GB2416322A

GB2416322A - Scissors or tongs with pivot and spring

Info

Publication number: GB2416322A
Application number: GB0514974A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Michael Woodworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-21
Filing date: 2005-07-21
Publication date: 2006-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-21
Also published as: GB0416270D0; GB2416322B; GB0514974D0

Abstract

A hand-operated instrument, such as a pair of scissors (12), comprises two arms (14, 15) pivotally connected at one end and a spring member (16) also connecting the arms outwardly of their pivotal connection for urging the arms to an open position.

Description

24 1 6322 TITLE: Implements

DESCRIPTION

This invention concerns implements, especially hand operated implements, such as scissors and tongs.

Scissors are mainly manufactured from steel, although plastics material is sometimes used, and in two parts that cross-over and are connected at a pivoting point.

Each part has a cutting part and a gripping part, with the pivoting point between them, so that moving the gripping parts together moves the cutting parts across each other to effect a cutting action.

Scissors made from plastics material are generally less efficient than steel scissors, although much safer for use by children. Scissors generally suffer from handedness. The gripping parts or handles of a pair of scissors are generally shaped and sized differently to accommodate a thumb in one and a number of fingers in the other.

Thus, scissors are made suitable either for use in the right hand or the left hand.

Scissors rely on the two cutting blades being in contact at their crossover point in order to effect a cutting action. However, when, for example a left-handed person. .

uses a right-handed pair of scissors there is a tendency for the cutting blades to be urged apart, which detracts from the cutting action and in the worst case causes the scissors to . -. :

make a fold rather than a cut.

An object of this invention is to address the above-mentioned problems with it; conventional scissors.

According to this invention it is proposed that a hand-operated implement having a pair of arms, such as scissors, tongs, clamps and the like, be donned from a blank of plastics material and that the implement when formed have its arms urged into an open position.

According to a first preferred aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for hand-operated implement comprises a pair of arms connected by a spring element, each arm having a pivotal connection component to cooperate with the pivotal connection component of the other any, the pivotal connection component being at or near the ends of the arms to which the spring element is connected.

The blank preferably further comprises means for limiting the extent to which the arms may be opened when the blank is conned into the implement. Suitable means for limiting the extent of opening of the arms comprises a lug on one ann and an abutment on the other for the lug. The lug is preferably on a tongue of one arm, which tongue is locatable in a slot of the other arm and the slot preferably has offset sides, an edge of one side providing the abutment.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the abutment may be provided by a part of a pivotal connection component of the other arm. For example, when the pivotal .

connection component includes at least part of a ring, there may be a gap in the ring, so that sides of the gap act as abutments for the lug located in the gap. ^ ë: The pivotal connection is preferably formed by a circular recess of one arm for '.

receiving a correspondingly sized circular upstand of the other arm. The upstand may be ' . :: in the form of a boss or at least part ring.

In preferred embodiments of the invention the arms and spring member of the blank are formed integrally. Preferably the arms and spring member are moulded in one piece. More preferably the anus, spring member and pivotal connection components are moulded in one piece.

The spring member is preferably a resilient band put under tension when the anus are pivotally connected.

The blank may be formed with arms in the form of scissor blades. The scissor blades may include metal cutting edges.

Alternatively, the blank may have its arms formed pivotably for tongs or a clamp or any other implement having two arm pivotally connected. For a clamp or the like, the blank may include means for locking the arms in a closed position. The arms for a clamp or other gripping implement may be provided with gripping surfaces.

According to a second preferred aspect of the invention a hand-operated implement comprises two arms pivotally connected at one end and a spring member also connecting the arms outwardly of their pivotal connection for urging the arms to an open position.

