Box opener

• US 8,112,867 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony J. Domenico
• Original Assignee: Anthony J. Domenico
• Inventors: Domenico, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, John C
• Application Number:
  US12/014,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20090178268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 295/250.1, 294/28, 295/271, 295/272, 292/42, 295/92, 294/58, 294/60, 303/14, 303/40, 302/94, 30286-291, 30/25, 83/13
• US Class Current: 29/525.01
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 27/005 Carton openers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A cutting tool and its method for manufacture involves a blade member having an extension. Together, the blade member and extension are die cut from sheet metal and a cutting edge is then formed adjacent the extension. A metal or plastic handle is formed with a slit, and the blade member is positioned in the slit to leave the cutting edge exposed between the extension and the handle. The blade member is then secured to the handle.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a cutting tool which comprises the steps of:

creating a blade member, wherein the blade member is planar and has a substantially rectangular shaped body portion with a first side, opposite and substantially parallel to a second side, the blade member having an extension projecting therefrom along the first side, with the extension having an inside edge substantially parallel to the first side, and with a cutting blade extending between the inside edge of the extension and the second side and substantially perpendicular respectively thereto, the blade member defining a blade axis parallel to the inside edge and the second edge and perpendicular to the cutting blade;

forming a handle, wherein the handle has a first flange extending therefrom and a second flange extending therefrom to establish a slit therebetween, and wherein each flange has a guiding edge located across the slit and opposite each other;

positioning the second side of the body portion in the slit between the first flange and the second flange to orient the cutting blade of the blade member substantially perpendicular to the guiding edges on the handle, and to distance the inside edge of the extension on the blade member from the guiding edges on the handle to establish a slot therebetween, with the slot aligned with the blade axis; and

securing the second side of the body portion of the blade member between the flanges of the handle to form the cutting tool.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the blade member is made of a sheet metal and the creating step is accomplished by die cutting the sheet metal.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the blade member is made of a plastic material and the forming step is accomplished by injection molding.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the handle is made of a plastic material and the forming step is accomplished by injection molding.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the slit between the first flange and the second flange defines a distance “

d”

, wherein the blade member has a width “

w”

, and wherein d>

w.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the securing step is accomplished using glue.

7. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the securing step is accomplished using bolts.

8. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the securing step is accomplished using thermo-bonding.

9. A method for manufacturing a cutting tool which comprises the steps of:

separating a blade member from a metal sheet, wherein the blade member has an extension projecting from a body portion, wherein the body portion has a first side opposite and substantially parallel to a second side;

forming a cutting edge on the body portion adjacent the extension;

creating a handle formed with a slit;

positioning the blade member in the slit of the handle to leave the cutting edge exposed between the extension and the handle; and

securing the second side of the body portion of the blade member to the handle to form the cutting tool.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the blade member is planar and the body portion is a substantially rectangular shaped, with the extension projecting from the body portion along the first side, and with the extension having an inside edge substantially parallel to the first side.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein the cutting blade extends between the inside edge of the projection and the second side and substantially perpendicular respectively thereto, the blade member defining a blade axis parallel to the inside edge and the second edge and perpendicular to the cutting blade.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the handle has a first flange extending therefrom and a second flange extending therefrom to establish the slit therebetween, and wherein each flange has a guiding edge located across the slit and opposite each other.

13. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the creating step is accomplished by die cutting the sheet metal.

14. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the blade member is made of a plastic material and the forming step is accomplished by injection molding.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the handle is made of a plastic material and the forming step is accomplished by injection molding.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the securing step is accomplished by thermo-bonding.

17. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the slit between the first flange and the second flange defines a distance “

d”

, wherein the blade member has a width “

w”

, and wherein d>

w.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein the securing step is accomplished using glue.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein the securing step is accomplished using bolts.

20. A cutting tool which comprises:

a blade member, wherein the blade member is planar and is created with a substantially rectangular shaped body portion having a first side, opposite and substantially parallel to a second side, the blade member having an extension projecting therefrom along the first side, with the extension having an inside edge substantially parallel to the first side, and with a cutting blade extending between the inside edge of the extension and the second side and substantially perpendicular respectively thereto, the blade member defining a blade axis parallel to the inside edge and the second edge and perpendicular to the cutting blade; and

a handle, wherein the handle is formed with a first flange extending therefrom and a second flange extending therefrom to establish a slit therebetween, and wherein each flange has a guiding edge located across the slit and opposite each other, and wherein the second side of the body portion is positioned in the slit between the first flange and the second flange to orient the cutting blade of the blade member substantially perpendicular to the guiding edges on the handle, and to distance the inside edge of the projection on the blade member from the guiding edges on the handle to establish a slot therebetween, with the slot aligned with the blade axis, and further wherein the second side of the body portion of the blade member is secured between the flanges of the handle to form the cutting tool.