Package opening tool

• US 5,103,562 A
• Filed: 10/29/1990
• Issued: 04/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mary J. Braatz
• Original Assignee: Harold Braatz
• Inventors: Braatz, Harold
• Primary Examiner(s): Watts, Douglas D.
• Application Number:
  US07/604,161
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 30/289, 30/294, 30/DIG. 3, 30/2, 83/912
• US Class Current: 30/294
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 27/00 Hand cutting tools not provided for in the preceding groups, e.g. finger rings for cutting string, devices for cutting by means of wires
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 7/002 Hand tools
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/30 Hand-operated cutting devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 30/03 Envelope openers

Abstract

A package opening tool is useful for opening packages made of cellophane and other flexible plastic materials. The package opening tool comprises first and second plates pivotally connected at their respective back ends. The two plates are biased, as by a living hinge or a spring, to an open configuration whereat there is a V-shaped gap between the plates. The first plate has a cutter that faces the second plate. A package is inserted into the gap, and the tool is operated to a closed configuration by squeezing the front ends of the two plates together to cause the cutter to penetrate the package. A recess in the second plate receives the entire cutter when the tool is in the closed configuration. Then pulling the package from between the closed tool slices the package for easy further opening. The first plate preferably has a wall around the cutter to restrict access to the cutter. In some embodiments, positive stops limit the relative locations of the two plates in the open and closed configurations.

Claims

1. A package opening tool comprising:

a. a bottom plate having a front end, opposed side edges, and a back end;

b. a cutter joined to and protruding from the bottom plate proximate the front end thereof and having a tip, wherein the cutter is formed as a thin blade that lies in a plane that extends between the front and back ends of the bottom plate;

c. a top plate having a front end and a back end pivotally joined to the bottom plate back end; and

d. biasing means for maintaining the package opening tool in an open configuration whereat the top and bottom plates make an acute angle with respect to each other to define a generally V-shaped gap therebetween with the cutter being located within the gap, the top and bottom plates being pivotable relative to each other to a closed configuration whereat the top and bottom plates lie generally parallel to each other,

so that the margin of a flexible package or the like can be inserted into the gap between the top and bottom plates when the package opening tool is in the open configuration and the plates can be pivoted to the closed configuration to penetrate the package with the cutter and thereby open the package.

3. The package opening tool of claim 1 further comprising catch means formed on a selected one of the top and bottom plates for controlling the relative locations of the top and bottom plates when the package opening tool is in the open configuration.

5. The package opening tool of claim 1 wherein a clip is joined to a selected one of the top and bottom plates to enable the package opening tool to be worn in a shirt pocket or the like.

10. The package opening tool of claim 1 further comprising a flexible generally U-shaped loop having ends joined to a selected one of the top or bottom plates proximate the back end thereof, the flexible loop cooperating with the selected plate to enable a person to clip the package opening tool on a selected thin planar object.

13. The package opening tool of claim 1 wherein:

a. the bottom plate has a curved cross section that is concave facing the top plate;

b. the bottom plate side edges define a plane; and

c. the plate defined by the bottom plate side edges lies between the cutter tip and the top plate.

14. The package opening tool of claim 1 wherein the biasing means comprises spring means captured within and acting between the top and bottom plates to bias the package opening tool to the open configuration.

15. The package opening tool of claim 1 further comprising stop means formed on a selected one of the top and bottom plates for controlling the relative locations of the top and bottom plates when the package opening tool is in the closed configuration, and wherein the stop means comprises a pair of spaced apart ridges fabricated on the top plate, the ridges straddling the cutter when the tool is in the closed configuration.

2. A package opening tool comprising:

a. a bottom plate having a front end, opposed side edges, and a back end;

b. a cutter joined to and protruding from the bottom plate proximate the front end thereof and having a tip;

c. a top plate having a front end and a back end pivotally joined to the bottom plate back end, wherein the top plate defines a recess aligned with the cutter in the bottom plate, the recess having a depth sufficient to receive the entire cutter protruding from the bottom plate; and

d. biasing means for maintaining the package opening tool in an open configuration whereat the top and bottom plates make an acute angle with respect to each other to define a generally V-shaped gap therebetween with the cutter being located within the gap, the top and bottom plates being pivotable relative to each other to a closed configuration whereat the top and bottom plates lie generally parallel to each other,

so that the margin of a flexible package or the like can be inserted into the gap between the top and bottom plates when the package opening tool is in the open configuration and the plates can be pivoted to the closed configuration to penetrate the package with the cutter and thereby open the package and the cutter does not contact the top plate when the packaging opening tool is in the closed configuration.

