WO2020245615A1

WO2020245615A1 - Safety scissors for children

Info

Publication number: WO2020245615A1
Application number: PCT/HR2019/000013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mario MILINOVIĆ
Original assignee: Milinovic Mario
Priority date: 2019-06-07
Filing date: 2019-06-07
Publication date: 2020-12-10

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety scissors (23) comprising a protective guard (22) wherein the protective guard (22) comprises an interconnected front wall (1) and back wall (2) that when interconnected define a recess (15) being adapted to accommodate a movable blade (5) of the safety scissors (23) throughout the full range of movement of said movable blade (5); a stationary blade (4) and a first handle (3) associated with the stationary blade (4); the movable blade (5) of the safety scissors (23) associated with a second handle (7); said protective guard (22) defining a slot (11) for receiving the material to be cut. A bottom edge (26) of the back wall (2) coincides with an upper edge (27) of the front wall (1), wherein said edges (26) and (27) define an upper line of the slot (11), and an upper ridge of the stationary blade (4) is arranged in parallel with a lower edge (28), the lower edge (28) is arranged in the front wall (1) or in a component (41), wherein the upper ridge of the stationary blade (4) and the lower edge (28) define a lower line of the slot (11), wherein a front part of the slot (11) arranged on the opposite side of an ending (9) of the slot (11) comprises the opening for inserting material to be cut. The front wall (1) comprises a projection (13) arranged on an outer surface of the front wall (1) for directing the cut off material upwards and outwards from the front wall (1), and the back wall (2) comprises a curved edge (14) directed downwards for directing the cut part of the material towards and underneath the second handle (7).

Description

SAFETY SCISSORS FOR CHILDREN

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a safety scissors and particularly, but not exclusively, to the safety scissors used by children.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, scissors can be dangerous when used by children. It is very easy for a child when cutting material, such as paper, to accidently cut a finger. Also, when the blades are spaced in open position, it is quite easy for a child to accidently poke a blade into his or her eye or an eye of another child or person with consequential damage being caused to the eye. This problem Is particularly present in children who are Just learning to use scissors and often cannot understand what all the dangers may happen when handling scissors.

Patent application US2017057108A1 discloses a multi-functional holster especially adapted for receiving a pair of child's scissors. The holster is preferably In the form of a rigid or semi-rigid housing having a front and a flange-like periphery defining a scissor opening. A chute is mounted to said housing for receiving the blades of a pair of scissors Inserted Into the scissor opening.

US Patent No. 2,591,740 relates to a scissors for children's use comprising a plate member having lengthened slot therein, a cutting blade member pivotally attached to said plate member adapted to pivot said slot to provide means for cutting of material received In said slot. Said plate member being of sufficient area so that the boundaries of said cutting blade are always within the outer edge of said plate member to prevent accidental contact of said cutting portions with an operator of said scissors.

US Patent No. 2,272,753 discloses a safety scissors comprising a plate extension provided with a slot, the plate extension is arranged only on one side of the safety scissors.

In case of the existing solutions of scissors for children's use, in addition to compromised usability, the big problem is just an understanding of the purpose of a cutting slot by the most children, as the part where the material to be cut Is to be laid.

Further, numerous technical solutions to this problem have been suggested, many of which use a form of protection in the form of a protective guard comprising a slot that is narrow enough to prevent direct contact of children's fingers with the blades. The problems encountered so far with this type of security scissors are diverse; the same size or width of the protective guard prevents cutting of smaller details or preventing the view of the cutting area and thus greatly affects cutting precision. Such bulky guards are often also adding considerable weight to the blade portion of scissors making them cumbersome in the hands of a child learning to cut. Furthermore, the choice of cutting material is primarily limited to relatively thin materials, and it Is also difficult to insert the material Into the cutting slot.

Additional problems incur when trying to cut curved lines due to the tendency of jamming of cut material, and difficulties in estimation of the current cutting point position which Is essential for deciding when to begin rotating the material with an aim to track the curved line.

Also, with previous solutions, it can be noticed that protective guard has the advantage of preventing possible injuries, but the functional features are neglected.

A main object of the present Invention is to provide a safety scissors which is completely safe in that there are no sharp edges with which the child can come In contact, and which includes further usability enhancing features wherein certain portions of the safety scissors provide directing of cut material.

An object of the present Invention is to provide a safety scissors in which the safety feature results from the addition of a simple and inexpensive protective guard to scissors of conventional construction. Said protective guard may be formed Integral with the conventional scissors or may be formed to be removable from the said scissors. Further, said protective guard may be formed from one thin walled piece or two mutually connectable thin walled pieces, the two pieces of said protective guard are Interconnected in a manner to ensure the Integrity of the protective guard as a whole during use of the safety sdssors.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a safety scissors wherein a protective guard which will adequately cover both cutting blades during any position of said blades so no Injuries are possible.

