# US 10,500,751 B2 · Blade-protecting sheath for an ultrasonic cutting system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,751 B2 - Document ID: US10500751B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/264,050 - Filed: 2016-09-13 - Published: 2018-03-15 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-13 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Benjamin J. Stephenson; Scott K. Frankenbery; Robert L. Anderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500751B2 ## CPC - B26D 7/086: {by vibrating, e.g. ultrasonically} - B26D 7/00: 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) - A61B 17/320068: {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)} - A61B 2090/0801: {Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking} - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The protective system of claim 1, wherein the blade slot has a clearance height that is greater than a depth of the cutting blade. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The protective system of claim 1, wherein the blade chamber is longer, wider, and deeper than the cutting blade. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The protective system of claim 1, wherein the main body is configured to suspend the cutting blade within the blade chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The protective system of claim 7, wherein the outer perimeter is hexagonally shaped. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The protective system of claim 7, wherein the outer perimeter comprises one or both of the first end or the second end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The protective system of claim 10, wherein the at least one ergonomic recess comprises an inwardly-bowed arcuate surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The protective system of claim 10, wherein the at least one ergonomic recess includes an outer textured surface. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The protective system of claim 13, wherein no portion of the cutting blade directly contacts any portion of the blade-protecting sheath. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The protective system of claim 13, wherein the at least one ergonomic recess comprises an inwardly-bowed arcuate surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The protective system of claim 13, wherein the at least one ergonomic recess includes an outer textured surface. ### Claim 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.