Steel rule die and steel rule

Abstract

A steel rule die is disclosed which includes a bottom board with one or more cavity boards stacked on top of the bottom board. A metal plate is located on top of the uppermost cavity board. A top board is located on top of the metal plate. A plurality of rule slots are provided on the top board which define in plan view a generally rectangular or square configuration and a steel rule die is located in each of the slots. Each of the steel rules is generally flat to fit into a given slot and has a bottom portion adjacent the metal plate with a top portion formed into a cutting edge residing above the upper surface of the top board. Each of the steel rules extends on a longitudinal axis and has first and second end portions with the first end located approximately at a 45° angle to the longitudinal axis and one side of the same and the second end portion extending at approximately a 45° angle to the longitudinal axis and on another side of the axis. The steel rules in the rule slots are arranged alternately with the first end portion of a given rule located adjacent the second end portion of the next rule adjacent the given rule.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.