A further object of the present Invention Is to provide a safety scissors wherein a protective guard comprises features enabling positioning of the cut material thus enabling more precise cutting of the material. A further object of the present invention Is to provide a safety scissors wherein a protective guard comprises features enabling directing of the cut material thus enabling deflection of the cut material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a safety scissors having the above features which also is lightweight, easily operated and simple of manufacture.

A safety scissors of the present invention is designed primarily for use thereof with safety by children, but of course, the principle of the invention Is likewise applicable to scissors or shears intended to be used by adults.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a safety scissors comprising a protective guard wherein the protective guard consists of interconnected a front wall and a back wall, said walls when interconnected define a recess being adapted to accommodate a movable blade of the safety scissors throughout the fell range of movement of said movable blade. Said protective guard may be formed from one thin walled piece or two mutually connectable thin walled pieces, the two pieces of said protective guard are interconnected in a manner to ensure the Integrity of the protective guard as a whole during use of the safety scissors. A first handle is associated with a stationary blade and the movable blade of the safety scissors is associated with a second handle. Said protective guard defines a slot for receiving the material to be cut. A bottom edge of the back wall coincides with an upper edge of the slot, wherein said edges define an upper line of the slot An upper ridge of the stationary blade is arranged In parallel with a lower edge of the front wall, wherein the upper ridge of the stationary blade and said lower edge define a lower line of the slot An ending of the slot Is arranged in a back section of the slot. The front wall comprises a projection arranged on an outer surface of the front wall for directing the cut off material upwards and outwards from the front wall, and the back wall comprises a curved edge directed downwards for directing the cut part of the material towards and underneath the second handle. According to the first embodiment of the present invention the first handle and the front wall of the protective guard form a separate integral monolithic portion. According to the second embodiment of the present invention the protective guard consists of the front wall and the back wall connected to a separate entity, wherein connection between the safety scissors and the protective guard Is carried out by snapping components. All edges of the back wall may substantially coincide with all edges of the front wall. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the Invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, In which:

Figure 1 is a view from one side of a safety scissors according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view from the other side of a safety scissors according to the first embodiment of the present Invention;

Figure 3 Is a view from one side of a safety scissors illustrating spaced cutting blades ready for insertion of the material to be cut;

Figure 4 is a view from one side of a protective guard comprising a cutting blade and a first handle according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a view from the other side of a protective guard of figure 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a side view of a movable blade and a second handle;

Figures 7, 7a and 7b illustrate a protective guard In a section taken along the line A-A of figures 1, 4, 5, 14 and 15 according to the first and second embodiment of the present Invention;

Figure 8 illustrates a protective guard in a section taken along the line A-A showing the principle of finger protection;

Figure 9 Illustrates moving of the cutting point and section In the cutting point when cutting to the right;

Figuer 10 illustrates a protective guard in a section taken along the line E-E of Figure 9 illustrating a direction of deflection of a material during cutting to the right according to the first and second embodiment of the present Invention;

Figure 11 Illustrates a safety scissors according to the second embodiment of the present Invention;

Figure 12 Is a view from one side of a safety scissors comprising a detachable protective guard according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 is a view from one side of a safety scissors illustrating engagement of a detachable protective guard according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

figure 14 Is a view from one side of a safety scissors being engaged with a detachable protective guard according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 15 is a view from the other side of a safety scissors being engaged with a detachable protective guard according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In order to achieve cost-effectiveness in terms of cost of large-scale production, the Invention is conceived in such a way that It may be carried out by various polymer injection molding techniques. Cutting blades 4 and 5 of a safety scissors 23 may be formed of either sintered ceramic material, metal or plastic, wherein, during the injection molding process, a stationary blade 4 may be separable or inseparably connected to a front wall 1 or to a component 41 adapted for receiving the stationary blade 4, and a movable blade 5 may be separable or inseparably connected to a second handle 7.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, a protective guard 22 comprising a front wall 1 and a back wall 2, wherein the front wall 1 and a first handle 3 of a safety scissors 23 may be formed as an Integral monolithic portion.

In the second embodiment of the present Invention, a protective guard 22 comprising a front wall 1 and a back wall 2, wherein the protective guard 22 may be disengaged from a safety scissors 23 in which case the safety scissors 23 function as classic scissors. Said protective guard may be formed out of one piece or two mutually connectable pieces, wherein if the protective guard is formed out of two pieces, said two pieces are interconnected In a manner to ensure the integrity of the protective guard as a whole during use of the safety scissors.

According to both embodiments of the present invention, a protective guard 22 may be formed from two interconnected pieces, said two pieces of the protective guard 22 are interconnected in a manner to ensure the integrity of the protective guard 22 as a whole during use of the safety scissors 23.

Although right handed and left handed persons may also use the same design of the safety scissors 23, designs specially adapted for right handed or left handed may be made. The safety scissors 23 for the left handed persons are mirror symmetric in relation to the safety scissors 23 for the right handed. Figures 1 to 10 illustrate first embodiment of the present invention wherein a front wall 1 and a first handle 3 of a safety scissors 23 are formed as an integral monolithic portion.

