US3641667A

US3641667A - Carton cutter or the like

Info

Publication number: US3641667A
Application number: US6910A
Authority: US
Inventors: Norbert Leopoldi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-01-29
Filing date: 1970-01-29
Publication date: 1972-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-15

Abstract

A carton cutter of simple design which is easily fabricated and which device, in an exemplary embodiment, is made of molded plastic. The components of the device are easily made and assembled and the device carries a blade, for example, an ejector-razor type, in a sheathed or noncutting position and in order to expose the blade an affirmative force must be applied by the user, thereby preventing dangerous exposure of the cutting edge of the device during periods of nonuse.

Description

United States Patent Leopoldi 1 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] CARTON CUTTER OR THE LIKE 2,623,282 12/1952 .lauch ..30/l56 X [72] Inventor: Norbert Leopoldvi, 4180 Marine Drive 3,002,273 l/l96l Merritt ..3()/2 Chlcago 60613 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. [22] Filed: Jan. 29, 1970 Assistant Examiner-R. C. Riordan [2| 1 pp No 6 910 Attorney-Mann, Brown, McWilliams & Bradway [57] 6 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..30/2, 30/156, 355/1363 19, A canon cutter of Simple design which is easily fabricated and which device, in an exemplary embodiment, is made of molded plastic. The components of the device are easily made o are l and assembled and the device carries a blade, for example, an ejector-razor type, in a sheathed or noncutting position and in order to expose the blade an affirmative force must he applied [56] References Cited by the user, thereby preventing dangerous exposure of the UNITED STATES PATENTS cutting edge of the device during periods of nonuse. 2,376,887 5/1945 Walters ..30/ 151 X 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ni lf.l llllp, i W snlfi lll 'l 14 I. 26 r l I 18 I U WI 12 'l l" H 11'' I H Ilill Ill. L J

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\ J72 venZar fldrigrilegfl/d'i CARTON CUTTEROR THE LIKE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION This invention, in an exemplary embodiment; pertains to a carton cutter or like device fabricated economically and operated simply, andiwherein a handy compact'carton cutter, using a razor blade or similar such-cutting member, may be easily used without fear-of cutting the .user: duringtimes of nonuse. The carton cutter ofthe inventionin the specific, illustrative embodiment is fabricatedof essentially-three main components which snap-fit or otherwise'coact together to form. the utilitariandevices. The first main blade-carrying member is equipped with aslot or recess into which a cutting blade, such as an ejector razor blade, is inserted. Asecond retaining member snap fits over the recess to retain the blade in the first member and the'blade-carrying. member is then pivotally fitted within a sheathlike .housingmember. The cutting edge of the blade is normally within the housing shroud and'in order to bring. the bladeinto the cutting position, the blade-carrying member must be pivotally rotatedas by the application ofa force to its lower end byythe handof the user. In another embodiment, a safety lock. is contemplated which requires an affirmative, positive actxon' the part ofthe user in order to allow the foregoing pivotal movement in order to bring the blade of the carton cutter into the usableposition.

With the herein disclosed, invention, an economically fabricated carton cutter that is simple to assembleand which can bemade of low-cost materials is made available for a myriad of uses, but primarily, will find, its greatestuse in the cutting of cardboard and the like. Thedevices of this invention are simple to use, are subject to-littlewear, and make replacement oftheusedcuttingbladesimple and fast.- In.the specific embodiment illustrated, the carton cutter components are made of low-cost,,moldable plastic materials which. are not subjected to rust or other corrosion andwhich, by asimple mechanism, bares the cutting edge for instant availability of use. Generallysspeaking, the devices will be of asize easily grasped by the human hand.

SUMMARY OFTHE'INVENTION.

In an exemplary-embodiment, this invention: pertains to a carton cutteror the like comprising. a sheathlike'housing. member within'which a blade-carrying member ispivotally BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation showing. the assembledcarton cutter of this invention in the noncutting state and showing the main components in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a front, exploded view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with the. blade retaining member shown in perspective to indicate detail thereof;

FIG. 3 is a back, exploded view of the device depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similarto that of FIG. 1 showing the device in use; and

FIG. 5 is a simplified bottom view of the; carton cutter of this invention depicted in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While throughout thefollowing. commentary, taken in conjunction with the drawings, the invention will be directed specifically to a carton cutter-made of moldable plastics having essentially three components excluding the blade member, it is to be understood that other materials of constructionsuch as-the metals and their alloys will also suffice. Additionally, while these main components are shown as being unitary or iritegrally formed, they may of'course be made up of several different parts so long as the various hereinafter describedfunctions are retained. In like manner, while a'blade-retaining member is indicated, it is of course possible to use but two es sential components wherein the blade may be received in frictional engagement in a slot orreceiving channel provided in the blade-carrying member. However, for purposes of fabrica tion and to keep the costs of the 'devices within proper per spective, the specific disclosed embodiments of the invention are preferred. In like manner, while an ejector-type blade is shown, it is-within the purview that common double-edged, single-edged and the like razor blades also be used "with, of course, appropriate modification in the members being-made. All of these variations and modifications will not depart from the invention as disclosed herein.

