Cutting tool and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9492934-B2
Application number	US-201314059604-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2013
Priority date	Dec 6, 2011
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A tool for cutting a tie wrap bound about a wire bundle. The tool includes a body portion having a generally disc-shaped cutter and cutting edge. A shield covers one side of the cutter and defines first and second shield slots in communication with the cutting edge. A housing pivotally connected to the body portion covers the other side of the cutter and defines first and second housing slots that communicate with the cutting edge. The housing pivots between first, second, and third positions. In the first position, the first housing slot communicates with the first shield slot to expose the cutting edge for cutting purposes. In the second position, the first housing slot is out of communication with the first shield slot, thereby covering the cutting edge. And, in the third position, the second housing slot communicates with the second shield slot to expose the cutting edge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for use in cutting a tie wrap bound about at least one wire, the tool comprising:
a body portion having an end and a second portion forming a shield spaced from the end;
a cutter connected to the shield having a cutting edge configured to cut a tie wrap, the cutter defining a first side and a second side generally opposite the first side, and wherein the cutter has an axis of rotation; and
the shield defining a shield slot that communicates with the cutting edge, the shield slot having:
a mouth and a floor portion generally opposite the mouth; the mouth being of a first width and the floor portion being of a second width;
the second width being greater than the first width; and
a wall portion extending at a generally acute angle with respect to the floor portion from proximate the mouth to proximate the floor portion;
a housing connected to the body in a first position that covers a substantial portion of the second side of the cutter; wherein the housing defining at least one housing slot that selectively communicates with the second side of the cutter, the shield slot, and the cutting edge of the cutter to expose a first cutting edge portion for use in cutting a tie wrap and the housing being configured to pivot to a second position, wherein the housing slot is generally out of communication with the shield slot, and the first portion of the cutting edge is substantially covered;

a shield spacer proximate shield slot configured to maintain a gap between the at least one wire and the cutting edge upon the housing being in either of the first position or the second position; and
a housing spacer connected to the housing proximate the housing slot configured to maintain a gap between the wires of the at least one wire and the cutting edge upon the housing being in either of the first position or the second position

wherein the gap between a peripheral edge of the housing spacer and/or shield spacer and the cutting edge is a predetermined setback distance, S, wherein S is a predetermined distance calculated by the following formula:

S
=

0.035
″

+
r
-

r
2

-

(

w
2

4

)

wherein r is the distance from the axis of rotation of the cutter to the cutting edge; and

wherein w is a width of the housing slot or the shield slot.

2. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein
the shield covers a substantial portion of the first side of the cutter.

3. The tool according to claim 2 , further comprising the cutter being capable of rotating about the axis of rotation upon the cutting edge of the cutter being used to cut a tie wrap.

4. The tool according to claim 2 , further comprising;
the housing including at least one tie wrap recess adjacent the housing slot and extending generally radially toward the axis of rotation; and
the tie wrap recess being configured to provide a relief area into which the tie wrap may move upon the tie wrap being cut.

5. The tool according to claim 1 , further comprising:
the shield including a second shield slot;
the at least one housing slot including a first housing slot and a second housing slot;
the housing being configured to pivot to a third position, wherein the second housing slot in generally in communication with the second shield slot, and a second portion of the cutting edge if exposed for use in cutting a tie wrap.

6. The tool according to claim 5 , further comprising a locking member connected to the housing that selectively locks the housing in at least one of the first position, the second position, and the third position relative to the body portion.

7. The tool according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a handle defining a handle cavity; and
the end of the body portion being connected to the handle for movement relative thereto between a retracted position substantially within the handle cavity and an extended position extending generally outwardly from the handle cavity.

8. The tool according to claim 1 , further comprising a flexible strap configured for receipt of at least one of a user's fingers that facilitates the user holding the tool.

9. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the housing spacer and/or the second portion spacer is wedge-shaped.

10. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the housing spacer is wedge-shaped.

11. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion spacer is wedge-shaped.

12. The tool according to claim 1 further comprising a handle coupled to said housing.

13. The tool according to claim 12 wherein the body further comprises a handgrip portion, and said body is detachably connected to the handle.

14. The tool according to claim 13 wherein the body is movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

15. The tool according to claim 1 further comprising a handle defining a handle cavity.

16. The tool according to claim 1 further comprising a central hole in the housing.

17. The tool according to claim 16 wherein the first housing slot and the second housing slot each extend generally radially outwardly from the central hole of the housing.

18. The tool according to claim 17 wherein the tool further comprises an axle that passes through the central hole.

19. The tool according to claim 18 wherein the axle comprises a headed fastener.

20. The tool according to claim 19 wherein the cutting edge of the cutter is generally arcuate or extends circumferentially around the axle.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Coffland Donald Wayne
• Anderson Christine Mary
• Backman Curtis Lynn
• Ayers Aaron R
• Wright David Scott
• Shapiro Scott Edward
• Young Donald R

Classifications

• B26B25/005 Primary

  Manually operated, e.g. pizza cutters · CPC title

• B26D7/0006

  Means for guiding the cutter (for hand knives B26B29/06; for band-knives B26D1/54) · CPC title

• Y10T83/04

  Processes · CPC title

• B65B69/0025

  Removing or cutting binding material, e.g. straps or bands · CPC title

• B26B27/00 Primary

  Hand cutting tools not provided for in the preceding groups, e.g. finger rings for cutting string, devices for cutting by means of wires · CPC title