Figures 11 to 15 illustrate second embodiment of the present Invention wherein a protective guard 22 may be disengaged from a safety scissors 23 by means of engagement fasteners to allow easy detachable engagement with the safety scissors 23.

Figures 6 to 10 relate to both embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to figures 1 to 15, a safety scissors 23 comprising a protective guard 22 wherein the protective guard 22 comprising an interconnected a front wall 1 and a back wall 2, a stationary blade 4 and a first handle 3 associated with the stationary blade 4, the stationary blade 4 may be incorporated as an integral portion of the front wall 1 of the protective guard 22 or of the component 41, while a movable blade 5 of the safety scissors 23 is associated with a second handle 7, wherein said front wall 1 having a slot 11 for receiving the material to be cut, or the slot Is defined by the front wall 1 and the component 41. Each of the stationary blade 4 and the movable blade 5 of the safety scissors 23 are formed with an aperture 8 which is intended to receive a screw 6 for assembling both of said blades 4 and 5. The movable blade 5 can be moved about the screw 6 within the protective guard 22, the movable blade 5 cooperates with the stationary blade 4 in order to cut the material.

The front wall 1 and the back wall 2 of the protective guard 22 when interconnected define a recess 15 (illustrated in figs. 7b, 8 and 10). The recess 15 being adapted to accommodate the movable blade 5 of the safety scissors 23 throughout the full range of movement of said movable blade 5. The front wall 1 and the back wall 2 when interconnected form the protective guard 22 in a form of an animal having an outer circumferential section, where the outer circumferential section has all edges rounded.

The stationary blade 4 may be firmly arranged within an interior surface of the front wall 1 as illustrated in figures 1-10. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the stationary blade 4 may be firmly arranged within an interior surface of the component 41, as illustrated in figures 11-15.

According to both embodiments, a rear edge 37 of the back wall 2 aligns with a back edge 38 of the first handle 3, wherein a wall thickness of the rear edge 37 and the back edge 39 along a connection line is substantially the same so as to form a continuous surface when back wall 2 and front wall 1 together with the first handle 3 are Interconnected. In illustrated both embodiments in figures 2 and 12, the rear edge 37 of the back wall 2 is concave shaped and the back edge 39 of the first handle 3 is convex shaped, but other shapes are possible as long as connection between the back wall 2 and the first handle 3 forms the continuous surface.

Generally, the first wall 1 and the first handle 3, the back wall 2 and the first handle 3 are preferably interconnected by continuous surfaces conforming to the underlying outer surfaces of the safety scissors. Further, the safety scissors 23 as a whole are carried out without sharp edges that could cause injury during their use or the accidental fall.

In both embodiments, the front wall 1 and the back wall 2 of the protective guard 22 are interconnected by means of connecting pins 19 arranged in an Interior surface of the back wall 2 and suitably aligned holes 20 arranged in the interior surface of the front wall 1 (Illustrated In figures 4, 5, 14 and 15) .The connecting pins 19 and aligned holes 20 are evenly allocated within the Interior surface of the front wall 1 and the back wall 2. Arrangement of said connecting pins 19 and holes 20 is adapted to enable the movable blade 5 of the safety scissors 23 throughout the full range of movement of said movable blade 5.

An outer upper surface 40 of the front wall 1 and In the back wall 2 comprises a round or semiround reinforcement 30 enabling them to be thinner and lighter considerably improving ease of use of said safety scissors among children learning to cut. Said round or semi-round reinforcements 30 are illustrated in figures 7, 7a and 7b.

Referring to figures 4, 5, 7a, 7b, 8, 12-15, the connection between the front wall 1 and the back wall 2 may be additionally secured by connecting fasteners 16 and 16a placed in addition to of the round or semi-round reinforcements. The connecting fastener 16 consists of a pin 16' having a pin head 16”. The connecting fastener 16a consists of a hole 16a' having a hole head 16a". The pin head 16" is constructed so as to be manually pushed into or out of engagement with a round or elongated hole 16a' of the connecting member 16a. In figs. 7a to 8, and 13 to 15 numerals 16 and 16a designate connecting fasteners according to the invention for fastening the front wall 1 to the back wall 2 in confronting relationship and in such a way that the front wall 1 and the back wall 2 can be detached and reattached. The front wall 1 and the back wall 2 have a pre-formed installation holes 17 and 18 doubling as reinforcement members 30 of said front wall 1 and back wall 2 adapted to receive said fasteners 16, 16a. The Connecting fasteners 16, 16a being allocated to accommodate the movable blade 5 of the safety scissors 23 throughout the full range of movement of said movable blade 5. The connecting fasteners 16, 16a may, for example, be decorative fasteners. Said fasteners 16, 16a, with its different design, also serve for adjusting the basic design to the wishes of different users.

