US 6,357,326 B1Granted

Shape outlining device

OwnerJames D. Davidinventor

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Abstract

A shape outlining device for a user to easily mark or cut a predetermined shape on a surface. The shape outlining device includes a post assembly with a lower end for resting on a surface and an upper free end. A spool base has a central shaft with an upper and lower flange. A cam with a profile surface for determining a shape to be outlined on the surface is removably mounted on the central shaft of the spool base. The cam has a central passage through which the central shaft is received with the cam resting on the upper flange of the post assembly. A spool grip is placed over the spool base for permitting hand gripping of the post assembly. The spool grip has an upper and lower flange, and a sleeve with a central aperture that receives the central shaft of the spool base. An arm assembly is removably and rotatably mounted on the post assembly by way of a central tube member that receives and rides on the flanges of the spool base and the spool grip. The arm assembly has a rod with a cam follower and an adjustable blade holding carriage that cuts a shape on the surface that corresponds to the profile shape of the cam.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A shape outlining device for outlining a predetermined shape on a surface, the device comprising:

a post assembly with a lower end for resting on a surface and an upper free end, the post assembly comprising:
a spool base, the spool base having a central shaft with an upper end and a lower end, the spool base having an upper flange;
a cam for determining a shape to be outlined on the surface, the cam having a central passage through which the central shaft is received, the cam resting on the upper flange of the post assembly, the cam having a profile surface corresponding to a shape to be cut into the surface;
an arm assembly removably and rotatably mounted on the post assembly, the arm assembly comprising:
a central tube member mounted to the post assembly, the central tube having a lumen receiving and riding on the flanges of the spool base such that the tube member is rotatable about the flanges;
an arm having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end of the arm being mounted to an outer surface of the tube member;
a rod mounted on the arm in a substantially parallel orientation to the arm, the rod being mounted to permit axial movement of the rod with respect to the arm, the rod having an inner end and an outer end;
a cam follower mounted on the inner end of the rod, the cam follower abutting against the profile surface of the cam such that the rod is axially movable by the profile surface of the cam as the arm assembly is rotated around the post assembly;
a carriage mounted on the rod in a manner permitting sliding movement of the carriage in an axial direction along the rod;
and
a blade holder mounted on the carriage, the blade holder having a blade mounted thereon;
wherein the cam is removably mounted on the central shaft of the spool base for permitting replacement of the cam with cams of different shapes.

9 more elements

A shape outlining device for outlining a predetermined shape on a surface, the shape outlining device comprising:

a post assembly having an elongate shape with a lower end for resting on a surface and an upper free end, the post assembly comprising:
a spool bootie located at the lower end of the post assembly for resting on the surface;
a spool base extending upwardly from the spool bootie and away from the surface, the spool base having a central shaft with an upper end and a lower end, the spool base having a lower flange at the lower end of the central shaft, the lower flange extending radially outward from the central shaft, the lower flange having a circular perimeter shape, the spool base having an upper flange spaced upwardly from the lower flange, the upper flange extending radially outward from the central shaft, the upper flange having a circular perimeter shape, the spool base having a locking pin mounted to an upper surface of the upper flange at a location spaced from the central shaft, the locking pin extending parallel to the central shaft, an upper portion of the spool base adjacent the upper end of the spool base having external threads thereon;
a cam for determining a shape to be cut into the surface, the cam being removably mounted on the central shaft of the spool base, the cam having a central passage through which the central shaft is received, the cam having a secondary passage spaced radially outward from the central passage for receiving the locking pin of the spool base when the cam is positioned adjacent to the upper surface of the upper flange of the spool base, the cam having a profile surface corresponding to a shape to be cut into the surface;
a spool grip receiving the spool base, the spool grip having an elongate sleeve with an upper end and a lower end, the sleeve having a central aperture for receiving the central shaft of the spool base, the spool grip at the lower end of the spool grip having a cavity for receiving the locking pin of the spool base, the spool grip having a lower flange at the lower end of the sleeve for resting on the cam, the lower flange extending radially outward from the sleeve and having a circular perimeter shape, the spool grip having an upper flange extending radially outward from the sleeve and having a circular perimeter shape;
a nut removably secured to the upper end of the central shaft of the spool base for holding the cam and spool grip to the spool base;
an arm assembly removably and rotatably mounted on the post assembly, the arm assembly comprising:
a central tube member mounted to the post assembly, the central tube having a lumen receiving and riding on the flanges of the spool base and the spool grip such that the tube member is rotatable about the flanges;
an arm having an elongate shape with an inner end and an outer end, the inner end of the arm being mounted to an outer surface of the tube member;
a rod mounted on the arm in a substantially parallel orientation to the arm, the rod being mounted to permit axial movement of the rod with respect to the arm, the rod having an inner end and an outer end, the rod being mounted to the arm by a support, the rod having a stop mounted thereon at a location between the inner and outer ends;
a cam follower mounted on the inner end of the rod, the cam follower abutting against the profile surface of the cam such that the rod is axially movable by the profile surface of the cam as the arm assembly is rotated around the post assembly;
a biasing member for biasing the rod axially inward toward and into contact with the profile surface of the cam, the biasing member comprising a compression spring mounted between the stop on the rod and the support, the spring having the rod passing through the spring;
a carriage mounted on the rod in a manner permitting sliding movement of the carriage in an axial direction along the rod, the carriage having a channel through which the rod slidably extends;
a locking screw threadedly mounted on the carriage and being adapted for bearing against the rod for locking the carriage against axial movement relative to the rod, the locking screw having a knob thereon for permitting finger rotation of the locking screw;
a blade holder mounted on the carriage, the blade holder having a blade removably mounted thereon, the blade holder being rotatably mounted on the carriage for permitting rotation of the orientation of the blade, the blade holder having a pivot pin rotatably extending into a hole in the carriage, the blade holder having a blade directional knob for permitting finger pivoting of the blade holder on the pivot pin;
a blade safety cap removably mountable on the blade for protecting a cutting edge of the blade from unintentional contact with the cutting edge;
and
wherein the cam has a profile shape selected from the group consisting of a heart, a circle, an oval, a square, a star, a pentagon, a triangle, and a diamond.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.