9. The package opening tool of claim 2 wherein:

a. the bottom plate is formed with a wall upstanding therefrom around the front end and at least a portion of the side edges thereof; and

b. the top plate nests within the bottom plate wall when the package opening tool is in the closed configuration.

11. The package opening tool of claim 2 wherein:

a. the top plate has a first surface facing the bottom plate and an opposed second surface;

b. the recess in the top plate extends between the first and second surfaces; and

c. the cutter in the bottom plates lies within the recess of the top plate when the package opening tool is in the closed configuration and the cutter tip lies between the top plate first and second surfaces.

12. The package opening tool of claim 11 wherein the top and bottom plates are in facing contact when the package opening tool is in the closed configuration.

4. A package opening tool comprising:

a. a bottom plate having a front end, opposed side edges, and a back end;

b. a cutter joined to and protruding from the bottom plate proximate the front end thereof and having a tip, wherein a wall is formed on and upstands from the bottom plate around at least a portion of the side edges and front end thereof, the wall having a free end that extends to a greater distance from the bottom plate than the cutter tip;

c. a top plate having a front end and a back end pivotally joined to the bottom plate back end; and

d. biasing means for maintaining the package opening tool in an open configuration whereat the top and bottom plates make an acute angle with respect to each other to define a generally V-shaped gap therebetween with the cutter being located within the gap, the top and bottom plates being pivotable relative to each other to a closed configuration whereat the top and bottom plates lie generally parallel to each other,

so that the margin of a flexible package or the like can be inserted into the gap between the top and bottom plates when the package opening tool is in the open configuration and the plates can be pivoted to the closed configuration to penetrate the package with the cutter and thereby open the package and the wall limits accessibility to the cutter.

6. The package opening tool of claim 4 wherein the wall is formed with a pair of generally coplanar guide surfaces upstanding from the wall free end approximately midway between the front and back ends of the bottom plate, the coplanar guide surfaces limiting the insertion of the flexible package or the like into the gap between the top and bottom plates.

7. The package opening tool of claim 4 wherein the bottom plate is formed with snap means for controlling the relative locations of the top and bottom plates when the package opening tool is in the open configuration.

8. The package opening tool of claim 7 wherein the snap means comprises guide surfaces generally perpendicular to the plane of the bottom plate for limiting the insertion of the flexible package or the like into the gap between the top and bottom plates.

16. A package opening tool comprising:

a. a bottom plate having a front end, opposed side edges, and a back end;

b. a cutter joined to and protruding from the bottom plate proximate the front end thereof and having a tip;

c. a top plate having a front end and a back end pivotally joined to the bottom plate back end;

d. biasing means for maintaining the package opening tool in an open configuration whereat the top and bottom plates make an acute angle with respect to each other to define a generally V-shaped gap therebetween with the cutter being located within the gap, the top and bottom plates being pivotable relative to each other to a closed configuration whereat the top and bottom plates lie generally parallel to each other; and

e. stop means formed on a selected one of the top and bottom plates for controlling the relative locations of the top and bottom plates when the package opening tool is in the closed configuration, wherein the stop means comprises a pair of spaced apart ridges fabricated on the top plate, the ridges straddling the cutter when the tool is in the closed configuration, and wherein the bottom plate is formed with walls upstanding therefrom and extruding along at least a portion of the side edges thereof, the walls having free ends that extend to a greater distance from the bottom plate than the cutter tip,

so that the margin of a flexible package or the like can be inserted into the gap between the top and bottom plates when the package opening tool is in the open configuration and the plates can be pivoted to the closed configuration to penetrate the package with the cutter and thereby open the package and the V-shaped gap is defined by the ridges on the top plate and the walls of the bottom plate.

17. A tool for cutting a thin sheet of material comprising:

a. a bottom plate having a front end and a back end and opposed side edges and being formed with a cutter located near the front end thereof that protrudes a predetermined distance from the bottom plate and terminates in a tip, wherein the bottom plate cutter is formed as a thin blade lying in a plane that extends between the bottom plate front and back ends;

b. a top plate having a predetermined thickness and a back end pivotally connected to the top plate back end and a front end; and

c. biasing means for pivoting the top and bottom plates about the pivotal connection therebetween to an open configuration whereat the top and bottom plates form a generally V-shaped gap with the cutter facing the top plate, the top and bottom plates being relatively pivotable against the biasing means to lie generally in a parallel relation to place the tool in a closed configuration,

so that the thin sheet of material can be placed in the gap when the tool is in the open configuration and the plates can be squeezed to the closed configuration and thereby penetrate the thin sheet of material with the cutter and subsequent pulling of the sheet of material from between the top and bottom plates slices the material with the cutter.