According to both embodiments, the first handle 3 and the second handle 7 may have at least one extension portion 21 made of elastic deformable material. As well, finger holes of the first handle 3 and the second handle 7 each comprise elastic deformable layer. In this way, a soft, elastic deformable material is used on surfaces that are In contact with the fingers, and on additional surfaces to achieve a desirable design of the safety scissors 23 without compromising safety or functional features. Elastic deformable portions, such as the extension portions 21 and finger holes of said handles 3 and 7, are carried out by overmolding technique in the same processing step. Further, the front wall 1, the back wall 2, the first handle 3, the second handle 7, a connecting surface 25 and the component 41 are made of polymer materials carried out by polymer injection molding technique.

Referring to figures 1-10, the protective guard 22 consists of the front wall 1 and the back wall 2, said front wall 1 having the slot 11 for receiving the material to be cut, wherein the slot 11 Is defined by an upper edge 27, a lower edge 28 and an ending 9 arranged In the front wall 1 , and by a bottom edge 26 arranged in the back wall 2, wherein a front part of the slot 11 arranged on the opposite side of the ending 9 comprises an opening for Inserting the material to be cut. The upper edge 27 arranged in the front wall 1 is spaced from a blade line of the stationary blade 4, wherein an upper ridge of the stationary blade 4 coincides with the lower edge 28 arranged in the front wall 1. The lower edge 28 and the upper edge 27 of the slot 11 of the front wall 1 are arranged substantially in parallel. The front wall 1 and the first handle 3 are made out of one integral monolithic portion.

The bottom edge 26 of the back wall 2 substantially coincides with the upper edge 27 of the slot 11, wherein said edges 26 and 27 define an upper line of the slot 11, and the upper ridge of the stationary blade 4 is arranged in parallel with a lower edge 28 of the front wall 1, wherein the lower edge 28 and the upper ridge of the stationary blade 4 define a lower line of the slot 11. The stationary blade 4 is arranged within the Interior surface of the front wall 1 so that the upper ridge of the stationary blade 4 concurs with the lower edge 28 of the slot 11.

An inferior surface of the front wall 1 at a lower section comprises a cavity 32 (figure 9) being adapted to accommodate the stationary blade 4, whereas the cavity 32 has a shape of the stationary blade 4. In the inner surface of the front wall 1 , from a lower edge of the cavity 32 in downwards direction is arranged an inner part 33 (see figures 2 and 5) which preferably has a rounded triangle cross section. The inner part 33 Is extending along a bottom ridge 34 of the stationary blade 4 towards an undermost part of the front wall 1. The lower edge of the cavity 32 Is arranged to concur with the bottom ridge 34 of the stationary blade 4, while an upper edge of the cavity 32 is arranged to concur with the upper ridge of the stationary blade 4. An outer lower surface 36 of the front wall 1 abuts the Inner part 33. The Inner part 33 has the function of preventing gripping of fingers when the movable blade 5 is lowered towards the stationary blade 4 in such a way that it enables to move away the fingers from said movable blade 5. The outer lower surface 36 is extending from the undermost part of the front wall 1 upwards until a second outer surface 12'. Outer parts of surfaces of the front wall 1 and the back wall 2 each comprise a first outer surface 12. Each of the first outer surface 12 is arranged in outer upper surfaces 40 of the front wall 1 and the back wall 2, while the outer second surface 12' Is arranged only in the front wall 1. The first outer surface 12 of the front wall 1 is extending from the upper edge 27 In upwards direction towards the outer upper surface 40, and the first outer surface 12 of back wall 2 is extending from the bottom edge 26 In upwards direction towards the outer upper surface

40, and the second outer surface 12’ is extending from the lower edge 28 defining the lower line of the slot 11 In downwards direction until the outer lower surface 36. The edges 27 and 26 define the upper line of the slot 11. The first outer surfaces 12 are arranged in the front wall 1 and back wall 2, while the second outer surface 12' is arranged only in the front wall 1. Each of said outer surfaces 12, is rounded and slopes gradually towards the outer upper surface 40, and respectively the second outer surface 12^* slopes gradually from the lower edge 28 towards the outer lower surface 36. The first outer surface 12 arranged in the front wall 1 has cross-section in a form of a wedge 12a, wherein an Interior part of said first outer surface 12 is arranged in a close proximity with the movable blade 5 enabling sliding of a rear face 35 of the movable blade 5 along the interior part of said first outer surface 12. A tip of said wedge 12a of the first outer surface 12 arranged in the front wall 1 is arranged at a front portion of the slot 11 having rounded edge 10 in a shape of a funnel In such a way as to facilitate the insertion of the material to be cut into the slot 11. Also, a tip of the first outer surface 12 arranged in the back wall 2 and a tip of the second outer surface 12^* of the front wall 1, at the front section of the slot 11, each has rounded edge 10 in the shape of the funnel. Further, the first outer surface 12 arranged in the back wall 2 In an area extending along the slot 11 is rounded. The front wall 1 comprising a projection 13, the slot 11, the first handle 3, the first outer surface 12, the second outer surface 12', the cavity 32, the inner part 33, the outer lower surface 36 and the outer upper surface 40 of the front wall 1 are carried out of one piece forming the separate integral monolithic portion.

