Movable blade release mechanism for a cutting tool
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorPeter Wason
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
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;
- and
- a return spring member connected to said movable blade to store energy when said movable blade is rotated from said first position to said second position and to return said movable blade to said first position when said stored energy is released.
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;
- and
- a return spring member connected to said movable blade gear to store energy when said movable blade is rotated from said first position to said second position and to release the stored energy to return said movable blade when said drive pinion gear is moved to said return position, thereby rotating said movable blade back to said first position.
A method of operating a cutting tool, comprising the steps of
- rotating a movable blade from a first position to a second position to cut an object;
- disengaging a drive pinion gear from the movable blade;
- and
- rotating the movable blade back to the first position after disengaging the drive pinion gear from the movable blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.