GB2392127A

GB2392127A - A cutting device

Info

Publication number: GB2392127A
Application number: GB0222746A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alicia Tucker; Mark Rupert Tucker
Original assignee: PRECIOUS MEMORY ALBUM SUPPLIES
Current assignee: PRECIOUS MEMORY ALBUM SUPPLIES
Priority date: 2002-07-19
Filing date: 2002-10-01
Publication date: 2004-02-25
Also published as: GB0222746D0; GB0216841D0

Abstract

A cutting device comprises a body 2 and a blade carrier 4. The blade carrier 4 can be positioned within the body at several distinct positions along the lengthwise direction of an arm (10, fig 1) of the blade carrier 4. Consequently, the difference between a blade (26, fig 3) on the blade carrier 4 and a follower (36, fig 3) on the body 2 can be adjusted. A set of templates is also disclosed having guide tracks for engagement by the follower (36, fig 3). Templates of different size can be nested one within another.

Description

23921 27

A CUTTING DEVICE

This invention relates to a cutting device for cutting sheet material and is particularly, although not 5 exclusively, concerned with a cutting device for cutting shapes from paper, cardstock and thin laminates. It is known to mount photographs or other pictures 10 using a framing mount of paper or card, the inner edge, and possibly also the outer edge of the mount being shaped to suit the nature of the photograph or picture and the preference of the individual performing the mounting operation. It is difficult to cut such mounts 15 cleanly and accurately.

A cutting device is disclosed in US 6216577, comprising a body which is grasped by the user's hand to perform a cutting operation. The body has a pair of pegs acting 20 as followers which are moved around a track formed in a suitable template so as to guide the blade of the device around a chosen path. In the cutting device of US 6216577, the track follower pegs and a blade carrier are mounted in a cartridge, and consequently the 25 distance between the blade and the track in the template is fixed for that cartridge. If only one cartridge were provided, it would be possible to cut only one size of mount using each template track. To provide greater versatility, US 6216577 discloses the 30 use of replaceable cartridges with different distances between the track following pegs and the blade carrier.

Thus, by selection of an appropriate template from a range of templates, and by selecting an appropriate cartridge, a wider range of sizes can be cut. However,

the consequence of this arrangement is that a substantial number of cartridges is required to achieve a reasonable degree of versatility. Also, a substantial number of templates is required and so the 5 system as a whole requires a large number of components resulting in a package which is bulky and difficult to transport and store. In addition, the cutting device disclosed in US 6216577 is difficult to manipulate accurately, particularly for elderly or weaker people.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a cutting device for cutting sheet material, the device comprising a body having a handle portion and a follower for following a guide track in a 15 template, the device also comprising a blade carrier provided with a cutting blade, the blade carrier being connectable to the body in either one of at least two distinct positions, the distance between the blade and the follower differing between the positions.

In a preferred embodiment, the blade carrier is connectable to the body in any one of four distinct positions. The blade carrier may be provided with markings representing the different positions, and the 25 body may have an aperture or other indicating means, for identifying the respective marking corresponding to each position of the blade carrier.

The blade carrier preferably comprises an elongate arm 30 which engages the body, and the different positions of the blade carrier with respect to the body may be offset relatively to each other in the lengthwise direction of the arm.

The body may comprise first and second components which are separably connected to each other. The first component is preferably provided with the handle portion, and the second component is preferably 5 provided with the follower. The first and second components may define a channel which receives the -

blade carrier.

Cooperating formations may be provided within the 10 channel and on the blade carrier for establishing the distinct positions of the blade carrier. For example, the blade carrier may have a series of recesses, corresponding to the number of distinct positions, and the channel may be provided with a single projection.

15 Consequently, the position of the blade carrier with respect to the body is determined by the individual recess which engages the projection in the channel.

The blade may be carried by a projection on the blade 20 carrier, for example a projection extending in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the blade carrier arm. A cap may be provided for enclosing the blade when the device is not in use. A further projection may be provided on the blade 25 carrier, away from the blade itself, for receiving the cap when removed from the blade. -

The handle portion of the body preferably has a domed configuration of a size to fit neatly and comfortably 30 in the hand. Depressions may be provided in the domed i portion for assisting gripping of the body by a user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set of templates for use with a

i cutting device which may or may not be a cutting device as defined above. The set of templates comprising at least two templates of annular form, each template! having oppositely disposed parallel surfaces, at least 5 one of which is provided with a guide track, the templates further comprising inner and outer edges, the inner edge of one of the templates being complementary to the outer edge of the other template or one of the other templates, whereby the templates are nestable one 10 within the other.