According to second embodiment of the present Invention illustrated In figures 11 to 15, the protective guard 22 Includes a locking member to allow easy detachable engagement of the protective guard 22 with the safety scissors 23. Further, detachable protective guards 22 are desirable in applications where it is necessary to remove damaged or defective protective guards 22, or to change a design of the safety scissors 23. As illustrated In figure 12, the safety scissors 23 comprises the stationary blade 4 and the first handle 3 associated with the stationary blade 4, the movable blade 5 of the safely scissors 23 associated with the second handle 7, and the protective guard 22. Each of the stationary blade 4 and the movable blade 5 of the safety scissors 23 are formed with the aperture 8 which is intended to receive the screw 6 for assembling both of said blades 4 and 5. The movable blade 5 can be moved about the screw 6 within the protective guard 22 and the movable blade 5 cooperates with the stationary blade 4 in order to cut the material. The protective guard 22 comprises the front wall 1 and the back wall 2 connected to a separate entity wherein all edges of the back wall 2 may substantially coincide with all edges of the front wall 1. The front wall 1 and the back wall 2 of the protective guard 22 when interconnected define the recess 15 (Illustrated in figs. 7b, 8 and 10). The recess 15 being adapted to accommodate the movable blade 5 of the safety scissors 23 throughout the foil range of movement of said movable blade 5. The front wall 1 and the back wall 2 when interconnected form the protective guard 22 In a form of an animal having an outer circumferential section, where the outer circumferential section has rounded edges. All edges of the back wall 2 may substantially coincide with all edges of the front wall 1 , namely the front wall 1 and the back wall 2 may have a substantially identical outer shape.

According to the second embodiment, the safety scissors 23 without the protective guard 22 function as classic scissors as illustrated in figure 11. The protective guard 22 comprises at least two locking suitably aligned pins 29 being part of the locking member to allow easy detachable engagement of the protective guard 22 with the safety scissors 23. The locking member comprises at least two holes 24 provided on the connecting surface 25 arranged between the component 41 and the first handle 3 and at least two suitably aligned pins 29 provided in the interior surfaces of the front wall 1 and the back wall 2, wherein detachable engagement of the protective guard 22 with the safety scissors 23 is carried out by snapping the pins 29 into the holes 24. Although when assembled, the protective guard 22 and the safety scissors 23 have the same design and same functional surfaces enabling positioning of the material to be cut and directing of the cut material, design of the safety scissors 23 differs In that the first handle 3, the connecting surface 25 comprising the locking member, and the component 41 adapted for receiving the stationary blade 4 are carried out of one piece forming the separate integral monolithic portion, wherein the component 41 and the protective guard 22 when connected to the safety scissors 23 define the slot 11. The connecting surface 25 Is extending from the back edge 39 of the first handle 3 in the direction of the blades 4 and 5, wherein the connecting surface 25 is positioned so as to enable detachable engagement of the protective guard 22 with the safety scissors 23. The wall thickness of the back edge 39 is such as to enable positioning of the connecting surface 25 In a manner to extend substantially from the central portion of said wall thickness. The component 41 comprises the cavity 32 being adapted to accommodate the stationary blade 4, whereas the cavity 32 has the shape of the stationary blade 4. The component 41 farther comprises the inner part 33, the outer lower surface 36 and the first outer surface 12'. The lower edge of the cavity 32 is arranged to concur with the bottom ridge 34 of the stationary blade 4, while an upper edge of the cavity 32 is arranged to concur with the upper ridge of the stationary blade 4. From the lower edge of the cavity 32 in downwards direction is arranged the inner part 33 having preferably the rounded triangle cross section. The outer lower surface 36 is «(tending from an undermost part of the component 41 upwards until the second outer surface 12'. The outer lower surface 36 is rounded and elopes gradually towards the second outer surface 12^*. As well, the second outer surface 12’ is rounded and slopes gradually from the lower edge 28 towards the outer lower surface 36. The upper ridge of the stationary blade 4 is arranged In parallel with the lower edge 28 of the component 41, wherein the lower edge 28 and the upper ridge of the stationary blade 4 define the lower line of the slot 11. The stationary blade 4 Is arranged within the cavity 32 positioned in the interior surface of the component 41 so that the upper ridge of the stationary blade 4 concurs with the lower edge 28 of the slot 11. The outer lower surface 36 abuts the inner part 33. The inner part 33 has the function of preventing gripping of fingers when the movable blade 5 is lowered towards the stationary blade 4 in such a way that It enables to move the fingers away from said movable blade 5.