Referring now specifically to the drawings wherein like numerals of references designate like elements throughout, the carton cutter-2 comprises essentially two major components,

sheathlike housing member'4 within which blade-carrying member 5 ispivotally carried so it can be pivotallyiotated about pivot point 6 and, of course, member SQ Housing member 4'is made of thin-walled, molded plastic having sidewalls 8 and 10,

end walls

12 and 14 andtop wall '20, thereby forming an open-bottomed member 4 and defining chamber 16. In side elevation, housing member 4 has a whalelike configuration which is adapted to the contours of the other major component of the carton cutter, as will become apparent. In sidewall 8, aperture 18 is positioned forwardly (toward end wall 14) from the approximate midpoint of the length of housing 4. Aperture l8 is'spaced inwardly from top wall 20of housing-4. Within chamber 16 and spaced inwardly from side walls 8 and 10 is a saddle-typestructure 22 formed by

semicurvilinear segments

24 and 26. The curvilinear portions or radius of portions 24'and 26 may, but not necessarily, havetheir radii congruent to that of aperture'l8.

The'saddle 22fis disposedimmediatelyabove the aperture 18 for reasons which will become apparent when considering that blade-carrying member 28 is adapted to fit within chamber 16" and ride inbearing relation within the-saddle 22 abouta pivot point such. as 6=defined as the approximate centerpoint of aperture 18. The blade-carrying end 30 0f member 28is provided with a first recessed or slotlike portion 32- having upraised walls 32a, 32b and 32c thereabout. Wall 32c is inclined for reasons which will be-apparent. A second recess or blade-accommodating slot 31 is provided having

side walls

31a, 31b and the inclined wall 320 cooperating ,-to receive blade 34. L-shaped cutout 31a is provided to enable displacement of blade 34 from its retained position, if necessary. Attention is directed to FIG. 5 where the blade 34 and retaining member 36 are removed for purposes of clarity to show'the details of construction of the blade-receiving portion. Shallow slot 31d within the slot 31 provides means in cooperation'with a retaining member of aligning, for instance, ejector blade aperture 340 of blade 34. So as to insure the retention of blade 34-withinthe receiving slot or channel 31, a snap-fitting type-' retaining member36, having

inclined edges

38 and 40 for a snug fit with respect to blade 34, is provided with extending or frictionally engaging curved portion 42 adapted toengage the curvilinear portion 32d of noted that retaining member 36 is of congruent size-and' shape as recess 32, the sidewalls 32a, 32b and 325 of 'recess 32 5 receiving the external edges of member 36 in close-fitting abutting relationship. Retaining member 36 is also provided with an upraised boss 36a correspondingin size to slot 34d of blade 34 for obvious retention reasons. Hole 36b is provided for'molding and other non important reasons. Obviously, as elaborate a blade retaining channel or slot need hump portion 44. A great portion of member 28 is provided end 30 of member 28. It will be not" be resorted to as shown, and other more direct ways and means with an upraised or thicker (with respect to the remaining portion) reenforcing edges such as 46 which, in this particular instance, follows. for the most part, the main contour of component 28 as shown. The radius of hump portion 44 is identical to the radius of saddle portion 22 of housing member 4 such that portion 44 rides within the saddle defined by

segments

24 and 26 which may be of any thickness. It should be at once apparent that in the assembled form, and as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1, member 44 is received within saddle 22. In order to retain member 28 within housing 4 in saddle 22, a protuberance or button member 48 (which may or may not be of unitary form with respect to member 28) is provided, and which protuberance is mounted on a springy or flexible section 50, which springiness comes about by reason of the U- shaped slot 52 and also by reason that the thickness of member 28 around U-shaped slot 52 is less than the remainder of member 28 at this area so that allowance or room is provided for the flexing or bending of portion 50 around U- shaped slot 52 into the plane of the paper as view in FIG. 1. In the preferred form, protuberance or button 48 is a separate member secured as by plastic glue to portion 50 for ease of fabrication. The opposite end 54 of blade-carrying member 28 is of double wishbone or springlike configuration, the first spring being formed by leverlike portion 56, while the second, and more wishbonelike appearing in configuration, and forming the terminus of member 28, is safety catch portion 58. The reason for first springlike leg member 56 is apparent when viewing the phantom line showings in the drawings, more specifically in FIG. 4. It is this member which causes all of member 28 to pivot to the downward position (as seen in FIG. I) so as to retain the cutting blade 34 in sheathlike housed relationship within housing member 4. The bottom edge portion 60 of member 28 is serrated or provided with slots or notches 62 which facilitate grasping thereof by the human hand as suggested in FIG. 4. Member 28 adjacent the edge 60 is of cutoutlike configuration to allow for the flexing of the spring member 56 in the downward position toward the surface 64 while safety spring member 58 flexes toward edge 66. Thus, member 28 is shown in the normal or biased position (FIG. I) with respect to the

spring portions

56 and 58 and in the usable position in FIG. 4. The spring portion 58 is provided with foot end 68 adapted to abut the lower edge 70 of housing member 4 or, more specifically, the sidewall 12. It will be noted that spring member 58 has a slight bow or curvature for ease offitting within housing member 4.