18. The tool of claim 17 wherein:

a. the recess extends through the predetermined thickness of the top plate; and

b. the top and bottom plates are generally in facing contact and the cutter lies entirely within the top plate recess when the tool is in the closed configuration.

19. The tool of claim 17 further comprising loop means joined to the back end of a selected one of the top and bottom plates for cooperating with the selected plate to hang the tool on a thin planar object.

24. The tool of claim 17 further comprising catch means integral with a selected one of the top and bottom plates for controlling the gap therebetween against the biasing means when the tool is in the open configuration.

28. The tool of claim 17 wherein the biasing means comprises a spring having first and second ends that are captured in the top and bottom plates, respectively.

29. The tool of claim 17 wherein the bottom plate has a cross section that is concave with respect to the top plate, and wherein the side edges of the bottom plate lie in a plane located between the cutter tip and the top plate.

20. A tool for cutting a thin sheet of material comprising:

a. a bottom plate having a front end and a back end and opposed side edges and being formed with a cutter located near the front end thereof that protrudes a predetermined distance from the bottom plate and terminates in a tip;

b. a top plate having a predetermined thickness and a back end pivotally connected to the top plate back end and a front end, wherein the bottom plate is formed with a wall around the front end and opposed side edges thereof, the wall having a free end that lies in a plane located between the tip of the cutter and the top plate; and

c. biasing means for pivoting the top and bottom plates about the pivotal connection therebetween to an open configuration whereat the top and bottom plates form a generally V-shaped gap with the cutter facing the top plate, the top and bottom plates being relatively pivotable against the biasing means to lie generally in a parallel relation to place the tool in a closed configuration,

so that the thin sheet of material can be placed in the gap when the tool is in the open configuration and the plates can be squeezed to the closed configuration and thereby penetrates the thin sheet of material with the cutter and subsequent pulling of the sheet of materials from between the top and bottom plates slices the material with the cutter and the gap is defined by the free end of the bottom plate wall and the top plate when the tool is in the open configuration and the cutter tip does not protrude into the gap.

21. The tool of claim 20 wherein the wall is formed with at least one guide surface located approximately midway between the bottom plate front and back ends to limit the insertion of the thin sheet of material into the gap between the bottom plate wall and the top plate.

22. The tool of claim 20 wherein the top plate nests inside the bottom plate wall when the tool is in the closed configuration.

25. The tool of claim 20 further comprising snap means formed on the bottom plate wall and overlying the top plate for controlling the gap between the top and bottom plates against the biasing means when the tool is in the open configuration.

26. The tool of claim 25 wherein the snap means comprises at least one guide surface located approximately midway between the bottom plate front and back ends for limiting the insertion of the sheet of thin material into the gap between the top and bottom plates.

23. A tool for cutting a thin sheet of material comprising:

a. a bottom plate having a front end and a back end and opposed side edges and being formed with a cutter located near the front end thereof that protrudes a predetermined distance from the bottom plate and terminates in a tip;

b. a top plate having a predetermined thickness and a back end pivotally connected to the top plate back end and a front end; and

c. biasing means for pivoting the top and bottom plates about the pivotal connection therebetween to an open configuration whereat the top and bottom plates form a generally V-shaped gap with the cutter facing the top plate, the top and bottom plates being relatively pivotable against the biasing means to lie generally in a parallel relation to place the tool in a closed configuration, wherein the top plate defines a recess that is aligned with the cutter in the bottom plate, the recess having a depth sufficient to receive the cutter such that the cutter tip does not contact the top plate when the tool is in the closed configuration, and wherein the bottom plate is fabricated with an upstanding wall that extends around the front end and along at least a portion of the side edges thereof, and wherein the top plate is in facing contact with the bottom plate and nests within the bottom plate wall when the tool is in the closed configuration,

so that the thin sheet of material can be placed in the gap when the tool is in the closed configuration and the plate can be squeezed to the closed configuration and thereby penetrate the thin sheet of material with the cutter and subsequent pulling of the sheet of material from between the top and bottom plates slices the material with the cutter.

