Plastic pipe cutter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9308660-B2
Application number	US-57392809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2009
Priority date	Oct 6, 2009
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A hand-held cutting tool is described which is used to readily cut or sever flexible pipe or tubing. The tool features one or more openings in the body of the tool sized to accommodate pipe or tubing to be cut. The tool is used to cut tubing by inserting the tubing into one of the apertures. A retractable blade is urged against the tubing and the tool then orbited about the tubing and/or the tubing rotated until the blade severs the tubing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cutting tool comprising:
a body defining a first side and a second side oppositely directed from the first side, the body also defining one or more openings through the body between the first side and the second side;
at least one selectively positionable implement, the implement positionable between (i) a first position in which the implement is disposed entirely within the body, and (ii) a second position in which at least a portion of the implement is extended into and exposed within the opening in the body;
wherein the one or more openings has a semi-circular profile, and defines a major axis and a minor axis, the length of the major axis being from about 101% to about 116% of the length of the minor axis.

2. The cutting tool of claim 1 wherein the body defines two openings.

3. The cutting tool of claim 2 wherein each of the two openings has a semi-circular profile.

4. A cutting tool comprising:
a housing defining (i) an interior region sized and shaped for receiving at least one implement, (ii) a first aperture extending through the housing, the first aperture defined by a first span, and (iii) a second aperture extending through the housing, the second aperture defined by a second span different than the first span; and
an implement assembly disposed in the housing, the implement assembly including (i) a first implement and a second implement, (ii) provisions for retracting the first implement and the second implement into the interior region defined by the housing, and (iii) provisions for extending the first implement into the first aperture and the second implement into the second aperture, wherein the first implement and the second implement are biased to extend into the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively;
an actuator generally retained at least partially within the housing and in engagement with the implement assembly, wherein the implement assembly further includes a slidable member in contact with the actuator;
a spring disposed within the housing and in contact with the slidable member and which urges the slidable member to a position such that the first and second implements extend into an associated aperture.

5. A cutting tool comprising:
a housing defining (i) an interior region sized and shaped for receiving at least one implement, (ii) a first aperture extending through the housing, the first aperture defined by a first span, and (iii) a second aperture extending through the housing, the second aperture defined by a second span different than the first span; and
an implement assembly disposed in the housing, the implement assembly including (i) a first implement and a second implement, (ii) provisions for retracting the first implement and the second implement into the interior region defined by the housing, and (iii) provisions for extending the first implement into the first aperture and the second implement into the second aperture, wherein the first implement and the second implement are biased to extend into the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively, and at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture has a substantially semi-circular profile defined by a major axis and a minor axis, the length of the major axis being from about 101% to about 116% of the length of the minor axis.

6. The cutting tool of claim 5 wherein the length of the major axis is from about 103% to about 109% of the length of the minor axis.

7. The cutting tool of claim 5 wherein the first implement is extendable into the first aperture and is displaced along a travel axis during retracting and extending, the first aperture having a substantially semi-circular shape and oriented such that the major axis of the first axis is generally parallel to the travel axis.

8. A cutting tool comprising:
a housing defining (i) an interior region sized and shaped for receiving at least one implement, (ii) a first aperture extending through the housing, the first aperture defined by a first span, and (iii) a second aperture extending through the housing, the second aperture defined by a second span different than the first span; and
an implement assembly disposed in the housing, the implement assembly including (i) a first implement and a second implement, (ii) provisions for retracting the first implement and the second implement into the interior region defined by the housing, and (iii) provisions for extending the first implement into the first aperture and the second implement into the second aperture, wherein the first implement and the second implement are biased to extend into the first aperture and the second aperture, respectively;
an actuator generally retained at least partially within the housing and in engagement with the implement assembly, wherein the implement assembly further includes a slidable member in contact with the actuator, and the slidable member engages and contacts the implement assembly;
wherein the housing includes a first side and a second side and the first aperture is defined by a circumferential wall extending through the housing and between the first and second sides, the housing also defining a blade access region associated with the first aperture and extending between (i) the circumferential wall and the first side and (ii) the circumferential wall and the second side.

9. The cutting tool of claim 8 wherein the second aperture is defined by a circumferential wall extending through the housing and between the first and second sides, the housing also defining a second blade access region associated with the second aperture and extending between (i) the circumferential wall and the first side and (ii) the circumferential wall and the second side.

10. A cutting tool comprising:
a tool housing defining an interior hollow region, the tool housing also defining at least two apertures extending through the tool housing;
a first movable implement defining a cutting edge, the implement positionable between (i) a first position in which the implement is disposed entirely within the interior hollow region defined by the tool housing, and (ii) a second position in which at least a portion of the cutting edge is exposed within at least one of the apertures;
a second movable implement defining a cutting edge; and
a spring disposed in the tool housing, the spring biasing at least one of the first and the second movable implements to extend into a respective aperture;
wherein the tool housing defines a first aperture and a second aperture and the first aperture is larger than the second aperture.

11. A cutting tool comprising:
a tool housing defining an interior hollow region, the tool housing also defining at least two apertures extending through the tool housing, including a first aperture and a second aperture;
a first movable implement defining a cutting edge, the implement positionable between (i) a first position in which the implement is disposed entirely within the interior hollow region defined by the tool housing, and (ii) a second position in which at least a portion of the cutting edge is exposed within at least one of the apertures;
a second movable implement defining a cutting edge, wherein the first aperture is a circular opening, and the second aperture is a circular opening, wherein the diameter of the first aperture is smaller than the diameter of the second aperture.

12. A cutting tool comprising:
a tool housing defining an interior hollow region, the tool housing also defining at least two apertures extending through the tool housing;
a first movable implement defining a cutting edge, the implement positionable between (i) a first position in which the implement is dispose

Assignees

• Macsay Steven M
• Chartier Glen R
• Emerson Electric Co

Inventors

• Macsay Steven M
• Chartier Glen R

Classifications

• B26D1/09

  with a plurality of cutting members · CPC title

• B26D2007/013

  the work being tubes, rods or logs · CPC title

• B26D5/16

  Cam means · CPC title

• B26D3/16 Primary

  Cutting rods or tubes transversely {(cutting tubes longitudinally B26D3/001)} · CPC title

• B26D7/088

  by cleaning or lubricating (sterilizing B26D1/00) · CPC title