabling the respective finger receiving portions on the front and rear handles to take the upper or lower position.

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6. Scissors as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the front and rear handles are removably and reversibly secured to the backward portion of the front and rear blades respectively so that the respective finger receiving portions on the front and rear handles are allowed to take the upperlor. 161wer portion.
7. Scissors as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the front and rear handles are removably secured to the upper and lower portions alternatively of the backward end of the front and rear blades respectively so that the respective finger receiving portions on the front and rear handles may be allowed to take the upper or lower position.
8. Scissors as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the connecting means plays the role of the axis right angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the front and rear blades.
9. Scissors as claimed in Claim 5 wherein a member other than the connecting means plays the role of the axis right angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the front and rear blades.
10. Scissors as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the front and rear handles are provided with respective stoppers which prevent the front and rear handles from excessively moving in the direction of each other.
11. Scissors substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

v - 11 - it 1 PubUshed 1990 at The PatentOffice. State House. 66 71 High Holborn. London WC1R4TP. Purther copies maybe obtainedfrom ThePatentOlfice Wet Branch, St Ma2-j Cray. Orpitigton. Kent BUS M. PrInted by Multiplex techniques ltA St Mary Cray. Kent, Con. 1.C7