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US 4,980,975 AGranted
Secateurs
AssigneeBulldog Tools Inc.
InventorJames W. Hodson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pair of secateurs is provided comprising two handle (2,4) and blade (10,12) modules pivotally connected together such that when the two handles are moved towards one another, the two blades move towards one another to perform a cutting operation. The secateurs are such that each blade (10,12) can be released from each associated handle (2,4) without the use of tools, for replacement by a new or different blade. The invention makes it possible to replace worn or damaged blades without the need for any tools such as a spanner or screwdriver. It further allows the same pair of handles to be used with blades of differing configurations, making the secateurs much more versatile than known secateurs.
Claims18
A pair of secateurs comprising:
- a first module having a first handle and a first blade, said first blade having a first butt portion and a first cutting portion, said first handle having a profile shaped to engage around said first butt portion in a manner which prevents rotation of said first blade with respect to said first handle;
- a second module having a second handle and a second blade, said second blade having a second butt portion and a second cutting portion, said second handle having a profile shaped to engage around said second butt portion in a manner which prevents rotation of said second blade with respect to said second handle;
- a first passage extending through said first handle and said first blade;
- a second passage extending through said second handle and said second blade;
- first and second screw threaded members which cooperate to provide fastening means extending through said first and second passages to secure said modules together such that when said first and second handles are moved towards one another, said first and second cutting portions move towards one another to perform a cutting operation;
- one of said screw threaded members having means for preventing its rotation with respect to the secateurs, the other screw threaded member having a shape which is readily grippable between the fingers for rotating said other member, one of the screw threaded members having a relatively large friction face, rotation of the rotatable screw threaded member in one direction causing said relatively large friction face to be compressed against the secateurs, and rotation of the rotatable screw threaded member in the other direction causing disassembly of said first and second handles from said first and second blades, so that the blades can be replaced by new or different blades without the use of tools.
3 more elements
A pair of secateurs, comprising:
- a first module having a first handle and a first blade, said first blade having a first butt portion and a first cutting portion, said first handle having a profile shaped for engagement around said first butt portion in a manner which prevents rotation of said first blade with respect to said first handle;
- a second module having a second handle and a second blade, said second blade having a second butt portion and a second cutting portion, said second handle having a profile shaped for engagement around said second butt portion in a manner which prevents rotation of said second blade with respect to said second blade;
- a first passage extending through said first handle and said first blade;
- a second passage extending through said second handle and said second blade;
- fastening means for securing said first and second modules together, said fastening means including first and second screw threaded members which are threadedly engageable with each other, such that when said first and second handles are moved towards one another, said first and second cutting portions move towards one another to perform a cutting operation, said other screw threaded member being shaped to be readily grippable between the fingers for rotating said other screw threaded member;
- means for preventing rotation of one of said screw threaded members with respect to said first and second modules;
- one of said screw threaded members having a relatively large friction face, rotation of the rotatable screw threaded member in one direction causing said relatively large friction face to be compressed against one of said first and second modules to adjust the force required to operate the secateurs, and rotation of the rotatable screw threaded member in the other direction causing disassembly of the first and second modules from each other and disassembly of said first and second handles from said first and second blades, whereby said blades can be replaced by new or different blades without the use of tools.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.