US3869792A

US3869792A - Finger grip-contoured molded scissors

Info

Publication number: US3869792A
Application number: US436856A
Authority: US
Inventors: Italo Marco Levi Laurenti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-01-28
Filing date: 1974-01-28
Publication date: 1975-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-11
Also published as: CA1014344A; IT1023769B

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided scissors of the type in which the shank of the blade element terminates at its handle-end portion thereof short of defining any rings, and has mounted on each shank stub end a fully selfsupporting ring structure, the improvements being the spaciousness of each of the rings provided by substantially lineally non-curved passage ring side walls together with the shank-end portion of the oval elongated ring having the passage thereof extending on a major slant and defining a curved indexfinger recess adjacent the upper and lower surfaces of the oval ring with each recess being slanted toward the handle-mounting shank portion of the blade element at the respective upper and lower surfaces, together with the thumb ring being shaped such as to define narrowing slot for the thumb on a major slant at the lower mouth-forming side adjacent the respective handle-mounting shank portion of the blade element thereof at the end of the thumb-ring passage nearest the respective handle-mounting shank portion of the blade element thereof, with the terminal portion of the blade back side edge opposite from the cutting forward edge being shaped to define a broad body blade portion between the blade back side edge and the cutting forward edge and to define an exagerated roundness extending from the back side edge to the cutting forward edge of the blade element on which the elongated oval ring is mounted as a plastic unitary selfsupporting ring, the thumb-mounting ring also being plastic and unitary and self-supporting, the respective rings being mold mounted onto blunt stub ends of the shanks of the respective blade elements of the scissors. By the combination of the above noted features, there is provided improved control and improved hand-gripping possibilities of each of the respective rings, during the cutting operation utilizing the scissors. This is possible by virtue of the improved seat-defining rings''s walls and more spacious rings resulting from lineally extending passage-defining side ring walls, together with the broad blade end of rounded shape of the scissors blade element carrying the oval-shaped ring, and also the better gripping of the fingers within the oval ring being effected by opposing elongated convex and concave inner ring side surfaces, with the convex surface being the inner surface of the ring''s side closest to the thumbring of the other blade element.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Laurenti [451 Mar. 11, 1975 FINGER GRIP-CONTOURED MOLDED SCISSORS [22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1974 [21] App]. No.: 436,856

