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US 6,578,268 B2Granted
Tool
OwnerGeoffrey Hawkettsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hand tool includes a replaceable cutting portion having an elongate cutting surface, a body and a handle. The body receives displaceable protecting apparatus for shielding the cutting surface of the cutting portion when not in use. A forward distal end of the protecting apparatus contacts a portion of the surface of the object to be cut such that when pressure is applied against the object surface displacement of the protecting apparatus relative to the replaceable cutting portion is effected to expose only as much of the cutting surface as needed to effect the required cut. Alignment means maintain alignment of the replaceable cutting portion relative to the protecting apparatus throughout the cutting. When the cutting action is completed resilience means facilitates return of the protecting apparatus so the cutting surface is no longer exposed.
Claims40
A tool comprising:
- a body including a handle;
- a replaceable cutting portion for cutting into a surface, said replaceable cutting portion having a rearward end mounted on the body and a forward distal end remote from the body, and wherein said replaceable cutting portion includes a substantially elongate cutting surface;
- a substantially elongate protecting apparatus having a rearward end mounted on the body and a forward distal end remote from the body, the protecting apparatus being adapted at its forward distal end to contact a portion of the object surface to be cut by the replaceable cutting portion, the protecting apparatus being further positioned relative to the cutting surface of the replaceable cutting portion such that the cutting surface is guarded when the whole or part thereof is not in use;
- gauging apparatus included along the exposed length of the protecting apparatus to adjustably restrict displacement of the protecting apparatus relative to the position of the replaceable cutting portion when in use to expose only as much of the cutting surface as required, said gauging apparatus being complemented by corresponding gauging apparatus optionally included on the replaceable cutting portion;
- alignment means to maintain alignment of the replaceable cutting portion relative to the surface being cut, the alignment means comprising a blade guide and replaceable abutment means, said abutment means including an abutting face configured to extend the point of contact with the surface being cut;
- and
- resilience means, said resilience means adapted to facilitate displacement of the protecting apparatus relative to the position of the replaceable cutting portion when in use to further effect exposure of only as much of the cutting surface as required.
4 more elements
A method of manufacturing a tool, said tool comprising:
- a body including a handle;
- a replaceable cutting portion for cutting into a surface, said replaceable cutting portion having a rearward end mounted on the body and a forward distal end remote from the body, and wherein said replaceable cutting portion includes a substantially elongate cutting surface;
- a substantially elongate protecting apparatus having a rearward end mounted on the body and a forward distal end remote from the body, the protecting apparatus being adapted at its forward distal end to contact a portion of the object surface to be cut by the replaceable cutting portion, the protecting apparatus being further positioned relative to the cutting surface of the replaceable cutting portion such that the cutting surface is guarded when the whole or part thereof is not in use;
- gauging apparatus included along the exposed length of the protecting apparatus to adjustably restrict displacement of the protecting apparatus relative to the position of the replaceable cutting portion when in use to expose only as much of the cutting surface as required, said gauging apparatus being complemented by corresponding gauging apparatus optionally included on the replaceable cutting portion;
- alignment means to maintain alignment of the replaceable cutting portion relative to the surface being cut, the alignment means comprising a guide for the cutting portion and replaceable abutment means, said abutment means including an abutting face configured to extend the point of contact with the surface being cut;
- and
- resilience means, said resilience means adapted to facilitate displacement of the protecting apparatus relative to the position of the replaceable cutting portion when in use to further effect exposure of only as much of the cutting surface as required, said method including the steps of:
- a) manufacturing a body, said body including at least two portions capable of being interconnected and said body portion(s) being configured in at least part of its internal surface to receive replaceable cutting portion, protecting apparatus and resilience means;
- b) manufacturing protecting apparatus, said protecting apparatus being configured to complement the dimensions of the replaceable cutting portion, and attaching or including provision to attach the alignment means to said protecting apparatus at its leading distal edge to effect abutment of the abutment means against the surface of the object to be cut and alignment of the replaceable cutting portion by the guide as required during the cutting action of the replaceable cutting portion;
- c) attaching one distal end of the resilience means to an internal surface of the body and the opposite distal end towards the rearward end of the protective apparatus;
- d) aligning the replaceable cutting portion relative to the protecting apparatus;
- e) positioning the replaceable cutting portion and protecting apparatus relative to the internal surface(s) of the body portions;
- and
- f) securing the body portions and the enclosed replaceable cutting portion, protecting apparatus and resilience means in place using securing apparatus;
- and
- the method characterized in that the resilience means of the tool facilitates displacement of the protecting apparatus relative to the position of the replaceable cutting portion to expose only enough of the cutting surface of the replaceable cutting portion as required to effect a preferred depth of cut in the surface of an object, said amount of exposed cutting surface being adjustable via the gauging apparatus included along the exposed length of the protecting apparatus.
13 more elements
A method of assembling a tool, said tool comprising:
- a body including a handle;
- a replaceable cutting portion for cutting into a surface, said replaceable cutting portion having a rearward end mounted on the body and a forward distal end remote from the body, and wherein said replaceable cutting portion includes a substantially elongate cutting surface;
- a substantially elongate protecting apparatus having a rearward end mounted on the body and a forward distal end remote from the body, the protecting apparatus being adapted at its forward distal end to contact a portion of the object surface to be cut by the replaceable cutting portion, the protecting apparatus being further positioned relative to the cutting surface of the replaceable cutting portion such that the cutting surface is guarded when the whole or part thereof is not in use;
- gauging apparatus included along the exposed length of the protecting apparatus to adjustably restrict displacement of the protecting apparatus relative to the position of the replaceable cutting portion when in use to expose only as much of the cutting surface as required, said gauging apparatus being complemented by corresponding gauging apparatus optionally included on the replaceable cutting portion;
- alignment means to maintain alignment of the replaceable cutting portion relative to the surface being cut, the alignment means comprising a guide for the cutting portion and replaceable abutment means, said abutment means including an abutting face configured to extend the point of contact with the surface being cut;
- and
- resilience means, said resilience means adapted to facilitate displacement of the protecting apparatus relative to the position of the replaceable cutting portion when in use to further effect exposure of only as much of the cutting surface as required, said method including the steps of:
- a) taking at least two portions capable of being interconnected to form the body and said body portion(s) being configured in at least part of an internal surface to receive a replaceable cutting portion, protecting apparatus and resilience means;
- and
- b) feeding the replaceable cutting portion into the alignment means of the protecting apparatus, said protecting apparatus being configured to complement the dimensions of the replaceable cutting portion;
- and
- c) attaching one distal end of the resilience means to an internal surface of the body and the opposite distal end towards the rearward end of the protective apparatus;
- and
- d) positioning the replaceable cutting portion and protecting apparatus with the resilience means relative to the internal surface(s) of the body portions;
- and
- e) securing the body portions together with securing means such that the enclosed replaceable cutting portion, protecting apparatus and resilience means are also secured in place.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.