In a preferred embodiment, a guide track is provided in each of the surfaces of each template, the respective tracks being at different distances from the inner 15 edge.

The tracks may have any desired profile, for example circular, elliptical, or generally rectangular.

20 Another aspect of the present invention provides cutting apparatus comprising a cutting device and a set of templates, both as defined above.

For a better understanding of the present invention, 25 and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cutting device; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the cutting device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the cutting device in one operative condition; Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3, but shows the cutting 5 device in another operative condition; Figure 5 corresponds to Figure 3, but shows a protective blade cap; 10 Figure 6 is a perspective underneath view of the cutting device; Figure 7 shows a set of cutting templates; 15 Figure 8 shows another set of cutting templates; Figure 9 shows a third set of cutting templates; Figure 10 shows the cutting device in use with a 20 template; Figure 11 shows an alternative mode of use of the cutting device with a template; 25 Figure 12 is a partly sectioned side view corresponding to Figure 10; and Figure 13 is a sectioned view of the template.

30 The cutting device shown in Figures 1 to 6 comprises a body 2 and a blade carrier 4, both formed from moulded plastics material. As shown in Figure 2, the body 2 comprises upper and lower components 6 and 8 which, for use, are connected together to embrace an elongate arm

10 of the blade carrier 4. The arm 10 is then received in a channel 12 of the upper component 6. The component 6 comprises a handle portion and the component 8 comprises a closure portion, these two 5 components being releasably connected together to retain the blade carrier 4 and the arm 10. As shown in Figure 2, the handle portion 6 has projections 14 which engage complementary recesses 16 in the closure portion 8 in order to retain these components together. The 10 closure portion 8 fits to the handle portion 6 in one direction only to facilitate assembly. Lugs 18 are provided on the closure portion 8 to assist in disconnecting it from the body portion 6.

15 The body portion 6 is of a domed configuration, having recesses or depressions 20 on each side in order to assist grasping of the handle portion 6 and to improve control of the cutting device during a cutting operation while downwards pressure is applied to it.

The blade carrier 4 has a lateral projection 22 which, in use when cutting a sheet of material on a horizontal surface, projects downwardly. The projection 22 terminates at a blade holder 24 in which a blade 26 is 25 embedded.

The closure portion 8 has a recess 28 in its periphery which, when the cutter device is assembled in the configuration shown in Figure 1, receives the 30 projection 22.

A cap 30 is provided which fits over the blade holder 24 to shield the blade 26 when the device is not in use. The cap is shown fitted in Figure 5. The arm 10

has, at its end away from the projection 22, a boss 32 of the same configuration as the blade holder 24. When the cutter device is in use, the cap 30 can be fitted over the boss 32 for convenient storage.

The arm 10 has four transverse notches 34 on each side.

The notches 34 are of part-cylindrical form. Within the channel 12 of the handle portion 6, there is an oppositely disposed pair of complementary ribs (not 10 shown). When the blade carrier 4 is presented to the channel 12 during assembly of the cutting device, one or other of the pairs of oppositely disposed notches 34 will engage the ribs in the channel 12 in order to retain the blade carrier 4 in the axial direction of 15 the arm 10 so that, when the closure portion 8 is fitted to the handle portion 6, the blade carrier 4 is constrained against movement in all directions. The arm 10 is shaped (for example it may be tapered) so that it will fit in the channel 12 in only one 20 orientation.

In the configuration shown in Figure 3, the left-most pair of recesses 34 engage the ribs in the handle portion 6, and consequently the handle portion 6 is 25 disposed at the endmost position to the left with respect to the arm 10. Thus, the blade 26 is situated relatively close to a follower 36 which projects from the underside of the closure portion 8.

30 By contrast, Figure 4 shows the handle portion 6 at the opposite end position, in which the ribs in the channel 12 engage the right-most pair of recesses 34. In this configuration, the distance between the blade 26 and the follower 36 is substantially greater than in Figure

3. It will be appreciated that intermediate distances between the blade 26 and the follower 36 can be achieved by engaging the ribs in the channel 12 of the handle portion 6 with one or the other of the 5 intermediate pairs of recesses 34.