[52] U.S. Cl. 30/254 [51] Int. Cl B26b 13/06, B26b 13/12 [58] Field of Search 30/254, 255, 256, 257, 30/259, 341; 76/104 R, 104 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,092 2/1839 Heinisch 30/341 342,380 5/1886 Orahood 30/257 2,590,024 3/1952 Lieberman 76/104 A 2,776,482 1/1957 Hafekost 76/104 A X 2,965,967 12/1960 Wahl 30/341 R704 4/1859 Heinisch 30/341 X Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-J. C. Peters [57] ABSTRACT In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided scissors of the type in which the shank of the blade element terminates at its handle-end portion thereof short of defining any rings, and has mounted on each shank stub end a fully self-supporting ring structure, the improvements being the spaciousness of each of the rings provided by substantially lineally non-curved passage ring side walls together with the shank-end portion of the oval elongated ring having the passage thereof extending on a major slant and defining a curved index-finger recess adjacent the upper and lower surfaces of the oval ring with each recess being slanted toward the handle-mounting shank portion of the blade element at the respective upper and lower surfaces, together with the thumb ring being shaped such as to define narrowing slot for the thumb ona major slant at the lower mouthforming side adjacent the respective handle-mounting shank portion of the blade element thereof at the end of the thumb-ring passage nearest the respective handle-mounting shank portion of the blade element thereof, with the terminal portion of the blade back side edge opposite from the cutting forward edge being shaped to define a broad body blade portion between the blade back side edge and the cutting forward edge and to define an exagerated roundness extending from the back side edge to the cutting forward edge of the blade element on which the elongated oval ring is mounted as a plastic unitary self-supporting ring, the thumb-mounting ring also being plastic and unitary and self-supporting, the respective rings being mold mounted onto blunt stub ends of the shanks of the respective blade elements of the scissors. By the combination of the above noted features, there is provided improved control and improved hand-gripping possibilities of each of the respective rings, during the cutting operation utilizing the scissors. This is possible by virtue of the improved seatdefining ringss walls and more spacious rings resulting from lineally extending passage-defining side ring walls, together with the broad blade end of rounded shape of the scissors blade element carrying the oval-shaped ring, and also the better gripping of the fingers within the oval ring being effected by opposing elongated convex and concave inner ring side surfaces, with the convex surface being. the inner surface of the rings side closest to the thumb-ring of the other blade element.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 FINGER GRIP-CONTOURED MOLDED SCISSORS This invention is directed to an improved type of scissor particularly of the type having self-supporting unitary ring structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior to the present invention, there have existed scissors of the general type to which the present invention is directed, in so far as superficial appearance similarities are concerned, there being a scissors of which each of the respective ring handles are each totally of plastic mold-mounted on stub-shank ends of the respective scissor blade elements, as well as the thumb ring passage for the thumb being formed by a thickened thumb ring defining long thumb ring passage inner wall with the thumb ring passage being angularly slanted from the upper rearward mouth thereof to a forwardly located opening on the thumb rings lower face adjacent the blade elements stubbed shank portion onto which the integral self-supporting all plastic ring handle is mounted. However, at this point the analogy to the present invention ends, in view of the fact that the grip ping of scissors of the above-noted type is less than satisfactory from the standpoint of ease of insertion of and the maneuvering of and the gripping by the digital finger (i.e., fingers other than the thumb), and in the control of the lever-action cutting blade by the thumb, and in the awareness of the position of the scissors blades relative to the material being cut during a cutting operation, are less than satisfactory with scissors of these general type before the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, objects of the present invention include the overcoming of one or more of the above-noted difficulties, together with other advantages.

Another object is to obtain a high quality scissors obtainable by utilization of low cost materials and process of manufacture, thereby making available to the consuming public quality goods at competitive and reasonably economical prices to the consuming public.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.

One or more objects of the present invention are obtained by the invention as defined herein.

Broadly the invention may be defined as an improvement to the general type of scissors referred to in the above Background Of The Invention, the improvement including each of the rings preferably, but at least the oval shaped ring havingits inner surfaces of the elongated walls forming the ring passage or channel extending substantially lineally in the direction of the passage such that there is no space-occupying rounded fullness intermediate of the length of the ring passage which would cramp or obstructuct insertion and/or movement of the fingers within the ring passage, the lineally extending wall making possible greater spaceousness for a given outer ring diameter, while concurrently the oblong passages inner walls are curved to fit the natural gripping curvature of inserted gripping fingers (other than the thumb) with the oblong wall nearest the thumb ring handle having an inner oblong wall surface of convex shape while the inner wall surface most distant from the thumb ring has a concave shape in the oblong direction of the oblong ring handle, together with contoured upper and lower mouths to the oblong ring passage and the lower mouth to the thumb ring passage adjacent the mounting scissors blades respective terminal shank stub ends being inclined and rounded toward the shank portions nearer the respective lower and/or upper ring surfaces such that there is provided seats for the index tingers forward face in various finger gripping positions for various cutting positions by the oval or eliptical-shaped ring and for the end of the thumb in the forward lower surface of the thumb ring as the forward side of the thumb presses thereagainst in a cutting-operation of the thumb lever action. Also, as a part of the control is effected an improved awareness of the blades positions by virtue of a broadened blade tip of the blade on which shank thereof is mounted the oblong ring handle, together with that blade tip having an end thereof with exaggerated roundness, i.e., an arc of roundness of small radius together with the broad blade, with the are extending from the back edge of the blade to the cutting edge. Such a blade end improves the ability of the person cutting to feel the relative position of the material being cut relative to the scissors blades thereselves. In the thumb ring structure, the lower surface ring mouth adjacent the blades mounting shank portion is inclined and shaped as a seat in the nature of a narrowing slot becoming narrower closer to the lower surface into which the mouth opens, thus providing a snug and fitting seat for the thumb end inserted from the upper ring mouth through the thumb ring passage and extending and projecting from the lower surface mouth. Consistent with the ab0ve-noted advantageous contoured and shaped scissor ring blades and the improved blade end in combination, the rings are most easily obtained at low cost of production and materials by preferably casting as unitary plastic self-supporting handles as heretofore available in the prior art, but now in combination with the abovenoted improvements are a novel combination therewith thereby making available the benefits of the present invention at economical costs to the consuming public.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates in elevation plan view a preferred embodiment of the present invention, disclosing the flat side of the scissors from which the thumb would be inserted, and accordingly the disclosed flat face(s) being properly referred to herein as the upper face and surface of the scissors.

