Pipe cutting tool for plastic pipe

A tool for cutting a pipe, said pipe having a longitudinal axis and an outside pipe diameter, said tool comprising:

• c-shaped ring having opposing collar first and second ring ends, and an expansion slot formed therein extending from said first ring end to said second ring end, said c-shaped ring being selectively positionable on the pipe for separate selectable rotational movement about said longitudinal axis and slidable movement along said longitudinal axis
• a cutting member comprising a blade and a blade holding member, said cutting member pivotably mounted to said c-shaped ring and
• a biasing member mounted to said cutting member for frictional engagement with said c-shaped ring;
• wherein as said c-shaped ring and said cutting member are rotated together about said longitudinal axis, a circular score encircling said pipe is formed through which said pipe is cut.

A method of cutting a pipe with a cutting device comprising a c-shaped ring having a longitudinal length and an expansion slot with an unstressed slot width formed therein extending the length of said ring and defining thereby opposing longitudinal slot edges, and a cutting member pivotably mounted to said c-shaped ring, said method comprising the steps of:

• widening said expansion slot beyond said unstressed slot width by spreading apart said opposing longitudinal slot edges to form a widened expansion slot;
• positioning said c-shaped ring with widened expansion slot on said pipe;
• rotating said c-shaped ring and pivotably mounted cutting member together about said pipe to create a circular score thereon;
• and
• further rotating said c-shaped ring and cutting member together about said plastic pipe thought said score until said pipe is transversely cut.

A method of cutting a pipe with a cutting device comprising a c-shaped ring having a longitudinal length and an expansion slot with an unstressed slot width formed therein extending the length of said ring and defining thereby opposing longitudinal slot edges, and a cutting member pivotably mounted to said c-shaped ring, said method comprising the steps of:

• widening said expansion slot beyond said unstressed slot width by spreading apart said opposing longitudinal slot edges to form a widened expansion slot;
• positioning said c-shaped ring with widened expansion slot on said pipe;
• rotating said c-shaped ring and pivotably mounted cutting member together about said pipe to create a circular score thereon;
• and
• further rotating said c-shaped ring and cutting member together about said plastic pipe thought said score until said pipe is transversely cut.