27. A tool for cutting a thin sheet of material comprising:

a. a bottom plate having a front end and a back end and opposed side edges and being formed with a cutter located near the front end thereof that protrudes a predetermined distance from the bottom plate and terminates in a tip;

b. a top plate having a predetermined thickness and a back end pivotally connected to the top plate back end and a front end;

c. biasing means for pivoting the top and bottom plates about the pivotal connection therebetween to an open configuration whereat the top and bottom plates form a generally V-shaped gap with the cutter facing the top plate, the top and bottom plates being relatively pivotable against the biasing means to lie generally in a parallel relation to place the tool in a closed configuration; and

d. stop means integral with a selected one of the top and bottom plates for controlling the locations of the top and bottom plates when the tool is in the closed configuration, wherein;

i. the bottom plate is fabricated with a wall upstanding from at least each of the side edges thereof, the top plate nesting within the bottom plate walls when the tool is in the closed configuration;

ii. the bottom plate cutter is formed as a thin blade that lies in a plane that extends between the bottom plate front and back ends; and

iii. the stop means comprises at least one ridge formed in the top plate and extending from the front end thereof parallel to the cutter, the ridge cooperating with the bottom plate wall to define the gap when the tool is in the open configuration, the ridge contacting the bottom plate to control the top and bottom plates when the tool is in the closed configuration, and the cutter lying adjacent the ridge when the tool is in the closed configuration,

so that the thin sheet of material can be placed in the gap when the tool is in the closed configuration and the plates can be squeezed to the closed configuration and thereby penetrate the thin sheet of material with the cutter and subsequent pulling of the sheet of material from between the top and bottom plates slices the material with the cutter.

30. A tool for cutting a thin sheet of material comprising:

a. a bottom plate having a front end and a back end and opposed side edges and being formed with a cutter located near the front end thereof that protrudes a predetermined distance from the bottom plate and terminates in a tip;

b. a top plate having a predetermined thickness and a back end pivotally connected to the top plate back end and a front end; and

c. biasing means for pivoting the top and bottom plates about the pivotal connection therebetween to an open configuration whereat the top and bottom plates form a generally V-shaped gap with the cutter facing the top plate, the top and bottom plates being relatively pivotable against the biasing means to lie generally in a parallel relation to place the tool in a closed configuration, wherein;

i. the bottom plate is formed with walls along the opposed side edges thereof, the walls having respective free ends that lie in a plane located between the tip of the cutter and the top plate; and

ii. the top plate is formed with a pair of spaced ridges that straddle the cutter when the tool is in the closed configuration, the ridges having respective free ends that serve as stops that limit the approach of the top and bottom plates toward each other and thereby define the closed configuration, the free ends of the ridges cooperating with the free ends of the bottom plate walls to define the gap when the tool is in the open configuration,

so that the thin sheet of material can be placed in the gap when the tool is in the closed configuration and the plates can be squeezed to the closed configuration and thereby penetrate the thin sheet of material with the cutter and subsequent pulling of the sheet of material from between the top and bottom plates slices the material with the cutter and the space between the ridges forms a recess for receiving the cutter when the tool is in the closed configuration.

31. A method of opening a package of thin flexible material comprising the steps of:

a. providing first and second plates having respective front ends and back ends that are pivotally connected to each other and defining a V-shaped gap therebetween, the first plate being formed with a cutter near the first end thereof that extends into the gap;

b. inserting a margin of the package into the gap between the plates;

c. pivoting the plates relative to each other to a closed configuration whereat the V-shaped gap is dissipated and the plates are generally parallel to thereby penetrate the package with the cutter; and

d. pulling the package from between the plates to thereby slit the package with the cutter, wherein;

i. the step of providing a first plate with a cutter comprises the step of providing a first plate with a cutter that lies in a plane that extends between the front and back ends of the first plate; and

ii. the step of pulling the package comprises the step of pulling the package in a direction parallel to the plane extending between the first plate front and back ends.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of providing first and second plates comprises the further step of providing a guide surface on a selected one of the plates for limiting the insertion of the package margin into the V-shaped gap.

33. A method of opening a package of thin flexible material providing first and second plates having respective front ends and back ends that are pivotally connected to each other and defining a V-shaped gap therebetween, the first plate being formed with a cutter near the first end thereof that extends into the gap, wherein the step of providing a second plate comprises the step of forming a recess in the second plate sized to receive the entire cutter that extends into the gap;

b. inserting a margin of the package into the gap between the plates;

c. pivoting the plates relative to each other to a closed configuration whereat the V-shaped gap is dissipated and the plates are generally parallel to thereby penetrate the package with the cutter; and

d. pulling the package from between the plates to thereby slit the package with the cutter,

so that the cutter does not contact the first plate when the first and second plates are pivoted to the closed configuration.