FIG.'2 is a side view in elevation plan view of the scissors embodiment of FIG. 1 as viewed from the thumbmounting ring side thereof.

FIG. 3 illustrates in elevation plan view the opposite remaining flat side as compared to the view of FIG I, of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates in elevation plan view a rear end view of the scissors, in particular better disclosing the angular relationship of the thumb ring relative to the oblong ring, but more importantly further illustrating the lineally extending inner ring walls substantially devoid of curvature. v

FIG. 5 illustrates an in-part view as taken in crosssection along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1, illustrating the molded plastic mounting of the ring handle of the thumb ring on the blade element shank portion terminal stub end thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1 through 5 disclose a preferred embodiment of the present invention, disclosing scissors combination 6, including oblong plastic ring 7 and circular thumb ring 8, with the oblong ring-mounting shank portion 9 of blade element 20 having the oblong ring 7 mounted thereon, and the thumb ring-mounting shank portion 10 having thumb ring 8 mounted thereon, disclosing the upper flat face of the blade element 20 in elevation plan view in FIG. 1 in which the full extent of the broad width of the blade terminal portion 22 is illustrated together with the exaggerated curve-shaped edge extending from the back-blade side edge 24 to the cutting-edge 25 of the blade element 20. The

blade elements

20 and 21 are braded together at their

pivot portions

12 and 11 respectively by the brad having head 13b and shaft 13a mounted in the conventional manner of the art. The oblong ring 7 defines passage 18 by ring structure having concave passage inner wall 17a extending in a concave arc longitudinally of the oblong or-eliptical ring and concurrently the wall 17a extending in substantially a straight line in the direction of the passage 18 between the upper and lower opposited mouth surfaces of the ring 7. The opposite inner face surface 17b extends in a convex curve longitudinally relative to the oblong-shaped ring 7, while extending in a substantially straight line between the upper and lower mouth surfaces for the passage 18. In like manner, the ring 8 has lineally extending walls in the direction of the passage 19 such as the

walls

14a, 14b, 14c and 14d in the extension of the passage between upper and lower mouth surfaces of the ring 8. As viewable in FIGS. 1 and 3, the oblong ring 7 has inclined curved mouth lip portions at b and 15a respectively adjacent the blade element 20 shank portion 9, and similarly there is defined a narrowing slot-seat 14d in the forward side of the lower ring mouth lip of ring 8 at the forward side adjacent the blade element 21 shank portion 10. FIG. 5 illustrates in an in part view in cross-section the ring 8 mold-mounted onto the terminal shank stub end 10a. In FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the flange 16a which abuts the ring 7 is disclosed, together with the contrast of the sharply ending lineallyextending wall 14c sharply ending at 16b.

By the combination of these unique features as noted above, the grip of the hand of the person grasping the scissors during a cutting and maneuvering operation is v significantly enhanced as compared to prior scissors, while having the benefit of the low cost of materials of the plastic handles 7 and 8 devoid of reinforcing metal rings, while having the unbent shanks as disclosed.

