GB2249273A

GB2249273A - Ring cutting device

Info

Publication number: GB2249273A
Application number: GB9023886A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Macgregor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-11-02
Filing date: 1990-11-02
Publication date: 1992-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-02
Also published as: GB9023886D0; GB2249273B; DE9113614U1

Abstract

A device for cutting through a finger ring or like element mounted on a member has a motor driven disc 6 with a peripheral cutting edge and a guard 10 mounted on a headpiece. The guard 10 is mounted by means of a mounting assembly 12 and is located between the member and the ring so that the ring is received between the guard and the disc 6. The mounting assembly 12 allows the disc to be brought towards the guard and to be moved reciprocally relative to the guard in a generally tangential direction of the disc. <IMAGE>

Description

CUTTING DEVICES This invention relates to cutting devices, and particularly to such devices suitable for removing rings from fingers, and the like.

The invention arises from the inventor's efforts to devise a device capable of cutting rapidly and safely through rings worn by human patients. The need to remove rings by cutting can arise after the patient has sustained an injury to the arm, resulting in swelling of the fingers; previously hacksaws or bolt cutters have been used, but these tend to be difficult to manipulate, and can cause injury to the patient. These methods also involve a relatively high risk of undesirable damage to the ring, particularly to gemstone mountings when present.

It has previously been proposed to provide a ring cutting device ("conventional ring cutter") comprising two members pivotally joined in scissors-fashion to provide a pair of hand grips at one end and a co-acting pair of jaws at the other. In a typical conventional ring cutter, one such jaw is shaped to slide between the ring and the finger, while the opposing jaw is provided with a manually rotatable cutting wheel.A device such as this is operated by inserting the first jaw between ring and finger and turning the wheel with one hand, while squeezing together the hand grips with the other hand, so as to cut progressively from one lateral edge of the ring to the other, in an operation somewhat similar to using a conventional can-opener. These conventional ring cutters have suffered from being difficult to direct accurately, and being unsuitable for use with very thick rings, or those manufactured from relatively hard materials. Another disadvantage of such conventional ring cutters is that the rings tends to be pulled upwards during operation, causing the opposite side of the ring to dig into the patient's finger, giving rise to considerable discomfort.

In seeking to solve these problems, the present inventor has invented a device which, it is thought, may find a wide number of uses. Thus, although the preferred embodiment of device described in detail below is specifically intended for such ring cutting operations, it will be readily appreciated that the same device (either with or without minor modifications) may also readily be used in other situations where it is necessary to remove restrictions from delicate members by cutting. For example, embodiments of the invention may be useful in removing children's fingers from bottle necks into which they have become stuck, toes from bath taps, etc.

More diverse uses may also be found for devices according to the invention, such as, for example, the removal of cable clips. Thus, although the word "ring" is used exclusively below, this term is to be understood to include other species of encircling or partly encircling binding, and the like.

The present invention therefore provides a device for cutting through a ring mounted on a member, comprising: a motor driven disc having a peripheral cutting edge, and being mounted on a hand piece; and a guard mounted on the hand piece by means of a mounting assembly, the guard being adapted in operation to be located between the member and the ring, so that the ring is received between the guard and the disc, the mounting assembly being adapted both to allow the disc to be brought towards the guard, and to be moved reciprocally relative to the guard in a generally tangential direction of the disc.

In preferred embodiments, the mounting assembly is adapted to allow pivotal movement of the guard about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the disc, in order to allow the necessary movement between the disc and the guard during operation.

The invention is hereinafter more particularly described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of cutting device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 in position for operation; and Fig. 3 is a corresponding diagrammatic front end view of the same device, also in position for operation.

Referring to Fig. 1, device 2 comprises hand piece 4, upon which is mounted at one end rotatable cutting disc 6 via shaft 8. Shaft 8 is driven by an electric motor (not shown).disposed within hand piece 4. In the embodiment illustrated, the motor is powered by batteries also disposed within hand piece 4. This arrangement is convenient for portable embodiments such as that illustrated, although, equally well, mains powered versions are feasible.

Guard 10 is mounted on hand piece 4 via mounting assembly 12. In the illustrated arrangement, guard 10 is formed of thin metal or plastics sheet, chosen to provide both strength to protect the member from the cutting disc, and flexibility for purposes to be explained further below.

Guard 10 is detachably mounted on mounting assembly 12, so as to allow it to be replaced if damaged.