It will therefore be appreciated that cooperation between the notches 34 and the ribs in the channel 12 permits the arm 10 of the blade carrier 4 to be fitted 10 into the channel 12 in any one of four distinct positions or locations, each position providing a respective different distance between the blade 26 and the follower 36.

15 Figure 6 shows the underside of the assembled cutting device, with the cap 30 removed. The underside of the closure portion 8 is provided not only with the follower 36, but also with an aperture 38 through which the lower face of the arm 10 is visible. This face is 20 provided with a series of numbers, "1" to "4", disposed between the recesses 34 of each pair. The configuration shown in Figure 6 corresponds to that shown in Figure 3, and the number "1" is visible in the aperture 38. This provides a visual indication of the 25 relative positions of the handle portion 2 and the blade carrier 4.

It will be appreciated from Figure 6 that the follower 36 comprises a pair of lobes 40 interconnected by a 30 necked region 42. The follower 38 thus has an elongate form, extending transversely of the length of the arm 10.

The cutting device of Figures l to 6 is used with a template of the form shown in Figures 7 to 9. Figure 7 shows a set of three templates 44, 46 and 48. The templates are of generally annular form, and are nested 5 one within the other with a light friction fit. Thus, the radially inner edge of the template 44 meets the radially outer edge of the template 46 at a junction 50 and the radially inner edge of the template 46 meets the radially outer edge of the template 48 at a 10 junction 52. The inner template 48 has a central aperture 54. The mating edges of the templates are provided with complementary lugs and recesses 56, which serve to locate the nested templates securely one with another. On the face visible in Figure 6, each template is provided with a groove 58, 60, 62 which serves as a guide track for the follower 38 of the cutting device.

Each template also has a similar guide track on its 20 opposite surface, but at a different distance from the inner edge of the respective template.

It will be appreciated that the outer template 44 has a substantial surface extending beyond the track 58.

25 This assists in pressing the template down on to material to be cut. If the guide track 58 in the outer template is to be used, the inner templates 46 and 48 will be removed, exposing the material to be cut in the resulting opening. If either of the inner templates 30 are to be used, one or both of them can be nested within the outer template 44 so as, again, to provide an extensive surface to enable the template assembly to be stabilized on the material to be cut.

t Figures 8 and 9 show alternative templates having guide tracks of different configuration. In Figure 8, the guide tracks are circular and in Figure 9 they are generally square, with rounded corners (only one guide 5 track being shown in Figure 9). In Figures 8 and 9 the same reference numbers are used as in Figure 7 to identify similar components. It will be noted that, whereas the templates sets of Figures 7 and 9 comprise three templates, that shown in Figure 8 comprises four 10 templates, including an innermost template 64 having a guide track 66.

Figure 10 shows the cutting device of Figures 1 to 6 in use with one of the templates of Figures 7 to 9 (for 15 example, the template 64 or Figure 8). Thus, in order to cut a circular hole in a sheet of material, the material is laid on a suitable cutting board, and the template 64 is laid over it and pressed firmly downwards in order to hold the material, such as paper, 20 in place. The cutting device 2 is assembled with the arm 10 in a selected position relative to the handle portion 2 as described above, in order to provide a desired spacing between the blade 26 and the follower 36. Thus, as the cutting device travels around the 25 template, guided by engagement between the follower 36 in the guide track 66, the blade will describe a circle of the desired radius. During the cutting process, the cutting device is pressed downwardly to stabilize it on the surface of the template 64, and to maintain 30 engagement between the follower 36 and the guide track 66. The domed shape of the handle portion 6 and the depressions 20 assist in exerting an appropriate pressure on the cutting device and in manipulating it around the template 64.

Figure 11 corresponds to Figure 10, except that the template 64 is shown inverted so that the groove 66' in its other surface is employed, and the cutting device 5 is mounted so that the blade 26 is positioned outwardly of the template, rather than inwardly as shown in Figure 10. In this configuration, a substantially larger circle (or other outline) is described by the blade 26.

It will be appreciated that circles (or other outlines) of different sizes can be achieved using the same template by adjusting the position of the arm 10 in the handle portion 2.

