WO2009034583A1

WO2009034583A1 - Improved cutting tool

Info

Publication number: WO2009034583A1
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000623
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alberto Piras
Original assignee: Alberto Piras
Priority date: 2007-09-10
Filing date: 2007-09-10
Publication date: 2009-03-19

Abstract

A cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) comprising two jaws (8, 9; 48, 49; 108, 109; 208, 209; 248, 249) each of which being equipped with a blade (6, 46, 106, 206) and mutually cooperating to cut an item (30) interposed therebetween, wherein said jaws (8, 9; 48, 49; 108, 109; 208, 209; 248, 249) further comprise means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) for holding a cut portion (31) of said item (30), and said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) is apt to mutually cooperate to hold therebetween said portion (31) concomitantly to the cutting of the portion itself by said blade (6, 46, 106, 206).

Description

IMPROVED CUTTING TOOL

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to an improved cutting tool. In particular, said improved cutting tool is preferably of the kind having two blades mounted on jaws apt to cut an item interposed therebetween.

During operations of cutting an item by means of tools of the above-mentioned kind, often there is the problem of retaining the portion that is being cut off the main body of the item itself, in order to prevent its falling. This problem is found both in working and household contexts, as well as in other common situations; therefore, the present invention has a very wide field of use and is advantageous for a very high number of users belonging to various categories.

Let us consider, e.g., a nail cutting operation by means of a suitable clipper or the like: it is a common experience that, during said operation, cut nail portions shoot off, even at a considerable distance from the cutting spot, thanks to the elastic energy accumulated during the cutting operation itself. The result of this shooting off is unpleasant and inconvenient, as the user is then compelled to pick up said cut portions and dispose of them, with a difficulty enhanced by the small size of said portions and the area over which they may be scattered about.

Similar drawbacks can be found in other fields as well, like, e.g., in those working activities envisaging the cutting of electric cables, wire, nails or the like. Moreover, let us consider, e.g., the case of a person needing a portion or length of wire and therefore having to cut it off a reel; in order to proceed, said person should first of all unreel a length approximately matching the required one, then hold the reel with one hand, while actuating a cutting tool, such as a wire nipper, with the other hand. The cut length of wire, by being neither constrained to the reel anymore nor in any way retained, will fall on the work plane or, worse, on the floor, requiring a further action by the person to recover the same length of wire. Evidently, this proves to be less than practical since the aim of the operation, i.e. the length of wire, is first "lost" following the cutting operation and then has to be looked for and gotten hold of by the user.

Another example is given by cutting operations for nails, screws or similar items, said operations being frequently found in joinery or carpentry activities. In this case, besides the above-described drawbacks there is the danger that cut portions, due to the kinetic energy acquired during the cutting operation, be projected at high speeds against the user or his/her colleagues, in particular being hazardous to eyes.

A further example is found in a medical context, as during surgical operations the cut portions should necessarily be retained to prevent their contact with body parts from generating surgical complications or infections. This is currently implemented by resorting to a plurality of instruments, for cutting and retaining, and therefore proves rather toilsome.

Object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the known art, by providing a cutting tool according to independent claim 1.

Secondary features of the present invention are defined in the corresponding dependent claims thereof.

A first advantage of the present invention lies in providing a cutting tool preventing a cut portion from ending far away from the cutting spot in an uncontrolled manner.

A second advantage of the present invention lies in providing a cutting tool preventing a cut portion from injuring things and/or persons owing to the kinetic energy acquired by the portion itself during the cutting operation.

A third advantage of the present invention lies in providing a cutting tool allowing to hold a cut portion subsequently to the cutting operation itself, thereby facilitating the use or the disposal thereof.

Another advantage of the present invention lies in providing an improved cutting tool that is simple, effective and safe to use.

Yet another advantage of the present invention lies in providing an improved cutting tool that is of cost- effective implementation. Further advantages, features and operation modes of the present invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example and not for limitative purposes. Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a nail clipper made according to the principles of the present invention;

- Figure IA represents a partially sectional detail of the nail clipper of Figure 1;

- Figure 2 represents the nail clipper of Figure 1 during a cutting operation;

- Figure 2A represents the nail clipper of Figure 1 at the end of a cutting operation; - Figure 3 represents a second embodiment of a nail clipper according to the present invention;

- Figure 4 represents a nipper made according to the principles of the present invention;

- Figure 4A represents a cross-sectional view of the blade region of the nipper of Figure 4;

- Figure 4B represents a cross-sectional view of the blade region of a second embodiment of the nipper of Figure 4;

- Figure 4C represents a cross-sectional view of the blade region of a third embodiment of the nipper of

Figure 4;

- Figure 4D represents a fourth embodiment of the nipper of Figure 4 ;

- Figure 4E represents a cross-sectional view of the blade region of the nipper of Figure 4D;

- Figure 5 represents cutting pincers made according to the principles of the present invention;

- Figure 5A represents a second embodiment of cutting pincers made according to the principles of the present invention.

