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US 8,251,052 B2Granted
Brick cutting apparatuses and methods
AssigneeVAST Enterprises, LLC
InventorSteven George Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This document discusses, among other things, apparatuses and methods for cutting a brick including a base configured to selectively support the brick. An actuating assembly is movable along a cutting line. The actuating assembly is movable by a cutting distance at least equal to a height of the brick. A shear blade is removably attached to the actuating assembly. The shear blade is movable with the actuating assembly along the cutting line. The shear blade is configured to shear the brick along the cutting line when moved toward the base through the brick.
Claims22
An apparatus for cutting a brick, the apparatus comprising:
- a base configured to selectively support the brick;
- an arm pivotably attached to the base, the arm being pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to the base;
- an actuating assembly attached to the arm and movable along a cutting line of direction relative to the brick, the actuating assembly movable by a cutting distance at least equal to a height of the brick, wherein the arm is pivotable with respect to the base to one or more configurations between a first configuration in which the cutting line is perpendicular to the base and a second configuration in which the cutting line is substantially parallel to the base;
- and
- a shear blade removably attached to the actuating assembly, the shear blade movable with the actuating assembly along the cutting line, the shear blade configured to shear the brick along the cutting line when moved toward the base through the brick.
2 more elements
A method of cutting a polymeric brick, comprising:
- positioning the polymeric brick with respect to a cutting apparatus to align a portion of the polymeric brick to be cut with a cutting line of direction of the cutting apparatus relative to the polymeric brick, wherein the cutting apparatus includes an arm pivotably coupled with a base, the arm including a shear blade movable along the cutting line, the polymeric brick being positioned on the base of the cutting apparatus;
- adjusting an angle of the cutting line including pivoting the arm of the cutting apparatus with respect to the base, the angle of the cutting line being adjustable to one or more configurations between a first configuration in which the cutting line is perpendicular to the base and a second configuration in which the cutting line is substantially parallel to the base;
- and
- actuating the shear blade of the cutting apparatus to move along the cutting line and shear the polymeric brick substantially along the cutting line, wherein actuating the shear blade includes actuating a mechanical advantage device to provide sufficient force to press the shear blade through the polymeric brick.
1 more element
A method of cutting a brick, comprising:
- fixedly attaching a first shear blade to a manual cutting apparatus, the first shear blade including a first blade profile;
- positioning the brick with respect to the cutting apparatus to align a portion of the brick to be cut with a cutting line of direction of the cutting apparatus relative to the brick, wherein the cutting apparatus includes an arm pivotably coupled with a base, the arm including the first shear blade movable along the cutting line, the brick being positioned on the base of the cutting apparatus;
- adjusting an angle of the cutting line including pivoting the arm of the cutting apparatus with respect to the base, the angle of the cutting line being adjustable to one or more configurations between a first configuration in which the cutting line is perpendicular to the base and a second configuration in which the cutting line is substantially parallel to the base;
- manually actuating the first shear blade of the cutting apparatus to move along the cutting line and shear the brick substantially along the cutting line to cut the brick in a pattern corresponding to the first blade profile;
- removing the first shear blade;
- fixedly attaching a second shear blade to the cutting apparatus, the second shear blade including a second blade profile different from the first blade profile;
- and
- manually actuating the second shear blade of the cutting apparatus to move along the cutting line and shear the brick substantially along the cutting line to cut the brick in a pattern corresponding to the second blade profile.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.