Modifications and substitution of equivalents within ordinary skill are within the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A scissors device comprising in combination: substantially fiat-faced first and second blade elements and pivot means for pivotably mounting together the first and second blade elements operatively, each blade ele-- ment having each of upper and lower faces extending in respective flat planes in both longitudinal and transverse directions, ranging from a blade tip throughout bladeand shank portions to and including a handlemountable terminal shank portion, one of the handlemountable terminal shank portions of the first and sec- 0nd blade elements extending angularly laterally relative to its respective blade pbrtions longitudinal axis and relative to the remaining shank portion of the other of the first and second blade elements, each of the blade portions of the first and second blade elements including a cutting edge and an opposite backing edge, and a blade-tip back edge of said remaining one of the first and second blade elements defining a broad blade side face between the blade back edge and the cutting edge, and the blade back edge further defining a round terminal edge extending to the cutting edge thereof; a substantially circular thumb-ring-defining handle mounted on said one angularly laterally-extending terminal shank portion of said ones blade element, the thumb-ring-defining handle being mounted at a point spaced-away from said remaining other shank portion and including handle structure defining a passage extending angularly from ,a lower forwardly direction to a top upper rearwardly direction through its lower and upper surfaces relative to said ones shank portion which extend in said flat plane from forwardly to rearwardly into the handle forwardly of the passage, and the thumb-ring-defining handle including substantially thin walls extending substantially lineally in the direction of the passage and defining a flange extending laterally from an outer ring side surface in a direction such that the flange is abuttable of a side of the ringhandle of the remaining ones of the first and second blade elements, the thumb-ring-defining handle lower mouth-forming portion adjacent the mounted terminal shank portion thereof being rounded and angularly inclined and defining a slot narrowing toward the blade element shank portions thereof providing an elongated converging seat for a digital end of a persons thumb inserted from a rearward upper direction of the thumb ring-defining handle; and the remaining ones of the first and secondblade elements having mounted on its handle-mountable terminal shank portion an elongated fingers-mounting ring structure mounted ofthe remaining blade element and being mounted at a point spaced-away from said one angularly extending terminal shank portion and defining a through-channel between its upper and lower surfaces with the throughchannel having a cross-section of substantially elliptical shape with one longitudinally-extending side wall relative to the elliptical fingers-mounting ring being substantially concave on an inner ring side away from the thumb-ring-defining handle with an opposite longitudinally-extending side walls relative to the ellipticalfingers-mounting being substantially convex on an inner ring side adjacent the thumb-ring-defining handle, upper and lower forming portions of' the throughchannel defining fingers-mounting ring structure adjacent the mounted terminal shank portion thereof being rounded and inclined angularly toward the mounted terminal shank portions thereof such that each of upper and lower mouth-forming portions define a seat receivable of a forward side edge of an index finger.

2. A scissors device of claim 1, in which the thumbring-defining handles structure and the elongated fingers-mounting ring structure each is unitary and selfsupporting.

3. A scissors device of claim 2, in which each unitary and self-supporting structure comprises substantially self-supporting molded plastic composition.

Claims

1. A scissors device comprising in combination: substantially flat-faced first and second blade elements and pivot means for pivotably mounting together the first and second blade elements operatively, each balde element having each of upper and lower faces extending in respective flat planes in both longitudinal and transverse directions, ranging from a blade tip throughout blade and shank portions to and including a handle-mountable terminal shank portion, one of the handle-mountable terminal shank portions of the first and second blade elements extending angularly laterally relative to its respective blade portion''s longitudinal axis and relative to the remaining shank portion of the other of the first and second blade elements, each of the blade portions of the first and second blade elements including a cutting edge and an opposite backing edge, and a blade-tip back edge of said remaining one of the first and second blade elements defining a broad blade side face between the blade back edge and the cutting edge, and the blade back edge further defining a round terminal edge extending to the cutting edge thereof; a substantially circular thumb-ring-defining handle mounted on said one angularly laterally-extending terminal shank portion of said one''s blade element, the thumb-ring-defining handle being mounted at a point spaced-away from said remaining other shank portion and including handle structure defining a passage extending angularly from a lower forwardly direction to a top upper rearwardly direction through its lower and upper surfaces relative to said one''s shank portion which extend in said flat plane from forwardly to rearwardly into the handle forwardly of the passage, and the thumb-ring-defining handle including substantially thin walls extending substantially lineally in the direction of the passage and defining a flange extending laterally from an outer ring side surface in a direction such that the flange is abuttable of a side of the ring-handle of the remaining one''s of the first and second blade elements, the thumb-ring-defining handle lower mouth-forming portion adjacent the mounted terminal shank portion thereof being rounded and angularly inclined and defining a slot narrowing toward the blade element shank portions thereof providing an elongated converging seat for a digital end of a person''s thumb inserted from a rearward upper direction of the thumb-ring-defining handle; and the remaining one''s of the first and second blade elements having mounted on its handle-mountable terminal shank portion an elongated fingers-mounting ring structure mounted of the remaining blade element and being mounted at a point spaced-away from said one angularly extending terminal shank portion and defining a through-channel between its upper and lower surfaces with the through-channel having a cross-section of substantially elliptical shape with one longitudinally-extending side wall relative to the elliptical fingers-mounting ring being substantially concave on an inner ring side away from the thumb-ring-defining handle with an opposite longitudinally-extending side walls relative to the elliptical fingers-mounting being substantially convex on an inner ring side adjacent the thumb-ring-defining handle, upper and lower forming portions of the through-channel defining fingers-mounting ring structure adjacent the mounted terminal shank portion thereof being rounded and inclined angularly toward the mounted terminal shank portions thereof such that Each of upper and lower mouth-forming portions define a seat receivable of a forward side edge of an index finger.

