HK1179570B - Separable scissors with elastic stoppers - Google Patents

Description

Separable scissors with elastic stopper

Technical Field

The present invention relates to pivoting hand tools, and more particularly to a pair of removable and assemblable scissors or the like.

Background

Scissors and cutting tools have long been used for a variety of cutting tasks including, for example, cutting paper and preparing food. When used for preparing food, scissors, such as kitchen scissors, may include several areas, such as the area between the arms of the scissors, which is difficult to clean thoroughly.

Scissors that can be disassembled for cleaning are now known, but have various disadvantages. For example, certain detachable scissors designs require the user to remove a nut or other fastener at the scissors pivot point. The fasteners are typically small and can be easily dropped or lost. Removal and installation of the fastener can be cumbersome, for example, if the user has limited manual dexterity, increasing the risk of shear injury,

pivoting hand tools are now known in which a pair of pivotable arms can be detached in the following manner: by aligning a projecting post on one of the two pivotable arms with a key slot having an aperture on the other arm. For example, U.S. patent No. 2,619,965 describes a special purpose scissors having a projecting post and which can be disassembled by spreading the two arms apart to an angular displacement beyond the normal range of use. Such a design may be suitable for particular applications where a relatively narrow range of angular displacement is required, but may not be suitable for certain applications, such as kitchen shears, for example, where a wider range of angular displacement may result in inadvertent separation during normal use.

Thus, there is a need to provide an easily manufactured device for controlling the angular position of a detachable scissor arm for easy disassembly and reassembly and to prevent accidental separation during use.

Disclosure of Invention

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention provide a detachable pivoting hand tool, such as scissors, that includes a handle structure that controls the relative angular position of a pivotable arm to allow disassembly and reassembly and prevent accidental separation during use.

In an illustrative embodiment, the handle structure includes a resilient interference portion that provides a stop between the first and second arms at a first predetermined angle to prevent angular displacement of the two arms beyond the predetermined angle until a disassembly pivoting force is applied to the first and second arms. The resilient blocking portion is deflected by application of a detachment pivot force to release the blocking. The resilient blocking portion applies an axial removal force to the first and second arms upon deflection.

Drawings

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a detachable-reloadable scissors according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed top view of the apertures, posts and stops of the scissors according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention when placed in an open orientation;

FIG. 3 is a detailed top view of the aperture, post and blocking portion of the scissors, when placed in a closed orientation, according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a blocking portion of a pair of scissors according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

A detachable-reloadable scissors according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention is described with reference to fig. 1. Scissors 100 comprise a first arm 102, the first arm 102 comprising a first cutting portion 104, a first handle portion 106 and a post 108, the post 108 extending from a pivot point between the first cutting portion 104 and the first handle portion 106. The second arm 110 includes a second cutout 112, a second handle portion 114, and an aperture 116 between the second cutout 112 and the second handle portion 114.

Fig. 2 and 3 provide enlarged views of the area around the post 108 of the scissors, with fig. 2 showing the scissors in a closed orientation and fig. 3 showing the scissors in an open orientation. The post 108 includes a shaft portion 118 that extends through the aperture 116 to pivotably connect the first arm 102 with the second arm 110, which allows for relative angular displacement between the first arm 102 and the second arm 110 about a pivot point. The post 108 also includes at least one tab 120 extending over at least one edge of the aperture 116 to abut the first arm 102 against the second arm 110.

As can be seen more clearly with reference to fig. 3, the aperture 116 includes at least one keyway 122, the keyway 122 providing clearance (clearance) for the tab 120 during assembly and disassembly of the first arm 102 and the second arm 110. The keyway 122 and the protrusion 120 are positioned such that the gap alignment between the keyway 122 and the protrusion 120 occurs only when the angular displacement between the first and second arms 102, 110 exceeds a first predetermined angle.

At least one resilient blocking portion 124, 124' is connected to at least one of the first arm 102 and the second arm 110. The resilient stops 124, 124' provide a stop between the first arm 102 and the second arm 110 at a predetermined angle to prevent angular displacement beyond the predetermined angle until sufficient pivotal removal force is applied to the first arm 102 and the second arm 104. In one illustrative embodiment, the predetermined angle is between about 70 degrees and 80 degrees. The tab 120 and the keyway 122 are aligned at angular displacements between about 80 and 90 degrees.

In an illustrative embodiment, the resilient blocking portion 124, 124' may be biased to release the blocking by applying at least a disassembly pivot force to the first arm 102 and the second arm 110. Once released, the angular displacement may exceed a predetermined angle to enable alignment between the keyway 122 and the tab 120. After the key slot 122 and the protrusion 120 are aligned, the first arm 102 can be separated from the second arm 110.

In one illustrative embodiment, a removal force is applied to the first and second arms 102, 104 in the axial direction of the post 108 by the offset stops 124, 124'. The axial removal force urges the tab 120 into the keyway 122 and separates the first arm 102 from the second arm 104. The first arm 102 and the second arm 104 can then be easily lifted apart.

