PLASTIC PIPE CUTTER

• US 20110078905A1
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Chartier, Glen R., Macsay, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,308,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 30/95
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/04 having a linearly-movable cutting member B26D1/46, B26D1/547 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/09 with a plurality of cutting members
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/45 having a cutting member the movement of which is not covered by any preceding group
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2007/013 the work being tubes, rods or logs
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/16 Cutting rods or tubes transversely cutting tubes longitudinally B26D3/001
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/169 Hand held tube cutters
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/10 Hand or foot actuated means
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/16 Cam means
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/01 Means for holding or positioning work
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/088 by cleaning or lubricating sterilizing B26D1/00

Abstract

A hand-held cutting tool is described which is used to readily cut or sever flexible pipe or tubing. The tool features one or more openings in the body of the tool sized to accommodate pipe or tubing to be cut. The tool is used to cut tubing by inserting the tubing into one of the apertures. A retractable blade is urged against the tubing and the tool then orbited about the tubing and/or the tubing rotated until the blade severs the tubing.

Claims

1. A cutting tool comprising:

a housing defining (i) an interior region sized and shaped for receiving at least one implement, (ii) a first aperture extending through the housing, the first aperture defined by a first span, and (iii) a second aperture extending through the housing, the second aperture defined by a second span different than the first span; and

an implement assembly disposed in the housing, the implement assembly including (i) a working implement, (ii) provisions for retracting the working implement into the interior region defined by the housing, and (iii) provisions for extending the working implement into at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture.

2. The cutting tool of claim 1 wherein the implement assembly includes a first implement and a second implement, the first implement being extendable into the first aperture and the second implement being extendable into the second aperture.

3. The cutting tool of claim 1 further comprising:

an actuator generally retained at least partially within the housing and in engagement with the implement assembly.

4. The cutting tool of claim 3 wherein the implement assembly further includes a slidable member in contact with the actuator.

5. The cutting tool of claim 4 wherein the slidable member engages and contacts the implement assembly.

6. The cutting tool of claim 4 further comprising:

a spring disposed within the housing and in contact with the slidable member and which urges the slidable member to a position such that the first and second implements extend into an associated aperture.

7. The cutting tool of claim 4 wherein the slidable member defines an angled cam follower surface and the actuator defines an angled cam surface, the cam follower surface being in contact with the cam surface.

8. The cutting tool of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture has a non-circular shape defined by a major axis and a minor axis, the length of the major axis being from about 101% to about 116% of the length of the minor axis.

9. The cutting tool of claim 8 wherein the length of the major axis is from about 103% to about 109% of the length of the minor axis.

10. The cutting tool of claim 8 wherein the working implement is extendable into the first aperture and is displaced along a travel axis during retracting and extending, the first aperture having a non-circular shape and oriented such that the major axis of the first axis is generally parallel to the travel axis.

11. The cutting tool of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a first side and a second side and the first aperture is defined by a circumferential wall extending through the housing and between the first and second sides, the housing also defining a blade access region associated with the first aperture and extending between (i) the circumferential wall and the first side and (ii) the circumferential wall and the second side.

12. The cutting tool of claim 11 wherein the second aperture is defined by a circumferential wall extending through the housing and between the first and second sides, the housing also defining a second blade access region associated with the second aperture and extending between (i) the circumferential wall and the first side and (ii) the circumferential wall and the second side.

13. The cutting tool of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a selectively positionable first housing section hingedly coupled to a second housing section, each of the first and the second housing sections defining portions of the first aperture and the second aperture.

14. A cutting tool comprising:

a tool housing defining an interior hollow region, the tool housing also defining at least two apertures extending through the tool housing;

a movable implement defining a cutting edge, the implement positionable between (i) a first position in which the implement is disposed entirely within the interior hollow region defined by the tool housing, and (ii) a second position in which at least a portion of the cutting edge is exposed within at least one of the apertures.

15. The cutting tool of claim 14 wherein the tool housing defines a first aperture and a second aperture.

16. The cutting tool of claim 15 wherein the first aperture is larger than the second aperture.

17. The cutting tool of claim 15 wherein the first aperture is a circular opening, and the second aperture is a circular opening.

18. The cutting tool of claim 17 wherein the diameter of the first aperture is smaller than the diameter of the second aperture.

19. The cutting tool of claim 15 wherein the implement is a first movable blade defining a cutting edge and is positionable to expose at least a portion of the cutting edge within the first aperture, the tool further comprising:

a second movable implement defining a cutting edge, the second implement positionable between (i) a first position in which the implement is disposed entirely within the interior hollow region defined by the tool housing, and (ii) a second position in which at least a portion of the cutting edge of the second implement is exposed within the second aperture.

20. The cutting tool of claim 14 wherein at least one of the apertures has a non-circular shape defined by a major axis and a minor axis, the length of the major axis being from about 101% to about 116% of the length of the minor axis.

21. The cutting tool of claim 20 wherein the length of the major axis is from about 103% to about 109% of the length of the minor axis.

22. The cutting tool of claim 20 wherein the implement is extendable into the at least one aperture and is displaced along a travel axis during retracting and extending, the at least one aperture having a non-circular shape and oriented such that the major axis of the first axis is generally parallel to the travel axis.

23. The cutting tool of claim 14 wherein the housing includes a selectively positionable first housing section hingedly coupled to a second housing section, each of the first and the second housing sections defining portions of the at least two apertures.

24. A cutting tool comprising:

a body defining a first side and a second side oppositely directed from the first side, the body also defining a first aperture extending through the body between the first side and the second side and a second aperture extending through the body between the first side and the second side, the first aperture being larger than the second aperture;

a first implement selectively positionable between an extended position in which at least a portion of the implement is exposed within the first aperture and a retracted position; and

a second implement selectively positionable between an extended position in which at least a portion of the implement is exposed within the second aperture and a retracted position.

25. The cutting tool of claim 24 wherein the first aperture is non-circular and defines a major axis and a minor axis, the length of the major axis being from about 101% to about 116% of the length of the minor axis.

26. The cutting tool of claim 25 wherein the second aperture is non-circular and defines a major axis and a minor axis, the length of the major axis of the second aperture being from about 101% to about 116% of the length of the minor axis of the second aperture.

27. The cutting tool of claim 25 wherein the first implement is selectively positionable along a travel axis, the orientation of the first aperture and the first implement such that the major axis of the first aperture is parallel to the travel axis.

28. The cutting tool of claim 26 wherein the second implement is selectively positionable along a travel axis, the orientation of the second aperture and the second implement such that the major axis of the second aperture is parallel to the travel axis.

29. The cutting tool of claim 24 wherein the first implement includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of (i) a blade including a cutting edge, (ii) a reamer including a chamfering edge, (iii) a limiter for limiting cut depth, and (iv) combinations thereof.

30. The cutting tool of claim 29 wherein the blade is selected from a stationary blade and a cutting wheel.

31. The cutting tool of claim 24 wherein the first aperture is defined by a circumferential wall extending through the body and between the first and second sides, the body also defining a blade access region associated with the first aperture and extending between (i) the circumferential wall and the first side and (ii) the circumferential wall and the second side.

32. The cutting tool of claim 31 wherein the second aperture is defined by a second circumferential wall extending through the body and between the first and second sides, the body also defining a second blade access region associated with the second aperture and extending between (i) the second circumferential wall and the first side and (ii) the second circumferential wall and the second side.

33. The cutting tool of claim 24 wherein the housing includes a selectively positionable first housing section hingedly coupled to a second housing section, each of the first and the second housing sections defining portions of the first aperture and the second aperture.