To assemble the device (reference being made to FIG. 2), one merely inserts blade 34 within the blade-receiving slot 31, places retaining member 36 thereover, press-fits it into recess 32 and inserts member 28 with the assembled blade into the confines of the chamber 16 defined by housing member 4 and aligns curved or hump portion 44 with saddle 22. Because the button or protuberance 48 and the adjacent portion 52 are greater in width dimension than chamber 16, they will be in the flexed position and button 48 will bear against the interior surface of wall 8 until aperture 18 is reached, at which time it will pop and project therethrough to secure member 28 in pivotal relationship with respect to housing 4. The outermost edge of spring member 56 will frictionally engage and act against the interior surface of upper wall to cause member 28 to assume the position shown in FIG. 1, and in this position, the foot or safety abutment surface 68 of spring safety member 58 will engage the lower edge 70 of end wall 12 and extend therebeyond as shown. To operate the device, one merely exerts a force on spring member 58 tending to displace it toward surface 66 which will bring member 68 within chamber 16 so that it may ride on the interior surface of end wall 12. Once this is achieved, one merely places the fingers (FIG. 4) along the serrated edge 60 which causes member 28 to pivot about point 6, thereby compressing or causing spring member 56 to move towards edge 64 and bring the cutting edge of blade 34 into the operable position. Obviously this pivotal movement is limited by one or both of the spring members or

portions

56 and 58 abutting the interior surface of top wall 20 and end wall 12 of housing member 4. It will be ap parent from the showing in FIG. 4 why the

spring portions

56 and 58 of member 28 are configured the way they are and, for that matter, why blade-carrying member 28 and indeed housing member 4 have the configurations that they do. Other configurations, shapes and sizes are possible, and quite obviously, spring portions such as 56 and 58 could be separate as opposed to integral members and could additionally be made of spring steel or the like to provide the necessary biasing and perform the functions as hereinbefore described. Also, the length of the safety lock portion 58 may be such so as to require a positive two-step manipulation to engage the foot 68 in the safety position. These and other modifications, some of which have been alluded to before and some of which will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, will not detract from the spirit of the invention as disclosed herein.

Thus, an easily manipulatable cutting tool has been disclosed which is fabricated of low cost materials and which is assembled in a simplified manner.

The embodiments in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A cutter or the like comprising a sheathlike housing member, a blade-carrying member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in said housing, pivot means for pivotally mounting said blade-carrying member, a blade mounted. in one end of said blade-carrying member and normally retained within said sheathlike housing, a grasping portion on the opposite end of said blade-carrying member normally disposed outwardly of the housing member, a biasing member on the opposite side of said blade-carrying member from said grasping portion normally disposed within said housing member, said blade mounted in said one end and said grasping portion adjacent the opposite end together with said biasing member being disposed on opposite sides of said pivot means, and said blade-carrying member being pivotable against the action of said biasing member to bring said blade into the cutting position by a force applied to said grasping portion of sufficient magnitude to overcome the normal force of said biasing member retaining the blade sheathed in said housing member.

2. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheathlike housing member is of elongated and thin-walled configuration having side walls, a top wall and an open bottom thereby defining a chamber and one of the sidewalls is provided with an aperture at the pivotal point of said blade-carrying member.

3. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pivot means includes a receiving saddle in the interior surface of the top wall radially spaced from said pivotal point.

4. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sheathlike housing member is of unitary construction and is of a length suitable to be grasped by the human hand.

5. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pivot means further comprises an upper portion on said bladecarrying member having a configuration adapted to be received within said saddle and for rotational movement therein and a protuberance carried on the side of said member and being adapted to protrude through and become anchored within said aperture in said side wall os said housing member.

6. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 5 wherein said one end of said blade-carrying member is recessed to define a blade-receiving cavity on one surface thereof and a retaining plate snaps into said recess to retain said blade within said recess and cavity.