Figure 12 is a side view of the configuration shown in Figure 10, showing the relative positions of the guide tracks 66 and 66'. Figure 13 also shows the template 64 with the guide tracks 66 and 66'.

The cutting device and templates, as described with reference to the drawings, together provide a cutting system which enables a wide variety of shapes and sizes of cut to be performed easily and accurately with a 25 relatively small number of components. In particular, for a single setting of the cutting device, each template component can be used to create four different cut-out sizes, depending on the guide track (e.g. 66, 66') used, and depending on whether the blade 26 30 travels around the inside or outside of the template component. Similarly, the assembly of the cutting device from only three major components (the handle portion 6, the blade carrier 4 and the closure portion 8) assists assembly by the user.

Furthermore, the ability of the templates to nest one within another provides further economies of space during transport and storage. An additional feature is 5 that the shape of the handle portion 6 of the cutting device makes the cutting operation easy to perform, particularly for elderly people or others of diminished strength and dexterity, for example as a result of arthritis and other ailments. Since variation in the 10 distance between the follower 36 and the blade 26 is achieved by displacing the entire blade carrier 4, there is no need to handle the blade 26 directly when performing adjustment. Consequently, a potential source of injury, or damage to the blade, is 15 eliminated. An additional contribution to safety arises from the cap 30, which can be fitted over the blade 26 without needing to remove the blade 26 from the device.

20 Since the template surface extends for a substantial distance beyond the guide track being employed, particularly if a guide track of an inner, nested template is being used, it is relatively easy to perform a cut in a continuous smooth movement without 25 needing to adjust hand-hold positions in order to avoid interference between the cutting device and a user's hand holding the template.

Claims

1 A cutting device for cutting sheet material, the device comprising a body having a handle portion and a 5 follower for following a guide track in a template, the device also comprising a blade carrier provided with a cutting blade, the blade carrier being connectable to the body in either one of at least two distinct positions, the distance between the blade and the 10 follower differing between the two positions.

2. A cutting device as claimed in claim 1, in which the blade carrier is connectable to the body in any one of four distinct positions.

3. A cutting device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which markings are provided for indicating the position of the blade carrier relative to the body.

20

4. A cutting device as claimed in claim 3, in which the markings are provided on the blade carrier, the body having an aperture revealing the marking for the respective position of the blade carrier with respect to the body.

5. A cutting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the blade carrier comprises an elongate arm received in a channel provided in the body.

6. A cutting device as claimed in claim 5, in which the distinct positions of the blade carrier are offset from one another in the lengthwise direction of the arm.

7. A cutting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body comprises a first component formed as a handle portion, and a second 5 component in the form of a closure portion provided with a follower, the first and second components being detachably connected to each other.

8. A cutting device as claimed in any one of the 10 preceding claims, in which the body and the blade carrier have cooperating formations for establishing the distinct positions of the blade carrier with respect to the body.

15

9. A cutting device as claimed in claim 8, in which the cooperating formations comprise recesses on the blade carrier and complementary ribs on the body.

10. A cutting device as claimed in any one of the 20 preceding claims, in which a cap is provided which is releasably engageable with a blade holder supporting the blade.

11. A cutting device as claimed in claim 10, in which 25 the blade carrier comprises a boss having a shape corresponding to the blade holder for receiving the cap.

12. A cutting device as claimed in any one of the 30 preceding claims, in which the handle portion has a domed configuration.

13. A cutting device as claimed in claim 12, in which the domed handle portion includes to assist manual grasping of the handle portion.

5

14. A cutting device substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 6, and 10 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A set of templates comprising at least two 10 templates of annular form, each template having oppositely disposed parallel surfaces, at least one of which is provided with a guide track, the templates further comprising inner and outer edges, the inner edge of one of the templates being complementary to the 15 outer edge of the other template or one of the other templates, whereby the templates are nestable one within the other.

16. A set of templates as claimed in claim 15, in 20 which a guide track is provided in each of the surfaces of each template.

17. A set of templates as claimed in claim 16, in which the guide track is one of the surfaces of each 25 template is spaced from the inner edge of that template by a distance which is different from the spacing of the other guide track of that template from the inner edge. 30

18. A set of templates substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown, Figures 7 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

l, ! i

19. A cutting assembly comprising a cutting device in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 14, and a set of templates in accordance with any one of claims 15 to 18.