Movable blade release mechanism for a cutting tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9604378-B2
Application number	US-201514691748-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2015
Priority date	Mar 5, 2012
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A cutting tool includes a fixed blade having a cutting surface and a movable blade having a cutting surface. The movable blade is rotatable between a receiving position in which the cutting surfaces are spaced and a cutting position in which an object disposed between the fixed and movable blades is cut by the cutting surfaces. A return spring member is connected to the movable blade. The spring member stores energy when the movable blade is rotated from the receiving position to the cutting position. The spring member returns the movable blade to the receiving position when the stored energy is released.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cutting tool, comprising:
a fixed blade having a first cutting surface;
a movable blade having a second cutting surface, said movable blade being rotatable between a first position in which said second cutting surface is spaced from said first cutting surface of said fixed blade and a second position in which an object disposed between said fixed and movable blades is cut by said first and second cutting surfaces;
said movable blade has a plurality of teeth;
a return pinion gear engages said plurality of teeth of said movable blade;
a torsion spring connected to a shaft operatively connected to said return pinion gear whereby rotation of said movable blade to said second position causes compression of said torsion spring and upon releasing said compression said torsion spring rotates said movable blade back to said first position.

2. The cutting tool according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive pinion gear engages said plurality of teeth to move said movable blade from said first position to said second position.

3. The cutting tool according to claim 2 , wherein
said drive pinion gear is movable between said first and second positions, said drive pinion gear engaging said plurality of teeth in a drive position and disengaging said plurality of teeth in a return position.

4. The cutting tool according to claim 3 , wherein
a linking arm moves said drive pinion gear between said first and second positions.

5. The cutting tool according to claim 4 , wherein
a manually operated trigger is connected to said linking arm to control movement thereof.

6. A cutting tool, comprising:
a fixed blade;
a movable blade having a plurality of teeth and rotatable between a first position spaced from said fixed blade to receive an object therebetween and a second position adjacent said fixed blade to cut the object disposed between said fixed and movable blades;
a drive pinion gear movable between a drive position engaging said plurality of teeth of said movable blade and a return position disengaged from said plurality of teeth, said drive pinion gear rotating said movable blade from said first position to said second position in said drive position;
a torsion spring member connected to said movable blade whereby rotation of said movable blade from said first position to said second position compresses said torsion spring member and upon releasing said compression said torsion spring member rotates said movable blade back to said first position when said drive pinion is in the return position disengaged from said plurality of teeth, wherein a return pinion gear engages said plurality of teeth of said movable blade; and
said drive pinion gear is mounted on a first shaft and said return pinion gear is mounted on a second shaft.

7. The cutting tool according to claim 6 , wherein
said torsion spring member is connected to said second shaft.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Wason Peter

Classifications

• Y10T83/8786

  Oscillating tool · CPC title

• B23D29/002

  for cutting wire or the like · CPC title

• B26D1/30 Primary

  with limited pivotal movement to effect cut · CPC title

• Y10T83/04

  Processes · CPC title

• H02G1/005

  for cutting cables or wires, or splicing · CPC title