The implement preferably further comprises means for limiting the extent of opening of the arms. Suitable means for limiting the extent of opening of the arms comprises a lug on one arm and an abutment on the other for the lug. The lug is preferably on a tongue of one arm which tongue locates in a slot of the other arm and the slot preferably has offset sides, an edge of one side providing the abutment.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the abutment may be provided by a part of a pivotal connection component of the other arm. For example, when the pivotal connection component includes at least part of a ring, there may be a gap in the ring, so that sides of the gap act as abutments for the lug located in the gap.

The pivotal connection is preferably formed by a circular recess of one arm receiving a correspondingly sized circular upstand of the other arm. The upstand may be in the form of a boss or at least a part ring.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the arms and spring member are horned integrally. Preferably the arms and spring member are moulded in one piece.

More preferably the arms, spring member and pivotal connection components are moulded in one piece.

The spring member is a resilient band put under tension when the arms are pivotally connected.

in one preferred embodiment of the invention the arms are in the form of scissor blades. The scissor blades may include metal cutting edges.

Other preferred implements of the invention have arms that form tongs or a clamp. The arms for a clamp or other gripping implement may include means for locking the arms in a closed position and the arms may have gripping surfaces.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with .

reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view from one side of a blank for a pair of scissors; Figure 2 is a top view of the blank of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view from the other side of the blank of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a bottom view of the blank of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a view from one side of a pair of scissors from the blank of Figures l to 4 open; Figure 6 is a view from the other side of the pair of scissors of Figure 5 open; Figure 7 is a view from one side of the pair of scissors of Figures 5 and 6 closed; Figure 8 is a view from the other side of the pair of scissors of Figures 5 and 6 closed; Figure 9 is a perspective view from one side of the scissors of Figures 5 and 6 open; Figure 10 is a perspective from the other side of the scissors of Figures 5 and 6 open; Figure 1 1 is a view from one side of a blank for a pair of tongs of the invention; Figure 12 is a top view of the blank of Figure I 1; Figure] 3 is a view from the other side of the blank of Figure 11; Figure 14 is a view from one side of a pair of tongs made from the blank of Figures 11 to 13; Figure l 5 is a view from the other side of the pair of tongs of Figure 14; Figure 16 is a view corresponding to that of Figure 14 with internal detail shown .

in broken lines; Figure 17 is a view from one side of a clamp according to the invention, open; Figure 18 is a view from the same side of the clamp of Figure 17, closed; .e Figure l 9 is a view from the opposite side of the clamp of Figure 17, open; Figure 20 is a side view of another pair of scissors according to the invention, open; Figure 21 is a side view of the pair of scissors of Figure 20, closed; Figure 22 is a side view of yet another pair of scissors according to the invention, open; and Figure 23 is a side view of the scissors of Figure 22, closed.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings a blank 10 for forming a pair of scissors 12 (see Figures 5 to 10 of the drawings) is moulded in one piece of plastics material. The blank 10 has a pair of arms 14, 15 connected by a spring element 16. The spring element 16 continues along each arm as a flange 18. One arm 14 has its main body to one edge of the flange 18 and the other arm 15 has its main body to the opposite edge of the flange 18.

The anus 14, 15 taper towards their free ends and have their edges 20 opposite the flange 18 formed as cutting edges 32, 34. Each arm 14, 15 has a pivotal connection component 22, 24 respectively at its wider end away from its free end. In the blank the pivotal connection components 22, 24 extend beyond the respective junctions of the arms 14, 15 with the spring element 16. The pivotal connection components 14, 15 are generally circular and have on one arm a circular recess 26 and on the other arm a circular boss or pin 28. ' e * One arm IS has a tongue 30 extending from its cutting edge 34 away from the flange and the other arm 14 has an aperture 36 therein covered by a guard plate 38 spaced therefrom by a sufficient distance to allow the tongue of the other arm to be ese inserted and be free to move parallel to the first arm. The tongue 30 has a stop 40 that .

retains the tongue by acting against edge 42 of the aperture 36 as an abutment.

