Cutting table and clamp for use therewith
AssigneeUniversal Presentation Concepts
InventorAlan C. Atwood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp is provided that is capable of restraining an item during cutting and rotating the item between cutting a first end of the item and cutting a second end of the item. The clamp includes an upper jaw, a lower jaw, and a backplate that pivotally connects the lower jaw and the upper jaw. The clamp includes a latch that restrains the lower and upper jaws against movement relative to one another. Also provided is an apparatus for cutting an item. The apparatus includes a table and the clamp described above. Optionally, the apparatus can also include a cutter for cutting the item.
Claims22
An apparatus for positioning window blinds to be cut, comprising:
- (a) a table having an upper surface;
- (b) a tray fixed to the upper surface of the table;
- (c) a clamping mechanism for holding the window blinds;
- (d) a track fixed to the tray;
- (e) a mount, slidably adjoining and moveable along the track, having a rotatable shaft connected to the clamping mechanism, the rotatable shaft having an axis of rotation parallel to the track;
- and
- (f) a moveable plunger fixed to the mount for engaging the rotatable shaft and preventing shaft rotation.
A window blind cutting apparatus having:
- (a) a first tray having a planar surface terminating at a planar edge;
- (b) a linear track fixed to the planar surface and having a first terminal and a second terminal, the second terminal proximate the planar edge;
- (c) a mount slidably adjoining the track;
- (d) a clamp having a backplate, an upper jaw, and a lower jaw, wherein the upper jaw and lower jaw are pivotally connected to the backplate and the clamp is rotatably connected to the mount;
- and
- wherein the mount is moveable along the track to a first position proximate the first terminal having the planar surface of the tray obstructing rotation of the clamp and to a second position proximate the second terminal having the clamp positioned beyond the planar edge of the first tray and rotatable about an axis parallel to the planar surface of the first tray.
An apparatus for use in securing and positioning window blinds to be cut, comprising:
- (a) a tray;
- (b) a clamp comprising:
- (c) a backplate;
- (d) an upper jaw pivotally connected to the backplate;
- (e) a lower jaw pivotally connected to the backplate;
- (f) at least a first latch fixed to the clamp for releasably securing the upper jaw to the lower jaw;
- (g) a track fixed to the tray;
- (h) a mount adjoined to and moveable along the track;
- (i) a shaft secured to the backplate and rotatably connected to the mount;
- and
- wherein the upper jaw is pivotable to a first position relative the lower jaw for receiving an article and pivotable to a second position relative the lower jaw for securing an article to the apparatus.
A method for cutting window blinds having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, comprising the steps of:
- (a) positioning and aligning the article relative to a cutting apparatus;
- (b) securing the positioned and aligned article with a clamp at a first location and in a first orientation, the clamp having a backplate, an upper jaw, and a lower jaw, wherein the upper jaw and lower jaw are pivotally connected to the backplate;
- (c) cutting, with the cutting apparatus, the first end of the article at the first location;
- (d) moving the clamp to a second location;
- (e) flipping the clamp and article one-hundred-eighty degrees about a horizontal axis;
- (f) returning the article to the first location;
- and
- (g) cutting the second end of the article with the cutting apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.