A nail clipper 1 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1 according to a perspective view. Said clipper 1 comprises two arms 2 and 3 that are fixed to a first end by means of a rivet 4 and are movable with respect to each other thanks to a certain degree of elasticity of the arms 2 and 3 themselves. Each of the opposite ends of said arms 2 and 3 with respect to said rivet 4 is equipped with a blade 6, generally implemented as cutting edge of said end. Therefore, two jaws 8 and 9 are singled out that, when neared to each other, mutually cooperate to cut an item interposed therebetween.

Optionally, to the same rivet 4 there could be constrained a movable member 10 equipped with a rough surface to be used as nail file.

Said nail clipper 1 comprises a pin 11 crossing suitable holes made in the arms 2 and 3; a first end 12 of said pin 11 has a diameter greater than that of said hole in the lower arm 2, whereas a second end 13 of said pin 11 is hinged to an actuation lever 14. Said actuation lever 14 has a generally arched shape and, near the spot in which it is hinged to said pin 11, has a bulge 15 facing the upper arm 3.

Therefore, a pressure force exerted on the actuation lever 14 is transmitted, through said bulge 15, on the upper arm 3, causing motion of the latter toward the lower arm 2 and the entailed closing of the jaws 8 and 9.

The clipper 1 described hereto can be deemed to be substantially known in the art. In addition, said clipper 1 comprises means 20 for holding a cut nail portion, said means being mounted in an arrangement adjacent to the blades 6 of said jaws 8 and 9 and placed on the side in which said cut portion lies during use. In fact, said holding means 20 comprises holding members 21 applied internally to said jaws 8 and 9 adjacently to said blades 6; in addition, the means 20 comprises substantially plane surfaces 22, placed so that at least one of said surfaces 22 defines a plane containing a cutting edge of a blade 6. In other words, said holding members 21 are substantially flush with the cutting edges of the blades 6. Moreover, said members 21 preferably extend throughout the longitudinal length of the blades 6. Therefore, when the jaws 8 and 9 are closed, said surface 22 of the holding member 21 on the jaw 8 lies substantially parallel to (or even in contact with) the surface 22 of the corresponding member 21 of the jaw 9; hence, said surfaces 22 cooperate to hold said cut portion.

Said holding means 20 is preferably made of an elastic and deformable material, like e.g. of plastics, rubber, sponge, paperboard, resin or the like; they could also be made of metal. Said holding means 20 is fixedly mounted on said jaws 8 and 9 (in particular on the blades 6) by means of adhesive material, or it could be molded, melt or cured directly thereon.

Figure 2 shows an operation mode of said clipper 1 for cutting a user's nail 30. A portion 31 of nail 30 to be cut is inserted between said jaws 8 and 9; the subsequent pressure exerted on the actuation lever 14 causes motion of the arms 2 and 3 and therefore nearing of the jaws 8 and 9 themselves, until blades 6 and members 21 come into contact with nail 30.

Further pressure on the actuation lever 14 causes penetration of the blades 6 in the body of nail 30, whereas said holding means 20 is apt to mutually cooperate to hold therebetween said portion 31 concomitantly to the cutting. In fact, the members 21 deform exerting an increasing pressure on said portion 31 of nail to be cut.

Therefore, when the blades 6 get to the end of their stroke completing the cutting operation, the cut portion 31 remains held between said holding means 20, it being pressed between said holding members 21. Then, the user could easily remove the cut portion 31; e.g., by holding the pressure on the actuation lever 14 he/she could bring the jaws 8 and 9 at a collecting container and then deposit the portion 31 thereat by releasing the lever 14. Upon ending this step, the clipper 1 is ready for a subsequent cutting operation.

Therefore, evidently a clipper 1 made according to the present invention prevents cut portions 31 from escaping user's control and scattering on a work plane in an undesired manner. In order to decrease the entity of shear stresses at the interface between the holding members 21 and the jaws 8 and 9 (stresses that could lead to a detachment of the same members 21 from the jaws) , said members 21 may be mounted so that, when jaws are closed, a certain gap remains between the cooperating surfaces 22; the entity of said gap will depend on the usual thickness of the item to be cut.

