Card cutting apparatus

A business card cutting apparatus for cutting business cards out of paper, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing, said housing comprising;
• a base portion, said base portion having an upper side and a lower side, said lower side having a plurality of legs thereon, said upper side being substantially planar, said upper side having a perimeter wall integrally coupled thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, said perimeter wall having a generally rectangular shape, said perimeter wall having a break therein, wherein paper may be placed within said rectangular perimeter;
• an upper portion, said upper portion being hingedly coupled to said base portion such that said upper portion may be selectively positioned between an abutted position and a removed position with respect to said base portion, said upper portion substantially covering said base portion in said abutted position, said upper portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, a back surface and a pair of side surfaces, said bottom surface having a cavity therein, said cavity having a generally rectangular shape such that said peripheral wall may extend into said cavity in said abutted position, said cavity having a channel therein, said cavity having a pair of sides walls each orientated generally parallel to each other and said side surfaces, each of said side walls having a notch therein positioned relatively nearer said back surface than said front surface;
• a rod, said rod being rotatably mounted in said upper portion, said rod extending through said side surfaces and through said channel such that said rod has a pair of ends each extending away from one of said side surfaces;
• a cam, said cam being elongate, said cam having a generally oval shape taken transversely to a longitudinal axis of said cam such that said cam has a first and second focal point, said rod extending through and generally along said first focal point of said cam such that said second focal point may be selectively positioned between a point relatively adjacent to an inside surface of said channel and a point relatively extending away from said channel;
• a plate, said plate being substantially rigid, said plate having a first side and a second side, said plate being movably mounted in said channel such that said cam is positioned between said inner surface of said channel and said first side of said plate, a plurality of biasing means bias said plate to said inner surface of said channel, said biasing means extend between and are coupled to said inner surface of said channel and said first side of said plate, each of said biasing means comprising a spring, wherein said biasing means bias said plate toward said channel such that said second focal point of said cam is biased against said inner surface, said second side having a plurality of nubs thereon;
• a handle member, said handle member having a bar portion and two legs, each of said legs being integrally coupled to and extending away from an opposite end of said bar portion, said handle member being generally U-shaped, each of said legs being securely attached to one of said ends of said rod, each of said legs having a bend therein such that said legs extend away from said rod and toward said front surface of said upper portion;
• a plurality of cartridges, each of said cartridges comprising a substantially rigid panel having a top side, a bottom side, a pair of side edges, a front edge and a back edge, each of said side edges having an elongate slot therein extending between said front and back edges, said top side having a plurality of bores therein each positioned to receive one of said nubs, said front edge having a slot therein, said slot having two side walls and a back wall, a shoulder extending into said slot from said top side and one of said side walls, said bottom side of said cartridge having a plurality of depressions therein, each of said depressions having a peripheral edge having a blade member securely attached thereto and extending away therefrom, said depressions of a first cartridge generally having a rectangular shape, a second cartridge having depressions generally having rectangular shapes having wavy sides, a third cartridge having depressions generally having rectangular shapes having clipped corners, each of said cartridges having a generally rectangular shape;
• a securing means for removably securing one of said cartridges in said cavity, said securing means comprising;
• a pair of guide rails, each of said guide rails being adapted to movably extend in one of said elongate slots, each of said guide rails being elongate and having a first end and a second end, a pair of dowel portions each being coupled to one of said guide rails and positioned generally adjacent to said first ends, each of said dowel portions being rotatably positioned in one of said notches, wherein said dowels may move vertically with respect to said top and bottom surfaces of said upper portion;
• and
• an actuator for selectively coupling with said slot in said front edge of said cartridge, said actuator being movably positioned in said front surface of said upper portion, said actuator being adapted to releasably engage said slot, a biasing means for biasing said actuator under said shoulder comprises a spring mounted in said front surface.