Blade-protecting sheath for an ultrasonic cutting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10500751-B2
Application number	US-201615264050-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2016
Priority date	Sep 13, 2016
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

A blade-protecting sheath is configured to protect a cutting blade of an ultrasonic cutting system. The blade-protecting sheath includes a main body having a first end and an opposite second end, a blade-receiving channel formed through the first end, and a nut-retention chamber connected to the blade-receiving channel. The nut-retention chamber is defined by interior planar walls that are configured to receive and constrain a nut of the ultrasonic cutting system. A blade slot is connected to the nut-retention chamber. The cutting blade is configured to pass into the blade slot and be secured within a blade chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A protective system comprising:
an ultrasonic cutting system including a power horn coupled to a cutting blade through a nut; and
a blade-protecting sheath that protects the cutting blade the blade-protecting sheath comprising:
a main body having a first end and an opposite second end;
a blade-receiving channel formed through the first end;
a nut-retention chamber connected to the blade-receiving channel, wherein the nut-retention chamber is defined by interior planar walls that receive and constrain the nut of the ultrasonic cutting system;
at least one magnet that magnetically couples the main body to the nut; and
a blade slot connected to the nut-retention chamber, wherein the cutting blade is configured to pass into the blade slot and be secured within a blade chamber.

2. The protective system of claim 1 , wherein the blade-protecting sheath further comprises opposed barrier blocks within the main body, wherein the blade slot is defined between the opposed barrier blocks.

3. The protective system of claim 1 , wherein the blade slot has a clearance height that is greater than a depth of the cutting blade.

4. The protective system of claim 1 , wherein the blade chamber is longer, wider, and deeper than the cutting blade.

5. The protective system of claim 1 , wherein the main body is configured to suspend the cutting blade within the blade chamber.

6. The protective system of claim 1 , wherein no portion of the cutting blade directly contacts any portion of the blade-protecting sheath when the cutting blade is secured within the blade chamber.

7. The protective system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the main body includes an outer perimeter that is complementary to an operative portion of a tool, wherein the operative portion of the tool is configured to conform to the outer perimeter.

8. The protective system of claim 7 , wherein the outer perimeter is hexagonally shaped.

9. The protective system of claim 7 , wherein the outer perimeter comprises one or both of the first end or the second end.

10. The protective system of claim 1 , wherein the blade-protecting sheath further comprises at least one ergonomic recess formed in the main body, wherein the at least one ergonomic recess is configured to be gripped and grasped by an individual.

11. The protective system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one ergonomic recess comprises an inwardly-bowed arcuate surface.

12. The protective system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one ergonomic recess includes an outer textured surface.

13. A protective system comprising:
an ultrasonic cutting system including a power horn coupled to a cutting blade through a nut; and
a blade-protecting sheath that protects the cutting blade when the ultrasonic cutting system is not in use and when the cutting blade is removed from the power horn, the blade-protecting sheath comprising:
a main body having a first end and an opposite second end;
at least one ergonomic recess formed in the main body, wherein the at least one ergonomic recess is configured to be gripped and grasped by an individual
a blade-receiving channel formed through the first end;
a nut-retention chamber connected to the blade-receiving channel, wherein the nut-retention chamber is defined by interior planar walls that receive and constrain the nut of the ultrasonic cutting system;
a blade slot connected to the nut-retention chamber, wherein the cutting blade passes into the blade slot and is secured within a blade chamber, wherein the blade slot has a clearance height that is greater than a depth of the cutting blade, wherein the blade chamber is longer, wider, and deeper than the cutting blade, wherein the cutting blade is suspended within the blade chamber; and
at least one magnet that magnetically couples the main body to the nut.

14. The protective system of claim 13 , wherein the blade-protecting sheath of further comprises opposed barrier blocks within the main body, wherein the blade slot is defined between the opposed barrier blocks.

15. The protective system of claim 13 , wherein no portion of the cutting blade directly contacts any portion of the blade-protecting sheath.

16. The protective system of claim 13 , wherein at least one or both of the first end or the second end includes a hexagonally-shaped outer perimeter that is complementary to an operative portion of a tool, wherein the operative portion of the tool is configured to conform to the hexagonal outer perimeter of the at least one or both of the first end or the second end.

17. The protective system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one ergonomic recess comprises an inwardly-bowed arcuate surface.

18. The protective system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one ergonomic recess includes an outer textured surface.

19. A protective system comprising:
an ultrasonic cutting system including a power horn coupled to a cutting blade through a nut; and
a blade-protecting sheath that protects the cutting blade, the blade-protecting sheath comprising:
a main body having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein each of the first end and the second end include a hexagonal outer perimeter that is complementary to an operative portion of a tool, wherein the operative portion of the tool is configured to conform to the hexagonal outer perimeter of each of the first end and the second end;
at least one ergonomic recess formed in the main body, wherein the at least one ergonomic recess is configured to be gripped and grasped by an individual, wherein the at least one ergonomic recess comprises an inwardly-bowed arcuate surface and an outer textured surface;
a blade-receiving channel formed through the first end;
a nut-retention chamber connected to the blade-receiving channel, wherein the nut-retention chamber is defined by interior planar walls that receive and constrain the nut of the ultrasonic cutting system;
at least one magnet that magnetically couples the main body to the nut; and
opposed barrier blocks within the main body, wherein the opposed barrier blocks define a blade slot therebetween, wherein the blade slot has a clearance height that is greater than a depth of the cutting blade, wherein the blade slot connects to the nut-retention chamber, wherein the cutting blade is configured to pass into the blade slot and be secured within a blade chamber that is longer, wider, and deeper than the cutting blade, wherein the main body is configured to suspend the cutting blade within the blade chamber, wherein no portion of the cutting blade directly contacts any portion of the blade-protecting sheath when the cutting blade is secured within the blade chamber.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Stephenson Benjamin J
• Frankenbery Scott K
• Anderson Robert L

Classifications

• B26D7/00

  Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting (cutters B26D1/00; arrangements for guiding hand cutting tools B26B29/06; punching tools or dies, cutting-out knives or dies B26F) · CPC title

• A61B17/320068

  using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic (A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745) · CPC title

• A61B2090/0801

  Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking · CPC title

• B26D7/086 Primary

  by vibrating, e.g. ultrasonically · CPC title