The blank JO is formed into a pair of scissors 12 by overlapping the pivotal connection components 22, 24 whilst inserting the tongue 30 between the other arm 14 and the guard plate 38 until the stop 40 of the tongue snaps past the edge of the aperture 42 and the pivotal connection components fit together. In this arrangement, the arms will be open and cutting is effected by squeezing the arms to overlap each other. The spring element 16 acts to urge the arms apart. Thus, in a cutting operation, where in contrast a conventional pair of scissors has to be operated to open and close its cutting arms, the scissors of the invention only need a closing operation making them easier to use.

Scissors generally operate by the overlap of the blades at a cutting point. As long as the blades are in contact at their intersection, they will perform a cutting operation irrespective of their degree of sharpness. If there is no contact, the scissor arms act to fold a sheet of paper or the like rather than cut through it.

The flange 18 is shaped so that when the blank is bent to form the scissors, the spring element is tensioned in such a way that the two arms are urged across each other to maintain contact at their intersection and hence the cutting ability of the scissors.

:., e.

Another feature of the illustrated scissors 12 is that, because the arms 14, 15 are. . be: effectively mirror images the assembled scissors are not hand orientated. In other words they can be used in either the right or left hand. .. . : Turning to Figures 11 to 16 of the accompanying drawings a pair of food tongs . A..

is shown using a similar mechanism to that of the scissors shown in Figures 5 to 10. . ë: A blank 52 for the tongs is again moulded in one piece of plastics material. The blank has a pair of arms 54, 56 connected by a spring element 57. The arms 54, 56 may be provided with any desired shaping for gripping purposes.

Each arm has a pivotal connection component 58, 60 away from its free end. In the blank 52, the pivotal connection components extend beyond the respective junctions with the spring element 57. The pivotal connection components 58, 60 are generally circular and comprise on one arm 54 a circular recess 62 and on the other arm 56 a circular boss 64. Also, one pivotal connection 58 has a rim 66 with a gap 67 therein and the other pivotal connection 60 has a stop 68 thereon, that in the assembled tongs locates in the gap 66. The gap is wider than the stop 67.

The tongs are formed by bending the arms 54, 56 together and locating the pivotal connection components 58, 60 together, i.e. with the boss 64 in the recess 62 and with the stop in the gap 66, so that the spring element 57 is under tension.

The stop 68 and gap 66 are so sized and positioned that the stop abuts one side of the gap to limit the open extent of the arms of the tongs, which are urged apart by the spring element 57. The gap is sufficiently wide to allow the arms to be closed together at their free ends with the stop 68 no more than abutting the opposite side of the gap.

In Figures 17 to 19 of the accompanying drawings there is shown a clamp 80 ... c

based on the invention. In addition to the pivot and spring mechanism as described above for other embodiments of the invention, the clamp has arms 82, 84 that are shaped ''. '..:

along their facing sides to provide clamping or gripping faces 886, 88 respectively towards their free ends. These faces 84, 86 may be profiled for grip or have gripping material thereon and the faces are so orientated that when the arms of the clamp are closed, these faces meet along their length.

The clamp includes a locking mechanism, in which overlapping tongues 90, 92 have cooperating formations that engage to lock the clamp when the arms are closed.

Depressing the innermost tongue 92 will release the lock.

Figures 20 and 21 of the drawings show another form of scissors 100 according to the invention. The blades or arms 102, 104 of the scissors in this forth are shown as being more pointed than those of the scissors of Figures 5 to 10.

Finally, in Figures 22 and 23 yet another pair of scissors 110 according to the invention is shown to illustrate how the shaping of the arms or blades 112, 114 of the scissors can be varied.

It will be appreciated that whilst the invention has been described by means of certain hand-operated implements, the principles of the invention may be embodied in other types of element where arms are required to be moved together from a common pivot for operation thereof. . ee - ë .e ë .. ..

Claims

1. A hand-operated implement comprising two arms pivotally connected at one end and a spring member also connecting the arms outwardly of their pivotal connection for urging the arms to an open position.