Mounting assembly 12 comprises mounting arm 14 (securely screwed on to hand piece 4) which is pivotally attached by means of spindle 16 to bracket 18. Bracket 18 is attached to a first member 20 reciprocally moveable with respect to a second member 22, to which the guard 10 is attached. In the illustrated embodiment the first member 20 is longitudinally telescopically slidable within the second member 22 in the manner of a piston and cylinder arrangement. The second or cylinder member is slotted to accommodate bracket 18 in this relative reciprocating motion. Although not shown in the drawings, there is stop means (in this case comprising corresponding stop members provided on bracket 18 and the outer surface of second member 22) to prevent first member m being inadvertently completely withdrawn from second member 22 during operation.

Shield 24 is mounted above cutting disc 6 (here it is attached to mounting arm 14) and is designed to shield the operator from fragments of ring and/or disc which might be thrown up during a cutting operation.

Cutting disc 6 is removably mounted on shaft 8 by means of screw 26, allowing alternative or replacement discs to be fitted. This allows discs to be replaced when worn, and different types of disc to be used when appropriate. For example, diamond coated discs may be used to cut through platinum, steel, iron, brass etc, and carborundum coated discs may be used for softer materials, such as gold, silver, aluminium, copper, plastics and the like.

The disc must be capable of being brought towards the guard in order to cut through a ring. The pivotal mounting of bracket 18 on mounting arm 14 will allow at least some such movement during a cutting operation. In addition (or solely, where there is no pivotal mounting) the flexibility of the guard will also allow some movement of the disc towards the guard. Having a flexible guard also facilitates locating the guard between the ring and the member. The pivotal mounting allows the entire mounting assembly nd guard to be swung completely clear of the cutting dis(:, to facilitate replacement of the disc.

The operation of the device is indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 2 and 3. Firstly, guard 10 is inserted between ring 28 and the patient's finger 30, as shown in Fig. 2.

To begin the cutting operation, hand piece 4 is pivoted about spindle 16 (as generally indicated by arrow " in Fig. 3) to bring cutting disc 6 into proximity with ring 28, and the motor activated.

During the cutting operation, cutting disc G may be [ ressed further downwards in ring 28, and may also be moved from side to side in a saw-like manner (as indicated generally by arrow "B" in Fig. 3) by reciprocating piston 20 within cylinder 22. Repeated passages of the disc across the ring in a tangential direction of the disc greatly assists uniform cutting of the ring in a relatively gentle ranner without putting strain on the bearings of the mogul and shaft, and with relatively little damage to the untlerling member. This relatively gently cutting action also helps to reduce damage to the cutting disc and to minimise heat generation.

At all times during the cutting operation, disc 6 is prevented from making contact with the patient's finger 30 by guard 10.

After cutting, the ring may be removed by prising the open ends using forceps, or by making a second cut, opposite the first.

Although the illustrated mounting assembly provides for relative longitudinal reciprocating motion, other arrangements are feasible. Thus, the guard and a mounting therefore may be located on a bracket pivotally mounted on the hand piece so that the disc is arcuately moveable relative to the guard about an axis perpendicular to that of the shaft.

Claims

1. A device for cutting through a ring mounted on a member, comprising: a motor driven disc having a peripheral cutting edge, and being mounted on a hand piece; and a guard mounted on the hand piece by means of a mounting assembly, the guard being adapted in operation to be located between the member and the ring, so that the ring is received between the guard and the disc, the mounting assembly being adapted both to allow the disc to be brought towards the guard and to be moved reciprocally relative to the guard in a generally tangential direction of the disc.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein said mounting assembly provides for a loose connection between said guard and said hand piece whereby to allow for the said reciprocal movement of the disc relative to the guard generally tangentially of the disc, the guard being mounted on a first member freely reciprocally telescopically slidable relative to a second member which is coupled to said hand piece.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said mounting assembly is adapted to allow pivotal movement of the guard about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the disc, in order to allow movement between the disc and the guard during operation.

4. A device according to both Claims 2 and 3, wherein the said second member is pivotally mounted on a third member solid with the hand piece, the axis of pivoting being parallel to the axis of rotation of the disc.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, further comprising a shield mounted on the side of said cutting disc opposite said guard to provide a measure of protection to a user of the device against stray abraded portions of said ring or disc.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said cutting disc is coated with diamond or carborundum.

7. A device for cutting through a ring mounted on a member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.