The slot 11 is defined by the upper edge 27 of the front wall 1, the bottom edge 26 of the back wall 2, the lower edge 28 of the component 41 and the ending 9, wherein the front part of the slot 11 arranged on the opposite side of the ending 9 comprises the opening for inserting material to be cut. The upper edge 27 is spaced from the blade line of the stationary blade 4, wherein the upper ridge of said blade line coincides with the lower edge 28 of the slot 11 arranged in the component 41. The lower edge 28 and the edges 27, 28 of the slot 11 are arranged substantially in parallel. Outer parts of surfaces of the front wall 1 and the back wall 2 further comprise the first outer surface 12 arranged in each outer upper surface 40 of the front wall 1 and the back wall 2. The first outer surface 12 of the front wall 1 is extending from the upper edge 27 in upwards direction towards the outer upper surface 40, and the first outer surface 12 of back wall 2 is extending from the bottom edge 26 in upwards direction towards the outer upper surface 40, and the second outer surface 12' is extending from the lower edge 28 defining the lower line of the slot 11 in downwards direction until the outer lower surface 36. The edges 27 and 26 define the upper line of the slot 11. The first outer surfaces 12 are arranged in the front wall 1 and back wall 2, while the second outer surface 12' is arranged only In the component 41. Each of said outer surfaces 12, is rounded and slopes gradually towards the outer upper surface 40, and respectively the second outer surface 12' slopes gradually from the lower edge 28 towards the outer lower surface 36. The first outer surface 12 arranged in the front wall 1 has the cross-section In the form of the wedge 12a, wherein the interior parts of said first outer surface 12 Is arranged in the dose proximity with the movable blade 5 enabling sliding of the rear face 35 of the movable blade 5 along the interior part of said first outer surface 12. The tip of said wedge 12a of the first outer surface 12 arranged in the front wall 1 is arranged at the front portion of the slot 11 having rounded edge 10 In the shape of the funnel in such a way as to facilitate the Insertion of the material to be cut into the slot 11. Also, the tip of the first outer surface 12 arranged in the back wall 2 and a tip of the second outer surface 12' of the component 41, at the front portion of the slot 11, each has rounded edge 10 in the shape of the funnel. Further, the first outer surface 12 arranged In the back wall 2 in the area extending along the slot 11 is slightly rounded.

A further aspect of both embodiments of the present invention relates to features of the protective guard 22 enabling directing of the cut material. The cut material, in particular paper, hangs down after cutting, and the selected arrangement on both sides of the protective guard 22 ensures that the path of the cut material on one side of the protective guard has to run over the projection 13 which guides cut material in upwards and outwards direction preventing collision of the cut material and a thumb, and on the other side of the protective guard 22 has to run over a curved edge 14 which guides cut material towards and underneath the second handle 7 preventing collision of the cut material and fingers. The front wall 1 comprises the projection 13 arranged on the outer surface of the front wall 1 for directing the cut off material in upwards and outwards direction from the front wall 1, and the back wall 2 comprises the curved edge 14 directed downwards for directing the cut part of the material towards and underneath the second handle 7. The projection 13 is arranged on an outer surface of the front wall 1, while the curved edge 14 is extending from the bottom edge 26 of the back wall 2. The projection 13 has a quarter-round contour extending from the ending 9 of the slot 11 towards the first handle 3. The ending 9 of the slot 11 is designed to raise the cut off part of the material from the stationary blade 4 and direct it towards the projection 13. The curved edge 14 is curved downwards and extending from an end portion of the bottom edge 26 towards a lowest part of the back wall 2. The bottom edge 26 of the back wall 2, depending on a desirable design, may be in a form of a straight line or slightly rounded.

The cutting zone 111 extends along the slot 11 until the ending 9. The ending 9 of the slot 11 is designed to raise the cut off part of the material from the stationary blade 4 and direct It towards the projection 13. The projection 13 further directs the cut off material "upwards" and "outwards" from the front wall 1 and prevents the collision of the cut material and a thumb as illustrated with black arrows in figures 1 and 15. Further, the curved edge 14 extending from the bottom edge 26 of the back wall 2 directs the cut part of the material towards and underneath the second handle 7, as illustrated in figures 2 and 14.

According to both embodiments, the first outer surfaces 12 arranged in the front wall 1 and back wall 2 may be very thin which, by the use of a suitable material, allows it to be non-transparent, partially transparent or even completely transparent Furthermore, visible parts of said outer surfaces 12, 12' may have an embossed surface 31 having the appearance of an animal's mouth, making it easier for small children to easily understand the function of the slot 11, l.e. where to lay the material to be cut. The upper surfaces 12 and their transparency can be important for several reasons. The first reason is the precise positioning of the movable blade 5 in relation to the line to be cut Since the movable blade 5 with its blade line is supported by an interior edge of the wedge 12a, the positioning of the blade line of the movable blade 5 relative to the straight line to be cut can be earned out by means of the upper edge 27 of the slot 11. Another reason Is that when cutting curved lines, the material tends to jam or get stuck between the movable blade 5 and the front wall 1. The upper outer surface 12 of the front wall 1, having cross-section in the form of the wedge 12a, above the rear face 35 of the movable blade 5 makes it considerably easier to move the cut off material from the movable blade 5 towards the front wall 1 without jamming as illustrated with black arrow in figure 10. Further, the cross- section of the upper outer surface 12 of the front wall 1 being In the form of the wedge 12a further enables better visibility In positioning of the material to be cut.

