Mobile sheet material cutting device

• US 6,952,878 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kathryn M. Bareis
• Original Assignee: Kathryn M. Bareis
• Inventors: Bareis, Kathryn M., Maro, Scott J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watts, Douglas D
• Application Number:
  US10/735,038
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 302/93, 302/94, 302/86, 30/2, 303/40, 30D/IG.3
• US Class Current: 30/294
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 29/06 Arrangements for guiding hand cutting tools guiding equipment or arrangements for specific cutting tools, see the particular places, e.g. for hair trimming devices A45D24/36, for saw blades B27B11/02, B26B13/10
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 5/00 Hand knives with one or more detachable blades
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 30/03 Envelope openers

Abstract

A self-standing mobile device for cutting sheet material including a body member connected to at least one wheeled axle to translationally move the body member about a surface on which the device self-stands. The body member includes a cutting notch with open and closed ends, the cutting notch positioned with the open end above the at least one wheeled axle. The body member including a contained cutting blade member with cutting edge exposed within the cutting notch closed end, the cutting blade member oriented substantially perpendicularly to the surface on which the device self-stands. A user may engage the device to move the device about the surface on the at least one wheeled axle to cut a sheet of material passing into the cutting notch. Handle and shoulder features, and related methods of cutting sheet material are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A self-standing mobile device for cutting sheet material comprising;

a body member connected to at least one wheeled axle to translationally move said body member about a surface on which said device self-stands;

said body member including a cutting notch with open and closed ends, said cutting notch positioned with said open end above said at least one wheeled axle;

said body member including a contained cutting blade member with cutting edge exposed within said cutting notch closed end, said cutting blade member oriented substantially perpendicularly to the surface on which said device self-stands;

whereby a user engages said device to move said device about the surface on the at least said one wheeled axle to cut a sheet of material passing into said cutting notch.

2. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 1 wherein said body member is a planar member connected substantially perpendicularly with said wheeled axle and said blade member is oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to said wheeled axle.

3. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 2 wherein said device includes a shoulder positioned below said body member, said shoulder in part defining said notch and having a width greater than a width of said body member, and wherein said wheeled axle is connected to said shoulder opposite said cutting blade.

4. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 3 wherein said wheeled axle includes two opposing wheels, and wherein said body member is aligned substantially between and above said wheels.

5. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 4 wherein said shoulder includes a fender extending downward and at least partially covering said wheels.

6. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 5 wherein said fender is provided substantially around the entire perimeter of said shoulder.

7. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 2 wherein said device includes at least two wheeled axles each positioned in a plane and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said planar body member.

8. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 7 further comprising a third wheeled axle secured perpendicularly to said body member adjacent said front wheeled axle and coplanar therewith.

9. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 7 wherein, said cutting notch is essentially parallel to said plane of said wheeled axles.

10. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 1 further comprising a handle secured to said device, said handle extending upwardly opposite said at least one wheeled axle, whereby a user engages said handle to move said device about the surface on the at least said one wheeled axle to cut a sheet of material passing into said cutting notch.

11. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 10 further comprising a crossbar member positioned perpendicularly to said body member at said handle.

12. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 11 wherein, said crossbar member is linear and is removeably positioned in an aperture defined by said handle.

13. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 12 wherein, said crossbar includes grooves engageable with said aperture to secure said crossbar in a selected position.

14. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 10, wherein said handle is positioned opposite said cutting notch, and said handle and said body member form an engaging notch there between.

15. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 12 wherein, said handle aperture is positioned near an end of said handle opposite said wheeled axle, and wherein said handle includes a dimple.

16. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 1 wherein, said contained cutting blade member is removable from said body member.

17. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 1 wherein, said contained cutting blade member is positioned approximately on a centerline of said body member.

18. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 1 wherein, said device includes a surface-contacting slider positioned below said cutting notch.

19. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 1 wherein, said cutting notch is tapered substantially from said open end to said closed end.

20. A self-standing mobile device for cutting sheet material comprising;

a planar body member connected to at least one wheeled axle to self-stand and translationally move said body member about a surface on which said device self-stands;

said body member including a tapered cutting notch with open and closed ends, said notch positioned with said open end above said at least one wheeled axle;

said body member including a contained cutting blade member with cuffing edge exposed within said cutting notch closed end, said cutting blade oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface;

a shoulder positioned below said body member, said shoulder in part defining said cutting notch and having a width greater than a width of said body member; and

a handle secured to said body member, said handle extending upwardly opposite said at least one wheeled axle, whereby a user engages said handle to move said device about the surface on the at least said one wheeled axle to cut a sheet of material passing into said cutting notch.

21. A self-standing mobile device for cutting sheet material comprising;

a body member including a cutting notch with open and closed ends and including a contained cutting blade member with cutting edge exposed within said cutting notch closed end, said cutting blade oriented substantially vertically within said body member, said body member having a body member width;

a shoulder positioned below said body member and having a shoulder width greater than said body member width, said shoulder in part defining said notch;

said shoulder translationally moveable about a surface on which said device self-stands; and

a handle secured to said device, said handle extending upwardly opposite the surface, said handle and body member forming an engaging notch therebetween, whereby a user engages said handle to move the body member about the surface to cut a sheet of material passing into said cutting notch.

22. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 21 wherein said handle is a post-like handle positioned opposite said cutting notch open end, and said engaging notch is open-ended.

23. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 21 further comprising a crossbar member positioned perpendicularly to said body member at said handle.

24. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 21 wherein, said handle defines an aperture for receiving a crossbar member.

25. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 21 wherein said shoulder has a width greater than a width of said body member and wherein said shoulder directly abuts the surface.

26. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 21 further comprising at least one surface slider positioned beneath said shoulder, said slider moveably abutable with the surface.

27. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 26 wherein said surface slider, said shoulder, and the surface define a clearance.

28. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 21 further comprising at least one translational movement means positioned beneath said shoulder.

29. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 28 wherein said translational movement means includes at least one wheeled axle.

30. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 21 wherein, said body member is planar and vertically mounted on said shoulder, and said contained cutting blade is positioned on a centerline of said planar body member.

31. The mobile device for cutting sheet material according to claim 21 wherein, said handle includes a dimple.

32. A method of cutting sheet material including the steps comprising:

providing a self-standing mobile device, said device comprising;

a body member including a cutting notch with open and closed ends and including a contained cutting blade member with cutting edge exposed within said cutting notch closed end, said cutting blade oriented substantially vertically within said body member, said body member having a body member width;

a shoulder positioned below said body member and having a shoulder width greater than said body member width, said shoulder in part defining said notch;

said shoulder translationally moveable about a surface on which said device self-stands; and

a handle secured to said device, said handle extending upwardly opposite the surface, said handle and body member forming an engaging notch therebetween;

engaging said device; and

moving said device about the surface to cut a sheet of material passing into said cutting notch.

33. A method of cutting sheet material according to claim 32 wherein said shoulder includes translational movement means positioned beneath said shoulder.

34. A method of cutting sheet material according to claim 33 wherein said translational movement means is spaced apart a dimension greater than a width of said body member to accommodate self-standing of said device while moving said device.

35. A method of cutting sheet material according to claim 32 wherein said shoulder has a width greater than a width of said body member.