Alternatively, the layer of adhesive material used for fixing the holding members 21 to the jaws 8 and 9 could be limited to a single section of the interfacing surface of each member 21, not reaching the cutting edge of the blades 6; thus, a first section of the members 21 into contact with the item to be cut would be free to compress without excessively shear-stressing said interfacing surface.

Figure 3 shows a detail of a second preferred embodiment of a nail clipper 41 according to the present invention.

In this case as well said clipper 41 comprises jaws 48 and 49 provided with blades 46 and with holding means 60 comprising holding members 61 mounted in an arrangement adjacent to the blades 46 themselves.

Moreover, said holding means 60 is fixed to said jaws 48 and 49 by retaining means integral to the jaws themselves. E.g., said retaining means comprises clips 70, each of which having a first holding region 71 integral to the respective jaw 48 or 49 and substantially parallel to a surface of said member 61, and a second holding region 72 integral to said first region 71 and apt to house into a suitable groove formed in the member 61. Evidently, the described clip 70 may also be made according to different modes, anyhow sharing the feature of comprising a second holding region 72 cooperating with said holding means 60 to prevent the extraction thereof during the holding of said portion 31. Thanks to the above-described system, the fixing of the member 61 to the respective jaw 48 or 49 requires no use of adhesive materials, as it is simply inserted along a direction orthogonal to that of the plane of Figure 3 and is therefore held by said clip 70. This solution offers the additional advantage that, during a cutting operation, the compression of the holding member 61 according to the above-described modes entails no shear stress at the interface between the member 61 itself and the jaw 48 or 49, as instead would occur in case said interface were to comprise adhesive material. Hence, this prevents the risk of a progressive detachment of the holding means from the jaw following a repeated use of the nipper, owing to repeated stressing of the adhesive layer. Moreover, as the holding means 60 is removably mounted on said jaws 48 and 49, the solution shown in Figure 3 allows easy replacement of the holding members 61 in case they be worn out or damaged by use. Lastly, it is possible to temporarily remove the same members 61 in case the blades 46 require a sharpening operation, which actually could be made more difficult by the presence of the members 61 adjacent to the blades 46.

Evidently, the principles at the basis of the present invention may be applied also to other cutting tools of similar typology.

Figure 4 shows a nipper 101 comprising actuation handles 102 and 103, hinged therebetween on a fulcrum 104 and equipped with jaws 108 and 109.

Said jaws 108 and 109 are provided with blades 106 and holding means 120 comprising holding members 121 mounted in an arrangement adjacent to the blades 106 themselves, analogously to what has been described in the foregoing.

Said nipper 101 may, e.g., be used for cutting nails, electric cables, wire or the like. With modes similar to those described for the nail clipper 1, a cut portion remains held between the members 121, in particular between substantially plane cooperating surfaces 122, therefore its falling is prevented. This results in easier use and improved work productivity thereof.

Figure 4A shows a cross-sectional view of a clipper 101 in which said members 121 are, e.g., glued to said jaws 108 and 109.

As it is shown in Figure 4B, it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that at least one of said substantially plane surfaces 122 of said holding members 121 could optionally have a very limited width, or even substantially be an edge 125. In this case, the cooperating section of said member 121 would have a substantially point-like cross section.

Analogously to what has been described hereto, in this embodiment as well the cut portion 31 remains held between the holding means 120, it being clamped between said mutually cooperating edges 125. Evidently, the same technical solution applies also to embodiments described hereto and hereinafter.

A cross section of a third embodiment of a nipper according to the present invention is shown in Figure 4C, where said holding means 120 is fixed by retaining means or clips 170 alike that already described for said nipper 40, in particular apt to engage suitable grooves formed on the holding members 121.

Besides the above-mentioned advantages, said embodiment entails the additional advantage that the members 121 may be replaced by other members 121 having different heights in order to allow, at closed jaws, a gap 123 remaining between the mutually cooperating surfaces 122 (or the edges 125) of the same members 121. This is advantageous in case the item to be cut is rather thick, as this contrivance allows to reduce the deformation required to the holding means 120 during the cutting operation and therefore the force to be exerted on said actuation handles 102 and 103. Said option of replacing the holding members 121 allows to adapt the dimensions of said gap 123 to the thickness of the item to be cut.

In case such a gap 123 is present, at least one of said surfaces 122 defines a plane intersecting the respective blade 106, i.e., said members 121 are not flush with the cutting edges of the blades 106. In other words, said holding means 120 is arranged at a distance greater than the distance defined between blades 106.

Moreover, as it is shown in Figure 4D, the distance between the holding means 120 may vary along the direction of development of the cutting edges of the blades 106, i.e., said substantially plane cooperating surfaces 122 may be tilted therebetween instead of parallel . In case the distance between said holding means 120 varies along the direction of the cutting edges of the blades 106, it is possible to select the section of blade 106 to be used depending on the thickness of the item to be cut .