In one illustrative embodiment, the tab 120 includes two opposing projections and the keyway includes two opposing grooves that are alignable with the two opposing projections. The post 108 and the protrusion 120 may be, for example, integrally formed with the first arm 102, or may be separately formed and fixedly connected to the first arm 102.

At least one handle structure 128, 128' is mounted to at least one of the first handle portion 106 and the second handle portion 114. In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic stops 124, 124' are formed with the handle structure 128. The handle structure 128 may be made of a resilient material, such as an elastomer or soft plastic.

In the illustrated embodiment, the resilient stops 124, 124 'are formed as extensions of the handle structures 128, 128', which extensions have a stepped profile, as best seen in FIG. 4. The stepped profile 130 includes an external step 132 having a thickness adapted to allow the external step 132 to be deflected by the opposing arm upon application of a removal pivot force. In the illustrative embodiment, the outer edge of the outer step 132 includes at least one beveled portion 136 to assist in deflection of the resilient stop 124 upon contact with the opposing arm.

By applying at least a reinstalling force to the first arm 102 and the second arm 110 in the axial direction of the post 108, the resilient blocking portion 124, 124' may be deflected by the opposing arms 102, 110 to cause the first arm 102 to be refitted onto the second arm 110. The resilient blocking portion 124, 124' is configured to deflect to a non-deflected position when the angular displacement of the first arm 102 and the second arm 110 is reduced to less than a first predetermined angle upon reassembly.

Although the illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to scissors, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other types of pivoting hand tools, such as pliers, clips, etc., may incorporate a resilient stop on the handle within the scope of the present disclosure.

In a more general example, one illustrative embodiment provides a pivoting hand tool. The pivoting hand tool includes a first arm including a first distal end portion, a first proximal end portion, and a post extending from a pivot point between the first distal end portion and the first proximal end portion. The second arm includes a second distal portion, a second proximal portion, and an aperture between the second distal portion and the second proximal portion. The post includes a shaft portion extending through the aperture to pivotally couple the first arm to the second arm with relative angular displacement therebetween about a pivot point.

In this example, the post includes at least one tab including two opposing projections extending over at least one edge of the aperture to hold the first arm against the second arm. The aperture includes at least one keyway comprising two opposing grooves that provide for removal of the projection during assembly and disassembly of the first and second arms. The keyway and the protrusion are positioned such that the clearance alignment between the keyway and the protrusion occurs only when the angular displacement between the first and second arms exceeds a predetermined angle.

In this example, at least one handle structure is made of a resilient material and is mounted to at least one of the first distal end portion and the distal handle portion. At least one resilient blocking portion is formed with the handle structure. The resilient blocking portion provides a block at the predetermined angle of the first and second arms to prevent angular displacement beyond the first predetermined angle until a disassembly pivoting force is applied to the first and second arms. The resilient blocking portion is deflected by applying at least a detachment pivot force to the first and second arms to release the first blocking. The resilient barrier is deflectable by the opposing arms to reattach the first arm to the second arm by applying at least a reattach force to the first and second arms.

The resilient blocking portion has a thickness selected to deflect the resilient blocking portion by the opposing arms under a predetermined removal pivot force.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and/or additions may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, whether presently available or not, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.

Claims (20)

1. A scissors, comprising:

a first arm comprising a first cutout, a first handle portion, and a post extending from a pivot point between the first cutout and the first handle portion;

a second arm comprising a second cutout, a second handle portion, and an aperture between the second cutout and the second handle portion;

the post including a shaft portion extending completely through the aperture for pivotally connecting the first arm with the second arm with a relative angular displacement between the first arm and the second arm about the pivot point;

the post includes at least one protrusion extending sufficiently above at least one edge of the aperture to hold the first arm against the second arm;

the aperture includes at least one keyway providing clearance for the protrusion during assembly and disassembly of the first and second arms;

the keyway and projection being positioned such that gap alignment between the keyway and projection occurs only when the angular displacement between the first and second arms exceeds a predetermined angle; and

at least one resilient blocking portion connected to at least one of the first and second arms, the resilient blocking portion providing a blocking at a predetermined angle of the first and second arms to prevent the angular displacement from exceeding the predetermined angle until a disassembly pivoting force is applied to the first and second arms, the disassembly pivoting force being applied to the first and second arms to deflect the at least one resilient blocking portion and enable the angular displacement between the first and second arms to exceed the predetermined angle, thereby enabling removal of the first arm from the second arm.

2. The scissors of claim 1 wherein the resilient blocking portion is adapted to be deflectable to release the blocking by applying at least a disassembly pivot force to the first arm and the second arm.

3. The scissors of claim 2, wherein the elastic barrier is configured to apply a removal force to an axial direction of the post upon deflection when the angular displacement exceeds the predetermined angle.

4. The scissors of claim 1 further comprising at least one handle structure mounted to at least one of the first handle portion and the second handle portion, wherein the elastic blocking portion is formed with the handle structure.

