CUTTING DEVICE WITH ACTUATING MECHANSIM

• US 20080040932A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Pearson, Scott, Gullicks, Scott, Packard, Joy, Mueller, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 30/294
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 11/00 Hand knives combined with other implements, e.g. with corkscrew, with scissors, with writing implement combined table-ware A47G21/06
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 29/02 Guards or sheaths for knives
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 3/00 Hand knives with fixed blades handles, attaching the handles B25G
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/02 Means for moving the cutting member into its operative position for cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/015 for sheet material or piles of sheets B26D7/018 and B26D7/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0572 Plural cutting steps effect progressive cut

Abstract

A device for cutting media is provided. The device includes a cover having a sidewall extending therefrom; a guide disposed substantially beneath the cover and comprising a blade; an actuating mechanism disposed in at least one of the cover and the guide; and an actuating wall disposed between the cover and the guide. Engagement of the actuating mechanism creates a cutting action between the blade and the actuating wall.

Claims

1. A device for cutting media comprising:

a cover having a sidewall extending therefrom;

a guide disposed substantially beneath the cover and comprising a blade;

an actuating mechanism disposed in at least one of the cover and the guide; and

an actuating wall disposed between the cover and the guide.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a handle extending from a rear end of the cover and a rear end of the guide.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuating mechanism is disposed in the cover and further comprises:

a shaft having opposing first and second ends and a first portion, the first end associated with the first portion; and

a biasing mechanism disposed about the first portion of the shaft,

wherein the actuating wall extends from the second end of the shaft and wherein the cover includes an aperture sized for the shaft.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the shaft further comprises a contact section attached to the first end of the shaft.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein when shaft is cylindrical and further comprises a linear extension disposed about its circumference, the extension extending from the first end to the second end of the shaft.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the actuating wall includes a slit creating two arms that the arms straddle the blade when the actuating mechanism is engaged.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the cover has an exposed end, and wherein the actuating wall extends from the second end of the shaft towards the exposed end of the cover.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover has an exposed end, wherein the actuating wall includes opposing first and second ends, the first end proximate to and the second end distal to the exposed end of the cover, wherein the actuating mechanism is disposed in the cover, the actuating mechanism further comprises a contact section attached to the second end of the actuating wall, and wherein the cover includes an aperture sized for the actuating wall.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the actuating wall includes a slit creating two arms that straddle the blade when the actuating mechanism is in use.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the actuating wall is flexible and includes a curved portion disposed proximate to the blade when the actuating mechanism engaged.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuating mechanism is disposed in the cover and comprises a slideable pin having a first end, and a first portion, and a second portion, the first end of the pin associated with the first portion, the actuating wall disposed in the second portion of the pin, and the cover has an aperture sized for the pin and its sliding action.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the actuating wall includes a slit creating two arms that straddle the blade when the actuating mechanism engaged.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the slideable pin further comprises a contact section attached to its first end.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises:

a stationary pin having a first end, a first portion, and a second portion, the first end of the pin associated with the first portion, the actuating wall disposed in the second portion of the pin, and the cover has an aperture sized for the pin; and

wherein the guide is slideable and further comprises a contact section.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the guide has opposing exposed and rear ends, the rear end attached to a handle and the contact section of the slideable guide is positioned in the rear end of the guide or in the cover.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuating mechanism is made from a material selected from the group consisting of metals, polymers, ceramics, wood, and combinations thereof.

17. A method of cutting media comprising the steps of:

providing a cutting device of claim 1;

bringing the media and the device into contact such that the media is disposed between the cover and the guide; and

engaging the actuating mechanism to clip the media.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein after the media has been clipped, the method further includes the step of cutting the media by a zipping-type cutting action.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the clipping and zipping cutting steps are repeated.

20. A device for cutting media comprising:

a blade having a cutting edge;

an actuating mechanism comprising means for engaging the actuating mechanism, and

an actuating wall that upon engagement of the actuating mechanism results in its relative movement parallel to a plane that includes the blade and past at least a portion of the cutting edge of the blade.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the actuating wall does not contact the cutting edge of the blade when the actuating mechanism is engaged.