Shingle cutter

• US 5,787,781 A
• Filed: 08/18/1997
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Lee Hile
• Original Assignee: Robert Lee Hile
• Inventors: Hile, Robert Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, EUGENIA A
• Application Number:
  US08/912,320
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 83/467.1, 83/468.1, 83/607, 83/608, 83/609, 83/468, 83/564, 83/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 83/467.1
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/0006 Cutting members therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/305 for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2001/002 Materials or surface treatments therefor, e.g. composite materials
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/22 Safety devices specially adapted for cutting machines safety devices in general F16P
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 15/02 for roof coverings comprising tiles, shingles, or like roofing elements E04D15/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/01 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7593 Work-stop abutment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7607 Normal to plane of cut
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8812 Cutting edge in radial plane

Abstract

A shingle cutter for cutting a substantially straight even edge on a shingle includes a base with a work surface for supporting the shingle during cutting. A blade with a substantially straight cutting edge and a handle is pivotally attached to the base. The pivotal attachment includes a bearing and a lock nut disposed on a threaded rod or pivot arm, which keeps the blade tight against a support member recessed in the base. A guide member having a raised edge is positioned on the work surface of the base for aligning the shingle to be cut. The blade and the support member are formed of an angled piece of material for providing additional strength while cutting through the thickness of the shingle. The base is attached to legs for elevating the base above a supporting surface. A pad, which may be formed of a non-skid material, is attached to the legs for preventing the shingle cutter from sliding down the roof. A safety mechanism is provided for preventing movement of the blade during non-use of the shingle cutter.

Claims

1. A shingle cutter, comprising:

a base having a work surface with an edge;

a support member attached to said work surface at said edge of said base;

a blade pivotally attached to said base adjacent to said support member having a cutting edge and a handle;

a bushing coupled to said blade and having an open end;

a bearing coupled to said blade and including an outer race positioned within said bushing and having a flange abutting said open end of said bushing, said bearing having an inner race disposed within said outer race and extending beyond said flange of said outer race; and

a tightening mechanism positioned adjacent to and contacting said inner race of said bearing for securely holding said blade against said support member for enabling a sufficient amount of pressure to be exerted onto an object for enabling said blade to cut through said object.

2. The shingle cutter according to claim 1, wherein said cutting edge of said blade is substantially straight.

3. The shingle cutter according to claim 1, wherein said work surface of said base is approximately 3/5 as long as said blade enabling said handle of said blade to extend beyond said base for providing leverage to cut through said object.

4. The shingle cutter according to claim 1, wherein said blade is formed of an angled piece of material.

5. The shingle cutter according to claim 1, wherein said support member is formed of an angled piece of material.

6. The shingle cutter according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of legs attached to said base for elevating said base above a supporting surface and extending beyond said base for providing support while cutting said object.

7. The shingle cutter according to claim 6, further comprising a pad attached to said legs for restricting movement of said shingle cutter.

8. The shingle cutter according to claim 1, further comprising;

said blade having a hole therethrough;

a bracket attached to said support member;

a pivot arm inserted through said hole of said blade and attached to said bracket;

said bearing disposed on said pivot arm; and

said tightening mechanism adjustably secured to said pivot arm for altering positioning of said blade with respect to said support member.

9. The shingle cutter according to claim 8, further comprising:

said blade having a bore therethrough;

said bracket having a bore therethrough; and

a pin disposable within said bore of said blade and within said bore of said bracket for preventing movement of said blade.

10. The shingle cutter according to claim 1, further comprising a stop positioned at said edge of said base for restricting pivotal movement of said blade.

11. A shingle cutter, comprising:

a base having a work surface and a recess positioned at an edge of said work surface;

a support member formed of an angled piece of material, having a first portion, a second portion, and an edge therebetween, said first portion positioned within said recess on said work surface of said base, said edge of said support member positioned aligned with said edge of said base, and said second portion of said angled piece of material extending downwardly along said recessed edge of said base;

a bracket attached to at least one of said base and said support member;

a blade, formed of an angled piece of material, having a first portion, a second portion, and an edge therebetween, said second portion positioned adjacent to said second portion of said support member and having a hole therethrough and a cutting edge, and said blade having a handle;

a pivot arm disposed through said hole of said blade and attached to said bracket for pivotally attaching said blade to said base;

a bushing disposed on said pivot arm and having an open end;

a bearing, disposed on said pivot arm, including an outer race positioned within said bushing and having a flange abutting said open end of said bushing, and an inner race disposed within said outer race and extending beyond said flange of said outer race;

a tightening mechanism disposed on said pivot arm, positioned adjacent to said bearing, and contacting said inner race for enabling a sufficient amount of pressure to be exerted onto an object for enabling said blade to cut through said object;

a guide member attached to said work surface of said base and positioned substantially perpendicular to said blade for aligning said object along said guide member;

a stop attached to said bracket for restricting movement of said blade; and

a pad attached to said base for resting on a support surface.

12. The shingle cutter according to claim 11, wherein said cutting edge of said blade is substantially straight.

13. The shingle cutter according to claim 11, wherein said handle of said blade extends beyond said base for providing leverage to cut through said object.

14. The shingle cutter according to claim 11, further comprising:

said base having a pair of legs for elevating said base above said support surface and extending beyond said work surface of said base for providing support during a cutting process; and

said pad attached to said pair of legs for restricting movement of said shingle cutter.

15. The shingle cutter according to claim 11, wherein said tightening mechanism is a lock nut adjustably secured to said pivot arm for altering positioning of said blade with respect to said support member.

16. The shingle cutter according to claim 11, further comprising a safety mechanism attached to said blade, including:

said blade having a bore therethrough;

said bracket having a bore therethrough; and

a pin disposable within said bore of said blade and within said bore of said bracket for preventing movement of said blade.

17. A shingle cutter, comprising:

a base having a work surface for positioning of a shingle;

a blade pivotally attached to said base having a substantially straight cutting edge and a handle;

a bushing coupled to said blade and having an open end;

a bearing coupled to said blade and including an outer race positioned within said bushing and having a flange abutting said open end of said bushing, said bearing having an inner race disposed within said outer race and extending beyond said flange of said outer race; and

a tightening mechanism positioned adjacent to and contacting said inner race of said bearing for enabling a sufficient amount of pressure to be exerted onto said shingle for enabling said blade to cut through said shingle.

18. The shingle cutter according to claim 17, wherein said handle extends beyond said work surface of said base for providing leverage during cutting of said shingle.

19. The shingle cutter according to claim 17, wherein said blade is formed of an angled piece of material for providing strength to said blade during cutting of said shingle.