5. The scissors of claim 4, wherein the at least one handle structure is made of an elastic material.

6. The scissors of claim 4, wherein the at least one handle structure is made of a soft plastic.

7. The scissors of claim 4, wherein the at least one handle structure is made of an elastomeric material.

8. The scissors of claim 4 wherein the resilient blocking portion is formed as an extension of the handle structure, the extension having a thickness selected to cause the blocking portion to be deflected by an opposing arm under the removal pivot force.

9. The scissors of claim 8 wherein an outer edge of the blocking portion comprises at least one ramp portion to assist the resilient blocking portion in deflecting upon contact with the opposing arm.

10. The scissors of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises two opposing protrusions, and wherein the at least one keyway comprises two opposing grooves alignable with the two opposing protrusions.

11. The scissors of claim 1, wherein the resilient barrier is adapted to be reconfigured by the opposing arms to reconfigure the first arm to the second arm upon application of a pivoting reassembly force to the first and second arms, wherein the reassembly force is applied in the axial direction of the post.

12. The scissors of claim 11 wherein the elastic barrier deflects to a non-deflected position upon reassembly if the angular displacement is reduced to less than the predetermined angle.

13. The scissors of claim 1 wherein the predetermined angle is between 70 degrees and 80 degrees.

14. The scissors of claim 1 wherein the keyway is aligned with the protrusion when the angular displacement is between 80 degrees and 90 degrees.

15. The scissors of claim 1, wherein the post and protrusion are integrally formed with the first arm.

16. The scissors of claim 1, wherein the post and protrusion are connected to the first arm.

17. A scissors, comprising:

a first arm comprising a first cutout, a first handle portion, and a post extending from a pivot point between the first cutout and the first handle portion;

a second arm comprising a second cutout, a second handle portion, and an aperture between the second cutout and the second handle portion;

the post including a shaft portion extending completely through the aperture for pivotally connecting the first arm with the second arm with a relative angular displacement between the first arm and the second arm about the pivot point;

the post comprises at least one protrusion comprising two opposing protrusions extending sufficiently above at least one edge of the aperture to hold the first arm against the second arm; the aperture includes at least one keyway having two opposing grooves that provide clearance for the protrusion during assembly and disassembly of the first and second arms;

the keyway and projection being adapted such that gap alignment between the keyway and projection occurs when the angular displacement between the first and second arms exceeds a predetermined angle; and

at least one resilient blocking portion connected to at least one of the first and second arms, the resilient blocking portion providing a blocking at a predetermined angle of the first and second arms to prevent the angular displacement beyond the predetermined angle until a disassembly pivot force is applied to the first and second arms, the resilient blocking portion being biasably releasable by applying at least a disassembly pivot force to the first and second arms, and the resilient blocking portion being biasable by an opposing arm to rearm the first arm to the second arm upon application of at least a rearm force to the first and second arms;

at least one handle structure made of a resilient material and mounted on at least one of the first handle portion and the second handle portion, wherein the resilient blocking portion is formed with the handle structure;

wherein the resilient blocking portion is formed as an extension of the handle structure, the extension having a thickness selected such that the blocking portion is deflected by the opposing arm under the detaching pivoting force, wherein an outer edge of the blocking portion includes at least one ramp portion to assist in deflecting the resilient blocking portion upon contact with the opposing arm.

18. A pivoting hand tool comprising:

a first arm comprising a first distal end, a first proximal end, and a post extending from a pivot point between the first distal end and the first proximal end;

a second arm comprising a second distal end, a second proximal end, and an aperture between the second distal end and the second proximal end;

the post including a shaft portion passing through the aperture for pivotally connecting the first arm with the second arm and for relative angular displacement between the first arm and the second arm about the pivot point;

the post comprises at least one protrusion comprising two opposing protrusions extending on at least one edge of the aperture to hold the first arm against the second arm;

the aperture includes at least one keyway having two opposing grooves that provide clearance for the protrusion during assembly and disassembly of the first and second arms;

the keyway and projection being positioned such that gap alignment between the keyway and projection occurs only when the angular displacement between the first and second arms exceeds a predetermined angle; and

at least one handle structure made of a resilient material and mounted on at least one of the first and second proximal end portions;

at least one resilient blocking portion formed with the handle structure, the resilient blocking portion providing a blocking at a predetermined angle of the first and second arms to prevent the angular displacement beyond the predetermined angle until a disassembly pivot force is applied to the first and second arms, the resilient blocking portion being biased to release the blocking by applying at least the disassembly pivot force to the first and second arms, and the resilient blocking portion being biased by an opposing arm to reassemble the first arm to the second arm upon application of at least a reassembly force to the first and second arms.

19. The pivoting hand tool of claim 18, wherein the resilient barrier is configured to apply a removal force to an axial direction of the post when the angular displacement exceeds the predetermined angular deflection.

20. The pivoting hand tool of claim 19, wherein the resilient blocking portion is formed as an extension of the handle structure, the extension having a thickness selected such that the resilient blocking portion is deflected by the opposing arms under the detaching pivoting force.