In order to obtain a better sense of control over the cutting process, it is very important to be able to see and evaluate the lowering of the movable blade 5 when cutting material embedded In the slot 11. This Is especially Important if the curved line Is cut off because it Is necessary to achieve a good coordination of timely rotation of the material to be cut in relation to the current position of a cutting point 112 which moves continuously from an ending 9 of the slot 11 when lowering the movable blade 5 towards the rounded edges 10 at the front portion of the slot 11 as illustrated In figure 9. For this reason, it is desirable to see the movable blade 5 through the transparent upper outer surface 12 of the front wall 1, which can be achieved by a combination of a small thickness of the upper outer surface 12 made of light or fully transparent material and the movable blade 5 made In dark tone. Said upper outer surface 12 may be made completely transparent, partially transparent or non-transparent depending on the need for a particular design. Further, if the upper surface 12 of the front wall 1 1s made of a lower strength material, It Is possible to have the stiffness required to maintain the safety of fingers In a cutting zone 111. When the movable blade 5 Is lowered towards the slot 11, the upper outer surface 12 of the front wall 1 on its interior side is sufficiently supported by the lowering movable blade 5 and makes It rigid enough to prevent any possibility of Its deformation in the zone around the cutting point 112 that would allow contact of fingers with the cutting point 112.

Generally, the protective guard 22, consisting of the front wall 1 and the back wall 2 wherein when said walls are Interconnected, has all edges rounded. In addition, all visible external parts serving to achieve the desirable design of the safety scissors 23, such as the extension portions 21, are made of elastic deformable material. Said extension portions 21 are not compromising safety or functional features of the safety scissors 23 and are intended for design purposes. The scissors 23 of the present invention may have the profile of an animal.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 front wall 2 back wall

3 first handle

4 stationary blade

5 movable blade

6 screw

7 second handle

8 aperture

9 ending of the slot 11

10 rounded edges 11 slot

12 first outer surface

12* second outer surface

12a wedge

13 projection

14 curved edge

15 recess

16 connecting fastener

Iff pin

16” pin head

16a connecting fastener

16a¹ hole

16a" hole head

17 pre-fbnmed hole

18 pre-fonmed hole 19 connecting pins 20 aligned holes

21 extension portion

22 protective guard

23 safety scissors

24 holes

25 connecting surface

26 bottom edge of the back wall 2

27 upper edge of the slot 11 of the front wall 1

28 lower edge of the slot 11 of the front wall 1 29 pins

31 embossed surfaces

30 round or semi-round reinforcement

32 cavity

33 inner part having rounded triangle cross-section 34 bottom ridge of the stationary blade

35 rear face of the movable blade

36 outer bottom surface of the front wall 1

37 rear edge of the back wall

39 back edge of the first handle

40 outer upper surface

41 component adapted for receiving stationary blade 111 cutting zone

112 cutting point

Claims

1. A safety scissors (23) comprising a protective guard (22) wherein the protective guard (22) comprises an interconnected a front wall (1) and a back wall (2) that when Interconnected define a recess (15) being adapted to accommodate a movable blade (5) of the safety scissors (23) throughout the full range of movement of said movable blade (5); a stationary blade (4) and a first handle (3) associated with the stationary blade (4); the movable blade (5) of the safety scissors (23) associated with a second handle (7); and a slot (11) for receiving the material to be cut, characterized by that

- the front wall (1) comprises a projection (13) arranged on an outer surface of the front wall (1) for directing the cut off material upwards and outwards from the front wall (1), and

- the back wall (2) comprises a curved edge (14) directed downwards for directing the cut part of the material towards and underneath the second handle (7).

2. The safety scissors (23) according to claim 1, wherein a bottom edge (26) of the back wall (2) coincides with an upper edge (27) of the front wall (1), wherein said edges (26) and (27) define an upper line of the slot (11), and an upper ridge of the stationary blade (4) Is arranged in parallel with a lower edge (28), the lower edge (28) Is arranged in the front wall (1) or In a component (41), wherein the upper ridge of the stationary blade (4) and the lower edge (28) define a lower line of the slot (11), wherein a front part of the slot (11) arranged on the opposite side of an ending (9) of the slot (11) comprises the opening for inserting material to be cut.

3. The safety scissors (23) according to claim 1, wherein the projection (13) has a quarter- circular contour extending from the ending (9) of the slot (11) towards the first handle (3), the ending (9) of the slot (11) is designed to raise the cut off part of the material from the stationary blade (4) and direct R towards the projection (13).

4. The safety scissors (23) according to claim 1, wherein the curved edge (14) is curved downwards and extends from an end portion of the bottom edge (26) towards a lowest part of the back wall (2).

5. The safety scissors (23) according to claim 1 , wherein an outer upper surface (40) of the front wall (1) and the back wall (2) each comprise a first outer surface (12).

6. The safety scissors (23) according to claims 2 and 5, wherein the first outer surface (12) of the front wall (1) is extending from the upper edge (27) in upwards direction towards the outer upper surface (40), and the first outer surface (12) of back wall (2) is extending from the bottom edge (26) in upwards direction towards the outer upper surface (40), each of said outer surfaces (12) slopes gradually towards the outer upper surface (40).