1. A scissors device comprising in combination: substantially flat-faced first and second blade elements and pivot means for pivotably mounting together the first and second blade elements operatively, each balde element having each of upper and lower faces extending in respective flat planes in both longitudinal and transverse directions, ranging from a blade tip throughout blade and shank portions to and including a handle-mountable terminal shank portion, one of the handle-mountable terminal shank portions of the first and second blade elements extending angularly laterally relative to its respective blade portion''s longitudinal axis and relative to the remaining shank portion of the other of the first and second blade elements, each of the blade portions of the first and second blade elements including a cutting edge and an opposite backing edge, and a blade-tip back edge of said remaining one of the first and second blade elements defining a broad blade side face between the blade back edge and the cutting edge, and the blade back edge further defining a round terminal edge extending to the cutting edge thereof; a substantially circular thumb-ring-defining handle mounted on said one angularly laterally-extending terminal shank portion of said one''s blade element, the thumb-ring-defining handle being mounted at a point spaced-away from said remaining other shank portion and including handle structure defining a passage extending angularly from a lower forwardly direction to a top upper rearwardly direction through its lower and upper surfaces relative to said one''s shank portion which extend in said flat plane from forwardly to rearwardly into the handle forwardly of the passage, and the thumb-ring-defining handle including substantially thin walls extending substantially lineally in the direction of the passage and defining a flange extending laterally from an outer ring side surface in a direction such that the flange is abuttable of a side of the ring-handle of the remaining one''s of the first and second blade elements, the thumb-ring-defining handle lower mouth-forming portion adjacent the mounted terminal shank portion thereof being rounded and angularly inclined and defining a slot narrowing toward the blade element shank portions thereof providing an elongated converging seat for a digital end of a person''s thumb inserted from a rearward upper direction of the thumb-ring-defining handle; and the remaining one''s of the first and second blade elements having mounted on its handle-mountable terminal shank portion an elongated fingers-mounting ring structure mounted of the remaining blade element and being mounted at a point spaced-away from said one angularly extending terminal shank portion and defining a through-channel between its upper and lower surfaces with the through-channel having a cross-section of substantially elliptical shape with one longitudinally-extending side wall relative to the elliptical fingers-mounting ring being substantially concave on an inner ring side away from the thumbring-defining handle with an opposite longitudinally-extending side walls relative to the elliptical fingers-mounting being substantially convex on an inner ring side adjacent the thumbring-defining handle, upper and lower forming portions of the through-channel defining fingers-mounting ring structure adjacent the mounted terminal shank portion thereof being rounded and inclined angularly toward the mounted terminal shank portions thereof such that Each of upper and lower mouth-forming portions define a seat receivable of a forward side edge of an index finger.

2. A scissors device of claim 1, in which the thumb-ring-defining handle''s structure and the elongated fingers-mounting ring structure each is unitary and self-supporting.