2. An implement as claimed in claim I further comprising means for limiting the extent of opening of the arms.

3. An implement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for limiting the extent of opening of the arms comprises a lug on one arm and an abutment on the other for the lug.

4. An implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lug is on a tongue of one arm which tongue locates in a slot of the other arm.

5. An implement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the slot has offset sides, an edge of one side providing the abutment. . .

6. An implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the abutment is provided by part of.. :'.

a pivotal connection component of the other arm. ...

7. An implement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pivotal connection component ..

is at least part of a ring having a gap therein, a side of the gap providing the abutment. . em. .

8. An implement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pivotal . . connection is formed by a circular recess of one arm receiving a correspondingly sized circular upstand of the other arm.

9. An implement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upstand is in the form of a boss.

lO. An implement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the upstand is in the form of at least at part ring.

11. An implement as claimed in any one of claims l to 10, wherein the arms and spring member are formed integrally.

12. An implement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the arms and spring member are moulded in one piece.

13. An implement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the arms, spring member and pivotal connection components are moulded in one piece.

14. An implement as claimed in any one of claims l to 13, wherein the spring member is a resilient band put under tension when the arms are pivotally connected.

15. An implement as claimed in any one of claims l to 14, wherein the arms are in the form of scissor blades.

16. An implement as claimed in claim 15, wherein the scissor blades include metal.

cutting edges. .. :.

17. An implement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the arms form tongs. em.

18. An implement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the arms form a..

clamp. .

19. An implement as claimed in claim 18 including means for locking the arms in a closed position.

20. An implement as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the anus have gripping surfaces.

21. A hand-operated implement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figures 5 to lO and 14 to 23 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A blank for a hand-operated implement comprises a pair of arms connected by a spring element, each any having a pivotal connection component to cooperate with the pivotal connection component of the other arm, the pivotal connection component being at or near the ends of the arms to which the spring element is connected.

23. A blank as claimed in claim 22, wherein the blank further comprises means for limiting the extent to which the arms may be opened when the blank is formed into the implement.

24. A blank as claimed in claim 23, wherein the means for limiting the extent of opening of the arms comprises a lug on one arm and an abutment on the other for the lug.

25. A blank as claimed in claim 24, wherein the lug is on a tongue of one arm which...: tongue is locatable in a slot of the other arm. . .

26. A blank as claimed in claim 25, wherein the slot has offset sides, an edge of one .

side providing the abutment. ..

27. A blank as claimed in claim 24, wherein the abutment is provided by part of a . . pivotal connection component of the other arm.

28. A blank as claimed in claim 27, wherein the pivotal connection component includes at least part of a ring having a gap therein and the abutment is provided by a side of the gap.

29. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 28, wherein the pivotal connection is formed by a circular recess of one arm for receiving a correspondingly sized circular upstand of the other arm.

30. A blank as claimed in claim 29, wherein the upstand is in the form of a boss.

31. A blank as claimed in claim 29, wherein the upstand is in the form of at least a part ring.

32. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 31, wherein the arms and spring member are formed integrally.

33. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 32, wherein the arms and spring member are moulded in one piece.

34. A blank as claimed in claim 33, wherein the arms, spring member and pivotal connection components are moulded in one piece.

35. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 34, wherein the spring member is a. . resilient band put under tension when the arms are pivotally connected. . :.

36. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 35, wherein the arms are in the form of scissor blades. *.

37. A blank as claimed in claim 36, wherein the scissor blades include metal cutting.

edges. .

38. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein the arms form tongs.

39. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 35, in which the arms form a clamp.

40. A blank as claimed in claim 39, including means for locking the arms in a closed position.

41. A blank as claimed in claim 39 or 40 wherein the arms have gripping surfaces.

42. A blank for forming a hand-operated implement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of Figures l to 4 and I 1 to 13 of the accompanying drawings. . . ë -. .. .