As a further example, Figure 5 shows cutting pincers 201 made according to the principles of the present invention. In fact, said pincers 201 are provided with jaws 208 and 209 hinged therebetween and provided with blades 206 suitable, e.g., for cutting nails or wire; near the cutting edges of said blades 206 and adjacent to the internal surface of said jaws 208 and 209, a holding means 220 is mounted, apt to hold a portion of an item cut by the blades 206 themselves.

Evidently, the same contrivances already discussed for the nail clippers 1 and 41 and for the nipper 101 apply also to said pincers 201; in particular, in this case as well there may be provided retaining clips for said holding means.

In Figure 5A a further fixing mode for holding means 260 is shown, in particular applied to pincers 241. Said mode provides substantially pocket-shaped housings 251 made in the inside of jaws 248 and 249; said holding means 260 is mounted in correspondence of respective housings 251.

The present invention has hereto been described according to preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example and not for limitative purposes. In particular, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the principles of the present invention may be applied also to other cutting tools, besides those described here by way of example. Said cutting tools may generally be of the type comprising blades cooperating therebetween by moving in an opposite way on a same plane, along directions parallel therebetween and substantially orthogonal to the blades themselves.

Moreover, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that a cutting instrument according to the present invention might comprise a first member of said holding means made of elastic material and cooperating with a second member made of rigid material.

Therefore, it is understood that other embodiments might be envisaged, all to be construed as falling within the protective scope of the same invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241), comprising two jaws (8, 9; 48, 49; 108, 109; 208, 209; 248, 249) each of which being provided with a blade (6, 46, 106, 206) and mutually cooperating for the cutting of an item (30) interposed therebetween, characterized in that

- said jaws (8, 9; 48, 49; 108, 109; 208, 209; 248, 249) further comprise holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) for holding a cut portion (31) of said item (30) ; and

- said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) mutually cooperating to hold therebetween said portion (31) concomitantly to the cutting of the portion itself by said blades (6, 46, 106, 206) .

2. Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to the preceding claim, wherein said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) further comprises mutually cooperating edges (125) . 3. Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) further comprises cooperating surfaces (22, 122) arranged in a mutual substantially planar arrangement. 4. Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to the preceding claim, wherein one of said cooperating surfaces (22, 122) defines a plane containing a cutting edge of said blade (6, 46, 106, 206).

5. Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to claim 3, wherein one of said cooperating surfaces

(22, 122) defines a plane intersecting said blade (6, 46, 106, 206) .

6. Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) is arranged at a distance greater than the distance defined between said blades (6, 46, 106, 206) of said jaws (8, 9; 48, 49; 108, 109; 208, 209; 248, 249) .

7. Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to the preceding claim, wherein said distance between said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) varies along the direction of a cutting edge of said blade (6, 46, 106, 206).

8. Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) is of elastic material.

9. Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to the preceding claim, wherein said elastic material is selected from the following materials: plastics, rubber, sponge, paperboard, resin, metal. lO.Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) further comprises holding members (21, 61, 121, 126) mounted in an arrangement adjacent to said blade (6, 46, 106, 206) of each of said jaws (8, 9; 48, 49; 108, 109; 208,

209; 248, 249) . 11. Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) is fixedly mounted on said jaws (8, 9; 48, 49; 108, 109; 208, 209; 248,

249) by means of adhesive material. 12.Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to any one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) is mounted in correspondence of respective housings (251) substantially pocket-shaped and made in said jaws

(8, 9; 48, 49; 108, 109; 208, 209; 248, 249) . 13.Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to any one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) is fixed to said jaws (8, 9; 48, 49; 108, 109; 208, 209; 248, 249) by retaining means (70, 170) integral to said jaws. 14. Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to the preceding claim, wherein said retaining means comprises clips (70, 170) having a first holding region (71) substantially parallel to a surface of said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) and a second holding region (72) cooperating with said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) . 15.Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said holding means (20, 60, 120, 220, 260) is removably mounted on said jaws (8, 9; 48, 49; 108, 109; 208, 209; 248, 249) . lό.Cutting tool (1, 41, 101, 201, 241) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said blades (6, 46, 106, 206) of said jaws (8, 9; 48, 49; 108, 109; 208, 209; 248, 249) cooperate therebetween by moving in an opposite way on a same plane, along directions parallel therebetween and substantially orthogonal to the blades themselves. lV.Cutting tool (1, 41) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tool is a clipper.

18. Cutting tool (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tool is a nipper.

19. Cutting tool (201, 241) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tool is pincers.