7. The safety scissors (23) according to claims 5 and 6, wherein first outer surface (12) arranged in the front wall (1) has cross-section in a form of a wedge (12a), wherein an interior part of said first outer surface (12) is arranged in a close proximity with the movable blade (5) enabling sliding of a rear face (35) of the movable blade (5) along the interior part of said first outer surface (12).

8. The safety scissors (23) according to claim 2, wherein the front wall (1) or the component (41) comprise a second outer surface (12^*), the second outer surface (12‘) slopes gradually from the lower edge (28) towards an outer lower surface (36).

9. The safety scissors (23) according to claims 5 - 8, wherein a tips of said surfaces (12, 12') arranged at a front portion of the slot (11) have a rounded edges (10) in a shape of a funnel In such a way as to facilitate the insertion of the material to be cut into the slot

(11).

10. The safety scissors (23) according to claim 8, wherein an interior surface of the front wall (1) at a lower portion or an interior surface of the component (41) comprises a cavity (32) being adapted to accommodate the stationary blade (4), whereas the cavity (32) has a shape of the stationary blade (4), a lower edge of the cavity (32) is arranged to concur with a bottom ridge (34) of the stationary blade (4), while an upper edge of the cavity (32) is arranged to concur with the upper ridge of the stationary blade (4), and from the lower edge of the cavity (32) in downwards direction is arranged an Inner part (33) having preferably a rounded triangle cross section, the inner part (33) abuts the outer lower surface (36).

11. The safety scissors (23) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each surface (40) of the front wall (1) and the back wall (2) comprises a round or semi-round reinforcement (30).

12. The safety scissors (23) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the connection between the front wall (1) and the back wall (2) is secured by connecting fasteners (16) and (16a), the connecting fastener (16) consists of a pin (16^') having a pin head (16"), and the connecting fastener (16a) consists of a hole (16a¹) having a hole head (16a"), wherein the front wall (1) and the back wall (2) further comprise the reinforcements (30) arranged around a pre-formed installation holes (17) and (18) adapted to receive said fasteners (16, 16a), the fasteners (16, 16a) are positioned to enable a toll range of movement of the movable blade (5).

13. The safety scissors (23) according to claims 1 to 12, wherein the front wall (1) comprising the projection (13), the slot (11), the first handle (3), the first outer surface (12) of the front wall 1, the second outer surface (12’), the cavity (32), the part (33), the outer lower surface (36) and the outer upper surface (40) of the front wall (1) are carried out of one pieoe forming a separate integral monolithic portion.

14. The safety scissors (23) according to claims 1 to 12, wherein the first handle (3), a connecting surface (25) comprising a locking member enabling detachable engagement of the protective guard (22) with the safety scissors (23), and the component (41) adapted for receiving the stationary blade (4) are carried out of one piece forming the separate integral monolithic portion, wherein the component (41) and the protective guard (22) when connected to the safety scissors (23) define the slot (11).

15. The safety scissors (23) according to claim 14, wherein the connecting surface (25) is extending from a back edge (39) of the first handle (3) in the direction of the blades (4) and (5), wherein the connecting surface (25) Is positioned so as to enable detachable engagement of the protective guard (22) with the safety scissors (23).

16. The safety scissors (23) according to claims 14 and 15, wherein the locking member comprises at least two holes (24) provided on the connecting surface (25) arranged between the component (41) and the first handle (3), and at least two suitably aligned pins (29) provided in the interior surfaces of the front wall (1) and the back wall (2), wherein detachable engagement of the protective guard (22) with the safety scissors (23) is earned out by snapping the pins (29) Into the holes (24).

17. The safety scissors (23) as claimed In any of the preceding claims, wherein the first handle (3) and the second handle (7) each has at least one extension portion (21) made of elastic deformable material, and finger holes of the first handle (3) and the second handle (7) each comprise elastic deformable layer, said extension portions (21) and elastic deformable layer in the finger holes are carried out by overmolding technique In the same processing step.

18. The safety scissors (23) as claimed in any off the preceding claims, wherein outer visible parts of the upper outer surfaces (12) and the second outer surface (12^*) have an embossed surface (31).

19. The safety scissors (23) as claimed In any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper outer surfaces (12) are completely transparent, partially transparent or non-transparent.

20. The safety scissors (23) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the front wall (1), the back wall (2), the first handle (3), the second handle (7), the connecting surface (25) and the component (41) are made of polymer materials carried out by polymer injection molding technique.

21. The safety scissors (23) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the stationary blade (4) and the movable blade (5) of the safety scissors (23) may be formed of sintered ceramic material, metal or plastic, wherein the stationary blade (4) is separable or inseparably connected to the front wall (1) or to the component (41), and the movable blade (5) Is separable or Inseparably connected to the second handle (7) during polymer injection molding technique.

22. The safety scissors (23) as claimed In any of the preceding claims, wherein said scissors (23) have the profile of an animal.