7. A cutter or the like comprising a sheathlike housing member, a blade-carrying member pivotally mounted in said housing member, pivot means for pivotally mounting said blade-carrying member, a grasping portion on said blade-carrying member, biasing means, said blade-carrying member being pivotable against the action of said biasing means to bring said blade into the cutting position by a force applied to said grasping portion of sufficient magnitude to overcome the normal biasing force sheathing said cutting blade, said sheathlike housing member being of elongated and thinwalled configuration having side and top walls and an open bottom thereby defining a chamber and one of the side walls being provided with an aperture to define-a pivotal point, said sheathlike housing member having a receiving saddle in its interior surface of the top wall radially spaced from said pivotal point, said sheathlike housing member being of unitary construction and being of a length suitable to be grasped by the human hand, said blade-carrying member comprising an upper portion having a configuration adapted to be received within said saddle and for rotational movement therein and a protuberance carried on the side of said member and being adapted to protrude through and become anchored within said aperture in said side wall of said housing member defining said pivotal point, said one end of said blade-carrying member being recessed to define a blade-receiving cavity on one surface thereof and a retaining plate snapping into said recess to retain said blade within said recess and cavity, the end of said blade-carrying member opposite said blade being of double wishbonelike configuration to define first and second springbiasing ends, said biasing ends comprising said biasing means and the portion of said blade-carrying member carrying said protuberance being of thinner construction than the remainder and being resilient to allow flexing thereof for ease of placement within said aperture of said sidewall.

8. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first spring-biasing end exerts in the normal or uncompressed state a pivotal force to pivotally rotate said blade-carrying member and to locate said blade within the housing but upon compression allows the cutting blade to be exposed.

9. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second biasing end is compressible in a plane substantially normal to the lohgitudinal axis of said cutter and which in the normal state acts as a safety to engage the bottom edge of said housing wall to prevent pivoting of said blade-carrying member but which upon compression rides within said housmg.

10. A.cutter or the like as set forth in claim 9 wherein at least a part of the bottom edge of said blade-carrying member opposite said blade is serrated for easy grasp by a human hand and said cutter is fabricated of molded lightweight plastic.

' III

Claims

1. A cutter or the like comprising a sheathlike housing member, a blade-carrying member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in said housing, pivot means for pivotally mounting said bladecarrying member, a blade mounted in one end of said bladecarrying member and normally retained within said sheathlike housing, a grasping portion on the opposite end of said bladecarrying member normally disposed outwardly of the housing member, a biasing member on the opposite side of said bladecarrying member from said grasping portion normally disposed within said housing member, said blade mounted in said one end and said grasping portion adjacent the opposite end together with said biasing member being disposed on opposite sides of said pivot means, and said blade-carrying member being pivotable against the action of said biasing member to bring said blade into the cutting position by a force applied to said grasping portion of sufficient magnitude to overcome the normal force of said biasing member retaining the blade sheathed in said housing member.

5. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pivot means further comprises an upper portion on said blade-carrying member having a configuration adapted to be received within said saddle and for rotational movement therein and a protuberance carried on the side of said member and being adapted to protrude through and become anchored within said aperture in said side wall os said housing member.

7. A cutter or the like comprising a sheathlike housing member, a blade-carrying member pivotally mounted in said housing member, pivot means for pivotally mounting said blade-carrying member, a grasping portion on said blade-carrying member, biasing means, said blade-carrying member being pivotable against the action of said biasing means to bring said blade into the cutting position by a force applied to said grasping portion of sufficient magnitude to overcome the normal biasing force sheathing said cutting blade, said sheathlike housing member being of elongated and thin-walled configuration having side and top walls and an open bottom thereby defining a chamber and one of the side walls being provided with an aperture to define a pivotal point, said sheathlike housing member having a receiving saddle in its interior surface of the top wall radially spaced from said pivotal point, said sheathlike housing member being of unitary construction and being of a length suitable to be grasped by the human hand, said blade-carrying member comprising an upper portion having a configuration adapted to be received within said saddle and for rotational movement therein and a protuberance carried on the side of said member and being adapted to protrude through and become anchored within said aperture in said side wall of said housing member defining said pivotal point, said one end of said blade-carrying member being recessed to define a blade-receiving cavity on one surface thereof and a retaining plate snapping into said recess to retain said blade within said recess and cavity, the end of said blade-carrying member opposite said blade being of double wishbonelike configuration to define first and second spring-biasing ends, said biasing ends comprising said biasing means and the portion of said blade-carrying member carrying said protuberance being of thinner construction than the remainder and being resilient to allow flexing thereof for ease of placement within said aperture of said sidewall.

9. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second biasing end is compressible in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said cutter and which in the normal state acts as a safety to engage the bottom edge of said housing wall to prevent pivoting of said blade-carrying member but which upon compression rides within said housing.

10. A cutter or the like as set forth in claim 9 wherein at least a part of the bottom edge of said blade-carrying member opposite said blade is serrated for easy grasp by a human hand and said cutter is fabricated of molded lightweight plastic.